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February the 11th.
The two men in the room basked in silence as they attended to their own tasks.
Guren was doing his usual routine; something Shinya has memorised a little too easily over the years ever since the elder had gotten his own apartment. He sat in his reclined chair that was over a few years old, being there since the male got his home. He held a book in his hand, using his fingers to separate the pages as he read while Shinya sat on the couch opposite of Guren in the shared living room.
He was busy on the phone.
"Guren, should we choose this hotel?" Shinya broke the silence between them, eyes still pasted to his screen on a particular hotel website he had found while scrolling around to find Hotels.
There were some attractive advertisements of an ongoing limited promotion, specially made for the month of February of every year.
There was another added moment of silence between Guren and Shinya, which looked like Guren was just processing Shinya's words and perhaps finishing his last sentence in the book before talking about anything else out of topic of his book.
Guren peeled his eyes away from his book, his violet eyes glanced at the younger male.
"Which hotel are you choosing for the staycation?" Guren questions in his voice, placing a bookmark between his pages and closes the book. He rests his book on the small table that was conveniently placed beside his chair, getting off to occupy a seat beside Shinya.
He expected a chalet near the beach to do some barbecue, but not a Hotel. Before he gives his input, he listens first to what the other male has to say.
"An 4.5 star-rated hotel with many recreational facilities, highest level of comfort." He reads most of the information and reviews to back up his claim. "We can both split costs for our staycation there." Shinya replies, his eyes followed Guren's movements as the other moves closer to him. "There's an ongoing discount, instead of the chalet we discussed earlier. I believe I don't have to explain the rather obvious reason." he eyed at Guren.
Guren shakes his head almost immediately, "I don't. Please enlighten me, Shinya."
At Guren's denseness, Shinya sighs in complete disappointment. "You really don't know? Do I have to explain everything to you Guren?" he complained.
He shows the currently viewed page to Guren, the new promotion page had many red hearts decorated moderately, its wordings were plentily repeated over and over again. The colour of red too was used.
"Yes you do,” he began to scan the text with his eyes on Shinya's phone – which the white-haired gestured to him to take his phone as his hand was tired from holding it up.
Guren held Shinya's phone to read, understanding the gesture done, "this sounds like a good promotion." He looks at a word so attractive that it caught his attention, knowing the hotel's way of marketing to get more customers by this particular promotion.
But Guren still stupidly fell into it anyway.
"A room suite at a discounted price?" His eyes were wide, rarely ever booking into a room in the hotel because of their expensive suite rates – but the thought alone of booking into a suite was enough to drive him to slide his card over it.
Shinya nods to Guren, "it's a Valentine's Day promotion. Other add-on accommodations will be at a discounted price, unlike the usual prices."
Shinya begins to explain, mostly to persuade Guren more, but halts to a stop. "I'm not overexplaining, am I?" Shinya asks worriedly.
Guren shakes his head absentmindedly, breaking out of his own world as he had spaced out – eyes focused on him properly. "Not at all, continue." he nodded once approvingly.
At the green light given by Guren, Shinya continues to explain, still careful to keep his explanation short and sweet and not as lengthy as before. In the corner of his eyes, he notices Guren staring at him for a few seconds as he explains, but Shinya himself doesn't point it out to him.
Seeing this from Guren was rather a common occurrence between their exchanges together which he grew quite used to.
"Sounds great," Guren had a miniature smile on his lips. "Now, what are the requirements?"
"The promotion is clearly for couples since Valentine's is in a few days, but I have devised a plan for it–"
"What?" Guren interrupts Shinya mid-sentence abruptly.
In a split second, he returns with a response. "Let's disguise ourselves as a couple," Guren proposes, stealing the unspoken words out of Shinya's mouth.
He sat there, mouth hung open in shock as Guren stole the words out of him before he even spoke.
"You stole my words," Shinya chuckles with a tint of nervousness.
"Ah, sorry, I was rash." Guren apologises. "Will you be willing to pretend – with me, to be a couple?" his voice was particularly soft when he asked.
"We might not be able to get a holiday as easily as this year." Shinya slowly starts, his mind and heart slowly considering this opportunity.
Guren agrees along with Shinya, "it took time for me to get a few days off, especially to have a staycation."
"Then, let's book a suite in this hotel." Shinya guessed that they were already on board with the shared idea, and Guren had begun to key in their details in his friend's smartphone.
While Guren typed in their contact details and their staycation details, Shinya began to fidget with his fingers nervously beside him and pressed his lips together.
Guren notices Shinya as he types, giving glances to both his friend and to the smartphone, so he quickly finished up the form online to ask. "Anything in your mind?"
"If we act like a couple," Shinya starts hesitantly, pausing as he tries to find the words to say.
"Go on."
"We would have to act lovey-dovey, don't we?"
Guren looks at Shinya, nodding slowly. "We'll use the excuse that any intimate actions of our relationship can only be done in our suite, but you know well that we won't."
"Sounds alright to me." Shinya smiles comfortably, his worries were brought relief to.
Guren returns the handphone to the rightful owner, "now let's wait for a few more days then we'll head over to that hotel."
Shinya slides his handphone back into his pocket, standing up from the couch. "I'll cook breakfast since I came here, what would you like for breakfast Guren?"
"You know the usual, curry."
"Huh? Again?" Shinya's voice was raised in disbelief.
"Yes, I'm not lying, Shinya."
Shinya sighs, shaking his head disappointedly. "Fine, fine, since you requested curry– I'll make it for you."
Guren acknowledges Shinya's answer, nodding approvingly at him. "Thank you, Shinya."
February the 13th.
The next few days passed by quicker than usual, even a mere two days did not feel like forty-eight hours at all.
As per what they usually do, Guren and Shinya exchanged text messages to each other online as they had to do their late laundry that was already long overdue.
But Shinya showed up over Guren's apartment, unannounced — which Guren always allows him in, like a daily visitor to his house while the others were busy. Shinya personally didn’t care if his friend’s house was in a mess of laundry. Sometimes, he’d lend a helping hand to him.
After two days, unlike their usual hangouts, they met up on the day of booking-in over at Guren's apartment, who already had a taxi booked to the hotel for their staycation.
Luckily, they managed to secure a suite before it was all maxed out and unavailable – due to the high demand of customers who wanted to book in. They’ll definitely be surrounded by couples when they use the hotel’s facilities during their stay.
