Underneath the Red Trees

CHAPTER 9: THE SUN AMONGST THE STARS

Music boomed through the house. The buzz of conversation sounded just a few decimals above the music. There were people in the pool and by the house bar and on the sofas. Round the back of the house there were people making out or smoking.

It was around 7pm on Saturday when Touma and Harin walked through the expensive looking gates and entered the foyer. The ceiling was high, and a crystal chandelier hung down from it.

Touma nudged Harin. "Where did you hear about this?" he shouted over the music.

She shrugged. "From this guy in my English class, who heard it from his cousin, who heard it from a friend and so on." She leaned into him. "I'm going to get us drinks. What are you in the mood for?"

"Something berry."

She nodded and headed toward the bar. A short guy with a buzzcut was serving drinks.

Touma was wondering whose house this was. There weren't any family pictures anywhere he could see. He scanned the room. He recognised some of the partygoers from the few times he and his friends went to house parties.

That's when he caught sight of a familiar face. He couldn't stop the smile from crawling onto his lips.

"Hey," Hayate's hair was wet. Touma could see the dampness of his chest through his shirt. Had he been in the pool?

"Hi," he greeted. Then, leaning closer, he said, "I didn't take you for the type to go to random parties."

Hayate smirked. He leaned in closer. His lips brushed against Touma's earlobe. "This is my house." He pulled back when he finished speaking. The smirk still played on his lips, like a mischievous fox.

Touma could feel his ears burning up. He tried his best to avoid touching the place where Hayate's lips had just touched.

"Wait seriously? You live here?" Hayate nodded. "Your family's rich, huh?"

He shrugged. "My dad's Haruhiko Igarashi."

"Wait seriously?" Harin had just returned and only caught that last line.

Hayate nodded. Harin handed him a drink in a red cup as Hayate retold the story to her. It was raspberry soda and vodka.

Harin's eyes widened. "Angel Face," she grabbed his sleeve, "We should have made friends with rich people years ago." She turned back to Hayate. "I can't believe you live here."

"Come on." They followed Hayate inward, to the lounge area. "How did you guys find out about this anyway?"

"Why? don't you want us here?" Hayate laughed. Before he could say anything to defend himself, Harin continued, "You can't get rid of us." Harin crossed her arms. "You got wasted with us, we're friends for life now."

Hayate laughed. "All right, I surrender."

Someone called for him. Hayate made his apologies, promising to return soon.

As soon as he was gone Harin elbowed Touma. "What happened just then."

"Ow," Touma exclaimed, "And nothing." He didn't realise it, but he was clutching his earlobe.

Harin rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, I'm not blind. He's flirting with you."

Touma shook his head. "Nothing happened because he is straight."

Harin cocked his head to the side. "Please stop with that. He likes you. I'm telling you."

Touma took a sip of his drink, shaking his head. She was wrong. Hayate wasn't gay. He didn't remember much from that first night, but he did remember Hayate making out with that girl he met in the club. He was straight. Touma was sure of it.