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orange
It was another peaceful, quiet morning in the Tulip flower shop.
Hiromi gazed at the clear sky outside through the glass windows. It's February, smack in the middle of winter, but the weather remained sunny and warm in Okinawa. The florist sagged on his seat and lazily checked some "S" forums on his phone. His manager personally took charge of deliveries and customers usually visit in the afternoon so he had the whole morning to himself.
He sat there, unbothered until he heard the door open accompanied by the sound of the bell. Hiromi's head immediately snapped upward, chucking his phone into his pocket at lightning speed.
"Goodmorning! What can I do for- ah. It's you."
Surprisingly, the person standing in front of him was Langa, who slowly closed the door behind him. He was wearing a blue sweater and faded jeans instead of his school uniform on a weekday. He looked a little nervous, but his eyes showed familiar determination, the kind Hiromi sees on him every time he races in "S."
Langa approached the counter and made a slight bow. "Goodmorning."
"No class today?"
"There's a schoolwide faculty meeting, so yeah. No classes."
O… kay. That still doesn't explain why the teen's here. As far as Hiromi knew, there were no incoming beefs, and if they needed to discuss things, they usually do it in Joe's restaurant.
The florist crossed his arms. "So what brings you here today? Wait." He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Are you gonna ask me again to babysit you? Because I'll be busy this weekend-"
Langa waved his arms wildly in defense, looking a little flustered. "No, it's not that. I-" A blush colored his pale cheeks, and really, if someone can tell Hiromi what's going on, he'd appreciate it-
"I want to buy a bouquet of flowers," the blue-haired boy said softly, face still red.
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Oh.
How can Hiromi be so stupid? He'll be busy helping the manager accommodate the influx of orders for Valentine's Day this weekend.
And Langa's dating Reki.
As soon as the situation fully sunk in, Hiromi immediately switched into professional mode.
"What type of flowers do you want?" he asked, going around the counter to show Langa the flowers they sell. "We have a few ready-made bouquets in the stands over here, but we can arrange a new one for you. Of course, the cost would depend on the flowers you pick."
The florist gave the younger ample time to check out the flowers, but it didn't take long before Langa gave him a sheepish look.
"About that… I don't really know much about flowers, so can you help me?"
He watched in amusement at the skater's constipated expression. What did he expect? Langa didn't look like the type to care for flowers unless-
"It's for-"
"For Reki, isn't it?"
Hiromi saw the exact moment the tension drained from Langa's shoulders as he nodded with a smile.
"Yeah. We'll have our first date this Saturday."
"You've been together since what, November last year? You mean to tell me you never had a date even once?"
The younger shook his head. "Nothing of the planned sort." He bent his knees and gazed at a particular arrangement of red and yellow roses. Langa chuckled, undoubtedly thinking of a certain redhead and his favorite yellow sweater. "We'll have a lunch date in Joe's restaurant. I'm really excited."
The sight tugged at Hiromi's heartstrings.
The thing with Higa Hiromi is that he's a hopeless romantic. In his 25 years of living, he fell in love too many times, and all of those romantic exploits ended up in a broken heart. From being rejected in high school to losing his chance with his manager before he even confessed, it seemed like the prospect of romance was too far from his reach.
Many would have given up a long time ago, but he never will. Seeing people in love like this makes him want the same love for himself someday. Relationships, romantic or not, are both strong and delicate, and if Hiromi's time for love hasn't come yet, the least he can do is protect and nurture others'.
And flowers are the perfect gifts to show appreciation for loved ones.
Making up his mind, Hiromi showed his customer a particular type of flower.
"Say, how about some blue hydrangeas and white roses? They're perfect for Reki."
Langa marveled at the lovely flowers the color of the sky. "They're the same shade as my hair."
Hiromi grinned. "That's why they're perfect."
(In the afternoon of the same day, the bell of the flower shop rang once again. As soon as Hiromi's eyes caught a shock of red hair, he already knew what was coming.
"Pink carnations and baby's breath."
Reki froze by the entrance, as puzzled as they come. "I didn't even say anything yet."
"Just guessing.")
green
For restaurant owners like Kojiro, events that happen once a year are both anticipated and dreaded days. Of course, the massive stream of customers fattens up Kojiro's pocket, but the extra work takes away some of that joy.
