Opia n. The ambiguous intensity of looking someone in the eye which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable.
Toma was completely shrouded in darkness; he had hidden in the dimly lit street corner near Meido no Hitsuji. It was Friday, seven thirty in the evening: the end of her shift. Amber eyes were alert, waiting for her to come out of the back entrance. He didn't know what took over him as he watched. Why do I stoop this low? Toma mused. He didn't know the answer to his thoughts, but it was too late for him to just walk away.
"You really think that'll work?" A familiar voice asked. Amber eyes immediately locate the source. Familiar auburn hair and emerald eyes shone in the moonlight; the perfection of her features made her look like an illusion. She was simply too good to be true.
"Of course dear, don't doubt me." Another painstakingly familiar voice emerged, disturbing him out of his thoughts. He should've expected that, but it still brought fire to his eyes whenever he saw them together. Toma knew he had no right to feel that way— to feel jealous. They were in a relationship, he was just her brother figure. Perhaps if he wasn't so nice to her, he would have won her heart, Toma scowled as he dismissed that thought.
"But seriously…" Ikki suddenly continued as he gently nudged the auburn-haired girl's shoulder. "Your taste in men is terrible." The auburn-haired girl rolled her eyes at that but smiled back at him teasingly. Witnessing the simple gesture made Toma's heart ache. By looking at her emerald eyes, he could tell that she was in total bliss.
He shouldn't have come here, Toma mused. He didn't deserve to see her this happy. After all, he wasn't causing her happiness at the moment. He was an intruder, looking into the vulnerable deep pools of emerald. Pools of emerald that he should have been avoiding from the very beginning, and yet Tom couldn't help but question what Ikki's words meant. Was the debonair referring to himself?
"At least the man I like doesn't play around and get a new girlfriend every three months, unlike someone here." She said as she looked at Ikki. So they aren't in a relationship? Toma was puzzled.
"Touché," Was his reply. "Anyway, are you sure you don't want me to accompany you home? It's quite late. I wouldn't want you to get hurt." Ikki said in an evidently flirtatious tone, which made Toma's blood boil.
"I'll be fine. My apartment isn't far from here. I'll see you tomorrow!" The auburn-haired girl said as she waved him goodbye. For someone that wasn't her boyfriend, it was strange of her to take his tone so normally, Toma mused.
The debonair had vanished rather quickly from Toma's point of view, which had made his body jerk and his head whip instinctively in search of the debonair. But because of his sudden movement, he had also caused the trash bin beside him to nearly topple over, which caught the attention of the auburn-haired girl who had yet to leave the area. Emerald eyes had evidently widened in fear and surprise as she searched for the source of the sound.
"T-Toma…" She said while looking like a deer in headlights. This should be the other way around, Toma thought. He was the one who was caught, not her.
"H-hey… I, sorry about that. Didn't mean to scare you and I didn't mean to intrude." He began to ramble as he avoided her eyes. Scratching the back of his head with his right hand, he continued as she stared at him in silence. "I was just worried that you wouldn't get home safely, so I made my way here... But I'm a bit ridiculous, aren't I?" Toma managed to say as he let out a soft chuckle.
He hated putting up with his older brother act, but he was the one who imposed it on himself, Toma mused. He had no one to blame but himself, he thought as he continued. "You aren't a kid anymore, and like what you said earlier, you could make it home just fine… so.." He said and eventually decided to stop explaining himself. As he turned around to leave, the auburn-haired girl had suddenly spoken up.
"No! I-it's okay!" She suddenly said as she took his hand. Both of their faces had immediately reddened, and that single touch felt like electricity went through their bodies. Quickly letting go of his hand, she continued.
"I don't mind, Toma…" She said meekly as he turned around to face her. Just meeting her emerald irises had petrified him.
"But… Ikki..." Toma tried to speak his mind, but to no avail. He couldn't think nor speak coherently with her eyes looking into his like that. It was like seeing a fraction of her that he shouldn't have. He was an intruder, after all. Toma bit his lower lip at that thought as he turned his head, avoiding her gaze.
"What I mean to say is, I-I don't mind if it's you, T-Toma." She managed to mutter in-between stutters. Toma's head had suddenly whipped back to meet her gaze. His eyes were wide as he looked at her. Did she just…? It took him a moment longer than it should've, but his mind had finally put the pieces together.
It… it was me this whole time?