As soon as Honoka invited me to the get-together, I knew it was my opportunity for two reasons. First, I could reconnect with the others, and second, I had another reason to see Kenji.

He had on Levi's with a grey shirt that hugged his torso well, and he rolled it up to his elbows. It reminded me of the dinner with Honoka, Kenji and my boys. He was sexy then, and he was sexy now—if not sexier.

But I held my ground. I was going to make him feel good by the end of the night because Kenji smiling and being happy was more important than him looking fly with Gucci.

Throughout the night, I would brush my hand against his in the bowl of popcorn. I made sure to sit next to him before anyone else did, especially before Clay did. I didn't care that he was now dating Alissa, I didn't want him near Kenji.

"So, you work at a gas station now?" Alissa asked while laying on her stomach on the floor of Honoka's bedroom. "The one that Arya's uncle owns?" 

"Yup," I said. "I really like it. Gyan, Arya's cousin, is really cool." Kenji looked at me with a crease in his forehead. I didn't know if it was due to curiosity or jealousy. Either way, I had his attention, and I didn't mind that at all. "And I had dinner with Arya's family."

Clay grinned while the other's eyes widened, impressed. "That's awesome, man. How are the Guptas?"

        He leaned back on his hands as he was seated between Alissa and Honoka, who sat cross-legged with her hands in her lap. Kenji and I sat on adjacent bean bags in front of the three.

"Still the same. Mr. Gupta is still pretty chill while Tejal is still over hyper and Aarav is still an ass."

        A female-molesting ass-wipe.

The others, except for Kenji, laughed. "At least someone is on Arya's good side," Honoka said, and Alissa rolled her eyes.

"Screw that bitch," Alissa sneered. It was harsh, but I couldn't blame her. I would have been mad at Arya, too, if I were in their shoes. "If she doesn't want anything to do with us, so be it. Do I want her around? Yes. Do I need her? Hell no. Alissa Owens doesn't need anyone."

Clay pressed his fist to his mouth with round eyes. "Tell us how you really feel, 'Lis."

Alissa shrugged. "There's a difference between a need and a want, Clay."

Honoka clapped in approval. "That's what I like to hear."

Kenji and I chuckled. Oh, Alissa. Always a strong one.

Arya really hit a nerve with her though. I knew with her return, she wasn't the friendliest to the others, but I wanted the five of them to squash this beef like I did with them.

        If only they knew...

What Aarav did wasn't an excuse for Arya to be a bitch, but it certainly made things easier to understand from her perspective.

But they didn't know. And they certainly weren't going to find out from me. When I said I was going to keep her secret, I meant it. One thing that bothered me though was how I tried contacting her a couple times after her big revelation, but it always went to voicemail. Knowing Arya, she never missed a call unless she wanted to.

Maybe she needed space after what she had told me. It was a lot for the both of us, and it made sense that she wouldn't be able to face me yet, so I was going to give her that space. For now.

"So the dinner with the Guptas was much better than the last one?" Kenji said, referring to the one with my family.

Honoka and the others stared at us with their faces laced in confusion. "What other dinner?" Clay asked.

"Definitely." I focused solely on Kenji. "I don't even want to think about that other dinner." I brushed my leg against his for a split second before pulling it back.

"Sharing secrets again?" Clay teased while eyeing the both of us. "You two with your secrets."

Honoka zeroed in on us.

Alissa playfully slapped his leg. "Leave them alone."

"It's true though," he whined. "They're always exclusive with each other." I caught a glimpse of the red creeping up Kenji's neck. "I'm just saying it like it is." Clay pouted down at Alissa, who leaned up to place a peck on his lips.

I had to get used to the fact that they were dating. I admired them in a way. They had the courage to take that leap from just friends to dating exclusively.

I wanted that...with Kenji. 

But I knew better.

I was ready for that jump, but Kenji wasn't. I snuck a peek at him, taking in his parted lips that I had a strong urge to kiss. If the others weren't around, I would have made my move. I didn't give a fuck that he was "taken."

As long as he and Rosalyn weren't married, he was available in my eyes.

I glanced at Honoka who was still staring at us, and she sent me a small smile that I gladly returned.

"Honoka," Clay said with his mouth full, and her focus shifted to him, "you sure you don't want some of this popcorn?" We were passing the bowl around, grabbing handfuls at different times.

