Chapter 1 - The calm before the storm

Part 6/6

Ren arrived, as always, to an almost empty home. But he didn't have time to get gloomy about it, as a giant ball of gray fur jumped on him the second he stepped through the door. Laughing, Ren dropped his school bag on the genkan floor after closing the door, and started stroking behind the dog's ears, while he kept trying to lick Ren’s face.

“Hey, Joney-boy!” he greeted joyfully. The dog let out a low bark at the sound of his voice. “Have you behaved?” Jones rubbed his head on Ren's hand, making the boy laugh again. “‘Course you did. You're the best boy, aren't you?”

After playing with Jones for a bit, Ren picked up his bag and they both made their way to his room. His routine after school was pretty much the same everyday. He gave Jones his food, then had a snack and did his homework. Today, he had math, which he hated, and history, which was much easier and pleasant.

When he finished all his school work, he did some research on universities. His first choices were Tokyo College of Music and Kyoto City University of Arts. Both had the best piano programs, as well as composition emphases. The campuses looked beautiful in the photos. He was planning trips with his mother to both of them in July, so he could be more sure of his decision.

As it often happened when Ren thought of college, his heart raced with excitement. He could not wait for that phase of his life. When he would be completely responsible for himself and could choose where he wanted to be. Most people thought that moving around was fun. His cultural knowledge was very broad because of it. But the truth was: it was really lonely.

He found out very soon that long distance didn't work well for any kind of relationship. So it became normal for him to just let people go when he had to follow his mother wherever her engineering job took her. Jones was the only consistent company he’d ever had, even as a little kid. The most important being in his life.

But when he got into college, everything was going to be different. He would stay in the same place for at least four years, and would be able to establish deeper relationships without having to fear losing them so easily. Maybe by then he could even consider having a real boyfriend. It was a nice concept, although still abstract in his mind.

With renewed energy, Ren shut his computer off and went to the piano in the music room. That was the best time of his day. Even though he always woke up an hour earlier than he needed, just to play for a bit before going to school, it was now that could spend at least three more hours practicing. If not more. 

As he opened the fall board and sat on the bench, he felt more at home than any other place in the world. Jones lay down by his feet, curling his big furry body in a circle, and closed his eyes to sleep. He’d loved hearing Ren play ever since he was just a pup.

It was with that peaceful sight that Ren started playing. The sound immediately resonated contentment all through his body.

—

Once again, he lost track of time while playing. It was already eight thirty pm when he could no longer ignore his rumbling stomach. He went to the kitchen to warm up some leftovers of japchae, his favorite Korean food, he’d ordered the day before. 

Checking his phone, he found his mother had texted him. She would be home by half past ten today. Which meant he could see her. They had only met briefly during breakfast the day before, and Ren missed talking to her. So he decided to watch a movie while waiting for her to come home. Only then would he go to bed.

Choosing a newer western movie on the streaming service, he sat on the couch with his plate on his lap and Jones by his side. When the movie had ended and the food was all gone, it was ten pm. Even though his mother would be arriving soon, it never felt soon enough. 

That's when his phone rang. A fear crept into his heart, praying it wasn’t his mother saying she wouldn’t make it home tonight before he was asleep. Seeing Niko's name on the caller ID, however, made him sigh in relief. He picked up the call, grinning.

“Miss me already?” he teased, and could see very clearly in his mind his friend rolling his eyes.

“You wish!” the boy said on the other side of the line. “Listen, are you free tomorrow night?”

Resting his plate on the coffee table, Ren lay down over the pillows on the couch. “I believe so. Why?”

“Great! We're going to an awesome soccer game!” Niko said excitedly.

Ren frowned. “You do realize this is Ren you called, right?”

“No duh!”

“Then why are you asking me to go to a soccer game, Niko? I don't understand nor like soccer.” He raised an eyebrow amusedly.

“Well, Itsuki will be busy and Yuki doesn't want me to call Taiko, so you're the only one left,” Niko rattled off quickly. “Come one, it'll be fun! I think they’ll be selling those disgusting cheddar fries you love.”

Ren chuckled, tucking his right arm under his head. But then one of the names Niko mentioned stood out. “Wait, you said Yuki? As in the guy who confessed to you a few months ago?” His stomach twitched with annoyance.

