R.I.P Simon, my cat that died on March 13th, I love you.Second Chancexx AprilTakahashi Minami quickly scanned through her presentation slides again, as if the previous times weren't enough to assure her that there were no spelling or grammar mistakes. Once she finished looking through the slides, people started to file into the room and sat themselves in their respective seats.
This was it, this was her chance to get that promotion once and for all. If she pulls this presentation of a new product off, surely, she'd get promoted. The lights dimmed and then Minami started.
As she neared towards the end of the meeting, a soft buzz distracted her. Minami looked over to the podium, where her laptop and her phone was. Her phone was lighted up, the buzzing signalling an incoming call.
No, She told herself firmly and began to talk as if there wasn't any pause.
I can't screw this up now, she should understand how important this is to me, Minami discreetly walked back to the podium and tapped on her phone screen and then proceeded to continue explaining.
------
Atsuko <3
>Answer >Ignore------
-///////-
Maeda Atsuko slowly brought her hand down, staring at her phone's home screen. Anger, sadness, disbelief now bubbled within her as she gripped the phone in her hands tightly until her knuckles started to turn white.
How could you ignore me?She wiped a tear away. This wasn't anything new, she should be used to it by now. After all, work was more important than her. Now, Minami didn't bother much about her anymore. It was all about work, the promotion, the raise. Everything else came before Atsuko, even when she voiced out to her girlfriend how unhappy she was, Minami brushed it off, didn't even bother to lift her head up from her papers to look at her.
It feels like there's nothing left for me, Atsuko thought as she slowly made her way to the pedestrian crossing.
My girlfriend doesn't care about me anymore, I have nobody else to talk my feelings to. I have nobody. I.. am alone.
And I don't want to be alone.Atsuko glanced up at the 'red man' signal, then turning back to the busy road where cars zoomed passed without a care. Then without a second thought, she started to walk forward, onto the road where the cars were still moving. There were shouts behind her, telling her to get off the road, but she continued on forward.
Then Atsuko closed her eyes as she felt an impact on her side and her phone slipping out of her grasp as she fell to the ground, welcoming the darkness that engulfed her.
I don't want to be alone.-///////-
Oshima Yuko quietly rubbed her friend's back. They were sitting in the stiff hospital chairs outside the operating room, waiting for good news. She kept quiet as her friend tried to stifle her sobs.
"I messed up, Yuko. It's my fault that she's in there right now. " Minami's voice cracked as she spoke in between sobs.
"No it isn't."
"It is, she called me." Minami sniffled and wiped her tears.
"She did?" Yuko asked slightly surprised. She didn't know that. Minami nodded.
"She called me, I should've answered it." Minami spoke in a small voice and Yuko leaned closer.
"You didn't answer the call?" Yuko asked with wide eyes and Minami locked eyes with her for a second before looking away. The guilt eating her up even more when she had seen the surprise on Yuko's face.
"I was in a meeting." Yuko immediately moved back and sank into her chair and covered her face with her hands. As much as she had wanted to yell at her friend for not answering Atsuko's call, this wasn't the place nor time to do it. Minami seemed to be beating herself up over it quite a lot as well, she shouldn't rub salt into the wound. Then they sat in silence for a few minutes more, waiting for the red light above the doors to turn off.
Then Yuko heard the sound of the doors opening and the two stood back onto their feet and rushed over the the surgeon who had come through the doors.
"How is she?! Is she okay? Was everything successful?" Minami asked question after question and the doctor waited for her to release her grip on him before speaking.
"I'm sorry, Takahashi-san. Unfortunately we did all that we could but we couldn't save her. The impact of the hit was hard enough to cause her ribs to break and one of the broken ribs pierced her heart. I'm sorry for your loss." The doctor solemnly informed the two, bowed and then left. Immediately, Minami sank to the ground on her knees and started to sob once again, and Yuko could only hold her friend, hoping that at least this hug provided some comfort.
-///////-
"She still looks so beautiful." Minami whispered, stroking Atsuko's hair. Yuko could only watch as her friend stayed quiet and continue to stroke her dead girlfriend's hair. It stayed like that for a few more minutes, Minami saying absolutely nothing and Yuko just watching her.
