"She's mad..."
"Understandably..."
"She's... maybe beyond mad...Onee-sama", Sachiko said in an almost pleading voice. She bent over and helped Youko pick up a box that Sei left behind. Youko paused for a bit but remained silent. She then stood up and carried a box, but the haphazard manner Sei packed the boxes became too obvious as the bottom gave way.
Youko knelt down and picked up several books, while Sachiko attempted to fix the flimsy cardboard. The latter's attention shifted when she heard Youko sigh heavily, and saw the older girl hold a picture frame of her and Sei. Peering subtly, Sachiko saw a photo of Sei and Youko, taken perhaps in one of their out of country travels. Sei's arms wrapped around Youko's waist, with the former's chin resting on the latter's shoulder, grinning like there was no tomorrow.
"She used to be so...", Youko mumbled.
Sachiko waited for Youko to continue but got nothing afterward. "Onee-sama..."
Youko smiled bitterly and shook her head. "I used to always wake up with a text message from her...'you're the sole reason why I'm up and about'...She used to be so...sweet", she finally said, finding the courage to admitting it to herself. Youko was never one to carry her heart on her sleeve. Sei, on the other hand, had no qualms of showering her with affection.
"You miss her sweetness, don't you?", Sachiko asked.
Youko half-smiled and nodded. "I do...I've been missing it for the longest time"
Sachiko frowned, confused over her onee-sama's answer, but opted not to ask further. Instead, she quietly packed the remaining things that fell, and picked up the box.
"Thank you", Youko said. "I can take care of the rest"
Sachiko nodded and walked towards Youko's car. Youko followed her with another box at hand. "She said, this is everything I have?"
"Yes"
"Sa-chan...are you mad at me?", Youko finally asked. She had been feeling a cold welcome from Sachiko, but was not sure how to bring that up, if at all, she should bring it up.
Sachiko turned away in response. "I...don't know, Onee-sama...You should've seen her...I have never seen her look so...lost...hurt, and confused...I don't think it...it was...it was fair for you to have--"
"Because I don't look lost, hurt, and confused?", Youko asked in a rather harsh tone.
Sachiko bit her lip and gazed at her guiltily.
Youko closed her eyes and shook her head. Sighing, she held Sachiko's hand, and pulled her closer to a hug. "There are so many things that had happened between Sei and I...things that I don't think I am in the proper disposition to tell you as of the moment....but for now...can you...can you please try not to hate me?"
Sachiko held Youko tight and nodded. "I'm sorry Onee-sama...I don't hate you...I don't even think I'm mad at you...I just...I'm sorry..."
---
Sachiko carefully examined Sei as she spoke formally with the saleslady.
"You miss her sweetness, don't you?", Sachiko asked.
Youko half-smiled and nodded. "I do...I've been missing it for the longest time"
Sachiko recalled Youko's words. And it was only now that she had somehow understood them. How many times has she witnessed Youko groan in frustration whenever Sei flirted shamelessly with salesladies, waiters, and bartenders, every time she was invited by the former couple to go out. "When did Sei-sama become so...stand-offish?", she muttered to herself. "Sure, she was a loner when we were a lot younger..I've witnessed that myself...but...this is different...", Sachiko continued to observe Sei's haughty demeanor. "Is this what Onee-sama meant?"
"Done", said Sei. "Let's go back". Sei waved her palm in front of Sachiko's face. "Sa-chan, are you still with me?"
"Huh? Oh, yes, I'm sorry", Sachiko replied as she snapped back to reality.
Sei was, however, half convinced of Sachiko's smile. "I will speak with her soon, Sa-chan", she said, reassuring Sachiko as much as convincing herself to really do it.
"Sei-sama...I didn't mean to force you, I just..."
"Don't be apologetic...I know you're well-meaning about this", Sei sighed.
Sachiko looked down sadly, Something's got to give, Sei-sama, Sachiko thought. I only hope it won't be too late for the two of you.
---
The next few weeks became too hectic for Sei. Crucial presentations for certain clients were met, though at the expense of sleep, nourishment, and rest. Oddly, this was welcomed by Sei with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. Work, became an escapist route for her in the beginning, but this, together with bunking in Caitlyn's place, have developed to be the new sense of normalcy for her. Caitlyn had become a pseudo-sister to her, and she so while she had all opportunities to move out, she decided to stay, with the Irish girl not minding at all. Though guilty at the very least, she had avoided contacting Sachiko, who never failed to remind her the need to reconnect with Youko. Sei was sick and tired of having to give false promises to Sachiko, thus, silence and distance were the best things she could offer right now.
I know I'm being immature and stubborn about this, Sa-chan. But...Sei thought to herself as she darted her way past several people in the office. A very important presentation was about to start, and this could make or break her career. Whatever were her next thought, had been interrupted by the presence of four top executives from the country's top electronics company that had hired the agency to work on its ad campaign. Damn, Sei thought to herself. She breathed in and walked inside the conference room mustering all the courage and confidence she had.
"Good morning, gentlemen", she said steadily. "Shall we begin?"
---
All she could remember were three things. Applause, then it turned pitch-black, and finally she heard a thump--presumably why her head is hurting so much. Sei peered slowly to try and get the feel of her surroundings. Hospital, she thought. There's a certain distinct scent in hospitals that she hated, and that's exactly what gave her location away. She groaned then attempted to shift her body's position only to be stopped by a pair of hands.
"Don't force yourself, here let me--"
"I can do it", Sei said, realizing whose voice it belonged to.
Youko hesitated. Biting her lower lip, she stepped back and sat on the chair next to the hospital bed, quietly watching Sei grimace as she sat up a bit.
