Saturday. Morning.8Please respect copyright.PENANAlzgOfiZB3v
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The morning rays of the sun warmly coated my room with their light. The glimmer carefully caressed the sheet of my bed which made it look like the white was glowing. A small portion of it softly graced my desk with its touch. It was where I sat last night to be diligent with my studies. Light entered my windows while they were open and that allowed me to hear the songs of sparrows bathing in its radiance. Peacefully. Gracefully. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAjy6AwG22KH
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In the corner, across my bed, I stood in front of the mirror stand. I was applying my makeup, just a while ago, but it took me about thirty minutes to decide how I would present myself out into the world. Not like the whole world would see me, after all, I just didn’t like going out without any makeup. I examined my face one last time, checking to see if I had applied them right. Light blushing cheeks on top of a thin foundation. Pink painted on my lips. A subtle eyeliner drawn to highlight my round eyes. The hazel inside shone beautifully, just like I intended. And the small mole under my eye was deliberately untouched, so it would be seen, to what I considered to be somewhat charming.8Please respect copyright.PENANAJZonIr9MVZ
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I turned my head to the right, turned it to the left, lifted it up a little, then dragged it down to my chin. I thoroughly analyzed every angle of my face. And when I was done, I tilted my head and winked.8Please respect copyright.PENANAVYN3EIPJjF
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Perfect.8Please respect copyright.PENANA42QUFQSVej
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Now it was time to inspect my clothes. I wasn’t sure what to wear earlier. I was trying to decide between two options…8Please respect copyright.PENANAhmQ7WjTOoD
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A light blue lace blouse. Delicate floral lace decorated each shoulder before moving inward to meet at the center of the chest, where it blended into the solid fabric that covered the rest of the blouse. Beneath it, I was planning to wear a fitted pink camisole that would peek through the lace.8Please respect copyright.PENANAMRsPoCcYyf
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Or…8Please respect copyright.PENANAvzLyShCNJi
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A soft yellow blouse with a modest V-neck. Its flutter sleeves began at the shoulders but split open along the upper arm, revealing a bit of the skin. The frilly lower half draped over my arm, remaining attached to the blouse instead of hanging separately. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAAIMStOa7pC
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After fifteen minutes of deliberation, I chose the latter and paired it with my favorite skin-tight jeans that hugged my legs that ran down on top of my ankles.8Please respect copyright.PENANA62sQuZLQ1A
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I turned to the right, turned to the left.8Please respect copyright.PENANATRnZ3NZQzH
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Perfect.8Please respect copyright.PENANAcrKAw5wBHb
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I nodded. Proud.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqh5mIXaWAY
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My eyes started navigating their way toward my hair. Blonde. Not naturally, I started dyeing my hair since I was in 2nd year of middle school. Not particularly because I was trying to follow a certain style, but because during 2nd year of middle school, I once saw a foreign drama, subtitled, and the lead actress had beautiful long hair which was, to my eyes, glittered like gold and I ended up mesmerized by it. I tried to imitate what I saw, wavy, loose, long. I liked it ever since, and I started liking it even more now.8Please respect copyright.PENANAvQ7yXvfcQg
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I still remember the first day I dyed my hair though, my Mom was too shocked that she wasn’t able to say any coherent words for about five minutes before she proceeded to lecture me. I kept doing it anyway. Every day Mom told me to dye it back, every day I didn’t. Dad was still not working overseas that time so I had someone to calm her down and take my side. He wouldn’t be angry. He would just smile and explain to my Mom that it wasn’t that bad, that it was just a way to express myself. In fact I did look cuter with blonde hair. Until eventually she stopped complaining about it. It took about a year, but there were still a few months of that look of disapproval. And eventually, from last year, Mom started to help me dye my hair.8Please respect copyright.PENANAZB7UkVKdPf
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I giggled from the memory. I missed having Dad around but I had learned to let the memory be filled with warmth instead of sadness.8Please respect copyright.PENANAT0xvD6JlDu
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I went toward my desk where I prepared my usual earrings. My hands sorted them out first, then I picked them up one by one and started wearing them. After I had worn the last one, I went to my bed to put my phone inside my shoulder bag. The notebooks Kuroiwa had told me to bring had already filled up all the space inside it. Again, I marveled at how thick they were, seeing that four notebooks could already make my bag full. But I needed to take my phone with me. I unzipped my bag and put my phone on top of the notebooks. Then the door opened.8Please respect copyright.PENANAGxia6Y52C7
