"Um," I begin nervously, turning to face him while he keeps his eyes fixed on the phone. "Megumi is at an emergency practice...and yes, this is unquestionably one of the best films ever made... What are you doing here, exactly?"
"Duh, I'm watching a movie..." He responds while stuffing his face with popcorn, specifically my popcorn. Togi's chagrin, I reach for the remote and pause the movie.
"Please go. I thought I told you to leave me alone at school... I understand you despise homosexuals. Go find a new place to despise them." I point the remote at my door and signal with it. He lets out a sigh.
"Look, I'm sorry for what I said to you in the kitchen the other day; it was totally uncool and way out of line. I didn't mean to offend you, I just didn't pronounce it correctly. Sorry for the inconvenience. I'm sincerely sorry, man. I still feel bad for Benn. But don't worry, I took care of him." His apology is sincere and meaningful, and he bows his head. As he slowly picks at a piece of popcorn, the room falls silent.
"Did you beat him up or something like that after I left the party?"
"Well...um...fu*k...well, after Benn called you a...uh...dirty fag...you just looked so broken, so sad." So I did the only rational thing I could think of...I gave him a hiding. Bro, I've been to a thousand parties in this house, in your house, and I crash here all the time, but I've never seen you - like I knew you were there, but only as a ghost. It's as though you're there, but no one notices you." I have a little laugh at the most ridiculous metaphor ever. "So yeah, I beat up Benn because he was being a jerk," he continues. I'm sorry, I should've called you Sad-o instead of Psycho. Since you appeared depressed. My brother, um... killed himself..haha yeah, that was a bummer.
He was sad and had the same expression on his face as you, but I didn't notice, you know? Yeah, that's true. But... Anyway, are we able to watch the film? "I really, no joke, love this movie," he says, his eyes diverting and sniffling softly, leaving me speechless.
"Well, if you're going to watch the movie, you might as well get cozy under the blanket...but no spooning this time!" I make a joke, and his demeanor returns to its previous warmth, the tremor in his eyes dissipating. Internally, I sigh as I push the dark tone out of the room. I used to think of Togi as a punk athlete who went to parties, but I've recently seen a side of him that none of the other famous kids at my school have ever shown: vulnerability.
"Do you mean relaxed in a nak*d state...or uncomfortable in a state of discomfort?" As he plays with the hem of his collar, life returns to his green eyes.
"If you take off your shirt, I'll kill you." I react as I watch the movie and hear him sigh in dissatisfaction. He removes his shoes and falls into the blankets. As the movie plays across the projector, entrancing both of us, the awkwardness slowly dissipates. Togi's chuckle vibrates the bed, his hand crunching through the popcorn, and my lids slowly drop. When I slowly drift back into sleep, the energy in the room radiates.
"Are you here, Christian?" As the door gets open, I hear Megumi's voice from the hallway, startling me awake. I look up and meet my confused brother's gaze, searching the now-empty side of the bed and ruffling the blanket to cover a body silhouette. What happened to the boy who used to stay in my bed? What happened to Togi?
"Of course." I've just recently awoke. How did practice go? My glass of milk is now empty, and I ask with a raspy tone... but not from me.
"It turned out well." But, since I'm hungry, I'm going to order pizza for dinner." I nod as I rub the sleep from my eyes. " Togi is on his way over to relax. Are you familiar with him? As he closes the door, he walks out of my place, his eyes fixed on his phone. What the hell is going on here?
Before the doors open and Togi slides out, the closet ruffles a bit. "I just gaped it into the wardrobe when I saw your brother drive up. I sent him a short email, and then everything went downhill." He reaches out his hand, running it through his tamed hair. "I'm going to sneak into his room and ambush him. Like a bang. Shockingly. Anyway, many thanks for the movie. I'll see you later." He steps out of the room with a wave. As he walks down the hall, I hear my brother yell his name, probably luring him in for a bro-hug.
A tingling feeling ruffles across my arm as I starfish across the bed, brushing my arm against the fading warmth of Togi's side of the bed.