Chinami-chan told me about this new store that sells stuff for girls. I asked her if she could go there with me but she told me that she has to do some of her homework. I asked the others too but they were also busy. Guess I had to go there alone. I checked myself in the mirror before I left, to make sure that I had a disguise on.
Chinami-chan's directions weren't very clear so it took me a while before I arrived at the store. Once inside however, I was really glad that she told me about it. I didn't know what I wanted to buy first. But a tall lady approached me.
"Please tell me you're a member of Berryz Koubou." she said.
"How'd you know?" I guess my disguise today was useless as usual.
"I knew it. Tokunaga-san or Kumai-san must have told you about my store. I feel so blessed!"
"You're the owner ma'am?"
"Yes. Ever since that boy came here, I've been meeting famous people."
"Boy?"
"Yes, a boy came here when the store was newly opened and he bought something for one you..."
"For Risako-chan?"
"Yes. How'd you know?"
"I saw the bracelet and it was really cute. So this is where he got that."
"So, anything you like? I'll give you a discount."
"Really? I'm not sure if that's a good idea ma'am?"
"Why?"
"I might buy half of the stuff in the store."
She just laughed and pinched me in the cheek while saying "You're really cute! It's fine, you can buy all of the stuff in here."
I did end up buying a lot of stuff, but not half of the store. The owner was really a nice lady. And she was pretty as well. She told me to come back again and I told her that I would.
***
I was a few steps away from the store when I saw someone familiar. Yes, it was him, Risako-chan's classmate. And he wasn't wearing glasses this time. But that's not what surprised me. He was with someone. He was with a girl. And I didn't like how the girl was clinging to his arm. How could he do this? I guess he's a player just like the other guys. I can't believe I even fell for him before. I felt sorry for Risako-chan because he's cheating her. I didn't know what came to me but I approached them.
I think he recognized me because he was smiling at me as I walked closer. But he didn't know what he was going to get.
"Hey, long time no..."
I didn't let him finish what he was saying. I slapped him. I slapped him real hard. I knew it was hard because the sound made the other people look at us.
"You two-timer! That's for Risako-chan! We trusted you but you're cheating on her! You deceived us! I'm going to tell her to stay the hell away from you!"
I looked at him but he didn't say anything. Perhaps he was guilty. He just touched the part of his face where I slapped him. I saw that he had a scar near his eyebrow. Guess he's a punk too, for getting something like that.I could hear the other people whispering but I don't care, let them think what they want. The girl approached us as I was preparing to leave.
"What was that about, onii-chan? Do you know her?"
Onii-chan. Hearing that made me stop from walking any further. I wanted to make sure if what I heard her say was right.
"Oh that? She's a friend of mine, Shizuka-chan. She slapped me because I called her something really naughty before."
Underwear girl
"You're a bad boy onii-chan! I'm going to tell mama about this! She's going to cut your allowance! But that girl looks familiar."
"Really?"
"She looks like Miyabi-san. I know because she's my favorite and she's my favorite because she sings really well. But I don't think that someone like her would do that. She really looks like her but maybe I'm wrong. And it's impossible for someone like you to have her as a friend."
I ran. I ran as fast as I could. I heard him say 'wait up' but I didn't. I can't. I won't.
I was wrong. I don't know if I can ever face him again, after what I did. I'm sure he got humiliated by getting slapped in front of other people, but in front of her sister too? I can feel tears running down my face as I ran. I continued running but where should I go? Now I wasn't sure if I slapped him because he was two-timing Risako-chan. Now I think that I slapped him because I was jealous of that girl. Jealous. Of her sister. I'm confused but I didn't stop. That's until I bumped into someone and we got knocked down.
"That hurts! Hey, better watch where your going! Miyabi-chan, is that you?"
"Maasa-chan..." that's all I could say. After that I hugged her and just continued crying.
***
I sat at a park bench, waiting for Maasa-chan to come back. She said she'll get me a bottle of water to calm me down. She came back, as promised.