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“Ru-nee,” my favorite and only little sister showed up when I turned.8Please respect copyright.PENANAPOBJ3wstha
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“Ruri!” I said half loud, half careful. I didn’t want to catch my Mom’s attention. I hurriedly went to her then covered her with my embrace. Ruri was still rubbing her eyes and yawning. She was so cute that I just started rubbing her head. “Good morning, did you just wake up?”8Please respect copyright.PENANARRl5tibL0p
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“Mmm.” She nodded and looked at me with her adorable eyes. “Ru-nee, where are you going?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAxHujDEB04A
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I picked her up and we sat down on my bed. I let Ruri sit on my lap.8Please respect copyright.PENANAB4x4tdWH00
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“I’m going out to study,” I said.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgBI6xOnA7V
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“What? You’re going to study again?” Ruri protested.8Please respect copyright.PENANABo9G06ae2p
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“I’m sorry, but onee-chan needs to study for the exam.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAGntgAW1pTY
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“Nooo. Stay. You already went studying last week, you promised we’re going to play today.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAnKG5CjC2jR
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“Next time, okay? After the exam.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAArcDm3geLH
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Ruri didn’t seem to approve of my compromise. Her eyes and her pout were the evidence. She can be too spoiled at times. Well, it was mostly my fault. Ever since she was a baby, I had already been adoring and spoiling her. I wonder what it would be like if she was just a year or two years younger.8Please respect copyright.PENANADi1oh9qU2t
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I smiled at her. But her pout never faded. Then, she noticed my makeup.8Please respect copyright.PENANAkTHSIXo9UM
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“You look much prettier today,” she said.8Please respect copyright.PENANAXXpkCCB87q
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“Really?” I smiled.8Please respect copyright.PENANAYgB0DXYfeL
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“Yeah, Ru-nee, you’re already pretty even without makeup, why are you putting it on?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAWDESbANdmq
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“Well, you will understand when you grow up,” I said and I poked her nose each time I spoke my next words, “Just. Like. Me.”8Please respect copyright.PENANA8vD89rCsqF
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“Can I try?” Ruri asked.8Please respect copyright.PENANAobjZpfk26G
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“You’re still too young, Ruri.”8Please respect copyright.PENANA2CHr8vfDuX
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“But I’m already ten.”8Please respect copyright.PENANArrdkVAHTjr
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“You’re only allowed to wear it when you become as tall as me, okay?” I lifted my free hand and hung it in the air, about three feet high with palms facing down, and my elbows bent slightly. “You’re still this short, see?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAtgnRW6GvVu
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“I am not that short,” Ruri pouted as she complained.8Please respect copyright.PENANAnGqaviXyGh
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I giggled. Ruri was short. And just like Mika, she didn’t like being called short. But when she pouted, I felt strings being pulled inside my heart. And while she was pouting, my fingers couldn’t resist gently pinching both her cheeks and carefully pulling them a bit so I wouldn’t hurt her.8Please respect copyright.PENANARcRzLoQTnk
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“Eergh,” Ruri’s cute voice made a sound while I gave in to what my hands wanted on her cheeks. “Ee, hurz,” she mumbled.8Please respect copyright.PENANAliAuMtWRAC
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I let go of her cheeks then softly rubbed them.8Please respect copyright.PENANA3mMLfXP0Ca
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“Sorry~” I said with a bit of glee.8Please respect copyright.PENANAwMy8VT2ra9
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“Mmmnnnnn.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAYFwZMOSzsA
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Ruri quickly buried her face into my chest in frustration then pulled away just as quickly. She looked at me. I saw the animation of her eyebrows slowly trying to touch each other. I knew she was being suspicious. I just smiled at her, somehow I thought she was just going to be silly.8Please respect copyright.PENANA8QAY0Ab9um
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“Are you going to go on a date?” she asked.8Please respect copyright.PENANA6zbRcU6Es3
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Okay, she wasn’t going to be silly after all.8Please respect copyright.PENANAW0J1bfh7NA
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“N-no, I said I am going to go study, right?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAh5yc16n1yB
