Hanrae from Adam was a beautiful country, but the most beautiful state was the country's capital Lumei.
Lumei has three districts tied by bridges, train lines and silent commutes.The city's rhythm flows like a river. Mirendale Heights, the south side of the city where penthouse apartments are located, and the place is referred to as " new money" housing. Mirendale Heights housed celebrities and new company owners .
Hanuel Quarter, the bustling part of the capital, houses middle class families. The west coast of the city holds the warmth of ordinary lives.
The real deal was the capital's north coast which lies on hills and is surrounded by estates. Aurelle district, the city of old money and legacy. The district that makes everyone else aside residents feel poor. The city is known for elite schools, embassies, and gated villas. There was an unsaid rule, everyone who resided in Aurelle district minded his or her business. It was surprising how no one visited anyone else yet everyone had something to say about one another. News flew faster than air in Aurelle. The foot bridge connects Hanuel Quarter to Mirendale Heights. The southern edge of the city has the Lumei river and nothing happened there other than dating meetings.
Ren Nakamura bought his house in Mirendale Heights, a cozy penthouse apartment that housed only him. His interior decoration was just to his taste, nothing unique but a mix of black and white furniture and stuff. He had just finished bathing and was seated in a chair. He had a glass of whiskey. He studied the liquid as though his life depended on it. His thoughts were all over the place.
Yuu.
He had expected to meet him the moment his father agreed to work with the foundation. He heard Takashi foundation was scouting for a new financial partner for months and his firm was the obvious choice.
Yuu had the same doe eyes , the same light and warmth, sense of humor, nothing had changed. He just noticed that he was still the same. His helix piercing was still there. He remembered how he had gotten the piercing. The night of new year's eve, they had gone to a night market and saw a woman who had a stall for tattoos and piercings. Ren had admired a girl the previous day, she had a helix piercing. He had given a compliment.
It looks good.
Yuu decided to get a double helix piercing and a heart tattoo on his ankle. The tattoo hurt but not as much as people said it would. Maybe it was his determination that made it hurt less. Ren laughed at that memory. It was today that he realized that whenever he complicated something on someone else's body, Yuu would do it as well.
The Lumei international schools( LIS) , the most elite school in the country. The school for the rich, like extremely well off families. They had a strict enrollment procedure. The other way to get enrolled is by scholarship from any of the school's donors. Yuu's grandfather, Mr Tachibani Takahashi had done a lot for the establishment of the school. Their family was then addressed as the Tachibani Takahashi family but Yuu's father decided to rebrand after his father's death two years ago.
Ren had met Yuu when he was sixteen. He had just transferred mid semester as a scholarship student. He planned to stay on his own , study hard and graduate. He had no money and had no family legacy to hold on to. His dad was going through a lot as of that time. That was the time Ren met Yuu. He had heard about Yuu, the boy whose father funded more than half of the school's medical wing. He heard he was not like the grumpy rich spoiled kids, but he found it hard to believe.
Ren was reading outside the gym, when a shadow fell across his note book. A dreamy pair of eyes gazed at him . A boy around his age wearing the wrong tie was staring down at him.
" Hey, I am Yuu Takahashi," he said as he stretched out his hand for a handshake .
Ren did not return the handshake. " I know."
Yuu sat beside him uninvited and stole a glance at his notebook. " A fine handwriting," he remarked. " I know you are the new kid, but I don't know your name." Yuu added but Ren paid no attention.
Ren was cold during their first meet but Yuu didn't give up. He had asked someone his name and constantly followed him around.
Ride with me. Let's eat out. Those were Yuu's favorite words to say to Ren. Yuu had changed sitting arrangements with someone else just to sit next to Ren. He made efforts and soon, they became friends. Ren was usually sarcastic , had no friends and was almost antisocial.
Ren made other friends because Yuu was friends with every dick and harry. He associated himself with people of different caliber and was always in high spirits. Yuu had that contagious party energy. Ren kept to himself most times, but Yuu always had a way of getting him out. Looking back, 2024 was his best year. The year he met Yuu.
His mind raced back to Yuu's confession. Ren stood frozen knowing what he wanted and what he had to say. Every word meant to protect him, every word cutting deeper.
You don't love me . You think you love me because it is something new. It's just hormones acting up.
He thought he'd done the right thing not until months later when he heard the news.
He didn't see him. He didn't visit the hospital. No calls. He told himself Yuu needed time and he would be over him quickly. Moreover it was limerence not love. But maybe it was himself he was protecting from the guilt of seeing what he had caused.
The part of him he never wanted to revisit. He'd spent years burying that version of himself but seeing Yuu again made all the walls he built up feel thin.
The message on his screen jolted him back to reality. It was an email - Yuu Takahashi.
Received your agenda, looking forward to working with you.
Ren looked at the mail, his hands shaky . He typed multiple replies but deleted it. He was scared of saying too much and saying too little. He decided not to reply.
He leaned back , closing his eyes. Somewhere deep an old ache stirred. That wasn't regret or longing. Something quieter.