Chapter 7: Falling
Happiness, yeah, happiness, finally this thing is now certain in their lives. Every moment with her just feels just like heaven, even more than heaven. But fear is still reigning in his heart; he gets so afraid just thinking of how he would confess to her…
"I don't want you to go away from me just because of this darn emotion. I don't want you to get mad because I love you more than just what I thought I could ever love a girl. I want you to be always near me, but every moment that you are right beside me, just gives my heart a reason to fall deeper. But damn! I love you and I want you to love me back! But if this love would be the reason why our friendship would be at risk again, I will just kill this damn emotion. If this love would be the reason why I will lose my best friend once again, I guess I just have to let this all go…"
Keitaro is so lost… lost between the love he feels and the friendship that would be at risk. But he can never tell her... because Keitaro is afraid he would lose Narusegawa.
Depression filled his heart so he turned on the radio and sweet fate, he can exactly relate on the song playing at that very moment…
SONG:
IF ALL ELSE FAILS by MATCHBOOK ROMANCE
A subdued silence undisturbed by the sound of her breath.
So carefully, brush her hair back from her eyes
In steady sequence, one by one.
She slips away.
So close your eyes and sleep to dream.
I'm by your side.
No words to speak.
We'll set our course and make it through.
No matter how far I go my heart remains with you.
And I'm not sure what I'm looking for.
But it's clear to see the purpose of my existence is laying here in front of me.
So close your eyes and sleep to dream.
I'm by your side.
No words to speak.
We'll set our course and make it through.
No matter how far I go
And if all else fails you can look up at the sky
Because it's the same one that shines above you and I.
And if all else fails you can close your eyes
And I'll be right beside you.
I'll be the one by your side.
So close your eyes and sleep to dream.
I'm by your side.
No words to speak.
We'll set our course and make it through.
No matter how far I go
No matter how much this hurts
I wanted you to know,
My heart remains with you.
Keitaro was so busy thinking about his situation, with his eyes close and the song playing on the radio… that is why he did not notice that Narusegawa had been watching him silently because she thought that he is asleep…
Point Of View- NARUSEGAWA
Keitaro is so handsome… even when he's asleep. I could stand here for hours, just watching him sleeping. He sleeps like an angel, so peaceful and quiet… he's my angel. He is my guardian angel, my best friend and my… love.
Wait! Wait!
L-love?!
D-Did I just say that he is my l-love?
Well, silly, of course I love him! Because he is my best friend!
'Are you sure that is the only reason?'
Of course it is! What could be any reason behind it?
'Maybe… you love him more than a best friend. Maybe you are totally in love with him! And the feeling is more intense than a love for a best friend. Maybe you love him as a man…'
I-I love K-Keitaro?! Oh my God! Am I really in love with Keitaro, my b-best friend?
Wait!
I can't be in love with him! I can't be in love with my best friend!
'Why can't you?'
Didn't you get it?! Because he is my best friend! I cannot fall in love with my best friend. I can't!
'Sure you can.'
"I said I can't!" she didn't notice, but she said it out loud. And that made Keitaro open his eyes…
END of POV
"Narusegawa! What are you doing here?" He's startled to see Narusegawa inside his room. Yeah, they were best friends for so long, but he never let her enter his room.
Narusegawa was also shocked to see him awake because she thought that he was asleep, "I-I'm sorry Keitaro, I was calling you outside, but nobody answered so I decided to go inside because I noticed that the door was open. I looked for you… and I saw you here, in your room." she stated.
"It's okay. What can I do? You're already here." He said, he was just kidding.
"I-If it's that uncomfortable for you… I would just go." she said, she was about to go out that time.
"I'm just kidding! Go back here, come on." He said and pulled Narusegawa closer.
"Okay. Okay." She said but still with a pout.
"What's that pout all about?" he asked.
"Nothing…"
"Oh, come on! Tell me!"
"I said it's nothing…"
"You wouldn't tell me? Hmmm…" he said and then positioned himself to do something.
The scene made Narusegawa nervous, "W-What a-are y-you planning?" she stuttered. 'Would he be kissing me?' she thought.
He didn't answer... He just came closer… and closer.
"K-Keitaro!" she shouted. 'God, I'm so scared!'
Keitaro came much closer and… finally... tickled her.
"Hey hey! Stop!" she shouted between her laughter. 'Man… I thought he would kiss me.' A side of her mind stated in dismay. 'You silly! Why would he?!' another side reacted.
"So, are you going to tell me or what?" he asked while still tickling her.
"Okay! I would tell you, just stop!" she screamed while laughing.
So he stopped, "Okay, now, what's that pout all about?" he asked.
"It's nothing really… I was just fooling around too." she said and then giggled.
"Enough of the tickling and giggling, so, what do you think of my room?" he asked and then laid down on his bed, smiling at her. 'I hope we would still be like this even after when I tell you how I'm really feeling about you Naru…'
She laid down on the bed too, "Well, it's nice. Not too clean but not that messy. The room's alright, but the owner is worst." she stated and then chuckled.