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“But you're going out too early, and Mika-nee is not here telling you to hurry…” Ruri never stopped her interrogation. “Hii-chan told me her older sister goes out early too, when she’s going on a date.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAiRid0xLgdP
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“I’m not going on a date, I promise.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAmWrgfvJ5lt
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“Then let me come with you.”8Please respect copyright.PENANArRmpsgUIlZ
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“I can’t, I’m sorry.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAmSNKXbFmk2
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“Why?”8Please respect copyright.PENANALB3aG4NDXc
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I replied to all of Ruri’s demands as gently as I could. But if she started to be like this, it was going to be hard to convince her. She always wanted things to go her way. And I was to be blamed. I turned her into this. Into the cute, selfish, little monster that she had become. Adorable. Precious. Lovely.8Please respect copyright.PENANAyXBZu5Tfsj
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“I’m sorry, Ruri. I really can’t take you with me.” I tried. I knew I would fail.8Please respect copyright.PENANAN4kwCVUw0l
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“Nooooooooooo. I wanna come, I want to. Stay. Please. Ru-nee.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAFWHVjl75d8
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And there it went. Ruri’s tantrums. She was flailing her hands and feet on my lap. She was being difficult. But I couldn’t really make her stop. I wouldn’t want to get angry at her. I wouldn’t. 8Please respect copyright.PENANACpzQidN2SO
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I sighed. But I smiled.8Please respect copyright.PENANAPIFTPWOHP5
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“I’m telling Mom that you have a boyfriend,” Ruri said after she stopped her tantrums.8Please respect copyright.PENANA36oUj6xD8S
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My eyes became wide.8Please respect copyright.PENANA57eKDK5Yy0
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“No,” I said. “I’m not going on a date.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAeo2ax53u8m
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“You are,” she insisted.8Please respect copyright.PENANADLtZTpD8dJ
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I opened my mouth but I couldn’t say anything. She was going to tell Mom no matter what. I had to think first before saying anything.8Please respect copyright.PENANA8s3I8efSAy
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“Uh, Ruri, well. I promise okay? I am going to play with you when I get home,” I negotiated. I hoped this would work. “Just don’t tell Mom anything unnecessary. And I don’t have a boyfriend.”8Please respect copyright.PENANA8YRWflCQUZ
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“Really?” she asked.8Please respect copyright.PENANAa3jaIBR4ck
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“Yes,” I nodded as I answered. I took a quick glance at the clock hanging above my door. Eight thirty-six.8Please respect copyright.PENANAamR5QCPo4W
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I patted her hair and let her down from my lap.8Please respect copyright.PENANAnVMUTxhWyw
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“Onee-chan is about to go now, wait for me, alright?” I continued.8Please respect copyright.PENANAN0kCIKDz2w
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She wasn’t saying anything, she was just looking at me. I didn’t really know how to take that. But I was supposed to arrive at Kuroiwa’s apartment at nine in the morning. And I was definitely going to be late.8Please respect copyright.PENANAq1GE2PtfY4
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I stood up and Ruri went out running before me. I grabbed my shoulder bag without looking at it. I held it with my hand as I stepped out of my room and closed the door that she left open then hurriedly went down the stairs. She was standing below the stairs, right across the doorway of the living room. As soon as I arrived at the entrance, I placed my shoulder bag beside me, and started putting on my sandals. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAWihBe6hfMO
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Ruri shouted towards Mom.8Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3x8ZasuZv
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“Mom! Ru-nee is going to go on a date with her boyfriend!” Ruri declared.8Please respect copyright.PENANAMKskC5HISA
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I looked at her briefly, eyes wide open. But I didn’t have any time left so I finished tying the last knot of my sandal as fast as I could. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAZsyozTBdcF
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And then I heard Mom.8Please respect copyright.PENANA9MIxtqFRcQ
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“What?” It came from the kitchen.8Please respect copyright.PENANAWItYQvWG4Z
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“He’s not my boyfriend!” I shouted back. “I’m leaving, I’ll be back before dinner!!” I grabbed my bag and went out running from the house before Mom had a chance to interrogate me again like last night. I felt something fall out from my bag by the entrance while I was still inside, but I had no time to look back.
