Kareshi (09/11)
Title: Kareshi - Boyfriend for Rent
Author: Fabi & Dani ( dani_mathoz)
Translator: br_arashi Thank you ♥
Pairing: Junba (main), Ohmiya (mentioned)
Genre: Romance
Rating: PG-13 (This chapter)
Summary: 'One need a lover, the other need money... The only condition? Don't fall in love.'
Disclaimer: I don't own them, sadly ;-;
Just a reminder, English is not our first language so please be kind ♥
CHAPTER 9
Masaki’s body shivered with cold while he walked towards his building. He took the opportunity to fix the scarf around his neck. Then, he tucked his hands into the pockets of his heavy coat and rushed his steps, thinking solely about getting the comfort of his bed as soon as possible.
He was so tired…
However, he knew that, in that night, even under the comforting warmth of his bedcovers, it would take a while for him to fall asleep.
It had been always like this in the last thirteen years, in this date. Maybe because he knew there would not be no one to congratulate him, with the exception of his brother, who always managed to call or send him a message, like the one he had received an hour earlier, exactly at midnight.
Besides him, there would be no one around to celebrate his birthday with him.
He sighed in resignation, facing the cold of the night and moved on.
About twenty steps from the entrance of his residential building, nonetheless, he halted when he recognized Jun’s car.
What was that asshole doing there? He approached the building, enraged, and found him beside the door, shivering of cold as a wet little chick.
“What do you want here?” he asked, annoyed, turning the key in the keyhole. “I thought I had made myself clear when I said I didn’t want to see you anymore.”
“I know…. I know that I was an idiot and very insensitive. But, please, I never meant to hurt you or offend you, believe me.”
“Matsumoto, its cold and…”
“I know. You must be very tired and I believe that the last thing you wanted was to see me. I won’t take much of your time, I just wanted…”
Surprised, the barman was unable to react to the awkward hug. Quite the opposite. He let himself stay in the warm arms for a few minutes.
“Happy birthday, Masaki” Jun whispered, before moving away from him, dragging his steps towards his car.
Masaki blinked a few times, trying to process those words. Happy birthday? How could he know? Could it be through the e-mail he had sent him with his profile so that they wouldn’t contradict their information in front of Oguri and his fiancée in that dinner night?
He felt his heart racing. How long had it been since he had received a birthday hug?
Maybe because of the emotions that invaded him in that moment, he almost called aloud the name he had vowed he would never say again. Instead, Jun’s name escaped from his lips almost as an inaudible mumble while his fake ex-boyfriend disappeared from his sight.
******************************
“Thanks for staying after work hours, Aiba-chan” Ohno thanked him with a wide smile.
“No problems, Riida. Today, I don’t have to go to the bar, so I don’t bother staying for a while longer. Besides, I’m used to these balance sheets. I was the one who helped my father to do the financial control of his store.”
“I would really love to spare myself from this kind of service if it wasn’t extremely necessary. I used to ask Nino for help, but you know how he is… Last time, he was horrified when he saw how much I spend with materials and almost drove me crazy by reorganizing all my planning, renegotiating my contracts and replacing some of the products…”
“Is saving money a bad thing? You had more losses than profits, Satoshi” Ninomiya pointed out, entering the office all of a sudden.
“The best products demand expensive ingredients. Why do you think I have the best cakes and breads of the area?”
“Because you think about me when you are preparing them. I am an amazing source of inspiration.”
Masaki laughed when Nino offered his lips for Ohno to seal it with a quick kiss.
“This, I can't deny” the baker answered, getting himself lost in his boyfriend’s eyes.
“Well… no more work for today” Nino declared, changing the subject before he could lose his control in front of their friend and attack his boyfriend right there. “Can we go and have dinner, Satoshi?”
“Of course we can. We are starving, right, Aiba-chan?”
“Starving” Aiba answered with a smile, already imagining, by the stare of his boss over his boyfriend, the kind of hunger he should be feeling. “I see you guys tomorrow. Good night!”
“Where do you think you are going?” Ohno asked him, raising from his chair. “You are coming with us! It’s already past nine. You worked much more than your schedule. It is only fair for me to reward you.”