"Hey… you. I thought you were my best friend..." He said and then covered his face with a pillow, pretending to be hurt by what she said. 'I'm not alright… because I'm deeply in love with my best friend.'
"Keitaro… I was just kidding."
But Keitaro did not answer; he didn't even looked at her.
"Hey!"
Still no answer.
But Narusegawa noticed that he was laughing, so she stood up and pick one soft pillow and called him.
"Keitaro!" she shouted.
Keitaro had decided to put down the pillow and to his surprise another pillow smashed his face.
"Hey!" he screamed and then laughed. He ran and picked up one pillow too.
"Want a battle huh?" she said and smiled.
Pillows met each other, soft cottons flying and scattered all over the room. And when they got tired, they both laid down on the bed.
They just kept silent, both staring at the blank white ceiling. No one dared to talk, or to make any sound. Silence ruled, but in each other's mind, there's just one thing they want to say…
"I hope we would be like this for forever…"
Keitaro got up, "I'm hungry." he stated, he broke the silence that embedded them for some while.
"Me too. Come on! Let's go eat." She agreed and then stood up, arranging herself. "Are we going to leave your room just like this?" she asked.
He arranged his self too, "Yeah, I'll just clean this later when we get back. Come on." he said and then pulled her.
"Alright."
After eating they went back and went straight into each other's home…
Narusegawa was so happy that day… well, every day is a damn good and happy day for her because she is with her best friend…
But her smile broke down and was replaced with fear when she remembered one thing that night...
"W-Wait, a-am I really in love with Keitaro? More than just a best friend? Am I really totally in love with him?" these thoughts clouded her mind that moment, so she laid down and started thinking about it.
As she was lying there, some scenes from the past started to fill her mind… and those scenes made her realize something she did not and never expect to happen.
FLASHBACK!
"Hmmm… Hmmm…" she hummed as she walked towards Keitaro's classroom. She was about to shout and call him but a scene caused her to stop. It was Keitaro; hugging Mutsumi (his classmate) and they seem so sweet, no one even seem to disturb the two.
When Narusegawa saw them, she immediately went out of the classroom and ran. She ran fast and went into the field, she didn't notice it, but tears fell from her eyes.
'Wait… why am I crying?' she thought, but her tears seemed to have their own minds, she can't stop them from falling.
'Silly you… what's to cry about? What do you care if Keitaro has a girlfriend? You don't have the right to be jealous you fool.' A side of her mind stated.
"I'm not jealous."
'Really, so why are you crying right now?'
"I don't know! But I'm sure I'm not jealous! Why would I be?"
'Maybe it is because you love him already?'
"Stupid! I'm not in love with him!"
'Try to convince me now…'
"I said I'm not! I am not------"
"Narusegawa?" a familiar voice called her, it was him.
"K-Keitaro! W-Why are you here?" she was shocked to see him so she immediately stood up and arranged herself.
"That's exactly my question, what are you doing here and why are talking to yourself? And wait, did you just cry?" he started asking questions and his voice demanded a reasonable answer.
"I-I was just…" she can't seem to find any excuse.
"What?"
"I was just practicing my lines! Yeah, my lines for our classroom play. I was just practicing them. You know…" she stated, trying to convince him with her excuse.
"Oh… alright." He doesn't seem to be convinced but he just nodded. "Anyway, let's just forget about that." he stated.
"Yeah… I'm sure I would not forget my lines, I practiced a lot." She said and then laughed. 'Darn!' she exclaimed deep inside.
"Let's go?" he asked.
"Alright." She smiled. 'Damn, did he hear it all? I hope he didn't. Silly you! You're so dumb Naru!' she said to herself while they were walking home.
END OF FLASHBACK!
"I think… I do love him."
"Darn… I am really in love with Keitaro, my Neighbor Best Friend. What should I do now?"
'Tell him?'
"No! I can't tell him!"
'Why not?'
"Because if I tell him that I am in love with him, he would go away from me. He would leave again!"
'How would you know if you would not try?'
"And if I try and then fail? You think I can handle that? I cannot let him leave me again and this time, don't come back. I would never let that happen. Never."
'Then what about your feelings?'
"I would just get rid of this feeling, I would just kill this darn emotion."
'What if you can't?'
"Stop asking me questions will you?! I don't even know what to do myself, so please stop asking me questions!" she shouted.
She looked silly talking and shouting at her own self, but who cares? She is just confused of what to do now that she found out that she is in love with Keitaro…
It's hard to fall in love with your best friend… You never thought that you will feel like that… But as time passes and memories struck you, you'll just realize… that the best friend you considered for a long time; was the person you've been waiting for… all your life.
Notes: Chapter 7 renewed! Reviews are surely welcome here.
