The Portrait: Part Four

"So Keiko, are you ready to go?" Omi asked as he leaned on the front gate of their school.

"Uh… Let's just stay here for a while." She answered - her eyes busily scanning the school grounds.

"Who are you looking for?" Omi curiously asked, following the direction of Keiko's eyes.

"Oh, nobody." She quickly answered as she dropped her eyes on the ground.

"Nobody, eh? Are you sure?"

"Yep. I'm pretty sure." She managed a weak smile.

"But you just said that you want to stay here for a while. What for?"

"Uhmm... Nothing." Keiko said, frowning to herself as she realized how stupid this conversation was making her look like.

"So, can we go now?"

"Uhmm… okay." Unwillingly, she started to walk. Her eyes quickly scanned the school grounds for the last time and still she didn't catch a glimpse of Yusuke.

What happened to him?

The two of them walked silently. Keiko had been thinking about not seeing Yusuke the whole day. She was starting to worry about him. Two straight days of absence - if he keeps this up he may be dropped out or something. But what can she do? She has to stick with her plans.

She could feel the ache in her heart as she thought of Yusuke. What if he never really cared for her? Two straight days… Was he thinking about her too like she was thinking about him now? Maybe that's the real score. She was nothing to him. Just an annoying pest. Pest? What a word to describe her. Keiko felt like crying.

"Are you okay, Keiko?" Omi asked as he noticed the hint of tears in Keiko's eyes.

Was that finally it? Two straight days - how could he resist not seeing her for two straight days if he really loves her? She felt the heaviness on her chest doubled its weight.

"Keiko? Earth to Keiko?" Omi waved his hand in front of Keiko to catch her attention.

"Huh?" Keiko looked up, her expression momentarily changed to surprise - but it changed back to sadness.

"I was asking if you were alright."

"Why wouldn't I be alright?" Keiko forced a smile.

"I think you are about to cry." Omi said gently. Both of them stopped walking.

"Whatever it is, you can tell me." He added as he touched Keiko's shoulder.

"Oh, it's nothing really. It's nothing." Keiko said. But she couldn't help but cry. Tears started to stream down her cheeks. Darn you Yusuke for doing this to me!

"Hey, it's okay. Tell me." Omi comforted her. But instead of telling him, Keiko broke down and cried on Omi's shoulder.

"Oh, I can't tell you…" Keiko said between sobs. It was hurting her like hell. Yusuke was hurting her like hell. He's not missing her! He doesn't feel the same way she does. And that hurts. That hurts like hell!

She felt like kicking Yusuke really hard! Really hard! To make him feel this pain. But she knew she can never do that. Darn, she was SO in love with him!

"I should go now. My place is just about a hundred steps away." Keiko said as she loosened herself from Omi's embrace, wiping tears from her eyes.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me? You've been acting really weird since yesterday."

"I'd rather not." Keiko said as she tried to regain her composure.

"Let me at least walk you to the front door." Omi offered.

"No, thanks. It was so nice of you to walk me home today." She tried to smile brightly at Omi.

"...and besides I think I need some time alone." She said as she began to walk backwards and before turning away completely to head home, she gave Omi a smile.

"Keiko?" Omi called out after a while.

"What?" Keiko turned around.

"Sleep tight." Omi said with a smile.

"I will. Thank you for the shoulder I cried on."

"No problem." He said with a wave.

Yusuke had been out playing basketball with his friends. His chin got a little bruised from a nasty push he got from one of his opponents. He was about to head home when he caught sight of Keiko walking home with Omi, without really knowing why he started to follow the two.

And he had seen it all. He had seen how Omi and Keiko smiled at each other. He had seen how Omi touched Keiko's arm. He had seen how they had embraced. And no matter how hard he had tried to deny it - it was hurting him.

He quickly turned away just before Keiko waved goodbye to Omi. He had assumed Omi walked her all the way to her house. He assumed Keiko had been with Omi for the past two days. He had assumed Keiko was happier now that he was out of her life.

And for some reason, all his assumption made his chest feel heavy.

It had hurt him to see Keiko walking with another boy. It had hurt him when he saw her smile at another boy. It had hurt him to see Keiko in another boy's arms. It had hurt him so much! But why?

Yusuke kept wondering why all these was making his heart ache as he walked home by himself. He could feel his eyes warmed, but he quickly blinked back tears.

Keiko…

My Keiko…

My Keiko? What was that about? Certainly, Keiko wasn't his.

But it felt like they belong together. Calling her 'My Keiko" seemed so natural. Wasn't that what he wrote back in third grade on a Christmas card he made for her for a school project? 'For my Keiko, my girl'. But that was in third grade.

And there is no point in calling her his Keiko now, no point on calling her his girl. Didn't he call her his flea? He shook his head as he remembered those thoughts. What was I thinking? Keiko was never my flea.

He had seen Omi and Keiko together. Omi is a nice guy anyway. He's actually much better than him. With Omi, Keiko wouldn't have to play mother. She wouldn't have to remind him of stuff like eating the right food, smoking, drinking, going to school or ethics. They are perfect for each other.

Keiko and Omi. They are perfect for each other. He tried to smile and be happy about that fact.

Yusuke felt heaviness on his chest as he tried to convince himself about Omi and Keiko being right for each other. He felt… he felt sad. Very sad. Like a part of him just died.

Keiko was a part of him.

Does he love Keiko? He doesn't know for sure. But he's missing her right now. It has been two days of no Keiko. Three if you count the day he tried to make it up to her with that stupid pencil.