Chapter 106 - Vol. 4: Mason To Haru - 106

Mason

From where he stood at the window of the drawing room, Mason found the view of the garden enchanting, what with the endless green lawn and the surrounding cherry blossom and magnolia trees in full bloom, showcasing clouds of pinks in the air. It was picture-perfect, and even more so when he saw Haru in the middle of it all. Even in casual wear of a sweater and a pair of jeans, the boy looked enticing. But damn, he couldn’t take his eyes off the boy when petals of cherry blossoms started raining down on him and he raised his hands in the air to catch them. That bright smile, too, was contagious.

“Oh, wow! Now that’s a beautiful picture.”

Mason turned to see Sakura standing beside him. He noted her gaze was on Haru, too.

“Yeah,” he said, taking a sip of his sparkling wine.

Sakura said, “I wish I had my camera with me right now.” She chuckled. “Gosh, that makes me sound like a stalker, doesn’t it?” Turning to him, she continued. “Which I’m not, by the way.” She laughed.

“I know,” Mason said. “You’re just being a photographer, wanting to take a picture when you see the perfect scene.”

“Yep, that’s right,” she said. “Seeing that only confirms I’m making the right choice.”

Mason raised a brow. “Right choice? Asking Haru to be your model?”

“That and the kimonos.” She gasped, her face flushing crimson. She leaned in close and put a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell anyone this, but I’m going to make Haru and Isaac wear female kimonos for my paintings. They’re going to look so beautiful.” She gushed. “I can already see them in my mind, the long hair, the beautiful makeup, the colorful kimonos, and them under the cherry blossom trees.”

Mason was mesmerized by the picture she was painting, and damn, but he couldn’t wait to see that in reality.

“Sounds beautiful,” he said.

She nodded furiously. “Right?”

Elizabeth appeared on the other side of Mason then and she asked, “What are you two talking about?”

“Just how beautiful the cherry blossom is at this time of the year,” Sakura said.

Elizabeth turned to look out the window, too, and when she saw Haru in the distance, a frown appeared on her face.

“I better go and help get the food ready,” Sakura said and then left.

Folding her arms across her chest, Elizabeth said, “The boy who managed to capture all his stepbrothers’ hearts. Hmm... I wonder what makes him so special.”

Mason turned to her and said, his eyes narrowed, “What are you going on about?”

She shrugged. “From what I’ve seen so far, that boy only has eyes for Aiden and Noah. Nobody else matters. You should stop torturing yourself, Mason.”

“Elizabeth, stop it,” Mason said lowly. “Don’t interfere with my life and don’t do anything to hurt Haru. You coming along is already troublesome enough.”

Face red, Elizabeth glared at him. “I’m only trying to help.”

“Well, you’re not,” he said as he turned on his heel and then slipped out of the room. Moments later, he headed out of the mansion. He hadn’t a clue where the heck he was going, and frankly, he didn’t care. Just as long as he could be alone for a while, that was all that mattered.

Across the distance from the mansion, he came to a pond and found himself standing in the middle of the bridge, staring down at the goldfish swimming below.

He raked his fingers through his hair, Elizabeth’s words still echoing in his mind.

Haru only has eyes for Aiden and Noah, eh? That statement hit the nail on the head, and Mason found that the truth hurt. But of course, he also knew that if he didn’t clearly make his feelings known to Haru, how could the boy be looking his way?

“Mason!” a voice called out.

Mason lifted his head to see Isaac waving at him as the boy came running. Once he was on the bridge, too, he came to stand beside the brother.

“You looking for me?” Mason asked.

Isaac shook his head. “Nah...” His eyes were wide as he gazed at the pond filled with goldfish. “Wow! There are so many of them.”

“Mm-hmm...” Mason responded.

They both were quiet for a moment, and then Isaac said, “Mason, if you need help, just ask. I know it’s tough getting Haru to notice you.” He rolled his eyes. “And that Elizabeth is driving me crazy. She is not helping the situation at all.”

“You noticed, huh?” Mason asked, chuckling.

