Kei lets go of my hand after tightly holding onto it, for the very first time I felt the warmth slipping away. It was not there anymore, my hands are cold and aching to be held again. ‘No, Kei! Don’t go, don’t leave me!’ That hand of mine reached out for him, wanting to feel that heat and grasp again, but he does not turn around and he is not going to come back now. Coldness, it stole the heat from me and froze my legs into place. I can’t chase after him, as the coldness spreads everywhere and it reached my heart. Tears froze into place on my cheeks and my eyes were soon covered by this coldness. As everything fades into darkness, I only hear his footsteps getting further and further till they can’t even be heard. I’m hated by him; Kei hates me and probably everyone else too... It’s hopeless; everything will eventually fade like this...
“Ami snap out of it, Ami? Ami! Wake up!” This deep voice calls to me; my eyes flutter and fly open to the binding setting sun. I blink hard and try to make out the face of who is it, I recognize the spiky chestnut hair and emerald coloured eyes from anywhere.
“Yue...?” I mumble finally, his face lights up and he leans my head against the tree trunk. I am where I was when I had all those weird...dreams...?
“Man, you scared me! Are you okay?” He smiles full of relief and something else, but I couldn’t tell what.
“Um,” I pause for a second, if I answer too quickly he’ll doubt me, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Yue helps me up and holds onto my bag for me, “Come on, it’s getting late. I’ll take you home Ami.”
“Oh, thanks Yue.” When did Yue become this kind to me?
We begin walking home, Yue is unusually quiet again and for some reason he isn’t asking me anything about why I was sleeping outside. Right before we turn the corner to my neighbourhood Yue stops suddenly and he quietly whispers, “I saw.”
I stop as well and turn to him, “Huh? What do you mean?”
Yue’s peaceful face dissolves into sadness, “I saw what he did.”
My heart skips a beat, him? Does he mean Kei? What do I say? I decide to play it cool, “Hmm? Him...? Who do you mean Yue?”
Yue grinds his teeth, “Him, I mean Kei.”
I freeze all over; Yue saw Kei... and that girl? I remain silent as I listen to Yue’s breathing get heavier, he is obviously angry.
Yue starts, “I was in the classroom above the entrance, and I saw everything that happened. Everything starting from you seeing him at the gates and begin walking towards him. Then, you stopping in your tracks, because Kei was walking home with another girl. Finally, you hiding behind that tree and crying your eyes out till you pass out. I saw it all Ami.”
I lose my breath and I begin to notice myself breathing faster, I can’t say anything to retaliate...
Yue grips my bag firmly, “If I was Kei, I would never do that to you...”
Another beat of my heart gone, “What?”
Yue drops my bag and grabs my arms; his movements are rough, but his clasp is gentle, “I said, if I was Kei, I would never do that to you. If I had met you when you were young instead of him, you wouldn’t cry...because...I-I would never hurt you like that...”
Yue continues on, “Ami...I’ve always been looking out for you, I try to only be a friend and not get in between you and Kei, but I can’t stand him treating you this way. You’re so delicate... it feels like if you get hurt anymore, you’ll shatter into millions of pieces. You’re precious Ami; you’re precious to me...”
Hearing all that, I can’t help the tears run down my cheeks. I feel happy for once, happy that someone appreciates me to this extent... “I’m not hated...” I whisper so quietly Yue didn’t even hear.
Yue lets go of my arms and begin franticly wiping my tears with his hands, “I-I didn’t mean to make you cry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
I smile through my tears, “No, don’t be sorry Yue. I’m just ...happy...”
Yue sighs and crouches down; he covers his face while he talks, “Man... I don’t get you...You cry when you’re sad, you cry when you’re happy. I just confessed you know, least give me a better answer then tears.”
I flinch, Yue just...confessed?!?!! I stammer with nervousness, “I...I...I...”
“Ami, it’s okay. I don’t want to force you to answer, I’ll wait for it. I’ll wait forever if I have to.” Yue thankfully interrupts me and stands back up. He picks up my bag and smiles again, “Come on, let’s get you home now.”
I return his smile with my own, “Okay.”
Yue walks ahead for a bit. In my mind flashes Kei walking away from me. In the night, Yue is disappearing into the darkness and again I’m being left behind. I move my legs and I call out to him, “Wait Yue...!”
I expected him to keep walking and ignore me, but he doesn’t. He halts and turns around; he shows me that silly grin, “Come on princess.” He holds out his hand, gesturing me to follow him.
I beam; I quickly run up to him and grab his hand. “It’s warm...” I whisper.
“What’s warm?” Surprisingly, he heard me.
I squeeze his hand softly, “Your hand, it's so warm...”
“Really princess...? Maybe you’re just cold!”
“Yeah...maybe I am and hey Yue?”
“Hmm...? What?”
“Why are you calling me princess?”
He laughs, “Well...because I’m your knight in shining armour.”
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