Drive me Wild, Rival(BL)

Alaric

The gravel crunched beneath the heavy tires of the maybach as I finally guided the SUV down a narrow, hidden driveway flanked by towering bamboo stalks. The mountain fog was so thick it felt like driving through a wet blanket, but the glowing paper lanterns hanging from the eaves of the cabin ahead offered a dim welcoming sign for us.

It wasn’t a standard modern Airnb; it was a beautifully preserved, traditional wooden ’kominka’ with a thatched roof, blending seamlessly into the dark forest of Totsukawa.

The heavy wooden front door slid open before we even managed to kill the engine. When we stepped onto the polished wooden genkan, shaking the mountain dampness from our clothes, we were ushered in by a striking woman with vibrant, dark red hair tied back in a loose bun. She wore an elegant, modern dark kimono carded over simple trousers, her posture radiating an easy hospitality.

​"Irasshaimase (Welcome)," she greeted us, bowing low with a warm, genuine smile. "Welcome to Totsukawa. My name is Kazue. I manage the property for the owners."

​To my absolute surprise, she didn’t speak a single word of English after that. Instead, she immediately pivoted to a rapid, fluid stream of Japanese, her eyes shifting over our small trio.

’’I speak japanese,’’ Nico said as he stepped forward, his posture shifting into something incredibly polite and polished as he responded in the exact same language, his accent sounding flawless and entirely natural.

I stood there stiffly, my fingers still slightly cramped from gripping the steering wheel for five grueling hours, listening to the melodic cadence of their conversation without understanding a single syllable.

​Kazue nodded along as Nico spoke, her expressive eyes darting from him, to Sophia, and finally settling directly on me. She gestured toward the interior hallway with a polite wave of her hand and held up two fingers, explaining the layout.

​"Heya wa futatsu shika aite imasen (There are only two rooms available)," Kazue said softly, her tone carrying a hint of apology. She held up one hand to emphasize her next point. "Oki na kingu saizu no beddo ga hitotsu to, shinguru beddo ga hitotsu desu (There is one large king-sized bed, and one single bed)."

​I caught the words beddo and shinguru, my brow furrowing slightly as I tried to piece the puzzle together. Desperate to understand the situation directly, I looked at Kazue, bowed slightly, and mumbled the only polite phrase I knew. "Sumimasen... (Excuse me...) Which room is ours?" I asked, hoping my tone would convey the question.

​Kazue tilted her head, her gaze drifting between Nico and me before she looked at Sophia, a curious glimmer in her eyes. "Kanojo wa dochira ka no koi-bito desu ka? (Is she a girlfriend to either of you?)" she inquired.

​Nico let out a low, melodic chuckle, the sound vibrating through the quiet entryway. He didn’t hesitate for a single second. He leaned his weight sideways, casually dropping his arm over my shoulders and drawing my stiff body tightly against his side. He looked directly at Kazue, a brilliant, thoroughly mischievous grin spreading across his lips.

​"Iie, kanojo wa tada no tomodachi desu (No, she is just a friend)," Nico replied smoothly, his voice dripping with an insufferable level of charm. He tightened his grip on my shoulder, his fingers digging into my jacket as he gestured toward my face. "Kochi ga boku no koi-bito ni natta bakari nan desu. Ararikku to iimasu (This one just became my boyfriend. His name is Alaric)."

​Kazue’s eyes widened in delightful surprise, and she immediately let out a bright, melodic laugh that echoed through the wooden hallway. "Maa! Sou nan desu ne. Omedetou gozaimasu! (Oh! Is that so? Congratulations!)" She clapped her hands together lightly, looking at the two of us with an expression of pure, grandmotherly approval. "Sore nara rakkii desu ne. Ano heya no ura ni wa rotenburo ga arimasu kara. Tsukareta karada ni wa saikou no onsen desu yo. Yukkuri tsukatte kudasai (Lucky for you then. There is an open-air hot spring bath at the back of that room. It’s the best kind of hot spring for a tired body. Please take your time and soak)."

​I stood frozen under the weight of Nico’s arm, my jaw tightening as the two of them carried on. I understood Japanese a little but couldn’t speak and I could feel the heat rising up my neck, not just from the sudden mention of my name, but from the absolute certainty that Nicholas was spinning a massive lie right in front of my face.

​"Why the hell are the two of you laughing?" I muttered under my breath, cutting my eyes sideways to glare at Nico’s profile.

My curiosity and irritation were growing by the second. "Nicholas, what exactly did she just say? And which rooms are available?"

