Chapter 3: He Wasn't There
I wipe my tears away and quickly compose myself, walking out of the limo and into our house. As soon as I get to the solitude of my and Hikaru's shared room, I pull out my homework. I figure I should get it done sooner rather than later.
But no amount of math equations or english essays could distract me from the thoughts stewing in my brain.
I put down my pen and sigh. I'm messing up on all my math and this essay is going nowhere. The image of Hikaru and Haruhi together occupies ever square millimetre of mind.
I go into the bathroom and take a long, hard look at myself in the mirror. "You're being stupid." I tell myself quietly. "Now focus on your homework, you twit."
I try, but apparently I can't follow orders even from myself.
A couple hours later, a bell dings, signifying dinner. I go downstairs, wondering why Hikaru didn't come up to our room the second he got home. It's what we always do.
However, he's not here even now. I check my phone again. Nope, not a single text. I mean, he could have told me he was going to be late. In his last text he said he was on his way. So where is he?
I'm still pretending to eat my noodles when he walks in the door. "Hey Kaoru." He smiles and plops down at the table, emitting a long sigh.
I pick up a noodle and insert it into my mouth. I slurp it up and look at him. "How come you're late?"
He shrugs.
I look at my twin. He's playing around with his noodles too.
"No, seriously." I say again, putting down my bowl. I wasn't going to eat it anyway.
He shrugs again. Now I'm actually getting annoyed.
"What, did you go to second base with Haruhi and then got busted by her dad?" I say, in an attempt to tease him.
He nods. My mouth drops open. What the? Hikaru... Haruhi...
"I'm kidding!" He says, laughing. "You should have seen your face!" Hikaru starts to laugh uncontrollably. I shut my mouth again. Thank God.
I eat some more, ramming the food into my mouth with a bit more force than needed. I know it was just a joke... But he gave me a scare.
"So, what really did happen?" I ask, when Hikaru rights himself.
He shrugs for a third time. "Nothing, really. It's stupid."
"Tell me." I prod him, because I'm impatient and curious and annoyed.
"You remember Ranka?" He says, looking worried. I snort. How could I ever forget?
"Oh, he saw me and started interrogating me about why we were together. He seemed to think Tamaki was hiding in the bushes somewhere."
I laugh, partly out of relief. So nothing happened.
Yet later, when we're all cozy in bed and Hikaru's passed out next to me, I let a small sigh escape my lips. Right now is the time of day when we're closer than ever, our bodies entangled and the sound of warm breathing filling the air. But I feel like we're further away than ever.
He wasn't there. Today, after school. I really needed him. And he wasn't there when I needed him. Which makes me wonder...
Will he ever?