Chapter 8 (Part 2)
Mai, Sakuro, Shin, along with Sonia, Naru, Ayako and John were now inside the room of Haneda Sakura who was still sleeping since they came in. The room is spacious which gave an air of calmness to them but still, the tension between each other can be felt by everyone.
Sonia and Shin sat next to each other in a love couch on the other end of the room. Sakuro, Ayako and John were sitting in a couch and Mai and Naru were sitting on another love couch next to John. They were all waiting for Sakura to wake up.
Well, getting inside Sakura's room hadn't been easy. One: Sakura's father was against the idea. He doesn't want to see 'peasants' inside his daughter's room. Talk about being so full of himself and arrogance. That's the best words to describe him. But Sakura's mother insisted that it's the only way to make Sakura happy. Yes, that worked. The father would want to see his daughter happy again, so there is it. Mai swear that Sakuro's mood had changed a bit. A bit.
Second problem: Mai did not say to Sakura's mother that Naru, Ayako and John would be there also. But Mai had explained the whole situation to her, saying that they could help solve the case since SPR is the one in charge on it. Though her mother doesn't believe much on the supernatural, she had agreed with them.
Third problem: Sakura was sleeping when they came in. Her head was still in a bandage and she has some bandage on her arms though it appears to be minor injuries. That's why Naru is not in a good mood. Sometimes, his patience can be tested. This is one of the times.
Fourth problem: Mai is sleepy. She leaned on Naru's shoulder so that she would feel a little comfortable. Yes, Naru's scent and built is comforting.
"Say, how long should we wait?" Sonia asked irritably.
"Patience, Subaru-san." Sakuro replied irritably.
"Not for long…" a soft tired voice said.
All of them were suddenly awake and alive. "Sakura?" Mai asked, checking if the girl is really awake.
"Mai-chan…" the girl lying on the bed had replied.
Sakuro doesn't know what to feel. He was about to stand when he realized what really is about to happen here. He was happy that she's awake… but there are other things that must be done first. Plus he can't get to kiss Sakura now because her parents are just outside. He doesn't want to be kicked out of the room. There is still an issue that he had to clear with her. He glanced at Shin. That man would get his beating later…
Mai stood up and walked closely to her friend. "Sakura-chan?" she asked. "Why did you call us here?"
Sakura smiled weakly. "I… have to… tell… you… some…thing very… important." She said slowly, opening her eyes slowly. She was oblivious to the other people in the room. She just focused on Mai.
"Why now?" Mai asked. "You could have waited until you are better Sakura-chan."
Sakura smiled weakly. "Well… I met this friend of yours… he saved my soul…"
Naru knew who it was. Mai knows that this would happen. Gene had told her. Gene, thank you for everything. She thought.
"Sakuro… Shin… Are you there?" Sakura said softly, without looking around to confirm or see if they were there. Maybe it was strenuous for her since she just woke up. And the following conversation is already tiresome for her.
"I'm here." Sakuro answered.
"I'm here." Shin answered as well.
"Can we tell our story to her, now?" she asked the two men.
Shin sighed deeply. Sakuro was bewildered. "What story, Sakura?" he asked.
Sakura smiled weakly. "The Story of Frenemies, the storiddle you did." She replied. "The one you said you told Mai once…"
Ayako and John's eyes met… It's true… It is their story.
Naru looked at him intently. Sakuro protested. "Why? That doesn't have anything to do with you."
Sakura smiled. "Love," She said and Sakuro winced at the endearment. "Because our story is the reason why Reika cannot rest in peace."
Sakuro was now confused. "Reika? Cannot rest in peace? Are you saying that she's dead?"
"Yes." Sakura replied. "She's the one haunting in the school."
This made Sakuro gasped. Reika's dead? He was still in shock. He can't believe that Reika is dead. "How…"
Sakura did not reply. They would come to that eventually.
Sonia laughed softly. "Reika was the one who did that to you, Sakura?" Sonia asked mockingly.
"You're here Sonia. Not so good to see you, but you can be of help." Sakura replied. "Yes, she did it to me."
