Work Text:
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Sae,
This is Alexis Ness. I was wondering if you could come over to Munich on winter break next week? Please reply to this email if you've decided to come, because I'll be delighted if you do.
Thanks & Regards,
Alexis Ness.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Alexis,
Firstly, I would like you to stop this madness because we can discuss this matter over text. Secondly, as usual, I'll come over during the off-season. Lastly, you better prepare me a thick, warm blanket. Thank you.
Regards,
Sae Itoshi.
To answer the first and the most important question: they're not dating.
They're just two best friends, who've known each other inside out for almost ten years already.
Nothing more, nothing less. Just friends.
This has been a yearly routine, whenever they're on seasonal break, they occasionally go to each other's place even though both of them are living in a different country. So, for that, they went back and forth just to spend their quality time together on their breaks before going through restless drilling and near-death training regimes once again.
They usually did it during the off season, which happens only during two seasons: summer and winter break. Whether it's a month long, or a week long—they're always taking turns every year.
On the last summer break, Ness was the one who went to Madrid. And now, on winter break, it's Sae's turn to come to Munich. They're also changing the sequence of their stay depending on the availability in their hectic schedule.
Reasons? There are no reasons. They're just comfortable around each other. And they considered this routine as their short escape.
"Alexis."
Ness looked up, munching on the food as he hummed slightly, answering the red head as he called him out. They're having late dinner, since Sae have been sleeping like a log after he just got here so they haven't had anything since lunch. And, the thing is, Sae has been playing with his unfinished spaghetti with his fork for a while now, which caught Ness' attention because he knows.
He knows that Sae is bothered by something. Other than fiddling the hem of his sleeves with his fingers anxiously—that too, was mainly a habit of his whenever he's bothered, hesitated or deep in thoughts. And this action is, kind of, making him worried.
When he was replied by silence, he continued, "What's wrong? were you jet-lagged?"
"No." Sae denies, still looking down on his food, didn't even bother to look up nor to continue eating at all. "I was just thinking…"
Ness blinked and tilts his head to the side, waiting expectantly, "...okay?"
Throughout the years of knowing Sae, unlike other people, Ness had already gotten used to his thoughtful behavior since he was a part of the world's generation XI back then until now, when he already became the world's best midfielder, no one really knows how Sae actually is except for him—and Rin, of course.
Itoshi Sae is always known as a blunt person who always speak his mind, he's not someone who's tip-toeing on his own words. Other than that, he's also someone with a calm and collected demeanor—a reserved kind of guy. Someone that rarely shows emotions through his expressions, since his face always appear as stern and stoic.
People's first impressions on him has always been "arrogant" or "condescending" type — the two words that Ness constantly heard from them, and he always ready to throw punches to whoever that bad mouthed Sae because they didn't know him personally to be spouting bullshits.
Not that the said person cares anyway. Sae never cares about other people to begin with, and now too. Even after ten years of knowing him, he's still the same Sae that he knew on their first meeting when they were eighteen. Except for now they're getting older and he believed both of them are getting more mature as they're climbing up the stairs of age as the years passed by.
On the other hand, Ness sure Sae is gonna age like a fine wine because he is, always have been beautiful.
"Should we step outside at 4.00?" Sae suddenly blurts out, in the middle of dinner, at Ness' dining table, in Ness' home—or he can say their home, when the shorter clock hand is ticking closer to the number 12.
Since it's almost midnight, Ness believed he heard him well and he probably heard the time that he mentioned was 4.00 a.m., not 4.00 p.m.
With that, Ness bursts out laughing.
But Sae stayed just like that, watching him with that usual indifferent look. He has his eyebrows raised when he notices Ness' laughter have become more audible the longer he laughs. Sae rolled his eyes but then set down the fork beside his plate, prepping his arms to rest his chin on the top of his palm, watching the other with no clear amusement.
"Don't ever joke like that in the middle of winter, Sae—it's freezing out there." Ness says, before he spares a glance at the other.
Wait, Ness was careless—why is he frowning?
Ness notices this and his laughter dies down immediately.
