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Verse Two
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"Was it really him?" Kahoko asked herself for what seemed like the millionth time.
She hugged her knees closer and sank further on the tub stopping only to make sure her nose is above the water line. When the bubbles she blew underneath were of no help, she straightened up and leaned the back of her neck against the rim of the porcelain. Her eyes stared at the ceiling as the recollection of yesterday's trespassing flooded her mind.
For the first time, and perhaps the last, she was able to see his striking crimson eyes, which usually gave off a commanding stare, produce tears. She titled her head a little to the left. The sound of his music resurfaced and she can do nothing but to frown from it. For minutes she can't even tell how long, she wondered how something so magnificent to the ears can cause as much pain to the heart.
"Kaho?" her sister's voice echoed behind the bathroom door, "Are you done?"
"Almost," she answered, pulling the drain stopper.
"Hurry up if you don't want to be late."
"But it's just a concert," Kahoko said, grabbing the towel nearby.
"Just hurry up," she said, leaving audible footsteps, "You're not the only person in this house who needs to use the bathroom."
She sighed and left to get dressed. The truth was she doesn't want to go that night. Although the concert was held for a good cause and perhaps to welcome the nearing Christmas holiday, her spirits were not so pleased with the gathering. Due to the incidents she faced yesterday, she felt uneasy with the thought of seeing both men. But it was way too late for any kind of escape now. The taxi had just rounded the corner and in came the view of Seiso Gakuen.
Kahoko handed the cabbie a crisp thousand bill before hopping off the vehicle. She pulled her coat tighter around her quivering body and walked the length from the gate to the multi-purpose hall. The building buzzed even before the doors were opened for her. The hall was brightly lit and charming music filled the air as the guests twirled in dancing motions on the marble flooring of the room. She eyed the crowd nervously for a familiar face to be with till the end of the night. And soon, she found one approaching her from the opposite end.
"Hino-san," Aoi greeted, giving her a polite bow, "You look great."
"Thanks," she smiled, "So do you."
The blond looked over his shoulder towards the waltzing crowd and offered his hand to Kahoko, which she gladly took. Anything to limit her chance of interaction with the violin prodigy or the school director was good enough for her.
This time around, she managed not step on any of his feet and even executed a swift turn with Aoi's exemplary moves. As the night progressed, she had danced with almost all her close male friends with the same gracefulness she had carried out with Aoi even if there was a tad bit difficulty dancing with Kazuki. He had a hard time focusing on her face and would glance every now and then on his feet, making sure that he won't step on her, or she on him.
Just as the music was about to end and the event about to finish, Kahoko heard a feeble cough next to her. She followed the source of the interruption and saw Len. With his usual civility, he had asked Kazuki if he could steal her for a few minutes. The trumpeter nodded, thanked Kahoko for the dance and smiled to them both before leaving.
"Do you mind stepping outside?" Len asked.
"Not at all," she answered.
He presented his arm for her to take which she did. Len took their coats and led her out the door and in the direction of the school garden. There stood a huge Christmas tree with carefully placed decorations and glimmering lights. Both stopped and stared to admire the arrangement made on the tree as snow lazily fell from the sky.
"Kahoko," he called, not shifting his eyes from the tree, "Have you thought about it?"
"About?"
"What I've told you before," Len said sternly.
"Before?" she said, trying her best to not start on the subject she feared the most.
She heard him sigh which made her turn to look at him. He stood only a foot away from her. His eyes shook but his expression bore determination.
"Do I have to say it again just for you to remember?" he asked.
"Well, I don't think that's neces—"
"I love you," he said.
Her cheeks felt instantly warm against the cold weather and her heart made the same pause it did a few days prior. The words felt extremely good and she can feel the fluttering sensation inside her stomach but something else occurred to her under a lengthy reflection of the past situation. She stepped back and lowered her head.
"I know," she stared, placing her fist against her chest, "And thank you."
"That's it?" he was dumbfounded.
"Yes," she mumbled.
"Don't you feel the same way?" Len asked, grabbing her shoulders firmly, "Surely you must"
"I have," Kahoko titled her head to meet his eyes, "It's you who don't understand the gravity of your own words"
"What?"
"How can you say that you love me?" she said, fighting the urge to hit him, "When you're about to leave in a few days"
"But you know how important music is to me," he protested, shaking her a bit.
"I know," Kahoko shot back, "That's why I put on a brave face, a fake one to show how happy I am for you. But not once have you considered my emotions. Not once have you made an effort"
"What about the walks and the concerts?"
"That's it?" she snarled.
Len froze as his hands loosened their hold on her. He found no good answer to her question and had hung his head in defeat.
"I have to go," Kahoko suddenly uttered.
His head snapped back to look at her but she had already turned around and was starting to take her leave. Len seized her hand involuntarily to stop her. And like before, she tugged it away from him with added force.
"At least let me—"
"No!" she barked and she was gone.
Kahoko tried pulling it together but letting go is her best choice at the moment. Not wanting to grab foreign attention on the street to herself, she hastily went inside the campus even though the hallways were dark and empty. She leaned on the wall and found herself curling up on the floor as tears rolled down from her eyes. No one was there to hear her so she cried to her heart's content till she heard footsteps.
"Who's there?" Kahoko cried, drawing her coat close.
From the corner of the hallway, a lean figure emerged and made its way to where she was sitting. His face was strategically hidden by the shadows of the corridor. Every time he passes a window, she could see parts of him that may help her identify whom he was. Upon stopping in front of her, Kahoko gazed up and from his upturned lips; she was able to finally distinguish who he was.
"Why didn't you answer me yesterday?" he said.
"I'm sorry," she stood, smoothing her skirt from the rumpled mess it once had been. She wasn't hoping for another conflict so she continued, "I didn't mean to disturb you. I thought you were someone else"
Unaware of the tears still falling from her tawny eyes, she stared at him. Gone were the vulnerable pair of rubies she saw and were now back to the stoic but sharp eyes he normally wore. She then felt something warm against her face and noticed that he had graced her cheek with the back of his hand. He withdrew and held his hand in between them. Kahoko wasn't sure what to do when she saw a teardrop sitting on his index finger.
"This makes us even," Akihiko said, digging inside his pocket to hand her his handkerchief.
Without another word or a glance back at her, he left.
***