Mai stared at Sakura then to Sakuro and to Shin. Though she knows a part of the story, she still needs to hear it from them.
Ayako stood up and went by Mai's side. "Haneda-san, I am Matsuzaki Ayako, Mai's co-worker and friend. Mai and I are working at Shibuya Psychic Research-"
She was interrupted by Sakura. "Yes, I know that. Mai told me about you guys. Happy to meet you, Matsuzaki-san. Is your boss here as well?"
Ayako nodded towards Naru's direction. "Shibuya Kazuya. The blonde one is the priest John Brown."
Sakura nodded in their direction. "Nice to meet you as well." She turned back to Mai. "You were the one investigating Reika right?" Mai nodded.
"I wish I could have a copy of it… the riddle." Sakura said.
John took out a piece of paper from his pocket… It's the one Mai did in the car so that they would know it as well. "I have one here, Haneda-san." John stood up and handed the paper to Mai.
Ayako intervened again. "Can we record the story that you are going to tell us?" she asked politely.
Sakura sighed deeply and nodded. "Yes, you may."
Ayako took out the tape recorder from her purse and pressed the record button. Naru took out his black notebook from his pocket and readied himself into writing.
Sakuro, who was still in shock, just sat there and was comforted by John while Sonia and Shin looked at Sakura intently as she started to tell the story.
"Could you tell the first stanza, Mai-chan?" Sakura asked.
Mai read the first line aloud.
"Set1. B1 loves G1
B2 loves G2
But G1 loves B2
And G2 loves B1…"
"I, Sakuro, Shin and Reika were classmates since middle school. Reika and I were best friends. Same with Sakuro and Shin. We decided to form a group since the say that we became group mates for a project. We were friends and we vowed never to fall in love with each other. We resolved to that kind of treaty because we have witnessed a lot of groups in middle school that split up because one of them fell in love with someone and that caused the other member to hate each other. We want our friendship to last." Sakura started.
"But then, some things can't be controlled. When we entered high school, we broke our vow." Shin intervened. "I noticed Sakura's changes, physically, emotionally and mentally and I fell in love with her without the others knowing about it, especially Sakuro who I considered my best friend before. I was afraid that if he would find it out, he would reprimand me for breaking the vow we had."
"The same thing goes with me. I fell in love with Sakuro without knowing when it started. I did not tell it to any of them, fearing that our friendship might change. But then I discovered that Sakuro loved Reika that time. I overheard him talking to someone on the phone. It broke my heart… That's when I started to hate Reika…" Sakura said with a sigh.
Sakuro, who has now recovered (a bit), sighed and spoke. "Reika is also in love with somebody else… She was in love with Shin who was in love with Sakura. I was the one who initiated on uncovering these secrets one time when we were eating together. My original plan was to uncover Shin's secret because I was so jealous that Reika was giving her so much attention but then we were forced to reveal each other's secrets."
Sakura took over the conversation. "In the end, our friendship with each other had ended. Reika and I hated each other so much because of jealousy. Reika hates me because Shin loves me and I hate her because Sakuro loves her. Shin hates Sakuro because I love Sakuro and Sakuro hates him because Reika loves Shin."
Mai was feeling nauseous because of the story. It reminded her of a ride at an amusement park. "Merry-go-around." She said softly. "Hence the stanza 2…
Set 2. Frenemies number 1: B1 and B2
Frenemies number 2: G1 and G2"
"You're right, Mai." Sakura said.
"After that incident, knowing that my love has been rejected, I decided to court Reika for two purposes." Shin said. "I want to make Sakura jealous so that she would realize that she loves me and I want to make Sakuro suffer for he made Sakura fall in love with him. But then, Reika was so happy that she said yes to me the moment I told her that I would court her. She did not even think about the word 'lie'. All she thought about was that she and I would be together then. I was not happy with her but for the sake of being friends before; I just went on with the relationship. But things did go on according to plan. Sakura and Sakuro were together and that did not make me happy. "
"I did not force Sakura to love me." Sakuro commented and sighed. "Reika said that she doesn't want me. She wants you, that 's why I let her go and told her to be happy."
