FOREVER AND ALWAYS: CHAPTER 2
Hikari just returned from one of her classes. She was walking towards the coffee table when she heard her friends talking about something.
"I wonder when Hikari will know," Jun asked to Ryuu.
'Me? What the hell do I not know?' she told to herself.
She hid behind a big tree not afar from them. Scanning the whole room, she saw everyone except Kei. He must be in the computer room.
"But, you know that Kei's trying to keep that from her since before. Well, Hikari's been too dense to it." Answered Ryuu.
'Takishima? He's hiding something from me? Since before?'
'Why does he needs to hide from the very start? Can't Hikari know?' Megumi wrote on her drawing book.
"What can we do? Hikari won't be able to understand it. I mean, she doesn't really care. She really won't mind it if she knew that Kei is in love with her." Tadashi said, spilling the truth out unconsciously.
Hearing this from Tadashi, Akira threw a teapot at him. As usual, he's face got swollen. But he doesn't really care.
'I agree.' Megumi scribbled.
"I really kind of admired Kei with that. Can you believe it? He's stayed in love with Hikari for ten years! Whoa! It's just," Ryuu said, then sipped his tea.
"Amazing." Akira finished.
'Me? Takishima's… in love… with…me…' Hikari thought, very shocked.
She cannot even take in everything she just learned. It's too impossible for her. Hikari can't believe it. Very much surreal for her to believe. Even though she's dense, it is the one fact that Hikari cannot consider. She's aware that Kei is too far from her. But it's quite far-fetched that HE, Kei Takishima would fall for her. Thinking about it, Hikari began to walk away.
'If that's the case, I cannot just take things normally. Avoiding him would be the best. I'd hurt him for far too long now.'
She spent the whole break time without her friends. Without him. Hikari was at the rooftop, contemplating about the mind-boggling thing she learned about.
IN THE GREENHOUSE:
The S.A was there. Having their lunch. Exactly one o' clock. Everyone's there, except Hikari. Kei was typing like mad in his laptop because she is not present. Akira was pouring tea to Tadashi's cup when she noticed something.
"HEY, YOU BEAST! WHERE DID YOU TAKE MY ANGEL!" she shouted.
Tadashi and the others covered their ears. Kei leaned farther for Akira's yelling right to his ears.
Ryuu bared his ears from his arms.
"That's right. I haven't seen her since this recess break." He said, looking around.
Kei glanced at his watch.
"Chemistry should be done by now." Kei mumbled while staring at her seat.
'He really knows her schedule.' Penned Megumi.
He immediately closed his laptop and slammed it. Kei stood up and looked around.
"Hey," Tadashi mumbled.
They looked at the worried side of him. They clearly know that he's thinking about Hikari.
"Yes, I know." he said while walking out of the place.
"Man, Kei changes instantly especially when Hikari-chan's involved. Don't you think?" Jun asked again.
"Change? What do you mean change? Like a horrendous monster to an angelic lover?" Tadashi answered jokingly.
Everyone nodded.
"Come on, guys. You know Kei." Ryuu said, while petting a tarsier on his arm.
'Yea, we know him. Head-over-heels over her.' Megumi jotted.
Then, they just glanced at Kei and Hikari's seat. And sighed. Still unaware of Hikari's big discovery.
"Hey, do you think Hikari's distancing away from Kei?" Tadashi asked.
Kei stood in front of the school building. He has searched all over the campus. Even to the places Hikari usually goes. He had gone to her house and found no one in.
"I got one, last chance," he said while panting.
He walked in to the building. Kei checked the classrooms. But she wasn't there. He went to the faculty room and searched for their Chemistry professor.
"Excuse me, sensei." He said as he stepped in his booth.
"Yes, Mr. Takishima? What brings you here?"
Kei walked to the desk.
"I was just going to ask if you have seen Hikari Hanazono today." He said, retaining his composed stance.
"Well, actually yes. Why'd you ask?"
"Nothing. I think I haven't seen her shadow since your class." Kei answered.
"She attended my session today, but I haven't checked where she went after it."
Kei nodded, "Arigato, sensei."
He went out of the office and ended up in a deserted hallway. Kei just sighed and walked away.
'Where are you, Hikari?'
Kei searched again the whole building. He ended up at the last floor. Very worried, Kei pulled out his phone and dialed her number. Fortunately, it rang.
Then, he heard a sound. A sound that was her ringing tone. Kei listened to it carefully. It was from the rooftop door.
'I am so stupid! Why didn't I know she's in there?'
He walked to the door and opened it. Just as what he thought. Hikari was there. Lying against the wall, she seemed to be peaceful there. Kei went to her. He examined her, as if she's not in her usual self. Bending down, he sat beside Hikari. By that, she looked away and to the blue sky.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, in an emotionless tone.
