A Thousand Deaths (Sumettikul's Universe Three)

{14} Osaka (Part Two)

The attention of the entire restaurant is trained on Us and JJ, waiting with bated breath as one. The anticipation is unbearable. Silence stretches like a taut rubber band. The atmosphere is oppressive, apprehensive, and yet hopeful.

Us stares blankly at JJ as he gazes up at him, his eyes wide with longing— fear even. Holy crap, Us! Put him out of his misery. Please. Jeez—he could have asked him privately.

A single tear trickles down his cheek though he remains expressionless.

Shit! Us crying? Then he smiles, a slow disbelieving I’ve-found-Nirvana smile.

“Yes,” He whispers, a breathy, sweet acceptance—not Us-like at all. For one nanosecond there’s a pause as the entire restaurant exhales a collective sigh of relief, and then the noise is deafening. Spontaneous applause, cheering, catcalls, whooping, and suddenly I have tears rolling down my face.

Oblivious to the commotion around them, the two are locked in their own little world. From his pocket JJ produces a small box, opens it, and presents it to Us. A ring. And from what I can see, an exquisite ring, but I need a closer look. Is that what he was doing with Na? Choosing a ring? Shit! Oh, I’m so glad I didn’t tell Us.

Us looks from the ring to JJ then throws his arms around his neck. They kiss, remarkably chaste for them, and the crowd goes wild. JJ stands and acknowledges the approbation with a surprisingly graceful bow then, wearing a huge self-satisfied grin, sits back down. I can’t take my eyes off them. Taking the ring out of its box, JJ gently slides it onto Us’ finger, and they kiss once more.

Biblw squeezes my hand. I didn’t realize I’d been gripping his so tightly. I release him, a little embarrassed, and he shakes his hand, mouthing, “Ow.”

“Sorry. Did you know about this?” I whisper.

Bible smiles and I know that he did. He summons the waiter. “Two bottles of the Cristal please. The 2002 if you have it.”

I smirk at him.

“What?” He asks.

“Because the 2002 is so much better than the 2003,” I tease.

He laughs. “To the discerning palate, Build.”

“You have a very discerning palate, Bible, and singular tastes.” I smile.

“That I do.” He leans in close. “You taste best,” He whispers, and he kisses a certain spot behind my ear, sending little shivers down my spine. I blush scarlet and fondly remember his earlier demonstration.

Barcode is the first up to hug Us and JJ, and we all take turns congratulating the happy couple. I clutch Us in a fierce hug.

“See? He was just worried about his proposal,” I whisper.

“Oh, Bui.” He giggle-sobs.

“Us, I am so happy for you. Congratulations.”

Bible is behind me. He shakes JJ’s hand, then—surprising both JJ and me—pulls him into a hug. I can only just catch what he says.

“Way to go, JJ,” He murmurs. JJ says nothing, for once stunned into silence, then cautiously returns his brother’s hug.

“Thanks, Bible,” JJ chokes out.

Bible gives Us a brief, if awkward, almost arm’s-length hug. I know that Bible’s attitude to Us is tolerant, at best and ambivalent most of the time, so this is progress. Releasing him, he says so quietly only he and I can hear, “I hope you are as happy in your marriage as I am in mine.”