Disclaimer: Characters are not mine.

Summary: Silence can speak volumes but when it comes to love, silence is painful.

Silent Love

Romantic flicks are overrated.

Kirisawa Fuuko thought bitterly, trying to suppress a sniffle as she absently watched the credits of the film she had just watched.

She was plainly disturbed that such trivial and fictional film had triggered her to cry.

She was never known to be the emotional type.

But she guessed that recent developments in her life, specifically events involving unfamiliar emotions, must have set off this instability.

She's in love.

That should have made her happy, right?

Well, at least that's how the movie makers portrayed a woman in love.

But how come she's not?

In fact, she feels miserable.

-----

"Michan."

The very object of her affection.

No matter how much he pines for Sakoshita Yanagi, she will never be his. Her heart already belongs to someone else, and that someone happens to be Recca.

Just like me.

Fuuko thought sadly.

No matter how much I pine for you, you will never love me. Will you, Michan?

Earth, open up and swallow me already.

Fuuko thought, slightly shivering at the sudden gust of wind.

Oh, how about taking me away with you, wind?

She felt like snorting but any attempts were cut off when something draped on her shoulders.

Turning, she barely saw Tokiya place his jacket over her.

-----

"Do you know how it feels to love and not be loved in return?" Tokiya asked inaudibly.

Yes.

"No." Fuuko chose to reply.

He didn't need to know.

"Do you know how it feels like to have your heart pulled out and realize you're still alive?"

Yes.

"No."

"It's like a thousand needles—"

…pricking your heart, each slowly pushed down to the very end.

"—pricking your heart, slowly and deeply."

Yes.

"Really?"

"That's how I feel when I see Yanagi."

And that's how I feel when I see you.

"And yet I still want to see her."

And I, you.

Unlike in the movies where the heroines get to throw their arms around the man they love and vice versa, that's all both of them could do.

Silently, secretly, soundlessly love.