Chapter 28

-Justin-

ITS BEEN A WHOLE MONETH since I was brought to this prison zone. Since my dad was smart enough to freeze my inheritence, I have to stay here until Toma can figure out a way to make a deal with my dad and unfreeze it.

    All day I would spend in this room, sitting on floor, playing cards. But hey, I guess it wasnt all bad, I mean I built a house of cards once. That was the most fun I've had in a month.

     I wondered how the homecoming dance went with Aika and Kevin. I'm sure they had a great time, or if Aika even accepted Kevin's feelings. I always wrote letters to them and I passed them off to Toma whenever he came by, but they never wrote back.

     It really does get lonely after a while though. The only time I got company is when guards would come in and check on me or if Toma had some paperwork for me to sign. Speaking of Toma, he hasn't come back many times to see me. I know he's "the boss" and all around here, but he's just like any other ordinary kid. I know he gets bored and thats why he always came in to talk to me. I may be his prisoner, but I think our friendship is slowly beginning to grow.

     He would come in like twice a day and we'd talk for hours. But then for some reason he'd drop by less and less, except for paperwork. Soon he hardly came to see me at all. But ever since that accidental smooch on my first night here, things did get awkward some times. He started to become more strict, more in-charge. But then it only took a few lame jokes from me and he'd be a care-free little boy again.

     Man, I wish he was here..

     Knock knock. Someone was at the door. Worried it was a guard, I plopped onto the ground, sitting with my legs criss-crossed, dumped out the playing cards and acted like I've been flipping cards for at least 15 minutes.

"Hey hey hey." It wasn't a guard.

Toma!!

"What's up?" He shut the door behind him.

"Nothing. Just uh, playing cards."

He eyed the scattered cards on the floor, then sat down himself. "All you do is play cards."

"Haha, I know."

     I noticed a small strand of his brown-blond hair sticking out of place. I would have fixed it.. but that would look weird.

"So what are you here for?" I asked. "More paperwork?"

He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself closer to the cards. "Nope. I just got done settling an argument with a rival family. I'm tired and thought I'd come say hi,  seeing I haven't been here in a while."

While? More like a whole week.. "Argument with a rival family?"

"Yep." He picked up a Queen of Hearts. "A family found out we finally found you so they tried to steal you from us. I talked to them for a while 3 days, negotiating back-and-forth to see what agreement we could get to in order to keep you."

I cocked my head. "Geez, you make me seem like a prize."

"Well," he flicked the card across the room. "You are a prize." He said with a wink.

Whooa! Why does my face feel so hot?? "Uh-huh... So, u-uh, what did you do?"

"My father and I decided to take $10,000 from his backup account to give to them as long as they would keep quiet about your location."

"No way!" I jumped up. "That's waaaay too much money from your dad's backup account, wont he need it?!"

Giving me a devious little smirk, one that Nee would have given me, he said, "Well we've got you. And as soon as your inheritence is unfrozen then my father will have more than enough to get that money replaced."

"Right.. and how are you so sure my dad will go through with all of that?"
     Toma kicked his feet and forth. Geez, for an almost 17 year old he really does act like a little kid. At least a 13 year old.

"We've got our ways." He replied. But then he stopped kicking and he lowered his head and voice. "Listen, Justin.."

"Huh?" I could tell his tone was serious.

"I'm sorry. For having to keep you here. And acting, pretty jerkish."

"Wh-why? It's your job right?"

"Sure.. It's my job to listen to whatever my father tells me to do."

     His father? Ahh, I see where this is going... I sat back down and leaned in towards him.

"Ok, so I'm guessing there's more behind this story?" I tried to sound as sympethetic as I could, but for some reason a chuckle came out.

"Well, yeah... Do you actually think I enjoy taking you away from your friends and family?"

I took a deep breath.

The he continued, "Do you think I enjoy having to shred every letter you ever wrote to them? Do you think I like seeing you lonely all by yourself in this rot-cell? Do you think...?" his voice quivered. "Do you think it was all my idea... to take your family's most prized possession?"