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9:16 am.8Please respect copyright.PENANAbcJAISOChY
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The optics from my eyes coldly coated the entrance of the lobby with their sadness. Their glimmer carefully left as they caressed the floor which made the place seem darker. A small portion of it softly graced my breaths with sighs. And in the corner was where I sat at that moment to be diligent as I waited. Light spilled through the main door whenever it opened for the few people that were coming and going, allowing me to hear the sounds of their shoes as they bathed in my own silence. Sullenly. Pitifully.8Please respect copyright.PENANAifCq7VQdYl
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I embraced my knees as I sat down quietly.8Please respect copyright.PENANAG0M0ormsRS
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I arrived at Kuroiwa’s apartment on time, even early. When I rang the intercom, no one was answering. And on top of that, when I searched for my phone in my shoulder bag, it was open this whole time. Then I remembered something had fallen out when I was hurrying to leave the house.8Please respect copyright.PENANAX4h70FJcLw
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Everything was going wrong. Everything was totally wrong.8Please respect copyright.PENANANTeb7UJdeI
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I sighed. Then I buried my face into my knees.8Please respect copyright.PENANAuJ3QZydW59
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Besides, where did Kuroiwa even go? He told me to come here at nine and he was the one missing.8Please respect copyright.PENANARYGaqnhm8r
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…Or was he ignoring me?8Please respect copyright.PENANAb6toAZ8tiy
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My eyes twitched a little.8Please respect copyright.PENANABw5oKdMr0R
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I didn’t care anymore. Exams, studying, taking notes, top ten… all of it. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what was happening. He just let me wait for him like this. Whenever people passed by, all I could do was just turn my head away from their gaze, pretending I couldn’t see them. Because not seeing them made me feel like they were not seeing me.8Please respect copyright.PENANAXemWY1zAP7
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I sighed again and dug deeper beneath my knees.8Please respect copyright.PENANAOO84KHOrZT
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If he made me wait a little longer, he would definitely hear a lot of words from me. I’ll try to be angry, at least.8Please respect copyright.PENANA5cUwYQHMWS
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…I’ll give him five more minutes…8Please respect copyright.PENANArl7NqRHJ8g
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…8Please respect copyright.PENANA4t7MWtWZM5
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…8Please respect copyright.PENANAOIvlIX66Ao
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I had nothing to do. I was bored. I couldn’t even watch any videos to pass time. Five minutes was too long.8Please respect copyright.PENANABtdtquCBmR
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Kuroiwa Rei!!!8Please respect copyright.PENANAJNcZScFHid
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I shouted his name inside my thoughts while I stood up. I looked at the main entrance of the building trying to summon him by the automated door. With my eyes!8Please respect copyright.PENANA4bANNcSN9t
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Then it opened…8Please respect copyright.PENANArghg9eNrDx
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Hmm?8Please respect copyright.PENANAwkDHbTFhzq
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Then a shadow…8Please respect copyright.PENANATXW4dqw9Se
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I tilted my head.8Please respect copyright.PENANAjkU5GjZxBZ
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Then it was him slowly entering the building…8Please respect copyright.PENANAfEq8caKwMM
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It worked?8Please respect copyright.PENANAAbGewM7fEf
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“Hey!” I said without meaning to. “Where have you been?” I sharpened my tone, as it was softer the first time.8Please respect copyright.PENANAYsgaCfptYr
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Kuroiwa stopped when he heard me. He turned his head toward me and just stared. I stared back. I furrowed my eyebrows. I tried my best to out intimidate this guy with intimidating eyes. I was not going to lose. Not after what just happened.8Please respect copyright.PENANAPSF1q2WVtp
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…8Please respect copyright.PENANAtXG9s7zbCS
