Be Patient with Me (one shot) part 4
Those words echoed in Nino’s ears, but he couldn’t say anything. He was kind of expecting this confession from Ohno, but when the other man actually said it, it felt like a lie. He took Ohno’s hand and gripped it tightly as if trying to make it warm.
“You didn’t trust me, did you?” Ohno asked in a tiny voice, almost like a whisper.
“Honestly, I didn’t,” Nino admitted.
“It’s weird, just like what you told me,” Ohno said with a smile on his lips. “You told me that I could befriend anyone, but the truth is I can’t. But when I met you at the café, something told me that we could be good friends or perhaps more than that.”
“You have more friends than I do,” Nino mumbled.
Ohno chuckled. “Do you mean Sho-kun and Aiba-kun?”
Nino nodded.
“A normal person has more than two friends,” Ohno replied.
“You’re weird,” Nino said, averting his gaze to their connecting hands.
“I am,” Ohno admitted.
“How can I trust you if you keep on breaking your promises?” Nino asked. He decided to talk about how he felt. It would be better than keeping it in his head.
Ohno didn’t answer immediately. He freed his hand from Nino’s grip when their drinks came, and the man sipped his Manhattan and took a deep breath.
“I won’t make a promise so I won’t break it again,” he finally said.
Nino sipped his drink and felt the warmth spread in his body. It had been a long time since he had a relationship with someone; he wondered whether he could have the same bond with Ohno as he had with Sho back then. Unlike Sho, Ohno was an easy-going person who didn’t think much of consequences or anything like that. Ohno was a free soul who didn’t want any strings attached to him. How could Nino follow Ohno’s personal rules if they started dating?
They spent a night at Ohno’s hotel room. Thanks to the alcohol, Nino could push his doubts and worries away. He let Ohno kiss him as they closed the door behind them; the man led him inside and pushed him softly onto the king-sized bed. It wasn’t what he planned on when he agreed to have a drink with Ohno, but it didn’t matter anymore.
Ohno loosened the buttons of Nino’s shirt and leaned closer to kiss his bare skin; it was enough to make Nino groan in pleasure. There was no room to feel embarrassed now; he would enjoy this night to the fullest. Ohno let out a beautiful moan when Nino touched his hardened dick, a kind of voice that encouraged Nino to do more. It had been a while since he had done a blow-job, and Ohno’s size was beyond his ability to handle.
Ohno was incredible at making love, and when they finished, both of them were bathed in sweat. Nino turned to his left side and watched Ohno’s serene face. He wished he could stop time, wished he wouldn’t need to go back to Yokohama again, wished he wouldn’t need to wait for Ohno in uncertainty anymore.
***
Summer in Japan felt too humid and hot compared to Singapore’s tropical air, which offered a soft breeze every now and then. Even Osanbashi which was located above the port of Yokohama was hot enough. It was still ten in the morning when Nino started his shift. It was a day after his return from Singapore; the country seemed further that it really was, and Nino felt a heavy burden in his chest on the day he left since it meant he would no longer be able to hold Ohno in his sleep. Both of them shared a room for the rest of their stay and mostly they stayed inside, enjoying each other’s company. It felt unreal, just like what Nino saw in the television dramas.
The launch of Jun’s new clothing brand was a huge success. The man sent Nino the magazine which contained almost all of Nino’s articles. The editor emailed him a few days previous, praising his work and informed him about the things they needed to edit. Overall, the result was satisfying.
Nino flipped through the magazine while waiting for customers; he didn’t read the articles, but he carefully took a look at the pictures taken by Ohno. As expected, they were perfect, and no matter how long Nino stared at them, he couldn’t get bored.
He felt stupid for refusing Ohno’s invitation to his exhibition, but perhaps he could send a LINE to Ohno and tell him that he would attend, or perhaps it would be better to go there without telling the cameraman. Perhaps Ohno needed a little surprise, even a silly one. The thought somehow made him happy. He had given up and accepted the fact that he was in love with Ohno.
However, he had learnt that Ohno would not appear in front of his door every now and then because he was the busiest man on earth and Ohno would not give him a phone call just to ask after his wellbeing. Nino didn’t mind it at all. He was already used to being alone where there was no one contacting him for weeks.
It was quite unbelievable to know that someone like Ohno would have chosen Nino as his date. Well, it was better to leave it just like that. Ohno said that he enjoyed Nino’s company. That would be enough for Nino.
***
Ohno’s photograph exhibition was held in Omotesando Hills for a week. The man informed Nino that he would be at the venue on Friday night and wondered if Nino could come. Ohno also apologized that he had no time to meet since the exhibition took all of his time.
