"You're way smarter, bigger, and stronger than me. But I always felt like I had to protect you. I wonder what it is I wanted to protect you from."
And now I know, Ash.
I know now what I wanted to protect you from.
Everyone was starting to get worried when Sing didn't answer right away. It was clear what he was thinking about. Does he know more than the others do? (Y/N), Eiji and Yut-Lung were now staring at Sing, who was overwhelmed, not ready for their reaction.
Yut-Lung wasn't very patient. It was like he had been waiting for that moment all along. "You better tell them now. Or should I?" (Y/N) couldn't believe that Sing was lying now too. Apparently, no one seemed to trust one another here yet. "So Yut-Lung knows and we don't?"
Sing glared at Yut-Lung, who just smiled back innocently. His frustration began to build, until he finally exploded. He had enough and started talking, trying to calm them down. "Alright! Just chill out guys."
"At that time I was already starting to get sudden text messages or e-mails, thinking it was Ash. When I got another message, but from a random number this time, it said I should meet them in front of the New York library." he finally explained to them. Sing felt very embarrassed and could already imagine the reactions of everyone around him. (Y/N)'s eyes widened, realizing he was actually serious. "And you actually went? Are you insane?"
Eiji agreed, not sure how to respond since he wasn't any better. "Can't believe you'd really do that.."
Yut-Lung seemed pleased with everything that was happening and remained silent. Sing tried to explain himself, but he was still feeling embarrassed and his friends weren't making things any better. "I thought it was Ash okay! The moment I heard the police cars and ambulances I knew it was a trap. He was dead this whole damn time. An actual stranger has been making fun of me."
(Y/N) just shook her head and scoffed in response. "You're still stupid. Seriously." Sing handed (Y/N) his phone, showing her his chat history. "Here. See for yourself. Does this not look like Ash to you?"
She actually was kind of impressed that he recognized that. "You're not that wrong. How do you even know that that's how Ash texts?"
"I don't know.." Sing mumbled. "I just got a vibe."
—
(Y/N) drove back home after dropping Sing off first. She invited Eiji over to her house.
Also, Yut-Lung wanted to talk to her alone first before leaving. Eiji already got out of the car before anyone could say anything. It was tormenting him enough that he even has to breathe next to Yut-Lung. (Y/N) didn't react much to that. "So should I drive you back?" She offered, without looked over to Yut-Lung, who has been quiet the whole car ride. Without warning, he blurted out what he had been thinking.
"I lied to the police too (Y/N)."
So that's why he has been quiet the whole time.
(Y/N)'s eyes widened as she turned around and stared at him. She was looking so intense that it was almost unbearable for him to look at her. "What did you say?" He hesitated for a moment before answering. "I was also there. When they found Ash's body."
(Y/N) felt like she was going to lose it. Everyone acted on their own without consulting one another. This was extremely dangerous, no one seemed to comprehend that. "Are you kidding me? You should've told us. What the hell am I supposed to tell the others?"
Yut-Lung remained silent as he looked at the girl. He screwed up, he was aware of that. (Y/N) already knew what that meant. "So I can't tell them? Great. Tell me at least that other story was true. About you not being in New York that night."
"It was. I didn't lie about that." he revealed, looking into her eyes this time. "We will never know if it was him or not will we?"
She tried to ignore that, but he is still trying to tell her that Ash could be alive. Obviously she didn't want to believe him, but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that told her he could be right. "Where were you?" (Y/N) asked him, she already assumed that there was something wrong with him, especially after the way he acted during the interrogation.
"I had to deal with something." he replied without saying anything more.
"With what?"
He looked out the window to make sure no one was there. "I will tell you. Just not now. It is not safe to talk about this here."
(Y/N) simply nodded in response. "Right." Yut-Lung unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door. "You don't need to drive me. Eiji is waiting for you isn't he? I will see you later then." he told her and got out of the car.
