Our Symphonies | satosere

21 ;

「 twenty-one 」

"You exaggerate everything."

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The suitcases and handbags were packed by noon, and a rookie police officer was driving us back to Naha. Miette's prehistoric minivan got confiscated for further inspection, and she along with Alain were still at the police station.

I couldn't care less.

Drew was riding shotgun, Ash sat in the middle while May and I took window backseats. The drive was quiet - comfortably quiet - a contrast to the last time. Even Milk wasn't meowing, as though she was acquainted of what had happened last night. She was a smart, yet scary cat.

I maintained my safe distance from Ash, and didn't dare swapping any glances with either him or the brunette.

Every once in a while a speed breaker would cause the car to jump, and it stung the fresh wounds on my knees only minimally. But the boy with those foggy glasses was goodhearted enough to squeeze my fingers delicately whenever I flinched with pain.

Ash was concerned for me. He stayed despite my shitty way of talking, and my unreasonable rudeness throughout the day.

One and a half hour later, the car pulled up in front of my all too familiar,  peppermint white apartment. The painted walls were gradually chipping away, and the hanging plant pots adorned every balcony and kitchen window. Our quaint building was strikingly identifiable from all the neighboring houses.

I nodded in the rear view mirror when the officer asked whether it was my house or not. The childlock clicked, and both Ash and May followed me outdoors, carrying three quarters of my luggage; while Drew watched us from the scaled down window.

Lillie was standing just by the apartment staircase. Her face came into view, and something like orbiting space junk swirled in the pit of my stomach.

I was very used to her powdered ice like skin, and it even grew healthier during springs and summertime; but this diseased yellow was a shade that I had never seen on her cheeks. Not when she had a one a.m. shift last month, or when she had accidentally tasted those Sushies (she's allergic to soy sauce) that I had ordered for our New Year's eve party.

This shade wasn't normal.

Lillie darted her emerald eyes at me: a feature that she had inherited from dad. She resembled him more than mom, she's always been the daddy's daughter; Organized and stoic on the outside, but tender at heart.

I gapped my lips to bridge the silence between us, but was cut short as she tackled me in a hug, one that nearly crushed my ribs and forced out all the loose oxygen in my lungs.

I reciprocated it regardless of the pain, regardless of the salty water from her eyes that soaked my white blouse.

We parted after a fraction of minutes, and Lillie sniffed and rubbed her runny nose againt both of her knuckles, the frown on her face intact.

"I was so frightened - I couldn't even sleep last night. You don't have the right to get in trouble like that!" She ranted breathlessly, her eyeballs an embodiment of glass rubies and splashes of blood. She didn't even care to regard Ash and May's presence behind me, but who was I to blame.

"It's all okay now, Lillie," I said, convincing and consoling her, although the words were meant for me the same. "The situation didn't get any worse, and I didn't get any major injuires except for these scratches." I pointed at my knees, they weren't visible due to the culottes' length, but she nodded unsurely.