Yasushi decided to call Furuya right then and there, and he put him on speakerphone immediately. The phone rang only once before Furuya answered, his voice laced with urgency.
"What's—" Yasushi began, but his friend's frantic voice cut him off.
"After today! No, after all those comments, Catherine started grilling me about everything! She wanted to know how I'd feel about being single and what my reaction would be! I don't understand; she's become so distant all of a sudden!" Furuya's words spilled out in a rush, his anxiety palpable.
"Did you discuss it with her in detail? Were you upfront about your thoughts and feelings?" Jingliu's voice was steady and probing.
"Yes! We had that conversation during the summer break in China! We're always open about our feelings and talk about everything extensively! Although, I never went into how I was before we started dating. I figured she'd pick it up just from seeing me, you know?" Furuya's panic was clear, his voice breaking slightly as he spoke.
"Alright, calm down. Panicking won't help us figure this out. Walk us through everything — when did this start, and what exactly did she say?" Yasushi asked, his tone firm but reassuring as he tried to de-escalate the situation.
Furuya took a few deep breaths, struggling to steady his nerves before speaking again. "It was... after we all parted ways. We went back to my place, and we were making out for a bit. Then, out of nowhere, she stopped and started questioning me," he explained, pausing to draw in another breath.
"Okay, maybe I exaggerated about her saying she wanted to break up, but the fact that she's gone cold and distant is real. She hasn't replied to any of my messages or calls — it's been complete silence," he added, his voice tinged with both fear and frustration.
Jingliu then asked, "Did you notice any signs before the conversation? Do you have any idea why she might be acting this way?"
Furuya hesitated before answering. "I think it might be because of the teasing. You know, the stuff about how I would've joined those guys if I wasn't dating her. I couldn't deny it — I did want a girlfriend last year and the year before that," he said, his words laced with unease.
Yasushi sighed heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he spoke into the phone. "Alright, I'll admit we might have pushed the teasing a bit too far, but... do you really think that's why she's acting like this?"
"I don't know," Furuya's voice trembled through the speaker. "We've had a solid relationship so far, with barely any arguments. This just came out of nowhere. Do you think she might break up with me because of my past?" His words were filled with anxiety.
"Don't jump to conclusions, Furuya. I'll contact Xinyi and see if she knows anything. For now, I'll leave you two to sort things out," Jingliu said, her voice firm as she left the room to make the call.
With Jingliu out of the room, Yasushi spoke into the phone again. "Now that we're alone, can you tell me the full story?"
"I've told you everything," Furuya said, his voice strained. "We took our relationship to a more serious level, but we haven't gone all the way yet. After today, we hadn't done much. We finally made out today, and I was really excited about it, but then she started hitting me with all these questions," he admitted, his tone a mix of frustration and distress.
"Period?" Yasushi asked, his tone filled with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"W-what? No, I know her cycle. She told me about it, and she's nowhere near it! And like I said, we haven't had sex, so I highly doubt she's pregnant..." Furuya replied, his voice sounding weary and frustrated.
Yasushi leaned back, searching for alternative explanations, but Furuya had a counter for each one. They reached a dead end, unable to come up with a plausible reason for Catherine's sudden coldness. They shifted gears, steering the conversation towards their everyday lives, trying to pinpoint any underlying issues unrelated to the events of the day.
+-+
"So, you don't know anything about it? Are you sure you're not just trying to protect Catherine?" Jingliu's voice came through the phone, tinged with skepticism.
Xinyi let out a resigned sigh before responding. "No, I don't know anything. Catherine hasn't shown any major changes in behavior since returning from Furuya's place. She might have been a bit quieter, but she's always like that around me, given that she's a maid for my family. If you want, I can ask her directly, you know, girl to girl."
"That would be helpful. Thanks," Jingliu said. She heard Xinyi moving away with the phone. After a bit of time, Xinyi eventually found Catherine and engaged her in conversation. "So, did something happen with Furuya?" Xinyi asked.
"Did he call Yasushi, and now Lady Jingliu is calling you about it?" Catherine's voice came through the phone, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
"Yeah," Xinyi replied.
There was a brief pause before Catherine continued, "I'm just feeling frustrated and hurt because Furuya sometimes acts like he's still single. I get that he wants to fit in with his friends, but I'm his girlfriend. He shouldn't need to act like that anymore."
Catherine sighed again and said, "I'm not saying he shouldn't have friends, or interact with them, but he acts like…he's a bachelor of sorts, and that even though we've been in a relationship for nearly a year now, he's still acting like that. I want him to acknowledge that we're in a serious relationship, and not just doing this because we're in high school."
Catherine's voice choked up, nearly breaking as she spoke, but she quickly pulled herself together. "I want him to understand. Maybe I'm being petty and failing in communication, but it's so frustrating. I've said the same things over and over, yet he still acts like this."
"Well... we're teenagers, so it's understandable. I've read that girls often mature faster than boys, so maybe that's part of what's going on with Furuya," Jingliu said, offering a sympathetic perspective.
"…Maybe a break would be good for us. I need some time to think things through, and he definitely needs it as well," Catherine said, her voice weary and drained.
A heavy silence settled among them, none of the three knowing what to say next. Finally, Xinyi spoke up. "It's your relationship, and as your friends, we'll support you through this. We'll pass this information along to Yasushi, and he can then talk to Furuya."