"Don't fight over this. We are merely telling our story." Sakura said and continued. "I and Sakuro started to know each other more. Even though we were friends for a long time, we discovered a lot about each other such as both of us liked to read romantic novels and watch drama films and programs and we both like to eat street foods. One day, I confessed my love for him for the second time, he said that he can't accept my love for now because he still feels something for Reika… but me, being the martyr, I proposed that maybe if we would be boyfriend-girlfriend, he would eventually forget Reika… maybe I could make him love me… After thinking about it for awhile… he said yes…" she sighed before adding, "That's what stanza 3 is all about… "
"Set 3. B1 and G2 together
B2 and G1 together
B1 is lonely
G2 is happy
B2 is lonely
G1 is happy"
Sonia cleared her throat and she asked Sakura if she could continue the story. "I also know something about it. Reika told me most of it." Sakura nodded and Sonia spoke.
"Shin was so depressed when he got the news that Sakura and Sakuro were together. He tried to break from his relationship with Reika. He either flirts or sleeps with other girls, much to Reika's annoyance but that did not stop her from loving him. Shin was also drunk most of the time. One day, he was drinking alcohol in the rooftop when Reika went there too to tell him to go to class. Reika tried to stop him from drinking… She told him that he has her by his side and that he has to move on. Sakura doesn't want to be with him. Shin got so angry and he slapped her so hard that Reika got a huge bruise on her cheek. Sakuro, who was looking for Shin at that time because he wants to talk to Shin to rekindle their friendship-"
"Because I told him to do so." Reika cut in.
"-saw the whole thing and went to Shin and punched him." Sonia continued. "Sakuro told him that he should not hurt a girl… a girl that who loves him so much. Sakuro and Reika left Shin by himself. Sakuro brought her to the clinic. He was comforting the crying Reika when Sakura went inside to visit Reika so that they could be friends again and saw them hugging each other. Sakura got the wrong impression; she went out of the clinic crying. Sakuro chased her to explain what's happening but when he saw that Shin was with her, he just went back to Reika. Shin saw her running down the corridor and he tried to comfort her… But Sakura doesn't want to be with him…"
Enlightened by their story, Mai read the fourth stanza.
"Set 4. B1 still loves G1
B1 struck G2
B2 saw it
B2 comforts G2
G1 saw it
G1 cried
B1 comforts G1"
Ayako looked shocked at Shin's direction… But Shin ignored it.
"After that incident, I felt guilty for what I did to Reika. " Shin continued. "I tried to break up with her not because I just want to break free from her but because I don't want to hurt her anymore. But even though I hurt her all the time, she still wants to stay with me. Slowly, I started to fall in love with her… But I think that I don't deserve her though… I stayed with her in the end of our conversation because I felt that I owe her so much…"
"I also tried to break up with Sakura… because I realized that I still love Reika…" Sakuro confessed. "Plus, I don't want to hurt Sakura anymore… She became so special to me at that time that I just want her to stop loving me so that she would not be in pain… But she refused… she said that whatever happens, Reika would still love Shin-"
"-but I would continue to love you." Sakura cut in. That moment, Sakura looked at Sakuro's direction and their gazes met… letting each other know that whatever happens after this, though they had caused pain to one another… they would still love each other…
"Yes." Sakuro replied. "And I decided to stay with her…" he added, suddenly a little speechless. 'Which I'm glad I did…' he added mentally.
"Set 5. B1 tried to leave G2
But G2 doesn't want it
B2 tried to leave G1
G1 doesn't want it"
"Set 6. B1 can't do anything about it
G2 stayed
B2 can't do anything about it
G1 stayed."
Silence loomed at the room for the moment. Everyone was quiet, giving the two their respective moment. Mai could feel the love between them. She looked at Sakura whose eyes were starting to get misty then to Sakuro who just looked lovingly at Sakura but then… she knows that he is in pain, emotionally.
