Gabu's Diary Entry:
They say when planets orbit each other for too long, there's always a chance they might collide. I wonder if Rei and I are the same. We've been dancing around this invisible thread, pulling closer, spinning apart. How much longer can we circle each other before something gives? Before we crash?
The morning started out ordinary, but if I've learned anything, it's that life with Rei is never predictable.
I had barely stepped into class when I felt it—the familiar tingle of being watched. Sure enough, there she was, leaning casually against the desk next to mine, her signature smirk firmly in place.
"Good morning, Gabu," she said in a singsong voice, her tone dripping with mischief.
I groaned, dropping my bag onto my desk. "What do you want this time?"
Rei pretended to be offended, clutching her chest dramatically. "What makes you think I want something? Can't I just say hi to my favorite classmate?"
"Favorite classmate?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Don't you mean 'favorite victim'?"
She laughed, and for a moment, the sound was enough to make me forget how annoyed I was.
"I was just thinking," she said, sliding into the seat next to mine. "You're always writing in that little diary of yours. What's in there today? Another secret crush? Or maybe a poem about me?"
My face burned, and I crossed my arms over my chest defensively. "Why do you always assume it's about you?"
Rei leaned in closer, her face just inches from mine. "Because you're so easy to fluster, Gabu. It's kind of adorable."
"Adorable?!" I squeaked, my voice rising an octave.
She chuckled, leaning back as if she'd won some kind of battle. And honestly, she probably had.
The real chaos didn't begin until lunch.
I was sitting with some classmates, trying to eat my bento in peace, when I noticed Rei walking toward me. At first, I thought she was just passing by, but then she stopped directly in front of me.
"Gabu," she said, loud enough to draw the attention of everyone at the table.
"What?" I asked warily, already sensing trouble.
"Come with me," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet before I could protest.
"Wait—what are you doing?!" I yelped, stumbling after her as she dragged me out of the classroom and into the hallway.
"Relax," she said, her grip firm but not painful. "I just need your help with something."
"With what?" I asked, though I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer.
Rei didn't reply. She just kept walking, leading me down the hallway and up a flight of stairs until we reached the school rooftop.
"What are we doing up here?" I asked, my heart pounding—not just from the exertion, but from the way Rei's hand was still wrapped around mine.
She let go of my hand and turned to face me, her expression unusually serious. "I need to ask you something."
My stomach flipped. "O-Okay…"
Rei took a deep breath, and for a moment, I thought she was about to say something monumental. But then she said:
"Do you trust me?"
The question caught me off guard. "What kind of question is that?"
"A simple one," she said, crossing her arms. "Do you trust me or not?"
I hesitated, unsure of where this was going. But looking into her eyes, I couldn't find a reason to say no.
"…Yes," I said finally.
Rei's face lit up with a smile, and before I could react, she grabbed my hand again and pulled me toward the edge of the rooftop.
"What are you doing?!" I shrieked, digging my heels into the ground. "Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Relax, Gabu," she said, laughing. "I'm not going to push you off."
"That's not funny!" I snapped, my heart racing for all the wrong reasons.
Rei ignored my protests and pointed toward the horizon. "Look."
I followed her gaze and saw the city sprawling out before us, glittering in the afternoon sun. It was beautiful, but I still wasn't sure why we were there.
"Why did you bring me up here?" I asked, my voice softer now.
Rei didn't answer right away. She just stood there, her eyes fixed on the view.
"Sometimes," she said finally, "it's good to step back and see the bigger picture. Don't you think?"
I blinked, surprised by the sudden depth in her words. "I… guess so."
Rei turned to look at me, her expression unreadable. "You get so caught up in your head, Gabu. Always worrying, always second-guessing yourself. But up here, none of that matters. It's just you and the sky."
I didn't know what to say. Her words were so unexpected, so… sincere.
"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rei smiled—a soft, almost bittersweet smile. "Because I want you to stop being afraid. You're stronger than you think, Gabu. You just don't see it yet."
Her words hit me like a tidal wave, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at her.
Was this the same Rei who spent most of her time teasing me? The same girl who stole my diary and turned my life upside down?
Before I could say anything, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch.
Rei turned and started walking back toward the stairwell. "Come on, we'll be late for class."
I followed her in a daze, my heart heavy with questions I didn't know how to ask.
Gabu's Diary Entry (That Night):
Rei is a mystery I'll never solve.
One minute, she's laughing at me, making me feel like the biggest fool on the planet. And the next, she's saying things that make my heart ache in ways I don't understand.
What did she mean, up there on the rooftop? Was she trying to tell me something? Or was it just another one of her games?
I don't know. But I can't stop thinking about her smile, or the way she looked at me like she could see straight through all my defenses.
What if she really does see me?
What if she's not as untouchable as I thought?
What if… we're closer than I ever dared to believe?