PT. 8
“Hmm, that
would make sense.” Yui started to think about something again- something that could be fairly dangerous depending on the depth. “I do recall you on one instance saying that you liked nuts. For what reason, I don’t remember. But I do remember you sayi-“ Erika no longer listened to Yui’s tangent, but she watched at her roommate stood parallel from her with her forefinger to her chin as she looked above for her thoughts. “Oh I'm sorry, what was
his name?”
This snapped Erika back into reality after thinking of the multiple ways to strangle her friend. It was times like this that she appreciated staying in the schools’ self defense programs.
“Wha- What the hell?! Peanuts! PEA – NUTS!” Erika made sure she emphasized her point. But realizing there after that there was no hope in fixing Yui’s vivid imagination, she decided to continue looking for kitchen appliances. Toning her voice down a bit, “No one said it was a ‘he’ either,” she let out a sigh of relief after finding the right trays to make chocolate. Maybe it was time that she learned her lesson not to tease with Yui; she'd probably believe her either way.
“Mmm!” Yui started to do the next annoying gesture: whining. “Errriika! Stop being so complicated! Who is it?” Yui was dying to know who this mystery crush could be. She retorted to stomping at the ground and flailing her arms around to her sides…if it could be described as flailing.
“Fine, fine.” Erika let out another tired sigh to relax herself before she continued. “It is a ‘she’ and she happens to be very special to me. Now before you comment on that
shocking information, please, let’s gets started shall we?” Erika walked around the kitchen and rummaged through the cabinets for the basic ingredients. Under her breath, she managed to release some more thoughts. “God, I swear, we are so different. It’s a miracle I haven’t requested for a room change through these years.”
“Oi, I heard that!" Yui snapped her head towards Erika's attention while searching for baking tubes. "And it’s only because you’re smart, and I suck at studying. I’m loud, you’re quiet. You’re a loner, I happen to enjoy people's company. We’re quite opposite, you see?”
It was true. All too true. Erika was quite the loner before she met her now friend, Yui. She never liked being with too many people she was annoyed easily; she always stayed at the far end of the halls when she walked to class, she never started or participated in conversation in debates and answered back flatly. In fact, Yui was the only one that would try hard enough to surface the true Erika. Well as much as she could, of course. And through that hard work, Yui gained a friend that helped her with her weak points; and told her straight out what she needed when she was in a crisis, helping Yui build a stronger character.
"So how many are you planning on making?"
"Hmm, well I was thinking an amount not too much, but enough to make her satisfied..."
"Oh, like eight chocolates? How about we make two of each kind!" Still excited, she started to prepare her trays with caramel bases.
"Err, sure, if you say so." It was a good thing Erika had Yui who knew what she was doing. She fiddled with the bowl of melted cocoa before carefully coating the trays she selected.
After two arguments (from Erika not listening to Yui on how to make the chocolate she asked for help on), a kitchen that looked like a kid dragged his poop all over the wall, and a very satisfied duo later – the eight pieces of chocolate were finally finished.
“Oh thank goodness! It’s finally done.” Erika couldn’t help but grin proudly at what she had just worked her whole morning for.
“You know, I think if you stare at them too much, they might rot.” A sweet drop formed while Yui watched her friend gawk at the sweets she helped make. But there was something missing… something she needed to hear from Erika.
“Oh yeah. Thanks by the way.” She gave a quick wink over her shoulder before she disappeared to the next room with a pen in hand. It was something that Erika did often, and although it killed Yui that she didn’t have all her attention at times, she knew she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bingo.Yui tended to the kitchen and began wiping the chocolate residues on the counter while she left Erika to herself in the living room. Every so often, she would peek over to Erika’s side and see if she was ready to come out of her own world.
What is she doing over there?Not being able to bear it much longer, “Oi, Erika! Whatchya doin’?”
“Ah, nothing, really. Just trying to make a small note to the girl.”
Erika listened intently, and after the response, she gave a nod then went back to sulking in the quiet. Erika had an expression of concentration, and for some reason, it startled Yui a bit.
“AH!” Erika screamed, which startled Yui while she her school bag. She looked over quickly, to find a contempt roommate… who also happened to be dressed for school (when did that happen?).
“You ready?” Yui watched as Erika swung her backpack over her shoulder and carried the big canvas she had been working on weeks before.
“Yep.” Erika took a step away from the door and remembered she forgot something crucial. “Ah, Yui… You mind holding the box of chocolates? I have to bring this canvas… and well, I’d ask you to hold it, but I’m afraid you might find some creative way to trip over your own feet again and ruin it.” She smiled at the blushing friend who remembered the last time Erika asked her for that favor, and feeling sorry, she didn’t complain carrying something simple as a wrapped box of chocolates.
Five“I’m never going to know, am I?” Yui tried again, but in a happy voice to cover up her curiosity.
“Hahah, probably not this soon. But in time you will.”
“Well, what’s she like? Will I approve of her?” Yui puffed her cheeks and asked seriously as her friend let out a short laugh.