Nino had replied with a short ‘yes’ for the exhibition and wished Ohno good luck. He had tried to understand Ohno’s job, and the cameraman’s absence for days in contacting him wasn’t really a problem now. He came to the exhibition by himself rather late on Friday night, just as Ohno told him to. The venue was almost empty of visitors and the announcement board near the entrance stated that the hall would be closed in ten minutes.
Nino walked along the hall, observing the photos. There was a different theme for each section with photographs from around the world. So, Ohno had been working hard on these photos, yet he still came now and then to meet Nino at the café. A strange feeling slipped into Nino’s chest. He should have treated Ohno better. He should have appreciated him more for sparing his precious time with Nino.
“The exhibition will be closed soon, Sir.” A staff member approached Nino with an apologetic smile on her lips when the clock pointed to 10 in the evening.
“He’s my special guest.” Ohno appeared from behind the display wall. He wore a nice suit and a matching tie. The outfit gave the man a different image, a professionalism and seriousness that Nino has never seen on him before. “Thanks for coming,” Ohno smiled.
“You look good,” Nino unconsciously praised the man. He hated the fact that his face was blushing as he looked into Ohno’s handsome face.
“Thanks,” Ohno replied shyly. “Suits don’t fit me, unlike Sho-kun,” he continued.
“But you still look good,” Nino said.
Ohno chuckled lightly and grabbed Nino’s hand to lead him around the exhibition hall. “It’s an exclusive tour, just for you. Come.”
“I’m honored,” Nino replied, squeezing Ohno’s hand softly as they walked together.
Ohno started with the photos from Vietnam. He explained briefly where the exact location was and how he took those pictures. He did the same for the next section, and sometimes, he let Nino stay a little longer at a section he liked.
It was the last photograph which got Nino’s attention; he knew the figure inside the frame very well. It was him, portrayed in a silhouette during the sunset on a certain beach in Singapore. Nino felt as if he was caught red-handed after doing something bad. The photo explained him more than words could.
“When did you take it?” Nino asked after minutes of silence.
Ohno shrugged and looked at him with a meaningful look. He leaned closer and kissed Nino on the lips. “Come with me somewhere far, just the two of us where I can take more photos of you,” he whispered into Nino’s ear.
“I can’t, I have to work,” Nino said with a trembling voice.
Ohno kissed him again, and Nino knew that he couldn’t make any excuses to deny Ohno’s invitation.
***
It was because of Jun’s support that Nino decided to continue writing. He quit his part time job and started to write seriously. A well-known magazine contracted him to writing a weekly review where he could work from home or anywhere he liked. It meant he could stay together with Ohno while working, a privilege that he couldn’t have dreamed of before. As the exhibition finished, Ohno decided to take a break for the time being, so they had time for themselves, and Nino couldn’t ask for more.
They usually spent time at Ohno’s apartment, lying around lazily while watching DVDs or reading books. Spending time with Ohno was even easier than Nino thought. It felt like living together with someone he had already known forever. They basically had the same routine and had no specific rules. Nino was lying on the couch while reading the newly released volume of One Piece when Ohno approached him, carrying his laptop with him.
“Our ticket.” Ohno showed him an email with an electronic ticket attached.
“To where? Okinawa?” Nino asked.
“Further than that,” Ohno answered, clicking on the attachment and showing it to Nino.
The destination was Auckland in New Zealand, a place Nino never imagined visiting. He shifted his gaze from the computer screen to Ohno with a questioning look.
“It’s winter there,” Ohno said, sitting down beside Nino. “It’ll be nice.”
“How do you know that I don’t like summer?” Nino asked.
“Lucky guess,” Ohno said, pinching Nino’s nose gently. “We’ll depart in two days.”
Nino shook his head and laughed. If it wasn’t Ohno, he would never agree to go to a faraway place at the end of the globe just to avoid the summer heat.
“We’ll be back around Sho and Jun’s wedding, so we can buy them a gift in New Zealand. How’s that sound?”
“As you wish, captain,” Nino answered.
Nino wished he had realized his feelings for Ohno earlier, just to cuddle with the man or listen to his stories, which were mostly about stupid accidents during photo shoots. But he knew that everything came at the right time; knowing Ohno little by little helped him to understand the man. He didn’t need to wait for Ohno restlessly now, since Ohno would always come home to him.
The summer heat reached its peak in Tokyo, but they could forget about it for the next whole week. Nino gripped Ohno’s hand as they walked together towards the departure lounge. If someone had told him three months ago that he would be traveling to New Zealand with this man, he would have said that person was insane.
“Is there anything interesting in New Zealand?” Nino asked playfully.
Ohno thought for a while before answering, “Hobbits?” he answered.
“Hobbits are not real, Ohchan.”
“You never know that,” Ohno said with a serious tone.
Nino rolled his eyes and rested his head on Ohno’s shoulder while waiting for their departure.
The end
a/n: LJ being so tricky with large post :(