credit to : nn14dd on twitter
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You were alone in the apartment you just rented for your stay in New York... Thinking about last night. Choso's expression when you met again didn't left your mind and the thing that pissed you so off is that you didn't had the time to talk with him.
It was Hiromi who had disrupted that moment. Normally so stoic, his face had lit up like a fanboy at the sight of Choso. The wide smile he wore in the picture they took triggered a pang of jealousy – a smile that Choso had once reserved for you.
"I still have the same number."
That's what Choso whispered to your ears before leaving you with your date to go back inside the exhibit.
Sitting lost in thought, you debated whether calling him was a good idea. Memories of your separation with no explanations from your part resurfaced, causing a pang of guilt. The breakup had left a hole in your heart, and perhaps that void was why you struggled to feel anything romantic for Hiromi, despite his being the ideal partner your parents had always wanted for you : a kind man with good reputation, a respectful job and a nice face.
The clock suddenly caught your eye – it was already 10 pm. Acting on impulse, you dialed Choso's number, of course you knew it by heart. There was no room for regrets now.
Beep, beep, beep...
"Don't take it, don't take it, don't take it, you murmured in repeat while it was beeping.
– Yeah ?, his beautiful husky voice, so missed, pierced the silence."
Your heart raced, and you closed your eyes, steadying your breath otherwise you'd faint.
"H-Hi..., gathering your wits, you stammered out a greeting,
– Y/N, he chuckled softly, didn't expect your call. Glad to know I'm not forgotten."
The sound of his laughter released the butterflies that had been caged within you since yesterday. You missed this sensation more than you realized.
"Don't say that..., you mumbled, your voice soft."
He chuckled again before sighing, the weight of his breath carrying through the line.
"Did you call for a reason ?, he playfully inquired.
– I... we didn't really get to talk yesterday, you managed with a smile in your voice.
– Yeah, I'm getting used to taking selfies with fans now, but your boyfriend was something else, he paused, and a hint of provocation laced his words, Always falling for dark-haired guys, huh?
– He is not my boyfriend, you retorted, slightly sharper than you intended.
– Alright, he replied, though not entirely convinced. I'm at the gallery arranging some pieces. Feel free to drop by if you want.
– O-Okay, you said it a little too fast.
– See you, he said after another laugh, then hung up."
You held the phone to your chest, blushing and smiling like the old you. Was it normal to feel this way even after ten years without talking? It seemed a bit ridiculous. You had met presidents, famous doctors, and Nobel Prize winners, yet it was Choso who had the power to put you in such a state – your first true love.
You didn't looked at yourself in the mirror or changed your work clothes before leaving your apartment. You just took a little jacket since it was a little chilly outside.
You took a deep breath, steadying yourself, and hailed a taxi to the gallery.
As the taxi navigated through the city streets, you couldn't help but recall those late nights excursions in his motorcycle, the breeze tangling in your hair as you both laughed carelessly... All the time you passed together, he was always there for you, through good times and bad. All these episodes with Yuta, Geto, highschool rumors once frustrating and now a good story to tell... maybe your future kids.
Arriving at the gallery, you hesitated for a moment at the entrance. Taking a deep breath, you pushed open the gallery door which was empty due to the late hour. The soft noice of your heels clicking on the floor made Choso turn around you who was arranging some things with boxes on his hands, your heart quickened.
Your gazes held, both of you taking in each other, as if committing every detail to memory. He looked just as you remembered, that mix of boyish charm and a hint of mystery that had always drawn you in.
He was wearing a black tank top and your gaze wandered, noticing the numerous tattoos adorning his body.
A rush of thoughts (not so innocent) crossed your mind, causing your cheeks to flush. You averted your gaze momentarily, feeling the heat of embarrassment.
"Hey, he greeted, his soft voice.
– Hi, you replied, a shy smile forming."
He carefully set down the boxes he was holding and closed the distance between you. His raised eyebrows gave you a once-over, from head to toe. For a moment you felt small and asked yourself if being here was a good idea.
"Is black your new colour ?, he suddenly asked.
– Uh, what ?, you stumbled, caught off guard.
– Yeah, you wore black yesterday and you wear black tonight too, he observed with an intriguing smile.
– I don't understand the point of...
– Bunny, don't take it the wrong way. I mean... you look stunning in any color, but black was always my thing. In my memories you preferred bright colours and used to wear black just because you knew it was my favorite colour, Choso said with a hint of cockiness in his smile."
Your heart skipped a beat. Did he just call you "bunny"?
"Are you suggesting I'm doing this on purpose? Trying to catch your attention?, you chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood. Honestly, I wear mostly black to work and I didn't had the time to change myself. It's not like I—"
You caught yourself, realizing you were babbling a bit too much.
He shook his head in disbelief, his teeth grazing his cheek. As the tension between you grew, you pressed your lips together, a small, nervous smile tugging at your mouth.
