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Looking down into his deep hazel eyes, tracing every crevice of his face like an artist admiring their artwork. He looks back up at you on his knees, his perfect yellowish blonde which was always kept slicked back now disheveled falling over his eyes, tears rolling down his perfectly sculpted face and sliding off his chiseled jaw, whimpering like a wounded puppy in your hands. In between kisses and moans he says “there is nothing in this world…” and gasps out finally, “ that I want more than you.” You watch a tear roll down his halfway unbuttoned shirt. As you watch it your eyes also seem to wander down his exposed chest. You watch as his chest rises and falls in sync with each breath and how his tears perfectly hit his carved abs. Each shining as if you placed a spotlight on them. No one will see such a vulnerable side of him, and should they ever catch a glimpse they would simply not believe it. Hunched over in front of you with messy hair, and a defeated look with uncontrollable tears. The complete opposite of his usual calm and emotionless self. Who would’ve ever thought you’d be the one to break him down like this? And at the height of both of your lives and careers?
Nanami, is your ideal high school crush, I mean if you were to like emotionally unavailable men that is. Towering at 6’1. Everyone’s favorite athlete and student. It was the beginning of your brother’s basketball season. He had just tried out for the second time and finally made it. You in your last year of middle school decided to go cheer on your brother Jabril at his first home game. He finally made it on the team in his sophomore year and your family couldn’t be any prouder. As your brother’s team the Redhawks start coming out of their locker room onto the court you can’t help but notice the tall, blonde walking at an even pace beside your brother. The first thing you noticed was his pace. You thought it was funny to be that uptight and serious at a basketball game. Your mom then says “oh that must be Jabari’s friend he’s been telling us about.” “Oh yes, that’s Nanami, I dropped him and Jabari off before, during one of his practices I think? He’s a very sweet boy.” Your dad responded recalling that day as if it was a long lost memory. “y/n,” your mom said, tapping your arm to get your attention. “make sure to film whenever Jabril has the ball. ok?” You nod in agreement “ok.” A few minutes later you hear that high pitched whistle, signaling the start of the game. Watching your brother run up and down the court chasing the ball felt like watching a dog doing tricks at a dog show. You tried to keep your eyes peeled on your brother so you didn’t miss a moment. Yet somehow your eyes kept drifting to that broad figure with the yellowish blonde hair that seems to be perfectly slicked back without a hair out of place. His sharp jawline which you could somehow see from the middle of the bleachers, and that smirk he had whenever he stole the ball. You then hear your parents scream. You get jolted back into reality. “That’s my son! That’s my damn son!” your mom shouts loudly so the whole gym could hear it. You turn back to the scoreboard where they are replaying your brother's Iconic moment of when he shot the ball from half-court and made it in. You then remember your mom told you to record him feeling embarrassed about getting carried away by your brother’s friend. You then lie and excuse yourself feigning nausea and heading to the car. Where you stayed the rest of the night.
That was two years ago, and ever since that day you made it a mission to make your brother’s best friend, Nanami Kento fall in love with you. Despite spending the whole summer together at your parents' timeshare in Santorini. He still remained unphased by all your advances. At one point you even swore up and down he was in love with your brother. I mean you pulled out all the tricks in the book. You “accidentally” tripped over a step landing onto his back to keep you up right. You wore a cute little baby pink tee that was cut too low. You even pulled out acting ditzy in case that was the kind of girl he was into. After a whole summer of trying and failing miserably. You decide to let your crush go. You came to the realization that he just sees you as his best friend’s little sister. Your brother now in his last year of high school decided to give you his car as a present for your 16th birthday. Jabari had plans to move with his high school sweetheart Gazlyn after graduating. So he didn’t see the need to have two cars. Ecstatic, you take a drive around town with your best friend Khass. You and Khass have been friends ever since she stole a block from you in kindergarten during play time. You guys decide to stop for a meal as you just wanted to spend the day with your best friend for your sweet 16. You and Khass decide on a fancy dinner at Leon’s steakhouse after spending 30 minutes coming up with restaurant choices and drawing them from your brother's old beat up NY Sox hat that he “inherited” from your older cousin. Dressed up in a long flowy, floral blue and white milkmaids dress paired with a cream crocheted cardigan which Khass made you as a birthday present. Your hair, which were in boho braids; your summer staple hairstyle, were now in an updo with a few braids hanging from the bun you had made with a handful of bobby pins and a singular hair tie. Khass on the other hand was the complete opposite of you, a smaller frame, pale Filipino girl with black hair and blue dyed tips, a small round face with full lips and a button nose dressed up in a japanese Vkei style outfit. With a black ruffle skirt, a white and black corset, and a black lace net cardigan. Her hair which she had recently given a hime cut flowed down her shoulders past her chest.
