"Please don't leave me!"

My Tears

Yō was kneeling, shocked. Riko's body stopped going up and down, her eyes lacking life, signaling death.

She kept on shaking Riko to wake her up. To wake her up from her inevitable demise, to wake Yō up from the nightmare she doesn't want to face, the future she refuses to accept.

"Riko-chan! Please don't…Riko…" Yō looked at her with so much sadness that it hurt. In her arms is her lover and she's dead.

Dead.

She's dead Yō. You can't save her.

You can't save her.

She's dead.

You got here too late.

This is your fault.

The voice in Yō's head was dominating any other voice that was trying to reach out to her. She set Riko down and looked at her own hands, mentally marking herself as the one at fault.

She started to shake uncontrollably, scared. Scared that Riko will punish her for not being able to save her. Scared that Riko will not love her anymore.

Wait, why will Riko love her?

Of course, she won't love Yō anymore!

It was her fault why Riko is now dead!

Yō suddenly felt two arms hugging her tightly and let her tears escape. "Chika-chan…I'm sorry!"

Chika, instead of replying, hugged Yō even tighter knowing that she needed it. Chika knew that Yō loved Riko so much and that her death hit her hard the most. Riko was Yō's world. She did so many things for Riko and now, Yō won't be able to do anything for her anymore. The thought of it makes Chika want to cry. If she had someone to love and they died, she would be very sad.

The least she could do is comfort her best friend. She knew that Riko would appreciate it.

"Riko-chan loves you. She won't hate you for not saving her." Chika knew her friend. She knew that Yō would blame herself. "Please look at me Yō-chan. I want to help you."

Yō refused eye contact and tried to break free from her embrace, emotionally and physically hurting both girls.

"Please let me go."

The desperation in her voice caused Chika to stumble, letting her friend go to run away back home. Despite how much it hurts to see her friend try to cope by herself, she couldn't control her friend and continued her day in worry, hoping that she'll be okay.

—

Yō covered herself and cried. She didn't want to accept that Riko was gone. She just entered her life.

Why does she have to go so soon?

On a shelf held the many achievements Yō has won over the years she has participated in various swimming competition. It ranged from having medals of gold with the number 1 on it to trophies having the similar number.

Before, it meant something. It meant that her efforts spent in training has bore fruit.

Now, it's meaningless.

Meaningless….

Like my worth to Riko-chan.

What was once a blossoming relationship was now down in ruins. A lover has ascended into a place the other can't enter.

One has moved forward, but the other was left behind.

You said you'd grow old with me.

Gone was the warmth she'd usually feel when she invites Riko over for a sleepover. Gone was the giggles that they share when they talk before sleeping. Gone was the love of her life.

And it was something she cannot take back.

It was something she wishes she has, but fate has other plans, it's cruel.

If only she did something before it happened, she could've saved her and they could've lived a happily ever after.

This is a lie.

She can't be dead.

She's just sleeping.

She's not dead.

She's dead.

SHE'S NOT!

Yō desperately wanted to convince herself that Riko wasn't dead. That she was alive, that everything she's experiencing, everything she's living through, it's all a lie.

That this is a nightmare, and that when she wakes up in the morning, she would see the gracious smile of Riko greeting her at school.

But even though it's a dream too far to become reality…it isn't bad to hope right?

To hope for a future that is bearable.

To hope for a day where nothing is wrong.

Sadly, that's not how it works.

And Yō is subjected to living with a grief she'll hold for a long time.

—

Chika to watch as Yō's mental state was slowly deteriorating. The girl had mental breakdowns every once and a while when there was no one around, just the two of them.

The death of Riko was sudden and it caught Chika by surprise. Although a few days have already passed since the incident, Chika still had trouble wrapping her head around it.

She can't believe a student, a friend, a peer was stripped away of the right to live. It was difficult to understand and Chika thinks she'll never understand the concept of it.

The girl admits that she does miss the times when it was just her and Yō. The two of them basking in each other's presence. When Yō confessed to Riko, Chika was happy but behind her smile—

—was a broken heart.

Now that doesn't matter anymore. Chika was focusing on Yō. She didn't want her friend to take the easy way out. She knows Riko doesn't want her lover to die. They both love each other and as much as Chika knows Yō wants to follow Riko in the afterlife, she can't let that happen.

It was her promise to Riko.

Although it hurts, she'll preserve. She always has.

And she always will.

That's what counts.

Yō's head was resting on Chika's shoulder and Chika could feel her heart beat faster. But she'll never have a chance with Yō. It hurts and she wishes it wasn't true, but it was.

And no matter what she does about it.

Yō will always fall in love with Riko.

After all, she lost her chance a very long time ago.

—

The two were by the shore, smiling to each other as the sun set. Yō sighed and leaned on Chika.

She clenched her fist.

Did you know Riko-chan…

I was supposed to propose to you?

A tear slipped down Yō's cheek.

Didn't think that I would put Angsty!Chika here, but it happened. And I strayed away from the outline...again.