Guren, out of his own kindness, sponsored this car ride to the hotel only.
(But Shinya would have to pay for their individual rides back home after the end of the staycation, so technically it wasn't a kind gesture – as remarked by Shinya himself.)
But at the end of their little fuss, Shinya earned his place in Guren's apartment to rest for a night there. It was a win-win for him.
While being on the way and nearing the hotel, as seen in the GPS of the taxi driver, Shinya hesitantly reaches for Guren's hand.
The Ichinose notices this and quickly joins their hands together before their car drives right below the shelter for drop-off.
Shinya sat in the car, silent, with a burning blush over his cheeks. The only few people he has held hands with were just his parents, and Guren was the third person. Coincidentally, his crush.
Or that's what he mostly recalls, but mostly he does not remember the others as they were just happy little accidents — or just friends forgotten over time.
Shinya never once understood the huge deal over the person who has a crush on them starting to hold hands together, especially in high school which was just a mere few years back. Time sure has passed by, now that their friend group was all working and busy.. leaving Guren and Shinya alone, most of the time.
In the, perhaps ten years, of being friends with Guren — he held his friend’s hand for the first time today. Now he at least understands the feeling as he was placed in their shoes and stood in their situation.
But before Shinya got all his hopes up, or a minor spark of hope, for Guren to potentially like him in a romantic aspect.
His mind knows that this gesture of his was just for their acting to convince others that they were a couple – and not just a pair of single men who snuck in to get a discounted price for the suite at the cheap cost of acting as a couple.
For their shared staycation together, Shinya hopes that they will be able to get away with this. (Even though it is unethical as it sounds). He had full trust in Guren's abilities to act, as well as his.
Guren and Shinya's door was opened by the hotel staff who greeted them, the stationed bell hopper took their luggage upon their permission and sent it to their shared couples' suite. The process was efficient as they got their cards to enter their room.
But before they went to check out their room and the weight of their luggages off of them, the both of them got a meal over at the guests' restaurant.
There were many times throughout the day where they just held each other's hands, returning eyes of pure admiration and love for each other. Only the two knew that these were just for appearances, and not actual love.
But Shinya’s heart aches whenever he thinks about this.
Shinya had to admit, it did throb this heart of his ; that fell in love with Guren.
The handholding, the soft gaze at his partner. How he wished he could experience that love..
Throughout his many years of being friends with Guren, today was the first day in history where he saw the said man smile with genuineness to him.
Guren never confesses that he likes any of them, or in their friend group. All he says is a 'shut up', but his friends have known him for long enough to know that he wasn't actually serious when he says it.
At the end of their romantic lunchtime together, Shinya's mind was full of mental images of the rarely seen Ichinose smiling at him. The little talks Guren did riled up his heart. Those mental images of the man smiling were deeply engraved into his brain with no effort at all, finding them so memorable throughout the trip.
After eating some snacks, they explored the hotel’s available facilities, indulging themselves in leisure as they too were there for that — to take a break from the working world and to spend time for themselves. Many couples were seen, as expected, and the two singles huddled close to each other in a ‘world’ of people way above their league.
They did the activities that Shinya found interest in for the first day as the two agreed on accompanying each other on the days that they booked. It wasn’t a long staycation, so they filled their schedules with the many activities that the hotel has made available for and times appropriate to rest for their leisure.
They painted some matching potteries together, played some pool, and had a slow dance in the huge ballroom towards the evening.
One thing Shinya found out about Guren that day was that in the arts of dancing, he wasn't skilled. At all. In fact, he was so horrible at it that he kept stepping on Shinya's feet as they danced – hearing so many apologies from Guren.
Once Guren realises that he had no ability to dance well and lead, Shinya adapts to lead throughout the dance.
He'd say that he himself was at least decent in dancing, unlike Guren.
There was a moment of tension between them once the music's volume softened as it ended, in which they responded to each other – by just looking away. Somewhere where their eyes could never land on each other.
Shinya's cheeks felt like they were on fire after, the warmth still danced on his palms. They held hands so many times that Shinya always gets surprised by Guren, maybe a little too obvious as his body jolted to the sudden hand holding.
Millions of thoughts ran through his mind, unsure of the mixed signals he has been receiving from Guren. One second, he's all lovey-dovey as his cover – and the next, he's back to his usual grumpy self.
But his grumpiness felt different , this time. It wasn't the usual angry tone, but more of a frustrated way.
Shinya doesn't understand why he acted like that, but he hopes that Guren wasn't uncomfortable with him. The last thing which he never wants is to make him feel that way.
After a couple of hours of the many activities they took part in, they went to check out their room near the evening as they decided to sleep in early for the night.
"Maybe we shouldn't have gone for so many in one go, we're here to rest and have fun."
"Agreed, but you'll definitely have to accompany me tomorrow for my activity."
Shinya nods either way.
Shinya firstly enters their shared suite after Guren, who played the role of the 'gentleman' in the relationship with little communication brought over to him. Shinya expected to be the one but they sometimes took turns to do it.
It was a tiny competition between them. Just one look told them that this was a competition.
He checks for the luggage the bell hopper bought for them, once it was checked and there, he excitedly dashed towards the room further inside the suite; finding just one large bed in this vast suite.
It was either a king-sized bed or a queen's bed, but it was definitely large enough to fit at least two people, or more.
Which tallied well with Guren and Shinya as it was just the two of them occupying this one suite, but..
There wasn't a long couch, or a second bed. Shinya recalls seeing the usual suite packages that were usually advertised online by the hotel having two beds and a couch. Or maybe, this was just part of the special promotion.
One bed, for two lovers. Romantic for actual lovers, yes, but for Guren and Shinya..
Not really.
Shinya looks at Guren who was walking slowly behind him, looking at him as he stopped in his tracks. "There's only one bed for us."
Guren noticed another detail that Shinya did not see yet, seeing that the image was clearly for couples on the bed which was a rose-petal shaped heart on the bed.
The room had a tolerable scent of lavender oil, which the two males grew slowly fond of once their noses became familiar with it.
"I think this is the consequence of choosing a couple's suite, only a bed to sleep in for two."
Shinya only now notices the heart done on the bed, his cheeks burned red behind his skin. "Yeah, we're not the target audience for this promotion."
He sighs it off with a shrug, "it is what it is. Neh Guren, are you a clingy sleeper?"
