<< keita >>
"EXCUSE... ARE YOU OKAY?"
I glanced up but my vision was too blurry to make up that person's face— a guy I'm not familiar with. What does he want from me?
"Who're you?"
"Uhm, you're in the middle of the street..."
"Ah. Sorry." I stood up, wobbling. I felt hands supporting me, it's that guy.
"You're pretty wasted. Can you go home alone like this?" I think I sensed worry in his voice. "I can accompany you home if it's okay with you."
"Yeah. Yeah. I can. 'Sides I don't know you." I shook off his hands.
I heard him chuckle. "You're right. So then, I'm Youjin. We're actually schoolmates. I'm in the Multimedia Department."
"Schoolmates?"
"Yes. So let me help you, Keita."
I don't know why but I let him.
---
"You know me?" I asked. Youjin was sitting beside me on the train on my way home, somehow I let him accompany me.
"Uhm... Not really but I see you in school sometimes. I just happened to hear your friends calling you, that's how I knew your name. Speaking of, where are they?"
"We're drinking earlier but they went home first."
"Ahh..."
Both of us suddenly became silent. My head was spinning like crazy, I had to try to stop myself from puking.
"So… was there a problem? O-Or something?" Youjin asked awkwardly.
"Yeah… My girlfriend broke up with me. I don't get her reason. I don't even know if that was reasonable for calling this off. I tried to talk her out. I skipped classes just to see her and ask her to stay. Damn it, I even begged her. I promised to make it up to her but nothing happened. In the end she left me."
"M-Maybe... she just needed some space?"
I thought I cried it all out earlier, but why are my eyes welling again?
"Doesn't look like that."
"I think you should not give up. You can visit her again tomorrow, pursue her and try to talk to her. And if she still won't listen to you tomorrow, you can try again the next day. And there's still another day after that. As long as you keep going, as long as there's tomorrow, there's no reason to give up. You love her, right?"
"So much." I whispered. Tears fell from my eyes and I couldn't stop it.
I felt a pat on my back. "See? It'll work out."
I look at the guy sitting beside me and he's smiling at me. Such a big smile, so carefree. So reassuring.
"Yeah."
He accompanied me until we reached my house, supporting me as I walked. He saw me up to my front door and didn't leave until I was inside. When I resigned to bed that night, I remembered thinking 'What a nice guy'. And when I closed my eyes, I remembered his words,
"See you at school, Keita." Smiling, waving at me.
Suddenly, I look forward to going to school.
***
"KEITA? YOU LOOKING FOR SOMEONE?"
I was startled when Fumihiro suddenly touched my shoulder. "Ah, yeah..."
"Who?" Toshiro asked.
"He's from the Multimedia department. His name is Youjin."
"Youjin? I don't know any Youjin." It's Fumihiro again. "What do you need from him?"
"Nothing, it's just that he helped me last night. I was so wasted that I let him take me home because I have such great friends who left me on my own!" I said sarcastically.
They just laughed at my face.
"Keita, that group is from that department, right?" Misao caught my attention, pointing at a group of people walking along the corridor.
I looked over and searched the crowd for his face. And there he is!
I hurriedly walked towards him. "Youjin!"
Everyone from that group turned to look at me. Youjin talked to them for a second before he faced me.
"Keita. How are you feeling? You don't have a hangover?"
I shook my head. "I'm totally fine. Thanks for last night, for sure, I would've slept on the street if you didn't help me."
"Oh, that was nothing." His eyes were smiling as he looked at me.
I felt a pair of eyes boring into me since I arrived. And when I glanced beside Youjin, a guy was there eyeing me.
"Ah! Keita, this is Eisuke, my best friend. Eisuke, he's the one I told you about, Keita." Youjin introduced us. I offered my hand for a handshake but he just nodded at me. He's not friendly at all, the total opposite of Youjin.
"Uhm, I will visit Mimi again after class." I sighed.
"Good luck, Keita. Why don't you bring her favorite chocolate or maybe a bunch of flowers? As if you're courting her again…" Youjin suggested with his big warm smile. I felt like his smile, somehow, eased the pain I'm feeling even just a little bit. It's that kind of comforting. I kind of wondered why I hadn't met him earlier.
"Yeah. I think that's a great idea! Thank you, Youjin."
"Keita, your friends are calling you." Youjin pointed behind me. When I looked in that direction I saw them waving at me to come back.
"I would like to introduce you to them but we are in a hurry right now, next time for sure." I smiled at him.
---
That afternoon, I went to Mimi's house. I brought her favourite red roses and milk chocolates with me. I waited and waited outside of her house but she never came out to see me even for a minute. As time passed by, my heart felt heavier and heavier. And then the sun was rising again.
