My Voice - Tsukishima Kei

1- Intro

(I literally lied, I'm posting these chapters bc I love them. Anyways, this second half of the book is more mature than the rest so please proceed with caution! There are certain chapters where things do get steamy.

4 Years Later

"Ughhh. I'm so tired. So so tired."

I laugh a bit, closing my textbook and nodding.

"Me too. Though I do feel like I retain a lot more information during this time of day." I laugh.

"Right?!" Ena, one of my good friends I made in high school, shoots up. "I totally get that feeling too! Is that why you always suggest this time?" She asks and I nod a bit.

"Yeah. And this happens to be part of my day where I don't have anything to do." I note and Ena nods too.

I met Ena for the first time in my first year of high school. As I waited for Tsukishima to get home at the train station one day, I ran into a guy from my school, Kai-San. He said he was waiting for his sister, and that's Kai Ena.

I didn't really talk to her then, but we got close in our second year of high school.

We stayed close ever since then, and went to the same college where we are now fourth years.

To be honest, I feel really grateful that we've stayed friends all this time. I didn't make many in high school, my first year really set the tone for that, but when I entered college it was like a lot of people wanted to be my friend.

When I was a first year, that really made me happy and I tried making friends with as many people as I could. But then that tired me out. Having friends ended up being so time consuming (and expensive).

And a lot of them ended up having ulterior motives.

By then, both my parents had taken the business and law world by storm, and their success had all eyes on them. With that, I was in the public eye for a little, which lead some people wanting to be my friend because of money. I was starting to get asked to pay for everything once we all went out, and some even asked to borrow hundreds of dollars at a time.

I was a little awkward at first and could never say no, except for the lending cash part. I never carry cash on me anyways so it was really easy to get out of that.

But I was starting to spend a bunch of money each week, when in reality only a few dollars would have been spent if only I went out. I confided in my parents at the time and they had me freeze my card for a while so I had an excuse to get away from them.

Ena was one of the few who didn't try to take advantage of that, so we stuck together. I don't mind spending money on my friends, or lending a helping hand. But I don't want to be taken advantage of. I hate that.

"Let's go get something to eat at the convenience store and some wine too! Nobody will be home tonight, right?" Ena asks and I shake my head. "I'll pay!"

"Sure. Let's walk? The weather is pretty nice."

Ena agrees and we both grab our wallets and phones before heading out the house.

"I'm still so jealous that you guys bought a house to live in while in college. You only have 2 roommates right?" Ena asks and I nod.

"Your-"

"Oh! Before I forget, last weekend you left your pajamas at my house." I pipe up, not wanting to forget to tell her.

"Oh! Thanks, I'll get them when we come back." She smiles.

We walk another 15 minutes and make it to the convenience store. We follow each other around as we begin to pick out our favorite chips, onigiri, and alcohol.

As we get to the regular drinks section, we run into another friend.

"Yachi!" My eyes brighten and the smaller girl flinches before turning around.

Her eyes widen and a smile comes over her face.

"Eva-San! Ena-San!" She greets, walking over.

"How've you been?" I ask. "We haven't seen each other in a little bit. Last time we talked you told me you got an internship at the company you want to work at. How's that?"

"Oh, you remembered!" She beams. "Yeah! It's been going pretty good, I really love it so far and they started paying me for it, so I'm happy!" She giggles.

"Yachi-San, Eva and I are hanging out at her house right now. We've been studying all night, do you want to join us? If it's okay with Eva?" Ena turns to me and I nod quickly.

"Of course! We're getting wine too." I smile.

"You're going to get an earful from your boyfriend if he finds out you're drinking on a school night, aren't you?" Yachi giggles.

"Boyfriend?" I tilt my head. "I don't have a boyfriend."

The girl I've known since high school's eyes widen and she stares at me in shock.

"B-But you...? Tsukishima-Kun??? Wh-What?!" Yachi sputters, tears coming to her eyes. "You guys broke up? I don't have social media anymore in order to not distract myself- so I have no idea what's been going on with others for the past couple of years. I'm so sorry to bring that up!" She quickly bows.

Ena snickers a bit and I laugh. Just as I'm about to respond, my name is being called.

"Eva?"

The three of us turn around and see Tsukishima Kei there in the flesh.

"Oh, what are you doing here?" I ask, walking over. "You're not supposed to be back until tomorrow night."

"We got here earlier than expected, I wanted to stop by here and pick up your favorite snacks to surprise you." He looks past me at the two girls and the contents of Ena's hands. "You're going to drink tonight?" He asks, looking back at me.

"Just a little bit." I grin, looping my arm around his and turning back to Yachi.

"Anyways, as I was saying." I start, my grin only growing wider. "I don't have a boyfriend."

Yachi looks at us in confusion, slowly raising her hand to point at us.

"Then...?"

"I have a husband."