Counting The Days (MxM)

Day Seven

Chapter 7: Day Seven

***

‘I completed it…’ Mason thought to himself as he looked at his screen. ‘I managed to complete 20,000 more words of Counting The Days…’ The author had suddenly became very inspired to write in his latest work, so much so even he surprised himself with how much work he had done.

Finally getting up from his chair that he had sat on for the last several hours the author went to wash his face.

“You’re finally done?” Edward asked as he was laying down on the couch and reading manga.

“You’re still here?” Mason questioned as he looked at the student. He was so focused on his work that he didn’t even register the other male’s presence.

“I didn’t want to leave my boyfriend alone while he works so I decided to stay. I’ve been reading your collection of Banana Fish in the meantime. It’s a really interesting read.” Edward said as he waved around the 10th volume of said manga.

“I don’t mind if you read it, just be careful with it. I barely got my hands on those volumes.” Mason warned the other male and went to the bathroom to wash his face.

“Sure thing~” Edward answered and continued to read silently while waiting for the author.

***

‘Somehow… I think we’re talking casually with each other.’ Mason thought to himself as he splashed cold water on his face. ‘Yesterday I made that ridiculous deal with Edward and he randomly comes here to hang out whenever he feels bored… I’ve also managed to do more work since yesterday. Mostly because I am using Edward as the prototype of my character…’

It was a bit difficult for the author to figure out what exactly made him so inspired at the moment. Or the reason why he could now speak so comfortably with the other student.

‘Maybe I’m comfortable around him because he knows my secret? That’s probably it… I just don’t feel like I have to hide or pretend when I’m around him. I can just act like myself… I guess the feeling is a bit liberating.’ Mason thought to himself as he wiped his wet face with a towel.

“How about we go on a date today?” Edward asked as he closed the manga he was reading.

“Sure, did you ask Lucas and Mick already?” Mason asked the other as he entered the living room again.

“I did, it’s a double date, as promised.” Edward answered as he glanced at the other student. “You changing your clothes?”

“Yeah… We’re going our, right?” Mason said as he took off his shirt and put it in the washing machine.

“You know… I’ve noticed this before but you’re rather thin for a man… You seem fragile…” Edward remarked as he looked the other male up and down.

“Who are you calling fragile?! I work out!” Mason said as he flexed his almost nonexistent muscles on his right arm.

“You call that working out? All I see here are two dumbbells, two kilograms each.” Edward said as he pointed at said dumbbells lying on the ground next to the student’s desk.

“Ha, like you can judge me!” Mason said as he crossed his arms.

“I think I can…” Edward said as he rolled up his sleeve to show off his muscular arm.

‘Gah… He really is buff…’ Mason thought to himself defeatedly.

“You’re staring… Do you want to touch it?” Edward asked with a smirk on his face.

“Hmp!” Mason approached the man and sat next to him on the couch. He touched the other student’s muscles and thought to himself. ‘Hard as a rock… He’s probably very strong too…’

“What’s on your mind?” Edward said as he observed the author’s expression.

“…I need to work out more…” Those words escaped Mason’s lips as he was lost in a daze while touching the student’s hard muscles.

Edward stared at the author’s face and couldn’t help but touch it. “You have a really gentle face, you know…” He murmured in a low tone.

“What’s my face have to do with any of this?” Mason snapped back and took the other student’s hand away from his face.

“I was just saying you’re pretty. I didn’t anything else by it.” Edward said as he smiled looking at his hand that the author was still holding onto in the air.

“That’s not really a compliment for a man… It’s not pretty, it’s handsome…” Mason said as he let go of the student’s hand.

“You’re right… pretty isn’t the right word for it, I’d rather say your beautiful instead.” Edward said as he took hold of the author’s hand.

“Are you mocking me? Let go.” Mason said as he tried to pull his hand away.

“Let me look at your face a little more…” Edward said as he gently lifted up the author and laid on his back.

“Wha-” Mason landed on top of the student. ‘Why is this guys so strong?!’ He wondered as he tried to pull away.

“I won’t do anything, so let’s stay like this for a little bit…” Edward said in a sincere voice as he embraced the man in his hands.

“…….” Mason gave up on struggling and simply accepted the other male’s embrace. ‘What is he doing? He sounded so sincere just now… I wonder if this is some kind of fantasy of his? Meeting his favorite author and hugging them? I guess I don’t mind… much…’

“…you” Edward murmured something under his breath and even the author who was on top of him couldn’t hear.

“What did you say?” Mason questioned as he looked at the other male’s eyes.

“I like you.” Edward repeated his words this time just loud enough for the other to hear.

“I know… But I don’t like you at all.” Mason said as he felt the other male’s grip loosen, he backed away and stoop up from the sofa.

“I can accept that… Even if you don’t like me, I still like you.” Edward repeated his statement one more time.

“Do whatever you like, but I won’t be responsible for your feelings…” Mason said as he headed to the other room.

Thoughts rushing to his mind one after another, all denying what just happened.  ‘No… It’s not me you like… It’s the author you admire so much. It’s Takano Masamune that you like. Not me…’

Mason couldn’t help but think that the student was just idealizing his author persona. He couldn’t help but think that Edward didn’t really look at ‘Mason’ when they spoke just now.

‘The person you’re looking at so lovingly… The person you were talking to so sincerely… That’s all for ‘Takano’, isn’t it?’ Mason thought as he gently pressed his fingertips on his eyebrows, he was having a headache...