𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 - 𝗚𝗼𝗷𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘂 𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

~Chapter 3~

You knocked on the door, a nervous feeling was eating your stomach up as you waiting for Satoru to open the door.

"...just a moment." You heard him say from inside, his voice hoarse and raspy. The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, and then he was standing there, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with an emotion you couldn't quite name. He looked like a broken man.

"Hey..." he whispered softly, his words carrying the weight of worlds within them. His gaze lingered on your face for what felt like eternity before finally lifting to meet your eyes.

You studied his features. His hair was white and disheveled. His cheeks were slightly sunken, making you wonder if he has had a decent meal during the past week. His eyes... once so alive and free, were now dull. They were red and puffy from crying. His eyebags were dark. Most importantly... he reeked of alcohol.

You took a shaky breath, softly caressing his cheek. "What did you do to yourself..."

Satoru shook his head, his gaze flickering away from yours. "Nothing... it's just... everything has been a mess lately." He took a step back, clearing his throat. "Come in, please." He motioned towards the living room with an imperious wave of his hand. You followed him inside, your steps hesitant and nervous as you walked into the familiar space that now felt so foreign to you.

The room was immaculate as always - the white walls were decorated with framed posters of movies and anime shows you used to watch together; there was a massive flat-screen TV mounted on one wall; several comfortable-looking couches were arranged around a low table in front of another wall adorned with shelves full of books and collectibles from your travels abroad... It looked like something out of an expensive magazine spread featuring luxurious apartments owned by young millionaires but still carried all your special memories within its pristine surfaces.

You noticed he had nothing on but boxers, sighing as you walked in, softly closing the door with a 'click'. You sat down on the sofa... a sofa you both shared so many memories in. Watching tv together, playing some stupid drinking games, him sleeping on you while you read a book... so many memories. You missed it.

Satoru's gaze was fixed on a point somewhere beyond the room. "I never really knew what it was like to miss something until now." He gave a small laugh that sounded more like a sob. "Guess that's what happens when you're always used to getting whatever you want." His words were laced with self-loathing, and for the first time in years, he felt genuinely vulnerable in front of someone else - particularly you. It made him uncomfortable yet oddly aroused at the same time.

Satoru shifted on the couch, crossing his legs as he turned towards you slightly. "So... how are things going with you?" He asked hesitantly, trying desperately not to think about how much he wanted you by his side instead of sitting across from him like this.

"Let's forget about me, hm?" You sighed with a weak chuckle, shaking your head. "What happened to you? You're in... horrible shape." You studied him. He looked so unhealthy. Even if he had well built body, it was clear that he has gotten skinnier during the past week. "How much did you drink..."

"I don't remember." Satoru's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's all starting to blur together now... I think I lost count after twenty bottles..." He rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands, wincing as pain shot through his skull. "Christ, what am I saying? Of course you knew that already. You can probably smell it on me from across the room." His gaze flickered towards you again before quickly averting itself back to his lap. "Look... about what happened earlier... between us... the phone call..." He trailed off, clearing this throat once more and taking a deep breath before continuing in a softer voice: "I just wanted you to know that everything I said - it was all true. Every single word of it." His eyes met yours then - pleading and full of need like never before - and your heart skipped a beat.

You slowly scooted closer to him, softly placing your hand on his cheek, caressing it. Your heart fluttered when he immediately gave in to your touch.

He was like a child... a tall child. One that just wanted to be loved, understood. But sadly no one in this world did, and instead, they weighed him down with expectations... so much expectations that he kept disappointing not only them, but himself too.

When he finally found that one person who seemed to understand him, he just ended up hurting her, and making things complicated for her and himself.

You smiled softly at him. "I know... I meant everything too."

Satoru closed his eyes, letting out a soft sigh as your fingers trailed across his cheek. It had been so long since you had touched him like this... with such tenderness and understanding. It was intoxicating, addictive - just like the alcohol he'd been drowning himself in for days now. He leaned into the warmth of your touch, savoring every moment of your connection before pulling away slightly and clearing his throat once more.

"Look... I know things have been messed up between us lately," he began hesitantly, searching for the right words to express what was on his mind without coming across as overbearing or possessive again."But I really want things to go back to how they used to be between us - you know? Before all this craziness kicked off." His gaze flickered towards you again then quickly away before continuing in an even quieter voice: "I just want things simple again..."

You nodded, looking down as your hands were now both on his, your fingers tracing every little battle scar he had on it. "I want things to be simple to..." you looked up at him, meeting his beautiful blue eyes. "I want us to make things right."

Satoru's heart skipped a beat as he gazed back into your eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt so vulnerable or exposed. But there was also an undeniable thrill coursing through him, a rush of emotions flooding his veins that made him feel alive for the first time in weeks. If this is what falling apart feels like...then maybe it isn't so bad.

"Then let's start over," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart in his ears. "Just you and me... no rules, no expectations." He paused briefly before adding softly: "Whatever we were meant to be..."

I gave him a weak smile, nodding slowly as I spoke. "Sounds... sounds nice..." I smiled.

"But before we start over, there's something I need to confess." His voice was barely audible now, barely above a whisper. It felt like he was sharing his deepest secrets with you - and maybe he was.. "I... I didn't mean any of it when I said those things earlier... last week or whatever when we were... y'know..." He paused briefly, looking down at your intertwined hands before lifting his gaze back up to meet yours. "I just..." He sighed heavily, letting out all the pent-up frustration and pain that had been building inside him for so long."It's not you... it's me."

You smiled, maybe a bit proud of Satoru. You softly kneeled closer, putting your other hand on his face, as one was already holding his, and pecked his lips. "I think... we were both in the wrong." You admitted. "But it doesn't matter, hm? That's in the past now."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Satoru couldn't help but smile slightly as his lips brushed against yours in that gentle peck. It felt like an eternity had passed since you last shared a moment like this - simple, sweet, and innocent. He knew deep down that things weren't going to be easy between you two from here on out; there were still going to be challenges and obstacles you would have to overcome together. But for now... all he could focus on was this feeling of being close to you again - of knowing that you was here with him in this moment, sharing the same space and breathing the same air..