Honoka feasted on her seaweed and almonds.

She shook her head. "I already cheated during Rosalyn's birthday with that tres leches cake. I have to make up for it now."

"Tres leches cake?" I said, trying to avoid the fact that Camila's botched doppelgänger was mentioned.

"The cake of three milks," Alissa answered. "It's so delicious." She moaned with her eyes closed for emphasis.

I nudged Kenji. "Why didn't you bring me some?"

"Yeah, Kenji," Clay instigated. "Why didn't you bring Darian some?"

Kenji didn't respond, choosing to grab a fistful of popcorn instead to fill up his mouth. Nice. I wasn't mad though.

"Don't bother, Kenji," Alissa said. "He's feeling down already."

"Maybe if he told us why he's feeling down, we'll be more empathetic," Clay pointed out. "How can we understand something we don't know?"

"Can we please change the subject?" Kenji raised his voice sightly, and I kept my gaze on him. "Alissa." He motioned to her. "Your game. Let's talk about that."

Something was really bothering him.

"Really, Kenji?" Alissa tilted her head to the side with her eyes narrowed. "I'm here defending you, and you decide to call me out?" Her tone was jovial in nature.

"He's not calling you out." Honoka glanced her way. "Your game was amazing."

"We lost!" Alissa shrieked. "The one game you guys go to, we lost. That's embarrassing."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about," Honoka said. "Your team has won every other game. One loss doesn't define you guys, and either way, we'll root for you whether you win or lose."

"Yeah, 'Lis." Clay leaned down to rest his head on her back. "You were amazing." He kissed her shoulder.

"Not amazing enough. We lost." She covered her face with a groan.

Clay grabbed her face in his hands and made her look at him. "You're still a winner in my book." He grinned at her, and her expression lightened.

"You're so corny, Clay." She chuckled while he hugged her, nuzzling his face into her neck.

"Only for you, babe," he replied.

"Oh my God." Alissa laughed.

"Jesus," Kenji muttered with a roll of his eyes.

Someone was salty.

I was, too.

After they pulled away, Alissa's gaze moved to all of us. "You guys have to come to another game. That includes you, Darian."

"Got it." I bobbed my head. "I'll love to see you on the court."

Last I remembered, she was a beast, and that was only middle school. I could only imagine how much she improved.

"I need to redeem myself," Alissa said. "This shit isn't gonna fly. I aim to have fun, look cute, and win. Anything less isn't acceptable."

We all burst into laughter. Even Kenji let out a brief chuckle. "I love you, 'Lis," Honoka said while tapping her arm.

"This loss means I need to step up my game," Alissa added. "I can't get too comfortable because comfort leads to mediocrity. That's not gonna happen on my watch."

Huh.

        Comfort leads to mediocrity.

I never thought of it like that.

"So Darian," Honoka started while finishing the last of her seaweed, "why don't you let the others know what you've been up to lately?"

         Y'know, just the regular. Plotting a murder. Stealing a boyfriend. Nothing worth mentioning.

"Nothing much, just trying to survive without Daddy's resources," I said instead. "A lot has happened lately. A lot with my family and of course, friendships." I motioned to all of them. "I've done a lot of soul searching and figuring out my priorities. That's pretty much it. Me figuring out a way to survive. A way to survive with the person I really am."

Alissa and Honoka nodded, but Clay scratched his head. "That was really vague," he said. Honoka and Alissa sent him a look, and he raised his hands. "You guys always hate on me for speaking the truth, but I see things, and I call them out. I'm sorry honesty is now a crime." The two girls giggled before taking turns poking him. "Hey, watch it!" He tried but failed to dodge their pokes. "And here I thought being between two girls was a good thing. Hey!"

It only made Honoka and Alissa gang up on him more and they started to full-on tickle him to the point of tears. Kenji and I only laughed at the ridiculous scene before us.

God, I missed these guys.

Eventually the girls showed Clay mercy and let him be, and at that same moment, Kenji rose to his feet. "I'm gonna get more snacks."

"I was waiting for someone to budge," Clay said. "Thank you for sacrificing yourself, Kenji."

Whenever we used to hang out, Kenji and Camila were usually the ones who refilled the snacks and drinks.

"Whatever," Kenji muttered before stepping out. Everyone brushed it aside.

Everyone but me.

He needed someone, in more ways than one, and I was going to be that someone.

