Sakusa nervously scribbled small numbers on the piece of paper. It already had countless holes, from the girl stabbing into the paper too hard. The graduation was tonight, and Karma would be picking her up in two hours. Her hands shook in the spring wind. Money had always been a problem in her past life, and she knew it would be when she first stole the cash. And now, she finally had just enough to last one more day.
She couldn't tell Karma. Yes, she usually told him everything, but... Would she have to go back to living on the streets. Was this dream of a life only meant to last for three years? Everything that had happened in her high school life had been nothing short of heaven. She'd gotten a boyfriend who loved her for who she was. He'd even managed to help her change her identity completely. The chances of the government finding her now was less than one percent. Sakusa had gotten to know Karma's junior high friends and they were like family now. Not only that, she'd even made a group of friends of her own. Akari-san and Kyosuke-kun were such good friends to her. Keeping her secret at the cost of their life.
Her pale small hands gripped the paper in fear. The birds chirped around her, and the public garden she was at, seemed like a perfect haven. Contradicting her fears inside of her. There just wasn't enough money. A hot tear dripped down her cheek. Did she really have to let go of this life? A desire she'd just finally gotten used to?
Sakusa suddenly jumped when she felt a firm hand hold her shoulder. It was a touch she'd gotten so used to, and to attached to let go of. "Karma," she said as she steeled herself, willing her tears to evaporate. "What are you doing here? You were meant to pick me up at eight pm." She hadn't even heard him come in to her room.
"Don't cry, Kimi-chan." Over the years, he had gotten the honour of using her first name. "What are you doing? Is it so sad that you're crying over it? And I thought you were the strongest person in my life." He poked out a tongue teasingly.
"I'm not crying!" she protested indignantly. "The wind must've done something to my eye."
Karma leaned in closer and pecked her forehead. "It's not good to lie to me, Kimi-chan. I always find out anyways." Sakusa smiled at a memory; she'd been planning a surprise party. Karma, having found out about it, progressed to surprise her instead. The party had backfired and she'd learnt to never throw a surprise party for Karma.
"I don't have enough money," she spoke bluntly. "I won't be able to go to university." Her heart broke at the very words. She'd always wanted to go university, like all those posh people. She had the grades too. And now...
Karma grabbed her shoulders forcefully, "No! You've worked so hard. You're just as smart at me now. You can't give up like that. Kimi-chan, you can do it. It will break my heart if I can't go to university with you. You have to go!"
"I can't! You know how much I want to! I would if I could. But I can't," she shouted as tears coated her eyes.
"Then marry me!" Karma had fretted over his confession and proposal for so long. Actually, he'd panicked over the possible situations since the day he became her boyfriend. But now seemed like the perfect time. The one thing he knew for sure was that he wanted her as his wife. He wanted her to be with him until he died.
Sakusa froze. Her mouth opened and closed like a fish, speechless and shocked. She'd dreamed of this day for so long. Karma's smile and his shining eyes was a hard face to refuse to.
"I will look after everything. You wouldn't need to worry about a thing. You can live with me and we'll go to university together. My parents have enough money to cover for us until we get jobs. And we won't have to pay them back." Sakusa had met his parents more than ten times now,. In the beginning, they were reluctant. But now, they already thought of her as family.
Sakusa's eyes glistened. She took a deep breath and then let out her mixed emotions on that one punch. Her fist met with Karma's stomach with so much force it sent him staggering backwards. "Ok then! I will marry you, Karma Akabane!" Sakusa roared, squeezing her eyes and pumping her fists. The few people around them turned around and clapped at the scene.
Karma's smile reached his amber eyes. He'd never been so happy. That's my girl.