     He was tearing up now and little droplets fell onto the playing cards. I almost felt.. really bad. I never knew it was like that for him. Then what really got to me, is when he lifted his head and I saw his gray eyes built up with tears. I felt... a weird kind of emotion, I can't explain.

"It's ok..." I patted his shoulder. "I never knew."

"And I really am sorry for making you miss Halloween and Thanksgiving. I bet you really wanted to be with your family, huh?" His tears were slowly stopping.

"Well of course.. But what about you? You haven't gotten to see your dad or mom or friends since you've been stuck here too."

     Then the room fell silent. It wasn't an awkward silence, it was more like a depressing silence.

"Yeah, I don't really have any friends."

Are you kidding me? "What are you talking about? Everybody has had a friend at least once in their life."

"Yeah? Well not everybody had a childhood like me.."

     He went on about his life story. I felt a little more closer to him this way, and it's almost like I felt the pain he went through. His dad leaving, him and his mom working everything our on their own, having to move place-to-place, not even going to school. And finally they meet a man with money who doesn't even care about his step-son enough to send him to school. Instead he gives him nice clothes and a lesson about hunting me down.

"Man.. So no friends at all??"

"Nope. And honestly, I think that was the right choice."

The right choice? What is he thinking?? "Are you serious?" I gave him a puzzled look.

"Yeah. Having a friend doesn't really matter to me; If I had made a true friend, then he or she would be holding me back from my duty."

"Your duty huh?" I noticed he was acting a little more relaxed than before. "So you'd give up having even one friend, because of your duty?!"

     I couldn't take it. Why was he acting so collected about never having a single friend in his life?! It almost made me sick, thinking I had comforted him about his past.

     I jumped up from the floor, gritting my teeth. I didn't know what to do next. I wanted to tell him exactly what I thought about his stupid duty without him getting the wrong idea.

"So are you mad at me now?" Toma said completely calm-like. "Are you mad because, maybe, you wanted to be my friend?"

    Then it struck me. Maybe that is why I'm so frustrated. I wanted to be at least a friend to him and all he could say was friends don't matter??

    I grabbed him and jolted him up from the floor. I could tell I was grasping his wrist a little too hard, but that didn't matter. I threw him onto the bed, and I mean I really threw him.

"Hey, what in the world are you doing?!" He screamed. "I'll call the guards on you!" He stated.

"Sure, go ahead. But listen to me first." I stood with a strong, firm stance. "I just cant help but be a little bit pissed off when you say friends don't matter."

"Oh really?" He said so casually I felt like slapping him.

"Yes, really. You told me how you never had a friend in your life, your step-dad never treated you like an actual son. He basically kept you locked in a cage and finally when someone comes along and tries to be a friend, you toss him off like another prisoner."

     I noticed his gray eyes turn dark, deep, black. I think I got him to realize his mistake, but I'm not sure yet. Maybe I should talk some more sense into him..

"You are a prisoner though." He muffled. "You are a prisoner, and I'm your guard. Even if we could be friends, at the same time we couldn't."

"And who said?"

"My dad said." He looked up. "It wouldn't work out. I need that money anyways, so.. just sit tight, okay?"

    I loosened up my stance, then collapsed onto the floor, sitting criss-crossed once again. Toma said he ought to get going, and he started for the door. But there was something deep within me that.. just wanted him to stay! I am NOT into guys, but sometimes you just need someone close to you.. you know what I mean?

"Wait!" I called out. I reached our and grabbed his wrist. Awkward moment..

"What the hell?" He tried to wriggle out of my grasp, but he couldn't.

"Could you just, hear me out one more time?" I practically begged.

He eyed his watch. "Fine. 1 minute." He replied.

"Ok well.. I just want to let you know that if you ever need someone, I'm always here."

Toma's eyes grew big.

"And drop by more often.. It gets really boring playing cards here all by myself." I gave him a forced half-smile.

"Sure," he started, and I slowly released my grasp on him. "When I got the time."

     He turned around and left, locking the door up. I was once again alone in this small bunker, with nothing to do except sleep and play cards. No use in writing another letter home.

