How do I love thee?

- Part II -

Miku shut the blinds as soon as she got up from her bed. She loved mornings the best since everything appeared serene and paradise-like that time of the day. The sun was shining down to the planet, its long rays pushing the darkness away. Should the birds sing longer, it was perfect. Who wouldn't like the birds' twittering?

She liked mornings so she shut the blinds. Clenching her fists, the girl wore a bitter face and hopped back onto her bed. Today was not a good time to look at the neighborhood. They were all out there, mowing their lawns and chattering like the happy people they were, but she was not. She couldn't talk to them even though she badly wanted to do so.

Freak. It wasn't a label anymore, it was her identity. They defined the girl the way they could see her, not bothering to know her in depth first before concluding. People got two eyes and one tongue—look deeper before you say anything. However her neighborhood was a different case. They were all too narrow-minded, perhaps. Miku didn't do anything to clear her name, nonetheless. It was a waste of energy, Len told her. Their opinions don't matter, and never will it be.

Miku curled up on her bed, her chin rested atop her knees. Though she loved mornings, she couldn't just go out for a walk. Most of the times she would do so with Len, sometimes he was clinging to her arms. He was really afraid of the broad daylight and the people. So long as Miku was with him, he would be fine. Every time they would go out to a stroll, Miku would tell him lots of tales. She was a cheerful chatterbox, the blond never thought she was boring. But after years of doing that, specifically on her fifteenth birthday, she finally noticed how her neighbors gave her cold shoulders. Whenever she would walk down the street, she could feel the cold gazes piercing her. They were so many. So many. All of them were judging her. Freak. Why is she talking to herself?

"They're like mom and dad," the girl mumbled, shoulders trembled as she whispered to herself. They couldn't see him. "I bet if I moved out, I'll live a normal life."

She felt a part of the bed sunk — it was him; he was here. A pair cold hands lifted her face from being stooped, and her glistening green eyes met his wide blue orbs. His hands were shaking violently, it was as if he was cold. The pallor of his skin could always be mistaken like those of sick people.

"You're leaving me, Miku? You promised to stay. You promised," Len's voice was hoarse and scared. His face was fleeting everywhere. It was kind of senseless to hold her face like that if he would refuse to stare at her. Anyway, she knew he was afraid. Len had always been. "You can't leave me. You can't."

She opened her mouth to say something but his finger silenced her. Len was wincing, his blond hair stained with red followed his head. "I...I can't...I don't know. You can't! I...you, we live here. You told me. You're still a kid! Remember? You'll stay. We'll live here."

He was crying a river now. It was so easy for him to weep. Sometimes Miku envied that. For all the years she endured to curse living aloof, with no parents to greet you after school, her heart had gone numb for such longing. Only the notion that people wouldn't stay by her side could provoke tears, just like yesterday.

Len pulled the girl to his arms, trapping the lonely girl in his cold embrace. She had been hearing the same breakdown from him ever since; he would turn like this every time she would think of leaving. Len didn't want to be alone. Miku pressed her face against his chest, indulging with his familiar cold body. There was nothing to hear there. She hoped she could listen to his heart one day. Until today, his heart was a missing piece of him. There must be a thick wall inside him that prevented his heartbeat to reach her.

"I won't leave you," she mumbled, fingers clutching his shirt. "You're the only one left for me." It was the only thing she could promise him. The only thing which would make him smile.

"You promised me, Miku. You won't leave," he pulled her away to see her face, "we will stay. Okay?"

He was the only one left for her. Yes, that was true. No one stayed this long for her, not even her parents. Neither the friends she made. They all left. Miku nodded and shot him a loving smile. "I'll always stay, Len."

The blond smiled, satisfied with her answer, and quickly wiped his tears. He was like a child, little things could make him glad. His smile lit up his gloomy face, but the sick-paleness remained. What he demanded was something not easy to give though, but she would give it anyway. For someone who kept her company for so long, why wouldn't she return the favor?