“Well… At first, she’s quite annoying- I didn’t even like her just by the image she had. But then, days went by, and we were in a lot of the same classes, and through there I got to know her better. She’s quite funny, and I didn’t believe that we had such similar interests…but our personalities are a total mix up. It’s sort of refreshing though, you know? Being so different, but it makes me happy. But then again… she’s so stubborn and always needs my help on different things,” Erika let out a chuckle as the list went on, “anyway, It’s never endin-“
“Hey! That’s sort of like me, isn’t it?” She smiled back at the laughing Erika as they paused only for a moment in their tracks.
Four Yui knew that the answer she received wouldn’t be too surprising. That girl that Erika was describing sounded nothing like her! And there’s no way a friend could like another friend as more than mutual friendship.
“Heh, m…maybe, just a whole lot better.”
"What is this?" Yui managed to question under her breathe and through the ball that started to form in her throat, while Erika was just a step ahead.
It’s like that space I used to call mine is slowly being eaten up by a girl I don’t even know the name of…
ThreeYui played with the pretty little tag Erika tied onto the Valentines Day present. She tried her hardest to make it seem like she wasn’t about to sneak a peek at the name or message written inside. With her forefinger, she flicked at it back and forth, hoping it would conclude with the tag ‘accidentally’ opening by its self to Yui. She wouldn’t be able to accept knowing she invaded Erika’s privacy without permission. So instead, she counted the awkward minutes that passed as they lead themselves to the Art classroom.
Just who is this girl that she’s so good she has to be kept secret?It was too late to answer that question again; they reached the destination where the two would part for the morning.
Two“Alright, I’m here. Thanks for all your help Yui.” Erika walked into the opened room for the meeting that was soon to start.
Yui kept focused on her thoughts and stared down at her shoes, “Mmm, no problem.” It was barely audible, and it made no difference that Erika was already four steps into the room.
Suddenly, a spark went off in Yui’s mind and brought her back to reality. “Ah Erika! You forgot your…!” she called out to her friend who was already halfway inside the Art room.
Every second that passed seemed to play as if in slow motion from then on. In response to Yui’s call, Erika did her signature Yui-kill. She turned to Yui with a sheepish smile accompanied by a sheepish shrug, only to be bothered by a fellow Art Club member.
OneIs this… Is this just an illusion? Have I created it with al l this confusion?Yui waited for the last member to enter right pass her, where she was glued to the floor in front of the classroom entrance. Upon hearing the connection of the door to its frame, Yui shook from being startled, but she kept her focus on the box in her hands. Half of this was created by her, the other by Erika- together.
Concluding that it would be a rather big scene if she barged into a meeting of all of Erika’s friends, and realizing it would do no good for her to stay glued to one spot; Yui decided to walk back to the dorms.
Slowly walking back, another conclusion formed. She had to open it. She had to look inside. Through a sort of insane way, Erika owed it to her to look. She kept all these secrets from her, right? It was only right that she peeped even without consent. Right?
“You” the tag read. That was it, no name, no sure answer. Just one word that left behind even more questions was written on the tag.
Not being able to take it anymore, she tore at the neatly wrapped cloth on the box, and opened it to find something inscribed on the lid. It was very beautiful, written neatly and with such grace that it almost looked like calligraphy, like art.
“When I said ‘I love you’, I meant it.”These nine words were enough to stop Yui from her direction.
It was enough to send a wave full of memories crashing back into play.
It was enough to make her realize just how naïve she had been.
It was more than enough for her to turn around and run through the halls she had already passed twice in a matter of minutes, making it a third time. She ignored the people she shouldered through that gave her annoyed glares to get back to where she started, she even ignored the awkward stares as she ran by.
Yui thought of all the times she was teased by Erika. All those times Erika apologized with those same three words written in the middle of the box she held tightly. All those times when she took it as
just an apology said to a friend, and noting more- nothing more so it didn’t bring burning and questioning feelings.
Too many tears were built up inside of Yui’s eyes. Her stubbornness had forced her not to blink so she wouldn’t feel the tears rolling down her face; so she wouldn’t have to admit that she was crying like she used to, like she used to before she met Erika and before when she was weak.
Yui stopped short at the door that divided her from Erika. Those too many tears finally fell, still without a single blink to release them. She wanted so badly to confront Erika, to beat at her chest, to shake her madly, and yell at the top of her lungs and ask the questions that had the answers to stop her madness. But she didn’t.
Instead, she stared into the door window and admired the teenage girl who stood in front of the crowd. She had soft features, and a bright smile, and her hair complimented the shape of her face. A girl who smiled proudly at her artwork of a box of chocolates on a kitchen counter as she explained its significance to her.
The beginning half of this chapter was probably the most worked on part of the story. And it still seems like crap to me. I hope the ending made up for it though ^_^'
Oh yeah, blame me losing my thumdrive, working/cleaning my ass off, getting sick, and S.H.E. for not getting the chapter up any sooner ¬_¬;
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Something sweaty for the boys<< >>
Something shirtless for the girls<<
-Owaranai_sLaVe
Topic: Going once, Going twice, SOLD! (Read 26504 times)