"I'm really trying to keep my cool here, Y/N... but you can't imagine how much you fucked up my mind when I saw you yesterday. I thought, I saw a ghost. All these years of waiting for a sign of you, we finally met here. How ?, he passed his hand through his hair, giving you a better view of the tattoos on his arm.
– I really did not know. Hiromi..., you began, attempting to explain.
– Pff, he scoffed at the mention of Hiromi.
– Uh, yeah, you stumbled, your nerves getting the best of you. The person I was with really wanted to come to the exhibit, and I had no idea it was yours. It was a pure coincidence, you tried to explain."
Stressed out, he bite his lips and looked at the ground thoughtfully.
"I see, he muttered, a mix of emotions apparent in his tone."
Unspoken words seemed to hang in the air, the tension palpable. His pained expression was unmistakable, and it weighed heavily on your heart.
"Why are you here Y/N? Why did you call me? I want to know because I am grown man now. I am in my thirties, you can say that I am settled and I know what I want... So answer my questions, please, he demanded, his voice carrying a hint of desperation.
– I am sorry Choso, your voice cracked.
– Stop saying that! Do you know that the day you left me in front of my part-time job is constantly on repeat in my mind ?!, he came closer, his voice low and dangerous."
There was no more distance between, you could feel his unsteady breath on you.
"I know it's been ten years, I know! But damn, just when I found some stability in my life you come back and crush all my sanity!, his words tumbled out, frustration lacing every syllable.
– Choso... Don't hate me please, you pleaded with tears menacing to fall.
– Talk!, he demanded with frustration.
– I never wanted to leave you..., you admitted, your voice tinged with sorrow. My parents, they wanted to force a wedding with Yuta. The only way to escape it was to follow my dad's expectations : breaking up with you, attending a prestigious university, becoming a doctor. So, I worked a lot to avoid my parents pressure. I thought you'd be better off without me, without my family's dramas."
He glared, his expression a mix of anger and pain.
"See how it was easy to give me your reasons? You acted like you cared and then left with no explanation making me question my own self worth... What you did to me was nothing but coward and cruel. And don't say you are sorry because I know you lived well without me while I was at my worst. You gave me hope just to tear it away from me Y/N, Choso's voice was now cold.
– We were young, Choso. It's been ten years. I was foolish and—
– I don't want to hear the next of your shitty excuses, he stopped you, his hands gripping your shoulders, his gaze demanding your attention."
You tried to hold his gaze, only for tears to cloud your vision moments later. All the sadness you'd bottled up for years surged forth in a torrent. Choso, hesitantly, pulled you into a hug. His arms enveloped you, his touch gentle as he stroked your hair. You could feel how much he was tense, how much his pulse was fast.
"It's always easier to hate than to love and I tried to hate you, I really did but I couldn't, he murmured with a sadness in his voice.
– You said I lived well without you but that's not true, you don't know. I hope with all my heart that one day you will forgive me Choso, you sobbed, the weight of your emotions crashing over you.
– I hope too, he replied, his voice laced with guilt."
He pulled away for a moment just to gently wipe your tears with his thumb. After all this years and the pain you caused to him, he is still the same... kind and soft.
"I miss you Choso, you filled the void in my heart, you muttered with sincerity in your eyes."
Life wasn't a movie so, no he didn't kissed you till you were breathless. He only smiled, an honest and warm smile before hugging you again.
For the rest of the evening, you helped Choso rearranging the gallery. Doing some chores like wiping the floor, settling some boxes etc. You missed his presence, you missed all of him. He talked about his art, how being a tattoo artist inspired him to paint. You didn't know if it was a good idea to talk about the piece of his art you saw with Hiromi yesterday, but at this point you had nothing to loose.
"One of your painting seems very familiar. The one where you see a girl on the beach pointing at the ocean..., you said trying to act cool and not impressed.
– Yeah, it's you, he replied without hesitation."
You widened your eyes and stopped what you were doing to look at him shocked. He let out a low laugh when he saw the look on your face.
"Don't act like that..., he mumbled embarrassed. First of all, I painted that but I never thought you will see it one day. Does it bother you ?, he asked.
– No, it's actually beautiful. It reminded me how much I was happy back then, you replied with a shy smile.
– I give it to you, keep it. You were my inspiration after all, he shrugged."
Laughter bubbled out of you. You opened your mouth to express your gratitude, but his phone interrupted the moment, ringing loudly. His hand dipped into his pocket, and you couldn't help but notice the name of the contact. "Yuki," a girl's name.
"Yes, bunny?, he answered, his voice suddenly warm and affectionate."
"Bunny." The word echoed in your mind, and you couldn't deny the surge of jealousy that washed over you. He called another girl bunny... It was absurd, you knew. Yet, an involuntary pang of possessiveness stirred within you.
~
guyyyyyys, I was writing this chapter with so much devotion like I was Choso and Y/N at the same time!
did you like their "reunion" ??
yeah I wanted to mess you up with the "bunny" thing 👹👹👹