He looked at her and sighed.
"I was searching all over for you. Why didn't you go to the greenhouse and have lunch?"
Hikari smirked. "Not hungry."
"I've been so worried about you. You didn't answer my call."
She grabbed her bag. And saw her phone. Pressing a button, a notification showed.
*1 Missed Call from Takishima*
Silence covered the atmosphere. Kei sensed something. Something wrong. Something different. Unusual. Erroneous and off beam.
Picking up her things, she stood up. Kei got to his feet.
"Is there something wrong, ni-san?" he tried to tease her.
"Everything's fine." She answered detachedly. Practically, Kei thought that she would have her 'Number Two' explosions. But unfortunately, Hikari didn't, and instead, she replied to him in a remotely manner.
'She is hiding something from me.'
Hikari continued to walk away. Kei was left there alone.
She was running back to the greenhouse when her Chemistry teacher found her.
"Ah! Ms. Hanazono! Mr. Takishima has been looking for you a while ago. Seemed worried about you. Well, did you see each other already?"
"I did. Thanks. A lot, sensei." She said while walking away. Rushing.
Hikari arrived at the greenhouse. As soon as Akira saw her, she ran to her angel.
"Where have you been? We've been crazy looking for you! Or at least Kei does." She said.
Ryuu eyed him the Kei-will-kill-you-for-what-you-said-to-her look.
"Uh, forget what I said! Do you want to grab some lunch?" Akira asked.
"No, thanks, Akira-chan. I'm sort of not feeling well."
'Sick?' Megumi wrote down.
"Whoa! That's new! You're sick? Whoa!" Tadashi joked.
Ryuu hit him at the back. He's only making it worse. Well, Hikari seemed to be in a bad mood. Her smile this morning faded out.
"I'll be going home now. I needed to do something, uh, well, important." She said while toddling out.
Hikari was walking to the school gates. While Kei's looking at her from the rooftop with desolated eyes.
"Hikari," he whispered.
The day passed very quickly. The greenhouse was rather awfully quiet without Hikari. The stillness covered the whole room until Kei broke the silence.
"Kei? Where have you been? You've seen her?" Tadashi asked while reading some travel magazine.
He didn't answer. Kei picked up his bag and strode away from them. He's going home as well. No reason to stay in school.
KEI'S P.O.V
I was at my balcony. Looking at the sunset. My day wasn't good. Hikari wasn't even talking to me. I don't know why. I feel very frustrated by it. What have I done wrong? What have I done this time? Did I offended her in some way in which I didn't know? What can I do to at least, make her talk to me?
I remember her face. Those lonely eyes. They seem to be away from me the moment she asked what I was doing there. I wanted her to feel happy, but, seeing those eyes, it made me, so guilty. I feel like it was my fault.
I wanted to be there for her when she needs me. I wanted to know how she feels. I wanted to hear her problems so I can help her. I wanted to defend her in times of trouble. I wanted to tell her everything.
I know she said that everything's under control. But, I know she's lying. That time, I wanted to hug her and tell her that I know she's not. Something's wrong. I know it. I can feel it.
Why does she always shut me out? Why does she close her doors? Why does she have to walk away and go farther from me? Distancing herself, it makes me wary. I never wanted her to be away from me. I always yearned to be with her. I always wished Hikari to be by my side. But why does it always go downhill? Why does she need to be far from me? Why?
That night, Kei tried to call her a hundred times. He even sent her text messages. Even e-mails. But no luck. She won't respond to it. He tried to call her through the house line. Atsushi was the one who answered. But he said that Hikari's tired.
"Why the hell is she hiding from me?" he asked himself.
He texted Ryuu to call Hikari. Luckily, she replied.
Ryuu immediately notified Kei by replying to his message.
"What the? Hikari responded to Ryuu!"
Kei was walking from side to side. He can't help it. Due to the anxiety. He ended up whispering and mumbling things to himself.
"Oh no, she's mad at me?"
"Augh, what have I done?"
"Is she alright?"
"I wonder if she's feeling better now."
"What do I do now?"
That's right. The great Kei Takishima is nervous and anxious at the same time. He didn't hear the knock from Sui. So it gave him the permission to go in. Sui was a bit surprised to what Kei's been acting.
"Hey, nii-chan, is something wrong?"
Kei stopped, looking at him.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing. I wanted to see how my brother'sbeen doing." Sui said, examining the room.
Kei didn't respond. He continued to walk.
"Problems? With Hikari?"
As soon as he heard her name, Kei flinched.
"Shut up. You may go now."
Sui just looked at him.