The boy grinned, showing his white teeth. “Even though I am an airhead, I do notice things that go on around me, too, you know.”

Mason ruffled the boy’s hair. “Thanks. I’ll take a rain check on that then.”

Isaac gave him a thumbs-up. “No problem.”

A few moments later, they returned to join the others, and as they came to the back garden, everyone piled out of the house as well, and hence, lunch began.

Naturally, the barbeque party was a success. Not only was everyone having fun and enjoying themselves, but Mason found that Mr. James Princeton had agreed to become Aiden’s mentor, too, which pleased the brothers mightily. Contact information was exchanged between the parties, and Isaac managed to sneak his in as well. Mason had to chuckle. That boy had no shame.

Speaking of boy… Mason looked around for Haru, since he had disappeared off into the house for a while now.

Mason had wanted to go after him, just so he could get a little alone time with the boy, but Elizabeth had kept him busy, chatting nonstop and wrapping her arm around his despite him telling her not to interfere with his life earlier. The girl was persistent, wasn’t she? Mason knew he’d have to make it clear for her once they got back to New York.

He thought about going after Haru again a while later, since he had the opportunity, what with Elizabeth’s attention being drawn away by Sakura. He was just getting up from his seat when he saw Haru emerging from the house, Noah with him, and they were holding hands.

So Haru had been with Noah all along?

Fuck, but finding time when Haru was alone was damn impossible. Well, at least the thought of having the boy to himself this afternoon put him in a better mood.

A while later, Mason found himself, his brothers, and their friends leaving Princeton Mansion, after thanking the family profusely for the lunch.

Once again, Lucas and Carter were more than a little drunk, and Mason had to admit he was getting a bit worried for their livers. Lucas was hanging on to him, the man’s arm over his shoulders and his head bent.

“Hang in there. We’re nearly at the cottage,” he said.

Behind them, Elizabeth said as she shook her head, “You guys drink too much.”

Connor chuckled. “Students are like that, aren’t they? The moment they reach drinking age, they go all out.”

Isaac asked, “That means you’re like that, too, Connor? You must have gotten drunk most weekends back in your university days.”

Noah said, “Connor was a responsible drinker.”

Connor wrapped his arm around Isaac and said, “I’m worried about you. You don’t look like you can handle alcohol or peer pressure.”

Isaac snorted. “I can manage fine, thank you very much. Besides, me and the gang decided to be responsible drinkers when we came of age.”

Matt nodded. “Yep, definitely. We won’t be like those two.” He looked at Lucas and Carter.

Mason said, “These two are a pair of idiots.”

When they reached the cottage, Mason rested Lucas onto the sofa. Carter collapsed himself onto the opposite one.

Elizabeth asked, “You two want some water?”

Only groans of despair came her way, and she shook her head in exasperation.

Isaac said, “All right, two drunken idiots are out for this afternoon’s session. Anyone opting out from going on that walk along the St. Joseph Island Devil Track?”

“I’m in,” Matt said.

“Me, too,” Jason said. “Need to work off that big lunch.”

“I’m in,” Elizabeth said. “You, Jess?”

Jess nodded. “I’m definitely in. I heard there are observation decks at the halfway point and at the top of Mount St. Joseph, and they have great views of the whole island.”

Mason shifted his gaze to Haru, hoping the boy would declare loudly that he won’t be joining them because he had a pre-planned appointment with Mason. He was sorely disappointed, however, because Haru turned to ask Aiden, “What do you want to do?”

Aiden nodded. “That walk sounds refreshing.”

Haru agreed with a bright smile. “Mm-hmm.”

Well, what did he expect? They were in a relationship, so of course Haru would ask Aiden for his opinion on what they should be doing. It wasn’t like Mason was Haru’s number one person and that appointment was important to the boy.

Leaving Carter and Lucas to suffer in their hangovers, everyone headed out half an hour later, donning comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes.

