“I love you too, Liv.”
Heading towards the front door, I glance back at her car waiting for me to get into the building. I’ll miss these moments of soft and comforting silence. The mist of protectiveness and warmth emanating from her when she thinks no one knows, makes me smile.
There’s no one in the world like her. Fierce and kind like a tornado who’s always got my back. Not being able to hang out with her like we always do is going to hurt more than I can imagine. I already know I’m going to hate it.
I smile to myself, pushing these thoughts away and wave at her before disappearing into the apartment complex. In the elevator I rearrange my hair in front of the mirror. Aoi’s already waiting in the living room as I enter the apartment.
“Took you long enough,” he laughs, gesturing for me to sit at the table. “I ordered your favorites and left them in the fridge until you got home.” He pulls out the sushi boxes and arranges them on the table, placing plates on our respective sides. He sits down opposite me and smiles. “Dig in.”
“I told the others about moving,” I say, nibbling on a California roll.
He simply nods along as he chews, no sign of dissatisfaction. “How’d they take it?”
I look away, reminiscing about this afternoon and snicker. “We cried like babies. I can’t begin to imagine what the people in the park must’ve thought at the sight.”
“Probably that you were degenerates on drugs,” he mocks. “Or simply teens having a moment. Did you tell them you weren’t high?”
“I even did a cartwheel to prove it,” I joke, poking my food. “Can I tell you something?”
Aoi tilts his head, putting down his chopsticks to focus on me and nods.
“I’m scared of what will happen in the future. I- I don’t know what to expect in France and without you everything will be so strange, you know?”
He bites his lower lip and reaches for my hand, caressing my skin. “Change is always scary at first, but I think this could be a new beginning. You’ll open your mind to new possibilities and a new horizon.”
“You’re right but I can’t shake this feeling.”
“With time you’ll feel at home there like you did when you first started living with me.”
“But that was different.”
“Maybe but still. I know you’ll be fine.” He lets go of my hand and resumes eating, seeming lost in thought for a minute. “Your brother seems to have everything under control.”
I shove a maki in my mouth, savoring the taste. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t speak with your mouth full.”
I purse my lips and swallow the food. “Did he say something?”
No reply, just silence as he eats and stares at his plate. Unease crawls over my skin like centipedes on a quest.
“He called,” he says, poking at his plate. “Hismenwill take care of your stuff for the whole moving thing.”
I gawk at him. “His men? Like his employees?”
He nods. “Convenient, isn’t it? He has money to spend and people to take care of everything.”
The dimmed light of the living room reflects in his somber gaze, revealing veiled truths.
“Maybe he’s even got people to wipe his ass.”
He snorts, slapping a hand over his mouth as he goes into a fit of laughter. His head falls back, and his cheeks flush, revealing the beauty of this side of him.
Many believe that Aoi’s rather on the shy and quiet end maybe even cold, but that couldn’t be more wrong. On the contrary, he’s bright and warm. No matter the instance, he always puts up a smile and brings out every ounce of kindness in him.
Aoi is a giver. He shares his love, his time and energy with the people he cares about. Though, it takes a bit of patience for him to open up, I sometimes feel that he’ll never open up entirely. Not even to me.
Sunny and smiling Aoi is my favorite. I could die watching him and I’d be grateful for it. “I love you, Aoi.”
