Lin let out a little chuckle, soft and low. I'm getting careless. Mai relaxed.
"I need to say goodbye to everything. I don't have much time left." Lin tensed. He didn't want those papers to be true. Lin sat there staring at her as he absorbed the spoken piece of text. He already knew but someone saying it out loud was like the words was released, the chaos within its depth was swallowing her and taking her away. "I'm sorry but could you please help me. It's a difficult task and…and…" Mai began to mumble on becoming more and more embarrassed. Lin understood, he went over and gave Mai a pat on the head. Mai stopped and stared up at him, her eyes did the asking. Lin knew she was using him for Naru, but he didn't care. He nodded. Mai's heart felt a heavy burden leave but another began to replace its predecessor. "But you cannot tell him."
"What about after?" Lin softly asked. Mai paused.
"That is up to you. I'm sorry, this must be very difficult for you." Indeed it is Mai, but not only because Naru is my friend but also because I love you. Lin gave a smile of reassurance, sealing their deal.
Naru sat at his desk. There was a silence for a long while, and then the squeaky cabinet in the kitchenette could be heard along with the boiling water. He then heard him return to his room and he didn't know whether it was paranoia or real but he could hear their smiles. Smiles? I must be getting tired; I was probably seeing things then. With that he brushed of the scene he had walked in on as an illusion created within his mind. Why? He has no clue. He felt everything was settled and returned to his routine.
"Mai, tea." Some things won't change. He smirked at the though of what he was going to do to Mai when she brought him his tea.
Upon hearing the first note of his voice Mai flinched. Oh, how she hated to lie especially to Naru, but she has to be strong afraid the truth would do him more harm than this wretched lie. Standing in the kitchenette taking deep breaths to calm herself otherwise she'll be found out and Naru would be scarred.
Approaching his door, Mai put on a mask of indifference and prayed. She knocked on twice before opening the door. Silently, watching the tea, she walked to his desk and set the tea down. Holding the serving tray close to her torso she looked up and opened her mouth to speak only to realise that the narcissist was not at his seat. It was also after that moment Mai found arms snaking its way from behind to nestle themselves around her waist. She silently prayed for strength .