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…8Please respect copyright.PENANAtEbp80S3YI
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“The English word ‘Complicated’, what does it mean?” he asked.8Please respect copyright.PENANA1L5eSXt0qC
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I blinked.8Please respect copyright.PENANAYZ6WTufsXb
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Was he really going to do this right now? In the lobby? Where people would come and go, and the possibility of an awkward situation appearing because we were just standing here looking at each other's eyes, and somebody could pass by us, and I would get embarrassed because I had been here for twenty minutes.8Please respect copyright.PENANABgpy3g2F6a
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“Why are you asking me this now?” I whispered. I leaned forward to Kuroiwa even though we were a few feet apart. I didn’t need to whisper, but I felt that I really had to.8Please respect copyright.PENANAxPRbBpuNrU
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“Just answer the question,” he demanded with his usual flat voice.8Please respect copyright.PENANAedkweQz0L1
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I had to deal with an incredibly cute stubborn person earlier today.8Please respect copyright.PENANArg4cyCadxi
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Do I really have to deal with another one?8Please respect copyright.PENANAwKwfmyfUVr
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A worse one, even…8Please respect copyright.PENANAvhm8NPE7p2
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“I-I don’t know,” I answered while straying away from his gaze.8Please respect copyright.PENANAJX0ZPjSdnh
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“It means… hard to understand, explain or to deal with,” he said. “Can you use it in an English sentence?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAwo5Dfs65Cp
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Ugh…8Please respect copyright.PENANA5tC630pP7a
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“You… uhh… umm… you.. kom.. kom-pu-li… kom-pu-li-kay-ted-o.” I mustered all the knowledge of English I knew into answering Kuroiwa’s question. “You, kom-pu-li-kay-ted-o.”8Please respect copyright.PENANACxeo23aDsZ
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I gave him my sharpest look. And we went back to staring at each other's eyes.8Please respect copyright.PENANAdU6lC7uEZW
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“Close enough,” he said. “Let’s go.”8Please respect copyright.PENANA2a5Cn4wuNv
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He started to walk towards the intercom. And there was when I noticed he was holding two plastic bags in each hand. They seemed to be filled with ingredients. Some fish, some vegetables, some fruits, some eggs and some beverages that I couldn’t see because they were at the bottom.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqgxfZJL69N
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“Do you need help?” I offered.8Please respect copyright.PENANAzOEVET5Sfn
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Kuroiwa looked at me then slowly raised his hand to give me the plastic bag with the vegetables and eggs in it. But when I was about to take it from him he stepped back leading me to grab air instead.8Please respect copyright.PENANAL0byGXZY1L
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What just happened? I thought.8Please respect copyright.PENANAeWaYrONBiY
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“I’m sorry,” Kuroiwa said, then bent himself to place the plastic bag on the floor. After he stood back up he continued to walk toward the intercom.8Please respect copyright.PENANAxtWeTcSkUs
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I just followed him with my eyes. All the irritation I had been feeling up to this point was quickly replaced by something else. I bit my lip briefly and walked toward the plastic bag, bent down, and took it with my hand. After I stood up straight, the inner door opened.8Please respect copyright.PENANA12V927zJaW
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“Hurry,” Kuroiwa said as he stepped in first.8Please respect copyright.PENANANxjfmMms24
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I jogged behind Kuroiwa and slowed down when I got in. The door closed behind us and I was just in time. We walked toward the elevator which was waiting for us on the ground floor. I peeked inside before we got in and no one was there. So, that meant it would just be Kuroiwa and me inside. We boarded. Kuroiwa shifted to the side as I settled myself in the corner.8Please respect copyright.PENANAgZ6h4fOAnn
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“Do you cook?” I asked, because even though the elevator would reach the fifth floor rather fast, I didn’t want an elevator ride with someone to be surrounded by silence.8Please respect copyright.PENANAUzwqFaASFY
