She rested her cheek
On the palm of her hand
Blonde hair cascading down
As she looked out
Dusk settles
Dots of light appearing
It was such a serene atmosphere
But her eyes
Showed otherwise.
"Hachiman."
"Yes?"
"Are you free on Thursday?"
"I guess."
"I want to meet up. Be there for me, yeah?"
"Huh. Alright."
With a little smile
And her emerald eyes
Once more
Filled with joy
They parted
For the evening.
On the other hand
The cynic
Inwardly grimaced.
He knew what was about to transpire.
Slowly but surely
He was backed into a corner
No escape
Nor diversion
This was the end of the road
And the start of a new one.
One which he walked alone
And perhaps another
Where he walked alongside her.
Even in the darkest hours
No sleep for him tonight.
Can a man in death row
Get a good night's sleep?
They say
Nearing the end
One starts to cherish
The smallest things
And as cynical as he is
The little things
He had come to love.
A day goes by
Wrapped in a delicate veil
Ticking time bombs
Twenty or so more hours
Before zero.
Chalk on the board
An incomprehensible hieroglyph
When the mind is busy
All the other senses
Fail.
Everyone else faded away
As he was left
To himself
Just him and the self
His most loyal companions.
"Hachi, is something wrong?"
Her green eyes caught him
For a moment he was locked
Stunned and unable to react.
"Nothing..."
"Liar. I can see it in your eyes."
He smiled
Proud to have been the one
Transform a once unattentive girl
Into a keen observer.
He taught her well.
The last lesson
Yet to be learned.
"Oi, Hikio. You still there?"
"Yeah. Listen, I have to-"
Enough with the lies.
Once
He could have fooled her
But now
Simple excuses
Will not fly over her head
Truth.
"I need some time. Is that alright?"
Her face contorted into a frown
Confusion
Perhaps anxiety?
Indeed
She feared those words
Always the prelude
To a grim episode.
A certain blonde prince
When those words left his lips
She was simply agitated
But when the same words
Now from a cynic
Her heart sank
And the fire
Nearly gone out.
"H-Hachi. Whatever the matter is, you can count on me."
"I know."
He wanted to pull her closer
Into an embrace
But it would be selfish
To think that it would be
Interpreted as acceptance
When in truth
A refusal.
Fear was written on her face
A troubled look
Tears underway.
"Now, now. I just have some problems to work out by myself."
"Do you not trust me to help?"
Her brows scrunched in irritation.
"I do. More than anyone else. But some things are best kept away from others."
"That's like saying "I'll leave because I want to be better for you"."
"Well... yeah. It's kind of like that."
"Bullshit!"
She seized his shoulders and angrily shook him.
"Hachio! That logic is so outdated! You don't leave each other to be better! You help each other get better! Together!"
"Ho- alright! Let go woman. You are going to give me a concussion, geez."
She moved in
Wrapping her arms around him
A slight frown
Still apparent
Her cheeks red.
"I am not leaving on you."
"Promise?"
"Err... I don't make promises I can't kee- Ouchie!"
"Hachiman."
She stared at him
With sad eyes
Her lips pouted
A clever tactic
On par
With a certain devil woman.
"Oh, fine. Now release me."
Once again
She put on a bright smile
Quite contagious
Even the pessimist
Gave a smirk.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Ha-chi-man."
She softly spoke his name
As if enticing him
To follow her trail
Indeed
Dangerous are women
Who learn and evolve
From each blunder
Encounter
They get better.
Each step
Brought forth
A feeling unfelt
In a long time
The day he had saved
Or perhaps cursed
The fire queen
Sensation
Of traipsing the abyss.
This time
Not to pull a soul out
But to jump in
Perhaps to clarify
Achieve closure
Sear the loose ends of the tie
And inadvertedly
Break it.
He had a choice.
Both ended
In a mirage of freedom
A certain sage
Taught him
Choose which
To what he will be
A slave to.
Everyone suffers. The choice is to which.
The final lesson.
May we get what we need
And never what we deserve.
A paradox.
Rejection is acceptance.
