to yearn and reunite

A familiar scenery of their town of birth, and two small, familiar figures right in front of them. 

"Is this a dream?" Anne Faulkner mused.

When the two figures cease to blur and vividly showed Anne's child self and a certain friend they hadn't met for years now, they were positive it was, indeed, a dream.

"Sobs... hic... uwaaaah..."

"Geez... you're such a crybaby, ーー!"

"S-sorry..."

"It's okay. I'll always, always be by your side, so you can cry to me whenever you like."

"...Anjin... Promiseーー"

ーーRing ring ring!

Abruptly woken up by the alarm they set the night before, Anne's eyes snapped open. They couldn't remember what it was they saw in their dream, but if their slightly damp eyes were anything to go by, perhaps forgetting it was for the best.

✱✱✱

"Today's vibes were awesome!" Sugasano Allen spoke energetically to his two teammates as the three of them walked out of the live house they just performed in. It was a full house with most of the audience being die-hard fans of BAE, so the crowd reaction was intense - the kind of condition Allen very much favors.

"It really was~!" Anne Faulkner replied, a satisfied smile on their face, "But, imagine almost falling down on stage because you're too excited."

"Wha- I didn't...!"

"Yes, you did," Hajun chimed in, "You almost tripped on your own feet. We all saw it."

"That's so likeーー"

Before Anne could finish their words, the figure of a young man took their breath away, as they stopped dead in their tracks.

"Anne? Is anything wrong?" Hajun worriedly asked, peering into the other's eyes.

"..."

Anne didn't respond. Is that... no, it can't be...

"...ーー?"

And so they spoke the name they hadn't called in years, voice laced in both hope, expectation, and yet, also inexplicable dread.

✱✱✱

"It's Anjin..."

A young man, perhaps 20 years of age, muttered as his eyes swept over a large poster stuck on the wall of a certain live house. While the person he'd known since childhood has changed almost a hundred eighty degrees, he could never, ever mistook that face - and that beautiful, captivating brown eyes. It seems like not even years of parting worn out his yearning, as he could feel his heart beating faster, faster, and faster with each passing second as realization struck him that he'd finally found his long lost childhood friend... and also first love.

"...Anne Faulkner..."

He caressed the name on the poster. However, it seemed that he was much too focused on it that he didn't realize the subject of his affection was right there, walking out of the live house, just a few moments ago.

"...ーー?"

He was brought out of his reverie by an awfully familiar voice calling out to his childhood nickname... one that he hadn't heard for years, as the only person who'd called him so, left.

Instinctively, almost as if jerked by an unknown force, he turned around towards the voice, eyes wide. Oh, how surprised was he when he saw Anne, right there, with equally wide eyes, seemingly unable to believe that they had indeed, reunited.

"Anjin... no, Anne...?"

He spoke carefully, his eyes glistening, tears threatening to fall down any second now. And when he saw Anne's smile, he couldn't help but to rush towards their side and embraced them tightly. Nothing else seems to reflect on his eyes but his cherished person.

He could feel that at first, Anne stiffened - but then naturally, their arms enclosed him in an embrace, as well, and he couldn't help but to let the tears flow.

"I've, mi-missed... you," he spoke in between hitched breaths and flowing down tears, "Not a single day... do I live without thinking of you."

"...I've missed you, too," Anne replied - and indeed, leaving their closest friend in the dark of their inevitable parting due to Anne's family circumstances was the one thing that kept digging into their conscience, something they wished to rectify yet was unable to, until now.

For a moment, it was as if the world only consisted of them - until Hajun broke the silence.

"Anne, who is this?"

Hajun asked as he tilted his head to the side, peering into the young man who seems to be someone rather close to Anne, considering the latter's welcoming response to the abrupt physical touch.

Anne's friend jolted in surprise and immediately pulled away from Anne.

"I-I..."

Anne blinked a few times seeing their childhood friend's timid response - and then started chuckling, "You didn't change at all, did you?" they teased, "Still the same timid crybaby you were?"

"You're so mean..." the young man pouted - before, Anne was too preoccupied with the fact that he was right in front of them, but now that they got a good, long look, somethings did change.

The young man had grown in height, now taller than Anne, with lower voice, and sharper eyes - the description beautiful prince fits him like a glove. Yet, when he spoke, he didn't betray Anne's memory of him: he was still a spoiled crybaby from their childhood.

"Uh... you're Anne's friend?" Allen asked.

"Oh, let me introduce you guys~!" Anne said cheerfully, as they introduced Hajun and Allen to their childhood friend.