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“Sometimes,” Kuroiwa answered.8Please respect copyright.PENANAuB2jf60ZEO
8Please respect copyright.PENANA84XaKLrc6t
“Do you often go out to buy ingredients yourself?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAyVeIPbSxin
8Please respect copyright.PENANAK7UZAxa1qU
“No.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAt9XAUscUQ9
8Please respect copyright.PENANAPkNHV60AVl
“…Do you like vegetables?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAjj03F77Z7s
8Please respect copyright.PENANAzmUXYJouoX
“Yes.”8Please respect copyright.PENANArTDqPwutp9
8Please respect copyright.PENANADbtFCiyPer
One word reply for each question. I sighed, but I was not yet ready to give up.8Please respect copyright.PENANA3clhKhyh7A
8Please respect copyright.PENANAN0CRyGwSIE
“So, are you going to cook today?” I continued.8Please respect copyright.PENANAWaUNxCMBc5
8Please respect copyright.PENANAx6nCuhCn6a
“Probably.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAk1SI5fZ9i6
8Please respect copyright.PENANAwEmkUiKDub
…8Please respect copyright.PENANAC3z5grsUOm
8Please respect copyright.PENANA3ewUn2ESGp
“What are we going to study today?” I asked the question that I knew would get more than a one word answer from Kuroiwa.8Please respect copyright.PENANAtimR7fu2kk
8Please respect copyright.PENANAsysXnMqact
“English, Japanese literature and science.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAHS14Fa3ynw
8Please respect copyright.PENANAaiv0kpmFbu
I got five words from that.8Please respect copyright.PENANAYzbsP8LLVf
8Please respect copyright.PENANAI61Z7emRAp
I’ll take it.8Please respect copyright.PENANA6TB65NCKci
8Please respect copyright.PENANAG1pxxnoCq7
As soon as the elevator door opened, the conversation hung in the air. We stepped out. Kuroiwa in front of me, still not initiating anything to talk about. I slowed down my steps behind him, otherwise, if I continued with the way I always walked, I would bump into him.8Please respect copyright.PENANA5bhVqcWbf7
8Please respect copyright.PENANASPBudo4JZw
That would be awkward, I thought.8Please respect copyright.PENANAWd3OMCO5eT
8Please respect copyright.PENANA3fhzu7XJWr
I didn’t understand anything at all. Last night was completely different than what just happened in the elevator. After we left the ramen shop, I walked beside Kuroiwa, even when there was distance between us, but the silence, the warmth I had just witnessed inside the ramen shop somehow bridged a different gap. And we talked. And I had so many things I had asked… if he ever watched anime or read manga, if he played video games, what kind of video games he played, what were his favorites. I wasn’t interested in any of them, but I asked anyway because of how he engaged and answered everything.8Please respect copyright.PENANAYyjaDfCAB3
8Please respect copyright.PENANAIitsYDlIRZ
I asked about things that I was interested in. Like if Kuroiwa liked cakes, what was his favorite food, and what was his favorite dessert. I asked if he liked going out during the weekends to shop, for clothes, for accessories, or spotting things he would want to buy in the future. I asked his opinions about TV dramas, if he ever watched one before, if he ever was curious to watch one. I even recommended my favorite drama that I watched years ago.8Please respect copyright.PENANAFntB7dg19T
8Please respect copyright.PENANAbIq3soWGpq
Kuroiwa’s answers had not been limited to just one word. He would answer the questions with a yes, no, maybe, perhaps, or probably, but he would always offer more words to elaborate on them.8Please respect copyright.PENANAZxbm1yUIsZ
8Please respect copyright.PENANAlQNoCFatkq
I would tease Kuroiwa about his eyes and I’d laugh. Then I suggested that glasses would suit him perfectly fine. He would nod, but somehow that nod was enough. I had so much to ask him, to talk with him about, but I was not able to ask everything because we had to resume studying. Last night, I felt like we were conversing, not just talking. But right now, it felt like the opposite.8Please respect copyright.PENANAXrEDsgMw2q
8Please respect copyright.PENANAgufnLvaNnD
I couldn’t find those questions I had last night right now, they just… vanished. And I didn’t really know what to ask next.8Please respect copyright.PENANAbASWUJlHRa
8Please respect copyright.PENANAXD7HdKMFED
I thought I understood what Hina said yesterday during gym class, but maybe I didn’t. Maybe I didn’t need to know more about Kuroiwa. Maybe this gap between us was enough. Maybe there was a line that was drawn in that space... a line that I never was supposed to cross. Maybe I should stay behind that line and never reach out.8Please respect copyright.PENANA9dfuTsxMt0
8Please respect copyright.PENANAy1EAVurb5j
…8Please respect copyright.PENANA4eIU5St8SD
8Please respect copyright.PENANAMaX60CcWvM
But then again, I wouldn’t want to spend hours of studying alone with a boy I couldn’t figure out.
