Page 41

Visha

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The door slams open and Aoi rushes to my side, spilling coffee everywhere. “What happened?! What was that sound?” He stands in the middle of the room, his worried expression shifting to disbelief. “Are you serious?”

I purse my lips, holding back my laughter. “Happy Birthday.”

He starts laughing and runs towards me, embracing me tightly. “Careful, the package is fragile.”

He pulls away, grinning like a child and I feel myself fall deeper for him. He eyes the gift and the huge red ribbon on top of the wrapped box.

“What is it?” he asks, biting his lower lip. “Can I open it?”

I nod enthusiastically and hand it over to him. Our fingers graze during the exchange. He puts down his mug and wipes his hand with a tissue before carefully unwrapping the box.

Tears well up in his eyes when he realizes what he’s holding. “Oh my God, Visha…”

I wanted to get him something he’d always remember, something timeless and a token of my gratitude for the three years we spent together.

He slides his finger over the picture frame and the memories of our lives appearing with each touch. He holds the frame up against his chest and sobs. I never thought he’d cry.

“Thank you so much,” he says with watery eyes. “It’s the most beautiful gift I’ve ever received.”

Instinctually, I reach for his cheek and wipe away a glistening pearl with my thumb. “You deserve everything and more.”

He leans into my touch and closes his eyes for a split second but it’s enough to tear my heart apart. I love this man more than anything in the world. This might be the only thing I’m certain of.

He giggles as his lashes flutter, blinking away unshed tears. “So that crash…what was it?”

“The plate fell but it didn’t break.” I laugh. “I can’t be breaking stuff all the time.”

He pulls me into a tight embrace, flooding me with love and warmth. Through his touch I am whole again. I let the waves break my bones and sink my heart as he rubs my back.

“You’re the best gift anyone could ever wish for.”

I gasp and bury my face in his shoulder. Never have I felt more loved and needed than whenever Aoi holds me against his heart.

“You’re gonna think I’m stupid,” he laughs. “But I completely forgot what today was.”

“You forgot your own birthday?!” I gawk at him in disbelief.

He nods sheepishly. “I was so busy with everything else that I just completely forgot. No wonder everyone was acting weird today.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Come on. My birthday isn’t more important than your departure. How could I possibly care about something as unnecessary as today when I have other fish to fry?”

“Still, you shouldn’t completely push aside your own achievements.”

“I turned twenty-six. That’s not an achievement.”

“You’re alive and well. That is one.”

“You know what? We should have dinner outside tonight,” he says. “You, me and Jason. I’ll celebrate with my friends another time.”

The mention of that blonde demon sets me on edge. I’d rather avoid seeing that rat if I can, but today’s Aoi’s special day, so whatever he wants he’ll get.

“Sounds perfect.”

***

Jason stands out in the 50’s themed diner Aoi chose to eat in. He’s wearing a perfectly tailored navy-blue suit, and his hair is styled back as usual. He still looks like the devil in disguise but for some reason I’m the only one who can see through his good-guy act.

Aoi’s smiling brighter than ever.

“You had to choose a diner out of every restaurant in the city?” Jason complains.

Can’t he shut up for a second? No one cares about his snobbish taste. Diners are fun as hell.

Aoi lets a half chuckle escape. “I love the fifties’ aesthetic. Can’t help it.”

I hear a soft rustle of clothes under the table and Aoi’s cheeks flush slightly while Jason smirks smugly.

“Anyways. What do y’all want to order? My treat,” he says, clasping his hands.

Jason frowns. “Don’t be ridiculous, it’s your birthday. You’re not paying.”

“Then who is?” He raises a brow jokingly. “The kid?”

“Well, he needs to pull his weight, doesn’t he?”

Aoi laughs and I frown, mumbling under my breath, “It’s not funny.”

I freaking hate that man. Everything he says is unnecessarily rude and it’s always me he’s targeting. Aoi doesn’t even seem to pick up on the micro-aggressions.

“I want to order ice cream for once. Visha, wanna share one with me?”

How can I refuse him when he beams that way? “I’d love to. Which one do you want?”

“I was thinking this one.” He points at the picture of vanilla ice cream coated with chocolate and a cherry on top. “Looks super good.”

“Then let’s order that one later.”

Aoi raises his arm and calls for a waitress to order our food. For the next hour, we eat our burgers and onion rings dipped in BBQ sauce.

I munch on a mozzarella stick as Jason turns to me, promising the worst. “You’re being reunited with your dear brother, isn’t that perfect?”

“Did Aoi tell you that?”

“He tells me everything.”

Everything? Did he also tell him about my confession? About the kiss? I doubt Aoi would tell that demon about something as private.

“Whatever. It’s none of your business.”

Aoi glances at me. “Visha don’t be rude. Please.”

“I’d say that your brother’s arrival is a fantastic event. He might be able to make a man out of you.”

Someone hold me back before I jump over the table and kill him. Aoi glances between us, casually sipping on his chocolate milkshake as I frown at his uncle’s audacity.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No need to get offended,” he retorts, rolling his eyes. “I’m just joking around.”

Like hell he is. I know damn well he wants to piss me off until I say something I’ll regret and upset Aoi. Jokes on him because I won’t let that happen.

“As if I’d get offended over a mere joke.”

He narrows his eyes on me, deviously plotting to make my evening a living hell. “Indeed.”

“Jason, cut it out. At least for tonight.” Before Jason can spout another round of concealed insults, the embodiment of kindness next to him pokes his arm. “Wanna know what Visha got me for my birthday?”

“Tell me.”

He smiles and describes the gift, “A frame with pictures of us that change every time you touch the frame. Isn’t that amazing?”

“Indeed, it is.” He cracks a smile. The kind he only offers him and no one else. “I know you’re going to squeal when you see mine.”

Jason may be a raging asshole with me, but he surely dotes on Aoi. I don’t know how someone can be that hateful and still show such softness to one distinct individual. Maybe he was dropped as a child and after seeing Aoi’s angelic halo years later, he joined the same cult as me.

“What did you get me?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Aoi scrunches his nose, and I feel like I’m melting at how adorable he is.

“I feel so old already,” he groans, slurping on his milkshake. “Most people are already married and have kids at my age,” he whines, nudging Jason’s arm. “You should be too.”

I roll my eyes. “You’re only twenty-six. Jason is basically a fossil compared to you.”

“Oh my God, don’t say that.”

Jason glares at me, and for once I’m satisfied with the jab I threw in his stupid face.

“Either way, you don’t need to get married, and you don’t need kids.” I dip an onion ring in the sauce and shove it in my mouth. “You have me.”

Aoi messes up my hair. “True.”

“You’re cocky for an orphan,” Jason says, arrogance dripping from his tongue. “I wonder where you get the guts to make such grand affirmations when you have nothing to offer him.”

“What the fuck is your problem?” I snap. “You can hate me as much as you want but don’t fucking talk about shit that doesn’t concern you.”

“Visha!”

I get up, slamming my palm on the table. “He started it!”

Aoi raises his voice, glaring at both of us as he says, “Both of you stop it.”

“That kid has no manners.”

“That’s rich coming from you!”

“Enough!” He raises his frame and walks past us. Stopping in the middle of the room, he spins around and with visible disappointment he says, “I can’t believe I thought you two could get along for once. Both of you are so selfishly busy arguing that you can’t grasp the fact that you’re ruining what’s supposed to be my goddamn birthday.”

Fuck .