Episode 38: Alone In Silence
I clutched Kurapica's hand tightly in mine and he did the same.
" Hikari… " he began causing the both of us to come to a stop.
I turned my head at the mention of my name.
" Hmm? "
" Hikari, do you remember now? "
The confused look on my face must have made him sigh with irritation.
" I'm sorry Kurapica-san, " I said quickly, feeling just a little hurt that he was annoyed with me.
The boy shook his head and gave me a tiny smile but I knew that the smile was a fake. It was empty, completely devoid of any emotion.
Suddenly, I felt angry. I dropped his hand like a hot potato and whirled around to face him, fully, my hands on my hips.
" Kurapica-san, don't force yourself to smile when you don't want to. It's perfectly fine if you're irritated with me but don't try and mask it behind a smile. I hate it! " I snapped crossly, glaring up at him,
For a moment, there was silence as he stared down at me, shocked.
" I know that subtle difference when you try to hide your feelings or otherwise, " I continued. " I've told you before when we were waiting for Senritsu, didn't I? If you don't want to speak your mind, then tell me frankly, I won't mind if you do. There is simply no need to hide your feelings and pretend that everything is alright, Kurapica-san."
Unexpectedly, he smiled and nodded.
" Yeah, I remember, " he told me in a way, as if he was amused by that incident when I scolded him before at the airport. " I'm sorry? "
I rewarded him with a wide smile in return.
" It's okay, Kurapica-san. "
I took his hand again and we started walking again.
" Hikari, remember how I intruded on your personal space when I came upon your favourite spot? " he asked me, suddenly.
" Huh? "
" I would love it if you would sing that song to me when I first met you there in that abandoned field? "
It was as if Kurapica's words were the key to unlock that chest, the chest where I stored all those sweet memories of my childhood locked up and had forgotten that it had even existed.
Yes, Kurapica-san…
With that, I opened my mouth and sang. That song which sealed our friendship, between me and him, five years ago.
Far off, in the near distance…
I sat in a field surrounded by many purple flowers…
Lavenders…
It was so tranquil…
I felt so blissful…
I've never felt this way before…
The garden of Lilac Bliss…
However, when I came back…
The very next day…
Instead of me on my own, I saw someone there…
My secret sanctuary was reduced to nothing…
Someone else had come intruding into my secret spot…
I didn't like it at all…
In fact I hated it…
The intruder was a guy…
I was so used to the fact that I was always left alone…
But now…
It was different…
He talked to me like I was someone he knew…
But I knew that I didn't know him…
However, what I didn't know was that we could become best of friends…
Title: Alone In Silence
Written by: Yours Truly
I let the last of the words drag before I stopped and opened my eyes.
Both of them were staring at me, mesmerised.
" Alone in Silence… " Kurapica murmured softly.
" Huh? " Senritsu looked to him, puzzled.
" That's the title of the song that she sang earlier on, " he explained.
At this, Senritsu looked sharply.
" How did you know that, Kurapica? " she demanded.
Kurapica's head snapped up at this and he blushed under Senritsu's scrutiny. He did not say anything.
" He's my childhood friend, Senritsu, " I answered Senritsu's question for the seventeen-year-old.
I watched the woman's face register the shocking reality of the situation as it sank into her.
" C-Childhood friends? " she spluttered out.
I nodded my head, firmly.
" Kurapica-san helped me to recover some of my past memories earlier on…kept getting those flashes through my mind… " I added.
Senritsu turned back to the boy, who was still withdrawn and very reluctant to join in the conversation, waiting for confirmation from him.
" That's…true, " he managed through a choked voice, embarrassed.
" And you kept that from me the whole time, Kurapica? " she pressed.
" I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep that from you. It's just that… " he trailed off as if remembering that I was there as well.
" Just that what…? " she demanded.
" S-Senritsu, please calm down! " I replied, trying to soothe her.
However, the woman's rage could not be quelled as she continued to ignore me.
" Nothing, " was all he responded.
It was enough to make her even more angrier than she already was.
Kurapica-san…!
I sighed inwardly and took things into my own hands.
" SENRITSU! " I yelled.
She turned her attention back to me, her face now distorted with vehemence.
At least…
That got her attention…
" PLEASE CALM DOWN! " I continued in that loud voice.
I could hardly control my laughter when I saw her face. Then, I burst out and started to laugh.
I saw Senritsu's face softening.
" Senritsu, it's alright really. Kurapica did not know that it was me neither did I know it was him, " I explained, grinning.
" Really? " she drew out the word, emphasising on the 'r'.
I nodded, beaming.
She sniffed.
" Fine. I'll let this go but next time, please don't hide anything from me anymore, " Senritsu informed us.
" Is that clear, Kurapica? " she added in a much louder voice, glancing at the now silent boy.
He stiffened and then nodded slowly.
With that, I laughed once again, lightening the dull and suffocating atmosphere to almost nothing.