Chapter 6: Jealousy Strikes
A week later, the bell rings, signalling the end of exam week. Satomi, Jinko and I run out of the class, cheering gleefully as we burst into the sunshine.
"Finally exams are over!" Satomi screams
"Let's celebrate!" Jinko states, as she pumps her fist in the air. I laugh at both their antics. Feeling my phone vibrate in my pocket, I pull it out. It was a text message from Irie-kun asking if I want to hang out now that exams are over. I look up; Irie-kun was leaning against a tree near the school entrance. Watanabae-san was with him. He looks up at me, cocking his head to the side in question. I open up a new message to answer yes when a familiar arm swings around my neck pulling me forward towards the school gate.
I scream due to the suddenness of the movement, but Kin-chan's laughter has me trying to pull away. "No Kotoko," he says in a singsong voice, kissing the top of my head and wrapping me up into a tight one arm hug, dragging me forward with him. "I'm not letting you go. I didn't get to see you at all while you were preparing for finals, but now that we're free, we're celebrating."
"Thanks, but I already-" Kin-chan interrupts me.
"Don't say no, Kotoko, you're coming to celebrate with us even if I have to drag you with us." At this point, I gave up. Kin-chan's hold was really tight and as we pass by the tree where Irie-kun stood, I mouth an apology in his direction. He turns his head to talk to Watanabae-san and as we round the corner; my last sight of Irie-kun is him joining up with the rest of his class.
Hours later, I manage to escape my friends and head home. I sigh, swinging my school bag I didn't get to spend time with Irie-kun after school today. We can't spend any more time together at night since we don't have any more tests and once we know our final results, it'll be our summer break. Sighing again, I walk up the driveway and open the front door to the house. "I'm back." I call out into the house. Silence returns my call. "Hello? Is there anybody here?" I call out as I walk through the entire bottom floor. I walk upstairs to my room, and open the door. There, lying on the floor is a note with my name on it:
Come to my room Kotoko-chan. The rest of the house is out for dinner.
-Naoki-san
An evening alone with Irie-kun, I feel my cheeks heat a little. I quickly change out of my uniform into a more comfortable outfit and pad my way to the next room. I knock on his door, twice. There's no answer. "I'm coming in." I call as I open the door gently.
Inside the room is dark, save for a small lamp in the corner of the room. I can make out a lump on a bed and Irie-kun head poking out one side. I close the door behind me and sit down on the edge of his bed. "Irie-kun? Hello? What's with the note you left meeee!" I squeal the last part as Irie-kun suddenly moves to grab my forearm, sitting up straight.
"What are you doing sneaking around my room?" He asks. I hand him the note I found. Reading the writing in the dim light, he scrunches up the paper and tosses it into his trash. "Shouldn't you be able to read my handwriting by now? Have I ever written you a note where I've signed it with an 'Naoki-san'?" His eyes flash furiously.
I look down at my lap. "Sorry, I suppose I should have been able to. It doesn't even sound like you wrote it, but I don't see your handwriting often. I mean, we're not in the same class…" I whisper, my throat thick.
He pulls on my arm and suddenly I find myself partially under his body, trap by his weight pressing me into his bed and the grip of his hands on my arm. "That's right; you wanted to stay in that class so you wouldn't have to leave your friends. Is that really the excuse, Kotoko? Or is it that you didn't want to leave Ikezawa? Are you fooling around with him behind my back?" He snaps.
Frighten by his movement and his anger, I freeze at his words and hot rushes of anger burns through me at his assumption of my behavior. I squirm in his hold and kicking out with my legs, I manage to send him tumbling to the floor. Scrambling from the bed, I cower near the door, my hand searching blindly for the handle. "Are you for real?" I choke out, tears beginning to prick my eyes. "Why would I cheat on you? Kin-chan is a friend that I've known forever and if I move into your class, which I'm pretty sure my scores would let me, I would be ridiculed by your classmates for eternity. THAT'S why I haven't left class F. Why should I put myself in a miserable situation just to please you? I was planning on doing so because Kin-chan was getting a little too personal, but if this is how you're going to act, maybe I don't want to be in the same class with a jerk like you!" my voice nearly screams by the end of my rant, tears begin to roll down my cheeks as a tear the door open. I slam it behind me and take the two steps to my room. Slamming that door too, I lock it behind me. My vision blurred by my tears as they pour down my face, I collapse onto my bed face first, sobbing into a pillow. There is a quiet knock on my door, and Irie-kun's voice regretfully asking me to open the door. I ignore his voice and continue to bawl into the pillow. As time passes, I shrivel up into a fetal position, hugging a pillow tightly. My sobs quiet down to a whimper with hiccups, my eyes stinging and swollen. Exhausted, I fall into a restless slumber.
I wake up the next morning running late. I quickly change into my uniform and brush my hair. Staring into the mirror, I note that my eyes no longer feel swollen, but the visible stains down my cheek and the darkness beneath my dim eyes are remnants of my tears. I run to the bathroom to wipe away the tearstains but there isn't much I can do about the bags beneath my eyes. I reluctantly make my way down the stairs. I take a deep breath before putting on a smile and walking into the dining room. "Good morning." I smile at the table, looking at everyone but Irie-kun. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Irie-kun look as haggard as I do.
"Good morning Kotoko-chan!" Mrs. Irie answers, smiling widely. She gestures to the seat beside hers. I shake my head.
"No breakfast for me please, I'm not hungry. I'll just take this to go." I grab a piece of toast and turn on my heel to leave for school.
I hear the rustling of a chair as Irie-kun stands up. "I'll be leaving for school as well. Thanks for breakfast mom." I hear him say. I quickly hurry my steps and put on my shoes, slipping out the door as Irie-kun turns into the foyer. Tearing off down the driveway, I sprint the entire way to school. Entering school grounds, I glance over my shoulder. Irie-kun is across the road, breathing hard. He stares after me with an almost desperate look in his eyes. I meet up with Satomi and Jinko for protection as he approaches the school gates. Schooling my facial features to my usual jovial mood, I turn and walk away from him. I don't look back.
...Hey, I'm back...within 4 hours...I blame my last chapter. I got so into wanting to make Naoki jealous, I blew off my Calculus homework to write this chapter. A little part of me cried when I wrote this but I hope it causes some twinge to your heartstrings. Let me know how our beloved Naoki makes you feel now. Keep up the reviews and I'll write to you guys in the next chapter