"So, how're your bruises?" Chocho asks when we meet at the corner of the street. She is still worried about my cheeks having bruises from yesterday's incident. I told her everything and she is supposedly the first person to know anyway.
"They are kind of fine now. Mom got it treated last night," I respond and she nods. We walk our way to the campus. This is our last day of school before our one-week Christmas break.
"So, do you have plans for this break?" Chocho asks me as we settle on our seats.
"Not yet. I am figuring out what interesting things to do," I answer and she pouts in front of me.
"Come with me shopping, watch movies, or hunt boys," she giggles and I narrow my eyes at her.
"Are you serious?" I ask still narrowing my eyes at her.
"Yeah," her short reply. Well, I have to go shopping to buy mom a present but hunting boys? It's a no, no.
I look around and see Tsubaki and Yodo whispering. I don't know what's going on. Are they talking about me again?
"Chocho, what's the latest news on the platform? I deactivated my account for like two weeks now," I bluntly ask and she wrinkles her forehead.
"Now I know why you haven't ranted about Boruto and Sumire," she says. I furrow my brows wondering what does she mean.
"What's going on?" I ask and she sighs.
"Rumors are spreading in the campus that Boruto and Sumire broke up," she states and I'm kind of surprised about it.
"They are just rumors though. But to be honest, I have not seen them together for a while now and there is this speculation that this is the reason why Boruto's studies were affected too. You know, he ranks down at second this quarter," she adds.
"Sumire seems fine. She looks all fine I can tell. She is always smiling during our practice. She must be busy with her apprenticeship in the club that's why they don't see each other often now," I say. I must be happy with the rumors spreading, right? But I am not. Something's wrong here but I think I am not able to do anything because this matter doesn't concern me.
"That could be true. Well, it's good news for you. Your chances are increasing again," she teases and I smirk at her. She raises her hands and gestures sorry to me.
"It's not something we can celebrate," I say and she nods while pouting.
Suddenly, the jerk enters the room, and everyone silences. Even we are stopped on our tracks. He walks towards his seat wearing his casual cold eyes and emotionless face.
After he walks past everyone, the rest of the class buzz again and some are whispering may be talking about him or the incident yesterday.
"Kawaki trends on the platform too," Chocho adds I suddenly glance at her she is glad based on her reaction.
"What about me?" I ask. I was involved too.
"Good grief, nobody is talking about you," I sigh in relief knowing I wasn't the talk of the town too.
"I see. Thank goodness," I respond.
"The gossip girls start to spread bad news about Kawaki. Some posted videos about those guys calling him a kick-out from Shoujo because he was a troublemaker. Some are afraid that he will start a riot in the campus too," Chocho narrates what's happening around. Then I reminisce about the incident yesterday. He is followed by trouble, yes. Even I was affected by his misfortune too. Damn that jerk! He has a curse.
"Indeed. Trouble follows him," I say. And she shrugs. Even he doesn't respect his father. Such kind of behavior is unacceptable. Luckily, when I saved him yesterday it was not his fault, or else I will be the center of all these criticisms that I tolerate his rebellious action.
"A person who disrespects his parent sure is troublesome. He did not listen to his dad how much more to other people?" Chocho continues. She got a point there.
"You are right," I agreed half-heartedly. Should we consider finding out the truth of why he is acting that way? He called his father a stupid old man which is a son should not call his dad.
"He is an actor for a reason. He is fake and I hate him..." I remember him say before. My mind keeps refusing the idea. If Mr. Martin is a bad person, why would people love him? Why I didn't hear bad comments about him?
This is a brain-wracking situation. I don't like solving mysteries or dreamt of becoming a detective but an actress.
"Hey, are you okay?" she shakes me and I come back to Earth again.
"Yeah, I was just thinking..." I tell her and she is perplexed at my sudden reaction.
"You were thinking about what?" she repeats while wrinkling her forehead.
"I am thinking of meeting Mr. Martin in person," it sounds crazy, right? I don't know what comes to mind when I say it. Chocho stretches her eyes in shock when I utter those words.
"What?" she is trying to confirm if I am serious about what I've said.
"I am going to meet Mr. Martin. I have a lot of questions to ask. Well, I think I have my task to do this week," I tell her and she blinks countless times internalizing my words.
"What questions are you going to ask him by the way?" she asks and to be honest, I don't know what to ask him.
"Well, um..." I mutter and she looks suspicious of me.
"Are you that intrigued by Kawaki's way of treating his father?" she suspects me.
"Well, that's not what I meant," I defend but she seems not convinced.
"Then what?" she tries to make me say something even I don't know what to say it's just that I can't believe Mr. Martin is a bad person.
"I just want to prove the jerk wrong for accusing his dad as a fake and a bad person. It's a shame for me. He might be laughing at how stupid I am for admiring his dad," I tell her. I think I look so embarrassed in front of her.
"Uh, huh?" she utters. She doesn't sound like supporting nor agree with me.
"What?!" I snap and she startles. She is acting strange like she is thinking of something else but doesn't want to tell me about it.
"Oh, don't mind me," she says while waving her hand in front of me. I narrow my eyes at her.
"Tell me," I insist. She sighs and takes out her notes from her bag.
"Well, you don't have to worry about it. It's nothing," she refuses and smiles at me.