✱✱✱

After their introductions, Hajun and Allen excused themselves to go home first, leaving the two to talk with each other. After all, they knew of Anne's situation, and judging from Anne's expressions earlier, there must be something more between them that Hajun and Allen didn't know - after all, Anne had never spoken of this childhood friend at all in front of them, despite their eyes showing clear fondness of him. There must be a lot they needed to catch up with and sort out.

"I'll be back by dinner, so make sure you cook yummy stuff, okay, Hajun!" Anne said as they waved good bye to the two.

"Of course," Hajun replied, and both he and Allen left the scene.

Brief moments of silence ensued between Anne and the young man, before Anne clapped their hands once and said, "Okay! Let's go sit down somewhere to talk!"

The young man seemed surprised at the change of mood for a bit, but then he smiled and nodded.

✱✱✱

"...So, what brings you to Japan?"

Anne finally asked after taking a sip of their milk tea. The two of them ended up sitting down in a nearby, almost empty café to continue their talk.

The young man looked down into his own cup of earl grey tea before replying, "Scholarship," he said, "But... it would be a lie if I said that's the only reason."

"...And the other reason is?"

Anne knew what it is. They didn't even need to ask - it was as natural as it comes for them to know. Yet, despite the dread and guilt and everything else surging in their heart, they couldn't help but to inquire, wishing to hear it directly from those lips.

"..." The young man looked at Anne in the eye, before deciding on a short answer, "...You."

Anne waited for him to continue with bated breath.

"I was... looking for you," he said, "I've never once stopped."

"..."

"Japan was the only lead I had on your whereabouts - but I was young, and didn't have the means to search. After I graduated from high school, I worked hard to get a scholarship in Japan," he explained with a somewhat nostalgic smile, "Though I was busy with settling in and learning the language, so it took me a long time before I could dedicate time to search for you."

The young man then stopped for a while before continuing, "...Anne Faulkner."

Anne looked at him in surprise.

"...What a beautiful name," he said with a soft smile, "It fits you."

"...!"

✱✱✱

Anne Faulkner was the epitome of self-confidence. Living unbound by any conventions, breaking the set standards of society, always true to themselves in every way, shape, and form. They weren't always like that, though - it was through many, many sacrifices and internal conflict that they were able to evolve into who they are now; someone who took pride in their own unique identity.

Even then, when faced with a piece of their past, they were still... terrified.

Anne's childhood friend was someone who knew them well. He knew of Anne's young life, past friends, family... mother. He knew of things Anne never even mentioned to both Hajun and Allen. He was, and still is, an important person to Anne, despite not being in contact for years.

And that was exactly why Anne's terrified of his reaction to their change.

Of course, Anne knew that they didn't need anyone's acceptance to live as they want to - alas, it is but human nature to fear rejection from their cherished person.

Therefore, when Anne heard their name rolling out of the young man's lips, with such a soft, kind voice brimming with warmth, it felt as if the murky waves in their heart was cleansed, the dark mist dispelled.

"...ーー," Anne called their childhood friend's nickname, "I..."

Yet, human emotions are so complex.

For one second Anne was relieved, and the next guilt started eating away at their conscience: for leaving without saying anything, for not contacting him... and for letting him spend years looking for them.

"I'm..."

Before Anne could continue, however, the young man reached his index finger to their lips, telling them to not continue.

"It's okay," he said, "I know you've been through a lot. You don't have to feel guilty about me."

His voice was clear as day, smoothly entering Anne's ears, leaving a trail of warm echo.

"I'm happy just being able to meet you again," he continued, "And seeing you so free."

For the umpteenth time today, surprise overtook Anne. They then let out a weak laugh, and decided to convey the one thing they felt they need to convey: "...Thanks."

"My pleasure... Anne."

And now with all that done and over with, Anne regained their composure and  showed their usual cheeky, devilish smile, "But there's just one~ single~ thing~ I want to clarify," they said.

The young man blinked in surprise, "Which is...?"

"Are you sure just meeting me is enough?" They asked, propping their head on one arm, tilting their head cutely.

The young man's face reddened.

Anne moved their free hand to the young man's on the table, prompting the other's face to turn an even deeper shade of red.

"Hmm?" Anne asked in a teasing voice.

After tightly closing his eyes for a second, the young man finally responded. He turned his hand up and squeezed Anne's in return, "...No," he said, "Not enough at all..."

The young man's face was red as a cherry, his eyes teary, embarrassed yet determined.

Anne's eyes widened in surprise. It took them everything not to squeal "How adorable!!" right then and then, if only not to make the young man sulk. Even if their childhood friend is now a tall, princely handsome guy, somethings truly don't ever change... including how fun it is to tease him.

But of course, the fact that Anne's heart skipped a bit with that hand squeeze and straightforward answer, is a secret for them to keep.