Guren glanced at Shinya for a second, having a proud stance at the question. "No, you?"
"Aww really? I've been looking forward to seeing the never-smiling man be clingy to a person for once."
He scoffs, "who do you think I am?"
"A clingy sleeper in secret," he smirked, continuing. "You may never know~ there might be more than what meets the eye." he points to his eye in emphasis.
"I assure you that you won't wake up to me clinging to you," Guren says promisingly to Shinya.
“We’ll see.”
The only time he’s seen Guren sleep was during one of their high school summer camps which was ten years ago and more. Shinya faintly remembers the soft noises that were made during the first night of camp, waking up to see Guren’s arms that tried to pry himself out of his sleeping bag— looking for his bolster.
Seeing this side of restless Guren, Shinya had gotten out of his sleeping bag to return the rolled away bolster back to him. Guren’s arms were wrapped around his bolster, almost strangling it once it was in his arms. His face smiles as he hugged his bolster close to his body, his arms making sure that it did not roll away again.
Which leaves him to ask, “do you still sleep with a bolster, Guren?”
Guren huffs, irritated. “What's with the many questions Shinya? But yes, I do." he still replies to Shinya, which the younger male laughs at.
Shinya sits on the bed, his weight sinking into the dressed mattress easily. "You can take the bolster then."
He rolls the bolster to the centre of the bed, marking each side. "I'll take one side, and you'll take one side." he gestures a thumbs-up to Guren, which the other replies back with one.
Guren walks to the unclaimed side of the bed, sitting down. "Alright."
Shinya rises from the bed to go over their belongings to get a pair of pyjamas to change into as well as his toiletries.
Guren notices the set of clothes being taken by Shinya, "can you take mine as well? And my toothbrush."
Shinya grins, "of course dear ." he says with a mockful tone.
The elder's cheeks flushed a soft red, looking away and at Shinya. "Shut up Shinya."
Shinya laughs, throwing Guren's pair of pyjamas to his face. "I'll put your toothbrush in the bathroom."
The two changed into their pyjamas and got ready for bed, but Shinya took longer than usual.
Guren was already tucked into his blankets, his eyes staring up at the ceiling.
Shinya turns off the lighting of the room by the bed, except the light emitting from the nightstand. He moves to adjust his position, covering himself with the large fluffy blankets in the air-conditioned room.
Guren slowly turns over to look at Shinya, hugging the bolster that separated their sides.
"What's that look for?"
"You took a long time, I was waiting for you."
Shinya chuckles as his response to him, "really?"
"Do you think I am lying?" his voice grew annoyed again, but Shinya took it lightly.
Just that, he was now being careful with a grumpy Guren.
Guren's entire body hugs the bolster, his raven hair locks messy and out of place. "You better not come near me during my sleep." he warned with a clear threat in his voice.
"Unlike you at summer camp, I can sleep perfectly still."
"Oh? So this is a skills issue?"
Shinya takes a moment to think just to exaggerate it. "Maybe."
Guren lightly slaps his arm under the blankets, which the white-haired male only laughed at.
Shinya offers an assuring smile for his friend, "don't worry, I'll not hug you to sleep."
He replies with a click of his tongue in annoyance, "yeah, yeah right."
Shinya smiles his signature smile, his cerulean blue eyes dreamily gazes at Guren's face. "Goodnight then Guren."
Guren sighs, relaxing into the moment to be able to sleep as his eyes were growing more and more heavier. "Goodnight, Shinya."
7:49 a.m.
February the 14th.
The first few rays of the sunrise entered their suite through a gap between the closed curtains, landing on a part of Shinya's face.
Warmth tickled his face, earning a smile that he unconsciously does as he sleeps. The room was cold from the aircon, and this warmth added to the room’s much needed humidity. He forgot to increase the room's temperature last night.
His chest felt heavy with some weight on him, recalling having none the night before. He hears soft murmurs in a recognisable deep voice below his face.
Shinya squeezes his eyes open, greeted by the blinding light of the sunrise immediately. His arm was around the mountain of weight on him, seeing a beautiful shade of raven hair sticking out from the bottom of his eyes.
He adjusts his head in the pillow to look, seeing a peaceful look on Guren's face. He had a smile of content over his lips, arms wrapped around Shinya's body that was similar to the bolster's hugging– but less tighter.
While Shinya was relieved, he couldn't imagine being suffocated by a pair of arms at all.
The said man was resting his cheek on his chest, sleeping peacefully.
Shinya squinted his eyes even when the subject of his view was right in front of him, perhaps the morning sun made him see versions of Guren he wishes to see. Maybe this whole staycation was making him see things.
Thinking about it logically was actually quite impossible, Shinya finds quickly.
He moves his arm just slightly to rub his eyes, while the Ichinose resting on him reacts with a muttered groan.
"Shh.. shh," Shinya hushes Guren, attempting to adjust himself with as little movement as possible.
Again, Guren reacted in the same way, each groan from the elder grew more annoyed – which Shinya decides to just stop moving around anymore.
The bolster Guren hugged last night was nowhere to be seen.
His instinct was to check the floors but he couldn't risk Guren waking up so early, especially when it was just 7 a.m. in the morning. Somewhere around seven, that's what Shinya knows.
The breakfast hours in the hotel was in a few hours, but it was too early to even get a morning shower. Shinya may like cold morning showers, but not in the freezing cold.
Plus, what is he supposed to do as Guren sleeps in the bed? Reading a book wasn’t a choice for Shinya, let alone moving to his luggage for it. Or his handphone.
He calms himself down from his thoughts, resting on his bed as he waits for his sleepiness to take over him again. He breathed slowly and calmly to relax into the moment, his eyes occupied to stare at Guren's sleeping face.
There was a small smile that occupied his lips, his raven hair locks were as messy as ever – which Shinya uses his hand to fondle his hair with, both to uncover the beauty underneath and to make him as comfortable as possible.
Shinya slowly leans towards an idea that has been lingering in his head for quite some time now, especially seeing this perfect opportunity with Guren.
With a moment of hesitance, Shinya slowly ruffles his head. He expected a larger reaction to this, but surprisingly he didn’t get one from him.
Guren's smile broadened, beginning to mutter a word. "More.."
Shinya continued to stroke Guren's head, his smile and gaze at the Ichinose grew softer for this sleeping man who remained occupied on his chest.
Next, his thought was to kiss him – that definitely made Shinya malfunction for a few seconds.
