"Why! That's strange!"
"Hmm? Did something happen?"
Seiko went silent for a moment, which had me switch the conversation from ear to phone speaker. Listening in closely as I could hear the gentle typing on her end. Seconds before my room lit up to her bright personality.
(Seiko): "Oh nothing bad in particular! I just noticed a certain somebody hasn't responded back to me for quite awhile!"
But of course, my jealousy couldn't maintain itself. The energy in Seiko's voice was unlike anything I've heard within the last hour of our quality time. Making me more self-conscious to whom this mysterious rival may be.
(Naomi): "Somebody? Like... one of our classmates?"
(Seiko): "Uh-huh! Remember Kishinuma?"
Just like that, his voice traveled through my ears.
"Shinohara hasn't gotten over you. And you're lucky she hasn't! So you better talk to her and fix whatever the hell is causing this problem!"
"The day you're truly alone... or that if something happens to her, it's gonna fucking destroy you!"
Even to this day, his words are still as loud as they were. Always reminding me how hopeless I can be. How little change I've made for myself, and for her... considering all I've done up to this point has been nothing new. Which made me feel even worse.
(Naomi): "..."
Why am I like this?
Though, Seiko found a way to remove me from that mindset. Just like always.
(Seiko): "You know? Blonde hair? Loyal as a pup? Can reach for books? Occasionally smells like pot?"
(Naomi): "*Snork* Yeah, that guy does sound familiar! But um...why do you bring him up? Is he supposed to be helping you with something?"
(Seiko): "Believe it or not! I became matchmaker for the day! Gave him an opportunity to be with his one true love!"
(Naomi): "As in... you've hooked him up with someone from class?"
(Seiko): "Not exaaaactly! I kinda just left him alone with a certain girl he's been crushing on for ages! Ever so knowingly! And I've been dying to know how that all turned out!"
(Naomi): "Heh! Well I hope it's mutual between them...!"
(Seiko): "If you ask me! Not that I'm being biased here! I can totally see them hitting it off!"
(Naomi): "Who's the lucky girl?"
(Seiko): "Take a WILD guess!"
(Naomi): "Hmm..."
It didn't take very long to guess whom the person of interest may be. Even though, I hardly knew anyone else from the group. It was my best guess.
(Naomi): "Is it Suzumoto?"
(Seiko): "Bwahahaha! No! Why her?"
(Naomi): "She was really being nice to him last night."
(Seiko): "But that's how she is with everyone!"
(Naomi): "Really? When I look back on it. She seemed really nervous whenever he's around..."
(Seiko): "Hahaha! No! Trust me! It's not her! She's already got someone special in mind!"
Someone special?
(Seiko): "Guess again!"
(Naomi): "I mean. The other girls in our class kinda don't want anything to do with him... ever since Shinozaki warned us."
(Seiko): "...That's so funny you mention her!"
(Naomi): "Huh? What about Shinozaki?"
(Seiko): "Ignore me! Just keep throwing me names!"
Took me a second before I understood what she meant. Which had me remembering the other things she's done to him from last night.
(Naomi): "No way! You can't be serious? Those two practically want each other dead!"
(Seiko): "Love comes in many forms, Naomi! Even in disguise of hate! Deep down, they are just crazy for each other! It's REALLY obvious just by how they are!"
(Naomi): "Sorry! But I don't believe it until I see it!"
(Seiko): "Ohhh we all will! It's just a matter of time before they come to school holding hands! Perhaps they are doing that right now? Could be why I haven't gotten their messages!"
(Naomi): "Hey now! Don't you go around spreading more rumors! We can actually relate to their pain... you know?
And of course. Seiko didn't see it that way.
(Seiko): "Hmhmhm! Do we? Naomi?"
(Naomi): "*Snork* Dork!"
(Seiko): "Hahaha!"
Though, after what she said, it had me checking my own messages. Which immediately, I saw a pattern.
(Naomi): "So wait... Shinozaki hasn't messaged you either?"
(Seiko): "Yup! Radio silent!"
(Naomi): "Kinda weird. She hasn't replied back to my messages as well. But I guess she's always busy with her work in the student council stuff, huh?"
