Chapter 17
The next two weeks go by in a blur.
Mimi busies herself with school, friends and her new job. She doesn't hear from Yamato, not even a text, nothing, and doesn't see him or the other third years at school either as they're busy cramming for their upcoming exams.
And honestly it's fine, she tries not to think about how much her heart clenches in the solitude of her own bedroom, at night, or during dull hours spent alone in the house.
Even though they didn't spend much time together to begin with, their relationship always loose and allowing them to keep their independence, she misses him, she wants to be near him, to touch him, to kiss him, to make love to him. Because that's the thing: she realized she's in love and there's no going back from there.
But, it's just two weeks, and they go by pretty fast, although it didn't feel like it at times for her.
Her friends notice her somehow odd behavior but don't say anything, just make a few jokes about how her head is always in the cloud (and honestly, she's always been a bit of a klutz before, now it's even worse). She does open her heart to Vicky, her bestfriend from New York, because she can't keep secrets with her and needs her comforting words and advice - also, she kind of feel better when Vicky curses Yamato in her place.
So it's 'exam day 1' and Mimi decides to break the silence and sends Yamato a small texts, just saying : "Good luck!" , she sends the same to Tai and Sora, adding more words of encouragement and affection for each of them.
Her messages gets read but she only gets two replies, as expected.
It's okay.
The second day of the exams also goes by and in their friend group chat, Tai suggests a night out to celebrate all together (like old times, he says). Mimi hasn't heard from Yamato and feels awkward but doesn't say anything, yet again, because she doesn't want to burst anyone's enthusiasm. She quietly agrees, along with everyone else,except Joe, who's busy with university like always, and Cody, who'll be on a weekend training camp for kendo. Yamato just says he'll join later, and after being called a party-pooper by Taichi, he briefly explains he had some previous arrangements but could make it for the second part of the night.
Mimi doesn't ask, doesn't even reach out to congratulate him on finishing his exams -like she did for her other two friends-, she doesn't want to be too much and so she keeps her distance.
So Saturday comes and Mimi is far less than excited. Don't get her wrong, she loves her friends dearly but isn't really in the mood for partying. She wants to sulk and be with herself and her thoughts, maybe cry a bit. Perhaps it's just pms, or maybe she feels hopeless. It's weird for her to be like this, it happens rarely, but she doesn't wanna get too much into it so she changes the route of her depressing thoughts and gets ready for the night out.
Wearing just a cozy cream jumper and jeans, a high ponytail, her favorite short brown teddy coat, she finishes her look with glossy red lips and two little studs in her ears.
The meeting point is at 7 o'clock in front of the station, they would walk together to the pub-like place they chose from there. Mimi takes her bag and wears her shoes in a hurry, making her way to the closest station, it would take her less than 20 minutes to get there but she is still a little bit late.
When she finally sits up in the train, to her absolute luck seeing how full and chaotic it was (as expected on weekends), the teenager girl checks the group messages.
-I'm there already, where are you all?- Izzy wrote 10 minutes before, making Mimi stifle her laugh. Of course he would be the first one to arrive.
Sora had replied with an -Almost there- soon after, along with Takeru and Miyako, who was already with Ken.
-Tai wanted to stop at a conbini.. sorry, couldn't stop him- messaged Hikari with a tired emoji.
There was some laugh and bickering after that and Mimi also sends a -On my way- snapping a quick photo of her hand doing a peace sign.
-Tried called Daisuke and he was sleeping- pitched in Takeru.
-He forgot, didn't he?- replied Miyako, seemingly unimpressed.
-Yep- Mimi could only imagine the girl's annoyed face and Takeru's amused one. Oh how she missed her friends! Her mood gets slightly better and she answers with laughing emojis, along with the others while they get spammed with Daisuke's voice messages, who's clearly rushing now.
When she finally arrives, they're all there, except Daisuke of course (and Yamato, who'll join later). The first thing she does is squeeze Sora and Tai like there's no tomorrow -Congrats on having your exams guys!-
Sora laughs softly but hugs back -We haven't passed them yet, Mimi-
On her other side, Tai grumbles -I've lost all my will to live these past months, honestly- patting her back before detaching himself and checking everyone around. -Ok, let's go then! We'll make Daisuke reach the place alone, as a punishment for being late- he snickers.
Mimi goes to hug Kari, Miyako and Takeru, pats Ken's shoulder, and ruffles Izzy's hair, as she usually does to annoy him.
