Chapter Thirteen

"Seriously, Noel-kun, you better take care of yourself." Shinra tsked as he watched me eat my hospital food with sympathy and apprehension. I managed to hold down my snort as I shoveled in some food, chewing at the tasteless garbage. Whatever they're serving here, I'd be sure to give them negative one over ten. It lacked the right quantities and the amount of salt and pepper placed in and-

"Hey, are you even listening?" Shinra poked my forehead with his finger as I scowled at him. "I am now." I couldn't grumble at him since Celty's here and I don't want to argue much more. My head is still hurting like a bitch yet I just ignored it as I sipped some juice from carton juice box. At least that had flavor, which is Kyoto grapes. "Good. Let me remind you that the police aren't gonna let this slide so don't forget that." Shinra continued to ramble on and about my life or death sentence while I consistently ignored him as I picked off a piece of crap from my cold steak.

To tell you the truth, I never met Shinra nor Shizuo during high school. I am a very busy man and I rarely talked to Noelle even at home. As the student council president and an honor student, I most preferred to study rather than wasting my time socializing with people. Last time I told you this, I was the one good at socializing at she is the one who will hold back. But now, I don't really care about anything except to exact my revenge. I don't know what to do anymore…

The hospital door slid open and a visitor appeared. I didn't look up to greet them since I'm too tired to do any eye moving. However, the voice belonged to someone I knew well. "Shizuo, you sure to go walking around with your injury?" Shinra inquired the blonde who sighed as he turned to Celty and gave her half-hearted wave. "Yo." He mumbled as he then focused his attention to me. I felt his cold brown eyes boring a hole into my head but I remained silent.

Seconds later, Celty came up to me with her PDA, "We'll give you two some privacy." I nodded at her gratefully as she pushed the eccentric doctor outside the room. The stillness hung around the air like a thick fog. I forgot my food as I pushed the table from me. It was cold anyway, and I didn't like it. We still stood in silence as I waited in bathed breath.

"If you have something to say, do so now." I was surprised at my voice. Whenever I saw him I usually am the sarcastic one. But now, it's calm and cool, what Noelle will be talking now.

I shouldn't be thinking about her in this state. "Huh, you're one to talk." It was my eyes that widened, not my will. What? "I need my apology right now." It was a simple, normal negotiation. My life in exchange for his apology.

And at that, my brain stopped working to my consent anymore.

"No, it's better to end my life now." The trembling words that are now coming out of my mouth spoke with little hesitation. "Don't you see? I failed. I don't have a purpose to live my life anymore." My fingers clenched onto my sheets so hard my knuckles turned white. Shizuo didn't say anything yet he continued to look at me.

"She…She left me…The one I truly cared for left me. And all I got left is that bitter memory of a broken promise. You shouldn't have taken me to the hospital." I ignored his visible flinch and I moved on, my breath ragging and nearly choking.

"I don't deserve to live anymore," My hand unconsciously gripped the blunt hand knife as I shook more vigorously. "I will rather die than to live an unimportant life!" My own voice screamed and I didn't know I held the knife like a weapon as I brought it down to stab itself to my heart and I closed my eyes.

It all happened so fast.

I prepared myself for the excruciating pain, the coppery tang of blood, his voice to shout out for help, but nothing came. I tried to move my own hand, but it's locked in place. Opening my eyes into a peek, they opened up fully and as round as saucers. I felt a stinging pain that bashed my cheek. Finally, I gained control of myself and let go of the knife. I looked up to Shizuo in surprise. Apparently he punched me again. His eyes are burning with an emotion I barely knew he had it in him.

Was that… Fear..?

"I don't think your sister would take kindly to me that I just let her older bro kill himself." He chose his words carefully as he spoke softly to me. "Also, I don't want to get caught into this, but I don't have a choice because it meant to be with her." He lowered his fist and pushed it inside his pocket and looked away.

"Killing yourself may look easy, but to others who are going to witness it, they can't make you do it. Why? Well," He paused his speech for a bit as his cheeks tinged pink. "Noelle's the only one who knows this kind of stuff. I'm just doing what she might do." I stared at him with unreadable eyes. I searched the depths of his coffee brown ones with my green ones and found my answer. I slowly let out a chuckle, which gradually became a full length laugh. Shizuo arched his brows as I gasped for air.

"You sure act like her alright!" I only manage to say as I laughed in all fours as he flushed red and scratched his head, looking embarrassed. That's right, I looked out of the window as I genuinely smiled, and her happiness is my happiness. That's what matters now.

I found my answer Noelle.