I got up from the bean bag as well. "I'll help him out."

"The more the merrier!" Clay said.

"Definitely..." I replied.

I made my way out of the room and headed for the kitchen. I slowed my pace when my gaze landed on him.

Kenji stood in front of me, clutching the kitchen counter as his head hung low with hair in his face and his jaw tensed. He was definitely upset about something.

What?

Time to find out.

I stopped beside him and stayed silent until he peered up at me. "What?" His tone came out weary and drained.

"What's going on, Kenji?" I placed a hand next to his on the counter. "What's bothering you this much?"

"Don't worry about it." He avoided my stare.

"Don't give me that bullshit," I said. "If you can't be honest with anyone else,"—I turned his chin so he could look at me—"at least be honest with me. I cried like a baby in front of you—a baby." Surprisingly, I wasn't embarrassed anymore—only because it was Kenji. "The least you can do is tell me what's bothering you now. You were there for me then, so let me be here for you now." I released his chin.

His features softened, and he straightened up to face me. "My mother," he let out in a frail voice. "We talked. We finally talked, and it wasn't good." He shoved his hands into his pockets as his gaze dropped to the kitchen counter. "I finally told her how I felt about everything she did, and it was relieving. But..." He swallowed. "It was also devastating. I was reminded that I loved her so much, but I also remembered how much she hurt me, and it was a lot to take in." He slowly bobbed his head with his lips curled into his mouth. "As of now, we're not gonna be in each other's lives. Not until she realizes the full extent of what she did."

"At least you told her."

He nodded. "Yeah, and I'm glad I let it all out, but it still hurts." His voice cracked at the end, and the moisture pooled in his eyes. "Saying goodbye to someone you love is never easy, no matter how badly they hurt you or how short the time apart is."

"It isn't." I moved closer to him, wanting him to know I was there.

"I love that woman," he said, more to himself than me. "I've been so mad and dismissive of her, but our talk confirms the obvious." Kenji bit his lip as he kept the forming tears under control. "I love that woman, and I'll always be that eleven-year-old boy who wants his mother's love. Who wants his mother's reassurance. Who wants his mother's hugs." He smiled at the last part, despite the moisture recollecting in his eyes. "It doesn't matter how pretty I am or how fly I am or how dope I become. None of this matters." He motioned to himself. "Not the earrings." He grabbed his ears. "Not the hair." He grabbed a fistful of his hair. "Not the clothes." He tugged at his shirt. "None of it matters. I just want my mother's hugs. That's it." He stared past me at nothing in particular, out of words.

This really had him down.

This was going to be tougher than I thought, and there was only one thing I could think of doing.

"Come here." I removed his hands from his pockets and pulled him to me. "Come to your ichiban."

"Darian," he groaned as I wrapped his arms around me before encasing mine around him. "What are you doing?" he mumbled into my shoulder.

I held him close and breathed in the smell of his clean hair. "Giving you the hug you need."

"Your hugs aren't my mom's."

He said this, but he didn't let go of me.

"I know," I said while running my fingers through his hair. "But my hugs are better than no hugs."

He relaxed in my arms, and his grip tightened around me. "Your hugs are good."

My other hand traveled along his back. "Okay then, so enjoy it."

He released a shaky breath as we embraced each other. The longer he stayed in my arms, the more he relaxed.

Eventually, he stopped holding me like I was going to disappear, and he held me like I wasn't going anywhere.

"Darian," he breathed into my neck.

"Kenji," I replied into his hair, and he sighed in contentment.

I chuckled in his ear, and he chuckled back before we pulled away, smiling at each other.

"Better?" I asked.

"Better," he said while tousling his hair.

"We're getting there." He nodded. "Now, come on." I lightly slapped his arm. "Let's get the snacks."

"Already on it," Kenji said as he passed me for the pantry. I followed suite.

As we made our way back to Honoka's bedroom with the new snacks and drinks, Kenji's features appeared softer and more at ease. This was great.

But that didn't mean the mission was over.

No. Not by a long shot.

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* How do you guys think the rest of this night is going to play out? What do you think Darian has up his sleeve? How about the whole group being together, with the except of Arya?

* This chapter is dedicated to @sparkling_Eyes_  because I'm always curious to know what you're gonna comment and it's helpful but also keeps me on my game. Thanks for your support! 😊