"Thank you," Catherine replied before Xinyi left the room where she had been speaking.
"Let's tell him in person tomorrow. It's better to handle this face-to-face rather than over the phone," Xinyi suggested.
"Yeah, I agree," Jingliu replied.
After a bit more back and forth, they ended the call, and Jingliu made her way back to the shared bedroom she had with Yasushi. The door creaked open as she entered, her eyes scanning the room for Yasushi. He was no longer engaged in conversation with Furuya. Jingliu settled onto the bed, her gaze locked on Yasushi.
"Did you find out why?" she asked, her tone even as she placed her phone on the nightstand and adjusted her position on the bed.
"No, not really. He had a hunch that it might be because they were intimate, and she started pulling away from him afterward. But I doubt that's it. It's not likely unless he really screwed up during their time together," Yasushi replied, tilting his head thoughtfully.
A smirk played on Jingliu's lips. "No… but this is what I discovered." She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she reached for Yasushi's phone.
"Did you think I was recording or something?" Yasushi asked, a hint of amusement in his voice as he watched her actions.
Jingliu glanced at him briefly before turning her attention back to the phone. "I just want to be sure, since Catherine prefers Furuya remain unaware for now. She believes it's crucial for him to stay out of the loop because he's still in a particular state of mind." After confirming Yasushi's phone was off, she placed it back on the nightstand.
"So, what did Catherine say?" Yasushi asked, wrapping his arm around Jingliu and drawing her closer to him.
Jingliu exhaled deeply before settling against him, her head resting on his shoulder. She began recounting the entire conversation she had with Xinyi and Catherine, her words detailed and deliberate. Yasushi listened intently, absorbing every bit of information.
By the time she finished, Yasushi was silent, his eyes closed as he mulled over what he'd heard. "A break between them, huh?" he finally said. "I wonder how Furuya will handle this. Some might interpret it as a breakup, while others might not. Honestly, I'm unsure how he'll react, but I agree it's better to deliver this news in person rather than over the phone."
Jingliu nodded. "That's exactly why I think we should be there when she talks to him. Women tend to fret over these things, no matter how well we know someone or how long we've known them. It's almost like it's built into us."
"Right, the idea that people, men in particular, can just 'snap' and change. But it's not just men — it's everyone. Anyway, what about the rest of our group? Should we have them on standby?" Yasushi asked.
"We'll let them know tomorrow, but it should only be a few of us. I don't think Furuya will lose his temper, but he might react in a way that we should be prepared for," Jingliu said, her voice steady. "Catherine is definitely stronger than him, but it's always better to be cautious."
Yasushi nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I doubt he'll do anything reckless, but I'll make sure I'm ready just in case."
They spent more time discussing the situation, making small plans to handle various scenarios that might arise.
+-+
The following day carried a heavy tension. Yasushi's circle of friends were informed about the upcoming conversation, and their reactions were mixed. Each person had their own take on the situation, but the ultimate decision rested with Catherine. It was her responsibility, along with Furuya's, to navigate through it.
As lunch approached, Yasushi, Furuya, Catherine, Xinyi, and Jingliu gathered at a specific spot on the school grounds. The rest of their group waited nearby, ready to step in if things took an unexpected turn.
"Why are we here? Guys… you're kind of freaking me out," Furuya said, his voice laced with concern as Yasushi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Catherine took a deep breath and looked directly into Furuya's eyes, her gaze firm. "Furuya," she began, her voice steady but gentle, "I love you, I really do. But I think we need some time apart — just a break."
The words hit Furuya like a punch. He stood frozen, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. He was at a loss for words, staring blankly at Catherine, unsure of how to process what he had just heard.
"You're not serious, are you? If I messed up, just tell me! I'll fix it, I swear! I don't know what I did wrong, but I'll put in the effort like I always do!" Furuya's voice trembled as he took a desperate step forward, but Yasushi's firm grip on his shoulder stopped him.
Furuya turned to Yasushi with wide eyes, confusion clear on his face, while Catherine's gaze remained steady. "No, it's not about that," she said calmly. "It's more about you needing to mature and rethink your perspective. Until you do that, we can't stay together. You know exactly what I mean. I've brought it up before, and recent events have only made it more urgent. If you manage to work through these issues, then maybe we can be together again. But until then…"
With a formal bow, as if performing a ritual, Catherine turned on her heel and walked away. The rest of the group stood silently, faces marked with concern. Xinyi and Jingliu exchanged glances with Yasushi, their eyes silently pleading with him to support Furuya as they followed Catherine.
Furuya stood there, lost and bewildered, his face reflecting the same shattered state as his spirit. His mind whirled with a torrent of thoughts, struggling to make sense of the situation. Slowly, he turned to Yasushi, his eyes pleading for clarity. "What…what was she talking about?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Yasushi met his gaze with a serious look, then began to explain. "Even knowing this doesn't mean it will change anything. I know you like to joke around, and maybe it's part of who you are, but... it's something I've wanted to address as well. You see, it's about your mindset. You tend to gravitate towards the 'singles' in our class and their strange and almost toxic mindset. I get that you're friends with a lot of them, but…"
Furuya's eyes dropped to the ground, his murmured response lost in frustration. He nodded slowly and walked away, his steps heavy. Yasushi watched him leave, struggling to find the right words. He understood that the coming days or weeks might bring an uneasy tension between Furuya and Catherine.