“It's inappropriate,” Shinya was aware.
In the end, he does not do the idea at all, being content with just stroking Guren's head. This was already enough for Shinya, seeing his crush smile , being hugged by him to sleep.. This was all enough to satisfy this heart that has fallen for Guren since a long time ago.
Shinya would give anything to see more of this side of Guren, but as much as his dream remains simple, his life does not always go his way.
Eventually, sleep once again takes over Shinya, his hand remaining motionless on the Ichinose's head. His chest breathes normally despite the weight on his chest.
Slowly, sleep starts to take over him once more.
9:26 a.m.
February the 14th.
The weight on Shinya's chest has disappeared, which the male opens his eyes first to find out where Guren went. The water in the bathroom was running, assuming that it was Guren taking a shower.
Shinya sits up from the bed, stretching his arms out to do his morning stretches. He lets out a yawn, covering his mouth with tears formed in the corner of his eyes – wiping them with his hands.
He gets out of his bed to get a fresh pair of clothes from his packed luggage to change into after his shower, looking out of the window.
His eyes took a while to adjust to the lighting outside, especially when he had just woken up from his sleep, rubbing his eyes carefully with his hands.
Still, he kept yawning and yawning, his thought in his head was to get a coffee for breakfast.
The running water heard in the bathroom was put to a stop, hearing the unlocking of the door which Guren comes out right after. He wore a simple set of clothing, the same pair he saw Guren packed it in, the usual white collared shirt with black pants.
Which leads Shinya to question in his mind, rather than asking the man himself. "Are those the only clothes in your wardrobe?"
The Ichinose's hair was in a mess, clear attempts in the way his hair was blown back – assuming that the elder attempted to blow dry his hair with the blow dryer installed in the bathroom.
Guren has yet to notice Shinya who was crouching by his luggage, clothes wrapped around his folded arms, waiting for Guren to acknowledge his presence.
Guren hums through his closed lips once he lifts his face from the towel, "good morning, Shinya."
"Good morning Guren," Shinya smiles cheerily.
"So.." his only word trails off, acting as if he didn't attempt small-talking. This time, Guren was nervous – or hesitant, as the other's words never continued.
There were attempts done by him, in which Shinya notices Guren's mouth being slightly opened to say a few words, or a sentence long, but none came out of him.
Guren's cheeks slowly bloomed redder, balling fists by his sides.
"Nevermind." Guren finishes off, continuing to dry his hair with a towel in visible frustration.
"Aww, come on, tell me~" Shinya chuckles, seeing this side of flustered Guren never bores him.
"I doubt that you were actually awake." Guren replies, looking away with a flustered face.
Shinya had a guess in his mind, curling his lips upwards into a suppressed smug look.
"I'm guessing that you were very awake at the time," Guren knew just from seeing Shinya's face.
"So you're a clingy sleeper?"
"No.." Guren responded hesitantly, looking down as he avoided meeting the other male's gaze.
"Come on Guren, we know that's a lie."
"Fine, I am." He huffs his response, draping his arms across his chest. "Happy now?"
"More than happy," Shinya grinned. At a tilt of his head, he continues to ask, "you like headpats too Guren?"
"Yes.. mom and dad always did those, and brought me to sleep easily." Guren's mouth ran honestly to Shinya.
"Very cute," Shinya only remarked.
Guren didn't utter a word, but an even more flushed look of red appeared on his cheeks. "Shut up.."
Shinya giggles at Guren's quite common reaction, knowing that he does not mean it. "Anyways, what should we do today?"
"Drink."
Guren's answer caught Shinya off guard, " drink ?"
"There's special Valentine's Day cocktails, I'd like to try them."
"Oh, is it the activity you mentioned yesterday about?"
Guren slightly bops his head, "yes. You have no choice but to follow me, in case I get drunk, I'll need my charming boyfriend to escort me back to my room."
Shinya's cheeks flushed red at what Guren called him as.
The elder chuckles, seeing how red Shinya's face has gotten. As if he wasn't wrong to know it was his own doing.
"He-Hey, this isn't funny to chuckle at." A pout tugged on Shinya's lips, huffing with folded arms.
"Sorry, sorry." Guren apologises.
But it didn't sound sincere to him as he expected a full-on apology, but when it comes to Guren..
Maybe, he forgives him a little too quickly.
"We should wait for the evening to drink the specials."
Guren nods, "definitely, it's too early in the morning for some alcohol."
"After we eat dinner, we'll head to the bar to drink."
"It's just 9 a.m., no one consumes alcohol or serves them in the morning." Shinya chuckles.
"You know," Guren starts, moving close – or, very close to Shinya, his hand carefully placed on the surface of the desk near where Shinya stood in front of.
Guren got unbelievably close to Shinya's face, but the elder's head slightly looked up to meet the younger's blue eyes. He wasn't shorter than him, in fact, they were both of the same height.
Shinya's heart pounded like crazy at the sudden closeness.
His voice was soft, although the only audience in the room was just Shinya and him alone together. They were still in their private suite anyway, so Shinya questions the sudden soft voice of Guren's. "Do you know that you have an important role to play other than just accompanying me?"
"And what is that?" Shinya could not hide the curiosity in his voice.
Guren backs off, standing up straight. "Ensuring that I don't drink past two. That's my alcohol limit for a day."
Shinya takes a small breath of relief when Guren backs off, placing a hand on his chest to feel his heartbeat. "I see.. do you even know your tolerance?"
"Yes.." Guren's response started out unsure, "but I haven't drank for a year and a half, so I forgot."
"Then after you drink your two or one cocktail, we'll go back to our suite."
Guren bopped his head agreeingly.
"So I won't be able to drink alcohol?"
"Well, do you know your tolerance?" Guren questions.
"I can, at least a drink and more.. but I limit myself to one per day." Shinya spoke unsurely.
"Are we paying for our own drinks?" Shinya mentions importantly.
"I'll pay this time."
"Is this another trap?" Shinya asks cautiously.
Guren shakes his head, "I'm serious, I'll pay this time as a thank you for accompanying me."
"If you're offering to pay for my one drink then I'll just accept your offer," Shinya smiles softly.
Guren blinked his eyes, seeing him smile. He huffs a chuckle with a smile over his lips, “whatever Shinya.”
Many hours have passed since morning came.