(Seiko): "I'm telling you, Naomi! They are having the time of their life! Can't be a coincidence if neither of them can shoot a simple text!"
I shook my head, smiling.
(Naomi): "Yeah, I guess so...!"
And with that out of the way, things became... very quiet.
Until I heard her talking to one of her siblings in the background.
(Seiko): "Hey Naomi! I'll be right back! Stay on the phone with me, will you?"
(Naomi): "Of course!"
(Seiko): "Terrific! Be baaaack in a jiffy!"
While she was gone, I took this as an opportunity to finish packing. Then after packing up, I checked on Mei.
(Naomi): "Heh!"
She was comfortably resting in her new bed. Sleeping right by the desk.
(Naomi): "So glad I got to keep you!"
Softly I stroked her cute little head.
(Naomi): "So cute!"
Next thing I did then was grab my phone and then walked out of my room. Head for the rail of the stairs and just... had this nagging feeling.
(Naomi): "..."
Better safe than sorry.
So I went downstairs and made sure... everything was locked. Which I checked all the locks throughout the house.
Front door?
Locked.
Windows?
All locked as well.
Back door?
(Naomi): "...?"
Unlocked...
(Naomi): "Oh my God!"
Without hesitation, my hands were on the door. Locking it as I completely froze there without letting go...
I knew something felt wrong!
Mom really needs to be more careful!
(Naomi): "*Sigh*"
Gradually, I let go of the door. Taking small steps to get out of the kitchen. But before I could completely leave, I turned around to check the back door... staring at it with flashing vision, as the numbness and tingling were felt through my hands and fingers. Cold even lingering through my shallow breaths. Which had me lose some footing to where I hugged the wall with my shoulder.
(Naomi): "..."
Nobody's outside...
It's nothing..
Even telling myself that, the feeling of being "watched" didn't go away. As if, somebody was really out there... standing right by the door, monitoring my every movement.
I hate getting like this...
Soon enough, I made my way back to my room. Finding myself in bed while I began hearing that familiar voice. Relieving me from all that horrifying tension from downstairs.
(Seiko): "I'm baaaack! You still there, Naomi?"
(Naomi): "Heh! Yeah! Not sure how long I'll be up for though! My body is already giving up on me..."
(Seiko): "Ohhh! I can just tell by the sound of your deep sexy voice!"
There she goes again...!
And again, I squirmed and blushed to Seiko's words. Snuggling myself to her voice as I kept the phone right by my ear. Already feeling heavier than the weight of my comfy bed.
(Seiko): "You do sound ready for a well-deserved nap! After all! The nurse said you had been going through some severe insomnia."
(Naomi): "Did she...tell you all that?..."
(Seiko): "Yup! Your mother informed her about your sleeping troubles!"
Even when that's true, I just couldn't let her find out... how bad things really were before.
I couldn't allow her to think it was somehow tied back to her...
(Naomi): "No, um... I think there's been a misunderstanding!"
(Seiko): "A misunderstanding?"
(Naomi): "Yeah! I've actually been...sleeping quite well! I mean, there were nights I did get less hours in! But that's because... well, I'd be staying up and binge watch some videos! Heh! Yeah... the usual binge watching! The internet can be so addicting sometimes! You know? And my mom would get pretty upset! She likes to say I literally don't get sleep! But that's just her silly exaggerations!"
(Seiko): "..."
(Naomi): "So yeah, um... that's my mom for you!"
An extremely poor attempt in lying. And as expected, Seiko saw through that one too.
(Seiko): "You don't need to pretend, Naomi."
(Naomi): "Huh?..."
(Seiko): "It was really hard for me too."
(Naomi): "..."
I squeezed my pillow.
(Seiko): "There were so many times I wanted to call you. Spam your phone until it melted! But I knew I'd be pushing it. I...couldn't keep doing that to you."
(Naomi): "..."
...What do you still see in me?
But then the other Seiko came to mind. That Seiko who I...had dreamed of.
(Seiko): "...I sound really obsessive, huh? I really should learn when to keep my big mouth shut! It's already caused us so many problems! Don't you think?"
And hearing all that sent me enormous amounts of pain down my chest. Literally having me yank the bed sheets.