“You don't have to do it, Riida. I’m going home…”
“Don’t even consider declining, Aiba-chan! Satoshi did this reservation a week ago in the best yakiniku place in town.
Besides, how the hell will we celebrate your birthday if you are not there?” Nino asked him, with a wink.
**********************
The place wasn’t probably the best restaurant in town, as Nino had suggested, but it was a luxurious, cozy and warm space. As soon as they arrived, they were guided to their reserved cubicle.
For Masaki, the inviting smell of the grilled meat was just as pleasant as the occasion. Celebrating his birthday was such a rare event in his life that he couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.
“I saw it in your file, Aiba-chan” his boss has told him still in the office. “I must seem distracted and a bit distant sometimes, but I’m always attentive to my employees.”
“I don’t even know how to thank you” Aiba said while making himself comfortable in his chair.
“You don’t have to thank me, I have my own reasons to do so” Ohno answered already with his eyes on the menu. “I want you to know the advantages of working with me so you won’t even consider leaving the bakery. Why do you think that we had a considerable increase in the sales in these six months that you have been working with me? Do you believe that people had suddenly started to enjoy my products? Of course, my cakes are the best ones in the area, as you always says, but it’s your beautiful and captivating smile what attracts the clients, Aiba. Or have you never noticed the amount of schoolgirls and even married women that go there just to see you?”
“That’s not true, Riida…”
“I’m sorry, I’m late!” Sho’s voice reached them, loud and charming. “The meeting took longer than I expected.”
“What about Jun?” Nino asked, making Aiba’s heart race.
“I’m here” Jun answered, entering the place. “I’m sorry, I’m late” his smile disappeared from his face in the moment he saw Masaki.
“Don’t worry, we have just arrived as well” Ohno said, with a smile. “Make yourself comfortable, Jun-kun, so we can order, ok? I’m starving! Please, order anything you want…”
Jun sat beside Aiba, the only unoccupied place at the table, but didn’t dare to face him, pretending to be too engrossed by the menu. From time to time, he glanced at him, admiring his handsome face and the fascinating smile directed to the others.
As if he wasn’t there…
“Nino told me you are celebrating 33 years old, Masaki. I would never guess… You look much younger” Sho commented before biting a very generous piece of meat.
“You’re too kind, Sho-kun.”
“I wonder why we have never met each other before.”
“Because the super photographer is too snob to visit his friends’ business. How long has it been since you last came to my bakery?” Ohno interfered, pretending to be hurt.
“I’m so sorry for this, Satoshi” Sho apologized placing his hand over his friend’s one. “I have been really busy recently. You know how much I love your breads…”
“And the cakes, and the pies and the cookies… You like anything as long as it’s edible, Sho-kun…” joked Nino.
“Eating well is one of the best things in life, Nino.”
Taking advantage that his friends had engaged in a gastronomic discussion, Jun finally had the guts to face Masaki who was watching in astonishment the special bond between his friends.
“I wouldn’t come if I knew we would be celebrating your birthday. Sho just told me it was a dinner. I really didn’t mean to bother you by imposing my presence…” he apologized with honesty.
“It’s all right, Matsumoto” Aiba said in a soft voice while putting a piece of meat in his dish. “You are not feeding yourself well…”
Jun looked at him, melting. Since the moment when the first pieces of meat had gotten ready, he had tasted one or two pieces, but he didn’t have much appetite, preferring the company of his beer. He would never guess that Aiba was paying attention to him. So, his fake ex-boyfriend cared about him after all? Even after all the pain he had caused him?
He felt his heart jumping into his chest, warmed by the slightest of the hopes.
“Aiba, Shun came after me…”
“I don’t want to know, Matsumoto. I don’t care about what happens between you and Oguri-kun” the birthday boy rushed to say. He didn’t want to hear Jun saying that he had finally settled things with the man he loved. “Please, don’t ruin my night. I haven't celebrated my birthday for years. Can’t we just… have fun?”