"Are you hiding something from me?" I ask frankly and she looks at me.
"No. It's just that I am worried about your plan," she shrugs and gets her attention back on her notes, and then takes her ballpen out.
"Worried about what?" I ask and she faces me once more.
"That you will just waste your time on your plan," she sounds certain when she says it.
"How can you say that? Aren't you curious about the way the jerk is treating his father? I mean Mr. Martin is too good to deserve it," I insist. I just lower my voice so nobody is going to hear me that we're talking about the jerk and his dad.
"Sarada, you don't need to push yourself to that issue. Besides, who cares about what Kawaki thinks about his father? He is his father so he knows better than anyone else," she is opposing me. In short, she doesn't want me to go meet Mr. Martin.
"So, do you believe that Mr. Martin is a stupid old man?" I ask and she pouts like she is thinking about the matter.
"Maybe," she responds and I know she isn't sure herself.
"Come on, Chocho. I know you like Mr. Martin too. Don't believe in him, please," I say almost pleading.
"You are not going to meet Mr. Martin for the sake of clearing his name but you are curious about why Kawaki was acting that way towards his dad, am I right?" she is speculating now but, am I planning all of this because of that? Well, I don't know.
I did not respond to her instead I ask myself. Am I getting into something personal now? But I can't help myself for thinking what would be the reason the jerk is acting that way towards my idol.
"You are so concerned about Kawaki all of a sudden. You tried to help him from the bullies yesterday and now you are trying to do something silly like meeting his dad to ask him questions about why Kawaki is being a jerk to you or a jerk to him. I don't know if I was the only one noticing that. Didn't you notice that too?" why does she sound like hitting me with the real thing? I couldn't say no or say yes either to her.
"I don't know, it's just that... This jerk is like a mathematical equation that I want to solve," I say bluntly. Chocho is surprised about it too. She looks suspiciously at me.
"Don't get me wrong. It's just my curiosity is eating me and the fact that Mr. Martin is involved so I am going to do this," I tell her and her expression doesn't change.
"Okay, so you are not coming with me?" she says sulking.
"I have a mission this week. Don't you think it's exciting? Aren't you fed up doing things over and over again?" I try to convince her to come with me instead.
"Stop it Sarada. I don't like that idea," she refuses again.
"Come on," I insist and she shakes her head.
"Hunting hotties are better than your plan," she keeps babbling about boys.
"Okay, I'll go myself then," I say and she suddenly looks at me with eyes stretched.
"Are you serious?" she asks keeping her eyes wide open. I nod and she hung her mouth up in the air.
"Besides, I want to personally meet Mr. Martin. We haven't met him since then," I say while smiling. She looks worried when she wrinkles her forehead.
"I didn't know you would go this far for the sake of Mr. Martin," she sighs and I hold her hands.
"Well, we need a new adventure this year, don't you think? If you don't want to come with me it's fine," I say she pouts.
"Seems like you're not changing your mind anymore," she shrugs and focuses her attention on the textbook.
"But, let's keep it a secret, okay?" I ask and she helplessly nods.
"I am your secret keeper, remember? So, you don't have to worry," she assures me and I smile at her.
"I am going to the club this afternoon, are you going to come with me or you'll just wait for me at the gates?" I tell her and she responds by waiting for me at the gates instead.
I walk my way to the drama club all by myself. Sumire was absent today. I wonder what happened to her.
When I reach the council's room, I see some of the members including Sumire inside. They stop talking when they see me. She did not attend the class today but she is here. What's going on?
"Sarada!" they all greet. I smile at them and says "Hi" not to be rude though. I still haven't moved on from yesterday's incident and realized I have never been playing the lead role like ever and it's all because of the jerk. He hasn't apologized for everything he had done to me.
"There's no important news for today but since you all are here let me remind you of something important," the club adviser announces. We switch our attention to her and listen to what she has to say.
"The drama club has been chosen by the principal to facilitate the upcoming Junior and Senior Promenade. Well, we will discuss the details upon your return from your Christmas break," she continues, and the club President sighs.
"This is going to be a lot of work. You have to be ready," she says apathetically looking so stressed out and we all laugh.
"Well, that's all. Enjoy your break!" our adviser says and waves goodbye to us. The club President intends to talk about it for a while but Sumire suddenly asks to leave because she has important stuff to do. So, she is allowed to leave first.
She says goodbye and immediately leaves. We discuss for a while and then after ten minutes, we are finished. I rush to the school gates when indistinct noise reaches my ears.
"Sumire," I hear someone calls her name. I hide from them. I don't know who is she talking to. I don't intend to eavesdrop but I don't want to interrupt them either.
"Sumire wait up," that voice.
It's Boruto.
"I don't know what to say to you, Boruto. Please leave me alone," she replies with a heavy tone in her voice. She sounds in pain.
"I just want to clear things up to you. I just can't leave the two of us like this," he tries to make her listen or something like making up to her.
"It's her, right? It's always her and I can't be like her whatever I do," she says almost crying. Boruto did not answer. He keeps silent.
"I should have not left before. So, it must have been me right now," she says and I hear footsteps fading away.
So, there is someone behind their breakup?
I unconsciously clench my chest and bite my lower lip. It seems like the distance between me and Boruto is getting farther.
Should I give up now or keep holding on?
To be continued...