     After getting bored of playing solitaire for the 7th timein a row, I got to thinking, why do I feel so drawn when Toma is around? It really was boggling in my head. I've never felt this way around other guys before! I've always been attracted (and attracted by) ladies, like Aika... I miss her so.

     Anyways, I thought maybe it was just because I was away from home for so long and now he comes along and I've finally got someone to talk to and spill my life out to. It made sense from the beginning, but then it got to me... Has Toma taken an interest to me to?? 

"No, he couldn't have." I said to myself. "He's just being really nice! And besides, there's nothing wrong with a guy friend. I feel so bad for him not even having a friend!"

"HEY, SHUT UP!!!" A guard from outside banged on the door. 

    I felt embarassed and did as the guard said. And then suddenly...

"JUSTIN!!!!" I heard my name, someone was screaming it.

    It was no doubt that it was Toma screaming my name, but the shout was kind of faint, I could tell he was down stairs. Gosh, what a loud screamer.

    It came to my attention that he was either mad at me for some reason or he was calling out to me. Honestly, it could have been either of them. So I tossed and turned for hours in bed, trying to straight out the situation in my head. I noted out the pros and cons of, somehow, having even the slightest of feelings for... Darn I say it, a guy.

     It just doesn't make sense! Does every guy go through this as they grow older? Is this a phase for me? It a apart of puberty? Damn who ever made puberty! 

     Well, if it was going to happen anyways, I might as well play around. If I went to his office right now and confronted him, I wonder how he'll react. Who knows, maybe he actually does have feelings for me (ick..) and that could give me an advantage of getting out of here. I can get close to him and dig out all his secrets and ideas. Heck, I could fall for him a long the way.

     Yes, a devious little plan was falling together. It kind of makes me feel sick inside; it reminds me of something Kevin would probably do. But whatever. I may not be as manipulative as Kevin, I may not be a good actor like him, a good deceiver, but I can do it. I will. 

 

       Opperation BxB is in session!
 

 

-"Toma"-

I WALKED BACK TO my office, saying hello to the passing guards and other workers in the building. I walked with a kind of in-charge attitude, even though inside I just wanted to crawl under my bed and hide.

    I don't want to be here. I want to go home. But nope, I need to stay here and make sure that, boy, doesn't get out. Huh, funny, he's like a bird in a cage and I'm his feeder. I must treat him right or else he'll fly away, and I don't want that.

    So I guess the truth is I really do wish I had a friend, at least one friend, and I wish it was Justin. I feel so much more, myself with him! I can say whatever and act however I want and he can always give the right piece of advice. Though they may hurt, like he did to me just a while ago. God, I'm such an idiot!

    But there was something that made me feel.. ok, this is going to sound quite odd, but there was something in the way he held my wrist, that made me attracted to him!

   Huh?! No no no no no! I'm a guy! No way! No way!

     But it was way. I could not get over it; His first day here we kissed and I felt delighted by it, though it was just a quick accidental peck, I couldn't get it out of my head. Whenever I had to slowly shred, one-by-one, his letters home, I cried because I felt sorry for him. I always made an excuse, to come and talk to him. And today, I cried in front of him! Because I wanted him to see me that way...

   OH GOD!! NO!!

     Maybe it's just because I've never interracted with other people before, that's why I feel so close only with Justin. Yeah, that's it. It's just how I grew up, I'm not... bisexual... I'm just a little tripped up because I've never really talked to a girl before!

   No... that's not it at all.. I think I..

     D****t, don't say it!

   I think I really do...

     D****t! Stop it!!

   I think I really do... like..

"JUSTIN!!!!" I screamed in my office. I screamed it so loud, I'm sure he heard me all the way on the second floor. I locked the office door and piled myself onto the couch. I burried my face in a pillow.

"Why why why why?! Why me?! Why do I have to be attracted to him?!" There's definitely something wrong with me.

     I'm pretty sure I blacked out at some point, because when I woke up it was to a knock on the door and it was already night time.

     I went over to the door and slowly unlocked it, extremely surprised to find Justin at my door!