Jun nodded, feeling like a fool. Of course that Aiba wasn't feeling the same way he was. He had made it quite clear when he had written in that last clause of their contract that he wasn’t willing to get involved with him.
What happened between them hadn't been nothing but business.
With his heart broken, he saw the rest of the dinner go as it was supposed to: Sho, Nino and Satoshi chatting excitedly and, once in a while, including he and Masaki in the talk to make it less obvious that they had set up that meeting to bring them together again. He also watched the man with whom he was madly in love - but with who he couldn’t get involved because of his own stupidity - overdoing on his drinks, maybe for being too excited with the party. He barely tasted the cake that Ohno had prepared specially for him.
In the end of the night, he found himself in front of Aiba’s apartment - with him hanging on his shoulder - trying to open the door.
He carried his heavy body to bed and placed him gently over it. Only then, he worried about getting rid of their shoes.
Masaki fidgeted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position. Matsumoto covered him and fixed a lock of hair, moving it away from his eyes.
Just then, he stopped to contemplate his perfect features. He smiled in admiration when he considered the absurd contrast established between his appearance and his mood. Lying there, looking like a fragile child, who he wished he could shelter no matter what, he looked nothing like the determined, free and confident man he had fallen in love with, maybe at first sight.
His beautiful and innocent expression was the same he had found adorning his couch the day they had first met. In that moment, he hadn’t understood the heat that had taken over him as soon as he saw him, the will to know more about him.
He wondered now if, when he introduced him as his boyfriend to Shun, he was really worried about preserving his pride or if he had just expressed a wish of his heart. Even if it was too soon, he couldn’t deny how much Masaki had messed with him, exciting his curiosity as no one, even Oguri, hadn’t done in a very long time.
If he could go back in time…
In the name of his stupid pride, he had hurt him and, because of that, maybe he could never again feel the touch of his lips, neither taste the sweetness of his audacious body.
That was when he made his decision. He wouldn’t give up this time. Even if he were rejected, he wouldn't repress his love any longer, specially this time, when he was absolutely sure of his feelings.
He loved that man full of himself, with his charismatic smile and his sweet but insolent kiss
.
He only realized he was crying when he felt a tear running over the skin of his face.
He analyzed the condition of the birthday boy and deduced that he would be fine. With just a good night of sleep, he wouldn’t even have to worry about a hangover in the next day. Therefore, he decided to leave. Even because he was sure that his presence would be the last thing he would like to find when he finally woke up. He leaned over him, resonating softly, completely oblivious to Jun’s thoughts, and placed a soft and almost chaste kiss in the fleshy lips.
He was already moving away when he felt a strong pressure around his wrist.
“If you are going to kiss me, Jun-chan, do it properly…” Masaki ordered, pulling him closer once again.
************************
Aiba adjusted the cake newly made by Satoshi in the showcase. The sweet and appealing smell of chocolate spread in the air, renewing his energies. So good…
Then, he started mopping the balcony. That was when he felt his cellphone vibrating in his pocket. When he saw the name in the screen, he twisted his face in distaste.
No matter how much he tried to lie to himself, he couldn’t prevent his heart of beating anxiously each time he received Jun's calls, which had been happening quite frequently in the last days, even if he rejected each one of them.
No, he wasn’t mad at him. He was angry with himself for his relapse in the previous week.
What did that kiss mean? He, who had always been proud of his strong sense of self-esteem, had easily succumbed to a simple kiss… demanding more as an easy lay. He could say it had been the alcohol, but it was far from the truth. He had been longing for that since the moment he saw Jun in front of his house to wish him a happy birthday.
Fortunately, he regained his senses quickly and he got rid of Jun before he could lose control of his dignity for good.
Since then, his ex-boyfriend had sent him several messages, which he never answered. He didn’t want to keep in touch, he didn’t need to extend his suffering. What could he have to say? Did he want to thank him for helping him getting back with Oguri? Was that what he wanted to tell him in the restaurant?
No… He didn’t need, neither wanted to know.
He shook his head, trying to push away his fake ex-boyfriend from his head when he noticed a presence in the bakery.
He smiled, turning towards his client.
“Welcome!”
