Don't Rent a Girlfriend: School Days
Chapter Seven
Disclaimer: I do not own Rent a Girlfriend
x
Chizuru stared in disbelief as the words left Mami's mouth. She had never experienced such hostility from a person pertaining to her line of work that she was not ashamed of the least. In fact, she loved her work. It had helped her in a time of need both financially and as a means to escape her stressful life.
"W-What did you call me?" Chizuru felt oddly ashamed despite trying her best to stand up for herself. The look that Mami had was of pure hatred, disgust and demeaning.
"Oh my." She spared a mocking smile. "Are you ashamed?"
"I am no-"
"Nor should you be." She shrugged. "Times are hard, I am not against sluts whoring their bodies for cash."
Chizuru didn't know what to say. She just stood there shocked, the words that flawlessly escaped her mouth left a mark on her for the first time since she had started to work. At that moment, Chizuru felt ashamed.
"What?" Mami smiled at her before a smirk spread across her face. "Don't tell me, did you perhaps think you were helping out the world or something? Haha." She laughed to the point of insanity. "You are a funny girl, Chizuru-chan."
...
"People like you disgust me." She calmed down and spoke, words having no room of second thought. She meant every single word that left her lips. "Trapping lonely people with your legs spread out, using your fake shit to fill your purse... how can you sleep at night?" She soon used her hand in a 'stop sign' as she bit her tongue. "Oh, don't answer that. It's simple. You are a slut. That's what sluts do."
Chizuru didn't know when she became so weak that she had no words to stand up for herself. Mami knew nothing about her and yet she just stood there like an idiot, unable to speak. Unable to think.
"Oh, nothing to say?" Mami asked with a smile. She clapped her hands loudly and this broke Chizuru out of her stance, as finally she gasped for much needed air.
"Breath slut, I am not done talking." Mami added as she closed the locks of the washroom from inside.
Finally having enough of her insults, Chizuru spoke.
"I am not ashamed-"
"OK stop, on second thought." She smiled at her. "I don't give a rat's ass about what you have to say."
Chizuru found herself overwhelmed yet again, as if under a cage that she couldn't break.
"Does it make you happy when Kazu-kun just runs around you like an idiot?"
Chizuru had almost forgotten the reason for the whole conversation that started this one sided onslaught. Kazuya.
"W-what?"
"Helping you make dumb movies, jumping on the beech to save you while you get paid... you must think you are special, right?" The fake smile was soon overshadowed by her hateful stare.
"I-"
"You aren't special." She cut her off. "He would do those for anyone. A dog even. That's the type of idiot he is."
...
"Let me remind you again." Mami walked close to her as she glared at her with a sadistic look on her face. "Stay away from Kazu-kun, if it's money that you want, I will give you more than you can earn in a lifetime."
Before Chizuru could answer, she never realized how or when a pair of scissors came in contact with her hair. A cut noise brought her back to her senses as she saw a few strands of her hair fall on the ground.
"This is a warning. Next time, you know the rest." She stepped back, put the scissors back on her pocket and quickly changed her face into an innocent girl with a smile as bright as the sunrise.
"Okay, Chizu-chan?" She smiled before leaving the girl alone. Chizuru didn't know how long she stood there, staring blankly at the spot where Mami stood before. She looked at her reflection in the mirror, realizing her face was drenched in tears. Was it due to shame? Or fear?
She didn't know.
But at that moment she understood what type of person Mami was. She was scared. Truly scared that she didn't even want to deny. Her shaky hand wouldn't stop, nor did her heartbeat as she looked at the strands of hair on the ground.
(Scene Change)
Chizuru stepped off the bus as she was met with the familiar sight of the street that led towards her apartment. She never thought about the eerie silence that the road had nor did it ever bother her. But today was different. She couldn't concentrate on the class, nor could she shake off the incident that occurred.
Every time she saw Mami, smiling with Kazuya or anyone as a matter of fact, she couldn't help but get scared. She was shaken, completely utterly shaken and as she stood at the junction, remembering how she cut her hair, she finally broke. She began to vomit as her chest felt like it was about to pop at any moment. Her breathing was heavy and irregular as she coughed and coughed.
She needed help. She actually felt like she was about to lose her mind. She grabbed her phone hastily to call 911 but that's when everything went blank as she fell on the ground, unconscious.
(Scene Change)
The sound of beeping stirred some consciousness in her body. The sensation of her voluntarily moving toes made her aware of being alive. Her uncovering lids shimmered the long forgotten light into her eyes. Then the sight of a familiar face almost made her jump off the hospital bed. Her movement caused the said person to open his eyes as he looked at her with worry.
"Mizuhara..."
She bit her lips, eyes fixated on his worried ones as she found herself overwhelmed with emotions.
"Kazuya..." She didn't expect him to hug her so tightly to the point of being choked to death. But she didn't object. She just silently enjoyed the feeling that she couldn't explain. But she loved it. It didn't last long though, much to her discomfort.
As she watched his face change from that of worry to a relief, she couldn't help but be drawn towards him, in search of the same fuzzy feeling.
"Kazuya... this place..." She stared around the hospital room, in search of any clue.
"Your grandmother called me... she was really stressed when you were brought here." Kazuya explained.
She looked at him with shock until he shook his head to remove her worry.
"Don't worry. She is fine. The doctor said it was nothing serious. The initial diagnosis says it was some sort of panic attack... umm... vosovagal... umm... something like that." He finished, giving up to remember the exact name of the diagnosis.
