Chapter II: Lend me your shoulder for a while
"Can you meet me tonight? At the park. You know where."
"Has something happened? Why so sudden? Why not I meet you tomorrow morning? It's already nearly midnight."
"I just need a friend right now."
"Alright. I'll be there in 20 mins."
"Thank you, Katase."
At the park, the air was chilly and she forgot her coat. There's a lot of things running through her mind and she felt she will burst if she don't talk to anyone what's bothering her.
"You forgot you coat again, Aya." Draping his own jacket to Aya's shoukder, Katase appeared behind her.
"Thanks Katase" looking up to him and smiled a small smile. "Why is it your always there for me? How many times you have come through for me?"
Katase just shrugged his shoulder and giving her a small smile too.
They continued their silence, but it was a comfortable silence. As if they understand what's each others feeling right now.
"Katase, if I ask you to take me away, will you do it for me?" Aya said, looking straight at Katase's bewildered eyes.
"What?!" said the shocked Katase.
"If I say please run away with me and never come back to this place, will you do it for me?" Aya said seriously.
"Aya, have you been drinking? What made you say those crazy things just now?"
"I'm not drunk and you know it! I'm serious." Aya said earnestly, "As my dear friend and the only one who understand what I feel, will you do this service for me?"
"Aya, you know I would say yes to all your requests, however, what you've asked is beyond what I can do." Katase said taking in the seriousness in Aya's voice, knowing that she is not joking." Care to explain what had brought this predicament? Why all of a sudden you asked me to take you away."
"I am getting married to Rei Otohata as an order from the Hoshino clan." Aya looking away from Katase's face.
Silence.
Katase, looking up at the moon, contemplating Aya's situation, as if the moon will give him the right answers. Sighing, Katase begun " You know Aya, if I take you away, we will only be running away from the problem, but it won't solve anything and will only cause more wounds."
"I would love to take you away, you know I would if I could. However, it won't be right."
Aya crumpled to the gound, sobbing and defeated. " I …I was just starting to forget him! I can't do it, Katase!" Aya's tears uncontrollably flowing. "My heart..it hurts so much…so much," Aya cried inaudibly.
Katase is hurting too. He never wanted to see Aya like this, so helpless and he can't do anything.
"Katase, would you lend me your shoulder for a while."
Katase nodded. With this, he is content for he knows this is the only thing that he can do for Aya.
She then laid her head to Katase's shoulder. They stayed like that till the sun rose.
End of Chapter II
