I walked down the dimly lit hallway of the office as I frowned. I really hated staying back or working overtime.
The feeling of staying even longer than the necessary hours in the office was so constrictive. Especially having to wait and lock up after someone.
However... today was different. I didn't mind at all waiting for the lone person in the office today. It was Len. I was so excited to know that we were working in the same office.
I waited to see his astonished expression when he points at me and say "Doyle?!", but to no avail... It seems like he couldn't remember me.
Nevertheless, I'm not going to put myself down. There's an opportunity presented right before my eyes. Len is in the office. I want to befriend him again if it's the last thing I could do.
I took a deep breath before I steeled myself to enter the room. First impressions matter. Well... he probably won't have a good impression of me due to the constant turmoil of rumors regarding my personality, but still...
I took in a breath and walked through the door. Light brown hair shone as the bright light from the computer screen illuminated the top of his head. My breath caught in my throat. Why was I so nervous?
"W-where is the mistake? I can't find it... This is due tomorrow... I can't return home if I don't fix this by today!" Len cried out as he ruffled through his hair exasperatedly.
"Hmm? Lenford, is that you?" I said as I tried acting like I had only arrived.
"Hiieeekk!!! Eh?! Uh... D-Doyle! G-g-good evening!" Len shrieked before jumping up from his seat to greet me. My heart sank at his reaction towards me.
"Why are you so on edge?" I dared myself to ask as I found myself frowning.
"I-I-I-I'm not!" Len replied as his voice raised in pitch. He squeezed his eyes shut with an "Oh, God. I'm fucked." look on his face.
"Heh. Sure. But still... I must commend you for trying to rectify your errors until this late in the evening." I laughed as I patted his head.
Oh my gosh. His hair is so smooth. I wanted to keep running my fingers through his hair. But I better stop. Don't want him to be weirded out...
I took my hand off his head as Len opened his eyes and glanced up at me. The smile on my face faltered and I quickly tried to hide my emotions. Len looked really cute with his tear filled eyes and slightly flushed face. It makes me want to mess him up... Eh... What...? I quickly turned back towards him and ignored the thought in my mind as I tried to cover up my weird reactions.
"Uhm... Well... Seems like Rayson didn't tell you where you had to rectify, right? I'll give you a hand." I said as I tried to smooth over the fact that I admitted that I wanted to mess him up so badly. Oh, that sounded weird even when I think about it...
"Eh?! N-no! There's no need for that! You can just point it out and I'll get it done soon!" Len said as he instantly shot down my offer.
"Hey, now. If we both work on it together, we can leave twice as fast right? Plus, I'm locking up today. So I'd still need to wait for you." I pressed on boldly. It felt hurt to be rejected on the spot so I might as well guilt trip him... just this once.
"O-oh... S-sorry... Then... I-in advance... Thank you."
"Hmph... No problem. Now come, sit here! I'll show you the mistakes. Then we can split the work between us."
"S-sure!"
The report was finished in a flash and I found myself disheartened. I wanted to spend an even longer time with Len. I glanced towards him who was humming to himself and neatly arranging the documents for tomorrow.
"Want to go grab dinner?" I asked way too smoothly that I didn't even believe I said that.
Len glanced over his shoulder towards me and blinked for a few seconds. He had a conflicted look on his face before he fervently nodded.
"Okay! But I'll pay. As thanks for your help." Len said as he beamed towards me.
My heart fluttered in my chest as I saw the smile he directed at me. I felt like monopolising him and keeping him all to myself. I furrowed my brows as I questioned my thoughts.
My head went blank when I heard Len humming the song we made up as kids. I instantly grabbed him by the shoulders earning myself an astonished look from him.
"D-Doyle?"
"That melody! ... No... that song! Do you remember it?" I asked as my grip on his shoulders tightened.
"E-eh... isn't this a melody for VVV anime? A-also... you're hurting me..."
"E-eh?! Oh... um... sorry." I dropped my hands as I found myself disappointed yet again.
It was true the melody sounded similar to the opening theme song of VVV anime... but we came up with it years before the anime was even released.
"D-Doyle? Are you okay? Do you want to put off the dinner to another day?" Len asked as he lowered himself to my height.
"Wh-what?! No! I mean. Let's have dinner. I'm fine. Truly!" I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door.