8Please respect copyright.PENANAl6tsJegwHr
…
8Please respect copyright.PENANAhS4i1aduPl
And also, it was not like we suddenly got close afterwards either. Why am I even bothered about this anyway? It was just Kuroiwa being Kuroiwa after all.8Please respect copyright.PENANAtj0s4wkDKp
8Please respect copyright.PENANAZBTIbpIQA0
I took a deep breath.8Please respect copyright.PENANAJElV7sew98
8Please respect copyright.PENANAJR9VRNOGey
I shouldn’t really jump to conclusions that fast. If I really wanted to learn more about him, then I had to be patient. One night would not produce any results. It was just the beginning.8Please respect copyright.PENANA5i2dQjb35k
8Please respect copyright.PENANAz6MhjPh5aL
I didn’t realize that I was looking down that whole time, so when I noticed, I lifted my head to look forward.8Please respect copyright.PENANAR14MIOEOUd
8Please respect copyright.PENANAKPFtaGc9vW
I blinked, twice, three times.8Please respect copyright.PENANAGK354JKXva
8Please respect copyright.PENANA77tj8Sb5GV
Kuroiwa was not in front of me. I looked at the doors.8Please respect copyright.PENANA2pfgueKJII
8Please respect copyright.PENANAXhOkEkmd3x
508, 509, 510.8Please respect copyright.PENANAqzWjmRMY9L
8Please respect copyright.PENANAXutqjv4qpS
Hmm?8Please respect copyright.PENANAhCft0NcMYv
8Please respect copyright.PENANAvv4jTfKG1C
I didn’t want to admit what I just did. So I reluctantly turned around. And there he was. Kuroiwa, who stood in front of the door of his apartment, which apparently he had already opened. He was just watching me move forward, silently...8Please respect copyright.PENANAjjwIc2eNcl
8Please respect copyright.PENANAxyCLEg6sbn
I walked back. My steps got heavy as I approached Kuroiwa. I tried to be calm while I walked but as soon as I appeared in front of him my eyebrows furrowed by themselves and I leaned closer to him.8Please respect copyright.PENANAW4zXj4UuSP
8Please respect copyright.PENANAAVnmbqolAJ
“Why did you not stop me?” I stared into his eyes. I didn’t remember them being this close.8Please respect copyright.PENANAp2aiexj2F5
8Please respect copyright.PENANAU5gDJyK1NH
“You’re too close,” he said. He didn’t move backward to avoid me or even flinch but I realized that I had closed the gap that we had not officially agreed on but maintained since last night.8Please respect copyright.PENANAQiChVgFYD0
8Please respect copyright.PENANATckMXBeoII
I got flustered and was the one to step back. I stopped glaring at him and hid my face to the side because of the sudden warmth I felt over my cheeks. I was worried the colors they would show were not from the makeup, but from a natural blood flow.8Please respect copyright.PENANAnRfXFknJYK
8Please respect copyright.PENANAkPjXXX3g1X
“You should have stopped me and said something when I passed your apartment,” I said, quieter this time but my tone remained firm.8Please respect copyright.PENANAv9EyhV2wvp
8Please respect copyright.PENANASvWhFsaie5
“Sorry,” he just replied.8Please respect copyright.PENANAhufE5ShNxG
8Please respect copyright.PENANAgTveJs8ZoU
I really had to be more attentive when I was around this guy. I was too spoiled by my friends that they would just call me out before I could embarrass myself in public. Luckily, there was no one in the hallway except for Kuroiwa and me.8Please respect copyright.PENANAB3jr2zkilS
8Please respect copyright.PENANAQbcPr9XKxa
“It’s fine,” I said as I gave up. I surrendered to the fate that the gods who chose to watch over me. To the fate they had already drawn for me with this guy.8Please respect copyright.PENANA7OFDGpPcoh
8Please respect copyright.PENANAA9yTGDrWQM
We moved into his apartment, same hallway inside, same living room. But this time I headed to his kitchen intending to help Kuroiwa arrange what he just brought with him when he went out.8Please respect copyright.PENANAe07lUSPVet
8Please respect copyright.PENANAgnJNGvcvCI
“You can just wait for me in the living room,” Kuroiwa said.8Please respect copyright.PENANAru7D3Zlk1J
8Please respect copyright.PENANAtXNDH6z3X7
“You sure?” I asked.8Please respect copyright.PENANA3OOtOzajjW
8Please respect copyright.PENANACaCjCJyqah
Kuroiwa nodded.8Please respect copyright.PENANAMoyI4z2pt6
8Please respect copyright.PENANA03v2xds9K6
I guess, if Kuroiwa said he didn’t need my help then there was no reason for me to stay in the kitchen. I carefully placed the plastic bag I was carrying on top of his dining table and was about to head toward the living room.8Please respect copyright.PENANApYKfs8r8vx
