Yuzu still can't erase the wide grin that is covering her face. She couldn't believe it, Mei actually said that she loves her. She couldn't describe how she was feeling exactly, but it was as if she was floating in air. She felt so happy.
"Yuzu?"
The blonde snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her mom call her.
"You've been staring into space with that wide grin for a while now, what are you thinking about?" her mother asked with a small smile
Yuzu's face immediately blushed at her mother's question. "Oh.. I-its nothing , Mom. I was just thinking about this funny movie I watched with Harumin the other day. Really, it's nothing." The blonde said while waving her head and hands, looking a little too flustered.
Ume squinted her eyes at her daughter's response but just shrugged it off. Yuzu has always been kind of awkward.
"If you say so.. Umm.. by the way, we're out of groceries so could you buy some?" Ume said as she opened their refrigerator to grab herself I can of beer.
"Sure thing, Mom!" Yuzu cheerfully said as she mocked salute her mother.
"Uwaah.. these groceries are too heavy" Yuzu complained as she struggled to carry the heavy bags full of groceries in her arms.
"Need some help?"
"Aaahhh!" The blonde let out a startled shriek as a certain pink-haired middle schooler appeared in front of her.
"Hey, Yuzu-chan" Matsuri greeted the blonde with a grin.
"Matsuri? What are you doing here?" The blonde was shocked to see her.
The pink-haired girl's grin immediately disappeared and her face suddenly turned serious making the blonde nervous.
"I actually came here to see you , Yuzu-chan. I have something to tell you."
When the blonde came home she didn't bother to say pleasantries and she nearly threw the groceries at their dinner table. She immediately grabbed the raven-haired girl's arms when she saw her and then she dragged her into their room.
"Is it true, Mei?!" The blonde asked , anger eminent in her voice. She was trying to stay calm but she just couldn't.
" Keep your voice down, Mom is just outside." Mei said firmly as she gestured towards the door.
"Just answer me." Yuzu said. Her voice dripping with spite.
"….. What are you talking about, Yuzu?" the younger girl asked , confused why the other girl was acting like that.
"Is it true that.. that.. you're engaged?" the older girl's voice softened, her voice sounding hurt. Her eyes were starting to pool with tears. She bowed her head, she didn't want Mei to see her face and most of all she didn't want to see Mei's face , she was too afraid to see how the younger girl would react.
Shock immediately registered in Mei's face, but not a moment later her face turned back to its usual form.
"What are you saying, Yuzu? Where did you get that idea from?" Mei sighed.
The blonde raised her head looking directly into the raven-haired girl's eyes. Tears were streaming down her face.
"I heard from Matsuri."
The raven haired girl's eyes widened. " Matsuri? You shouldn't trust that girl, she's just spouting nonsense to stir you."
" That's what I thought,too." Yuzu let out a dry chuckle. " So I went to gramps' house to ask him if it's true, and guess what? Matsuri was right!" The blonde laughed lightly as if to mock herself.
" Yuzu.." Mei wanted to tell the blonde that it wasn't true, but she can't change the fact that it is.
"And here I am , thinking that you actually love me. I'm such a fool..." Yuzu smiled sadly. She should've known that Mei wouldn't come to love someone like her, she was an idiot to believe Mei's words.
"Yuzu , p-please list-" Mei's voice was starting to crack. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes but she blinked them away.
" Were you planning on keeping this from me? Was it fun to play with the feelings of someone who genuinely loves you?" the blonde glared at Mei , her voice full of accusation.
Mei covered her face with her hand. The tears she was trying so hard to hold started falling. "No , i-it's not like that , Yuzu. I j-just don't want to hurt you."
The blonde laughed fully at the younger girl's excuse. She didn't want to hurt her? The thought of it made the blonde laugh. Wasn't she hurting now? And hiding this from Yuzu wouldn't change the fact that Mei was already engaged, that she's gonna marry somebody else. She was just prolonging the inevitable doom.
"Mei, do I mean that little to you?" Yuzu's eyes reflected her hurt.
Shock registered on the younger girl's face at the blonde's words. She suddenly felt anger rise up in her. She felt angry with herself for making the blonde feel that way , Yuzu meant everything for her but the blonde thought otherwise.
" Why would you even think that? You're the most important person in my life , Yuzu." Mei said sternly. She stared at Yuzu with unwavering eyes.
Yuzu avoided the younger girl's gaze. " Stop lying , Mei." Yuzu scowled at Mei.