"Are you done making fun of me?" Sae's voice stern and moderate, now he's giving him a whole judgmental look even though it supposed to be the other way around but—yeah. Ness swallowed his own saliva even though his throat felt drier than sandpaper. "Wait, are you serious?" he asked. Sae nods, "yeah."
He leans on the table's surface, hands still placed under his chin as he smiles mischievously, and his green eyes is glinting dangerously. "Let's take a stroll, Alexis."
Ness' mouth gaped in disbelief. No shit, Sherlock! He's doomed.
Because he knows, when it comes to Sae, he didn't have the heart to refuse.
The first time they met was when Kaiser invited him to hangout in the middle of autumn—he's a weird one, with a weirder chosen place, in the weirdest season to hang out. The daylight is short during autumn, and they were barely reached eighteen to do anything else after the sky turns dark.
Kaiser said that he would bring a friend over to join them, a fellow midfielder that the blonde believes they're going to understand each other just because… they're both midfielders. Kaiser is, other than in football, is actually a simple minded person. He really thought they would click.
However, the thought of meeting with the midfielder from World Generation XI made him a bit excited.
"Ness!" He heard Kaiser approached. He smiled, waving his hand to his direction.
That was until his gaze fell onto a person whose hair was the same colour as the red maple leaves at the southern end of Quèbec. The keen green eyes were staring him with an unreadable look—almost blank. Ness was surprised, honestly. He didn't expect the midfielder that Kaiser mentioned was so… indifferent in person.
"Nice to meet you." Ness held out his hand for a handshake, but the redhead just stared at it blankly—looking utterly uninterested before turning to Kaiser with a scrunched face.
"You dragged me out here just for this?"
Ness was smiling—he believed so. But he felt the corner of his crescent eyes was twitching after hearing that. Well, he's the only one looking forward to this after all. The said person looked like he was forced to go out, well, maybe he is. Knowing Kaiser, he knew how persistent the guy was. His hand then fell down involuntarily to his side when he thought Sae had no intention for a handshake.
"Oh, come on, Sae. Didn't I told you to have some fun?" Kaiser said with his usual playful tone, patting the redhead's—Sae's back before he gestured him to his long awaiting friend, "this is Ness. He's our midfielder in Bastard München."
On that, Sae's gaze perked up. Ness might imagined it, but he saw those eyes shines a bit after he heard the word 'midfielder'. Then, he turned to Ness and immediately reached out his hand for a handshake, "I'm Sae."
Ness was dumbfounded, but he accepted that handshake nonetheless, "Alexis Ness."
Maybe he wasn’t too bad—
"Alexis." Sae tasted his name on his own tongue, which Ness thought was a perfect pronunciation coming from someone who's not a German.
Ness was about to speak when he was cut off by the guy, "feel lucky that you've gained this opportunity to meet me personally." He said before adding, "I won't do that with just anyone, y'know." And then, he shrugged nonchalantly. Like it's not a big issue.
What now?
—or maybe he thought too soon.
Ness scoffed, Kaiser noticed the tension between his two friends and decided to come in between them as a middleman, "okay, okay—enough right there. Let's find some place to eat, and we can talk longer over dinner. How does it sound?" He suggested.
Sae gave Kaiser a side eye and rolled his eyes afterwards, "whatever, just bring me to somewhere nice. You're the one who dragged me out here." His voice screams clear annoyance.
"Calm your horses, will ya?" Kaiser said to Sae before turning his head to Ness, expression changed and moved closer to his ear to whisper, "don't worry, he's actually a nice guy. Just need some time to tame him."
That earns a smack from Sae on his back.
"Shut the fuck up and move your ass. I'm so hungry that I could swallow both of you in one go." Sae exploded, "and wha—tame? What the fuck are you talking about? Am I your fucking dog?"
At that, Ness found himself laughed by watching their antics—and he couldn't believe that he laughed actually. From there, he found out that Sae would get angry if he's hungry. Better don't leave him starve for too long or he will explode.
Maybe Kaiser was right, Sae is actually fun to be with.
After putting on their shoes, they stepped outside from the door and walked through the small alleyway beside the main road. There's no one outside at this ungodly hour. Only crazy people, (read: them) and the serial killers, perhaps.
