Butterflies (BL)

Chapter 12: Truth over ramen

"Hey, why can I imagine you in my cream sweater?"

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Tamesh looks at Blake a little confused. "But you've only just got here!" 

"No, I mean Cornwall ...I'm from St Ives." Blake quickly corrects.  Tamesh nods, that made sense, the painting. His seascape of the place. It must have been why Blake wanted it so bad. 

"I guess if you miss home, then you should go." Tamesh replies, but when he looks up to see Blake, he is surprised to see his whole facial expression change from one of contentment and charm, to pain and sadness. "I guess by the look on your face, it's not that easy." Tamesh adds. 

Blake lets a dry chuckle leave his lips. "You have no idea."

The room again goes quiet, unlike Tamesh's brain which is swirling like a whirlpool. They had reached that place where the unsaid was wanting to be spoken. Blake was obviously trying to tell him something and Tamesh was no good at these awkward situations, but knew a person who was...

"Blake,  do you like ramen?" 

Blake looks at Tamesh as if he'd just asked the most ridiculous question ever! "Uh...yeah." 

Tamesh laughs awkwardly before continuing. "Well, I know a good noodle place and I haven't eaten yet, maybe you'd like to come with me, you know, after this?" 

"Are you asking me out on a date?"  Blake smiles wickedly, lifting one solitary eyebrow. 

Tamesh feels the air leaving his lungs. This was why he shouldn't be allowed to engage with people. He was always being misunderstood! "N...no. Just... I thought you might like to talk. Talk about home.... don't worry. It's a stupid idea..." 

"Sounds nice." Blake interrupts Tamesh's woeful response. "Maybe I do." 

"Ok"

"Ok" 

Both males now feel that strange feeling. They were both stepping into uncharted waters. Blake was finding the urge to talk about his past, his present and his possible future and Tamesh... well, he was getting to know a stranger, without Alfie's help!

***

Nam looks up to see Tamesh walk into his restaurant. "Hey Tam, hey Al... oh...." he goes quiet when he sees the stranger who isn't Alfie, just standing shy of Tamesh. 

"Hey Nam. This is Blake. He's my...uh..." Tamesh subconsciously scratches the back of his neck. 

"Nice to meet you." Blake holds out a hand to Nam, who takes it and gives it a shake. "What I think he is trying to say is that I'm his life model." Blake laughs, looking at Tamesh's awkward stance before returning his gaze back to Nam. 

"Ahhh!" Nam nods, understanding. "So you took our advice then?" 

"Yeah I did." Tamesh smiles, sliding himself into a stool, with Blake doing the same next to him. 

"Well, you made a good choice if you don't mind me saying so." Nam adds, pushing the menus in front of the pair, although he knew off the bat that Tamesh would most definitely go for his usual. 

"Hey, why can I imagine you in my cream sweater?" Jojo suddenly shouts over to Blake from his spot in the kitchen. 

"Probably because I've worn it!" Blake says laughing, whereas Nam just glares at Jojo with suspicion.

"Do you know this guy?" He asks accusingly. 

"No I don't...I don't? Do I know you?" Jojo now gets confused. 

"I guess you've seen my picture in a fashion magazine." Blake concludes, smiling at Jojo's confused face, which now has light bulbs going off.

"That's it!" Jojo points at Blake like he's his best pal. "You looked good!" He adds. 

"Thanks." Blake replies. Of course he looked good. 

"The usual?" Nam questions, now turning his attention back to Tamesh who nods. 

"Times two please and a bottle of soju and we're gonna take it over there." Tamesh adds, pointing to a snug corner of the restaurant. 

Nam just grins, making a quick flick of the eyebrows. Though neither male actually sees. 

Now settled with two small cups of soju and two bowls of ramen, Tamesh looks up at Blake. The guy is blowing gently on the hot noodles before scooping some up with his chopsticks and shoveling them into his mouth. 

Tamesh was beginning to realise that this guy had many guises. He had already seen the cocky smirk, the look of contentment, of confidence. He bore witness to the vulnerable shock he showed when he realised that Tamesh had never studied a male model before and now he was watching a very innocent, cute and hungry Blake, eating ramen like it was his last meal. 

But the face Tamesh couldn't forget right now, was the one Blake showed when they were back in the studio. That one of sorrow. The look which caused them to be sat here in the first place. 

Tamesh wonders whether he should ask Nam to join. He was always good with people. Maybe he could get the ball rolling, but there was something inside of him which made him want to push himself. To do this on his own. He takes a decisive breath. 
"So Blake..." Tamesh begins, slurping up his food. 

Blake looks up over the bowl at the artist, waiting for him to continue. 

"Did you want to tell me something?" He concludes. 

Blake instantly looks down at his food. He suddenly felt like he was put on the spot. He clears his throat then reaches for his drink, downing it in one.  "There... there was this girl..." he begins.

Tamesh unexpectedly feels his insides implode. "A...a girl?" He questions.

"Yeah...Hannah, my best friend." Blake says, pouring himself another drink and downing it before continuing.

On hearing the word 'friend' Tamesh managed to pull himself together a little. He wasn't too sure why he was feeling like that anyway. He didn't get these feelings as a rule. Alfie had once referred to them as butterflies in your stomach. That's what it felt like right now. They kept on circling and stopping, with Blake's words having control over their actions. 

"I made a mistake and now I'm paying for it." Blake continues. "That's why I can't return home." 

Tamesh now takes some of his drink. He was there to listen... "What happened?"