Yeah, can I say something? I suppose I shouldn't say this, but I will
anyway. Yes, I'm going to fix this. I mean, this is Rei and Midori's story,
right? And I'm not a sadistic girl to want to write about two people forever
fighting. Things will be OK evenutally... Here's a warning, though... READ
IT. But if you really, really, really, really, really wanna know what
hapens next and you don't want me to stop you, read on.
Eight
"You, my friend, are an idiot."
Rei, still in his school uniform, was lying face-down on his bed. Like all days the past month, he had gone and ruined it for himself. Everyday he would go to school, and everyday, he would see Midori. It always started with something innocent, like "Good morning, Yukibana" or "Hey, what's up?" But it was always answered with an angry, sarcastic remark.
He knew she hated him, and he knew what would happen if he spoke to her. But he couldn't help it. He WANTED to talk to her. Even if they never got into a decent conversation. Even if it meant she might Glare at him again, he was willing to take the risk. Because, perhaps...perhaps Midori would finally get fed up with their quarrelling and decide to talk to him. And this time, he would listen.
After all, their present condition was partly his fault. Why he lost control and told her all those things that afternoon, he never knew. It's not like all of those things were true. Some of them were, but...
"You, my friend, are an idiot."
His musings were interrupted by a knock on the door, and it opened, revealing his mother.
"Rei--" Miki started, then blinked. "Rei, are you all right?"
When he didn't answer, Miki went inside and sat on his bed. "Did something happen in school?"
Rei turned over and stared at the ceiling, instead. "Same old, Mom."
Miki sighed. "Honey, I'm glad you're really trying, but... maybe a different approach would be better."
Rei just shook his head. "She doesn't want to have anything to do with me, Mom." He grabbed a pillow and pushed it over his face and groaned. "I'm such an idiot!"
"Rei!" Miki exclaimed, quickly grabbing the pillow from him. "Rei..."
"Maybe I should just give up... I don't have time to do a different approach, anyways..."
"You have tonight," Miki suggested. "Or maybe tomorrow..."
"And ruin her graduation day? I don't think so, Mom. I'm not taking the risk this time."
"Then try tonight... if you're up to it, that is."
Rei fiddled with his fingers. "Maybe tomorrow night. After she's had a great day and stuff. I'm sure she'll want to celebrate that we won't have to be stuck in one classroom anymore..."
In spite of herself, Miki rolled her eyes as she stood up. "Well, I DO hope you fix things. I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing you put yourself down so much. Maybe I SHOULD put you and Tokiya in one room so your competetive spirit can be reawakened."
Rei's eyes widened. "Oh, no, Mom! Anything but THAT!!!"
Miki made a show of ignoring him. "I think Tokiya would like it very much. Won't you?"
Rei looked absolutely flabbergasted. "MOM! Of course he will, and of course I won't! That's--- He's Tokiya!"
"Meaning?"
"He's TO-KI-YA, Mom," he answered, emphasizing each syllable. "That in itself is a whole world of difference!"
"Well, I have to think of something to liven you up a bit..."
Rei shook his head. "No, thanks, I think I'm lively enough as I am."
Again, Miki ignored his comment. "If we can't have you and Tokiya..." Miki trailed off, and slowly smiled. "How about THIS, then?!"
Before Rei could blink, his mother grabbed part of his bedsheet and lunged at him, successfully turning him into a cocoon, then tickled him.
"MOOOM!!!" Rei pleaded amidst uncontrollable laughter, trying to break free, but he just got more tangled with the sheet. Miki stopped for a moment, and let Rei try to get his head out of the cocoon.
"Surrender." she said sternly, still holding the sheet tight around Rei.
"Never." Rei answered quickly with determination.
In an instant, Miki was tickling his most ticklish spot: the back of his neck.
"Submit to me and live!" she exclaimed as Rei struggled and laughed.
"I surrender, I surrender!"
Miki finally let go of the sheet, and Rei pulled it off of himself, breathing heavily.
"That's more like it," Miki said, messing Rei's hazelnut hair. She stood up and looked around the room. "So how's your packing?"