You pull into the already packed parking lot. You groan as you start circling the parking lot looking for a spot. “Why does my birthday always have to end up around homecoming weekend?” you playfully sobbed while leaning your forehead onto your steering wheel. This year you and Khass decided to skip homecoming and since you’d rather spend your 16th birthday with your best friend rather than bumping and grinding on sweaty hormonal teens. “The demon lord has it out for us I swear” Khass groaned. you chuckle at the comment. After binging Nana. It’s been a running joke between you and Khass that whatever bad things happen, is the demon lord’s fault. As you were starting to give up Khass shouted while pointing to an empty space right by an orange camaro “THERE! PULL IN BEFORE SOMEONE TAKES IT.” You hit the gas on your old beat up dark blue subaru outback that was passed down from your dad to your brother, now to you.
You and Khass start walking down the pathway into a well lit stairwell up to the restaurant. Leon’s steakhouse is one of Elsinore’s best kept secrets, well that was until a famous food reviewer from lourdius magazine did a review on it and now you have to call 3 weeks in advance in order to make a reservation. You head up to the host’s stand where you were greeted. You then responded back with an encouraging smile. “Hi, I have a reservation for 7:30 under y/n l/n” you chirped showing all 32. “We don’t have that name down here are you sure it’s not under a different name, or a different day?” the host responded, trying his best to look as approachable as possible with his dark wavy hair covering the highly noticeable bags under his eyes. He couldn’t be older than 22. Khass chimed in “No, it should be under that name, can you double check? she made a call a few weeks ago.” The host whose name tag said Brian then looked at his screen, and tried to break the news to us as softly as he could. “So we do have your name down….” he said with a pity smile. “okkkk?” you and Khass said with a curious look waiting for the bad news. “but it is for next weekend on the 16th of October.” he responded with trying his best to keep his composure. “what?!” Khass exclaimed. “That’s not possible. I specified the Saturday of homecoming weekend.” You said upset that your 16th birthday is now onto an even worse fate. “ I am so sorry.” Brian said with a hint of sorrow in his voice. “The reservation book is full but I can put you down on our list for a table. Although there is a wait.” Brian repeated to you, the same thing he’s been repeating all night to other guests. “ How long?” Khass sighed leaning over the host’s desk. “ About three hours. But it will be over before you even know it” Brian said, trying his best to cheer you and Khass up. “Three hours!” Both of you exclaimed trying to process what was just said. Defeated, you shook your head at Khass and Brian. “It’s my birthday. I can't spend most of my night waiting for a table to open up, just spend what little time I have left eating an overly expensive meal.” You said with a pitiful tone.
As you turn around to leave and figure out what to do with what little time you have left of your night. You heard your name being called. You brush it off thinking it must be someone else. But the voice starts getting louder and closer to you. You then spin around to face the person who’s been calling out your name for the past minute. Towering over you with all of his 6’1 frame, broad shoulders and all was Nanami huffing as he was trying to catch up to you. You’ve always been the “bigger girl” wherever you are. Which is not an issue you were never one to obsess over your looks. Your family always said you just had a little more love to give and you’ve always believed that. At 5 feet 9inches it’s always been hard for you to get along with other girls because of the notable height and size difference but Khass never made it a topic. And dating was a whole other issue which you hadn’t thought about ever since you saw Nanami. Standing under his gaze you couldn’t help but feel the blood rushing to your cheeks. You lower your gaze as he starts speaking to hide your now obvious flushed face. “ Are…… you…… just….gonna….” He says trailing off trying to catch his breath after every word. “ Huh?” Khass responds, noticing your flushed face. Your aunt always used to tell you for a dark skin black Girl, you easily turn into a tomato whenever you get nervous. She always says I’ve never seen anyone blush as much as you. Nanami, finally able to speak, stuttered out “Are you not gonna eat?” “ We were, but it turns out they made our reservation for next week and the wait is about three hours.” Khass responded, trying not to make Your embarrassment obvious. You finally regained my composure and looked back up at him. “Yeah, so much for a birthday dinner” You replied shrugging. “ It’s okay, if you two still want to dine in I can get you guys a table?” He said, waiting for an answer. Yes there were rumors that Nanami’s father was an investor in Leon’s but you truly never believed it. Considering you’ve never met his father. “ How? It’s not like you can easily just tell the host a table for two and he’d hand it to you right away.” Khass murmured. Khass has had a one sided beef with Nanami ever since summer when You all went to Santorini. It all started when you both had asked him to sneak you a bottle of smirnoff and he tattled on you to your parents, resulting in a 2 week grounding period with no electronics for 4 weeks. “Just come in” He said in a stern voice trying to seem more authoritative.
