Chapter Twenty Six: Similar But Not Quite The Same
For the first order of suspicion, Eagle needs information about the accident Hamiru and her brother got in. Roughly end of March to early April of the current year. He started to browse for articles from various search engines, resulting in tons of reports but Eagle read them between lines. It took most of his day but nothing seems to be having the exact news about the accident.
He pushed out of the computer screen and rest on his tired hands on the terrace metal handle, taking a full breath to wash off stress to tolerable. He noticed it was already midday and the clouds starting to prepare the changing colors of sunset. But some things will never change- the dark and still view of the last floor of the Chateau Village.
Home care and private practitioners my butt. He bitterly curse, he never mentioned to either Kei or Hamiru that the apartment can clearly be seen from his balcony and already found them lying about resting at home with no visitors, etcetera policy. But why need to lie about such things? He thought bitterly again, scrutinizing the top floor. Frustrations creeping high on his system, the attraction was one reason and the suspicion is another.
He was mixed with: want to know everything and expose it— Kei's proxy, the exhaustion, the car accident, her fake glasses, the geek-less appearance which Eagle found odd that night he found her roaming on the streets, the changing of personality from introvert to sociable with strangers—the lady she asked for directions and the cashier from the grocery store and yes! With the guy. See how bitter tasting he is?
Does opposite really do attract each other?He reiterated the familiar thought turning for another road of topic; he doesn't know the answer albeit it applies on Crein.
In his case, They were the two sides of the same coin— both similar in one sense but complete different in another angle—Hamiru was lying about her glasses but Eagle isn't being true to his feelings either. She was saying nothing but he wasn't mentioning anything. Eagle isn't apathetic or cold to others; he just doesn't interact with people much, more with girls. He was just making a thick front for his shyness. On the other hand, both of them are covering up an act—Hamiru, being an old-fashioned introvert while Eagle hid his inferiorities and shut-in with his cool stare and unwavering posture using Crein's bright personality. The way Hamiru talked with Kei and with the guy, the way she smiles at Crein, open up with Romina and communicate with Red, she wasn't the introvert one—it was him all along.
Lastly, Crein and Eagle were two complete opposite beings with one similar attraction—Hamiru. Ironically, history is unbelievable can repeat itself. Why? Because on their younger years of Junior high, they also liked Romina in their boyish ways— Crein, being the expressive type with more confidence and charm than Eagle, confessed but been turned down. When Eagle found out about it, cast his feelings aside believing it was Crein who really deserves Romina, therefore stepping down and locking the possibility of confession, throwing away the key.
How about right now? His thought made a questionable appearance. Eagle neither shook nor nod but he also neither admits nor deny the fact he still likes Romina. Love is their, of course mixed in friends. On the other end, confuses him greatly, because after suppressing it for years, it felt natural to be with her.
Selfishly it may seem this time; Eagle didn't mention anything to his long term friend. Letting Crein do as he pleases, even monopolizing Hamiru. Eagle was satisfied though in watching over her at a distance, since they weren't close compared to the rest. Just like a fan to his idol—admiring from afar, cheering without notice at the pull of her radiance. One of the reasons he closely set his eyes on her is how she radiates a different vibe, just like how Hikari's songs make him at ease. Thus, started his constant observation—Hamiru is somewhat like Hikari in flesh, one more thing which compelled Eagle towards her. Perhaps, also a reason why he can't stop suspecting whenever he found an odd angle.
Eagle heaved a chest rising breath, it was like deva ju—a quick hunch that one saw it already. However, it wasn't from a dream though, it truly did happen—last year, the day he heard fake Star: Hikari's debut song.
An epic day where Eagle's lethargic lifestyle came to a screeching period—thus, eventually started a life of a fan, which idolizes and supports Hikari, where he tried to do his best in knowing everything about his Idol—from magazines, interviews, music videos, Hikari's personal web Blogs, and official Fan sites and so on. From that one song alone, it made Eagle felt alive, it activated the energy that slumbered in order to see the things with an unseen eye— Love and Life. Since then, Hikari's popularity exploded, similar from a bomb—in just a blink of an eye, powerful, loud, that cuts throughout the sky with its column of light, engulfing everything in its path, leaving a permanent trace.
A being been coiled Angel. Not just by the word, Hikaru soared with pristine grace through the peak until now. And just like one, Hikari has a heart of an Angel—having three charities: a child foundation, an animal shelter and a nursing care. Even Hikari's official merchandize, thirty percent goes to the aforementioned charities, added up Hikari's auctioned outfits and personal things to be used in support for international help. In less than a year, Hikari achieved awards in various movements for goodwill and an award winning singer of reaching platinum on the first album.
Eagle took a break for another second, thinking how Hamiru in just less than a quarter had touched them without a sound, binding them with an invisible thread.
…They were both similar yet different.
Eagle's inner feelings rendered a strong will in finding the bits and pieces of Hamiru's life.
He stopped short, another cycle of thoughts begun to swirl…
Am I stalking her? He fumbled at the words. The alleged needed help—Ego sinisterly grinned at SuperEgo, who unwisely looked at Conscience for an answer. They just smiled. What the heck? Eagle silently exclaimed.
He wanted to. SuperEgo's half-shrugged reply made Ego scurried away from him. Still wants to, he added. Conscience was going for a chastising protest but he seconds the motion. Even Ego wanted to.
Eagle groaned, doubting his own set of morals. At first, it was unintentional to keep watch the anemic girl, but days passed as if he gotten the hang of it, making it a habit to have an eye on her. He hissed, the said habit is making him a STALKER! He couldn't believe himself, he was an unconscious stalker! (Now, officially a conscious stalker. *grins*)
What is happening to him? Ego molding to panic. SuperEgo tsked, Come on, Ego. He's just being himself. Ego beamed at him. You're influencing him again, aren't you? The grin widened. Puh-lease, he doesn't need me for this reality. Conscience finally inserted on the feud. He wants to know but afraid to find out, because doing it is invading the girl's privacy. He tsked gravely, Eagle has issues about privacy. Considering himself as one who doesn't want anyone to meddle with personal territory (Hikari excluded due to the fact that Hikari is a public figure.)
He cursed and crashed his principles for the sake of curiosity… and no one can know, including Crein, scratch that—more importantly Crein. Eagle will start tomorrow…
He'll go to the scene of the crime, rather crimes: the low cliff outside of town, the nearby hospitals, and even the suspect's apartment.