Rei looked around the room, too. There were three medium-sized boxes on the floor, the one labelled "SCHOOL" was already closed, while the one labelled "Rei's stuff" and an empty one were still opened. The ones to go in those boxes were sprawled on the floor, but the room was still generally clean.
"I should be done tonight."
~~~
Rei dismounted his bike bewilderedly. The guard light at the Yukibana residence hasn't been turned on. From what he remembered, Midori's mother never forgot to turn it on. Shrugging, he made his way to the gate and rang the doorbell.
On his way there, Rei had reviewed what he was going to say to Midori if she agreed to speak with him. But he didn't prepare a memorized speech. He figured he'd forget half of it, anyways.
Earlier that day at graduation, he had seen Midori excitedly chatting with her friends. It seemed unfair to him that she looked positively happy with her life while his conscience was eating him alive. But she was happy, and that made it all right. So he had kept his distance. When the graduation ceremonies ended, he had a nagging feeling that he should talk to her already, but he lost her in the crowd of students, parents and teachers.
Well, I DID plan to talk to her tonight, he thought.
So now here he was, still standing outside their gate. He rang the doorbell again. After a few seconds, he frowned. Still no answer.
"Hmmm...."
He reached over the gate and pulled on the bar. He realized that, after a whole month of walking on that pathway everyday, and four months of not going within 50 meters of it, he felt odd. He missed the place, and everything that went with it.
"I'll dance with you, though..."
"You didn't have to take me home, you know."
"Sometimes I can't believe someone as nice as you could be friends with Takashi."
"What's that smile for?! SPILL!"
"MATTAKU, YOKAZE!!!"
Everything. The time he awkwardly asked her to the dance, the times he walked with her home...
"I'm sorry, Rei-kun, but...she won't come out of her room..."
Even the time when she won't see him.
He sighed, then knocked on the familiar wooden door. He was leaning on that door when he got the closest look at her emerald eyes.
Rei knocked again.
No answer.
"Yukibana-san?" he called, knocking again. "Hello?"
Finally, the door opened slightly, and a girl of about 18 peeked through the crack.
And she was a total stranger to Rei.
"Um...."
The girl blinked, "Yes?"
"Uh...hi...Is Midori in?"
"Oh, no, she's not, I'm sorry."
"Um, I'm Midori's classmate at Hanabishi," he said, smiling politely. "Are you her older sister?"
The girl laughed. "No, I'm not. As far as I know, Midori doesn't have a sister. I'm just a family friend."
"I see. Well, how about Yukibana-san? Is she here? Maybe I could just leave a note..." Rei trailed off when the girl shook her head.
"She's not here, either."
"Would you know what time they'd come back?"
"I'm sorry, but... they're not coming back."
Rei blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"They moved. Though, I'm not sure where. I was just asked to house-sit until the new owners arrived."
Rei felt his heart sink. "Oh..."
"I'm really sorry I can't be of help to you."
"It's quite all right. Thank you," he bowed slightly, then turned to leave.
Rei pedalled home in a daze. Midori was gone. Just like that. He didn't even know they had a plan to move.
I should have gone here yesterday. I should have talked to her earlier...
It was ironic. At school, there always seemed to be a magnet that pulled them together, making them end up quarrelling, but then, suddenly, they were drawn apart.
Far apart, he figured. After all, he was moving, and she was moving.
It's for the best, I guess, he thought. At least they were never going to quarrel anymore. At least he wouldn't have to fight with himself when he wanted to talk to her when he knew he shouldn't.
But, deep inside, he knew it'd be hard. He already felt bad when they weren't friends anymore. And he knew he was going to feel even worse now that she was officially out of his life and he of hers.
That was it.
Midori was gone.
From the Author:
Yup, that's the end of the chapter. No use scrolling down more.
Yup, that's the end of Part One. No use clicking Next>> yet. That's just a
broken link.
Yup, I'm that mean. No use trying to beat me up, because I won't be able
to write the next part if you do. Oooh, blackmail.^^
Thanks SO much for your support during Part One! I hope that support won't wane after the three-week interval. (For those who didn't read the warning, I'll be updating in three weeks because of academic reasons)
So, I'll be seeing you in three weeks, I hope? Thanks again!