Tetsuo Naru's POV
"Tetsuo!" Tatsumi called out as she popped a piece of tangerine in her mouth. "You should try these! They're so delicious!"
"How can I try them when you already ate all of the tangerines in the fruit basket?"
"I just said that you should try tangerines, I didn't say that I'll share with you. Go and buy some for yourself. These babies are mine!" Tatsumi went on to hugging the tangerines, as if she's cuddling them like a newborn baby.
As she eats the tangerines, I find myself staring at the scar she has on the left side of her face. I ty my best to look away and focus on other things but I can't seem to stop staring at it. There's this question in my head that keeps on repeating itself, wondering what happened to her that she received that scar.
Tatsumi was about to eat another piece of the tangerine when she stops halfway, her eyes turn to look at me. The two of us made eye contact and I somehow managed to slowly turn my head away from looking at her scar, sweat going down my face hoping that she won't get mad at me for staring. I gulp down a juice box, my heart beating fast hoping she won't get mad at me.
Oh who am I kidding!? She already warned me the first time we met that I shouldn't stare at her scar like that! She gets irritated when someone stares at it! Tetsuo you fool!
"Tetsuo." Tatsumi called, placing the unfinished tangerine on her lap, the tone of her voice got reverted to the same tone she has the first time I met her. The tone of her voice went from cheerful and full of life to cold and lifeless and hopeless real quick. "What did I say about me not wanting people staring at my scar?" Tatsumi looked at me with a gaze that's so cold I can feel chills run down my spine, my hands starting to freeze.
"I-I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to..." I let out, explaining that I didn't mean to stare at her scar. "I tried looking away but I couldn't."
"Why do you keep on staring at my scar? I told you lots of times already that I don't like people staring at it."
"I-I'm really s-sorry! It's just--" I stopped in my sentence, thinking if I should continue it. It feels wrong somehow, asking her what happened to her that she got that scar.
"It's just what?" Tatsumi asked, staring coldly at me.
I took a deep breath as I prepared myself to ask her. "It's just... When I first saw your scar I can't help but wonder what happened that made you get that scar. This question kept on repeating in my head, I keep wondering what happened to you."
Tatsumi let out a sigh as she took the tangerine sitting on her lap and she started plying with it. "It's nothing, don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about it? What do you mean not worry about it? I can not not worry about it!"
"What's gotten into you? It's not like you can do anything about it, they're already there. And why do you care anyway?"
"I'm worried, okay!? I'm worried because a friend of mine got into some accident that I am not aware of!"
"Worried?" Tatsumi asked, letting out a small laugh. "You say you're worried and yet you are telling me to tell you what happened to me!? You want me to tell you my childhood trauma as if it didn't leave a scar in my heart!? As if it's nothing!? And who said that I was your friend!? You're just a guy who kept on coming here everyday! I didn't ask for you to keep on visiting me! You were the one who kept visiting! And that does not mean that I am your friend!!!"
I fell silent after hearing Tatsumi yell, her hands gripping hard on the bed sheet. The sentences that left her mouth felt like they pierced right through my heart. I felt like my heart was getting stabbed over and over again.
Silence fills the room, tension floating in the air. I couldn't say anything, I remained silent as Tatsumi was breathing heavily, anger in her eyes.
"Can you do anything even if I told you what happened to me?" Tatsumi asked, removing the silence of the room but not the tension. "What can you do even if I told you what happened to me? You have no idea how painful it is for me and all of a sudden you want me to tell you what happened!? You want me to remember my past after I finally got the courage to forget about it!?"
I couldn't utter a word, nor blink my eyes for that matter. I sat quietly, thinking about the words I said, thinking every word that left my mouth.
Minutes passed by and she placed the unfinished tangerine on top of her drawer before lying down on her bed, facing the window. "I'm sorry. I think it's best if you you should leave for now." Tatsumi coldly said. "I need some time alone. So please leave."
"Tatsu---"
"LEAVE!!!"
I sat in silence, thinking about what I said and how it affected her. I don't know what to do. I don't want to leave, what if she starts hurting herself again? What if she ends her life? I can't let her do that... I just can't...
I took a deep breath as I stood up, clearing my mind. I prepared myself to take my leave. "I'm sorry for what I said... I-I'll be going now, Tatsumi." I apologized, I stood around as I waited for Tatsumi to answer but she didn't say anything, she just kept facing the window, not paying any attention to me.
I started walking towards the door and was about to grab the door knob when all of a sudden, the door opened and the nurse was standing in front of me, carrying a tray of medicine. They Are the the medicine that Tatsumi always takes, they are the medicine to help Tatsumi with her condition.
"Oh, you're already leaving?" The nurse asked, entering the room.
"Y-yeah, she said she needs to rest." I answered, leaving the room.
"I see. Don't worry, your friend is in good hands. She'll be out in no time." The nurse reassured, giving me a smile. I smiled back before the nurse closed the door.
I stood around in front of Tatsumi's room door before I take my leave, thinking about what I did.
"I'm sorry."
End of Chapter