Once again, Elizabeth was by Mason’s side and hooked her arm with his as they strolled along the St. Joseph Island Devil Track, which was steep and meandering, as the name implied. Some parts were quite flat and the walk nicer than thought. Ahead of them were Haru, Aiden, and Noah. Aiden and Haru were obviously holding hands, and when Noah wrapped his arms around Haru’s shoulders and planted a kiss on the boy’s forehead, Mason got more than a little irritated.

Elizabeth said, “Aiden and Noah really love Haru, don’t they?”

“Yeah,” Mason said.

Why couldn’t he join in? he wondered. Just why?

They reached the halfway point an hour and a half later, and everyone headed over to the observation deck to check out the view.

“I can see South Hampton from here,” Jess said, pointing toward the town below.

Everyone got out their smartphones and took photos of the scenery. A moment later, Isaac said, “All right, gang, let’s do some selfies.” He and his friends huddled close together and did funny faces as he took the selfies.

Mason, having taken a few photos of the scenery himself, put away his phone and turned his gaze to Haru, hoping the boy would give him hints as to when they could head out together. No such luck, however, as Haru was always on either Aiden’s or Noah’s sides, ignoring him completely, which was beginning to rile him up.

Had Haru forgotten about their appointment? No, that couldn’t be it because it had only been this morning when he had asked.

“All right, time for group photos,” Isaac said loudly, which drew Mason’s attention.

Matt asked, “Who’s going to take the photo? Everyone needs to be in.”

Elizabeth put up her hand. “I’ll take the photo. I don’t need to be in.”

Isaac jumped at the offer. “Awesome! Thanks, Elizabeth.” He gave the girl his smartphone and then ushered everyone in. “Right, come on. We don’t have all day.”

Mason, along with Aiden, Noah, Connor, and Reo, moved to stand at the back since they were tall. The others were at the front, and Isaac, standing slightly to Mason’s left, pulled Haru to stand beside him and then wrapped his arm around the boy’s shoulders.

With Haru standing right in front of him, so close to him, Mason had the urge to pull the boy into his arms. But of course, he held himself in check as he stood there while Elizabeth took the photos.

“A few more,” she said as she moved in toward them, changing the composition of the shot. “Shuffle in closer, everyone. Need to fit everyone in the frame. Matt, you’re half-in, half-out.”

Matt waddled in as instructed, and as he did so, he accidentally collided against Jason, Jason in turn hit Isaac, and Isaac then slammed against Haru who fell back, which lead to a domino effect of the whole group. Within an instant, Haru was in Mason’s arms while Isaac was lolling on Connor and Jess sat on top of Reo. Aiden and Noah managed to escape unscathed since they had quick reflexes.

Isaac burst out laughing since he couldn’t help himself while Jess went bright red in the face.

Mason, having Haru in his arms, asked, “Haru, you okay?”

Haru, his face hot and red, nodded, his eyes anywhere else except on Mason. He said, “Yeah, I’m good.” He hastily got up and was about to walk away when Elizabeth’s voice came loud and clear.

“Let’s try again please.”

Isaac hastily pulled Haru back and made him stand in front of Mason again. Everyone repositioned themselves, and to fit the frame and avoiding another domino effect, Matt and Jason came to sit at the front row, doing a peace sign with their hands as they grinned widely.

“Done!” Elizabeth said. “Great photos, guys.”

“Yeah! Awesome.” Isaac rushed over to Elizabeth to check the photos in case they needed to redo.

“So, are we continuing up or going back down?” Reo asked.

“I’m going back down,” Haru said.

Mason thought this was it, that sign, and was about to voice his choice, too, when Noah wrapped his arm around Haru and said, “Me, too. Aiden, you’re coming, too, right?”

Aiden nodded. “Yeah.”

Fuck!

Elizabeth came to hook her arm with Mason’s and said, “Let’s continue up. I’m keen to see what the view is like at the top.”

Mason felt like his calm exterior was about to crumble, but once again, he kept himself in check.

Tomorrow, he told himself. There was still tomorrow when he could get Haru to himself and confess his feelings for the boy.