✧ 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 // 𝘬𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘯𝘰 ✧

part 20

( kyoko's pov )

"it's about you?!"

byakuya said with wide eyes.

"i... didn't know you're a maid... how are you a maid, actually? aren't you 19?"

i was hoping he was aware of my job. well, looks like my dad didn't tell them.

"i am. not everyone is rich... i am not. i work."

"that's... upsetting"

we both took a deep breath, not knowing what to say. i was still in shock of what i just watched. he was shocked about what i said.

"so you're sayaka's friend?"

"i guess so...."

"well... after all this, i guess the paparazzi will be happy to see you in the dinner"

"the dinner?"

"the ball... every year, my father's company hosts a ball to celebrate the anniversary of its creation... the company sponsors and my relatives, my close friends, their parents attend... you and your father will most likely be invited too, since my mom and your dad are... you know..."

"oh"

"yeah... the record label that owns sayaka's band is a sponsor of our company... sayaka comes every year, so she probably will come this year too."

"i can't go, then... i already embarassed sayaka enough"

"are you kidding? she stood up for you, her friend, in front of cameras. that's a brave thing to do, especially if her friend is a maid... no offense."

"so i should go?"

"yes. plus, no one has to know you are the friend sayaka talked about. she didn't specify your identity, so it will be fine. you'll just be known as my step sister."

"fine..."

him and i both sat on the bed in sync and took a deep breath.

just at that moment, my phone started ringing.

i picked it up to see who is calling,

incoming call: Sayaka

byakuya peeked at my phone and saw who is calling aswell. we both looked at each other for a second and i answered the call without thinking.

"kiri! i-"

she began speaking with a cheerful voice.

"sayaka..."

i spoke up and interrupted her.

"yeah? what's up?"

"you spoke about me?"

"oh, i guess you've seen the news already!"

despite all the complicated things that happened, she showed no sign of seriousness.

"sayaka, how... what makes you so happy? aren't you aware people know who you're friends with now? and your mom is probably, too... she didn't want me to see you, so i can say there's no way she is happy about all this..."

"why does it matter? i like being your friend, why do people have a say in who i become friends with, again? i really love you, and that's what matters"

love is a strong word.

"love?"

"as a friend, of course, kiri"

why did i feel weird hearing that?

"oh, alright..."

byakuya looked at me with a smirk. i shot him a glare that shows it's not like how it seems.

"well, glad that you are happy, then..."

i spoke up.

"thanks! and... you aren't happy?"

"huh? i never said that"

"alright"

"uh... okay,  bye then, maizono-san"

"maizono-san? oh you remember the nickname i chose! that's really cute, kiri"

byakuya smirked at me again, i can guess what he thinks.

but it's not like that.

"thanks..."

"and bye!"

"goodbye"

i hung up.

"woah, woah there... you like sayaka!"

"wai- wait- what? no!"

"the fact that you are so aggressive about it means that it's true!"

"byakuya, i- no- i don't like her, really..."

"hey, it's not like i would tell anyone, you know..."

"it's not because of that, i say no because the answer really is no... i don't like sayaka, i just don't."

"whatever you say..."

"why would you think i do anyway?"

"i mean... someone's love for an other someone can just be seen sometimes"

i sighed.

i don't love sayaka.

i don't.

i don't.

do i?

no.

we're friends.

we could never be more than that.

no.

(sayaka's pov)

as i was leaving, today, people didn't stop asking questions. i tried to answer a lot of them, despite that they were all generally the same question.

they all asked who it was that i talked about.

who was my friend?

i replied with the same answer to all of them, "i am not sure if she would like you guys to know that anyway, so i do not want to be violating her privacy."

then when i got in the car, then went home.

and called her.

she was panicking. i could tell. she's always so serious, and she tried to act like that now too. but i guess, when you know a person, you just know it when they're anxious.

kiri was anxious.

but when she saw i was calm, she calmed down a little.

was i really calm, too?

to be honest, i'm in shock of everything that happened. how i just went out there and spoke about that, how i stood up to my mother... mainly that.

my whole life, i could never ever imagine standing up to my mother. she was strict... even though she was a good mom and we had fun sometimes, sometimes she was strict too.

but i was frustrated. of course i would stand up to her like that. i was tired.

she can't take me away from someone i love.

i inhaled deeply, then exhaled, and threw myself on my bed.

today, i know.

i love her.