Chapter 4
Ryuu POV
Half of everything that I need to know about Manami has been told by Rin. Not just about her, but also about the group I was forced to join into-literary convention winners/geniuses. I just entered a big mess, and I hope that it’s not too late to get out of it.
After Rin told me these, entire he began to change. He’s been acting weird and is always ignoring me.
Manami POV
I woke up with piles of blanket over me, I found myself lying on a bed in a bright cold room.
What just happened last night?
Did I make it back to Mom?
What about Akito-nii?
And a bunch of questions are buzzing inside my head. I stood up and leaned over the glass window, this is definitely not my bedroom.
Someone opened the door, it’s Akito-nii.
But I ignored him. I want to see my Mom, oh! That reminds me… where is my cell phone?
“Manami, Ohayou, I brought you your breakfast.” Akito-nii entered the room without looking at me.
[ohayou=good morning]
“Thanks, but, I don’t want to eat yet.” Memories of what happened last night popped in my head.
What’s wrong with me? But, that aside, how is my father doing? Our Dad.
Akito-nii was about to leave the room, but then he looked back and fished out my cell phone from his pocket.
“Here, you have 25 missed calls from your mom, and 17 messages. Don’t worry. I didn’t read any of those messages, nor did I answer the calls.” Then he placed my phone on the bed-side table.
Your Mom….
“WAIT!” I shouted. Just as soon as he was about to leave, I chased after him and grabbed his shoulder and made him face me.
“Where am I?” the question suddenly escaped my mouth.
He just stared at me bluntly before answering.
“You’re in my Dad’s house.” He said.
“Our Dad.” I corrected him. “And what do you mean by “your mom” earlier? It should be “Mom” or “Our Mom!” I didn’t realize that I’m already shouting at him.
He sighed. “Jeez, what’s with all these drama Manami!? I met up with you last night because it’s our birthday. Our parents should not be involved.”
How could his attitude just change overnight! -______-
“So you got angry just because of that?” I asked, tightening my grip on his shoulder.
“Let’s get to the point. You know how much I really hate talking about our parents. And I thought you understood this ever since we started communicating through the internet. And yes, this is really a big deal. My life has been miserable after their divorce -.- My friends would insult me and make fun of me. I hate your mom and I wish that I’ve never been born, it’s all her fault.”
I let go of his shoulder and wanted to hug him, but the last sentence made me slap him instead.
“Your reason is too shallow for me to accept. Don’t you know that I’ve been through with the same things as you!? But, look,” I forced a smile, “I have finally overcome that tragedy (: and somehow, I am happy again. Mom taught me how to be strong, again. But you, what have you been doing with dad for these past five years?”
“You won’t understand Manami, I need to go now. You can also go back home.”
“Where will you go? And by the way, where is Dad?”
Again, my twin just looked down.
“Tell me!!! -___-“
“Fine, I’ll tell you! He is sick and he is in the hospital for almost three months! Happy now?”
All I could say is, “I want to see him. Take me with you.”
Ryuu POV
Our homeroom teacher is already here and he is about to start the class. But the girl sitting to my left isn’t here yet. Why is Manami absent? What about the manga? I thought we will start the story line today?
Oh well, if she’s not coming then fine. There’s no work for me to do -.- I can just do whatever I want all day.
Lunch Break
I went to the canteen with Rin. Avoiding making Manami our topic, because all we ever talk about is Manami, it just tires me out. I mean, I’m looking for boy stuffs. XD
“Hey Rin, stop texting and just eat.”
“Oh, sorry, I was just replying to a text message.”
“Who is it?” I asked.
“I’m not your girlfriend to answer that question.” Rin said seriously.
“Whoa… calm down. Fine… I’m sorry.” -.-
What’s with Rin today? Does this have something to do with Manami being absent? Humans -.-
After eating, we left the canteen. Before I enter our classroom, Rin weakly punched my shoulder.
“Sorry for acting strange earlier.” Then he laughed and left.
