Previously: (Chapter 14 - Kissed)
"Why does he keep calling and sending me text messages? I've told him I don't want to see him anymore. What is his real intention this time?" Ichinose's hand was shaking when puffing his cigarette.
"What happened and why are you outside on the balcony at this time. Aren't you cold? You're not even wearing a jacket." there was concern in Asami's voice as he asked.
"I- I just wanted to feel the breeze, so I tried to get out of my room to get some fresh air." Ichinose answered him with fear on his face and that Asami might scold him because of the loud noise.
"Next time, call me..... I will come and help you get out where you want to go. You know you're not even allowed to walk alone." Asami replied with a look of worry on his face.
"Yes, master Asami." he answered with his head down and scared even to glance at him.
Frustrated with himself because he can't properly tell Ichinose that don't be scared and he doesn't want to be like this, Asami helped him walk to his room and helped him up the stairs.
"Thanks, and good evening." Ichinose thanked him. He smiled at Asami with sadness on his face and he slowly closed the door.
Ichinose does not know if he will respond to the text messages received from Julius. And he doesn't want Julius to make trouble for it, especially to Asami. So right away he opened his phone and wrote that, "I will go home tomorrow so we could properly talk and please end everything with me."
He had no one to rely on for his problem so he tried to talk to Apollo who was one of his ex-boyfriends before and now his best friend. Now sending him text messages to Apollo to accompany him to go to his apartment, "Hey, Apollo could you come and pick me up tomorrow morning? I need to get some clothes and important things. I can't use public transportation as I can't work properly. I will tell you tomorrow when you pick me up, please and thank you."
It has been a while since they saw each other so he was happy when Apollo replied that he had nothing to do tomorrow and he would escort him. It felt his chest alleviated that he could have someone with him tomorrow to talk to Julius and cut off their relationship. He knows that Asami will be angry with him because he will leave the house, but he will just make excuses here and he does not want to know where he is going.
******
On the next day, Ichinose was waiting for Apollo to fetch him as they promised on the appointed time. But as soon as Asami came out of his room their eyes met and he unconsciously turned his face away to Asami.
Asami wondered why Ichinose came out of his room so early.
"Good Morning!" Asami greeted him with a look of surprise on his face.
"Good Morning too, master Asami." Ichinose replied without looking into Asami's eyes
"Have you had breakfast yet? If not, will you join me?" Asami wondered at Ichinose's reaction.
"No, Thank you! I'll eat later." Ichinose's voice was in the disapproval of Asami's offer
He didn't want to look at Asami and always bowed every time they met their eyes, also he did not want them to talk for long or be close together. He was hesitant but decided to tell Asami, "I need to go back to my apartment to get some of my clothes and stuff and I will be back before the day ends."
Asami abruptly frowned at Ichinose because of what he heard and then asked "Why? Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?"
He raised his face, but he still did not dare to look at Asami and answered… "I've been here for almost a week now. Also I have to take care of my house for a couple of hours and then I want to get some of my clothes too."
Asami nodded that he understood Ichinose. "Okay give me fifteen minutes, I'll be real quick and I'll take you there." Asami answered without hesitation.
He could not believe it when he heard that Asami will accompany him and to his reaction he was befuddled. However, he couldn't agree because Apollo is on his way now to pick him up so he spoke...
"I don't want to bother you, master Asami and I already have my friend to accompany me to pick me up today." He announces that Apollo will be in the gate any minute and his tone of disapproval to Asami's offer.
Ichinose bent down to say goodbye and walked slowly with his crutch on his other arm but Asami's voice made him stop, "Wait! Just wait and sit there for a moment, I will be quick to change my clothes and I will go with you!" The command echoed inside the dining room.
Ichinose feels dispirited and helpless because Asami's to join them, he only wants Apollo to join him beside Julius was there waiting for him and there's an explanation that Apollo is waiting for him to say. He doesn't know what to do now, the only thing is waiting for his friend to come before Asami comes down.
He was a little nervous and was afraid that Asami would get angry with him again, so he waited. Less than fifteen minutes later Asami changed his clothes and was fresh from taking a shower as he rushed to leave with Ichinose. A strong desire when he smells Asami fresh from the bath and as his habit of sneaking glances at him again, "What time did he say about getting here?" Asami's looking at his wristwatch to be sure his friend is on time.
Ichinose looked at his phone and read the last conversation he and Apollo had last night. "He will come any minute now." He sounded a bit excited to know Apollo is almost there and still can't look at Asami's eyes because of what happened to them.
After five minutes they heard the engine car and that is Apollo waiting outside the gate. Ichinose stood up right away but struggled so Asami instantly helped him, assisted him walking from the living room until the gate outside, Asami still supported him while walking. Apollo saw that Ichinose was with his master, and he smiled respectfully and said … "Good Morning, Sir!"
They exchanged morning greetings and two answered the same way. While they were at it Ichinose introduced Asami to Apollo. "Apollo, this is my master Asami and I have worked with him since I was younger." At the same time he looks at Asami.
"Master Asami, this is Apollo, he supposedly will be the one to go with me and take me home." and he looked at Apollo and he smiled too.
Asami's reaction of seeing how Ichinose was smiling to Apollo gives him the impression of being disfavored. He tried not to show that he was irritated because Ichinose was very friendly to him and so close as to remember the time Apollo hugged him. He helped Ichinose get into the passenger seat and also he sat there.
"You don't mind me coming, do you?" As he observed Apollo's reaction.
"Oh, no, of course. You can come along with us." Apollo replied to Asami.
"Just forgive my old car and it's not like the expensive ones." Apollo added and laughed at the same time he felt sorry.
Asami understood what Apollo meant to say so he replied, "The price doesn't matter as long as you can drive carefully. That's all it matters." he let a quick chuckle at his comment saying that is not important to him.
Ichinose could not speak because the two were already talking. He suddenly felt Asami hold his hand tightly as he was talking to Apollo. He tried to remove it but Asami's intertwined hand was tight. He can't look at Asami because they are inside Apollo's car. As Apollo talks to Asami he glances into the rear-mirror and he sees Ichinose's reaction.
Apollo's sigh was regrettable because of what happened to both of them. But he was happy, and gave him freedom of what Ichinose wanted. All he can do for Ichinose is to support whoever he loves. He also knew and Ichinose told him that he had loved someone before.
And he is not sure if "this Asami", the one Ichinose told him before and "that Asami" sitting next to him, is the same person. Whatever it is, his only wish for Ichinose is to be happy and enjoy his life with whoever he loves.
Briefly Apollo saw Ichinose's face blushed. He felt that Ichinose liked Asami because he knew how Ichinose to get blush on trivial things. So, Apollo spoke to Ichinose and said… "Ichi, how did you get sprained and do you really need a crutch?" Apollo was confused why he needed to use the crutch and his boss helped him get inside the car?
"Ah, ye-yes ... I fell down. A-and ... lost my balance... that is... why I got a broken ankle." Ichinose's voice stammered as he was conscious that Apollo was looking at them in the backseat and Asami was still holding his hand.
"It's one of my housekeepers' fault. That's why he got a broken bone. It's not your fault Ichinose." Asami declared and to let Ichinose know that he accepted that the accident happened.
"Ah, that's because I ordered Paige to get me some medicine and she seems to be in a hurry so that's why you both collided." As he clarified their conversation on the incident of Ichinose.
*****
To be continued....