"Don't cry, Minako. This is how it should be..."
Minako's head played those words over and over again. She was so exhausted, but her mind didn't allow herself to sleep.
The image of him struggling in his own pool of blood, trying to hold himself up and having a hard time breathing traumatized her so badly.
She tossed and turned and couldn't hold her cries in, that came out as small whimpers. She hugged her pillow tightly and closed her eyes shut as hard as she can, and suddenly remembered the warmth of his arms the other night.
She felt even worse, and couldn't stop her tears from falling...she couldn't control her feelings. Not this time.
There's nothing I can ever do, huh? Every time I get close to people...they always end up leaving...far away, where I can never reach them.
She couldn't stop her selfish, negative thoughts that filled up her head. She felt so alone, again. She'd always help her friends and give them advice, even though she secretly craved for help as well.
That's what was different about him. He didn't need anyone's help...didn't expect from anyone or anything. He'd secretly wonder about everyone's health and if they're eating okay, and even made sure Minako ate her vegetables. All those little things that he cared about.
She stared at the ceiling and calmed down a bit, and started reminiscing the days she was with him. She remembered what he told her:
"Don't ever cry, okay? You look best when you laugh."
She laughed at the thought, but cried sadly at the same time. She missed him so much...she never thought she'd lose someone that fast...someone so special, to her.
She hadn't been this dramatic before. All her feelings seemed to just burst out, all at once. She's been tired of keeping quiet about the pain she slowly bottled up inside.
It all started ten years ago...when her parents died. It was so sudden and she was so young and didn't even have a say in anything...it seemed like she never had a choice in life.