Plus, no one would go out in this freezing cold weather. Ness hides both of his hands inside his jacket pockets but before that he tightens the scarf around his neck, took a deep breath and exhales. A visible puff appeared as he did so. Indicating how cold it is, at four in the morning, outside the house.
Then, he felt like he was being watched, by someone—who stood beside him.
He turned to Sae hesitantly, eyeing him from head to toe—and he just noticed Sae is not wearing any scarf or gloves. Instead, he only wears thick clothes that the sleeves are long enough to cover his hands, a snowcap covering the top of his head—purposely letting a few strands of his red hair falls on the sideburns, and a cute earmuffs that Isagi gave him as a gift on his 19th birthday is covering his ears.
Now they're twenty-eight. The earmuffs aged almost the same as their friendship. It's Sae's favorite, he never wanted to buy new ones.
"Where's your scarf?" Ness starts after he saw the tip of Sae's nose tinted red.
"I left it."
"Why did you left it?"
When he got no response, he sighed.
"Do you want me to take it for you?"
They're already halfway and it would take him quite a few minutes to return to their home and taking Sae's scarf before going back again, but Ness is fine with it because anything is better than finding Sae catches a cold tomorrow after he wakes up from sleep.
"Lend me yours."
Ness blinked, he didn't quite catch that—actually. "What?"
"Lend me yours. Your body have a strong resistance in this kind of weather. But I'm not." Sae stretched out his hand at Ness' direction, urging him to lend the scarf. Ness huffed again, well, he couldn't say no to the Itoshi Sae after all. He unwrapped his scarf and folded it since Sae is smaller than him in size and then he gently put the scarf around his neck, wrapping him with it.
Once he finished, those green eyes that he adores the most now turns into eye smiles. Now that Sae's mouth is covered by the oversized scarf, he couldn't see the smile but Ness felt it. He knew Sae was smiling. Ness' lips spontaneously turn into a smile too, reflecting the other. "There you go."
"Thanks." He answers while twirling back to walk on the earlier route. "Let's go."
Ness just follows behind Sae while watching him from the back. This side of Sae—is only for him to see. He never expose this side of himself to the public eyes. It's because Sae has his own pride and professionalism atop of all things.
That is mainly the reason they're doing this.
Their houses are safe places; a place where they can be themselves without worrying about other people's opinions.
Who knows that he's going to be this close with Sae from the first time they met. His 18-year old self must not believe it either.
From being a junior U20 player, until they're both became a pro player. They're still like this, finding comfort around each other—feeling like home.
Sae is now walking ahead of him, like he always does. Ness only kept guarding him from behind, just in case, if anything happens. Somehow this reminded him of what Sae had uttered after their first hangout.
"You're not that bad." Just Itoshi Sae's way of complimenting other people, "I thought you're an asshole like this guy."
"Rude." 'This Guy' that was being mentioned earlier cries behind them, sounds offended by the comment. "Told ya, Ness is nothing like me. And I believe you guys would click."
From there, they have decided to keep in touch by updating each other's lives everyday since they're in a long distance friendship. Starting from emails, to texting—(Sae was the one who asked for Ness' phone number since Ness didn't know how to do it)—to daily phone calls and slowly turning into weekly video calls. They always have something to talk about, surprisingly. And Ness was impressed at how he just acknowledged Sae was actually a talkative person after years of knowing him. Even though it only happens when they're talking about soccer related topic but that makes the point.
However, they seldomly meet up because of their hectic schedules since they're on different teams, in a different country.
Both of them are midfielders, they have their own way to connect to each other while talking about soccer. Naturally, it leads into something personal by the longer time they spent together. Until at some point, Ness noticed every little things about Sae. Easy and sweet, just like eating your favorite candy.
Now, they're flying back and forth around Europe only to see each other. Ness couldn't believe he would go through such ridiculous lengths for Itoshi Sae and vice versa.
Ness smiled when he reminisced that one memory.
"Hey, Alexis." Sae called out to him while walking backwards. "Yes—hey, you shouldn't do that." Walking backwards, he meant. "Some roads are still snowy. It's going to be slippery."
"What do you think about romantic relationships?"
Ness studies his face for a good one, two and three minutes now. Sae is asking him about relationships? He couldn't believe his ears. "What is this? Do you have someone already?"