“That's in the past, Ren, get over it,” Niko groaned. Ren was sure he was cursing under his breath, having been caught trying to skim over the well-known name.

“Why the hell are you and Kai still hanging out with that asshole, Niko?” Ren growled. “He obviously can't be trusted.”

Niko spoke to someone else on the other side of the line, and then a low peep was heard.

“Stop being overprotective and just accept the invitation,” Kai's voice reverberated loudly through the phone.

Suddenly entertained at the prospect of teasing his friends, Ren cocked an eyebrow. “What are you doing so late at Niko's? Having a slumber party or something?”

“How me and my boyfriend spend our intimate alone time is none of your business,” Kai replied with an unimpressed tone, and Ren laughed when he heard Niko let out a mortified ‘Kai!’ on the other side.

“Ew, too much information!” he complained with a fake disgusted tone.

“Then don't ask, you jerk,” Kai mumbled, making Ren laugh again. “Anyways, you don't have to worry about Yuki, he's harmless. You may even like him. He can be just as much of an ass as you.”

It was Ren's turn to roll his eyes, the uneasiness returning to his stomach.

“You're too naive, Kai. That guy just confessed to your boyfriend, like, four months ago. He's obviously not over Niko yet and is just hanging out with you to get in the way,” Ren said seriously.

“You haven’t even met him!” Niko pointed out, irritation ringing in his voice.

“Are you really saying we can't be friends with some sort of ex?” Kai joined in.

That was a low blow. And Kai knew that very well. “Don't you even dare compare our situations!” Ren snarked, angrily. “They're not the same. And yes, I'll always think it's weird as hell that you’re befriending a guy that likes your boyfriend!”

“Dude, if Kai likes him and I’m not bothered by his antics, then just let it go,” Niko pleaded. “If you want us to take your concerns seriously, come to the game tomorrow and see for yourself. He can be nice when he wants to.” 

Ren sighed. His friends were too innocent for their own good. How could they expect him not to be overprotective when they clearly couldn't take care of themselves? But if they insisted on the stupidity of hanging out with an untrustworthy person, it would be better if Ren did go and made it clear to this Yuki guy that there was someone watching over them.

“Okay, I'll go,” he finally agreed.

“Nice!” Niko cheered.

“Now we're gonna go, ‘cause we got better things to do,” Kai said, clearly too pleased with himself.

Ren made a face and snickered at the same time. “Fuck you,” he mumbled. Then, quickly added, “Do not answer that!”

Kai laughed on the other side and hung up after a brief ‘See you tomorrow.’

Turning his attention back to the TV, he pressed play in Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom, his favorite movie of all time, and cuddled Jones, who snored in his sleep.

Ren didn't even realize he had closed his eyes until a gentle hand caressed his hair. His eyes fluttered open. Looking up, slightly confused in his sleepy state, Ren saw his mother smiling down at him.

“Hey, hun,” she greeted him.

“Hello, mom.” He rubbed his eyes. “What time is it?”

“Eleven. You should go to bed, or your back will hurt tomorrow.”

He frowned. “You're late.”

“Yes, sorry, I had to finish an urgent alteration on the project and got caught up at work again.” She sounded upset by it. Ren knew she didn't like leaving him waiting for too long; though it didn't make him feel any better about it.

Taking a deep breath, he got up, Jones jumping off of the couch alongside him.

“Night, mom.” He gave her a hug and felt soft lips press against his temple.

“Sleep well, hun. I'll only work in the afternoon tomorrow, so we can have breakfast together.”

A little happier, he nodded. “I'm gonna go out with Niko and Kai tomorrow night. Soccer game,” he informed, knowing she would be okay with it. His mom wasn't one to put limits on him, especially since he had never done anything that required her to worry.

As expected, she just said, “Sounds fun. I didn’t know you started liking soccer, though.”

Shaking his head, Ren sighed. “I don’t. Just endure it to support Niko and Kai,” he explained. Sleepy as he was, he was not in the mood to explain the main reason he’d be going tomorrow. 

Ren gave her a kiss on the cheek and made his way to his room, with Jones by his feet. 

They laid down on the bed together and he cuddled his dog again. His scent always had the power to soothe Ren to sleep, and that night was no exception.

He drifted off to comforting dreams of playing the piano alone on a stage, unaware that his whole life would start to change on the following day.