They reach the place and start ordering food, 15 later Daisuke comes, panting and almost tripping on his own two feet -You guys are mean! You could have waited for me!- he whines, while he plops down on the free seat beside Ken.
-Don't worry, we ordered for you too- Sora replies, smiling at his antics, while Miyako glares at him -It's what you deserve. Why would we wait for your lazy ass in this cold?-
Of course they start to bicker between themselves, like they always do, but the atmosphere is joyous and fun and everybody seems happy. The food arrives and they send a group selfie to the group, for those who missed their meeting, getting soon after a reply from Joe of photo with a mountain of books and a death emoji. Eloquent enough for them to take pity on their ever tired friend.
Mimi is sitting beside Takeru and Izzy, in front of her are Tai and Miyako, Sora and Kari on the Izzy and Takeru's other sides.
While the others are all bickering about some school-event, Takeru gets closer and whispers -Are you okay?- keeping his eyes mostly in front of him.
The always observant boy. Mimi turns and smiles at him, kind and soft, reaching a hand to his cheek. Oh how easy would it have been falling for Takeru instead, what a precious existence he was. Mimi berated herself and questioned her heart, why did she have to make things difficult for herself?
-Thank you, I'll be fine- she murmurs, hand soon leaving his cheek and grabbing a piece of tempura shrimp in her plate.
Takeru's eyes don't leave her face for a while longer, and she can feel his worry and understanding, then he lightly squeezes her shoulder and focus on the conversation having place around him.
It's 9PM when they decide to change location and head to a karaoke. It's pure chaos, as one can expect, and they all sing and talk over each other, but it's fun and light and the room is big enough not to feel suffocated.
Yamato arrives when Tai and Daisuke are in the middle of a duet of some old song, which is being butchered to shreds. Mimi is chatting animatedly with Kari and doesn't notice him until Tai screams in the mic -Yamato, you're here!- making the latter grimace.
When they make eye contact, Mimi just lightly waves at him, doesn't wait for him to reply, seemingly unfazed as she turns her back again and resumes her previous conversation. The night goes on, songs are sung and Mimi gets to duet 'Something stupid' with Takeru. It's fun, it's flirty and Mimi enjoys it very much, as well as everybody else who whistles and throw jokes at them.
The night ends shy at almost 12, they are exhausted by then and everybody says goodbye and head to their respective directions. Mimi is about to go to the station herself, thinking maybe to stop at a convenience store on her way home and buy some needed groceries, when someone stops her gripping her elbow.
It's Yamato (surprise), leaning on his motorbike, looking as effortlessly cool as always with his black turtleneck, leather jacket and a red scarf loose around his neck.
-What?- she says, turning to look at his arm and then him, surprise clear in her tone, big honey eyes widening for a second.
-Stay- he utters -Just a minute- his gloved hand is now gripping her wrist, more gently than before, as he glances at her for a second before turning back to the look at the street floor.
Mimi stops then, the cold making her cheeks pinkish, and waits, wishing she bought a pair of gloves along because her hands are actually freezing, wishing Yamato would hold them instead of her wrist. She snap back to the present and studies his stance, it's difficult to pick up his emotions but he seems nervous.
-Thanks for the text - he says, hand still on her wrist, as if glued there now.
What text now? She frowns lightly before remembering. Oh, the one he didn't reply to -It's nothing, did it go well?-
-I think so- he shrugs -Nothing more I can do now-
She nods, eyes still searching for a hint or something that would give his intentions away.
-How are you doing?-
At this point, she really doesn't know what to think -I'm.. good?- she tilts her head, perplexed by this mood going on.
-Mmm- he answers but when he doesn't add anything, Mimi frees her wrist and rest her (freezing) hands on his cheeks to grab his attention.
-What is it that you want, Yamato?- her voice is soft, her gaze resolute but still sweet.
He doesn't complain about her cold hands, despite the shiver that visibly goes through him, he grabs them instead, looks into her eyes and simply answers -You-
Mimi falters and falls into the deep pool of his blue eyes. She's just a girl in love, so weak for him so she lets him kiss her passionately, right there on the sidewalk at 12PM as if he didn't ask for a break 2 weeks before, went m.i.a, and now using her as a toy he could toss and take back whenever he wanted.
And the sad truth was, he could, Mimi couldn't say no to him.
What can I say, I'm on a roll lol. I wrote this chapter in a slightly different style from the usual, I was inspired like that. Anyways, this chapter may seem dull but it has it's meaning. Honestly don't know when I'll post a new chapter, it could be tomorrow or next year, hopefully someone would still read it.