I quickly locked the office up before pressing the button of the elevator. I glanced towards Len and noticed that I was still holding onto his hand.
"O-oh! Sorry!" I said as I moved to release my grip. Len however grabbed onto my hand and shook his head.
Oh... right... he was claustrophobic.
"Then... don't mind me for a little bit." I said as I held onto his trembling hand firmly and entered the elevator.
I clicked the button for the basement and waited for the doors to shut. As the doors shut, Len started shivering really badly. I released my hand and pulled him into an embrace as I comforted him. He would probably feel really awkward about it, but, I didn't want him to feel scared when I was around him.
"D-Doyle?!" Len exclaimed as he felt my arms wrapped around him. He however relaxed into my embrace and reciprocated it.
The elevator chimed and we reached the basement. I asked him to wait for a moment as I went to get the car. I felt reluctant to leave him but I knew we would still be spending time together.
After getting the car, I quickly scrambled out of my seat and opened the door for Len. He showed me a confused expression but thanked me for it regardless.
We sat in the car and headed to a Japanese restaurant nearby. My heart trembled with joy as I felt so giddy being in the same car as Len. Even if he doesn't remember the past, I could always befriend him again.
***
I watched Len down his possibly hundredth cup of sake as he complained about the office. I grinned at him as I tried to hold back my laughter.
Len was so reserved that he wouldn't say much and instead chose to down the 5 bottles of sake on the table. I have no idea whether he was a really heavy drinker or just a nervous one.
I excused myself for a bit to use the bathroom. I didn't drink because I needed to drive but Len kept forcing me to. So I ordered some green tea and drank it until he felt satisfied. I chuckled at the thought as I dried my hand after washing my hand from using the toilet.
I headed back towards my table but found Len gone. I glanced left and right before I found a slightly older man grabbing onto him. He was touching Len all over his body which made my blood boil.
I walked straight up to him and pulled Len out of his grasp.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" I grabbed the older man by the collar as he turned to glare at me.
"What's your problem, kid? Is there a problem bringing a prostitute back to a hotel with me?" The man asked in a low voice as I felt the scene before me growing red. I then grabbed the cup of tea from his table and tossed it at his face. Maybe that will wake him up.
The man yelled at me but I only spared him a short glare before tossing a wad of cash at his face and leaving the restaurant. There was no way I was bringing Len back there again.
"Len... are you alright?" I finally asked as I walked beside him, holding his waist.
I decided to bring him to the local park for a short walk for him to sober up. Len glanced at me with a dazed look before grinning. He tripped and fell into my arms as he laughed lightly.
I furrowed my brows as I smiled slightly at his antics. I hope he doesn't remember that old dirt bag touching him as he pleased.
"Doyle... hic... you are so nice... hic... You saved me..." Len said in between hiccups as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
My face flushed red as I bashfully rubbed the back of my head. "Ah... hahah... No way... not really."
"Yes you are... hic... I have never met anyone who would stick up for a gay man."
"H-huh?"
"Doyle... does it disgust you...? That... I'm a homosexual?" Len asked as his prior laughter died down and was replaced with his broken voice and streaming tears.
"H-huh? Len? D-don't cry..." I said as I quickly swiped away the tears with my thumbs, however, it didn't stop.
"P-please answer me... I... I'm scared... everyday I have to force myself to live against the piercing look people give me just because I'm different... A... Are you one of them? hic... D-Doyle? Please tell me..." Len begged as he clung to my shirt.
I found myself at a loss of words. I didn't really think anything of people's preferences. It's up to them who they liked. I've dealt with people of the same gender, of the opposite gender and even transvestite who had fallen in love with me before.
I didn't think that Len had been suffering this much. It hurt my heart that I couldn't be there when he had to go through all that alone.
"Len... I don't believe I have any rights to judge you. Nor do other people have the right to do so. Love is... something special. It works differently for everyone. I... If its matters pertaining to you... I... I will always be on your side no matter what." I said as I held onto the hope that it was the words Len wanted to hear.
"D-Doyle..." Len said before rubbing his face closer to my chest. My heart fluttered yet again in my chest as I found myself enjoying our close proximity.
"Doyle... I'm sorry but... I don't feel so good..."
"Eh?"
*bleghh* (Len is vomiting on Doyle)