3 Getting an Inheritance 1 (1/2)

Mao Lu entered his apartment the same way he'd left that morning, like a zombie. He crawled into his bed, curling into a ball, and fell unconscious straight away. He wasn't working until the following afternoon so that meant he had a lot of time to catch up on lost sleep.

Or at least that's what he thought until..

\”Knock, Knock, Knock\” someone came knocking at 23:15.

At first Mao Lu tried to ignore it, surely they'd think he wasn't in and kindly just leave! But 10 minutes later they were still knocking and louder than ever.

Mao Lu flung open the door, he just wanted to sleep more and enjoy his free time, he glared with bloodshot eyes at the short and cute man on the other side.

\”What do you want Tanaka!?\”

Tanaka Kato[1] was Mao Lu's friend and colleague from his part time job as a waiter at Cafe E'clair. Tanaka was an international student from Japan whose Chinese was excellent. He studied modern languages at Tsing Hao University. He and Mao Lu had become instant friends when they met 2 years ago during a shift, that friendship only thickening when they both found out the other was gay.

Their interactions consisted of sending each other memes, spamming, swearing (basically quality banter) and drinking. They had each others backs like true brothers.

At the moment Tanaka was standing in Mao Lu's doorway holding two beer bottles.

\”Do you not remember messaging me?\” Tanaka irritably replied, holding out his phone.

On the screen the wechat app was on display and there could be seen a message sent by Mao at 10pm saying. \”Bing Bing and Detong are getting married.\”

\”The moment I saw that I knew you needed to talk so I came over as soon as I finished work. Even Bei Lao[2] came.\” Tanaka pointed behind himself. Only then did Mao Lu notice Tanaka's boyfriend, Bei Lao, lurking awkwardly in the doorway.

\”Are you okay?\” Bei Lao inquired, just like Tanaka he was concerned for Mao Lu.

Bei Lao was an office worker so he had that standard office hairstyle. Even though he was quite tall his back was bit hunched, probably from spending hours stooped over a computer, so he appeared a lot shorter. He wore glasses, was slightly on the older side, and appeared cold and stoic. But in reality Bei Lao was very friendly, timid and quite sensitive.

\”Yh, you're not planning to kill yourself or something are you?\” Tanaka added warily whilst scanning Mao Lu's messy apartment.

Other than the unwashed dishes piled in the sink and various dumped articles on the floor it didn't look like he'd gone out of his way to buy any charcoal grills[3], and there were no knives lying around.

Mao was offended. \”What do you take me for!!! I wouldn't kill myself over this. It doesn't even bother me.\”

\”It doesn't.\” Tanaka and Bei Lao said in unison, with equally disbelieving and doubtful tones.

\”...\”

\”About time you let us in.\” Tanaka harrumphed, strolling into the small flat like he owned the place, Bei Lao following closely behind in a more reserved manner.

Tanaka kicked some clothes away and sat down and opened a beer. Whilst Bei Lao began picking up the clothes and folding them.

\”You don't have to do that.\” Mao Lu quickly said, as he began picking up the clothes and scattered magazines himself, cleaning his apartment.

\”No let me help.\” Bei Lao stubbornly demanded, not stopping and instead moving to the sink and washing the dishes.

As the two cleaned Tanaka just lazily sat cross legged on the floor whilst drinking his beer, clearly having no intention to join in.

Any stereotypes you would originally have about the Japanese being very polite, timid and clean are entirely broken once you meet Tanaka. He was loud, bold, impolite, and messy. Even though he looked cute and small like one of those bishounen boys in anime, Tanaka often told tales of his previous Yankee days back in High school. If Mao was a teacher he would have dreaded having Tanaka Kato in his class.

\”All done.\” Bei Lao smiled, the apartment had gone through a complete transformation. From its earlier doom and gloom it was now clear, clean, and ordered.

\”Awesome you guys did a great job.\” Tanaka clapped. Bei Lao and Mao Lu both glared at him, they didn't want to hear praise from the guy that didn't help.

…

Soon they were all sitting on the floor drinking.

\”So you're sure you're okay.\” Bei Lao asked again.

\”Like I told you I already prepared myself. I'd been ready for this since they started dating 6 years ago. They've always been a beautiful couple that were madly in love with each other and looked great together. Even though Detong can be a fool and a complete arse most of the time, he still cares for Bing Bing deeply. That's the reason why they've lasted so long. A marriage was going to be on the horizon eventually. Marriage won't change the way things have been between all of us.\”