The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 30

'SO, HOW DO WE DO IT? Do we toss everything into the pan?' Fumihiro asks, cringing as he turns on the induction stove.

I shrug. 'Yeah, like that. We cook the bacon with its fats. So...we need water and—'

'I understand,' he says. I feel incompetent as he starts working. It's obvious how much he doesn't enjoy frying, but he does it anyway for whatever reason. He is fast. He isn't even blinking as though he is watching for anything wrong that might happen.

I lick my lips. As minutes pass by, I grow more uneasy. Fumihiro is too quiet for my liking. I am so used to him opening his mouth just to criticise me. I wish Eien could help me right now. Isn't it funny how I always pride myself on being charismatic but somehow, it does not work on one person?

The anorak and I are way too different. I've had already accepted that the two of us would never be close, but he then offered me water and some pieces of advice. And now, I feel so delusional because I think he is trying to reach out to me.

'You good?' I ask, handing him the jar of beans.

He nods. 'Yes. How...how about you?' He winces. Now I know that it is not just me who's having a hard time. I want to ask him what he is planning to gain, but that might offend him. Besides, this could be my last chance to see him eye to eye.

It isn't traditional to add cabbage and spinach, but Fumihiro likes his greens so much, he tells me he doesn't need the bangers and the bacon. What a shame. More for me, then.

'I saw your nametag on your uniform.' Fumihiro utters the weirdest words, but this one takes the biscuit. So I let him finish whatever he has to say as I pour the beans onto my plate. 'It's made me think of the question that has been bugging me. Why is your last name Evans?'

This time, I stare at him and ask, 'What do you mean?' even though I know what it is.

'According to your profile, Evans is also the last name of your mother. I'm just confused. Did you go after Noritaka because you are in the same boat?'

Does this mean Alasdair hasn't told him yet why we had searched for Noritaka and convinced him to come back? I have no idea what to do, so I nod and fish out forks and knives.

'That's good then. That's good.' He pockets his hands. His eyes flit from side to side. When he senses that I'm eyeing him, he holds up his hands in a quick motion. 'Oh, I mean, it's good that you two have connected and that you...uh...you empathise with him. I don't mean good as in good that you two have the same problem, which isn't that same since he still uses his father's last name, so—'He pinches the bridge of his nose and claps his hands once. 'I am so hungry.'

The air is so thick you could cut it with a butcher knife and chop it and eat it. Brain, easy with the metaphor. 'I see.' I ignore Fumihiros behaviour.

Although I appreciate what he's trying to do, it's just so awkward! If you wanna say sorry, say sorry. If you wanna say thank you, say thank you! How hard is that? In Zone 3, those two phrases are common. But then again, when it comes to real apologising, I can barely do it. So I guess I hate how I see myself in Fumihiro.

'I haven't seen my father for years now. I bet he is dead,' I chuckle. The way he stares at me makes me think I've said it wrong. So I add, 'He wasn't a good father, anyway. So I don't miss him.' Lie. I don't think about Dad most of the time, but when I do, I crumble inside.

I can't help but feel irritated with him. I know it isn't his fault. I wish he had not brought it up because we're not even friends!

'My parents are still alive,' he says. 'But I wouldn't mind if they were dead.' My jaw drops as those words leave his mouth. Without any hint of shame, he continues, 'Before you get the wrong idea, they are not abusive. They are weak. They have no dreams. Sometimes I wonder if they are even my real parents.' For the first time, I see him smile.