Gabu's Diary Entry:
I thought things between us had reached some kind of fragile balance. Rei had been gentler lately, almost considerate in her own teasing, enigmatic way. But today, something shifted.
She said something—no, did something—that I can't stop thinking about. And now, my heart feels like it's trapped in this strange dance, caught between yearning and uncertainty.
The day started off quietly enough. Classes droned on, and I did my best to stay focused on the lecture. But it's impossible to concentrate when Rei is sitting just two rows away, casually twirling her pen like she doesn't have a care in the world.
It's ridiculous how much I notice her now. The way her hair catches the sunlight, how her lips quirk into a smirk when the teacher says something absurd, or the way her eyes flicker toward me every so often. It's maddening, really.
And then, during break, she did it.
I was at my locker, swapping out my books, when Rei appeared beside me out of nowhere. I jumped, almost dropping my math notebook, and she chuckled.
"You're so jumpy lately," she said, leaning against the lockers with that infuriatingly confident posture of hers.
"Well, maybe if you didn't sneak up on me like a ghost, I wouldn't be!" I snapped back, trying to hide how fast my heart was pounding.
Rei tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "A ghost? That's a bit harsh, don't you think?"
"You know what I mean," I mumbled, stuffing my notebook into my bag.
But Rei wasn't letting this go. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a softer, almost conspiratorial tone. "You've been avoiding me."
I froze.
"I-I have not!" I protested, my voice coming out too loud and too defensive to be convincing.
Rei raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Oh really? Then why do you keep running off every time I get too close?"
My cheeks burned, and I fumbled for an answer. "I'm just… busy! You know, with school and stuff."
"Uh-huh." Rei didn't sound convinced at all. She reached out, her fingers brushing against the strap of my bag. "What's in here, I wonder? Another diary entry about me?"
I practically yanked the bag away, clutching it to my chest. "D-Don't even think about it!"
Rei laughed, and for a moment, I thought she might actually let it go. But then she stepped even closer, her gaze locking onto mine.
"You're so easy to read, Gabu," she said softly, her voice carrying an unfamiliar weight.
I opened my mouth to retort, but the words caught in my throat. There was something in her eyes—a flicker of something deeper, something raw. And it scared me.
"What are you talking about?" I finally managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rei didn't answer right away. Instead, she reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was so unexpected, so gentle, that I forgot how to breathe.
"You wear your heart on your sleeve," she said quietly. "And that's not a bad thing. It's just… dangerous."
Dangerous? What did she mean by that?
Before I could ask, the bell rang, signaling the end of the break. Rei stepped back, her usual smirk returning like a mask slipping back into place.
"See you in class," she said casually, waving over her shoulder as she walked away.
Gabu's Diary Entry (Later That Night):
What did she mean? Why did she say it's dangerous?
I keep replaying that moment in my head—her words, her touch, the look in her eyes. It felt like there was something she wasn't saying, something she couldn't say. And it's driving me crazy.
I don't know if I'm imagining things, or if there really is something deeper going on here. But one thing's for sure: I can't keep pretending this is just a harmless crush.
I think… I'm falling for her.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I couldn't concentrate in class, couldn't eat during lunch, couldn't do anything except obsess over what Rei had said.
By the time school ended, I was a bundle of nerves. I decided to head to the park near my house to clear my head, hoping the fresh air would help me think.
But of course, fate had other plans.
As I rounded a corner, I saw her. Rei was sitting on a bench under the shade of a large tree, her head tilted back as she stared up at the sky. She looked so serene, so at peace, that I almost didn't want to disturb her.
Almost.
"Hey," I said awkwardly, walking up to her.
Rei turned to look at me, and for a moment, I thought I saw surprise flash across her face. But then her usual smirk appeared, and she gestured for me to sit beside her.
"What brings you here, Gabu?" she asked, her tone light and teasing. "Following me again?"
I rolled my eyes, though my heart was racing. "As if. I just… needed some air."
Rei hummed in acknowledgment, her gaze returning to the sky. For a while, we sat in silence, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves and the distant chirping of birds.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Rei," I said, my voice trembling slightly.
"Hm?" She turned to look at me, her expression unreadable.
"What did you mean earlier? About me being dangerous?"
Rei blinked, clearly caught off guard by my question. For a moment, she didn't say anything, and I started to wonder if I'd made a mistake.
But then she sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You really want to know?"
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest.
Rei hesitated, her usual confidence faltering. "I meant… that you're honest. Too honest. And sometimes, honesty can get you hurt."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. "You think I'm going to get hurt?"
Rei looked away, her jaw tightening. "I don't know. Maybe. People aren't always kind, Gabu. And you… you feel everything so deeply. It makes you vulnerable."
I stared at her, my mind racing. Was she… worried about me? Did she actually care?
"I can handle myself," I said, though my voice sounded more defensive than I intended.
Rei's gaze snapped back to mine, and for the first time, I saw something like frustration in her eyes. "I'm not saying you can't. I'm just saying… be careful, okay?"
Her words hung in the air between us, heavy with meaning. And for once, I didn't have a snarky comeback or a sarcastic remark.
Instead, I just nodded. "Okay."
Gabu's Diary Entry (Later That Night):
Rei worries about me.
I don't know why that thought makes my chest feel so tight, or why it sends a strange warmth spreading through me.
But maybe… just maybe… it means she cares more than she lets on.
And that terrifies me. But it also makes me hope.
Hope that there's more to her feelings than just teasing smiles and cryptic words.
Hope that maybe, just maybe, she feels the same way I do.