CHAPTER THREE
***Alone With the Memories
(Rukawa's POV)
After what seemed hours of crying, letting my emotions out and sharing my heartache with Sendoh, he insisted of walking me home, just to make sure I got home safe, he said. "I don't want you wandering off here again, trying to find a way to flood out the whole Kanagawa."
I felt better, thanks to him. I don't know where I'll be now if he hadn't come there. Wait a minute. Why the hell was he there? And how did he know about Hanamichi and me? Why did he come there carrying a box of tissue? We hardly even know each other! And to think, we are nothing more than rivals on court.
I sighed and took a seat on my favorite armchair in my living room. It was half past ten, four hours since I left for the seashore. My whole body's still shaking from all the crying, but the burden of heartache I felt lightened a little. It was nice to have someone to cry on, to tell what I feel and to listen… Like a friend. Even that someone had to be the biggest rival I ever had.
I looked around the room; it was quite dim since the only light was coming from a lampshade, though it was a big one compared to the one I had in my room. The one Hana gave me last Christmas... I felt my eyes well up with tears again, I tried hard to hold them back. I had enough crying, I don't want to cry again because if I did, I might go on crying forever.
I decided to take a shower. That would take my mind off things; it always worked before. Whenever I felt depressed, a shower always made me feel good. I got a towel from my room. I tried not to look around, because every angle of my room was filled with memories Hanamichi had left me, from the bed sheets where he had once accidentally spilled his soda on to the walls covered with posters he bought for me as a no-occasion gift. As soon as I got the towel and some clothes to change on, I dashed out of the room before I was tempted to cry all over again.
I opened the bathroom door, stepped in and stripped off. As the cool water splashed on my face, my whole body started to tremble. Perhaps because of the cold, or I was starting to cry again without even noticing. This is what I like about taking a shower. Here I could cry all I want, pour all the tears waiting to be released and most of all, nobody has to see me cry. Nobody has to know, not even me sometimes.
How long I spent in the shower, I don't know, but afterwards I was feeling so much better. But what really helped was that talk I had with Sendoh. The way he patted me on the back, the way he listened, the way he whispered comforting words and even those attempts to make me smile.
Afterwards, I went to sit in my armchair in my living room, my head felt heavy and my eyes were starting to drop. I yawned and fell asleep, I didn't even bother to go to my room… I didn't think I'd be able to sleep there anytime soon.
-TBC-
-"-"-"-"-"-After the event on the seashore… What does Sendoh have in mind??? The next chapter has the answer!!!
Author's Notes: Please review… so I'll know if I'll continue or not. Lolz!