"Look me in the eye and tell me if I'm lying. I'm telling the truth , Yuzu." Mei said softly to Yuzu.
Yuzu felt irritated at Mei's words. She looked back at the younger girl's eyes with a fierce gaze.
"Then prove it."
Mei's eyebrows creased at the blonde's words.
"Break off the engagement if what you're saying is the truth." The blonde challenged.
Mei was taken aback by the blonde's words. She can't break off the engagement, she decided to carry the weight of the Aihara name and she wouldn't think ,even for a second, that she would run away from that responsibility.
"I'm not capable of doing that , I can't and I won't run away from my responsibility."
Yuzu smirked at Mei's words. What did she expect? That Mei would choose her over the academy, over the Aihara family? That's just wishful thinking.
She felt anger towards the younger girl , she wanted to slap the girl and shout at her but it immediately diminished once she saw the girl's face. It was full of emotion. Guilt , conflict , anger and most especially anguish was plastered across the girl's face. Yuzu's heart instantly softened. She couldn't stay angry towards the other girl even if she tried, she loves the girl too much.
"I'm so stupid, Mei. Even though, I already know that you're just toying with me , why is it that I still love you." Yuzu said quietly, as if she was talking to herself.
"Yuzu , I'm n-"
"You already knew , right? When we started our relationship, you already knew that you're gonna be engaged." Yuzu said with a sad voice , it was as if she already had admitted defeat.
Mei was about to say something but she immediately stopped. The blonde was right ,despite knowing that she'll have to marry somebody else , she still started a relationship with her. The younger girl bowed her head , she was too ashamed to show her face to Yuzu. She already knew but she was just too selfish, too desperate for the older girl's warmth. She let her emotions get the better of herself, that in the end she ended up hurting not only herself but also Yuzu.
"Why are you so stupid? stupid. Stupid. Stupid."
Mei raised her head only to see Yuzu hitting her own chest while saying words to mock herself. Mei couldn't help but feel immense sadness when she saw what the girl was doing. She immediately went near the blonde to stop her from hitting herself.
"Y-Yuzu , please stop." Mei said as she wrapped the blonde into a tight embrace.
The blonde resisted the embrace , only to get herself more entangled into it. Suddenly she stopped struggling , she let herself melt into the hug. "I love you , Mei. I love you so much." Yuzu said as she hugged Mei back.
Mei got flustered by the blonde's words but she immediately replied " I love you ,too." She tightened her embrace as she buried her face on the blonde's neck.
"I love you , Mei. That's why we should end this"
Disbelief covered Mei's face. She raised her head to look into the older girl's eyes
" Wh-what are you saying?" Mei asked with a wounded voice.
Yuzu cupped Mei's face, she used her thumbs to wipe the tears from the girl's face " I don't want to put you in a position where you are forced to make a decision. I don't want you to feel guilty in the whatever choice you'll have to make."
"Y-Yuzu.. You swore t-that you would..." The girl said as she removed Yuzu's hand on her face. She looked directly at the blonde expecting to see a bit of hesitation but all she saw was the resolve in the girl's eyes.
" Yuzu..P-please don't.." Mei pleaded, her face full of tears.
"I don't want to hold you back , Mei." Yuzu was trying her best to stop herself from crying. She acted as if everything was okay but on the inside, she was actually quite a mess.
Mei was crying so much that words can't even come out of her mouth
Yuzu let out a small chuckle " You always act so tough but you're actually a big softy. Look, your nose is running." Yuzu said as she wiped Mei's face with her hands, she used her fingers to comb Mei's now messy hair.
"There. Now you look so much better." Yuzu said with a radiant smile.
Mei was still crying hard but she forced herself to speak "Yu.. zu.. I-I.. need.. y-you..P-please…" Mei begged as she grabbed Yuzu's shoulders. The girl nearly kneeled but the blonde immediately stopped her.
Seeing the younger girl like that pained Yuzu. She wanted to just give in and tell lies to the younger girl , she wanted to tell her that everything is gonna be okay but in fact it is never gonna be. She was doing this not to hurt Mei but to make things easier for her. She loves Mei and she would give up anything for her, even her own happiness.
"I'm doing this for your own good." Yuzu said as she lovingly kissed the younger girl's forehead.
"Yuzu..please..I can't.." Mei repeatedly pleaded against the blonde's chest.
Yuzu tightened the hug as Mei continued to plead. She didn't want to hurt the girl but she didn't have a choice, it was for the younger girl's own sake. 'This is for the best' she thought as she tenderly kissed the top of the younger girl's head.
