Noire Comme la Forêt (Tous Les Limiers de l'Enfer, Tome 1)

“You know I love you,” she pouted, and looked at the man in front of her with loving eyes as she stroked his cheek.

“I don’t know anymore. You’ve been with him for so long you must have fallen in love with him.”

“Ha! Is that a joke?” She rolled her eyes at him. “I never loved that brat. You do not know how much self-control I needed to not slap his face when he’s being childish.” He pulled her waist closer to him and kissed her mouth. In response, she wrapped her arms around his neck, stroking his hair while her tongue wrapped around his.

“I am jealous. You know I want the world to know you’re mine.” He said between kisses as he nibbled his way to her neck. He nuzzled her neck and inhaled her fragrance.

“No marks, baby,” she reminded him, as she tilted her head back to give him more access.

“Dump the brat, already”. His hand found her breast and gave it a not-so- gentle squeeze. She let out a soft moan. Encouraged, he nibbled on her ear while his hand found its way inside her clothes.

“I will, Babe. Give me some time, OK?” she deftly opened the top button of his shirt. “I need him to make me the lead star to this big drama which will cement my career then I’ll leave him.” She completed unbuttoning his shirt at the same time as she finished her sentence. “Then we can let the entire world know about us.” She licked his chest wantonly, which drove him crazy.

“You know I can make you famous too.” The gasps he made as her tongue trailed his body can not conceal his jealousy.

“I know, but I don’t want to hurt your career, baby.” She tiptoed to cover his mouth with hers, wiping off his jealous retorts. They filled the dressing room with their suppressed moans.

Outside the dressing room stood Ryo Matsuda. His hands tightened on the bouquet of roses he was holding, uncaring if he ruined them. He had just finished a variety show guesting. Since the studio was quite close to her shoot’s location, he wanted to surprise her. The irony of it all. It turned out that she was the one who had a surprise for him.

The smile that he wore as he approached the dressing room vanished, and his expression turned darker. He heard every word she said crystal clear. Her ridicule did not escape him, too.

He did not need to guess who was with her in the room. He knew that it’s from Yuki Yamada, a former member of a male group and a rising matinee star. Some say that Yuki’s looks are second only to his.

With a thud, the roses he held bounced from the dressing room’s door and landed on the floor mangled. He no longer bothered if the two people inside heard the thud on the door. He also did not want to waste his energy on a confrontation. There was no reason to fight, because nothing was worth fighting for to begin with. He turned around and left the set, ignoring everyone he met.

He drove aimlessly around to vent out his anger. When either side of the road was no longer lined with buildings, he lowered his windows and let the wind dry the tears he did not bother to wipe from his face. He stopped by the edge of a cliff which faced the ocean.

Why did this happen to him? Why did he always end up wasting his time, his energy, and his emotions on people who do not know how to cherish him? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. He sneered as he recalled other previous relationships that ended up the same way.

“What is wrong with me? Sure, I can be childish and arrogant, but I’m loyal and honest. I gave them all the love I have. Why did they always end up betraying me?” He asked himself as he recalled his previous relationships.

His first love used him to get closer to his best friend. Another one saw him as a living ATM, then this last one who wanted his influence in the industry.

“Why am I so dumb”.

For an unknown period, he sat in his car. One of his arms dangled from the open window. He inwardly punished himself by recalling the dialogue he heard earlier. He stared at the ocean before him and listened to the angry waves that hit the rock boulders below. After a while, he got out of the car and dangerously walked towards the end of the cliff.

“Ahhhhhh!” he screamed his lungs out. He wanted the world to know how furious he was. His chest puffed as he inhaled more air to scream some more.

“I am done with love!” he screamed to the ocean as if it had offended him.

“F*ck love!” salty tears run down his cheeks.

He forgot how many times he had screamed his head off. Tired, he plopped himself in the dirt as he stared at the ocean before him.

“I will never love again.”