It’s… fine? I guess.
I noticed Yrah-Manami’s best friend- looking at us. She immediately looked down and went inside the classroom.
This is becoming weird. -.- sighhh.
Manami POV
At first, Akito-nii doesn’t want me to come with him to see Dad in the hospital. But he let me followed him anyway. On the way there, we were quiet. So I tried asking him.
“What is Dad’s disease?” I asked.
“He’s just sleeping.” Akito-nii said. His voice sounded like he is back to his usual self.
“Sleeping?”
“Comatose.”
Comatose… I don’t know what to say after hearing that from my twin.
My mind went blank and I feel kind of numb.
We kept on walking along the hallway and stopped in front of the ICU. Luckily, we can both come inside-maximum if two visitors. But first, we have to ensure sanitation by wearing these surgical gloves and gown. -3-
Akito-nii went inside and I followed him.
“It’s been three months now.” Akito said.
I was just standing there, beside my father’s bed. I stared at these machines and stuffs that were attached to his body. I really want to detach everything from him.
My twin continued, ”three months ago, while on his way home from work, he saved a girl. The girl was about to be hit by a speeding bus. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Dad raced to the girl’s location and pushed her to the side of the road. But luckily, Dad is just comatose ((: “
I cannot bring myself to speak. Why Akito-nii didn’t informed me about this, three months ago. What have I been doing for the past three months?
. . .
I stared into my Dad’s face. I haven’t seen him for years. And now this? Why did we not include our parents in our online conversation? Why does it have to be a secret?
My dad is just in a deep sleep.
I tried to reassure myself, again and again.
. . .
“He will wake up soon.” I whispered.
“I hope so.” My twin said.
The nurses then told us that we should leave the ICU.
Before we left, I took out my journal from my backpack-which still contains my notebooks in school- and wrote a letter to my dad on the last page.
I’m sure, he will wake up.
I tore the page from the notebook and carefully folded it into a small rectangle and placed it on my dad’s right hand.
. . .
“I’ll take you to the terminal before I go to work.” –Akito
“Ok.”
I noticed the silver bracelet I gave him last night, somehow, it lightened up the mood ((:
“We will still communicate, okay?” -.- I asked, or rather, commanded.
“Yes, of course. :D”
“and also….” I paused for a while.
“What?”
“I can visit you and dad whenever I want to, right?” I said.
He’s not answering… until we reached the terminal. We waited for the next bullet train. I need to get home. ASAP. I’m so dead… my Mom’s gonna. . . ugh~ -___-“
“Where’s the scarf I gave to you last night? -.- Why aren’t you wearing it?” -Akito
“It’s not that cold yet -3- “
“If you’re not going to wear it today, give it back.” Akito-nii said and held out his hand.
“Fineee.” I took out the scarf, but then he snatched it from me. “Hey! -_- I said I’m going to wear it! The train is coming!”
“Good bye ((:” – he said.
“Give me back my scarf! -.-“ he held it above his head that I cannot reach it. This is… embarrassing.
“Oh look, the train’s here :D”
Ugh, I give up -.-
“-3- good bye.” I said angrily.
“Wait!”
Akito-nii wrapped the scarf around my neck randomly until the end reached my cheeks. Then he said, “Please do.” And stepped back as I went inside the train.
The doors closed right after and I just stared at my twin brother until I can’t see him anymore.
What does that mean? ‘Please do’…
A lot can happen in twenty-four hours.
I don’t regret these things… or do I?
I have to get back home. My phone battery is drained -___-“
“Miss? Please sit down.” The conductor approached me.
Ugh -____- I’m still standing beside the door. (-///-)
I looked for a vacant seat beside the window, and luckily I found one.
As soon as I made myself comfortable, I fell asleep.
. . .
Ryuu POV
This teacher has some guts to extend our History Period! -__________-“
I’m so bored. I took out my pen and spin it between my fingers. Faster and faster… until it accidentally slipped out of my hand and flew sideward almost reaching the ceiling.
