Chapter 112 - Awkward Atmosphere

Sato and Gray left the lecture theatre together. Although the Sport's Day event was yet to be over, they decided to head back home.

That day, Gray had wanted to surprise Sato by coming to the school event in the afternoon. What he didn't expect to happen was Sato getting hurt. The events after that were somewhat unfortunate. Even though both of them had admitted to their shortcomings, the atmosphere between the two was very awkward.

As they were walking towards the main entrance, both of them saw someone that looked very familiar. Gray decided to call him out. "Marion."

"Oh, hey Gray. Hey Sato." Marion said his pleasantries. Beside the genius man, stood an extremely pretty lady wearing a skin tight dress that accentuated her glorious figure. The two of them were holding hands, looking like they were going to leave the school too.

"This is?" Gray stared at Marion curiously.

"Um.. This is my girlfriend, Natalia. She teaches Psychology here." Marion felt like he got caught doing something bad. It was to be expected that he felt that way, since this was the first time he had gotten a girlfriend. Moreover, the first person he told was none other than Gray.

Gray took a simple glance at Natalia. Any normal guy in the Psychology department would have their eyes goggling all over her. She was definitely a seductress to any straight male. He reached out his hand to shake hers and Natalia reciprocated. "Nice to meet you, Natalia. My name is Gray, a close friend of Marion's."

"It was nice to meet you too." Natalia smiled. She looked at the young man that stood beside Gray. "And this is?"

"Oh, my name is Sato. Nice to meet you." Sato shook her hand. Even though Marion couldn't pinpoint why, he could tell that Sato was slightly toned down as compared to earlier.

"Are you guys heading off already?" Marion noticed that they were about to leave too.

"Yeah, you too?" Gray answered for them.

"Yep. I actually came back to school today to bring Natalia out on a date." Marion explained. "Didn't realise that the school would make such a big deal about it."

"You came to fetch Sato too?" Marion followed up.

"Yes." Gray said simply. Following which, placing a hand on Sato shoulder, the two turned around and left. "Have fun on your date."

"You too."

...

In the car, Gray was the driver, while Sato sat in the front seat. Normally when the car ride was silent, the atmosphere wouldn't feel this stiffling, but after all that happened, it was inevitable.

Neither of them spoke for at least 15 minutes. It was only when Gray came to a halt by a red light, did he speak.

"Do you mind if I take you somewhere? It will be nothing strenuous." Gray asked politely.

"Sure." Sato nodded, giving the okay to Gray.

The following 30 minutes, neither of them spoke in the car. There was no music, no small talk, just the light rumbling of the car engine and the blowing of the car heater.

Gray had drove quite a distance down the highway. Only when he reached the last sign on the road, did he turn out. When they reached the destination, it pique Sato's interest.

"We're at the beach?" Sato commented when Gray opened the door for him.

Gray nodded as he helped Sato out of the car. Since Sato's hand was already in his palm, Gray didn't let go from that point on. The couple left for a walk down the pedestrian pavement.

"I've actually never come to the beach before." Sato said. He looked straight the whole time.

"Well, that's what you have been led to believe." Gray didn't look down either. He continued to tell Sato the truth. "You have been to the beach before. In fact, your first time was with me."

"Really?"

"Yep. Two months into our relationship back then, you told me about never coming to the beach before. Of course after knowing that, I decided that we should make a trip down there."

The pair walked only a short 100m before Gray pointed out a concrete bench that overlooked the sea.

"When we came here at time, we sat in this seat and overlooked the water and sand. I still remember the excitement on your face that day." Gray smiled while telling the story. "And now, here we are years down the road. How are you feeling?"

Sato looked at the place that Gray was talking about. Pulling Gray along, Sato walked right up to the bench as he placed his hand on the concrete back rest. He looked forwards unmovingly.

It remained that way for quite a while. Sato said after staring at the clear water with a clear beam on his face. "The old me and the current me agrees that this view is indeed spectacular."

"Really?" Gray rested his hand on Sato's shoulder lovingly again.

"Yep! During the past 3 years, I would sometimes try to imagine what the beach would look like in person. It was through the fragments in my head that allowed me to imagine this exact image. It's scary how surreal everything is."

Gray smiled at Sato's comment. Guiding him forward, Gray said kindly. "Come take a seat."

The couple sat together on the concrete seat silently. This time, the atmosphere was back to normal again. The awkwardness and barrier between the two had broken down.

The windy cold air would blow against their faces, but the pair did not mind it. In fact, both Gray and Sato huddled closer to share their warmth between themselves. So long as they were together, nothing seemed tough or horrible.

"Thank you Gray. Thank you for bringing me here." Sato said as he stared dreamy-eyed into Gray.

Gray replied with a loving peck on Sato's forehead. To him, he would give the world to Sato in a heartbeat if he ever asked for it.

"Anything for you, Sato. Anything for you."