The three of you walk back up the same steps you had just left back to the host stand. Brian welcomes you back with a wave at first, but then immediately goes into full customer service mode when Nanami walks in behind you. “Welcome back Mr. Kento.” Brian says in his most perfect customer service voice. “ Hey Brian, can I get a table overlooking the lake please? It’s for a birthday” He responded in a friendly tone pointing towards the back of the restaurant, where the huge panel doors were open and a bit past it were a few tables set up on deck to overlook the lake. “Yes Mr. Kento,” Brian responded almost immediately. “ We can get that for you right now.” He says as he calls over a waitress to take you to your table. You then turn following behind Nanami and the waitress towards your table. Khass nudges you in your side nodding to the three sets which were set up at your table. “ Are you really going to let him impose on your birthday dinner?” she whispered just enough for you to hear. “It’s the least we could do.” you grit through your teeth. As you approached the table Nanami seemed to debate whether to leave or stay. Standing by your table, slightly rocking back and forth with his hands in his pockets. “Would you like to join us?” you manage to squeak out. He looks back with his head cocked to the side in thought for a few seconds before managing to respond with a nod. You tried your best to get over this in your words “ a silly little high school crush.” He effortlessly pulls out a chair right across from you and Khass. Khass then asked the question that’s been weighing on your mind since you saw him. “ Why aren’t you at the dance? You’d think for someone in their last year of high school they’d wanna soak up all the experiences.” she said, sipping on her virgin mojito. A couple of seconds pass by which makes you wonder if he will ever answer her question. “ Have you ever seen me at any school event where attendance is required?” he smirks before looking back down at his menu. Both you and Khass nod at the realization that you’ve never seen him at any other school events apart from basketball games and assemblies.
As your waiter heads towards your table with your food you pull out your phone to commemorate this moment with a photo. You and Khass got the same thing you always order when at Leon’s; the shrimp scampi carbonara with extra parmesan. You look over at Nanami’s plate filled with greens and salmon, fitting for his nature. You angle out your arm to snap a selfie of you and Khass but then get interrupted by Nanami clearing his throat. Both you and Khass snap your head towards him feeling awkward, you lower your camera and apologize. “Sorry.” “Do you want me to take the photo, rather than you awkwardly trying to find the right angle for a selfie?” He said while stuffing his fork with some asparagus. “He’s finally good for something..” Khass muttered under her breath to you. You swat her arm as a sign to stop while handing your camera to Nanami to snap a pic. Both you and Khass adjust yourself before giving the ok to Nanami to snap your photo. “ ok, 1..2..3..” the flash goes off after the timer beeps.You sneak a peek over the camera trying to read his facial expressions as to how the photos turned out. But his head is lowered, after 5 photos later Nanami finally hands back your camera as you thank him and praise him for his photo taking skills. His head still lowered, he accepted the praises. Khass then grabs the camera and nudges me while nodding toward Nanami. You shake your head realizing she wanted to snap a photo of you two together. With no acknowledgement towards your decision she proceeds to get up to snap a photo. “Hey nanami can sit over there by y/n so I can snap a photo of the two of you?” Khass asked. Before you could even reject that idea. Nanami proceeded to sit by you “ sure, anything for the birthday girl.” he said smiling. You could feel the hairs on your neck stand from how close you two are. You try to shake the feeling and focus on the photo being taken. The flash goes off about three times before Khass turns around and snaps a pic of all three of you together. The night goes on, all three of you talking about your summer endeavors, and what you’re looking forward to this year. As you fumbled through your bag looking for your waitress Alecia made it known that your bill had already been handled. Confusion set on your face and Khass’s before Nanami chimed in “ consider it a birthday present.”
Khass excuses herself to the restroom while you wait for her outside. Nanami then pulls out a tiny box from his coat jacket and hands it to you. “ Happy birthday y/n.” You take the box confused. “ You've already done enough, getting us a table, and paying the bill.” you respond looking at him. The streetlights illuminating his blonde hair and his eyes gleaming like a thousand stars. “ I was going to give it to you when I come over tomorrow, but since we’re already here I thought I’d give it to you now.” He responds nodding towards the box. “ open it.” You then undo the white lace on the baby blue box and open it. In it was a gold plated necklace with your name engraved. Your fingers trace it, smiling ear to ear you look back at him “ Thank you so much. I love it!” you respond enthusiastically, without thinking you jump to hug him. Before realisation settled in Khass cleared her throat before you released him and turned to Khass. “ you ready?” you asked her with pure embarrassment. You turn towards nanami, scratching the back of his head nervously rocking back and forward. You apologize for what had just happened. He just nodded his head before wishing both you and Khass a goodnight and leaving. Khass wouldn’t stop mocking you all the way home. And if that wasn’t enough you still had to see him the next day.
Days go by, then months, and before you know it you’re sitting in the bleachers at Your brother’s and Nanami’s graduation. Even after the weird hug during your birthday, he still seemed to be the same old Nanami, your brother’s unattainable best friend. You realise that this will be one of your last times seeing Nanami. Both your brother and Nanami committed to play basketball at NYU. Though weird enough they both chose to study Business management. You recall all the weird moments Khass mocked you for and all the hang outs you crashed whenever he was over with Jabril. Yes they are all bittersweet but, for some reason you’re fine with the fact that you won’t be seeing him in the hallways at school or over at your house every other day. After all, it WAS just a silly high school crush.