"What happened, Miyabi-chan?" she asked me.
"I did something wrong."
"Like what?"
"I slapped someone. In public."
"You wouldn't do that if that person didn't do anything bad to you, right?"
"That's the problem. He didn't do anything wrong."
"Huh?"
"I slapped him, Maasa-chan."
"Who?"
"Risako-chan's classmate. I slapped him. I saw him with a girl. I thought he was two-timing Risako-chan but it turned out that it was his sister. I'm so ashamed of myself. What am I going to do, Maasa-chan?" I placed my hands on my face and started crying again. She patted me on the back.
"Ouch! Now that's really a problem. You heard about him getting beat up, right?"
"Y...yes. Why?"
"You know why he got beat up?"
"No."
"There were some men saying bad things about Risako-chan and he punched one of them. Three men ganged-up on him. He was alone. He was defenseless. But he survived. You should have seen him at the hospital. He looked alive, but you'd think that he was already a zombie. Hahaha."
"What does that have to do with what I did?" I wasn't sure if she was taking me seriously.
"Do you think that he'd do that if he didn't have feelings for Risako-chan? Do you think he'd get into a fight he knows he can't win if he didn't love her? Can you still think of him as a two-timer?"
"I..." That explains the scar. I didn't really know the real story behind it. All I knew is that he got beat up. I thought it was just a school fight but it turned out that some men beat him up. And he did it because of her. Because he loves her.
"He's a real lucky boy because he's still fine after going through something like that. Risako-chan's lucky too, to have someone like him. Hey, Miyabi-chan, are you listening to me?"
"Y...yes."
"So, what's your plan?"
"I don't know..."
"Have you apologized to him?"
"I don't know if I can. I don't know if he'll talk to me again. I don't know if he'll forgive me."
"Come on. Saying 'I'm sorry' is a lot easier than saying 'I love you'."
She's right. There are times when Maasa-chan would say weird funny things but there are also times when what she says are true. I took out my phone and called him. He didn't answer. I tried it a couple of more times but he still didn't answer.
"He's not answering." I told Maasa-chan.
"Don't give up." she told me.
After an hour of trying to call him I stopped. Maasa-chan had to go ahead and it was also getting dark.
"Try calling him again when you get home." she said.
"I will. Thanks, Maasa-chan."
I tried calling him again on the train ride home but he still wouldn't answer. I was thinking of calling Risako-chan and asking her to tell him I'm sorry but I didn't want her to know about this. I went straight to my room when I got home. I buried my face in one of my pillows as I tried to think.
My phone started to ring. It was him. I was afraid to answer it, but I did.
"Hello!"
"..." I didn't know what to say.
"Sorry if I wasn't able to answer your call."
"Are you mad at me."
"Of course not. I left my phone at home. I have this weird habit of leaving it whenever I go out."
"Hey..."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry about what I did earlier."
"Haha. I don't blame you. I don't know why people always think that my sister and I are a couple when we go out. I mean, she's just nine years old. Hahaha. But that was a good slap. It still hurts."
"I'm really sorry. Do you forgive me?"
"Of course I do. Forget about it okay. Everybody makes mistakes."
"Thanks. I thought you wouldn't forgive me."
"Haha. My sister will be mad at me if she finds out that I'm mad at her favorite member."
"Am I...really her favorite?"
"Yes."
"Not Risako-chan?"
"Hahaha. No. She's got pictures of you in her room. She adores you. But don't tell her about this, okay. Sugaya, I mean."
"I won't."
"Oops, my phone's batteries are almost out. It was nice to talk to you again, Natsuyaki-san."
"You can call me Miya."
"If you say so. Good night, Miya-san."
"Good night."
*click*
"I...."
I felt better after apologizing to him. I'm glad that he's not mad at me. I'm happy because his sister is a fan of mine.
Maasa-chan was right.
It's a lot easier to say I'm sorry than I love you.
Topic: Too Young: Seasonz (Read 52664 times)