chapter 5.

Keiko sat inside the bathroom, leaned against the wall. She was hiding from Rai. She knew after concerts, the singers would come out and sign autographs. If by any chance Keita saw her...-- She glanced at her watch. 'Hmm... they'd be done by now.. maybe I should check.' she thought to herself. She opened the bathroom door and took a deep breath, with her eyes closed. She cautiously stepped out into the hallway and saw Rai leaning on the wall, waiting for her. "They're gone, let's go home." A little less tense, she started walking to the parking lot. Rai suddenly asked her to see her earring. Keiko didn't really want to take it off, scared of losing it, but took it off anyways. Rai studied the silver loop, when he dropped it. "Sorry," she heard someone say as she bent down to pick it up. It wasn't Rai's voice. This was definitely...-- "I'm sorry Keiko.." She hid the earring in her hand and stood up to see a dark colored t-shirt. She kept staring at the t-shirt and inhaled as she felt some tears coming on. She wouldn't cry, not in front of him. She wouldn't let him see she was weak without him, sad without him, helpless without him. She closed her eyes when the first tear fell. Now he would know. he shouldn't he can't. She turned and started to walk away but someone stopped her. She looked at the hand that closed around her wrist. "Keiko, i'm sorry." She was gently pulled into her first love's arms. Keita wrapped his arms around her back and felt wetness on his t-shirt where Keiko's face rested. He lifted her face wet with tears and stared into her brown eyes, just as he had done a million times before. She broke the trance and refused to make eye contact with him. "If... you didn't want me.. you could've just... told me..." Keiko managed to get out. "Keiko, that wasn't what I -" "I can't... at least not... with you." Keiko looked at his face one last time before she continued. "Leaving when you want to.. and returning... when you want to.. You're just starting your future... I'm gonna mean nothing to you... in a few months. I already gave you my heart..... I gave it to you... last year. Take yours back.... Get another girl.... one you... want.." She opened her hand and revealed the shiny earring Keita had given her. "Keiko, there is no girl I want but you." Keita said, with pleading eyes. "Please Keiko, don't do this.." Keiko placed the earring in his hand and walked away from him 'Keita Tachibana, I'll always love you.'

Keita watched his one and only partner, his girl walk away from him. He hated himself for this. He would never forgive himself for what he had done to her. not unless things would go back to the ways they were one yr ago. He ran after her, turned her around, and hugged her tight. Before she could say or do anything, he spoke. "Keiko Akimoto, you can't leave me. You can't because I lov-" He felt a hand on his shoulder, and the next thing he knew, his jaw hurt like crazy. He heard someone yell at him, "Tachibana, you don't know what love is. Thinking only of that person for the past 4 years.. Watching out for them while they went out with another guy.. Keeping a smile on for that person even when you fee like--" He then heard a loud slap. "Why are you making it so much harder for me?" a wobbly voice said. He could hear Keiko run away from them. Even though his jaw hurt, he said "Keiko.. don't... go.."