Sae shook his head, denying the question, "don't answer my question with another question. I just want to hear your opinion on it."
"Because it's too sudden. You weren't like this usually, Sae."
"Do you like someone?" Sae managed to change the topic. Ness looked at him with his face tinted the tiniest red, not because of the cold, obviously. And of course Sae notices this because he lets out a smirk, "you do."
"I don't." Ness says, quickly denying it.
"Who is she? Let me see her pictures." Sae urges while stepping closer to him and trying to snatch Ness' phone from his back pocket. Ness pushed Sae's hands away and quickly took out his phone and hold it up above his head, out of his reach. "No!—ugh, what is wrong with you today?"
"I just want to see her pictures." Sae tried to jump but Ness was quick to hide his phone away.
"What are you—I don't have one!"
"You're lying." He paused. "Your face looked like someone who's in love."
"How did you even know that?"
Sae shoots him a sharp glare and Ness glares back, unwilling to sugarcoat it. After a while, Ness folds. He sighed inwardly as he confessed, "…it's not a girl."
"Oh? So, it's a guy then. Let me see."
"No." Because it's you.
"Wait a minute. Since it's a guy—" Sae draws his face closer. Too close that he noticed his eyes weren't actually green, there's a slight amber in his orbs that were obvious under the street lights—the very flaw that Ness just noticed. But, since it's beautiful, he wouldn't say it's a flaw. "Alexis, do you like me?" Sae studies his face for a good few seconds before he asked.
Too sudden. Ness is taken aback by the question. Is he secretly has the ability to read someone's mind?
Because the answer is yes, Alexis Ness is madly in love with Itoshi Sae—his best friend—but unfortunately it's a one-sided love and he didn't have any courage to confess yet.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Ness realized his own feelings during their fifth year of friendship, on a winter break where Sae was preparing for an online interview with his sponsors. Ness was helping him setting up the camera while he's getting ready in his room. In the middle of doing his work, he heard footsteps coming over to him and felt a figure standing beside him right after. "How do I look?"
He heard him ask. "You're pretty." So he answers, without sparing a look at him, eyes still fixated on the laptop screen.
Sae came closer and cupped his face, forcefully lifting his head to look at him properly, "take a proper look before you answer."
"Oh, you're so pretty."
He sounded like he was fascinated.
That actually came out naturally, the words seemed to come out faster from his mouth before it even registered inside his head. To be honest, he really was in awe. Sae has always been pretty, but today he's even prettier after a few touch ups.
But that doesn't deny the fact that Ness thinks he was pretty.
Oh? What is this feeling? Ness thought to himself.
Sae's warm hands that were cupping his face were caressing his cheeks, and he almost leaned into those palms. Green eyes studied his expressions, he didn’t know how twisted he looked but Sae shifted his gaze away right after. He retreated, and the warmth on his cheeks slowly fades away as he did so.
"You're lying. I hate you."
He wasn't. Sae was really—utterly—beautiful that day.
And Ness realized that he fell in love with him.
"Well, listen here Alexis." Sae pulled down the oversized scarf a little so that Ness would heard him clearly. "Don't ever let him get through you." Sae said, and Ness just gave him a skeptical look before he added, "but if he hurts you, you can come to me."
"Come to you?" Ness echoes dumbly. For a good moment, he has his hope high right there.
Until Sae leaned closer to him with a teasing smile as he spoke again, "yes, because this best friend of yours will buy you a drink." He playfully bumps his fist against Ness' chest.
Oh.
But then, Sae lets out the most melodious laugh Ness has ever heard.
He's in a good mood, he guessed. Nothing matters more than that.
It's because Sae is someone who hardly shows his real emotions. He tends to hide it, and Ness found out in their 6th year of friendship, when they're about to part ways in Madrid, Sae's place.
After this meeting, they couldn't meet for a whole year because of the World Cup training. They have to continuously train for a whole damned year, and they would barely have time to see each other during breaks. Or, he can say there won't be any breaks at all, during summer or winter, they would find suitable places to train instead of taking a break.
They would have the chance to see each other during the game if Japan and Germany were destined to be on the same group—but that time, the chance was very thin. Even so, he kept the slightest hope deep inside his heart, that they will make it to the same group.
