"Who are you? What do you want?" Takaya asked with an irritatingly calm tone.
I disregarded his questions. "You're in no position to ask! You'll just do as I say!"
He chuckled. "What makes you think I would take orders from a creep who broke into my house?"
He's really getting on my nerves. "Because I'm pointing a gun to your head. Isn't that enough reason for you?"
He took a moment of silence then repeated his question with a more serious tone. "So what do you want?"
I commanded: "You will call Nanako, the girl you broke her heart. You will take her out and explain to her that you weren't serious about breaking up and didn't mean all the stuff you said. Or something along these lines."
He looked over his shoulder and glanced at me. "So you're her stepsister, huh?" He added: "And what if I refuse?"
"I'll blow your head up". I gave a cold response.
"I bet you can't even use that thing". He continued acting strong and fearless.
"Try me."
In an instant, the table has turned. Suddenly he was facing me. My arm was encircled and twisted, and the gun was snatched out of my hand before I knew it. He thrust his knee into my stomach with a powerful strike that sent me to the ground.
I twist and groan in pain while holding my stomach. The unexpected strike feels like it's tearing up my insides. That guy is certainly more dangerous than I thought.
He lowered his eyelids and looked at me. "Not so powerful now, are you?"
He added mockingly, "What was that again about blowing my head up?"
I maintain eye contact in an attempt to look strong despite everything. I quickly try to come up with something to regain the upper hand in the situation.
"Actually, no. I wouldn't blow your head up. I would do what's worse." I whispered with a deadly tone: "I would hunt down your precious little brother."
His disturbing little smile finally got wiped off. He aggressively pushed my chin up with the gun and glared at me with raging eyes.
"Don't you dare touch my brother!!" He roared with a throaty voice.
I smirked. "I'll make sure he suffers a lot. Until his soul gets damaged beyond repair. I'll make you watch his eyes lose their spark as he gets trapped into an endless cycle of darkness."
He grabbed my collar and hissed furiously while stressing each and every word. "Stay. Away. From. My. Brother."
"You know what the best part is?" I snickered and proceeded while ignoring his warnings. "You won't be able to do a thing about it. You'll have no choice but to helplessly watch with your own eyes as life gets sucked out your sibling. I'll make you experience for yourself how unbearable that was for me."
He desperately tried to control his temper and put his mask of calmness back on. "I could call the cops right here and now, and you would rot in jail away from me and my brother."
I shrugged and smiled. "Go ahead. What are you waiting for?"
He looked puzzled. I bet he's wondering why I haven't showed the reaction he had expected.
"You're the one holding the gun." I put my hands up showing my gloves. "And it has your fingerprints, not mine. No one would believe your little pathetic story about this pure innocent girl breaking up into your house and pointing a gun to your head."
He thought for a moment. "Yeah? And how would you explain to them why were you in my house to begin with?"
"You kidnapped me. I was simply trying to escape." I answered flatly.
I got back on my feet and walked up to him. "I could think of at least three scenarios and all of them would end up with you in jail. Especially when the cops know that you're a hacker! They will immediately arrest you for computer misuse and trespassing."
He got speechless considering the amount of trouble he got himself into. I took the chance while his guards were down and snatched the gun back from him.
"So, you either choose the easy way and do as I say, or face the consequences." I murmured victoriously.
He exhaled sharply as if admitting his defeat. "Screw you." He cursed me with a barely audible tone then slowly got his phone and called.
It kept ringing for a while. "She's not answering. Honestly, I don't expect her to." He stated.
I commanded, "You'll keep calling until she does."
After some missed calls, she finally picked up.
"Hey." He greeted her awkwardly.
"What do you want?" Nanako asked coldly.
"Uh.. I just.. I want to meet up. There's some stuff I want to explain."
She declined at once. "It's too late for explanations."
"No really, it's important!" He tried to change her mind.
"There's no way I'm taking you back into my life.. and I don't want to talk to you either." Her cold tone now switched into a sorrowful one.
He looked at me while silently asking for assistance regarding what to do next.
I mouthed to him, "Let me know if you change your mind."
He repeated my words to her. "Well, okay. Let me know if you change your mind."
She hung up.
"She will meet up with you. But, if you bring up any of this to her, if you make her cry again, or if you try to play any sort of tricks, believe me I will know. And I will make you pay."
I took a last glance at his defeated expression before heading back to the door. "And now that my mission is completed, I'll show myself out. Ciao~"
I left his house and texted Kyoko. "Made it out in one piece!"
She spammed excitedly.
"OMG!! OMG!!"
"You actually did it!!"
"You're damn awesome girl!!"
"Can't wait to hear all about it!!"
"Oh and, sending you a ride right away!!"
"Thanks bestie! Appreciated!" I replied.
It's too late for me to go to school at this point so I asked the driver Kyoko had sent to take me straight home. By that time, she was still at school so I guess I'll tell her about my crazy day the next time I see her.
When I entered, the house was as quiet as ever. Mom and dad are either out or busy working.
I took that opportunity to return the gun I had burrowed. After that, I went straight to Nanako's room. I knocked softly on her door.
"Come in."
I couldn't identify any specific emotions from her tone. I don't know how she must have been feeling since that confusing call.
I entered and greeted her. "Hi sis!"
We chatted for some time then I asked, "What's wrong? You seem upset."
"It's not a big deal." She avoided the question.
"Oh, come on! I've known you all my life! I know it when something's bothering you!"
She gave in and told me about the call and explained how difficult it was for her to talk to Takaya again after trying so hard to forget about him.
Honestly, I felt guilty for a moment. But I reminded myself that it was all for her sake.
She proceeded to tell me about his weird request to meet up after about three weeks of breaking up.
That's when I had to give her the little push she needed. "Actually, I think you should go!"
She was shocked to hear that. "Are you out of your mind? After all I've told you about how he hurt me, you want me to see him?!"
"Wait, wait! Just hear me out, okay? Then you can decide for youself!"
I explained, "I think you need confrontation to get him out of your heart, once and for all! Based on what you've told me so far, I think you were too shocked to express your grief or anger when he broke up with you. That's why I think you should go, to let out everything that's trapped in your heart! And if he asks you to get back together, you should be the one to reject him this time!"
She listened to me attentively until the end then nodded. "Okay, I think you might be right."
I grinned and hugged her. "I bet you'll feel better! And then I'll finally be able to get my sister back!!"
"Thanks Aki." She hugged me back.
I walked out after a bit and texted. "Did she tell you she changed her mind yet?"
"What the hell? How do you have my number, you creep!"
"None of your business"
"Did she?"
"Yeah"
"What did you agree on?"
"Tomorrow 8 PM. The restaurant across the train station"