"NAO, YOU LOVE YUKI-NEE, DON'T YOU?"
HUH?!
YUKI-NEE?!
Where? Where did she hear that from? More importantly, how? How does she even know her? A cold sweat went down my spine. It was a name I never
"What was her name again? Yukiko Harumi was it?"
She said in a tone as if she was annoyed. So that was the final straw that made her like this? Yuki-nee, you are tremendously overwhelming, to the point where my current life is also being tormented. Just let me rest in peace!
"I hear she's good looking, miles beyond me, smart, and even a prodigy. Plus, she's older than us."
"Where did you hear this?"
"So that's how it is! No wonder why I could never get close to you. After all, you were in love with someone else all this time."
Her eyes were as lifeless as they could get. There was not an ounce of energy in her face. She was hurt, bruised, and broken inside. She no longer was the kinda girl that I once knew.
"That's not...Ugh!"
I caught my forehead as I was losing sight of her, and the surrounding noise started to fade away. It was almost inaudible.
"Looks like the drug's kicking in."
"Drug? Hina, what...what are you up to?"
"Relax, there's nothing to worry about. It'll just put you to sleep."
"Why?"
"Why? Why indeed? Isn't that something I should be asking?"
She turned around with tears in her eyes, bringing out all the pain she had locked inside herself.
"Why? Why are you like this? Not just you, but even my mother! You both...you both are the worst!"
Argh!
This pain...not again! At this time?
"Don't fight it. Give up, Nao!"
"Wait, that's not it! You're in danger!"
"Then, so be it! It'll put an end to this misery!"
"You fool..."
"That senpai was right. I should have never trusted you, nor my mother."
"Se...Senpai?"
Who was she referring to?
"There's no reason for me to trust you anymore. Plus, I'm not even sure if I'm the root source of the problem. That's right. It wasn't me. But it was you all along."
"Me?"
"Yes. I should have taken the hints sooner. The way you carry yourself, the way you're fine with people loathing you, and avoiding you. Even your relationship with Saishi, that itself was the biggest giveaway. Ugh! I'm the worst!"
So that's the case now. Hina is no longer Hina. More so, in this sense, she was completely broken down by the fact that she can never beat a woman who has left a strong impression in my life, and that completely exposed her, and made her vulnerable. And that one moment was enough, for her to be manipulated. The fact that she couldn't get me put her in despair. That despair was later converted to guilt. Guilt that all of this was for nothing. That thought alone made her feel so hopeless. So hopeless that she hated it. But what could she hate? It's not her fault! That's the moment when a thought was induced into her.
She took out her phone and started playing an audio clip.
"It's not your fault. If anything, isn't it Naofumi's fault?"
This voice...I don't recognize it....but it felt oddly familiar.
"I mean think about it logically. How much ever he hated mentioning his past, he could have at least said that he wasn't interested in all those platonic stuff. Yet, he remained quiet all this time. Think about it, 2 and half years, and for all of it to be a one-sided love. If he was considerate of you, he would have mentioned this sooner, wouldn't he? That only meant one thing."
"What is it? Tell me"
There was a wicked laugh after her question.
"He was playing around with you. Isn't that obvious? You were nothing more than a way for him to pass time. That's right. You don't owe him anything. So, you shouldn't even bother about what he says. I mean, what's the proof that your life is actually in danger, and in hindsight, it's not his? Maybe you're just a human shield to him? I mean, think about it. At the least, a girl with your looks would at least be a sex partner. Only in the time of comfort, that you would be close to him. And yet, he wasn't remotely even interested in you. That means you're someone, even more, worse than that to him. Someone disposable!"
"Am I...that worse?"
There were some sobbing sounds that filled in after that question.
"Of course not! Who are you kidding? We are not like that!"
"We?"
"Yes, we! Your brother and me."
"Brother? But I'm an only child."
"Oh looks like I spilled the beans. I was under the assumption that you and your mother held a close relationship! And yet, she never mentioned that you had a half-brother?"
"No, it can't be! You're lying! My mother would never lie to me!"
"You're right! Your mother would never lie to you. After all, that's how deep your bond is! But.."
"What if she wasn't in her sense?"
"What do you mean?"
"Here, take a look at this. This was less than a week ago. See, she's kissing someone. Who do you think is that guy?"
"No! No!...NO! Nao and my mother. This can't be happening! Why?"
She sounded as tho she lost her senses! So that's how she was traumatized.
"Isn't it simple? He's controlling your mother and telling you a lie. That you're in danger. In fact, you are. But, who's the danger?"
"Who?"
She was being spoonfed at this point! To think I had everything under control when in reality, I committed the biggest blunder ever. I'm the worst! I thought I could save her. No! I should have, and yet...
"Isn't it obvious? Naofumi! He's held your mother against her will. One small mistake from her, and you would be dead. And because of that, she submitted herself to that creep! Meanwhile, we're trying to save you!"
"Save me?"
"Yes! Me, along with your brother and his family. We're trying to protect both of you!"
"Both of us?"
"Yes! You and your mother!"
"My mother?!"
Sobbing intensified!
"Yes, please! Save me and my mother!"
" Don't worry! We'll take good care of you. In return, you'll have to do us a favor!"
"A favor?"
"Take this, and put him down. And we'll take care of the rest!"
The voice clip ended!
"That's how it is! I'm going to remove the malice for once and for al....."
She suddenly started to get dizzy.
"What's happening?"
Her eyes started to blur out.
"I can't see anything. What...what did you do?"
I went close to her.
"SORRY!"
SHE PASSED OUT, JUST AS I PLANNED!