Then like a rush of storm, everything came back to her mind and she found herself stressed yet again. But this time there was someone there for her.
The familiar warmth against her hand instantly put her to ease as she stared at his face.
"What happened, Mizuhara? You can tell me."
She opened her mouth. She closed her mouth. Then opened again. Finally sighed before shaking her head.
'I can't get him involved.' She thought back at the whole incident and couldn't help but feel anger seep through her spines.
'So lame...' She thought and took a deep breath.
"It's nothing Kazuya... I got this." She thought as the image of Mami that haunted her soon vanished, only replaced with anger and a need to step up.
"If you say so..."
"Ne, Kazuya."
"Hmm?"
"Why did you come?" She wanted to take those words back as soon as she noticed how Kazuya's face changed. Fear? No. Disappointed? Maybe. She didn't understand. But she hated it. She hated herself at that moment but she just added more fuel to it without realizing until it was too late.
"I... shouldn't have?" He asked hesitantly, eyes averting from her, left and right, anywhere but her.
"Shouldn't you answer that?" She tightened her fist against the bed sheet that covered her. She wanted to stop, hating every word that came out of her mouth, but she couldn't. As if those words were subconsciously present on the back of her mind, born from her anger, sadness, disappointment, and perhaps.
'Hope.'
"I t-told you, didn't I? Sayuri-san... your grandmother called me... so..." He looked down, a frown present on his face as if trying to suppress his words.
"Why do you suddenly care?" She didn't want to sound petty, she didn't mean to be aggressive with her tone and yet, her words spat like a knife through him. She bit her lips as he looked at her with confusion? Anger? Disappointment? Or perhaps...
'Betrayal.'
"I heard you c-collapsed... I just couldn't ignore-"
"Why?" She asked, eyes cold as steel and words hateful as they come.
"I am just a rental." Nor could she hide the anger in her tone. Yes, he deserved every bit of hate, she told herself. Convinced herself.
"I... I was worried-" He bit his lips and looked down sadly.
"I never asked for your concern."
...
"Get out." She mouthed, not sparing a glance at him. Yes, he deserved it. She told herself again. 'I am just a rental. He ignored me, and left without notice. Now suddenly he comes like nothing happened?'
"Sorry. I will leave."
'He even let that dumb Mami in his house... I think...' She didn't know why this made her the most annoyed either.
"Do it fast, close the door."
...
"Hai."
As the door closed behind him, she widened her eyes, then squirmed against the pillow in frustration, face flushed, as she felt conflicted from her decision.
'What the hell am I supposed to do...' She groaned, sitting down, face hidden behind her palm. 'Why do I want to see him again... I just told him to get out... what the heck is wrong with me.'
Sigh...
(Scene Change)
'I am such an idiot... I keep coming back to her when she wants nothing to do with me. Am I such a sore loser?' He ran through the empty road under the moonlit streets of Tokyo. He hated how breathless he became after a few minutes. But most importantly, he hated himself.
"I made a fool of myself." He gasped for air as he found a bench nearby where he fell instantly.
"Mizuhara... why can't I just move on... stupid me." As he calmed down, he stared at the night sky with a blank face. The only source of noise being his slowly resting heart and the occasional whistles of the wind.
"What should I do... this is driving me nuts. I thought I was over this... I even moved house, stopped talking to her..." He complained out loud, face flushed in embarrassment as he remembered how she told him to get out. For the second time in a few days.
"It can't get any more clear than this... and yet I keep trying to run after her... what am I? A SIMP?"
Mami's words played in his mind and he couldn't help but laugh. This wasn't even a joke.
...
He laughed. "Yes... I am a simp. Pathetic as fuck... I have no shame... ah! Shameless Kazuya... my new name... ha ha ha... useless shameless girlfriend renting Kazuya-sama..."
...
'What the heck am I doing.' He sighed, dragging his legs up from the bench, forcing the thirst back as he continued towards the bus stop.
'Lame... me.'
(Scene Change)
Kazuya avoided her throughout the whole class. He even managed to stay hidden from hearing her voice for the day. A huge accomplishment, he reminded himself.
'This is how it should be. See, you can do it Kazuya, you are not a simp.' He smiled as he wiped the plates.
It was 6pm, Kazuya wanted to quit the job as a Barista but due to some reason, the manager was absent today and before he could deny, he was left a note and a hefty tip to look after the bar for the night. He couldn't just deny the money... It was too attractive.
'Besides, if I quit, it will seem like I am running away just because I can't rent her anymore.'
...
'Who am I kidding, that's exactly it...' He sighed as he finished cleaning all the plates until he heard the door chime make a noise, alerting a new customer.
"Good evening, welcome to-"
...
'Ah... this is a fucking joke, isn't it?' He stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Oh, what a surprise, Kazuya-kun." It was Umi and Mizuhara, dressed like a high class couple from a movie, standing in front of him like a cruel joke.
He opened his mouth, and left it open for a good few seconds.
Mizuhara just stood there just as surprised as him.
Umi had a smirk on his face, after all, everything was planned. He even held her hand, flaunting the physical contact in front of him, just as he planned.
Everything according to his plan until Kazuya spoke.
"Get out."
"Huh?" Both Umi and Mizuhara looked shocked.
Kazuya opened his eyes and smiled, the smile that made them both uncomfortable and sent a chill down their spine.
"I said, get out, bitch, both of you."
To be continued...