Ayako and John shared a glance telling to each other that the scene was too… emotional for all of them. Naru glanced from his notebook to Mai…
(COMMERCIAL BREAK! A/N: Who knows what Naru's thinking about Mai at that time? The two of us had not been contacting each other in this scene. You could give your guess at the review box under. Maybe I'll ask him later if one of you got the correct answer.)
Shin looked at them and slowly, he's feeling the guilt took over his mind and heart. He coughed and tried to get everyone back to the story. "Hey… can we go back now?" he asked. No one answered him so he just assumed that silence means yes. He has to get out of here, the sooner the better. Now, he can say that guilt can suffocate a person.
"Set 7. B1 and G2 quarrelled
B1 still like G1
G2 cried a lot"
"Though I stayed with Reika, we were still hurting each other repeatedly. When we reached our second year, she has changed. I started to see her drunk and smoking… and the news that she was sleeping with other guys reached me. Gone was the sweet, innocent girl that I had known. I presume that she did all of that because of what I did to her in the past year or maybe as a sort of revenge. Though I learned to love her, though I am jealous of those boys, I just let her do the things that she wants to do because I thought that it would make her happy… and somehow she could decide to leave me and find some guy who deserves her love and who would truly love her so that in the end, even if I am left alone, she would have a good life, a good life without me. But it did not work out just like what I have wanted it to be. Reika kept on staying with me but we always fought; she says that why can't I even look at her and such. But I couldn't answer her, I couldn't give her my answer because I'm too ashamed of myself… So I just settled on ignoring her every time we fight." Shin revealed. Mai looked at his eyes. It was filled with loneliness… She doesn't know why she felt like this but she believes in his words… Talk about intuition… Mai's intuition is one of the best.
Sonia scoffed. "Yes, you were right. She acted like that out of revenge." She cut in. "She was so hurt that she wanted you to feel the same way. But also acted like that so that she could get your attention… she thought that maybe you would look at her once… but then, you haven't paid attention."
"I know. But believe me; I am sorry for everything that happened to her. To the two of us." Shin answered. Naru looked at him in disbelief. Naru could not believe that this boy who has the tendency to hurt a girl physically and emotionally is actually capable of loving someone… But unfortunately, he showed it the wrong way that's why Reika misinterpreted it. Well, everyone in her position would really see it the way she did.
"Of course." Sonia said sarcastically. "Of course, you should feel sorry." Then she added in her thoughts, 'After all, you were the reason why she died.'
Sakura sighed. She knows where that remark would go and she doesn't want to skip anything to avoid confusion on Mai's part. "As for Sakuro and I, we promised to each other that we would try to work out our relationship, even if there are a lot of obstacles along the way and distance ourselves from Shin and Reika to avoid anymore argument. Sakuro started to fall in love with me…"
Mai saw Sakuro smiled. "That time, when Sakura was doing her best just to make me feel comfortable and loved all the time, I started to realize that I was too blinded by Reika… that I forgot to look around me, in front of me. I forgot that I shouldn't pursue something that won't happen anymore. I saw Sakura in front me for the first time… and that… there, I realize that I should have paid attention to her… I should have looked into her. One day, I came rushing to her house though I know that her parents do not like someone like me and told that I love her… that I from this time on, I would be giving her all the love that she deserves knowing that she had suffered so much just to love me."
Sakura gave out a soft laugh. "Yeah. I remember that. Oka-san and Oto-san were so angry with you because you were trespassing. If I didn't persuade them not to bring you to the police, maybe our story had ended. But after that, even though my parents doesn't approve of our relationship, we continued but we agreed not to let the school know about it so that my parents would not be more upset with us, at least. But we were still happy…" she recalled with a small smile playing in her lips.
"Set 8. B2 and G1 is good
B2 started to fall in love with G1.
G1 smiles"
Mai smiled bitterly. The two pairs were very opposite… The first pair was showing their love for each other in a wrong way. The other one just got it right. How ironic. But even if their situations were like yin and yang, light and day or whatever you want to call it, they have to continue. "Then what happened afterwards?" Mai asked gently.
Sakura looked with a frightful expression in her face to Sonia then to Shin and finally to Sakuro…