“Hello, Masaki…”
He blinked several times, trying to send away his hallucination. It surely couldn’t be real. Even though he still looked the same, there were traces of exhaustion and there were a few more wrinkles in the face that he hadn’t seen in thirteen years.
“Otou-san...”
*****************************
“Who do you think you are, Matsumoto, for you to meddle in my life like this?” Masaki yelled as soon as he invaded Jun’s office as a tsunami.
“I’m sorry, Matsumoto-san… He didn’t wait for me to announce him…”
“It’s all right. You can leave us alone now” Jun, reassured his secretary. As soon as she left the room, he stood up and took off his glasses to face an enraged Masaki.
“Can you tell me what you are talking about?”
“You didn’t have the right to go after my father! I never asked you to get involved in my problems!”
“I just wanted to help you! You were suffering and…”
“And this is my business!” he interrupted him with a shout. “You have nothing to do with my life!”
“Have you two met?” Jun asked, ignoring the barman’s fury. “Have you settled things?”
“Sure! We hugged and we apologized as if nothing had ever happened…” he answered with bitterness.
“Aiba…”
“What did you expect, Matsumoto? That things between my parents and I would be forgotten out of nothing? Do you think it’s easy to forget thirteen years of pain and loneliness?”
“I never thought it would be simple. However, someone needed to take the first step. I just tried to make him see the wonderful son he has…”
“You had no right!”
“You accused me of cowardice when I said I wouldn't fight for Shun, however, you have been doing the same thing for thirteen years!” Jun raised his voice for the first time. “You keep on running away from a definitive confrontation with your father!”
“I think you missed part of what I’ve told you. It was him who sent me away from home!”
“And you just left instead of trying to convince him that you were no sinner, that you weren’t doing anything wrong. Listen, Masaki, this happened thirteen years ago…”
“You will never get it…” he said, in a broken voice.
“I might have been a meddlesome. I’m sorry for this, but I couldn’t stand to see you suffering.”
“Why? Now you are going to say that you care about me?”
“You may not believe this, but it’s true.”
“Please, Matsumoto!”
“I do care!” he yelled. “I worry about you! I wanted to erase all the pains from your heart, Masaki… Do you think I like to see you taking a million jobs to pay a debt that isn’t even yours?”
“And what are you going to do about this? Are you going to pay my father’s debt as well?” he asked him with a bitter smile.
“I’ve considered doing it once” Jun confessed in a low voice. “I knew you wouldn’t like it, nonetheless…”
“Why not? You would make my life much easier. I could stop working so much. Instead, I could just repay you with sex… Isn’t it what you think of me?”
Jun stared at him, shocked. His expression was a mix of wrath and hurt.
“I’ve never saw you as a whore!”
“It’s not what it seemed to me when you offered me money soon after we had made love. Did you really believe that I was just doing my job, Jun-chan? That I could give myself to you because of a damned contract?”
“No, of course not! I never thought it could make you believe in such a thing. I had filled that envelope with money even before we went to Hakone. I never thought that we… I didn’t pay you for the night we have spent together. I had several reasons to give you more than we had agreed. I was grateful for your support; you were in need and I had enough; you were the one who made me realize how wrong I have been regarding my feelings for Shun and, mainly; because I believed it would be easier to move away from you if there were no more bonds between us."
“I can’t understand what you’re saying…”
“I didn’t want you to know that I had broken our contract. I was unable to fulfill the last clause, Masaki. I fell in love with you.”
< Previous Next >
Notes: Hello minna! First of all SO SORRY! We know we take a long time to reply and to post this new chapter, but the RL is getting more and more intense… So please we ask patient and love xD
Now as you read Jun took the first step and finally accept his feelings and decided to go for it, but Masaki? Will he forgive Jun?
Second thank you soooo much for follow us and leave the most beautiful comments ♥
Just to share that with you we are too excited, now Olympics had started here in Brazil many Johnnys did come soooo Soon Sho Will be here... and even knowing we don’t Will have the opportunity to see him we are excited to see him enjoying our country and the Olympics as well ♥
Comments are ♥