8Please respect copyright.PENANA8yW0RmCoYa
“What do you want for a drink?” Kuroiwa asked before I was able to make a full turn toward the living room.8Please respect copyright.PENANAd1cwcpODE9
8Please respect copyright.PENANAcRHWWeSpgT
I turned my head to face him. “Soda,” I said. I had asked for soda twice already so I felt like I had to commit.8Please respect copyright.PENANAUd4lbSOWRo
8Please respect copyright.PENANAJRV7P0WYxe
Kuroiwa dug inside the plastic bag he brought. He placed every item on top of the dining table until only the beverages were left. He looked inside for a moment.8Please respect copyright.PENANApLWoBm68Nx
8Please respect copyright.PENANATHRkksdfUk
“Sorry, I forgot to buy one. Either water or juice, but the juice would still not be cold.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAF2tdEyjaE5
8Please respect copyright.PENANAMrgntiIj0a
Seriously…8Please respect copyright.PENANA3McwrH7ENZ
8Please respect copyright.PENANAW8djdv6IT6
“I’ll have water then,” I said. “Can I get it myself?”8Please respect copyright.PENANAQq7FQ3dmS3
8Please respect copyright.PENANATfDoeJJYwV
“Sure, inside the fridge there should still be some bottles of water left. You can transfer them to a glass if you want.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAerJ1UgsPDk
8Please respect copyright.PENANAI9l1YiHjf0
“I’ll just take a bottle.”8Please respect copyright.PENANAu5ec3UI50h
8Please respect copyright.PENANAPvP4og6WIG
“Okay.”8Please respect copyright.PENANASjMzNjLWAc
8Please respect copyright.PENANAYeJsc0LxoX
I walked toward his fridge and opened it. Except for about ten bottles of water inside, it was mostly empty. No wonder he went to buy groceries. But did he have to wait until his fridge is as empty as this to go buy groceries? 8Please respect copyright.PENANAwBuQxJXuWq
8Please respect copyright.PENANAJnThRayX2x
I shook that thought in my mind. I felt like the answer should be an obvious yes, and I didn’t want to bother myself asking the next question, which is ‘why’.8Please respect copyright.PENANAtwREGZg6kn
8Please respect copyright.PENANA4T3xewZfA8
I grabbed one bottle then proceeded to the living room.8Please respect copyright.PENANAhOtKc3Zx2Q
8Please respect copyright.PENANAZS04ZKJ5TC
My instincts told me to sit on my usual spot on the longer sofa, but I didn’t come here to be comfortable. I came here to study. Instead I sat in front of the study table, placed the bottle of water on the fabric coaster that was still on the table, placed my bag beside me, and took out the notebooks I brought with me inside my bag. I sorted them on top of the table.8Please respect copyright.PENANAewoBG6JMqZ
8Please respect copyright.PENANAGtH8oorCtz
Kuroiwa asked me an English question earlier, so I guessed we would start with English. I took a peek at him to see what he was doing. He was still organizing his groceries, taking his time. Slow.8Please respect copyright.PENANA0cRiS9Ra5e
8Please respect copyright.PENANA8aXv4rBh2k
I let out a breath, closed my eyes and pouted. He clearly needed my help to organize them faster.8Please respect copyright.PENANAGZqCIxGsOD
8Please respect copyright.PENANArVrbFiU2Mx
I turned my attention to the table, after all, it is what he wanted.8Please respect copyright.PENANAOPWxYaQrTH
8Please respect copyright.PENANAns9XNs1sFf
I reached toward the English notebook Kuroiwa wrote for me, flipped the cover, and began studying by myself first.8Please respect copyright.PENANAc3Myr1v8Se
8Please respect copyright.PENANAN460tYakzg
I didn’t know what this day would bring to me. I had my adorable little sister telling Mom I was going on a date that I wasn’t. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAAxt9PmI079
8Please respect copyright.PENANAUMzUKOONKM
Seriously, it’s not a date! We’re just here to study. 8Please respect copyright.PENANAaq2voYXAl6
8Please respect copyright.PENANAaga4OGH4rf
I also had my phone fall out of my bag. I had to awkwardly sit in the corner of the entrance lobby of this apartment for twenty minutes. And I had to walk past Kuroiwa’s apartment because I was not paying attention.8Please respect copyright.PENANAQD4NZ8uJbQ
8Please respect copyright.PENANAE2rXgyRfvf
I already knew. This day would be different.8Please respect copyright.PENANA8dKF718E9S
8Please respect copyright.PENANApqTAIEboXO
So, as I continued to read each letter inside the notebook, I was also mentally preparing myself for another long day that was about to come