The blond stooped down and placed a chaste kiss on her lips; it was his way of saying thanks. Before she could register that he stole another kiss from her, she was staring at the white ceiling. Len vanished again. The coldness of his body was gone. Freak. Miku traced her lips blankly. Was it the third time after yesterday? He did this the first time too, after she cried.

The girl turned around and peeked through the blinds. The incessant chirping of birds faded now. It was brighter than earlier, and her neighbors were walking back to their houses now. Soon, the neighborhood was empty. Miku sighed and decided to start her day. She liked mornings but she couldn't go out to enjoy it.

"Len, I have school today. I'll see you later." Miku stood before the closet where they first met and waited for a response. She knew he was hiding here; this was his abode. Len was such a sweet person, if only people would see that. If only.

When silence choked her, she went straight to the loo to prepare for school.

The blond sat quietly on the ledge. It never dawned to him that Miku could be this happy. From where he was, he could see her laughing as she walked alongside with a tall redhead. Len knew his name, it was Fukase. He heard about the guy last night when Miku cried. The redhead ditched her on their date. It was supposed to be a birthday treat, and Miku being her emotional self, broke down after being stood up. People were always leaving her, she concluded. But look at her now, she was never this happy with Len.

A scrowl wiped the gleeful smile he had a few seconds ago—the smile which symbolized his excitement to greet her home. Her parents would do that before, he'd witnessed, and such greeting made the simple girl happy. However, those good old days were long gone—it was her parents' fault, anyway. They should have believed their daughter.

The blond clenched his fists, a strange feeling was making him feel uncomfortable. He recognised the smiles she was making with that guy—her parents could make her smile that way too.

And Gumi, too, her kindergarten best friend.

And Mr. Kiyoteru, her middle school teacher.

And Sweet Ann—oh, good old maid—who thought she could adopt Miku.

And Big Al, the newspaper boy.

And Rei, Miku's sixth grade crush.

And Luka, the leader of the girl scouts' club. Miku regarded her as an older sibling.

He had a long list of names who made Miku happy, so happy she almost had forgotten Len. Some of her relatives tried to take her away too, but Len did all necessary actions to keep his only friend. So until today, she stayed with him. Well, he made her stay.

They could make Miku smile like this; and they did. But where were they? Len chuckled as he watched Miku and the guy walked closer to the house. Gone with the wind. Fukase should join them.

Len was rocking himself on her bed when his only companion entered her room. Against the whiteness of room, he stood out so much because of his...blood-soaked shirt. Miku knew that he had always been like this. In fact, when she was younger she thought it was his shirt's design.

"Hey, Len. How are you?" She walked to him and tossed her bag on the floor. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I'm glad to see that someone's making you smile," Len knelt on the bed to pat the girl's head. "Does he love you?"

"Oh, we're just friends." Miku started to unbutton her blouse, moving away from the blond to find a comfortable shirt in the closet. "I'm just glad he apologized about yesterday. It turns out that his younger sister held him up."

"And you reconciled with him?"

"Of course," she chuckled before putting the shirt on. "Fukase is a good person."

"Humans are innately good, Miku." Len gazed intently at the ceiling. If Fukase could make her happy...what would Len do? He saw her spacing out from time to time, and he wondered what she was thinking during those hours. Was it Fukase? Was she thinking of the people who left her life? Len never knew what was going on in her mind, but he could tell if she was thinking of leaving. And he wouldn't let that happen.

"I hope he isn't a jerk feigning kindness." The blond appeared behind the girl, caring less if she was undressing from her pants. "I don't want to see you cry again, Miku."

"I know you won't leave me, Len." Miku placed her jeans on a rack and put on her sweat pants. Turning around, she held his cold face in her palms. "Even if thousands of people abandon me, I know I'll be fine. You're always there."

A minute of blissful silence stretched like eternity. They were good friends, Miku and Len, and it would be a waste if people would try ruining their friendship. It was Miku who broke the stand still when she tiptoed to place a peck on his lips. Wasn't this his way of thanking? Pressing her palm against his chest, she told him, "Len, I want to find your heart."

"You don't have to. You can be one."