Pretty Boy

Chapter 25

My routine went back to normal, making breakfast for my siblings and driving the younger ones to school every morning. I spent my time working out at the gym all day. And I do mean ALL day.

My twin walked into the gym and sighed. "I knew you'd be here."

"Go away."

"You can't avoid him forever."

"It's not like I want to but...what am I supposed to do?" I panted, turning up the speed on the treadmill. "I won't watch him cry again."

"Truth is, you miss him. Don't you? It's been two weeks and you're tearing yourself apart. Stop trying to distract yourself when you care about him as much as you do."

"I'm doing what's good for him. He doesn't need me, I'll just drag him down."

"If you spend your whole life thinking you drag people down, the only person you'll pull downwards is yourself." She turned and walked to the door, her words sticking in my brain. "You'll realize that sooner than later. Damage can't be undone and you know that more than anyone. But you're so worried about causing it that you push everyone away. That does more harm than good."

"Yuki...."

"I'll see you at home, Shuji."

Adam's POV
I'm in the hospital.

My chest felt like it was going to burst and Elise kept checking in on me. But I couldn't stop thinking about Shuji. I wonder what he's doing right now...

"Adam." A female voice filled the room. I looked up to the doorway, my vision blurry.

"Shuji?" I asked, seeing his face walking over to me. As it got closer, I realized it was only his twin sister. "Oh...Yuki. What're you here for?"

"How are you feeling?" She sat beside me and held my hand, which was connected to a heart monitor. "I called your mom. She said you'd be here."

"I'm okay. The girls at school have been asking about Shu-...they've been asking about Hachiro. I don't think he's coming back."

"He'll turn up." She sighed and laid down, holding onto my arm. "If I know my brother, which I do....he'll show."

I sat up, pulling a notebook from the bag on the ground beside me. "He left this at the dorm." I opened it to a page covered in drawings of me. They weren't exactly good but they weren't bad either. Some of the drawings had him in them but he had scratched out his face.

"Shuji's not forgetful so he left it for a reason. Must have given it to you to remember him by."

"If he wanted me to remember him....he wouldn't have scratched himself out. I don't even have the pleasure of looking at his face. Even if it's just a drawing."

She sat up and leaned over my shoulder. "The pages is taped together. Did you tear it up?"

"....yes."

"You must have been pretty mad huh?"

"Yeah. I love him but...." I ran my fingers over the tape. "I kinda hate him too."

"Can I ask a favor, Adam?"

"What?"

"If you see Shuji again....be nice to him. I know he's difficult but please...I'm begging you." She buried her head in my shoulder. "He needs someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"You're so kind..." her voice softened, the feeling of tears soaking into my shirt making me feel bad for her. "But he is too so...please. You're the only one who understands his kindness. Please take care of him!"

"I'll do what I can." I pat her head. "So don't cry. I'm not sure if I can help him since he doesn't want to see me but I'll do everything in my power to take care of your brother. Because he took care of me."

Shuji's POV
That night, I went to the park and stood on the bridge that went over a large stream. Deep too.

"You look like him." My mom smiled at me as I furiously scribbled in a notebook. "Your father."

"I'm gonna go for a walk."

All my life I felt like I'd walked alone even with my family beside me. Now that someone had tried to walk with me, I had a lump in my throat. "Gah...get out of my head." I shook my head and tossed a small pebble into the water, my sisters words echoing in my mind.

My dad left when I was only two years old so I didn't know him. But I'd heard stories about him from my mom. He smashed picture frames of us when he left and we still had the broken glass and photos in a box.

When a parent abandons you, you spend your life feeling like it's your fault. And when you abandon someone just like they did, you feel even worse.

I'm exactly like he was.

"Shuji...." a bandaged hand grabbed ahold of the railing, my eyes widening when I recognized the voice. "I didn't think you'd be here."

"Adam?" I turned to him. "You're in a hospital gown...what happened?"

"I ran away from the hospital." He stood on the railing and breathed heavily. "I had to see you. Your sister stopped by and...and I..."

"Adam you should relax. You can't move too much. Did you run here?"

"Yes...I come here to express how I feel. I didn't know you'd be here too. I was gonna go by your house after this."

"...I'm sorry. I have to go."

"I-....I love you!" He jumped down from the railing and grabbed my arm. "I love you so much!" He yelled out over the deep water, his voice making goosebumps raise on my arms. "Please accept my feelings!"

A confession. I didn't expect this...

I faced him, seeing the nervous blush on his face. My heart beat faster, a laugh slipping form my throat. "Haha! You look so scared right now, you should see yourself."

"Shuji....please let me love you. I don't want you to go like this. Not ever again." He pulled me closer and clung to my body like he wanted to hold me for the rest of his life. "I don't want to die without the boy I love by my side!"

"You want me to die with you?" I asked.

"I want....I want you to at least be there to hold my hand when the time comes." He stood on his toes to reach my height. "Even if it hurts you, please stay with me. You're all I want while I'm here."