"I want to be alone with her." Minami quietly said and Yuko nodded and then left the room, and sat outside the door. Minami walked a few steps down, and then reached for the cold hand, linking their fingers together. Bringing the entwined hands up to her face, she kissed the back of the cold one and then started to sob.
"I'm so sorry, Atsuko. I'm so sorry." Minami sobbed out as she sank to her knees. "I'm so sorry I made you feel alone."
Atsuko had told her before, that she never liked being on her own, she hated it. She wanted someone to always be right beside her, to make her happy, to take her mind off things. Atsuko wanted someone to love her, to put her first. It was in a sense, selfish of Atsuko to want that but Minami had seen the sadness and loneliness in her eyes when they first met and she didn't want that there. Minami promised Atsuko, that she'll be there by her side, all the way, no matter what and to listen to her problems.
But she broke it, she had broken the very promise when she had prioritized work over Atsuko. Minami just hadn't expected that Atsuko would've committed suicide driven by loneliness. If Minami had known this would've happened, she would've given up on the opportunity of a promotion and a raise. If she had simply answered her phone, this could've been prevented.
"I wish I could turn back time.. I wish I could have one more chance." Minami whispered against their connected hands and squeezed them.
Yuko shook her head slightly outside as she leaned her head back against the wall. She let out a sigh as she stared at the rather dull pink wall opposite her.
"You can't change the past, Bakamina." She whispered to herself.
-///////-
-\\\\\\\-
Minami groaned, when she heard the doorbell ringing. She didn't want to deal with people for the rest of her life. She took all the leave days that she didn't use and it amounted to about two months. It has been days, since Atsuko's death and her funeral but Minami was still struggling to let go. Her apartment had pictures of her and Atsuko all over the house, especially on the fridge door. Whenever Minami needed to get water or some food, she would have to look at the pictures that showed that at one point everything was okay, everything was great. And it just hit Minami harder that everything fell apart.
She wrapped the blanket around her and then proceeded to make her way to the door where someone stood outside waiting. When Minami looked up after opening the door, she was shocked.
There before her, stood her smiling girlfriend. The girlfriend that was supposed to be dead.
Atsuko tilted her head with a confused smile before pouting when Minami didn't speak after a while and pushed her way inside with a paper bag. Minami pushed the door closed and stared at Atsuko who was now unpacking things from the paper bag.
"Atsuko?" Minami asked, still in disbelief.
"Hm? What do you want, Minami?" Atsuko turned to her with a smile.
This is real, she's actually back! Minami smiled and immediately ran over and hugged the taller girl. Atsuko was a bit confused but she hugged Minami back just as tightly. Out of the corner of her eye, Minami noticed the calender sitting on a nearby table.
xx MarchMinami couldn't believe it. Time had reverted itself back a month before everything went wrong.
Some God or someone of the sort is actually giving me a second chance to prevent Atsuko's death! Minami was beyond happy and excited. This is it, this was what she had been wishing for!
"Minami? Are you okay?" Atsuko asked as she pulled back slightly to look at the shorter girl in concern. Minami nodded with a wide smile and without hesitation, pushed herself up slightly and connected her lips to Atsuko's in a short kiss. When she pulled back, Minami giggled at the blush that had made it's way onto Atsuko's cheeks.
This was what Minami had missed during those few days, and she was glad she could have it again.
-\\\\\\\-
Minami made sure that she spent more time with Atsuko than before. They had more dates such as cycling together near the beach, more movie nights and sleepovers and dinner dates and just plain lazy days together. This second chance was turning out to what Minami had wanted, becoming closer and being the pillar of support and love to Atsuko. But the day where Atsuko's accident happened was approaching, tomorrow in fact, and Minami was nervous. She wasn't sure if she could truly prevent it, but Minami told herself to believe. After all, she did get this second chance.
"Atsuko?" Minami murmured, watching said person in her arms shifting slightly to look up at her. They were watching a movie on the couch in the living room while cuddling.
"Hm?" Atsuko hummed as she snuggled closer.
"Do you have any plans tomorrow?" Minami asked and Atsuko thought for a moment.