If they didn't, he just hope that they will make it to semi-finals.
Ness eyes fixated on the said guy that sat beside him on the bench. Sae was busy playing with his phone. Seems totally unbothered by the news that he's leaving and they won't see each other for a whole year starting next year.
"Hey, don't you feel sad at all that your best friend is leaving?"
Ness started the engine of conversation and Sae glanced at him before turning back his gaze to his phone. "Nope." Still sounded awfully unbothered, "it's not like you're dying or something. A year is actually shorter than what it sounds like—" He opens the camera on his phone, "—let's take a picture, Alexis."
Ness scoffed and shook his head in disbelief. "You're heartless."
"Look over here, dumbass. My arm is getting sore."
Ness looked at the camera, Sae's lips formed a small smile before he hit the camera button to capture their moment. Even after he took the picture, Sae didn't spare a look at him at all.
But that time, he didn't take the hint because he didn't know.
After the taxi arrived, they bid goodbyes to each other before Ness hopped into the said vehicle. He rolled down the rear window when the driver was busy arranging his belongings in the trunk. "See you when I see you." He waved his hands.
"Sure." Sae answers shortly, waving back.
"You're the one who said it's not going to be long so don't weep over me while I'm gone." Ness continued.
Sae snorted, "Please. I'm not Kaiser."
Ness chuckled, yes, the ever dramatic Kaiser who always bawl his eyes out after Isagi's flight departed.
"Don't miss me."
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Sae said nonchalantly.
After the driver drove away, Ness remembers that he had forgotten something right after the driver turned to the corner. The chocolate that Sae asked for is still inside his backpack. He apologized to the taxi driver after he pulled over beside the main road, which was not too far from where Sae was.
He said that he needed to take five—no, three minutes because he left something important. Dammit! How come he forgot this?
Ness got off the car and ran to where they parted, the usual place—at a small bench near the park which has the brightest garden lamp beside it, right under the huge oak tree.
He halts on his track after he reached the destination, not really, he was actually a few steps back from the said place. Ness was stunned—he stood there, stiffened after he saw something that he wasn't supposed to see.
Sae was crying, on the bench, alone in the dark.
Only the hues of the garden lights that made Ness noticed the tears that were flowing across his cheeks. Then, Sae wiped his tears with the hem of his sleeves, his nose and cheeks were red and somehow covered with the leftover tears and snots.
To make it worst, he saw Sae's shoulders were shaking—the post-sobbing effects.
Just now, he believed that he didn't misheard it when Sae proudly announced that he's not even sad. But… what is this?
That was the first time Ness saw him cry, and it actually pains him to the core. He never thought that he would be heavily affected by this, but he did. It does hurts a alot.
Maybe because it's Sae, the one he cares the most.
Also, the one that he loves the most.
On second thoughts, did he always cried like this every time they parted ways?
Something inside him clenched tightly at the possibility.
Ness had to resist the urge to come over and give him a tight hug, whispering sweet nothings that it's going to be fine, comforting him, patting his back and letting him vent. However, he held himself back because he knew how Sae was. He took his pride seriously and he would be ashamed if he ever found out that Ness actually knew that he was actually weeping after his departure.
Ness looked down to his shoes, his eyes suddenly blurry as he felt the tears was already pooling before his eyes. The guilt overwhelmed him. Ness was truly preoccupied with his own thoughts that he didn't even realize he gripped the chocolate bar too hard until it breaks.
Sae didn't like seized chocolate, or broken chocolate. He might need to buy a new one.
More to, he always hated it when his favorite things were destroyed. Even though the taste of the chocolate would be the same after all. But Sae being Sae, if he said he's going to do plan A—then there will be no plan B. If he said he didn't like it, then don't force him into it because he won't take it.
That's how he is.
Sae was someone that stays firm with his point and always being true to himself except for when it comes to his own feelings. Ness didn't believe himself that it took him six fucking years to notice this.
Slowly, he brought his feet back to the taxi.
Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't supposed to see that. But deep down, he actually relieved that he noticed it. Now or never.
And maybe, he can consider clearing up his schedule for a week and come over to Sae next year.
So he did. He came to visit Sae in Japan, and he never regret any of his decisions.
