We walked for a few blocks, when the buildings started stretching and more people appeared. I began to wonder if we were really going to his house, or if he was taking me somewhere else. My curiosity, however got the better of me in the end, and I willingly followed his steps.
Once again, I felt stares piercing my back even as I walked steps behind Naruto, it's like they know we're not supposed to exist together. I almost change my mind before he finally stops, and I bump into his back.
"We're here." He turns towards a large building, with its own doorman. I stare at him, doubting this is his home, until he greets the doorman and he greets him back amiably. "C'mon, my place is somewhere in the middle, it has a pretty good view." A pretty good view, huh? I'm pretty sure the view looks great from any floor at this point. It's somewhere in the middle of the city, and there's movement everywhere, venders on the street, cars stirring in every direction, and people hustling like working aunts.
Once we reach the elevator, Naruto presses the twenty-sixth floor, and just as the door was about to close, a large hand slides within the two doors, forcing them open.
"Almost missed it, huh?" a man in a fancy black suit, and carrying a briefcase makes his way inside, followed by a large group of students- still in their gold and white uniforms. By the looks of it, they're from Yakamana High School, my old school. I walk as far back as I can, afraid they'll notice who I am. Even if they don't know me personally there's a chance they've seen my face from the pictures taken back then.
"Fuck…" the elevator is covered in mirrors, and I can see them starting to glance around. One of them catches my eye, and I quickly move further back, bumping loudly on the glass mirror behind me. Naruto seems to notice and glances back, he turns around and understands. He gently bends down and whispers softly in my ear.
"You okay?" he places both hands above my head, leans against the mirror, and blocks the view from any of the students in the elevator. "Just look at me." His breath tickles my ear.
"Okay." I unconsciously hold my shoulders. Hoping the shaking will stop, but instead I begin to feel smaller, and sense the lack of air with each breath I take. I Hate it. Laughter fills the elevator, and suddenly I'm back at school.
The elevator slowly fades, and the laughing intensifies, a dark alley appears, and I see someone run past me, the same uniform, the same long straight hair…and the same expression. She stops a few feet away from me, as the laughter intensifies books are flying in the air, landing by her feet. From every direction, dark figures emerge, one reaching for her hair, the others pushing her and shoving her until she falls on the ground. One kicks her, and she opens her mouth, without a sound coming out. Cold chills run through my body, and I don't feel myself breathing.
"Hey, relax." A faint voice breaks the memory, almost as if I was dragged back to another world, I look up. Naruto's face is full of concern. He presses his forehead against mine. "Don't go there." His glistening eyes glue me to this world. My hands find comfort on his hoodie once more and remain there until we enter his apartment.
"You can take your shoes off; I have an extra pair of sandals there. Use them." He points to the carpet that reads 'welcome' in a weird type of cursive. I look around his apartment, we're not all the way up. But I clearly see the view from the outside, with almost zero obstacles in the way. I walk towards the large windows and glance down at the traffic below. For a view like this, Naruto must be paying top dollar, not to mention he lives here alone. From the looks of the gray wooden floors, smart appliances and the tidiness of the living room, I would say he either makes more than I thought, or he was born with a sliver spoon. The only strange thing seems to be the lack of pictures on the wall, more specifically family pictures. In a way it gives off a cold air, lacking the warmth of familiarity. I guess he has problems with his parents too.
"Since you didn't bring any clothes, you can use these to sleep." I nod at his proposal as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Wait, what? I'm not sleeping here." I march towards him, taking the clothes and shoving them onto his hands. "I'm going home after we clear things here." He tilts his head and smiles kindly. I get immediate goosebumps.
"You owe me. Twice now." He holds his hand up to my face, "Once for throwing food at my face and leaving me this," he points at his bruise with one finger, "and second" he holds up another "-for earlier, I saved you." He quickly connects his pointer finger with his thumb and releases It directly on my forehead.
"What the hell?!" why does it hurt that much? It's just a finer. "Damn it" I whisper under my breath, holding my head in my hands. I threw that food because it was the only thing I could do, and I'm not taking it back. He was being an asshole and deserved it. No doubt.
"Stop that." He flicks my forehead once again. The final string is cut, and I swing my fist, full speed, this time I'll make sure it connects with his stupid face. "Nice try, but I took classes on handling minions like you." He catches my fist in one hand, and the other when I swing again. He pushes me back, and I push back with equal force. It seems to go on forever until the doorbell rings, and echoes in the suddenly empty apartment. "It's here." He pulls me, using my own momentum and swings me on the sofa besides us. I fall without much of a fight, and speedily turn to follow his back. He exchanges a few words with the person behind the door and closes it after a few minutes. A delicious aroma hits me like a wave when he swings the door.
"Food is here, I got brunch and dessert." Wow. Wow. He brought ramen noodles again, along with fresh Cinnabon's. My stomach grows feet, and in a few seconds, I'm sitting on the table, with a plate full of food. But, its weird. Didn't he say he could cook? Why is he paying for delivery? He was throwing me under the table for not cooking, yet here he is, ordering food like it's nothing.
"I have questions for you." He lifts an eyebrow and puts his chopsticks down. "I though you knew how to cook, did you lie? And, you live here alone, yet you act like your having money problems, though its obvious how that's not the case." I sit back, waiting to see what kind of response he'll give.
"I'll answer one. I know how to cook; I just choose not to. Besides there's no need for me to cook, it's just you and me eating now. It'd be a waste of ingredients. Besides, it looks like those small breads are enough to satisfy you." He chuckles mockingly, "Don't deny it, you were practically drooling at the sight of them." He hands me a pair of chopsticks, "There, eat now. No more questions."
"I only asked two questions, and the second one is a yes or no questions. Are you rich or not?" he looks up at me, he's starting to get annoyed. "I mean, just look at the size of your tv, and this place looks really clean, do you have a maid coming in here to clean as well?"
"Cut it out, use your mouth to eat."
"-I mean honestly, you don't have to hide it, there's nothing wrong with- "he slams his hand on the table,
"If you don't stop, I'll use my mouth to stop your mouth, understand?" I hesitate, taken a back, fine. If he doesn't want to tell me anything, neither will I.
"Fine. Keep your secrets."
After eating we sat down on the coffee table and did our homework silently, it got awkward enough for him to turn the radio on and break the dead silence. We studied until the sun was long gone, and we both developed headaches. "let's call it a day. I'm going to shower first, use the tv if you want."
I decided to snoop around after flipping through a few channels. I left the tv on, in case he heard me, and opened anything that was closed. Five minutes into it all I found were batteries, random papers, and a few pens here and there. Nothing out of the ordinary, at least not in his living room. I took the search party further into his bedroom, and looked under the bed, in the small table stand next to the bed. I was about to give up until I closed the drawer in frustration and saw a picture fall to the ground. It was someone that resembled Naruto enough to call him his father. He was wearing a coat with the same emblem my own father and mother carried on their uniform for work. Was Naruto's dad working with my parents at some point? If so, then they must have known each other, or at least have run into each other once or twice. I carefully place the picture back in the drawer. With more questions than answers in my mind. I wait to confront Naruto.
A/N lol I lied. Not much wildin' this chapter, it was longer than It was supposed to be…next one for sure…
