Disclaimer & AN's: Okay, okay I'm in Shanghai for Easter Break, and I haven't had time to write anything, so I'm sorry if this is really short! Anyways, one problem down, another to go!
Please R&R!
Narita Residence, Madison's Room, 8:23 PM
"Miss. You have visitors downstairs." A maid knocked politely on her door.
"Oh! Coming!" Maddie cried, rushing down the stairs. "Hi!"
"Hey Maddie."
"I hope you don't mind us visiting." Kazu grinned sheepishly. The gang, apart from Lina and Alice who promptly refused to come, were gathered downstairs in Madison's lavish living room.
"It's nice of you guys to come." Maddie said, smiling, "Can I help you with something?"
"Ah...we just wanted you to know...that um...we just wanted to tell you that we're sorry for not telling you everything."
"Huh Are you guys trying to hint something?"
"You can say that." Takato mumbled nervously.
"How do we put this without giving it away?" Henry asked, unsure.
"Just that...maybe you should pay attention to eyes."
"Eyes?"
"Because...Ryo has a fondness of them."
"And that...you should follow them."
"Sorry." Kenta said, "It's not our business to tell. But we just don't want to see you hurt."
"Just notice them."
"See you tomorrow!"
"At school!"
"Good night!"
"I think Alice will kill me."
"So will Lina."
Jan 29th, 8:31 AM, Student Lounge
"Where were you yesterday?" Rika asked tentatively from the doorway.
"Huh?" Ryo asked, closing his English novel and moving over to his girlfriend.
"I called you so many times, but you never picked up or called back." She said quietly, admitting this sort of thing wasn't her forte.
"Uh..." He said, ruffling his hair nervously, he had been so caught up pondering over the conversation he had with Andrew yesterday, he hadn't even bothered turning back on his phone. "I'm sorry...can I talk with you later?"
"Yea. Later." She said offhandedly, but as she turned away Ryo saw hurt in her eyes and sighed deeply.
"Rika-" He called out softly, but she had already left.
"Is everything okay?" Henry asked.
"Yea." At least it will be.
---
Eyes? What do eyes have to do with anything? Madison asked, wondering what Takato, Kazu and the others meant last night.
"Eyes?"
"Yea, they say eyes are the window to the soul." Ryo smiled as they sat in the desert shop, eating the shaved ice.
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yep, no matter what, you can't hide the emotions in your eyes. People say they betray you, but I think they show the world who you really are."
"Why?"
"Because no matter how tough a person act, or how strong they pretend to be; in their eyes you see something different." Ryo said, a small smile coming across his face.
"And what eyes do you like?"
After school, 4:12 PM
"Rika!"
"What?" Rika asked, turning around to find her boyfriend running towards her, his face worried.
"Yesterday...I went to dinner with Andrew."
"Dinner?" Rika asked, confused. "With Andrew? Why?"
"I don't actually know why I agreed."
"Then why didn't you tell me? Or pick up my calls?"
"Because...I had a lot of things to think about."
---Flashback---
"I care a lot about Rika...we've been friends since childhood, and we've been through thick and thin together." Andrew stated, Ryo's fist tightened, wondering where the hell this conversation was going. "She's grown up over the years...and she's endured through a lot. You can't help but worry and care about someone like her."
"..."
"Perhaps I care about her more then I should...but I've liked her for a long time. I'm sure you've picked up on it." He smiled, Ryo's face remained emotionless. "When I came back, I hoped things would happen differently, obviously, that wasn't the case. She was happier, she had her friends, she and her family were on good terms, and she had this glow about her."
"What's the point in telling me all this?"
"Because, you contributed to that glow. I didn't realize it, and I found slowly, over these weeks that it was me that was dampening her spirit. I was causing trouble for her, despite my opposite intent. I guess I shouldn't have interfered."
"So you know..."
---
"WHAT!?" Rika exclaimed. "You didn't deny it?"
"Am I suppose to?" Ryo asked, half-frowning.
"What did he say then??"
---
"My first thought was....it was so obvious. My second was why didn't she tell me? I picked it up afterwards when I found out you and Maddie had an engagement-sort going on. That confused me, but it made sense to what was happening."
"And so? Now that you know, what's your point?" Ryo asked, somewhat defensively.
"Although it's not my place...I guess I give my consent."
"What?"
"I want her happy. And the person she chose was obviously you. However, if you hurt her..."
"I'm surprised." Ryo muttered, after a while. "I didn't think you'd relent so easily."
"At first...I wasn't planning onto. But...she deserves you. You love her." Ryo sputtered at Andrew's comment.
"What?"
"Come on, I"m not that stupid. She loves you too. Rika's never been a good actress anyways."
---
"I can't believe he said that!!" She huffed.
"So are you happy or not?"
"Yes. I'm relieved."
"Good. Because you're mine, and no one else's." He grinned, hugging her from behind.
"Yours huh?" She asked, turning around.
"Can't help but be possessive with you."
"I'm sure you can." She laughed.
"But I don't want to be." He said and leaned down to kiss her. She kissed him back eagerly.