​Nico didn’t answer me right away. Instead, he used his grip on my shoulder to pull me even closer, completely anchoring my hip against his. He looked down at me, his brown eyes flashing with an unbothered, playful light. "You don’t need to worry about it, Ric. The short answer is... you are just completely stuck with me for the night."

​"Like hell I am," I snapped, trying to shrug his heavy arm off my shoulders, but he only tightened his hold, chuckling softly at my resistance. "I am not sharing a bed with you after driving your oversized tank through a mountain storm. Ask her if she has a couch, or a closet, or a traditional floor mat. Anything."

​Kazue watched our immediate, intense bickering, her smile widening into something incredibly fond. She leaned forward slightly, speaking to Nico in a conspiratorial whisper, though her eyes never left my thoroughly agitated face. "Futari wa hontou ni nakayoshi nan desu ne. Nihongo wa wakaranakute mo, aishiau sugata wa tsutawarimasu (You two really get along so well. Even if he doesn’t understand Japanese, the way you love each other comes through)."

​Nico’s grin somehow managed to grow even wider, a soft, dangerous light reflecting in his eyes as he looked down at me before responding to her. "Hai, hontou ni te ga kakaru koi-bito desu yo (Yes, he really is a high-maintenance boyfriend)."

​"Nicholas," I warned, my tone dropping an octave. "If you don’t tell me what she’s saying right now, I’m going to sleep in the Maybach."

​"She just said we look like we love each other very much," Nico lied flawlessly, his voice smooth and entirely unbothered by my threat. "And I told her that you’re a massive pain in the ass but I tolerate you anyway."

​Kazue chuckled one last time, bowing to terminate the conversation. "Dewa, oheya e annaishimasu (Well then, I will lead you to your rooms)."

​She turned on her heel, gesturing for us to follow her down the long, creaking wooden corridor. The cabin smelled beautifully of cedar wood, dried tatami mats, and the faint, sulfurous scent of natural hot springs. Kazue stopped at the first sliding rice-paper door, sliding it open to reveal a cozy, minimalist room containing a single traditional Japanese futon neatly laid out on the tatami floor.

​"Kochira ga kanojo no oheya desu (This is her room)," Kazue said, gesturing for Sophia to step inside.

​Sophia walked into the space, tossing her small overnight bag onto the floor. Before she slid the door shut, she turned back around to look at Nico and me, her eyes twinkling with that same insufferable, shipping energy she’d been carrying all afternoon. "Have a wonderful night, boys. Try not to keep the whole cabin awake with your... discussions."

​I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly gave myself a headache. "Goodnight, Sophia."

​Kazue smiled and continued leading Nico and me further down the corridor, past a set of heavy sliding doors, until we reached the very end of the private wing. She slid open the master door, revealing a sprawling, gorgeous suite. The floor was lined with flawless tatami mats, and in the center of the elevated platform sat a massive, luxurious king-sized low bed. The far wall consisted entirely of expansive glass windows, looking out into the pitch-black mountain night.

​"Yushoku wa hitsuyou desu ka? (Will meals be required?)" Kazue asked, turning back to face Nico.

​"Hai, onegai shimasu (Yes, please)," Nico replied instantly, bowing his head in gratitude.

​Wanting to show my own appreciation despite my lack of vocabulary, I stepped forward, gave a polite bow, and chimed in with a quiet, genuine voice. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Kazue-san (Thank you very much, Kazue)."

​Kazue beamed at my attempt, bowing deeply to us both. "Kashikomarimashita. Yukkuri oyasumi kudasai (Understood. Please have a good rest)," she said warmly, bowing one final time before stepping back into the hallway and sliding the heavy wooden door shut behind her, leaving the two of us in absolute, suffocating privacy.

​The silence in the room lasted for about half a second.

​The exact moment the latch clicked, the exhaustion and frustration boiled over. I turned on my heel, grabbed Nico by the front of his expensive jacket, and forcefully slammed his back against the nearest wooden wall.

The structural beams groaned slightly under the impact, but Nico didn’t even flinch. He just leaned his head back against the wood, his hands coming up to casually rest on my forearms, his lips curved into a smug, entirely self-satisfied smile.

​"What the hell do you want from me, Nicholas?" I demanded, my breath coming in short, irritated pants as I pinned him in place. My chest was pressed nearly flat against his, our proximity entirely too high. "Why are you going so far to get to me? What did you tell that woman out there? Boyfriend? Seriously?"