"Let's date, Alexis."
Ness stops in his tracks, staring at Sae who's already a few steps further than him. He was too busy indulging himself in his own thoughts before Sae started talking.
That came out of the blue.
Sae grins, "yes or no?" he cocked his head to the side, fixing his earmuffs that was about to slide off his ears since it's getting old and overused, and the grip has already loosened. But Sae was stubborn, he didn't want to buy a new one just because it's his favorite.
Cute. Ness thought to himself.
When he doesn't get any response, he repeats, "yes or no?" There weren't any hint of annoyance or anger in his voice. He's being cheeky, and pretty too. A rare side indeed.
Ness clears his throat. "Of course—"
Sae nods, as if to encourage him to finish the sentence.
"—no. You don't even have to ask." It might be easy to confess the truth but for some reason, Ness doesn't want to.
"Why is that?" Sae's eyebrow shot up.
He doesn't want to lose Sae—no, he's afraid that he's going to lose Sae if they ever break up.
At some point, they didn't even realize how far they walked until Sae saw patterns of rectangle outlines that were drawn on the pedestrian walkway, with numbers written inside the outlined box—probably the kids left it out after their playtime was over. It's been a long time since he saw kids playing hopscotch. A genuine smile formed on his lips as he hops through the first rectangle with one leg. Sae didn't even bother to take the small stones or to play actual hopscotch. He just wanted to walk through the drawings.
"You said if we don't want to break up forever, we have to stay friends forever." Ness echoes.
Sae hopped through the second rectangle, "I did?"
"Yeah," Ness held out his hand for Sae to hold. Mainly to support his body from falling onto the road, "without any doubt."
Sae gladly takes Ness' hand and he wobbles a little after he did so.
"Careful." Ness reminds him.
Then, he hops onto the third and fourth rectangles with both of his legs landing on the two boxes simultaneously. "But… Kaiser and Isagi are happy."
"They're enemies to lovers, that's a totally different case. Some people are exceptionally lucky, Sae. There are more relationships that don't work out." Ness explains, still holding Sae's hand while the other is going through the hopscotch, slowly taking one step followed by another as Sae jumps through another rectangle. "That's the last thing we have to worry about, right?"
"Yeah, but why so sudden? It's kinda weird that you've been asking about relationships ever since we stepped out of the house." Ness just doesn't want to talk about this any longer but he couldn't help but curious—is he seeing someone?
Sae lets out a nasal laugh, "we will be twenty eight this year, Alexis. We're already old enough to give it a try."
Ness' breath hitches, he opened his mouth to talk, but only to close it again because he didn't find the right words to say. After a moment, he spoke, "For me, I don't want to… try and error."
Sae turned his head to him, his expressions tender.
"I want something serious, since we have another two years before we reach thirty, at least I want someone who would want to settle down for good." He pauses, bringing up his left hand to his head—running his fingers through his wavy hair, while his right hand is holding Sae's, "if there's someone like that exists, and they're willing to be with me, I'll just bring them to see my parents right away." Ness nods solemnly, acknowledging his own words, "…if only."
Sae chuckles, "greedy aren't we?"
Ness just shrugged, "it's just my opinion. Take it or leave it."
"Let's do it then."
Ness felt like his heart stopped for a moment before it starts to thump hard, "e—excuse me?" he managed to ask, stammering as he did.
"Let's date. Me and you." Sae says it without any hesitation, gesturing to both of them. Ness mock-scoffed. This guy is unbelievable. Well, he can—at least—pretend to be flustered so it would look somehow real isn't it?
"What's gotten into you, Sae? Are you alright? Let me check." Ness tries to check Sae's body temperature by using the back of his palm against his cheek but the redhead slaps his hand away.
"I'm serious, dumbass." Well, it's true because he sounded really serious, "I'm asking you out right now."
Ness gives it some thought when Sae is on his 7th rectangle.
He loved Sae, he knows this very well.
He couldn't get enough of Sae. Their time together during off season breaks are not enough for him. He wants to live with him forever, if he could.
If he could—he wanted to cuddle on their bed every night, to kiss those soft lips everyday, to wake up beside him every morning and to cook for him every time he craves for homemade food. He wanted all that, even now he's being greedy—he knows that. But his heart couldn't take it when there's a hope.