"I don't think so? Maybe I might go home and see if I need to buy anything but other than that.. not really. Ah! You have that meeting tomorrow, right? The one where you possibly get promoted?" Atsuko got up and faced her with a smile which Minami returned.
That's right.. that meeting.. Minami felt a little uneasy about the meeting and Atsuko noticed it.
"Don't be so nervous! I'm sure you'll impress everyone and you'll definitely get promoted! You know what? I'll meet you after your meeting, I'll bring a present too!" Atsuko grinned, her signature crinkles appearing. Minami couldn't help but giggle at how excited Atsuko looked and nodded.
"I hope I do." Minami told her sincerely.
I don't just mean about the promotion, I also mean about your death."Ah! Minami, we missed a large chunk of the movie.. hurry sit back down so we can cuddle again." Atsuko told her as she quickly rewinded back to where they last watched and cuddle close again.
--
Here she was, back again in the middle of the meeting. Minami talked confidently, having gone through it before. She looked over to the podium where her phone was and looked at the time. It was almost the time when the accident occurred although this time there was no phone call. Minami was feeling anxious, what if by the time the meeting was over, the accident would happen and she couldn't stop it? What if Atsuko was already hit?
She had paused and wasn't talking now and the people in the room stared at her and started to murmur among themselves. Minami looked around for a moment before making up her mind and ran out of the room. She had to be sure that this second chance would not be wasted, that she would surely change Atsuko's fate. Her chance at promotion is nothing and can be earned again.
Atsuko hummed along to the music that was blasting in her ears from her headphones as she admired the sunflower in it's pot in her hands. It was her present for Minami like what she had said yesterday, Atsuko wanted to give Minami something she could have at her office that would remind the short girl of her, as if the framed pictures on Minami's desk weren't enough.
Atsuko continued to fiddle with the flower, trying to make it look as perfect as possible as she approached the pedestrian crossing. She put one foot in front of the other and continued to walk forward without realizing that the 'red man' was still up. She continued to walk forward, this time unintentionally as she was too preoccupied in trying to make the flower look perfect.
Without warning, a hand grabbed Atsuko's and pulled back away from harm's way and back onto the pavement. Atsuko turned around to find a panting Minami and she pulled off her headphones, slightly confused.
"Minami?" She asked the tired girl who simply held up a hand before grabbing Atsuko's hand and leading her away and into a nearby cafe. They sat down in silence for a few moments as Minami tried to catch her breath again. Atsuko sent down the sunflower and pushed the pot towards Minami who looked confused.
"It's your present!" Atsuko told her with a smile. Minami gently grabbed the pot and watched the flower for a moment and then giggled.
"Thank you, Atsuko. It's such a pretty flower." Minami thanked her as she played with a leaf.
"Oh, how was the meeting?" Atsuko asked as she watched Minami and Minami paused.
"I left it halfway. I had a bad feeling about you and so I trusted my gut instinct and then what do I find? You nearly getting into an accident!" Minami told her with a pout and Atsuko let out an 'ah'.
"I'm sorry.. I was so into the music and trying to make sure the flower was pretty.. I'm sorry, Minami. I'll be careful next time." Atsuko apologized, looking down at her hands on her lap. Minami giggled at the sight and then reached over the table to hold Atsuko's hand.
"It's alright but I'm glad you're safe. I love you." Minami blurted out and then blushed as Atsuko giggled.
"I love you too." Atsuko answered with a giggled before looking at a menu. "Now since we're here.. Let's order food and eat!" Atsuko excitedly told Minami and Minami smiled and followed Atsuko in scanning through the menus.
Thank you, God, for this second chance.-\\\\\\\-
Very lame ending because I'm getting tired from writing this.
This is based on the mv for JYJ's song, In Heaven. I was going to make this exactly like the mv in the sense that they both died but I couldn't bring myself to write it..
I actually had planned on quitting Jphip but then decided to just come on and read stuff and leave comments and not write but then my cat died and I felt the need to write something slightly angtsy..
So yeah, I apologize if this isn't good, my writing has gotten rusty. I may not be very active in writing stories but I'll try to be.
Have a good day / night everyone!
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