Where fond memories should be recalled, reality would remind that there’s less of the kindness it had once proposed when you were young.
“I’m glad you’re finally done with that bleaching job of yours. For a second, I thought you were doing your hair again.” Ayato grinned, tapping his index finger against the back of Junichi’s hand.
He barely had the attention span to pay any attention to whatever anyone would tell him. Save for the lectures that he’d need to listen to in order to survive theoretically, he would defend that situations like these were an exception. Oddly enough, he was confused why he had to be dragged out to a fancy restaurant and forced into clothes that he would only wear on occasion.
Unless it was an occasion that he should be happy about.
“Well, I wouldn’t turn down a request from a friend.” He shrugged his shoulders, pressing his lips into a thin line. He wasn’t displeased. Only trying to be as dramatic as he could make it.
They were busy settling down on their table. Adjusting to the atmosphere that he would otherwise avoid on any other day. But who is he to turn down an offer of his childhood friend to spend for him under the guise of a late birthday celebration? He arrived later by a month’s delay but he claims to have been busy with so many things in life that he needed to apologize through spending lavishly.
Courses followed one after another, slowly filling him up with the delicacies that he thought would be too small for him to enjoy. He enjoyed the lobster being the main course. Beautifully set on the plate alongside the ‘side characters’ that accompanied it for the sake of flavor. Everything he had tasted was topped off with the serving of a classic upon the request of the man in front of him.
“Ah, that’s a cute cake! Adorably small with my name on the plate.” Junichi pointed at his name written in cursive, possibly by the chef who set the plate. He held the plate in his hand, smiling widely as he stared at the dandelion design on top of it. The candle was lit and wishes of a happy birthday were offered to the now 20 year old who beamed with the happiness he had lived with for all of his life.
Making a wish, he had hoped for everyone’s happiness and his strength to carry on with the trials and tribulations that life would throw at him.
“Actually, I also brought you here for something and it would mean a lot to me if you hear me out.” Ayato had his hands crossed as Junichi gestured for him to go on with what he was saying.
The candle was blown out after his wish. Just as how the flame in his heart would soon disappear.
“I’ve been seeing someone ever since you left Tokyo. She’s a beautiful soul and has done a lot of work that you’d love to hear about once the two of you get to know each other. If it’s not much, can you help me out with proposing to her?”
On the day where he was meant to hold a delayed celebration for his birthday, his heart had crumbled into pieces. The heartbreaks that the authors he has read described were nothing compared to what he was feeling.
“I…I’ll see. I’m afraid love is unknown to me in the first place, Ayato. Just give me time to process it.”
He would have loved to turn it down but his people-pleasing nature only urged him to carry on with the request. So much pain to bear for the sake of fulfilling his own birthday wish — his loved ones’ happiness.
Even if he has to break his own heart.