That went on for days, and every day Youjin would always cheer me up. Telling me not to lose hope. Telling me not to give up on the person I love. And it's not too late as long as I chase after it. Because he said once I decided to give up, that's the only time I already lost it. Youjin's words gave me strength and hope.
Every time, after I visit Mimi, I always find myself looking forward to seeing Youjin at school and have him cheer me up. Have him pat my back and smile at me.
***
"KEITA, ARE YOU OKAY?"
My eyes feel so heavy I'm having a hard time keeping them open, I've been sleep deprived for about a week now. It's been a week since Mimi broke up with me and I was trying to win her back, but to no avail. My head is so heavy and my vision is already spinning that I just like to lie down and sleep.
"Man, you've been going to your ex's house for a while now but she didn't even bother to see you. She's just letting you freeze outside and be a food to the mosquitoes. No offense Keita, but I don't think she cares about you anymore."I could hear anger in Toshiro's voice.
"I'm fine. It was my choice anyways. I'm doing this to save our relationship."
"Is it? Your choice, I mean." Misao mumbled from beside me.
"Huh? Of course."
"Whatever, man. Just go to the clinic and rest... If you suddenly collapsed there we won't help you, just so you know." Fumihiro warned and I couldn't help but laugh.
"You guys are really great!"
"Keita." I heard Youjin's voice from a distance. I looked over in that direction and I'm surprised to feel a smile crept up on my face. His smiling face was replaced by worry as soon as he got near us. "Are you sick, Keita?"
"Sick? No, I'm fine." I said but he doesn't look convinced.
"He's been sleep deprived for about a week now waiting for his ex who no longer cares for him. We told this guy to go to the clinic now and have a proper rest but he wouldn't listen to us. He wanted to trouble us by bringing him to the clinic after he collapsed. What a troublesome guy." Fumihiro rolled his eyes.
"Hey, what was that? Are you really my friends?" Everyone started laughing.
"Let me take him to the clinic." Youjin said.
"Right. This guy will listen to you more than us." Toshiro said to me and then he patted Youjin's shoulder. "We're counting on you."
"Thanks."
'Thanks?!' Why is he thanking my friend?
"Chat us when you wake up, Keita." And just like that Fumihiro, Toshiro and Misao left.
"Are they even my friends?" I said more to myself but I heard Youjin chuckled, although he still looked extremely worried.
"Let's go, Keita?"
We walked to the clinic, silently. Youjin seemed down.
"Uhm, what about your class Youjin?"
"Hmm, our class this afternoon is cancelled."
"Is that so? By-the way, where's your bodyguard?"
"Bodyguard? You mean, Eisuke?" He chuckled. "Eisuke will be really pissed if he heard you call him that."
"That guy hates me. What's new?"
"Eisuke has always been like that to my new friends. He's just trying to get to know you." His face softened. This is the first time I saw him talk like that about Eisuke, I felt like he's special to him. Because they're best friends? A weird feeling passed by me, I wanted Youjin to show that kind of expression every time he talks about me with someone else. I felt jealous of Eisuke.
"How long have you known Eisuke?"
"Hmm... since junior high. We've also been classmates during High School until now, actually."
"I see..."
We entered the clinic and found the nurse about to leave. We told her about my condition and she let us stay. I settled over an empty bed while Youjin stood beside me looking like he wanted to say something.
"Youjin? Something wrong?"
"Uhm, I'm so sorry Keita."
"What are you sorry about?"
He looked down, trying to hide his face. "Sorry. It's because of my advice that you've been lacking sleep lately. I told you to go and meet your girlfriend without thinking. I just assumed things would go smoothly without considering your feelings or your girlfriend's decision. I'm sorry, Keita." His shaking hands gripped the bed's cover. I can feel him blaming himself.
"Youjin..." I sat and leaned over to see Youjin's face. I was surprised to see him tearing up. But other than that, happiness flooded my whole body. I don't get why I'm giddy seeing him worried about me. I reached for his hand gently, like I was holding something fragile. "You didn't do anything wrong, okay? I just have to sleep for a bit and I'll be fine."
"But..." He looked at me like a lost puppy.
"There's no 'but'."
"Okay..."
"Hey, Youjin."
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask for a favor?"
"Sure, anything…"
I held his hand tighter. "Can you accompany me while I sleep?"
Finally, he smiles at me. "Okay."
I remember falling asleep lightning fast and when I woke up, the first thing I saw was Youjin leaning over the bed, sleeping. Our hands were still together. I'd never had that peaceful sleep in weeks.
chapter 5 / end