You thought you could handle the silence. But over time it
became heavy instead of peaceful, you felt awkward instead of comfortable and
ignored rather than heard.
“You love me, right?”
His eyes go wide, head nodding furiously in affirmative
response to your question.
“Then why don’t you say it?”
When Koga opens his mouth, you hold up your hand. “He’s
a grown man, let him speak for himself.”
Mitobe stares at you for a moment then reaches and touches
your face. His thumb ghosts over your cheek back and forth but he still doesn’t say
anything. A raise of his eyebrows has yours furrowing in frustration as a sigh
escapes your lips.
Pulling away, you shake your head. “That’s not enough
anymore Rinnosuke. I’m sorry.”
Weeks go by and the silence is still there but now there’s
no accompanying steadfast presence to go with it. You figure someday you’ll be
ready to try again with someone new but for now, even though it was you who
pushed him away, you miss Mitobe so much.
After two months, Koga can’t take it anymore, storming up to
you and saying without preamble, “Do you know why he accepted your
chocolate and reciprocated on white day? It wasn’t just because he thought you
were cute. It wasn’t because he felt obligated. It’s because he could tell you
actually liked him and weren’t just playing a game! Weren’t betting to see if
you could get him to talk!”
You feel your breath get caught in your throat, tears stinging
the edges of your eyes.
“You were the one girl in this whole damn school who
cared about him as he is with no ulterior motive. And he’s suffering now! He
loves you so damn much and he’s withering away without you! Whatever happened
to ‘actions speak louder than words’?! How can you not have seen how much he
cares?” He points to a door. “Go on the roof! See for yourself if you
can’t tell he loves you!”
You don’t know why you go but you do and the sight you find
breaks your heart. He looks up, sad eyes meeting yours. Before you can blink, you
rush forward, propelling yourself into his lap.
A startled inhale of breath is all you hear before you kiss
him, hands raking through his hair. His hands clasp your waist, trailing to
your back and pulling you flush against him. When you pull away he’s breathing
hard, you both are. Cupping his face, you look in his eyes, silently letting
him know, I’m sorry.
He swallows once, twice then opens his mouth. But before he
can say anything you put your hand over it, whispering, “It’s ok. I know.
I love you too.”
You feel him smile against your skin and return it before
kissing him again.
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