Valentine's Day was not one of those days, this year at least, in Kojiro's restaurant. Unlike the previous years, he only accepted limited reservations this time around because of specific… plans.
"Chef, table 5 requested an additional risotto. Two orders of chicken parmigiana for table 4," his part-time employee, Nagachika, called out. Kojiro hired the lovely woman occasionally when he needed an extra pair of hands, and she proved to be very reliable in food prep and waitressing.
"On it!"
After making sure that all the pending orders have been tended to, the green-haired man went to the counter and eyed the only empty reserved table.
"Seems like they're not here yet."
Kaoru, who occupied one of the seats by the counter, removed his gaze from his laptop. "Who?"
"You'll see. Ah, speaking of the devil."
The pink-haired man turned around and let out a surprised sound, probably not expecting to see two of his fellow "S" skaters entering the restaurant.
Langa and Reki dressed differently than usual this time. Langa wore a dark unbuttoned cardigan over a shirt and matched them with dark trousers. Reki, on the other hand, had a white collared long-sleeved shirt on, with one side tucked in cream-colored pants. He also ditched his signature bandana, letting his hair fall freely over his face.
They looked exactly like two lovers on a date.
Reki smiled shyly at Kojiro and waved, and the latter returned the gesture eagerly. The chef never thought that he'd see the teen act like this, considering how energetic and cheerful he usually acted. But when Reki phoned his restaurant two weeks ago for a reservation, he spoke so timidly that it got Kojiro wondering whether it's really Reki or not.
"They bought each other pink and blue flowers. How cute."
"So it's a Valentine's date," Kaoru said, taking a sip of sparkling wine. "Good for them."
The calligrapher's comment may sound sarcastic to any other person, but Kojiro knew it was a sincere remark. Smiling, he let Nagachika guide the couple to their table and went back to the kitchen to cook.
From his spot behind the counter, Kojiro watched as Langa and Reki ate their lunch with gusto. Reki was currently talking — probably about skating — emphasizing some words with little hand gestures. Throughout it all, Langa was attentive to every word, staring at his boyfriend in complete adoration. Eventually, the redhead said something that made both of them giggle, and then Reki reached out to wipe Langa's mouth with a napkin.
It all made Kojiro a little…
"Oi."
Kaoru's voice roused him from his trance. He blinked. "What?"
The pink-haired man subtly flicked his wrist to point his paper fan behind him. "Give those two desserts. I'll pay."
"You're strangely mellow today. Is it because of Valentine's Day air? Or old age?"
Kojiro fought the urge to laugh (he had an image to maintain in front of customers, after all) as Kaoru's face formed a deep scowl. "Ugh. Everything you say gives me a headache."
The chef leaned on the counter to level his eyes with Kaoru. "How about this? You pay for one, and the other one's on the house. It'll be our little gift for them."
The other man huffed and rolled his eyes. "Fine."
Kojiro took it upon himself to serve the two slices of tiramisu to Langa and Reki just as they finished eating. The pair's faces brightened up at the sight, most especially Langa's, who looked ready to devour the luscious desserts.
The chef winked as he settled the dishes on the table. "Our treat."
Reki gaped at him, wide-eyed. "You sure?"
When the older nodded, the two didn't waste time in attacking the desserts.
"Thanks!"
"Thank you."
Kojiro watched them fondly; it's always a delight for chefs to see people enjoying their food. "Just keep it a secret. The other customers will think I'm playing favorites."
"But we're your favorites," Langa said a matter-of-factly before shoving a large chunk of tiramisu to his mouth.
The burly skater didn't retort since he knew Langa was right (damn these smug teenagers). He continued the conversation. "You're really having fun, huh."
Reki stared at Kojiro for a while, probably thinking whether it was a statement or a question. In the end, he locked eyes with Langa and smiled. "Yeah. Actually, we thought of doing this last month and pooled our savings from part-time together. To split the bill and all that."
Langa looked at Kojiro with eager puppy eyes, saying, "We're going ice skating after this!" which earned him a nose crunch from Reki.
"Uhh, I'm not particularly excited about that…."
"You said you're not good at it so I'll teach you."