This is bad . . .
Some of my classmates are holding back their laughter; I don’t see anything amusing with that though. They laugh at almost everything -.-
I decided to stand up and apologize to the teacher.
“I’m sorry.” I said, picking up my pen.
He ignored me !? the teacher just ignored me -___- whoa…. Or maybe, he is planning to report this to the disciplinary office. No way -.-
. . .
As soon as he dismissed us, I ran out of the room and headed for the stairs.
I unloaded my bag and stuffed almost everything inside my locker.
On the way out, near the gate, I saw Rin and Yrah together, since when did they go home together?
They seem in a bit of a rush.
Should I follow them? I’ve got nothing to do at home and they won’t notice me anyway. But, maybe it’s a secret. -.- I’m just a newbie in their group. Ohhh. I really want to quit. But how….
Yosh. I will follow them
Manami POV
Luckily, I woke up few minutes before reaching our town’s terminal. And home is just a few blocks away. The terminal is crowded, rush hour, I guess. I’m planning to drop by the convenience store. But… I have to get home now. The sky is turning grey and large thick clouds are building up. Slowly, droplets of rain began to fall. And unfortunately, I didn’t bring my umbrella with me. Sigh~
Ryuu POV
Where could these two be heading? I tried to keep my distance as far as possible. But I also have to keep up or I’ll lose sight of them. I can’t believe I’m stalking my own friends -3- and hiding behind these trees, though the leaves on the ground make noises.
I feel like I’m a ninja! :D
It started to drizzle. The gloomy sky gives off a sad feeling.
Rin and Yrah stopped in front of a small lake that has a bridge made of bricks and stones.
OH NO! I’VE NO HIDING PLACE ! O.O
AND RIN IS ABOUT TO TURN AROUND. . .
I’m sort of panicking right now… !
Aghhhhhhhh! I give up -_______-
I calmed myself down and walked towards them.
The rain began to pour harder. -____-“
What am I doing?
“Yo~” I called.
“Look, Yrah. He finally showed up -.- “
Rin isn’t in the mood…
He is about to glare at me but then Yrah held his hand.
O.O she held his hand!
“I ummm. I’m stalking you guys. Hehehe!”
Why did I just say that?!
“You’ve been following us since we left the school, right?” Rin asked angrily.
“Sorry Ryuu, Rin is just frustrated right now. There’s a major problem!” Yrah defended.
“Problem…?”
Rin looked at me like he’s going to eat me.
“CALM DOWN RIN!” I shouted at him and punched him in the face which made him stumble to the pavement. “YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ACTING WEIRD.”
“What’s your problem, you don’t know anything.”Rin said smugly.
“THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE TO TELL ME! I’M YOUR FRIEND NOW. TCH -.- I FEEL LEFT OUT.”
“Stupid Ryuu Egashi! You’re the one who needs to calm down. ((: “ Yrah said then laughed. “Come with us instead.”
“Tch. -.- “ --- Rin
“We’re all soaked. -3-“ I reminded them. “What happened anyway? Why are you two together? Why is Rin so… umm. Irrirated -.- ?”
Rin stood up. “You act like everything is okay now. Ryuu! Manami’s mom messaged me, Manami hasn’t come back home yet!”
I told myself… I don’t care anymore. But why am I worrying like hell?
. . .
Manami POV
I stopped by a convenience store. Not because I want to eat. I’m dripping from head to toe, so I stood by the door.
This rain looks like it won’t stop until tomorrow. )):
I need to go home now, Ugh…
I ran to reach our house.
I want to go home now, I want to see mom now, I want to see my friends now. It feels like it has been forever because of what I know about my dad now.
Huh? Why am I crying?
I kept running and running, and finally, here I am! ((: Standing in front of our house’s door. ^^
I cried out because of happiness, my hand quickly rang the doorbell.
I’m home ((: