The Story of You and Me - Book 1

Lesson14: Her love story (prt2)

Haft way the trip, Keisuke already falls asleep on Hideya's shoulder.

"And now he tired himself" – Shohei said exasperatedly. He looks at his childhood friend's face, even when sleeping traces of joy can be seen, he can't help but smile knowing that his friend is happy.

Saki looks at Shohei who is enjoying seeing their friend, still, inside her, she can't understand why everything is alright for him. She looks at Hideya who also notices her staring at him. Hideya felt the hatred in Saki's eye as she again shifted her sight that time outside the window.

~

They arrive at the foot of the mountain, and it still a few kilometers away to the villa. They need to climb up a man-made stone stairway which in estimation is about 250 or more steps, it is only use exclusively by Nakahara family who owns much of the land.

"Urgh" – Keisuke is panting so much that he has to stop climbing.

"Are you alright?" – Hideya asked.

"I don't know why we choose this villa of all villas that my family have" – vigorously breathing.

Shohei rolls his eyes "Well you're the one who pick the location, you said you want to see the mountains so here we are"

"I'm wondering, how many villas his family have?" – Hideya tilted his head.

"Uhmm... let see, excluding the ones in abroad, I can say about 20-30" – Shohei answered.

"That's a lot!" – the brunette exclaimed "And of all of that places you choose here" – he turns his attention to Keisuke who is sitting at the side of the stair.

"There's a reason why I wanted here alright" – Keisuke can barely utter words as he pants and look at them with weary eyes.

The three of his companion didn't respond and just look at him while sitting down on one of the steps. Hideya went down two-step in front of Keisuke and offered his back "Hop in" – he said.

The ginger blushes and he was about to hop in but at the corner of his eyes he saw Saki, it stops him from doing so. He doesn't want her to see him like that with Hideya, he knows that it will only hurt his childhood friend so instead of accepting the offer "What do you think of me? Do you think that I can't climb these stairs on my own?" – Keisuke irked.

The ginger stands up on his own and starts to climb the stair again leaving Hideya. The brunette is left bewildered about what's got into him but soon realizes why.

"You know you shouldn't force yourself, we all know you're not used to walking let alone climb stairs this high" – Shohei commented.

"We just have to continue climbing before we know it, we are there" – the ginger answered forcing his legs on each step he make. Hideya and Shohei sigh as they watch him struggles to move.

Soon they were able to reach the villa, it's a three-story manor with a European design, the mansion has steep roofs, subtly flared curves at the eaves, and are faced with stucco and stone. It has an elegant courtyard covered with different wildflowers that's adding to the grandeur curbside appeal.

The beauty of the mansion didn't stop outside, inside exposed bricks can be seen and from the main entrance which is the oak-colored double doors, an indoor balcony of the second and third floors are visible while at the right side is the wooden stairs and to the left is a huge fireplace made entirely of red-orange bricks where the living room is also situated.

"I've been to some of your family's villas but still this is the best one I've ever seen" – Shohei commented.

Hideya's eyes travel around the house like at the Nakahara's mansion there are a lot of antiques on display. The living room has a carpet that can be compared to the ones that are on a palace in the western continent.

"Here's the key for the rooms on the second floor, you can take all of your things upstairs" – Keisuke said as he handed each one of them keys "I'm sorry no one was able to greet us here since the staffs who use to work here are on vacation, but I guess that works for us so we can enjoy the place, just the four of us" – he added.

Saki didn't take the key from Keisuke when he was giving it to her, he feels like he has a long way to get their friendship back to the way it used to be.

Shohei picks up the situation between the two so he quickly interrupted "Alright, Saki let me help you with your things" – he said as he take all of Saki's luggage and the key from Keisuke "Shall we?" – they both went up stairs.

When his childhood friends are out of sight, Keisuke flung himself down the couch in the living room and sigh with exhaustion and frustration.

Hideya seated to the couch situated parallel to where Keisuke is "Are you alright?"

Keisuke didn't respond, instead, he buries his face to the pillow on the couch.

"I understand your doing this for her"

The ginger looks at him while lying down on his stomach, with weary eyes "I feel so guilty" – he said.

The brunette throws his sight to the window and stares at the landscape of mountains outside, the sky is slowly turning yellow and orange with a tint of red as the sunsets.

"She's my friend and I don't want to see her in pain, I can't stand it" – the ginger said still lying on his stomach, he shifted his glance at the ornament display placed on the coffee table in front of him "What's worst, the one who's hurting her is me" – he uttered.

"Have you tried to talk to her about it?" – Hideya asked still staring at the landscape.

"How can I? Every time I try, she ignores me and turns her back on me. I want to bring our friendship back" – he buries his face on the pillow once again then he quickly stands up "I don't know how!" - he exclaimed.

Hideya sigh "You need to talk to her about it because the more time passes by, the more the gap between you two widens" – he said "I know it's not easy but if she really is your friend you won't make it harder for her by prolonging it"

Meanwhile, upstairs before Saki was able to get into her own room.

"Hey" – Shohei called out to Saki.

Saki didn't respond any word but he looks at him.

"You shouldn't make things harder for Keisuke, he's trying his best"

Saki remained silent and opens the door, she gets inside with her luggage.