"I'll fall every five seconds. I don't want to go home with my butt hurting."
"But I won't let you fall."
"Geez."
The chef left the two to their banter, not wanting to disturb them anymore. But more than that, he wanted to stop the prickling feeling in his heart from growing stronger with each passing second.
Because sometimes, when he looks at Langa and Reki, he finds himself knee-deep in envy, mind dredging up past memories.
Kojiro loved Kaoru since he was 17. He never told anyone, but if somebody asked him about it, he probably wouldn't deny it either. It was a truth he accepted since many years ago, and like any other coward, he decided to leave it be. After all, the object of his affection didn't feel the same, too busy agonizing over the tragedy of a broken friendship (or perhaps more).
He was dead set on giving up, but his relationship with Kaoru only seemed to strengthen over the years that it made him second-guess everything. They've done so many things together: going to the same college, traveling overseas, visiting each other's workplaces, skating in "S"… The way they were, it felt like balancing on a thread-like line between labels of "friends" and "lovers," not knowing which side they'll fall.
And Kojiro's a coward for refusing to fall.
So when he sees Langa and Reki, all soft gazes, careful touches, warm laughter, and just everything he wanted to be with Kaoru since they were 17, his heart aches with yearning.
pink
Kaoru felt a light tap on his shoulder.
He turned around and was greeted by Langa and Reki's smiling faces. Behind them, Nagachika already started cleaning up their table, a clear sign that they're ready to go.
Reki glanced at the kitchen area. "Seems like Joe's busy. Please say thank you to him for us."
"I will."
"And thank you for the desserts! I know you paid for one of those."
Tch. What a perceptive kid. Kaoru waved his fan at them dismissively. "Yeah yeah, you're welcome. Now fly off, you lovebirds."
"And-"
He raised a brow. "There's still more?"
Reki looked at him differently this time, amber eyes digging right through his soul and picking him apart. He flashed a knowing smile, and it suddenly felt like Kaoru's a teenager all over again who wore his heart on his sleeve.
(He still did, even now.)
"And good luck, Cherry. I know you can do it."
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Kaoru's eyes widened.
Langa tilted his head in confusion. "Are you having a calligraphy demonstration later? Good luck, Che- ow." His words got interrupted by his boyfriend pinching his nose. Reki grabbed Langa's hand and waved goodbye as they exited the restaurant. Kaoru stared at the closed door for a while, still startled at what he heard.
He didn't remember telling Reki about his plan for today, much less anyone.
A perceptive kid, indeed. Frighteningly so.
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What Kojiro didn't know was that Kaoru liked him back.
It was seamless, the process of it all. Kaoru didn't know when it started, but when going to Sia la luce on the regular felt so natural like Kojiro's the only comfort and respite he had ever known, that's when he knew it was love.
And he knew that Kojiro felt the same. No, the latter was in love with him way before he ever reciprocated it. But back in high school, Kaoru was so fixated on a certain blue-haired man that it took him a while to recover from their nasty fallout. Fortunately, after meeting Langa and the others and conquering "S," he's finally able to move on. The feeling of wanting to win desperately against an old friend now faded into nothingness, and with it came clarity.
Because he now knew what truly mattered to him.
It's the reason why Kaoru's here in Sia la luce, wasting time before sundown to wait for the chef to close shop and have dinner with him. He brought up the idea weeks prior, and the wistfulness in Kojiro's eyes as he said "yes" didn't go unnoticed. Like he's certain that Kaoru's making the offer only as a friend. Like they couldn't be anything more than that.
But he's about to put an end to this waiting game. If Kojiro's given up on confessing his feelings for him, then he'll be the one to do it instead.
Kaoru's never been so sure about what he wanted this time, and he's finally ready to say it.
black
"You don't look happy."
"I'm not not happy."
"Then why do your eyebrows look like they're ready to meet at any moment?"
Miya huffed in surrender at Takashi's persistent questioning and pointed to a particular red and blue-haired couple a short distance away. The redhead's legs were shaking like a newborn calf's as he balanced himself on the ice while clinging onto his boyfriend, who had an equally firm grip on him.
Takashi made an inquisitive sound and followed Miya as he took off. "Do you know them?"
