It has been yet another intense day for one Sugawara Koushi. Ever since he started as a part-time proofreader, he got himself stuck in a rather ruined sleep cycle. His work requires great attention to details for a long period of time, especially when the regular weekly quota is doubled. This would sometimes require him to stay overnight in the office working on the documents, leaving the building all groggy and ready for his bed in the mornings. Today is one of those days.
It’s probably bad for his health since he really isn’t sleeping on time and he cannot always cook and eat healthy, unprocessed food, but the pay is really good. And once he met the weekly quota, he’s free to take days off and come back when there’s a fresh batch to be proofread. He also isn’t required to come and leave the office at a certain fixed schedule. Out of all his freelance works so far, this job is undoubtedly the best.
Sure, commuting by train would save him a whole lot of money, but he really doesn’t think he has the energy for all the walks and stairs he’ll be taking after the grueling work he has done at the office. He much prefers booking on Uber for transportation every day. Yes, his salary can afford it. His current job really pays a lot. And so, as another overnight has been rendered at the office today, Suga taps on his smartphone, booking for his Uber ride home. It did not take long for the app to find him a driver despite the peak hour. The fare is pretty skyrocketing, though.
Normally, he loves drivers who are nice and make friendly small talk. He himself is not much of a talker so he prefers and loves being the audience instead. He particularly likes drivers with a good sense of humor. And his driver today is exactly just like that.
The travel time from the office to his house usually takes about thirty minutes on light traffic. But since he clocked out during morning rush hour, and with the given constant amount of cars in this particular part of Miyagi, the navigation app estimates reaching destination time in one and a half hour.
Sawamura-san, his driver for today, told him a lot of stories and jokes, keeping him well entertained throughout the ride. He was even kind enough to let him roll the window down on the passenger seat where he is seated. Koushi gets car sick sometimes so he tends to seat beside the driver, a tip he once received from his former editor when he was still working in a magazine, which was his first job, after one of his puking episodes. Fifteen minutes before reaching home, Sawamura-san proudly bragged about his beloved son.
“How old are you again?” Sawamura-san asked.
“I’m turning twenty-two this year, Sir,” Suga politely replied.
“Oh, really? Then you’re about the same age as my son, then!” the driver gleefully announced.
“Yeah. Maybe that’s why I’m comfortable talking with you.”
Suga answered with a smile, followed by a beat of silence.
“So, you have a girlfriend?” Sawamura-san asked again. Suga was about to reply when the driver continued, “Or a boyfriend, maybe? I don’t want to discriminate here, son. You have one?”
Koushi was speechless for a moment. ‘Am I really gonna come out to my Uber driver?’ was what he was thinking, or at least something along those lines. Even his parents doesn’t know yet. The only people who knows of his orientation are his roommates, who are also gay all the way, by the way.
“My son, he also likes guys, so I understand.”
‘Oh… okay.’ Suga nodded to himself in understanding.
“Have a girlfriend? Boyfriend?”
“Oh! Haha. Sorry. I, um, don’t have one.”
“Boyfriend or girlfriend?”
“And are you looking for one right now?”
There was really nothing more Suga could offer as a reply to that, other than a blush and a strained smile.
“Don’t worry, I’m not hitting on you. You just seem like a really nice person. I think you and my son would suit each other,” Sawamura-san reassured with a chuckle.
“I’m not really looking for one right now. I think being financially stable is my only concern right now, Sawamura-san,” he decided to reply. The driver was, after all, a nice companion. It wouldn’t hurt to keep the conversation going. Besides, there’s now only ten minutes left until their destination.
“Wow! You’re still so young yet you are already thinking about things like that. You really do suit my son after all,” Sawamura-san commented. “You know, he’s only your age and he’s already making a living on his own, just like you. In fact, he bought this car for me.”
“Oooh,” ‘then he’s not that much like me, then.’ was what Koushi was thinking. ‘He’s more well-off.’ “That’s really kind of him. I admire guys like that.”
“Yeah. That’s why I’m so proud of Dai-chan,” the driver said, before a moment of silence passed. He must have noticed after a while that they are quickly approaching their destination because he asked his passenger once again.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to set you two up? I really think you guys would hit it off, you know.”
“Ummm…” Koushi hesitated. He really isn’t looking for a romantic partner right now. But he feels bad turning down this really kind driver Uber sent him today. He figured it wouldn’t hurt to humor Sawamura-san. “…Okay. Sure! Haha.”
“Really? Oh-wait, we’re almost there. Where should I drop you off?”
“Just in that corner is fine. In front of the convenience store,” Suga instructed as he rummaged his bag for the fare.
“Thank you Sawamura-san!” he said as he gave the bills and promptly opened the car door, squeezing a “Take care!” before closing it and dashing to his apartment.
Too sleepy to do anything, he flopped down on his bed without even showering or changing his clothes, taking a mental note to rate Sawamura-san five stars later when he wakes up.
A/N: This is cross posted in my account in fanfiction.net under the same title by author “silverstargazer” so you can bookmark it there if you ever want to read the continuation when I update the story.