Guren and Shinya have eaten their dinner as they had discussed earlier. Many couples in the guest’s restaurant practised something in common — which was to spoon feed their meals to their partner. If anything, Guren and Shinya stood out more than the other couples when Guren’s eyes took a brief look around.
Seeing this, Guren decides to fit in to not create suspicion by spoon feeding him — which Shinya was stunned at. Naturally, Shinya ate from Guren's spoon with flared cheeks.
And he still was, as they walked to the bar for guests. They were directed by the nearest hotel staff to the location of the hotel’s bar where they were serving their signature Valentine’s Day specials, which Guren showed visible interest in.
He never knew Guren was so interested in wine.
As they descended down a flight of staircases to the bar, the more the scent of wine grew stronger and stronger as they neared the entrance.
Opening the door gave their noses a clear confirmation that this place, full of ambience lighting, was the place they were looking for.
The bar was furnished – in a rather unique way unlike the many floors above. It gave a tavern homely feel and does not feel part of the Hotel, but just some tavern imported inside the building.
The reason why the bar was a secluded area is that this Hotel was mostly used for businessmen and women, serving both for working guests and leisure guests. But the work guests are nowhere to be seen during the month of February, particularly near Valentine's Day as couples book in to enjoy their yearly signature specials and activities for their targeted customers.
Shinya and Guren sat down right by the bar countertop where the bartender was already making drinks for the other seated customers, taking in the warmly lit room. Guren takes the menu, muttering a "thank you" before turning to his partner, Shinya.
He held it in between them to see the special menu together of the hotel's valentine's specials, "which one will you be getting dear?"
"Maybe this," Shinya points to a uniquely named drink with his finger. "I can choose another if its too much-"
Guren shakes his head, seeing the price as soon as Shinya points to it in the special menu. "The price is doable for me."
His eyes scanned through the menu again, and maybe that he had finished browsing through as he picked his drinks. He held Shinya's hand underneath the counter, raising it to his lips to press a kiss with closed eyes.
He pulls away slightly from Shinya's hand, looking up at him with a smirk. "Let me pay this time, my dear."
His face was in a state of a flushed mess.
Guren chuckles, expecting that kind of reaction from him, raising his hand to call the bartender over to tell their orders.
Shinya sits quietly with red cheeks, leaning closer to Guren's ear. "You.. you didn't have to say that." he whispers, continuing. "I can't let you have all the glory of making me flustered."
"Oh, but I can." Guren smirks.
Shinya sighs, irritated by Guren's response.
"Damn it, I'm falling in love with him more."
"That's it, next time or tomorrow, I'll be the one making you flustered." Shinya smirks, challenging Guren.
"So this is a challenge? Bring it on, love."
" Ahem," the bartender coughs at the sight of the two lovebirds, unsure if they were quarelling. But he had their drinks ready and served them in front of them.
Shinya mutters an apology to the bartender, which he acknowledges.
The man starts to introduce and name the drinks, once he finishes, he gives a slight bow to the couple. "Enjoy," he wishes for the two, walking away from the couple whose drinks were served.
Guren picks up his drink, as well as Shinya. "Cheers," their voices synced, clinking their glasses together and drinking them dry.
There was only another wine glass left for Guren as he had ordered two, but Guren already looked awful after a round. Shinya still looked at least sober unlike the elder – which he still was.
He didn't expect Guren's tolerance for alcohol to be this bad.
He wasn't reacting as fast as before they drank their first, how Shinya knew was just by assessing his reaction time after as the other keeps dozing in and out.
"It's just a round, yet he's already so.. drunk-looking?" Shinya comments as he observes the drunk man.
Guren spaces out again, slurring his words together this time – words that were impossible to even decipher. He just hopes that it wasn't something vital Guren was trying to utter.
The drunk had let his head drop to the side of Shinya's shoulder, having a flushed look all over his cheeks. "Shinya, Shinya.." he repeats his name, hugging both arms around the other's body.
Shinya tries to move around in Guren's arms, which Guren reacts by hugging him even tighter – just like earlier in the morning.
"Don't vomit on me," he sighs, looking at the man below him.
"Mm, Shinya.." Was all what the drunk man muttered out to him again.
Shinya slowly ruffles Guren's head with his hand, which he leans in more towards him.
"What a baby you are," Shinya comments again.
"Shinya.." Guren repeats his name for how long already, starting to hiccup in between his words.
"Yes Guren?"
" Dooosh you havezz– a boyfriend?" he slurs his words, asking Shinya with wildly curious violet eyes that looked into his eyes. Shinya could understand Guren's drunken language this time round.
Immediately, eyes from the people close to Shinya started to look at them as Guren's voice was unnecessarily louder than usual.
"Yes I do," Shinya replies calmly with a nervous chuckle, looking around not too obviously to see the people no longer eyeing him suspiciously and returning back to their usual tasks. He covers Guren's mouth to stop the other from running his drunk mouth, "lower down your voice dear." he whispered.
In fact, he was quite confused – the lines of drunk Guren and the usual Guren were so blurred, he wasn't sure if it was the drunk him talking or him .
Guren breaks into tears upon Shinya's answer, appearing unsatisfied by his answer. "Noooo.. that can't beee.." he shakes his head, sniffling his cry.
He tugs on Shinya's hand to bring it closer to his eyes, "you donn have a wring.." he looked particularly at his empty marriage finger.
"That's because we agreed that having marriage rings is not the way we label relationships, remember dear?" Shinya fakes a memory of them together, hoping that Guren plays along with it.
"Noooo, donn remember." Guren shakes his head, catching on as the other stares at his cheeks.
"You're drunk, that's why." he explains in a simple way so even drunk baby Guren could understand him.
"Shinya.." he blinks his eyes slowly at the other.
"Shinya, you're so pretty." Guren starts, resting his entire body on his shoulder. "Why are you married already? I'm sure your husband is an asshole."
He blushes quietly to himself as Guren continues to ramble about the relationship.
Guren held Shinya's hand again, bringing it to his lips to kiss it. He pulled away from his hand, looking up at the white-haired. "Please get with me," he hiccups after he says his sentence, fluttering his drunk eyes at him.
"Why won't you kiss me?" Guren's violet eyes were glassy – tears welling at the bottom, at the brink of breaking down into tears.
The elder leaned towards Shinya, which ignited panic in him. His finger reached out to Guren who was fast approaching him for a kiss on the lips, but was stopped by the opposite's finger that was on his lips.