(Naomi): "No..."
(Seiko): "...?"
(Naomi): "It's not because of how you feel, Seiko..."
(Seiko): "...Naomi?"
Fight it...
Don't hold back...
Be honest to her...!
I had all the words in my head, but I couldn't get them all out... which had me straining.
(Naomi): "The way you open yourself up... The way you've been before... I hope none of that changes after...after everything..."
(Seiko): "...You really like the way I am?"
That doubt on herself...ripped a part of me.
It was the last thing I wanted to hear as it confirmed one of my other biggest fears... that it had me shaking.
(Naomi): "Of course I do...! I love the way you are, Seiko...! Always have...! Still do!"
Seiko then spoke in a lower voice where the warmth in her words just sounded... off.
Misplaced.
Missing...
(Seiko): "...I'm glad you feel that way!"
(Naomi): "..."
No, I must be overthinking...
(Seiko): "But we should really get some shut eye! Tomorrow is another day! Our minds will be refreshed and then we can continue where we left off!"
(Naomi): "Okay! I'll...catch up on some sleep then!"
(Seiko): "If you can't sleep... call me!"
Call her...
(Seiko): "Rest up for me. Okay?"
(Naomi): "Heh! Okay...!"
And so, we were ending the night.
(Naomi): "Well! Umm... I'll be going now! I'll text you when I wake up! Goodnight Seiko!"
(Seiko): "Nighty night, Naomi!"
Right before we hanged up, Seiko continued talking.
(Seiko): "I already miss you...!"
(Naomi): "...Heh!"
(Seiko): "Dream of me. Will you?"
I bury myself even deeper. Squirming and clenching the covers.
(Naomi): "That would be really...really nice...! If I did...!"
Oh God!
(Seiko): "Heheh! Nighty night!"
(Naomi): "Nighty night!"
After we hanged up, I just kept staring at the phone. I knew I had to sleep, but seeing her picture, and then seeing her old messages was just making it harder for me to let go.
(Naomi): "..."
How am I this lucky?
And yet... I couldn't sleep. Imagination was all I had going on. Imagining how...things were to turn out if I just... confessed right then and there. As my fingers found their way to my lips, still feeling her lingering through them.
(Naomi): "..."
There's no way any of that was real...
I rubbed, and rubbed... still trying to make sense of what that whole thing was about. But even then, I knew it couldn't be anything more than just some vivid lucid dream.
(Naomi): "..."
...What if I told you?
It was an idea. But that's all it ever was, as my phone started to feel heavier. Along with the weight being pressed into eyes.
(Naomi): "..."
I really do feel that way about you...
My body kept getting weaker and weaker by the second... That I couldn't keep my eyes opened anymore. With the outdoor cricket chirps gradually getting softer. Cool breezes moving in lower speeds, shaking the trees in calming motions. Even the distant chimes ringing across the cold night were easing up. Faintly being reduced to slight, gentle jingles. While my bed just became the most comfortable place in the world.
(Naomi): "..."
I love you so, so... so much, Seiko...
At that point, I couldn't tell if I was awake anymore. Up until... I heard a very familiar tone being spoken near my ear.
"Hey Naomi! Are you awake?"
That voice...
Instinctively I sat up, and felt for my surroundings. Though, I couldn't see if what I heard was real or not. My eyes were still getting adjusted to this newly found light peeking in. Who knows for how long time has passed.
(Naomi): "Seiko...? Is that you?..."
I called out. And in return, my heart ached with my body trembling in excitement.
(Seiko): "I hope you know I really miss you!"
That can't be...
How is she here?...
I struggled to make sense as to how she got inside our house. At this hour of all times... yet it couldn't really be her, but... she sounded too real. Even my whole body felt her way inside me. Waking every part of me up. Slowly adjusting my eyes.
(Naomi): "Seiko, I miss you too... But... What are you...doing at my house? How did you... get inside here?"
But when I was finally able to see... it was much more complicated than that. Much more...terrifying.
(Naomi): "...! What the...?!"
Where the hell am I?!
To be continued...
Don't worry readers! Two more chapters coming on the way! Keep your eyes on the notifications!
