360 Degrees Chapter 2

Damn the old man is stubborn!

It's been two weeks since I confessed to him- two weeks- but no matter how hard I try to get him to spend some time with me, he completely ignores my existence! For example, yesterday while he was on break I decided to bring him a nice hot cup of coffee. Nice, right? No. Zak decided to reply with the rude remark, "No. You probably drugged it. Crazy teenagers."

Yep. That's me. Riku the crazy teenager WHO IS IN LOVE WITH YOUR ASS!! 

Anyway, despite this tiny setback, I'm not about to give up.

"Hey kiddo. Get to work and stop daydreaming." Zak said from two cubicles away. I frowned at him as i tried to ignore my other co-workers laughs.

"Mind your own business old man." I snapped while walking over to where his desk was. "I'm sure you've got more important things to do than to babysit me." I leaned in closer, making Zak shift away uncomfortably. "Unless you want to know what it is exactly I am daydreaming about." This made Zak even more uncomfortable. Ha. serves him right.

"Lets go get a bite to eat kid."

...what?

Zak stood from his chair before waving for me to follow him. "C'mon. Now." He stressed.

Did Zak...just invite me to eat with him? Does this mean he's giving in? Maybe he got turned on when I got close to him- okay that's wishful thinking but OMG HE ASKED ME TO EAT WITH HIM!!

I happily followed him out and around to the side of the building. "Is your car parked on the side of our building?" I asked as we walked. "I didn't know there was parking spaces-"

Suddenly Zak grabbed onto my arm then harshly slammed me against the building wall. "OW! Careful that hurt!" I yelled, slightly shocked. My cry ceased when Zak locked his eyes with mine. He was mad.

"Enough is enough kid. You have got to stop this bullshit. You can't act that way in the workplace and certainly not in front of the other co-workers. You could get me fired you know!"

I'd never seen this side of Zak before. To tell you the truth, Zak was the man in the office everyone called, "the guy with no personality." or "the silent type." He rarely strayed from his stoic and calm demeanor.

"Why are you so angry!? No one would figure out I liked you from what I did earlier. And if you would just try to date me that i wouldn't have to-"

"FOR THE LAST TIME FORGET ABOUT ME DAMN IT!"

"I CAN'T!!"

Before i could catch my breath, Zak grabbed me by the collar of my shirt- easily lifting me up off the floor and pressing me harder into the wall.

"I. am not. Who you think I am. You know nothing. So leave me be." Zak kept eye contact with me until I finally dropped my head, and the older man softly set me down. Without another word, he walked away and left me to think about what had just happened.

That's it......no more. You can't have everything.

Tears streamed down my face as I let my body slide against the wall and down to the floor.

I'm done.

~THE NEXT MORNING~

I don't want to go to work today.

I'm sure everyone who works knows what it feels like to wake up and completely dread with every fiber of your being about going back to work again- just for me, I'd almost want to quit.

I'm not that kind of person though. Besides, even if Zak doesn't want anything to do with me and probably hates me- just being close to him is enough.

I really wish he didn't hate me though.

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* "Who is it!?" I yelled towards the door as i pored myself a cup of coffee.

"Yoitei. Lemme in."

"Just come in. Doors open." I replied, hearing the door open a moment later.

Yoitei is my best friend. Like the brother I never had. We've known each other since we were ten and he was the first person I told I was gay. He's possibly one of the most trustworthy and kind people you could ever know as well as the most hardworking. Even though he has an abusive father (which I know but he won't admit) and works to live (literally) Yoitei is somehow still the best friend a guy could have.

"Morning Riku." Yoitei said tiredly as he softly patted me on the back. "Finding time for yourself lately? I haven't seen you in forever."

I laughed before handing Yoitei my cup of coffee. "I could say the same thing to you, Mr. 'I have three jobs' tch. Hippocrate. You look exhausted." I laughed as i messed up his crimson hair. Like always, Yoitei took his hair out of his side-ponytail and began fixing the knots i created. "Yah, and yet even though your jobs pay amounts to all three of my paychecks, you still live here. Dude, you've got to move out of this apartment complex. It's falling apart."

"I haven't found i knew suitable complex yet. Remember it needs to be close to my work." I sighed while fixing my tie.

"Oh yah, by the way, You still going after that Zak guy or not?" Yoitei asked before plopping himself down on my sofa. Yoitei never liked the idea of Zak. Mostly because of all the reasons most people would disprove. Above all, his age though. "What would mother say?"

I looked over my shoulder at Yoitei for a moment before turning back to look in the mirror again. "Even though my mom has passed, I'm sure she'd want me to do what makes me happy." I undid my tie and started over. "Even so. I've given up, so don't worry about it."

The room was silent as i finished getting ready. Just as I put my coat on, Yoitei approached and gently set a hand on my shoulder. "I don't know what happened to change your mind...and I'm not gonna tell you it's for the best...but if you can't be with him, why can't you just try to be friends with him? I'm sure if you were sincere he might consider that."

I turned around to face my friend, smiling warmly when our eyes met. "Thanks Yoitei. Maybe one day." I hugged Yoitei tightly before grabbing the car keys. "Your welcome to stay here Yoitei, I have to go to work now, so i'll see ya." Yoitei waved as i exited the room. "Bye Riku."

I laughed to myself while I drove towards work. 'Oh Yoitei. If only being friends with Zak now could be that easy. It's far too late for that now.'