Eiji was waiting in front of (Y/N)'s house. The girl walked up to him. "I think you're defending him a little to much." he suddenly said. (Y/N) was just hoping that he wouldn't start another fight. "Who? Yut-Lung? I'm definitely not defending him."
Eiji knew that was not the case. (y/n) did defend him more than once, even if he was in the wrong. She would never do anything like that without a good reason. After all, that's just the kind of person she is - someone who is manipulating people to get what she wants. "You kind of are.."
(Y/N) watched Yut-Lung from the distance. "I know that you don't trust him, but we need to keep an eye on him. It's better that he's with us and not anyone else."
Eiji couldn't say anything against it, he seemed to be only one who saw how wrong everything was. He just let it go, since neither Sing nor anyone else seemed to be on his side. Unfortunately, the was no other way at this time. "I get it." he gave her a warm smile.
As they walked through the door, a small, fluffy black cat approached them. "Oh hi little one!" (Y/N) excitedly said, picking up and hugging her cat. "Ah I missed you!"
Her and Eiji walked to the kitchen and sat down. The house was quite large for someone to live alone in. (Y/N)'s house had three floors and several rooms, decorated in a modern style. Her kitchen also was both spacious and comfortable. Eiji honestly couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her place. The japanese boy was surprised, since she never mentioned that she had any pets. He had always been a fan of cats. "You have a cat? Since when?"
Unfortunately, after he came to America last year, they couldn't really talk to each other about personal stuff, which they've been planning to do before he arrived. Hopefully this should change. "Oh you didn't know? He was hiding a lot lately, that's probably why you didn't get to meet him last time." She giggled a little. Eiji was fascinated by the cat, he found him quite adorable. "Can I hold him? He really is adorable! Did you always have a cat?"
(Y/N) nodded and placed the cat carefully on Eiji's lap. "Of course, he doesn't mind. Yeah he's already two years old. My sister took care of him all the time though before she left."
Eiji tried to pet the cat, and the cat enjoyed the attention, purring in response. "You have a sister?" Eiji already knew that she hardly ever talked about her family or any of the things she has gone through. He also noticed that she seems to be trying to change that now. That's a good sign right?
The look on her face changed when she was reminded of her sister. "It's a bit complicated. She's not really my sister. I just call her that since it's easier. She knew my mother and finally left the second I turned 18. We were never really on good terms. She always hated Ash with all her heart, I'm asking myself what that cunt is thinking after seeing the news."
(Y/N) felt uncomfortable talking about her sister, who truly was something else. She had made her life worse than it already was. "Ah. Sorry to hear that.. My little sister is not really talking to me either these days." Eiji sighed heavily, he was still playing with the cat, feeling its soft fur. (Y/N) gave him a questioning look.
"I messed up a bit when I snapped at her one time. It's been so long but it seems like she never forgave me." Eiji often felt hurt when he thought about that time.
"Oh Eiji." (Y/N) She jokingly pat him on the back. "I know you are very stubborn. More than anyone I know! Still, you're her big brother and she'll always look up to you."
"She's still young, so just let her be angry for a bit." she reassured him. Eiji laughed at that. "Thanks. I'm really sorry about your situation too."
(Y/N) no longer held a grudge against her sister, all the time she thought that she needed to get revenge. After her sister moved out, it didn't seem as important to her anymore, which is definitely better that way. "It's fine. Even if we don't like each other, she comes over sometimes. It works well for the both of us."
Eiji looked down at the cat, who was now resting comfortably on his lap. (Y/N)'s cat really liked Eiji and snuggled up to him, which made him happy. "He's so nice.. such a pretty cat. What's his name?"
"His name's Felix, he was a stray. I know, it's a simple name. My sister gave it to him." She replied, smiling at him. Eiji also gave her a small smile. "I think it fits him."
"Ash really was his favorite. It always looked like he loved him more than me and practically never left his side." (Y/N) told him, smiling as she remembered.
"Ash. He deserves at least a proper goodbye from you."