Just A Lie

The brunette novelist could feel the viridescent vines constrict around his vocal cords, the thorns piercing agonizingly into the muscles to leave a throbbing ache that lingered as copper dotted his tongue. Petals lined the inside of his mouth, staining his taste buds with the overwhelming flowery taste soaked in blood as a cough expelled them into his open palm. Gentaro grimaced, his heart pulsating against his rib cage as slim digits wound in itself to crush the now wilting petals, discarding them into the trash can nearby. It was ironic, he mused to himself, that someone who writes romance novels could never truly experience it himself: the delicate blossoming of feelings known as love were to never grow, rather a seed of one-sided pining of a naive romantic left to rot in the pit of his stomach.

With the lingering taste that burned his throat, Gentaro wandered onto the busy streets of Shibuya in hopes of cleansing his palate. While the appeal of his usual cafe lingered in his thought, his boot-clad feet gravitated towards the all familiar spot that called to him like a sire: the pachinko parlor. Steeling his nerves, he found himself wandering inside only to be greeted by the object of his one-sided affection.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise," Aratani's voice fluttered out with the faintest tinge of teasing on the curve of her lips, a flush now tickling the tips of his ears. "What brings you by, Gentaro?"

A coy chuckle erupted from the back of his throat, stilling his breath to calm his quickening pulse. Just the tone of her voice stirred a longing deep in the pit of his stomach, swirling the mass of flora into a raging storm threatening to swallow his being. His palm laid against the bar top, leaning against it casually as his gaze locked with Aratani's.

'Would you believe me if I said I wanted to see you?" He questioned, hearing her chuckle as she leaned her elbows against the granite top, shifting her weight to one leg.

"Given your track record of lying, no," She mused out, watching intently as he pulled out the teal covered book from his sleeve to hide the bottom half of his face, eyes never parting hers. "But it's a flattering thought regardless."

Oh, how he vied for the chance to lean across the bar top, hands aching to cradle porcelain smooth skin in their grasp as he stole many kisses from her tantalizingly addictive lips. His fantasies only served him for so long when the real thing was right in front of him, a mere inch apart. Alas, it would stay just that: a fantasy.

The scratching of stems in his esophagus forced him to pause, stifling a cough as the corners of his eyes crinkled together in faux amusement, knowing full well she was one of the few that could see through his facade and wasn't disgusted by his true self.

"I'm in love with you." The words tumbled out before Gentaro could compose himself, letting his face slip the slightest as piercing hues gauged her reaction. Flushed cheeks and lips parted, body shifting from relaxation to stiff in the matter of milliseconds as expressive brows furrowed together.

"Gentaro," Ice ran through his veins, chilling him to the core as more petals tickled the back of his throat. Aratani's expression flickered into a smile as another laugh left her glossy lips. "You're lying, right?"

Forcing a laugh from his trembling figure, the book slid closed as he pressed the spine against the curve of her plump lips. "T'was a lie." Though his misty eyes told another story.