Last night, Takashi phoned Miya to tell him about a newly opened ice rink a short train ride away. Miya's parents agreed to let him go if Takashi's older sister, Chisa, will act as their guardian. Together with Chisa and her college friend Rui, the four of them visited the skating rink. Miya and Takashi leisurely skated with the adults trailing close behind for a while, gliding smoothly across white ice.
What the former didn't expect was to see familiar faces. Reki and Langa's, to be exact.
"Remember the skater friends I mentioned?"
The brown-haired boy blinked in surprise. "Oh. You never told me they're way older than you."
"Yeah right. You'll be surprised how much older the rest are. Those two are the ones closest to my age."
His friend didn't look too convinced. "You sure you should be hanging around with them? You're a kid."
Miya rolled his eyes. He's turning 13 in a few days, thank you very much, but when compared to a bunch of twenty-something-year-olds, he can't argue the fact that, well, he is a kid. "They all act like kids. I blend in quite easily."
"Hmm…"
They moved to the side and stayed there for a moment, hands gripping the metal rails. It allowed them to have a clear view of the decently-sized rink. Many couples were skating given that it's Valentine's day, but a fair portion of the crowd was of their age, even younger. Miya tracked Reki and Langa with his eyes and let out a puff of laughter when he saw Reki slip and fall. Langa knelt by his side in a split second, clearly holding back laughter as well. Reki was sulky for a moment, probably mad at Langa for releasing his hold on him, but it didn't last long.
"Do you want to say hi?" Takashi asked.
Miya considered the idea, but he just shook his head. "Nah. I don't want to disturb them on their date."
It took the skater a few seconds of silence from his friend to realize what he just said. Miya didn't give a rat's ass about sexual orientation and all that because if two people loved each other, then that's enough. But he didn't know if Takashi felt the same.
(If it's for Reki and Langa, he's ready to drop his friendship with Takashi for the second time even if it will hurt.)
He quietly surveyed his friend's expression, subtly letting out a relieved sigh when Takashi's face didn't show a hint of disgust, only awe.
"So they're dating." Takashi gazed at his sister and her friend who were a few feet away with a wide grin. "Like Chisa-nee and Rui-nee."
Miya's eyes widened. "Eh?"
In the distance, Chisa and Rui were holding each other's hands, both wobbling as they tried to stay upright. Feeling two pairs of eyes on them, they looked toward the two boys' direction and waved. However, the action disrupted their balance and they both fell to the ground. Warmth filled Miya's chest as he watched the two laugh heartily while helping each other up.
"Hey, your friends are coming."
Takashi's words were the only warning he got before seeing Langa and Reki already skating their way toward them. Langa took the lead with Reki on his trail as they passed through the moving crowd, the latter using both hands to cling to Langa's arm.
"Miya!" Reki exclaimed as soon as they both reached the younger pair. Standing behind Langa, Reki rested his chin on his shoulder while gripping the taller's arms — somewhat like a back hug — to balance himself. "Fancy seeing you here."
Miya made a shoo-ing motion in faux annoyance. "Geh. Why did you go over here? Go back."
Reki ignored his snark and turned to his friend. "Are you Miya's friend? Hello! I'm Reki, and this other guy's Langa."
The brown-haired boy smiled and nodded. "Hello. I'm Takashi."
"Do you two have guardians with you? It's dangerous to be alone. You're a little far from home."
"Yes, they're here and are skating close to us."
"That's good. Don't go out of your guardians' sight, okay?"
"Got it."
When Reki finally appeared satisfied concerning their safety, he looked back at Miya. There's a teasing glint in his eyes like he's ready to spew out an embarrassing speech about how overjoyed he was that Miya's hanging out with his friend again.
In front of him and Takashi.
No he won't.
Miya released his hold on the rail and placed both hands on his hips, flaunting his balancing skills. "You should go back to practice ice skating more, slime. Unless you're fine with falling on your ass every time Langa lets go of you."
Reki stuck out his tongue. "You're no fun."
Throughout the exchange, Langa was silent, only talking when the two finished bickering.
"Hey," he greeted, locking eyes with the Miya.
Briefly, he remembered his conversation with Langa last month in "S." It's his first time coming again after a few weeks, rendered busy with practices for a regional competition. He bagged second place a few days prior, and in his brief moment in front of the flashing lights, he remembered Langa.