Guren blinked his eyes open, looking at Shinya.
"Dear," he starts out hesitantly, trying to wear off the panic in himself. "I told you that we'll do our kisses only in our suite, remember?"
His eyes lit up at Shinya's answer, "really?"
"Yes, yes really. We'll kiss in our suite, alright?"
"Okay.." Guren sniffs, wiping his nose with his sleeve with tears running down his cheeks. "Then can we go there now?"
"Nope," he points at the untouched drink. "You haven't drank that one yet, you wouldn't want to waste a drink now would you?"
"For a kiss by my husband, I would ditch it."
Shinya shakes his head in disapproval, "nuh-uh, this husband of yours doesn't like to waste."
He pushes the glass closer to Guren and in his range, "come on, drink up."
"No.." he pouts, having some kind of staring contest with the cup.
"If I give you a kiss on the cheek, would you drink it?" Shinya jokes.
"Yessss I would.." he rubs his eyes to keep himself awake. “Gimme the energy,” he spaced out mid-sentence, “to finish it.”
Shinya looks at him in pure surprise, expecting Guren to somehow turn down that offer. But when he was placed in this position..
“It's just a kiss. On the cheek.”
Shinya continues to wait it out, but Guren sat in front of him, his eyes expectant — for the kiss that Shinya had joked about.
He breathes in a deep breath, hand placed on the ravenette's cheek and slowly into the hair to hook his fingers into. He leaned towards his cheek, brushing his lips against the other's skin and pulled himself away.
A hum left Guren's lips as the other pulled away, blinking his violet eyes at him. "Thank you," he thanked softly, taking the last cup of alcohol and downed it into his system.
At this point, he couldn't tell whether Guren was blushing or if it was the alcohol's influence on him. Maybe just the alcohol.
It took some time for the alcohol to kick into Guren's system, which was visibly shown to him. He sat beside the ravenette, observant eyes, wondering if Guren could even get more drunk than this.
" Mmmn, Shinya dear." Guren hums, closing his eyes slowly. "Everything is spinning for me.. is that noooormal?"
Shinya shakes his head, "what part of that do you think is normal?"
Guren leans towards Shinya, resting his face on his shoulder.
But before Shinya could hug his body, Guren unexpectedly picked his head up to look up at Shinya. "Hold my hand?" he rests his elbow on his thigh, staring at him with eyes of want.
Wanting him to hold his hand, Shinya assumes.
Shinya, of course, takes Guren's hand willingly.
He felt Shinya's hand in his, intertwining them together into one whole. The ravenette breathes easily, smiling. "Thank you."
A small chuckle escaped his lips as he watched Guren join their hands properly, looking at the other below him, "you have a lot of requests for me huh? What, do you crave for my touch?"
Guren didn't say a word, but instead hid his face on Shinya's shoulder – which Shinya takes as a reaction.
He sighs, rubbing Guren's back with his hand. "We should go back to the suite, I'll give you that kiss that you really want."
"Really?" Guren immediately sits up, his eyes sparkling in happiness – the look of drunkenness still lingering.
"Shinya will give me a kiss?" he continued, his face full of joy.
Shinya nods along, "yes I will."
He stands up in a hurry after hearing Shinya's reply, "then we should go now-"
Shinya's body shot up immediately, holding Guren together just in case the ravenette falls. "What's with the hurry?"
"There is a hurry."
"But we haven't paid for our drinks yet-"
"You, pay first. I'll.." his word trailed off, quietly burping into his hand. "I'll pay you the money later.
"I'll pay for you instead."
Shinya calls the bartender over while he keeps Guren close to him, paying his tab with his card for their drinks.
As the payment processes, Shinya glanced at the drunk man wrapped around his arms. Eyes closed with a smile over his lips at the embrace.
He grew soft for him, in his moment of vulnerability, slowly ruffling Guren's hair.
Once the Bartender receives the payment, Shinya makes his leave to go back to their suite – as promised to the very, very drunk Guren.
It took some time for Shinya to bring him into their room, and when he did, he carefully set Guren down on the bed – crashing into the mattress after.
"God, you're heavy." he complains, his lungs breathing in desperate breaths of air.
Guren turns his head over to look at Shinya, "sorry." he mutters softly. "Everything feels like it's spinning, I want–"
He joined their hands together once again, seeing a shaken breath of relief from Guren.
"Does this somehow stop you from spinning?" Shinya asks, who has been observing Guren's behaviour for quite some time – especially when he holds his hand.
Guren cautiously nods as the spinning spell slowly calms down like crashing tides, "yes it does. Thank you."
"Once again, don't thank me." Shinya smiles, looking around in the room. "It's hard for me to move around while you hold my hand."
"Well, why do you plan to move around?"
"Do some.. things."
"So you're saying that you have other priorities than me?"
Shinya was put in a spot once again, sighing. "What, you're jealous ? You want me to prioritise you now?"
The ravenette nods.
"Why is that?" Shinya questions.
Guren pauses for a moment and longer, "..won't tell."
He presses for more to get his question answered, "why not? What's stopping you?"
The Ichinose ignores his burning questions, "give me my kiss already." he pouts his lips, starting to whine at this point.
"As I said, take it.”
“No, I want you to kiss me.”
Shinya shakes his head, “I will not.”
"Why not?" he crawls closer to Shinya, palming his cheek – who looked down or the opposite of wherever Guren was.
"You didn't answer mine, I'll not answer yours." Shinya huffs, continuing to keep his eyes off of Guren despite his cheeks clearly wanting him to kiss already.
Guren took, at least, a few seconds long of his moment to stare at Shinya's face – taking in his features.
"Please?"
"Please, what?" Shinya looks at him confused, an eyebrow arched at him.
"Please kiss me."
"Nope." Shinya firmly rejects.
His heart ached. There was a deep longing in his heart for a simple need, not a want, he needed the kiss.
If he was to never confess his feelings to the other, he'll never experience love with Guren. At least, once in his life. The first and last time they'll be able to do this..
Shinya weighs his choices.
"Butbut.. you promised me that once we get back to our suite, we gonna kiss?" the pout on Guren's face curved downwards more, talking in a baby way to him.
Guren's whines went on and on, to the point it brings Shinya to his breaking point.
With a swift move towards him, a grab on his collar – along with a pull to bring him close. Their lips clashed against each other, a little rougher than what he'd like, but Guren looked satisfied with it.