"Gomene, nii-chan. But if she's mad at you, why not apologize for it?" he said while walking away. He left his brother in.
"That's right."
THE NEXT DAY:
The greenhouse wasn't the same. Hikari was out. Kei was there, waiting for the right time to say his apology. While the others just let them be. They know they shouldn't pry on 'lovers' quarrel'.
Hikari came by for lunch. Actually, they can barely see her eating there. Kei noticed it firstly, before the others.
Reached dusk and Kei was still there. Akira, Tadashi, Ryuu and the twins had gone home. He's waiting for Hikari to arrive. She's going home late. Said she'll finish something.
He waited until it was five. Finally, she arrived. Hikari was shocked as soon as she saw him there. Seating with his arms crossed. Kei shifted his eyes to the girl walking in front of him. Immediately, he stood up.
"Hikari?" he talked.
She looked at him. He fell silent. When he didn't speak for the second time, she continued walking and fixed her things. Kei just looked at her. Before Hikari could put her last book, he instinctively stopped her from it. Hikari looked at him, perplexed.
"What?"
He sighed. "Can we talk, please?"
Hikari looked around. "Speak."
"Look, I wanted to say sorry."
"Sorry?"
"Yes, sorry. I noticed that you've been avoiding me. Since yesterday."
"Yesterday?"
"Yes. Yesterday."
"Excuse me, I did talk to you yesterday. When you found me at the rooftop."
"Well, that doesn't count. It took us five minutes or so."
"I still did talk to you."
"It's not what you call talk. I prefer it as speak."
"Alright, if you say so."
That's right. Hikari just got distant from him. She talked coldly. As if she hated him.
"Are you okay? Hikari? You seem out of yourself." He asked.
"I am fine." She said while walking away.
Kei caught her hand.
"I know you're not."
Hikari continued to walk.
"I hope you didn't forget the challenge you gave me." he said.
"Of course. I won't ever forget that."
"Why do you keep pushing me away!" Kei shouted.
"What are you talking about, Takishima?"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, HIKARI!"
"Stop saying nonsense!"
"Then, stop staying away from me! Hikari, why are you even shutting your doors? Why not talk to me? Tell me the things that bother you!" he bellowed.
Kei can't really keep himself calm by it. He knows he's not supposed to yell at her but he has no choice. All the emotions for her overpowered him.
"This is preposterous, Takishima! I guess you're getting out of line."
"Out of line? Is there supposed to be a boundary between us?" he asked while looking at her.
Hikari can feel his annoyance.
"Why are you saying these things?" she asked.
"Because you're doing things for no reason!"
"Then I suppose you're reprimanding me without a motive."
"Ha! Me? Absurd! It was you who stayed away first!" he answered.
'I am sorry, Takishima. I've been very selfish. It's just that, I don't want to hurt you anymore. I feel very stupid for not noticing your feelings. And I know that if we got closer, I'll give you more pain. Forgive me.'
"Do you know how much I care?" Kei said, looking intently to her eyes.
"No, I don't."
"Then, might as well think about the people around you? I've been worried about you. I was anxious that you'll get into trouble again."
"Then what? Takishima, it's not even your job to protect me! I can handle myself well. And I don't need you to rescue me, alright? Don't you even think that I don't care for the people around me. Or even you, because you don't know what I'm going through." Hikari said, with sadness in her eyes.
"Then tell me! Tell me what situation you're in!"
"This 'talk' is pointless. I need to go home." Hikari said, while walking away.
'I will know the truth. Don't worry, Hikari. I would be right there. Even if you pushed me away.'
Hikari tottered away with tears flowing from her eyes.
'I am just doing this for you, Takishima.'
The weeks passed and Hikari avoided him more. It pained him most of all. Seeing her, shunning away from him, it was more like hell. With that, Kei's been in bad mood often, not talking to anyone. He's been following her around. But of course, without her knowledge.
That day, Hikari was at the library when Kei arrived there. She tried to leave but Kei cornered her.
"Meet me at the rooftop after class. If you don't, you lose. And I'll be waiting." He said and walked away.
She just looked at him with confusion.
AFTER CLASS:
Kei stood there. He looked at his watch.
"Three-thirty."
Then, his mumblings was distracted by loud bang from an opened door.
"What do you want, Takishima?" she asked.
"Let us have a challenge? Shall we?"
Hikari just looked at him.
"First to finish the puzzle wins. The winner gets to get a command for the loser."
She frowned and looked at the puzzle pieces.
"Very well, I accept."
Then, Kei showed her the picture. It was the greenhouse's interior. Soon, they began to pick the portions together. But, as usual, Kei won.
"Hikari, tell me. Why are you avoiding me? And I want the real reason."