Langa , Snow, who deserved to get recognition even more.
So Miya talked to him that night when the blue-haired boy paused for a break, encouraging him to join official skateboarding competitions.
Langa said no.
("Is it because of the slime?" Miya asked then, because why else would he decline? Reaching new heights nobody dared to reach wasn't impossible for someone of Langa's caliber. If skating was one of the video games Miya plays, Langa would already be at the final boss' stage.
Joining official competitions opens the door to an entirely different world filled with vastly skilled players. However, it also entails going to new places, and doing so meant that Langa had to be away from his friends. Away from Reki.
Surprisingly, Langa gave a simple answer.
"Not really. It's just not what I want to do at the moment."
Miya didn't know what to reply to that so he gave no response. They spent the next few moments watching Reki and the others skate up the ramp. The two laughed along with the other skaters when Shadow flubbed a trick and slid down the ramp in slow motion.
"You know…"
The younger returned his gaze to Langa, who still looked ahead. He didn't know if he just imagined it, but he caught a glimpse of melancholy on Langa's face for a fleeting moment.
"When my dad died, every single day without him felt suffocating. I didn't just lose my dad, you know? I lost my best friend. But ever since I moved here and met all of you, it became easier to breathe. I haven't felt like this in a long time."
Langa looked at him then and Miya saw it, the pure content in those warm, turquoise eyes. Who was he to argue otherwise when his friend was happy and contented?
"I appreciate the offer, but I want things to stay the same for a little longer." The blue-haired boy gave Miya's head a soft pat. "But this doesn't mean that it's impossible to change my mind in the future. You can ask me again next time."
Next time it is.
"Okay." Miya reflected the smile on Langa's face. "Okay," he repeated, this time a little louder.)
Is it because of the slime?
Not really.
"Liar," he said, staring straight into Langa's eyes.
Ironically, Miya's tone didn't sound accusing at all. Langa seemed to understand what he meant, smiling as they both shared a look.
"Hmm?" Reki squished a cheek on his boyfriend's shoulder, trying to get a peek of his face from the back. "What's with you both?
Langa pinched the Reki's nose ("Ow."/"That's revenge for earlier.") momentarily before addressing Miya again.
"We won't bother you anymore. Have fun with your friend, Miya."
Miya finally dropped his annoyed facade and smiled. "Will do. Have fun too. And make sure to teach the slime how to stand on his own."
"Hey!"
"I will. He's already mad since I broke my promise of not letting him fall. I should at least teach him something."
"I'm here, you know!" Reki complained with a pout, but it quickly shifted to a smile. "I'm happy for you, Miya. Have fun, and you too, Takashi."
Miya and Takashi watched as the older pair skated back to the middle of the rink, still bickering. Takashi nudged him in the side.
"Now I know why you like them. They're very warm people. Especially Reki."
Miya's thoughts went back to when Reki told him to take the leap and forgive Takashi when he apologized to him. To the time when he said sorry for ignoring Miya and leaving him behind even when Reki had his own burdens to deal with. To the time when Reki challenged Adam to a beef, all for some kid he barely even knew.
He supposed he understood how Langa felt now, not wanting things to change. Wishing to always be by somebody else's side.
Reki was not a mere slime but a hero.
A hero who saved both Miya and Langa.
They may love Reki differently, but it's love all the same.
Miya nudged Takashi back, grinning. "Let's skate?"
(That night, Hiromi closed the flower shop early. His mother phoned him to ask him how he was doing and told him that she sent some homemade chocolate treats to his address. Hiromi tried his best to hold back tears.)
(Kojiro and Kaoru left the restaurant they ate dinner in with interlocked fingers after confessing to each other how they felt over dinner. They passed by a dessert shop, and Kaoru contemplated buying Reki a piece of cake for his support.)
(Miya spent the night watching a movie with his parents while eating homemade popcorn. His phone rang with Takashi's texts, asking him if he wanted to hang out with their other classmates next time.)
(Reki and Langa didn't feel like going home yet, so they picked up their boards at home and skated well into the night, laughing and sharing a kiss under the stars in the skate park that felt like their own little universe.)