Just listen to me!
The small fisher town was drenched in rain and the shore was battered by angry waves. It was a stormy evening, so the boats were all anchored in the harbor, waiting for the weather to clear. Lightning flashed in the sky, shedding light on the dark clouds and the distant horizon.
The pair of blue eyes stared out the window of his rented room, somehow mesmerized and hypnotized by the sight. The thunderstorm reflected his turbulent emotions perfectly.
Natsuo had analyzed his memories, gathering evidence supporting and opposing Jiro from all their past interactions. He recalled every conversation and every single moment they shared together that he could think back to.
But he ended up with the same conclusion each time - the man was skilled at acting and had planned everything from the start. He had pretended to be kind and understanding, but in reality, he had manipulated his former from the very beginning.
Yet something deep inside him urged him to give the man a chance to explain - but if his former classmate had plotted for him to get killed, would it be worth it, or was it best to stay away?
Every time he imagined the white-haired man and his warm smile, his head ached as if his logic was battling against his emotions.
His thoughts kept swinging between wanting to hear the other side of the story and being afraid of what might happen if he did. The situation made him feel like he was stuck in quicksand, sinking deeper and deeper into confusion and conflict.
Natsuo decided to get some fresh air while getting his daily cup of noodles from across the street. He stepped away from the window and walked out of his room, his brow furrowed and lips pursed as he struggled to understand how he felt.
Suddenly, he heard a noise from the lobby behind the corner as he was about to close the door. He paused and cocked his head to the side, listening closely. It sounded like several people were talking near the entrance.
"Have you seen him? A young man with a slim build and blue eyes, a head shorter than me? I will pay if you tell me where I can find him."
Natsuo's stomach twisted into a knot. He quickly jumped back into his room and slammed the door shut.
That voice. He would recognize that deep tone at any given time - his previous roommate, the friend he had left behind, the boyfriend who had ended up hurting him.
Natsuo cursed under his breath as he realized the man had come looking for him. The confrontation seemed bound to happen now, even though he had hoped to avoid it.
He panicked when he bolted to the window and glanced around for a way out. His face scrunched up as he forced the old structure to open, making the rusty hinges groan in protest as he pushed the frame up.
This time, he had to let his logical side win. He had to get out of there.
The rain was coming down harder than only a moment before, accompanied by strong gusts of wind.
The slender figure thudded on the wet ground as he jumped out, instantly soaked by the downpour. The fall was short but intense, causing Natsuo to wince and shudder for a moment. He quickly shook it off and recovered from that, when his main concern was to avoid being caught.
He rushed out of the alley, but as he emerged onto the street, he could see his past roommate scanning the area as he stood in front of the motel's entrance.
Their eyes locked. Natsuo sucked in a breath, feeling his heart beat faster as he stared at the man in a black suit. The white-haired one was clearly surprised by the sight of his missing partner - his lips parted open and his eyes turned wide, almost as if he had seen a ghost.
"Look, I just want to - "
The younger man took off as fast as he could, the rain stinging his face as he ran away from the person who had tracked him. The other shouted after him, but he didn't stop, choosing to put as much distance between them as possible.
Natsuo dashed across the roadway, making the approaching car skid to a halt just seconds away from him. The driver shouted angrily out of the window, so the chaser bowed hastily in response, apologizing to the stranger for the disturbance.
The escapee struggled to breathe as he ran across the small fisher town. The few people under their umbrellas gave the two a confused look as they raced past them.
He dodged the large puddles on the slick cobblestones and leapt over stray boxes scattered across the pavement. His legs ached from the fatigue, but he kept going, desperate to lose the man trying to catch him.
"Please, Natsuo! Just listen to me!"
His name rang out in the streets as the other man begged him to calm down, but his pleas were dismissed and ignored.
"I only want to talk! Please!"
The rain poured down faster, but Natsuo welcomed its coldness as it cooled the sweat on his forehead. He pushed himself to the limit, ignoring the pain and the burning in his lungs.
His instincts screamed at him to keep moving and not slow down until he was far away. Adrenaline surged through his veins, giving him an extra burst of energy to move forward.
Then, he spotted a passageway between the buildings. The maze of narrow alleys seemed like the perfect place to outrun the other one.
Natsuo rounded the corner, but missed a step and tumbled on the damp surface. His legs buckled underneath him as he crashed to the ground. He scraped his palms from the fall, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to get back onto his feet - only to find himself face-to-face with a dead end.
Fuck, he thought.
He felt like a frightened animal, with nowhere to hide and nowhere to run anymore. The pounding footsteps of his hunter were getting closer and closer, leaving Natsuo feeling defeated.
With no other options left, the young man turned around to face the person he had been seeking refuge from. He lifted a hood over his head and prepared for the storm that was still yet to come.