Looks like Guren too wanted this so bad, yet he never is the one to engage in it.
It didn't take long for Guren to begin to indulge himself further into the kiss, cupping Shinya's cheeks with his hands and his eyelids slowly fluttering close.
Shinya hums into the kiss, keeping his side of the kiss as long as possible.
Who knows that this might be the last time he'll ever be able to kiss Guren without anyone around them and without an established relationship.
Guren too notices that Shinya kept it as breathable as possible to keep their one kiss as long as possible – both noticing the obvious look of desperation to be kissed.
Their breaths hitch againsts each other as they continue the kiss for as long as their lungs can take it, Shinya sometimes takes a peek with his eyes to see a relaxed Guren infront of him – completely relaxed with closed eyes as he was into the kiss, as expected.
It ached his heart to pull away, he can't imagine the embarrassment that will surface right after as well.
The ravenette's arm moves away from his cheek, slithering down the opposite male figure to Shinya's waist.
Slowly, Guren pushes Shinya down – keeping their lips locked to each other like a locked lock.
Shinya's instinctive reaction was to wrap his arms around the Ichinose's neck, only noticing now that he was laying down completely flat on the bed.
The ravenette pulls away from the kiss, proudly wearing a smirk at him.
Shinya hid his need for another one, already having blushed red cheeks after the kiss. His lips slightly parted and red from the kiss, slowly letting himself lay completely on the bed – unattached from Guren's body.
"What’s.." he barely was able to compose himself after the kiss, his stomach full of mixed feelings for him, but Guren wasn't saying anything.
"What's with the hand on my waist?"
Guren familiarises himself with the feeling by holding his waist, looking up at Shinya. "It felt better to hold you this way."
“Why not just admit that you wanted to hold my waist?”
Guren hiccups, staring into one space as he spaces out — which Shinya snaps his finger at to regain the drunk Ichinose’s awareness.
“Let me..”
“Do what?”
The redness in his cheeks bloomed redder, shaking his head.
Shinya waits patiently for Guren even after receiving no reply.
“I’ll let me do it.”
The white-haired looked at him in complete confusion.
Like a good person he is, he waits for the elder.
Once again, Guren lowers himself down who was right above Shinya’s body.
Shinya expects another kiss, letting his eyes flutter shut.
The ravenette notices this, chuckling softly in amusement. He pinched on Shinya’s collar down from his neck, revealing his bare skin.
Shinya notices the fiddling around with his shirt, opening his eyes to see Guren’s head right below him — facing his head full of raven hair.
“Just so you know, you can do anything you want to me.”
"Let's not get too far alright?" he chuckles musingly. Guren blinks his violet eyes at Shinya, chuckling softly. “Expecting a kiss hm?"
He blinks his eyes open at Guren, biting his lip gently to not inflict pain onto himself. "No.."
"Don't hide it honey." he chuckles.
The red in Shinya's cheeks only reddened further into a soft, bolder red. "No.." he repeats again.
Guren bites into Shinya’s neck, using as little teeth as possible to dig into his skin – and to not injure him.
Shinya felt the prick, looking at Guren whose head was towards his exposed neck. He admired the fact that Guren was trying to not hurt him, as he felt little teeth in his skin.
"You're not secretly a vampire, right?" Shinya asks.
Guren pulls away with a satisfied sigh, shaking his head at Shinya's question.
"No, duh." he scoffs.
His new bite was exposed to the evening's chill air, quickly getting a wave of cold shivers. Guren notices and pulls up the crumpled blankets to cover Shinya, as well as himself.
Shinya glances at Guren, smiling. "Thank you."
Guren shakes his head with a smile, yawning with his hand that closed his mouth. He rubs his eyes with his hands, rolling himself over to Shinya's chest to occupy it again – just like the previous night.
He looks at him with eyes blown in surprise, wrapping his arms around Guren's body.
The other usually murmurs words to him, or speaks in actual understandable sentences – but now, he was unusually quiet and less whiny as he remembered the face of his before getting drunk off alcohol.
Shinya tapped his hand on Guren's head, hearing no verbal reaction from him – not even a groan.
"Guren? Are you asleep?" he asks again, mindful of his voice volume if the male on top of him was actually asleep.
Turns out, he was.
Passed out, quietly sleeping on his chest.
He takes a deep breath in, getting used to the immovable weight on his chest. If anything, Guren was just like a cat that was occupying a spot on their human's body – which the human never moves away at all or relocate them to another location.
A cat owner would never have the heart to do that, nor does Shinya do when it comes to Guren. He never had the heart to push the Ichinose away.
In Guren's moment of vulnerability, he sees a side of soft Guren. Especially how he is when he's drunk and how low his tolerance for alcohol is – Shinya starts to chuckle quietly to himself at just the thought of this.
He sighs, letting his eyes naturally flutter shut – wrapping his arms around the ravenette's figure. Luckily, the blankets covering them didn't move much. His movement wasn't enough to wake or make the sleeping one groan at him.
Not long later and after a few minutes of having his eyes closed for his needed sleep, it takes over his state of mind and body completely.
Morning came, and the same routine repeated.
Guren was off his chest again, occupying the bathroom to take a shower — hearing the faint sounds of the water tap running or the showerhead. He couldn’t tell between the two with such a far distance. He sat up from his bed, his body completely covered underneath the blankets.
It was like a life with Guren. Just him and Guren. This was the life Shinya would ideally want.
Whenever someone asks him about his ideal home, his heart that has long since fallen in love with Guren would proudly say "Guren. He's my home.". It sounded cliché in his mind, which is the reason behind why he never says to anyone – in fear of being rejected.
If his heart was still in love with Guren, the flame in his heart that remains inextinguishable, Shinya would just sit in silence. Possibly watch the person he has had a crush on for a long time go with another. Someone like Mahiru.
Coincidentally, Guren got out of the shower with the sound of the door to announce his coming in. The towel draped around his neck, using one end of the towel to brush his hair. Instead of the Guren who had greeted him a ‘good morning’ upon seeing him, Guren only gazed at him.
“Was that real?”
Shinya stares at him in confusion, “what was?”
“Last night. It wasn’t a dream,” the ravenette’s eyes slowly looked up once again to meet Shinya’s eyes. “Right?”
“It wasn’t.”
“Really?”
Shinya nods.
"Do you have proof?"
