Just between us

Chapter Thirteen

Toota and Bright were waiting for the musical to start.  The silence between them was crippling.  Bright had tried to make small talk a couple of times but had been unsuccessful.  Toota only answered what was asked.  Not knowing what went on in Toota's head made him anxious.  Bright could feel tears choking him.

"This feels nice.  Remember when we used to text each other all the time?" Bright asked, cheerfully.

"Hmm."

"I always knew where you were and what you were doing."

"Yeah," Toota said scrolling down through his phone.

"And how we used to eat in the kitchen at that restaurant you worked at?  Wow, that was a really long time ago wasn't it."

"I guess."

"Toota, if you really don't want to be here with me, I can go," he said calmly.

"And leave me here alone?  Just sit down Bright, you brought me here and you will wait until the whole thing is over."

Bright sighed and looked at the stage.  "What is this story about anyway?" he asked Toota.

"You bought the tickets; shouldn't you know what it's about?" Toota asked, amused.

"I know you have been waiting to watch this," Bright said dryly.

"Oh, so you have actually been listening?  Could have fooled me, anyway it's about unrequited love."

"Is it a sad one?"

"Have you heard about happy unrequited love stories Ai Bright?"

Instead of feeling irritated at being teased, Bright felt rather happy.  Toota was finally being himself.  As the lights went down, Bright made himself comfortable. 

The things he did for friendship.

******************************

Toota was engrossed in the story, it was everything he anticipated.  When he had seen the tickets, he tried his best not to show Bright his glee and give him the satisfaction.  It was quite clear Bright was trying hard to make up for his forgetfulness.  Toota found it endearing, but he was not ready to forgive Bright just yet.

Halfway through the musical, he felt Bright's head hit his shoulder.  Toota hadn't really expected Bright to stay awake. Toota was in complete bliss, everything felt great.  Toota slowly rested his own head on Bright's.  Nobody they knew was around, it was just Bright and him, like they had always been. 

He lightly kissed the top of Bright's head and focused back on the story.  Toota broke into a cold sweat and had stopped breathing when Bright sleepily slipped his hand in Toota's hand which was on the armrest between them.

Toota subtly tried to wipe the tears away with his free hand, but his movement had woken Bright up.

"What's going on?" Bright whispered.  He pulled his hand out of Toota's slight grip.  "Sorry... are you crying?"

"... no."

"What's happening?"

"The one who is dead is the girl the old man, who is an undertaker, was in love with his whole life. He thinks she doesn't return his feelings. The woman's child gives him a necklace to be put in her casket as her dying wish. It was he who had given her the necklace as a good luck charm when they were kids. He was confessing his regrets and feelings to the woman as he stitches her final clothes and prepares her for her final journey."

"I thought this was about unrequited love."

"Well to each other it was, they never confessed," Toota said glumly.  "You slept and missed the entire thing.  Let's go now, I don't know why you came to a musical just to sleep."

"Hey, don't be mad at me just because the story made you sad!  Why would anyone not confess to the person they like?  Life is too short to have regrets."

"Are you telling me you would just confess if you have feelings for someone?" Toota asked skeptically.

"Absolutely."

"How is it going with N' Ple?"

"It's going alright," Bright replied.

"Ai Bright, you better watch out with her.  She is a lovely girl and if you hurt her I will personally give you hell."

Toota heard Bright mutter something.

"What did you say?"

"I said you are giving me hell even without me doing anything to Ple."

Toota scoffed, "Not doing anything, right... "

"For your information, we haven't..."

Toota eyes widened in surprise, "You haven't slept with her?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but no, I haven't.  It just doesn't feel right," Bright replied thoughtfully.

"You love her!  I can't believe this!  You actually care for her," Toota felt his heart shatter to pieces as he said the words.

"Just how did you come to that conclusion?" Bright asked angrily.

"Have you told her?" Toota asked.

"You don't know what you are talking about Ai Toota."

"Don't keep the girl hanging, like you said life is too short to have regrets."

  ******************************  

It seemed as if it had been ages since Bright visited Toota's house.

"N' Bright!  I haven't seen you around here in a long time.  Why didn't you come to Toota's birthday yesterday?" Toota's mother asked upon seeing him.

"He was busy with his girlfriend Mae," Toota replied sarcastically.

Toota's mother smiled mischievously at Bright.  "I'm glad you found someone N' Bright. I hope Toota will find someone too, and soon."

Bright returned her smile awkwardly but didn't say anything.  He never really thought about Toota finding someone.  He wasn't sure it was something he wanted to think about.  He had been bothered when Toota exclaimed he liked Ple.  Regardless of what he told Toota about regrets he didn't have the courage to tell Toota the truth about his feelings.

Toota fell on his bed and closed his eyes as soon as they entered the room.  Bright sat on the bed next to him.

"Ai Toota?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry I forgot your birthday, I really am."

"It's no big deal Bright."

"But..."

Toota sat up straight and looked Bright straight in the eye.

    "Ai Bright, I'm telling you it's fine.  Did you notice how we didn't have anything new to talk about?  All we did today was talk about our past.  We are hanging on to something that isn't there anymore.  Our friendship is not the same, we are not the same, and that's okay.  You came into my life when I didn't have anyone, including my own family, you became my family.  You have done so much for me, my friend.  I can't thank you enough for that.  But now you have other people in your life, we have grown apart.  I can't demand your complete attention whenever I please, it's not fair.  Do you really think a little thing like this could upset me?  We are just friends Bright.  You don't have to feel so guilty."    

Bright stared back at Toota in shock.  "Did you just come up with that all on your own?"  he asked Toota.

"What?"

"That was an amazing speech."   Bright inched closer to Toota, "Might have grown apart Ai Toota? Too bad I can still tell when you are lying."