Eijirou's P.O.V.
The pinkette sent me a relieved smile. 'What's that for? Guess I gotta wait to find out.' I began to make their order as I subtly watched them make their way to the booth and pull the curtains slightly for more privacy. I wondered what was so important they needed so much privacy, I mean, wouldn't it have been better just to go up to Mitzuki's room if they wanted somewhere to talk about whatever. I was really curious but decided I'd trust BamBam to talk to me later about what the fuck happened earlier and why Mitzu had bolted after him calling him BB. Sighing and shaking my head I took their orders over.
"Heya, order's up. Is there anything else I can get you this afternoon?" I spoke professionally.
Mitzuki had teary eyes and sniffled into his hoodie sleeve so the pinkette answered for him.
"Nah, we're good man, thanks." I nodded,
"Just yell if you need whatever broski's and I'll come right over." I said more to Mitzuki than BamBam and the light brunette cracked a tiny smile. Pleased I'd gotten a reaction, regardless of how small it was (and I know it was there because I was watching carefully) and I also wanted to know if I could safely leave my friend alone with BamBam in the emotional state he would be in because of his panic attack earlier.
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In the booth
BamBam's P.O.V.
"Just yell if you need whatever broski's and I'll come right over!" Exclaimed the dark brunette and I saw the edge of Mitzuki's lips curve just enough to call it a smile, Eijirou left us to our own devices after that. I could tell he cared a lot about the man across from me and it made me feel grateful that Mitzuki had met Eijirou because he was an amazing guy. He had the biggest heart and always cared about everyone he met, sometimes too much, he had a crazy personality and usually his hair matched it. Idly I wondered why Eijirou still had dark brown hair, usually he would change it every couple of months. Wrapping my hands around the mug in front of me I inhaled the aroma of rich hot chocolate and fresh whipped cream.
"Hey Mitzuki, do you know why Eijirou hasn't dyed his hair recently? This is the longest he's gone without colouring it and I'm a little worried about him." Breaking the ice wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, I wanted to avoid the conversation I knew was coming for as long as I could.
"Mn. He said he'd dye his hair when I did. We were planning to go to the city in the next few days, then... well... you." His eyes stayed glued to his Vienna chocolate as if the chocolate dusting was the most interesting thing at the table.
"Me?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah. You turned up and you've flipped everything upside down. I'm..." The brunette opposite me stopped to clear his throat a few times, swiping his sleeves over his eyes he drew in a shaky breath, held it and blew it out. He repeated this several times, each breath becoming a little more steady, I placed my hand palm up on the table in between us as a peace offering but, honestly, I didn't expect him to take it.
Mitzuki hesitantly placed his soft hand in mine, grasping with his fingertips as if he were afraid I would pull away, I must have surprised him by closing my fingers around his hand and holding it firmly because of the light pink flush I noticed creeping into his cheeks.
"It's okay Mitzuki. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." I spoke softly but clearly, letting the young man in front of me know I wouldn't hurt him if he chose not to speak. He shook his head, his hair falling over his chocolate orbs so I couldn't see them easily. He remained quiet for a while so I waited patiently for him to gather his thoughts. I felt a needle of pain in my heart to hear his voice shaking when he finally did speak.
"I... I'm scared. More than scared actually, I'm absolutely terrified you're tricking me and that you'll jus' take me back to... Him... and I'll be stuck in that nightmare again but this time I won't get out alive again because he will kill me or I'll kill myself just to get away from him. I can't live through that again. It's not like I never tried to get away before. I know that if I ever get found and sent back to Him that he will do it for sure but this time he'll leave me dead. Nobody will ever see me again. I don't wanna go back BB. I... I can't go back... I.... Please. Please don't take me back to him. I don't... I won't survive if you take me back there... I would rather you just kill me now." I could see the boy in front of me was broken and in that moment I knew I wanted to find a way to murder the man who had broken this beautiful male down so far that he would tell me he would rather I kill him.
"I would never. Mitzuki, I was serious when I told you I haven't worked for Izuka Yang for three and a half years. I left because he found out I'm in love with you and he threatened to kill you. From what you said it sounds like he did it anyway, followed through on his threats to hurt you even though I left. He told me you would be safe, unharmed if I went away. I swear by the universe that if I knew what he would do to you... I would have taken you with me, 'Zuuki, I would have taken you with me and we would have vanished together." I felt as tears flowed over my waterline and raced over my cheeks, I didn't bother to wipe them away. Looking up and taking a few steadying breaths helped, a little, so I forced myself to continue,
"After I left Qīpiàn City and I travelled a lot in the first year. I wasn't really sure what I was looking for or even if I was looking for something, until about a two and half years ago when I ended up in Liánhuā Hú. This is such a pretty town that I couldn't help it. I knew I wanted to be here and I dreamed that if you and I could have ever been together that we could have done the whole 'white picket fence' thing here. I knew you'd have loved it. I thought I'd been imagining things when I saw you here for the first time, maybe three months ago. I never saw your face properly because you were always busy and you look nothing like the way I'd remembered you, I thought I just wanted to see you so badly that I was imagining you were here and that it was just someone who looked like you because I never thought you'd ever leave, uh, Him. You know?" I had stirred all the whipped cream into the hot chocolate now and had a mouthful of the cooling drink. As the tears continued to flow from my eyes I felt Mitzuki's stare intensify, as if he's trying to figure me out.
" 'Zuuki, I've loved you for so long that I thought you were literally a figment of my imagination or that you were just someone who looked like you. I convinced myself that you were only a creation of my mind since I so badly wanted to see you, to be with you. I never thought... And then today... Eiji and me heard a banging from upstairs then he gave me his key and told me to go to help his friend. He only referred to you as Kim but that's such a common family name so I didn't think anything of it. So Eijirou told me to help his friend Kim who he said was having a panic attack, told me I had less than two minutes help his friend Kim calm down or we'd have to call Lan Yibo and shit man that guy scares the shit outta me, ya know? So I got my ass to where he told me to find his friend and then it was you. At first I thought I was hallucinating before I remembered he told me you were suffering another attack so I did what Eiji used to do to me when I'd have them. It helped calm you but then you went psycho on me." A bitter laugh escaped me.
"Honestly, though, I don't fucking blame you one bit. Not one fucking bit 'Zuuki but what kills me is that you believe I was still in Qīpiàn City all this time. I promise you to the stars and back that it wasn't me. I promise you that it wasn't and Eijirou can tell you all about me from the last two and a half years if you want to know anything. I don't care if you ask him or where I work or whoever else you need to because I want you to know for sure that it wasn't me baby, I swear on my mother's life it wasn't me."
Mitzuki stared at me, probably because I didn't often speak this much or as brutally honest as I was being. I wasn't sure if he remembered how important my mother was to me but for me to swear on her life must have surprised him and, just maybe, helped him believe in me. I desperately want him to believe in me, I want for him to believe I am telling the truth because I hadn't been back to Qīpiàn City or Izuka Yang since I left three and a half years ago.
The chocolate eyed beauty opposite me studied my face intently, I couldn't read his emotions on his face like I used to be able to (before I left Qīpiàn City). Rubbing his free hand over his face he asked me,
"If it wasn't you BB, who was it?" Mitzuki's hand now had mine in a death grip as I heard his voice filled with both fear and confusion.