Ness wanted to live with him forever, so that Sae doesn't get wasted alone if he got drunk, or he can accompany him watching movies every night if Sae wanted to, or he can always remind him to bring along his lip balm every time he wants to go out because he has dry lips and it might bleed if he doesn't put on any of lip care products.
He admits that he always noticed every little things about Sae, and he loves to find out about it more.
Furthermore, he realized painfully that he wants him so bad, and he never felt this desperate.
Sae is already on his final rectangle when Ness answers, "okay," he starts, "let's date then."
Maybe this is the time. His turn to confess.
"I like you, Sae."
The early morning was too quiet, they even heard each other's steady breaths so it's impossible if Sae didn't heard what Ness had uttered. Sae was panting a little because of his little activity just now, but his eyes widened as he stares at Ness. And now he's biting his lower lips. Ness felt his cheeks heated up upon hearing his own confession, "…since the first time we met."
He murmurs but was enough for Sae to hear.
Ness looked away, already pink, "I—I think I fell in love with you." he brushes his nape awkwardly. Confessing an undying love wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. And currently he's waiting for Sae's answer. The redhead is being awfully silent for quite some time, and he's getting worried.
He felt cold hands touching his face, slowly making him look into those beautiful green eyes again, "I think I like you too."
Ness blinked, once. Twice. Okay—what now?
Sae's face flushed pink as he looked away, he didn't know if it's from the freezing weather or he's actually quite shy to admit his feelings, "…I don't know since when, but I'm sure that I like you for quite some time now." He pursed his lips.
"What's a 'some time'?"
"A few years time."
From pink, Sae turns deep red now, ah—he love to see it. This new side—the flustered Sae. He really is breathtakingly beautiful.
"So… we're dating now?" Ness asked, just to make sure that this wasn't a dream.
Sae nods, "yeah." Then he looked up, his face is still crimson red, "and—aren't you supposed to kiss me already?" The words came out fast.
Without any hesitation, Ness came closer and placed his lips on Sae's, kissing him slow and tender. The agonizingly slow moment came by and the kiss became… more passionate and sweet—everything about Sae is sweet; his lips, his scent, his heavy breaths and the small moans that escaped in between their kiss. All of them.
All of Sae.
Ness is so… so in love that the kiss they shared instantly become his new addiction.
They parted only to catch their breaths, connecting their foreheads before their eyes met. Ness' lips tugged upwards before they laughed heartily. Like fools in love. "I can't believe you made me do that." Ness starts.
Sae leans back to get a better view of his boyfriend, smiling as he wrapped his arms around the other's neck. "I did what?"
"This is your plan all along, right? You lured me outside in this freezing weather to force me to confess didn't you?"
Sae shrugged innocently, "after all, it's true that you liked me."
"And what if I don't?" Ness tried to test him.
"In my original plan, I'm the one who supposed to confess to you. But I'm glad it's the other way around." Sae says before he adds, "because I know it will take you another ten years if I didn't do this." There's a lilt of tease in his voice.
"Touché. I didn't know it would be this easy."
"Well, you wouldn't know until you try." Sae paused, "but still didn't change the fact that you really took ten years to confess though."
Ness eyebrow shot up, "As far as I remember, a certain someone asked me out just now."
"Yep, but you're the one who said the L word first." Sae counters, Ness once again folds, "okay—alright, you've won. Take it all, Sae."
That melodious laugh that resembles a lulling lullaby was heard again coming from the same person.
Ness smiles tenderly, he's so in love—very much in love with Itoshi Sae.
The just-risen sun shone softly on the city streets as the newly declared couple walks alongside it with their hands intertwined. Sae is humming his favorite song on the way back to their home. The very song that always placed first in his repeated playlist.
"When I'm with you, it's like déjà vu. I realize that dreams really come true."
He's glad, Sae is happy.
And Ness also has never, ever been happier.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Sae,
The purpose of this email is to remind you that you're the most beautiful person in the world.
I love you.
Regards,
Alexis Ness.
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Dear Alexis,
Don't be silly, just tell me that you missed me.
I love you too.
Regards,
Sae Itoshi.