9.1 Feelings

With a quick glance in the mirror, Yomo inspected himself from head to toe. He had tried to find the perfect balance between casual and elegant attire. He felt a little silly because it wasn't something he was used to thinking about. He always dressed according to what he felt like wearing at the time and didn't think too much about how it would look to the person waiting for him since he knew he would look hot anyway.

But today, his natural confidence had completely evaporated and he found himself like a teenager comparing his clothes to find the one that would show off the most without seeming to overdo it. It was an art that he had not mastered at all. He who had never had to seduce anyone was now discovering the art of seduction and the uncertainties that went with it.

He had returned home in the early afternoon after spending the night at Nils's watching stupid comedies all night. Invigorated by his evening's relaxation, he was perfectly prepared for the day's date. Finally, his date with Rau to thank him for helping him on several occasions was for today... It was far from a date, but for some reason, he couldn't help but think it was one.

After a not-quite-satisfied mental approval of his reflection, he left his room, leaving a pile of clothes on his bed, the result of multiple unsuccessful attempts to match them. In the kitchen, he came across his aunt who was helping herself to a bowl of cereal. Having just returned from a night of watching, she was still in her pajamas and her hair was a mess, even though it was already four in the afternoon.

-My favourite nephew," she said in her hoarse voice as he came in. "Where are you going all dressed up like that? I've never seen you in those clothes, is that new?"

Still a little confused with himself, Yomo answered as quickly as possible and headed for the front door where his shoes were waiting. He didn't want to talk about this with her today. For some reason, he was terribly embarrassed.

-I'm going to see a friend."

She ogled him suspiciously from head to toe. Strangely, she didn't seem convinced at all by her nephew's answer.

-Since when do you dress up to go see your friends?

Yomo slipped on his shoes without paying her any attention.

-Leave me alone, I can do what I want!"

She looked at him warily. Since when had her nephew been in his rebellious phase? He had been the most respectful teenager in the world, but she felt like the wild beast she had picked up after he had been chased out of his home was back. Yomo had never dared to answer her since he had agreed to stay with her. What was happening to him?

The young man went to open the door when she said behind his back before he disappeared into the doorframe:

-Introduce me to your date then, I absolutely want to meet him! And don't give him false hope if you're not serious about him!

Without answering, Yomo slammed the door behind him.

-He left..."

Still puzzled by what she had just seen, Lena watched the door close silently. She had been living with Yomo for almost eight years, and this was the first time she had seen him react like someone of his age. Getting ready for a date, being embarrassed to talk about it, not being able to concentrate because his mind was occupied with someone... a smile formed on her face. It was good to see the young man experiencing this kind of things. He was already far too serious for his age.

-Maybe there's still hope he'll become a decent human being somehow!" she said to herself as she shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth, a teasing gleam in her eyes.

Once in the hallway, Yomo ran his hand over his face, red as a tomato. He had never imagined that he would ever be embarrassed in front of his aunt about such things. Yet he usually talked about it so freely with her! What an idiot, seriously! And he was probably the only one who saw it as a date, so why was he making such a fuss about it? Trying to put these considerations aside, he walked quickly towards the lift. He was going to end up being late with all this!

---

Pedalling a little faster than usual, he managed to arrive just in time for his appointment. As he parked his bike, he saw Rau waiting for him on one side, surrounded by the crowd passing on both sides of the small square bathed in the cool mid-November sunlight. Yomo smiled. Like an idiot, all rational thought had left him and the only thing that occupied his mind was how dingy Rau looked in his aviator jacket. It looked so good on him!

Clearing his throat, he tried to regain his usual attitude but he couldn't stop the overly happy smile from remaining on his lips, as persistent as it was annoying. But Yomo's mind was elsewhere. All those things he seemed to care about before while preparing in front of his mirror seemed completely irrelevant now.

-Rau," he called to him when he was only a few steps away.

The student turned his head and his face instantly lit up.

-Sorry for the delay, there was some traffic..." Yomo lied.

-It's because I owe you one that I waited!" pouted Rau.

-My apologies, your highness," he replied in the same joking tone. "You can choose which café you want to go to for compensation!

-I was counting on doing that anyway!" Rau gave him a knowing smile, amused by his comrade's theatrical response. "Come on, I know a great place that makes great cakes! You'll love it!"

Yomo didn't protest and let himself be dragged along by Rau who had grabbed him by the arm, too eager to go and sit down at his favourite café. He had arrived early on purpose to make sure he had a seat, but the six-foot-tall-overly-hot-for-nothing-black-hair guy had found a way to be late! Now he couldn't contain his impatience and was already dreaming of delicious chocolate brownies and fruit tarts of all kinds.