The silver-haired male huffs a chuckle, "of course I do." Guren's look in his eyes was obvious – he didn't believe Shinya that the younger male had evidence that he seeks.
Shinya tugs on his collar, enough to reveal his neck where the hickey was. "Evidence is here, clearly."
Guren's eyes widened, seeing the still red hickey on Shinya's neck– walking towards him to investigate it closely.
"I recall last night that I did.. do this."
"Well, you did."
Shinya recognises the look of worry in Guren's eyes, the silver-haired male smiles to address his concern.
"It didn't hurt that much, you used little teeth and passed out right after."
"I remember the kiss and the hickey, that's all I remember."
Guren places his hand on Shinya's other shoulder, their eyes met for a split second – both men looking away again.
"Are there other things I did to you?" Guren asks, curious to know more.
"Not really," Shinya's cerulean blue eyes were occupied elsewhere, not on Guren.
Shinya hears Guren talking about last night, questioning the other male about his doings and what other events that he did not remember from his state of drunkenness.
Sadness only glooms his face as Guren rambles on and on, to the point where his ears were not listening to him.
But Guren stops, which draws Shinya's attention to look at him.
"Why are you ignoring me?"
Shinya smiles, having a tint of sadness in it, "I doubt you'll understand."
Guren shakes his head, gripping onto Shinya's chin – turning the other man's face to make him look at him. He met his gloomy eyes, having a horrible feeling sitting at the bottom of his stomach as he saw the sad gleam in his eyes.
"Look at me." he orders quietly, "what do you mean by that?"
"Like I said, you won't be able to understand – let alone empathise with me."
Shinya sniffles a held back cry, not willing to let tears run down his cheeks. His face was flushed red, not of embarrassment or blushing to Guren, he was on the verge of breaking down into tears – wanting to cry tears of his unrequited love to Guren.
But he didn't want to, just not in front of him at least.
It only hit him hard like a huge crashing wave now.
Over the many years they've been together, Guren has never seen Shinya like this. He always had a smile on his face, laughing unaffectedly even by the many times the ravenette had said a "shut up" or more to him.
But now when he's faced with a Shinya who's about to cry, not willing to share whatever that's making him cry. What should he do?
Guren sighs, wrapping his arms around Shinya to embrace him into a hug. Hoping that this at least comforts him in some way.
"Was there any feelings behind what you did yesterday?" Shinya asks, hugging the ravenette who embraced him with his arms. His fists clenched onto the other's shirt, resting his head on his shoulder.
"What if I say yes, what would you say?"
Shinya scoffs, "you better not be playing with my feelings if you say that."
"Of course I won't, who do you think I am? I have some decency at least."
"Then I'll ask, was there any feelings behind your actions? The kisses and single hickey."
"Yes." Guren answered.
Shinya lifted his head up from his shoulder, looking at him in surprise. He chuckles, "what, are you still joking with me?"
"Now look who's the one who doesn't believe in me."
"No.." Shinya shakes his head with a smile, "it's not that. It's just – hard to believe, I guess?"
"Why?" he asks for more continuation from him.
"No need."
He places his hands on Guren's cheeks, thumbing his skin with a gleam of admiration in his eyes.
"If you don't like it, pull away okay?" Shinya warns with a honey sweet smile.
"Alright."
Shinya takes a deep breath in, placing his lips againsts Guren's. A soft shade of red was all over his cheeks, continuing to brush his lips against his.
Guren froze, his feet stuck to the ground as Shinya guided him into a kiss. The heat tickled his cheeks.
He was thankful, his heart that could never confess to Shinya was brought relief to – saving him from the awkward confession that he planned to do but never brought out to do.
Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around the silver-haired male – continuing the kiss that spoke thousands to them. Words that Guren can never say properly to him. He didn't want to push him away, instead, he welcomed the kiss.
The kiss lasted a minute long with their eyes fluttered close.
Guren pulls away, smiling genuinely more than ever. "So what does that mean if I didn't pull away?"
"You like me, I like you." Shinya smiles, relieved.
Shinya was still surprised that Guren did not even pull away from him. He even ensured his hands on his cheeks allowed the ravenette to pull away as he liked, but he didn't unexpectedly.
It felt like some kind of dream that was thought to be impossible – but it came true. Somehow.
"Can you slap me?" Shinya requested, feeling a little out of his mind.
"No, I'd slap you with a kiss."
The silver-haired laughs, hugging Guren. "This feels good."
Guren nods agreeingly, "it really does." He lets his arms wrap itself around Shinya's figure, breathing in his scent.
"So we're together?"
"Of course we are."
Shinya sighs in utmost relief, kissing Guren's cheek once again. "Did we get influenced by the many couples in the Hotel? What do you think?" he laughs, finding it hilarious for himself.
"Maybe. I did see them, and wished that I could confess to you – to do the same with you."
"So you're admitting that you're shy and can't confess?" Shinya quirks up a smirk.
"..yeah." Guren shyly mutters, having a flushed look all over his face.
"So cute," Shinya commented with a giggle, pinching the sides of Guren's cheeks that were so red – kissing them sweetly.
"Let's actually do relationship things now. Cuddles, kisses… you name it."
Guren nods, still feeling the warmth on his cheeks by Shinya's lips.
It has been a few days since they had gotten together as a couple, and have booked out of their couples' suite. They shared a taxi back to Guren's apartment – as agreed.
The two males crashed right into Guren's bed immediately after they brought their luggages into their shared bedroom, holding hands as they got a feel of their hands in each other's hands. The feeling so foreign, yet it felt right.
Shinya was half-awake throughout the taxi ride, Guren notices it and offers his shoulder for Shinya to sleep on it. He quickly grew comfortable, his head occupying onto Guren's shoulder as the taxi drove them back home.
Guren looks over at Shinya, who in turn, returns a gaze.
He smiles, "I'll bring you out on dates soon." his words were full of promise for Shinya.
Shinya smiles fondly at him, with a soft gaze. "I'd like that."
Guren turns his body over to face Shinya, still keeping their hands locked to hold each other. He places a hand on the other male's cheek, leaning forward for another kiss on the lips.
Shinya chuckles with a smile behind their connected lips.
The ravenette's face bore a smile, caressing his hand on Shinya's cheek – playing with his hair that was near his ear.
"Goodnight, dear." Shinya smiles with a soft gaze on Guren.
"Goodnight, my love."