Why is it that the world is so fixated on watching couples do adorable things together?

I think my favorite part about going to parties is nothing. Nothing at all. Do you know what I'm forced to do? Talk to people, pretend to be very cheery and elegant, laugh with people, not eat all the food. To do everything that society likes, but everything I hate. It's not me. I'm never going to be this girl I am at the parties. I'm never going to be a perfect lady.

Yet, here I am, working my ass off to become one.

"Oh, hello, Sunako, are you enjoying the food?"

"Indeed. It is quite scrumptious."

"But of course, it is imported from France, courtesy of your aunt."

"I trust that my aunt's food suit your taste?"

"Ms. Nakahara has the most exquisite taste in foreign cuisine."

The world is a cold, cold place. For people who are bright and beautiful, they can make it work. But for girls like me, ugly girls, it is desolate and dry. That's why I built a barrier, separating myself from the world. To protect myself from being drained of spirit and happiness, as I once was. No matter how much Auntie demands I shatter this barrier for the sake of looking good and amiable in public, I don't think I can ever do it. I don't think anyone could ever understand how this feels.

"Nevermind the food, though. I never knew Ms. Nakahara had such an adorable niece."

"Ahaha, thank you…"

"I see you found a date worthy of your looks and charm."

"Oh? Well—"

"Tell me, are you two really dating? I mean, you are… fine, Sunako, of course. But this man here is… well, he's… indescribably dazzling."

No one will ever understand me. Definitely not this stupid bright person I'm holding. The beauty of this guy here molds right into society's ideal. He doesn't need to abide by the rules to be well liked and accepted, not like the rest of us. But I get the feeling that he lives a separate world from society, too. If you're so attractive that everyone just falls apart around you, you're bound to be in a desolate and dry world, too. I don't like saying this, but… but maybe he's just as isolated as I am.

"Oh dear, sorry, I think my daughter is calling me. Please excuse me, Sunako and…"

"Kyohei Takano."

"Ah, sounds like the name of royalty. A name worthy of such a handsome man. Please stay here while I fetch my daughter. I'm sure she'll be glad to acquainted with you two, especially Mr. Takano over here."

"These high heels are enough to keep me glued here."

"Oh Sunako, you. You're so funny, you. I was talking to your companion. Make sure your date doesn't run off."

I know that abandoned feeling when the world drains you dry. I know that defeated look. I had seen in myself before, and maybe that's why I trust this guy. We had the same broken look in your eyes. Keyword: had. I hate the world too much to let it drain me. I'm a fighter now. I know that Kyohei's a fighter, too.

Maybe, beyond our very different appearances, we both hold a grudge against the world. Maybe that's why Kyohei Takano is my best friend.

"I lied. These shoes are not so painful as to keep me from running away," I whispered through the smile I gave at the random woman whom I attempted to socialize with, as she walked out of hearing range.

"Let's go to the balcony or something, since I don't think your aunt approves of us ditching after just five minutes of being here." He looked around the big ballroom for my auntie. After a few seconds of scanning the gleaming and gold-lit room, Auntie was spotted. It's quite hard to miss a celebrity-like woman in a really over-the-top red-carpet worthy dress. She was glaring directly at us.

"Whatever, just enough time for me to recover from all this… people stuff." I looked directly at auntie, gave her a forced, but hopefully sweet-looking smile, and walked off with Kyohei to the balcony.

The balcony was a door to a sky full of silence and stars. The calm darkness of the night hugged me, and I felt safe again. I was away from the world that would eat me alive. I started talking to myself, talking to the darkness. Spoken thoughts provide a lot of comfort.

"I wish Auntie would let me be. I love you, Auntie. But I think she thinks happiness means being loved by the rest of the world, but I much prefer to be isolated from the world. I don't care if the world hates me. At this point, I've already accepted the fact that I'm a wallflower. I'm one of those loners who no one understands. I'm one of those losers that sit in a corner for lunch at school everyday. I'm that ugly person that nobody wants. I've accepted it, embraced it, and it's just too late for me to try to be that picture-perfect people-pleaser that caters to the unending appetite of the world's greed."

I forgot I wasn't alone.

"You're not ugly and you're not a loner or wallflower. If you are alone as you say, tell me why I'm here with you right now." His eyes stared solemnly into mine.

"Because my Auntie forced you?" I arched an eyebrow and gave him the duhhhh look.

"I have free will. I could've said no."

"You're too driven by money."

"If you think it's only money that motivates me, you're wrong."

"Sure."

"What drives me to even come to these dumb parties is you, Sunako Nakahara."

I stopped breathing for a second. In that very second, my stone cold heart began beating again. For it was in that very second that Kyohei kissed me.