Chapter 25: The Sharing

Even the customers could witness how gloomy Ryohei was for the whole day. The manager and the colleague exchanged glances. It was Ryohei's first day after he has returned from his three days holiday, however he did not look good and refreshed. Not enough with swollen eyes, he even seemed fragile.

"So," The colleague leant his forearm against Ryohei's, "did you, like, do sex until you didn't sleep?"

Ryohei squinted at the colleague before shifting to the book stocks. They were currently in the book storage, so there was no customer to overhear them.

The colleague peeped at Ryohei's side profile. Looking closely, Ryohei was actually a refined and handsome young man. He might seem a quiet type, but he was actually easy to befriend with. He has claimed for several times on how straightforward he was even with a person he just met, thus it caused him to no have a girlfriend. Acknowledging his engagement with an uncanny person was one of the issue because he never introduced anyone to them before this.

"You're giving me goosebumps," Ryohei frowned at the colleague. "Have you done this often all these while?"

The colleague curled his lips, bewildered by Ryohei's bad mood. "I just wonder on what has really happened? Did you fight with your fiancee? Oh!" he covered his mouth and ogled, "Have you broken up already?"

"You do know how to infuriate me," Ryohei grunted in disapproval, "None of them happened. It was just that- I just found out a secret I shouldn't have."

The colleague drew his face closer, "You figured out your fiancee didn't satisfy you on bed?"

"Do you think we went to a holiday to have sex solely?" Ryohei gritted and seized the colleague's collar, forcing him to apologize right away. "I'm sorry. I don't think I can share it with you. It's not that I don't trust you - it's just that it's a matter between us. Yet I'm being unprofessional today, am I right?"

The colleague tilted his head on one side and crossed his arms, "When it comes to personal issue, I can't really push you to separate if you are the type to over think. No. I mean, you must act professionally in separating your career and your personal life, but," he naturally curved a small smile, "if you still think about it, I can't get mad at you. Even the manager."

Ryohei raised his brows, "Speaking of which, I just realized. The manager is absent today. Is he sick?"

It was the colleague's turn to frown at Ryohei, "He also took some off days and don't you dare to change the topic. It's you we're talking about," he grasped both of Ryohei's shoulders, shaking them as if he was waking him up, "I just want to listen about you. You revealed to us that you're engaged, but you haven't told us who your fiancee is."

A giggle escaped from Ryohei, instantly relieving the colleague. Ryohei finalized his stock counts and handed the forms to the colleague. "Before I proceed, I would like to let you know. I'm a gay."

"Wow, you surely are determined to say that," The colleague faked a laugh. It was not to mock Ryohei - he was shocked to be divulged about Ryohei's sexuality. "So, your fiancee is a man?"

Ryohei nodded confidently. The longer he attempted on masking Yuki as his fiancee, the harder it would be to veil the truth. Before the colleague could randomly predict whoever coming to his mind, it might be better to be utterly honest towards him.

"Well, your friends rarely buy here," the colleague crossed his arms, recalling Ryohei's old friends who had come to the bookstore. "Or you haven't brought him here before? Oh!" There came his imagination. "Last time! The man across the store! The blind man!" he flailed his arms in various directions, "Is it him?"

Deep inside, Ryohei was impressed by his colleague's keenness. It must be the change before and after he met Yuki was noticeable, and it was possible that the relationship between he and Yuki has become a hot topic among the staffs. This colleague of his was really a gossiping type.

"For real, Ryohei? Oh my! I hardly believe it!" The colleague ogled at Ryohei and combed his hair backwards, exposing his smooth forehead. "So the accident was your first meeting, and you guys met frequently after that?"

Ryohei nodded at every of his colleague's question. It was true, and Ryohei did not consider on altering the fact. Yuki has already become his lover, and they were working hard to get married soon. An image of the pretty fiancee came to view, and Ryohei laughed all by himself, frightening the colleague.

"I really can't believe you," the colleague shook his head for the nth time, "I can accept your divulgence upon your sexuality, but I can't really accept that your fiancee is that blind man!"

"Pipe down, will you?" Ryohei had the urge to shove his palm to his colleague's loud mouth, "I don't want the people near to this store listen to us. And for your information, my fiancee is the best lover I've ever had."

The colleague furrowed until his brows entangled. He was not disgusted - he was purely petrified. Ryohei has met that blind man for less than one year, and they have already engaged? What a joke!

"You got me there, Ryohei," the colleague rubbed his chest. "All right, all right. I trust you. It's your choice, though."

Ryohei grinned ear to ear as he was approved by his colleague. The colleague recomposed his breath and created the best line he should be saying to the love newbie before him.

"Let me remind you, Ryohei. Even though you love him dearly, and even though he has confessed to you how much he adores you, don't just believe him wholly," the colleague rested his back against the book shelf, side viewing Ryohei, "You've known him less than a year, or to be precise half a year, so you must be very careful of him. I don't know whether he is really blind or he's just pretending, hence I warn you to be extra cautious."

The curious Ryohei stared into his colleague's eyes for seconds before a question surfaced, "Do you mean about his part job? That prostitute thing?"

The colleague undoubtedly nodded. "But I don't emphasize it that much because I don't really know him. I just hear rumours. It still depends on you whether to believe it or not. I just warn you to be careful, that's it."

Both of them exited the dark and narrow book storage and made their way to the front. The customers have lessened, therefore they could talk a little bit more.

"Thank you for your concern. I will be careful from now on," clearly Ryohei mentioned it halfheartedly. "Don't worry, if anything happens, you are one of a few guys I will rely on."

They parted ways as Ryohei's shift has almost ended. The colleague watched him walking away after bidding him farewell.

"So you want to deceive my lover, huh?" Hayato clenched his teeth.