"You fainted", Youko said, breaking the silence. "and apparently hit your head on the end of someone's table, thus the concussion"
"The more curious part is why are you here?"
Youko shrugged her shoulders "Someone from your office called me. Guess I'm written as the person to contact in case of emergency"
Sei frowned. She had forgotten about that. "Yeah, I'll have that changed soon, so you won't be bothered next time. Sorry about this. I'm alright now. You can leave"
Deliberately ignoring the last part, Youko spoke softly, conceding defeat that she can't be at par with Sei's sniffy side. "I don't mind...I just hope there won't be a next time...are...are you taking care of yourself?"
"Yeah, I--" Sei was interrupted by a phone's muffled ringing.
Youko stood up and got Sei's pocketbook. "It's been ringing for a few times now"
"Thanks", Sei replied. "Shit", she mumbled after seeing the caller ID and the time displayed on her phone.
"Where the fuck are you, Satou Sei?!", Caitlyn shouted on the other end. "I've been calling for ages!"
"Calm down, Irish", Sei said. "I'm in the hospital. I--damn, stop yelling, yeah, well". Sei sighed then winced as Caitlyn's voice resonated beyond the phone's receiver. Youkostepped out of the room to give Sei privacy, but more than that, she wasn't quite sure how she felt hearing a girl's voice scream in panic over Sei.
I'll have that changed soon, so you won't be bothered next time. Youko pursed her lips as she closed the door behind and leaned against it. "Is she my replacement? That fast, huh? You always were a flirt, Sei"
---
Youko waited in the dark, for Sei to return home. It was late, and Sei kept apologizing through text message, saying that she was caught up in work. Youko slumped back and gripped a small note she was holding in her hand and waited for Sei to finally enter their home.
A few minuted later and Youko heard footsteps that were by now so familiar. She waited without as much as stir from where she was seated.
"Youko? I'm home", Sei said, in an apologetic voice. "I'm sorry I'm late..." When she heard no movement, Sei immediately switched on the light and found Youko glaring at her.
Sei, weirdly found it endearing, whenever Youko acted petulantly, and this was no exception. She walked towards Youko. "Do you have any idea how cute--"
"Stop", Youko emphatically said.
Sei was taken aback and literally stood frozen to where she was standing.
Youko stood up and walked slowly towards Sei. It happened by a split second, but that moment felt like an eternity, as Youko's palm met Sei's cheek violently.
Sei's eyes grew big but remained motionless, failing to process what just happened.
Youko's hand began trembling. She threw the piece of paper. "Tell me. Does work include sleeping with your colleagues?"
Sei suppressed a gasp. She quickly picked up the paper and read what was written in it. "Youko, I don't know what--"
"You're just the sweetest, Sei. I'll never forget what happened tonight between us. Yours, Hitomi" Youko recited the contents, apparently committing them to memory. "Hitomi, she's your colleague, isn't she?"
"Yes, but--"
"I found it in your jacket, you wore last night. You came home almost past midnight. What happened, Sei?! Tell me!!!"
"Nothing happened, Youko!!! I don't know what this note is all about!!! "
"Oh sure", Youko replied. "How convenient it is for you to say that"
"There's nothing convenient about working late and then being accused of cheating"
Youko shook her head repetitively. "You still haven't explained why this note ended up in your jacket"
"Like I said, I. Don't. Know"
"Flirting wasn't enough?!"
"Youko!", Sei exclaimed. "I did not! Cheat on you!"
"I've always felt that you could never contain yourself when people flirt with you. You never realized how hurtful it was that you'd do it in front of me--"
"I--"
"Shut up, Sei!" Youko said, walking away from Sei, but the latter got hold of her wrist and pulled her back.
"Don't you dare walk away from me", Sei muttered in between gritted teeth.
"Watch me", Youko replied in equal ferocity.
---
"No", Youko muttered to herself, refusing to remember the things that have happened after that. When she heard no muffled sound coming from the room, she knocked gently and asked Sei if she could come in already.
"Yeah, sure", Sei replied. "Caitlyn's on her way here, I'm sorry again for the bother"
Youko nodded, picked up her bag, and slowly turned away. "Who's Caitlyn?", she suddenly asked, but berated herself mentally for having done that.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. She's my friend. I'm currently staying at her place, while I'm looking for a new apartment near my office"
Youko, though she hated to admit it, felt a sigh of relief begging to come out because of that answer. Her head slowly turned towards Sei's direction, and watched the latter unconsciously make funny faces while in pain, as she gently rubbed her noggin. For a brief moment, Youko was transported back to Lillian. She had fallen in love with Sei, right about the time the latter fell feverishly infatuated with Shiori. But it was when Yumi Fukuzawa came into their lives that Youko fell in love with Sei for the second time. A different Sei came into the picture, a Sei that gave so much life in Youko; from the way she teased, to her oblivion towards her own behavior. And now Sei's doing that again--being cute without knowing, and trying.
"Sei...I..."
"Yeah?"
Youko shook her head and smiled. "Nothing...I'll...go now...bye"
"Youko?"
Youko stopped on her heel and turned around. "Yes?"
"Thanks...and uhm, well, yeah, thanks"
"It's nothing", Youko replied.
"Youko?"
"Hmm?"
"Uhm, Caitlyn screamed her ass off at me for being in the hospital, because well, it's my fault that I haven't taken care of myself, despite her constant nagging. And so...", Sei scratched her head and grimaced, which made Youko smile a bit. "That crazy woman won't be coming here to keep me company...and so...err.."
"Okay..." Youko replied, and walked towards Sei again. She sat down next to the bed and turned on the television.
"Thanks"
"You're welcome"
---