Get ready! Haruka finally tells Riku the truth…

Chapter 25: Truth

It was Wednesday already and they didn't have school because of teacher's training. Haruka's alarm went off and she slammed it. From under the cover she lazily opened her eyes to look at the date.

25th June

She closed her emerald green eyes and thought, 'Time flies.' She got up, brushed her teeth and locked her bedroom door. 'I need to be alone.' She returned to her bed and fell facing the ceiling. Haruka hugged herself and sniffed. She didn't want anyone to wake her up, anyone to disturb her, anyone to talk to her; she just needed to be alone. It was 34˚C but she felt cold inside her heart. The red haired girl closed her eyes and said in her head.

'My life has changed drastically and it has changed forever. My world does not seem as colourful, as bright, as vibrant, as…happy now.'

Those words echoed into her mind like a shout in a cave. Then the tears started to fall down her face, slowly,painfully and endlessly.

Everything seemed to hurt. When her heart would beat in her chest it ached, when she breathed in and out it pained her, when her once bright green eyes would open and close it killed her, and just by moving an inch hurt.

After an hour, there was light knocking on the door. "Haruka are you awake?" Axel asked.

No answer.

"Haruka?" He asked again.

No answer.

The light knocks started to turn into hard banging. "HARUKA ARE YOU IN THERE?!" Axel yelled full of worry.

Still no answer.

It was as if she was driving him mad with silence. "Haruka open the door!" He was panicking as terrible thoughts popped into his head, Haruka packing her stuff and running away, or even worst; Suicide. Hikaru had no emotion on his face as he approached his son. "What's wrong son?" He asked quietly and Axel turned to him with wide eyes. "Haruka isn't answering!" He said and Hikaru looked at the door in deep thought.

After a few moments he placed a hand on his teenage son's shoulder. "Leave her Axel. She wishes to be alone now. It's best if we don't disturb her." Axel nodded and his father left. Haruka's elder brother placed his hand on her door and a tear fell from his eye. 'I hope you're okay Haruka.' He wished and left.

At about noon, Haruka's phone start to vibrate. But she just laid there on the bed staring at the ceiling. After a missed call, she turned her phone on silent and went back to gazing at the ceiling. Everything felt long to her. A second felt like an hour, a minute like a week, an hour like a year. She didn't move from that position, nor did she leave the room, drink water or eat anything, just staring at the ceiling as if it was the norm.

7 hours later…

It was 7:00pm; dinner time. Haruka for the sake of her father and brother being worried about her starving, got up, rearranged her bed, brushed her teeth again, brushed her hair and didn't even dare to look in the mirror. The depressed teenager wore her white oversized cardigan over her black tank top and grey shorts and walked barefoot. She tied her hair in a loose ponytail not caring how she looked.

Haruka exited her room and kept her eyes glued to the ground. A few strands of her red curly locks came out and messily framed her face. She hugged her sides and went downstairs. She walked into the dinner table and joined her father and elder sibling. When the red haired girl sat down she stared at the table, paralysed, traumatised and quiet. Axel looked at her and gasped. The state she was in, her eyes were bloodshot red from crying and her cheeks puffy from the crying. This was indeed worse than Day 5 of improvements, so much worse.

"Haruka dear, would you like to have some dinner?" The said girl nodded once and Hikaru smiled slightly, at least his baby was eating.

"I cooked your favourite; homemade pizza!" Axel said enthusiastically as he placed the plate in front of his dear sister. Haruka looked up and tried to smile but couldn't yet she sent him a sweet and caring look saying, "Thank you." Her elder brother smiled at her with a look replying, "You're welcome."

It was dead silent and they finished dinner. Haruka got up, collected the plates and washed the dishes. When she was finished, the woeful girl left the kitchen and went upstairs. She went into her room and locked the door again.

Downstairs, Hikaru covered his face with his hands. Axel placed a hand reassuringly on his shoulder. "Dad, it's going to be okay." Axel mumbled and Hikaru nodded. Axel was cool and calm about all this, though he was worried about his sister's grief, more than his own problems. "Yes, thanks Axel." Axel hugged his father and sat down. 'I can't stand to see my baby girl suffering. What do I do Harumi?' Hikaru thought.

Meanwhile upstairs Haruka sat crossed legged and mediated, to clear her mind. But sadly, this didn't work, that face was always in her mind, smiling at her. After many attempts she gave up. She drank her bottle of water and lied down on the bed again.

It was 11:00pm, and Haruka couldn't take it anymore. She had to talk to someone, tell them the truth and she knew who. She knew that no matter what time it would be, day or night, he would do anything for her and she could count on him. She had to tell him the truth.

Haruka took her phone and looked for that boy's name and texted him:

To: Riku

Hey, sorry if I'm disturbing you or anything and I know it's late. But can we meet up. I just need to tell you something really important, ASAP. I need you. Thanks, should we meet at the park on the big swing?

From Haruka

She sent the message to her best friend, and after a few minutes her phone vibrated.

Re: Haruka

Yeah, don't worry you didn't disturb me at all. No matter how late it could be, I'm always there for you. I'll be there as fast as I can. P.S You don't need to thank me.

From: Riku

She got up from her bed, wore her flip flops and came out of her room. Haruka tiptoed down the corridor and stairs as she knew that her brother would be sleeping. When she got downstairs, she wrote a note on the table, saying she was going to meet up with Riku. Her father was sleeping in the living room and Haruka noticed him shiver. The red haired girl walked up to him and looked around for covers but there wasn't any. Her light bulb lit, she took her cardigan off and covered her father with it. As she was about to leave, she turned to Hikaru 'I love you dad.' Haruka didn't even take the keys or a jumper.

The streets were tranquil, calm and silent indicating it was safe out at this time. Haruka fast walked it to the park and sat on the swing. The swing was big and could fit 2 people in it. She lightly swung as she waited for her love to come, so she could tell him the truth.

After a few moments she heard a step. "I came as fast as I could sorry for the wait." Riku exhaled. She looked up at him; he wore a dark red hoodie, black track suit bottoms and vans. Riku also held a blanket and when he looked at Haruka's face his eyes widened. The condition she was in was shocking. He had never seen Haruka like this, ever. "Haruka, what happened?" She averted her green eyes to the ground and he sat next to her. "What are you wearing? Aren't you cold?" She shivered as the cold wind blew her body.

"Here." He wrapped the blanket around both of them and they snuggled up together. It felt warm to be in each other's arms, especially Riku's. "Now, tell me Haruka." Riku began and held her hand.

"Riku, I've been hiding it from everyone, even you. I just want to say it; I want to tell you what's wrong and why I have been suffering this way. Will you accept the truth?"

Haruka looked up at him with twinkling eyes, brimming with tears. Riku frowned and nodded. He was really curious about this. Her bottom lip started to quiver and she was about to cry until the silver haired teen placed his hand on her cheek. He shook his head and hushed her, "No, don't cry Haruka." The green eyed girl held her breath and kept everything in.

"Riku, today, the 25th of June, is my mother's death anniversary; she died in a car accident 11 years ago…"

Cliff-hanger! I bet you thought she was going to tell him she loves him, but not yet, soon, but not yet! Sorry if I ruined the ending of this chapter for you guys! T_T Next chapter: Comfort from Riku, rest and normal day.

~Parisa01