"Ok, what are you doing here?? How did you get out?" I became serious. "I'll send you back there right away! I'll get the guards and--!"

"No you wont." He pressed his fingers to my lips and walked me back until he was fully walked into the room. Then he shut the door behind him. "If you do that then you'll be in trouble too for not watching me."

     He had a point..

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever." I smacked his hand away from my face. But I wish I hadn't.

"You sure do have a loud voice." He told me,walking over to the couch.

"Oh..." He must have heard my yell earlier. "So you heard that."

He chuckled. "People in Russia heard you, Toma."

     Cute...

"Right." I walked over to the couch and the two of us both sat down.

"Either you where pretty frustrated with me or," he leaned in and whispered into my ear, "you wanted me."

"What?!" I jumped off the couch. What a soft voice... But NOBODY gets near my ears. I don't care who it is!

"Heh, that's funny." He smiled. "Aika's weak point was her ears too."

"What?" Who is Aika?

"The girl I liked, she was really cute. I whispered into her ears once and she reacted just like you did."

    Ah.... He is straight... Wait, why do I care?!

"Hold on, you said the girl you liked. Why past-tense?" I wanted to know.

"Oh, uh. I said liked? I didn't notice..." He looked down for a moment. "The girl I like. Sorry, I've been away from home for quite a while now I almost forgot."

    I wondered how long he was going to stay sitting there. Occupying my couch, and he should be in his room, and I still don't know how he got out! And if all he wanted to do was come here so he could tell me he heard me call his name, well that's a stupid reason.

"Seriously, you need to get out." I pulled him up off the couch. "We're going to be in deep trouble if anyone finds out you got out." I pushed him towards the door. "And by the way, how did you even get here--?"

"Hey," he interrupted. "You told me to get out so I'm going. No explanation."

I hate it when people twist my words around.

"And before I get going..." Justin took my face into his hands and puckered his lips. I know where that was going.

"NO!!" I stepped back imediately. I mean seriously, what the hell?!

"What? I was going for you cheek!" He made it sound like that was not weid at all.

"My cheek, huh? Come on, even I know you wouldn't do that!"

     He tried to give me a kiss on the cheek.. ON THE CHEEK!! What was that all about? He obviously was trying to act cool and sly... and we both know that he is not like that at all.

"Well, my work here is done. Goodbye." He said with a wink.

"Your work? Wait a minute--!" I called out. I ran up to him and right when I reached him he turned around and KISSED me. On the lips.

"Hm?" My eyes grew big and he kept his lips on mine.

    After about 5 second he retreated.

"There," he said softly. "How was that?" he winked, which made me melt inside. Then he opened the door and then shut it behind him on the other side.

"Goodbye." I heard him say on the other side.

     I stood frozen in place. I had no reaction; I didn't know what to feel! I felt so happy, but then absolutely confused! What was that about? He was just talking about how he likes this girl.. then kisses a GUY. What?

    I remained in the same place for 30 minutes staring at the door he walked out of. The guy I like, Justin Hue. The enemy, the opposite, the prisoner.. And I was indeed attracted to him, no matter WHAT I think. And I want to know why on earth, out of the blue, he came and saw me! Why? And why did he kiss me?

    After a whole hour passed, I couldn't go to sleep (it was 11:17pm). I decided to go out after Justin. I walked quietly to his room, and oddly enough there were no guards around! Not on the second floor I mean; It was still and quite.

    When I reached his door, I noticed it was unlocked. So I pushed it open (I honestly didn't care if I was intruding). Then there he was, sleeping soundly in his bed.

    I slowly approached the bed were he laid. Gosh, he looks so cute. Then I shook my head. I shouldn't be in here. I sat on ground next to his bed. It was dead silent; I felt like sleeping. And suddently, a hand was gently placed on my head. I flinched a bit, but when the hand started to rub my hair, I knew it was Justin's and I was ok.

"You came." he said.

    He continued running his hand across my hair. Soon he stopped, and I noticed he probably fell asleep. I slightly blushed, and I too fell asleep. Both of us.