𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐃𝐑𝐔𝐆

❛forget about me❜

》❈《

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐋 at the top of the door jingled as Hoshi entered the comic books store. He breathed in the smell of books and spice and took his time looking around the large bookcases stacked to the brim with comics.

It had been ages since he found himself inside this book store which was like his second home since he spent most of his time curled up by the window skimming through the latest editions of his favourite comics.

Graduation was around the corner and he was preparing to send in his college application letters to different colleges, most of them ivy league schools so he could leave his options wide, so being in a comic book store was the last thing on his mind.

He heard shuffling going on by the counter in front and walked towards it, spotting Luis, the owner of the store struggling with a large box and Hoshi ran over to help.

"Thank you," Luis breathed out and his eyes widened, spotting Hoshi and placed the box on top of a desk with six other boxes, all filled with new comics, were lined up. "Hoshi, man, it's been so long. How've you been?"

"Super busy with school," Hoshi replied. "Looks like there must have been a problem with the delivery truck or something, the new editions never arrive by this time of the day."

"You're right," Luis ran his fingers through his buzz cut and exhaled through his nose. "There was a bit of a mix up in the delivery, I got boxes of paperback novels instead and had to make a bunch of calls to get the comics delivered. Is there anything I can get ya? There's a ton of new comics around."

"I'm just here to get some comics for my sister," Hoshi replied and got out his phone showing Luis the list of comics Hina had asked him to get for her.

"Oh," Luis nodded his head. "I'll go get them for ya."

Luis found the comics and handed them to Hoshi who gave him some cash. He slipped the comics into his backpack.

"Want me to help you sort these out?" He gestured to the stack of boxes but Luis shook his head.

"Nah, don't worry about it," he said. "I don't plan to sort them out till tomorrow."

"Oh, alright," Hoshi looked around the comic book store. "I guess I'll see you later then."

"Try and visit more often," Luis called after Hoshi as he walked out of the door. "The store feels empty without ya."

"I'll try," Hoshi shut the door behind him and walked home, plugging in his earbuds and Ariana Grande's soothing voice filled his ears.

He walked past a run down building and saw someone being shoved out roughly, her elbows and knees scraping the rough ground.

"Stay the fuck away you stupid bitch," a man's voice called and the door shut with a bang.

The girl stood up and Hoshi recognized the tall figure and shoulder length hair.

"Adina?" Adina swirled and her eyes locked with his, her body tensing.

"What are you doing here?" She shoved her hands into the pocket of her hoodie, her bloodshot and dilated eyes narrowing at him.

"Umm, this is the way to my house," it came out as more of a question.

Adina grunted and swayed a bit on her feet. Hoshi's eyes dropped to her legs and noticed an ugly gash running down, dried blood smeared across her skin and dotted with bits of dirt.

"Shit," Hoshi ran towards her side and dropped down, inspecting the wound. "You need to get this cleaned up, you could get infected."

Adina tried to push him away but she almost tumbled and Hoshi's arm came around her waist holding her steady. He stood up wrapping his long arms around her waist, noticing how much weight she had lost.

Adina didn't complain when he took her to a pharmacy, she didn't run away when he went inside to get some items to clean her wounds, and she kept quiet as she watched him clean and disinfect her wound in an empty park.

"Why haven't you been in school?" Hoshi asked, dabbing the cotton wool gently across her leg and she winced a bit from the sting.

"Mind your damn business," she snapped. "And don't you dare ask why those assholes threw me out of that building."

Hoshi clamped his lips shut and continued dabbing on her wound. He suddenly remembered the comment about her mother on her Instagram post, he had reported it right after, but his curiosity still spiked in his chest and questions rose to the tip of his tongue, but he held it, knowing that something like that was actually none of his business.

"Thanks," Adina took her leg out of his hold after he was done cleaning it up and putting a bandage on it. She brought out a cigarette and a lighter, lighting it up and bringing it toward her lips, taking a long and hard drag, finally letting out a whiff of smoke. She felt Hoshi's stare on her as she took another drag. "You're not gonna tell me that smoking is bad for my health or something?"

"I just wanna know what's going on with you," Adina turned to glare at him and blew the cancerous smoke in his face but he didn't turn away. "I know we don't really know each other and I haven't spoken to you before, so it makes sense if you don't want to talk to me. I also know how sad you must feel since everyone you considered your close friends turned their backs on you, but talking to someone about what's bothering you helps."

Adina took another drag of her cigarette, her eyes never leaving Hoshi who feared she would suddenly slap him. She had that feeling again, the one she had in the school garden, that urge to cry on his shoulders and pour out everything eating away at her soul, but it was gone in the blink of an eye.

She turned away. "I've always known you liked me, Hoshi," she said calmly.

"Wha..." Hoshi was speechless and felt his face grow hot and his ears burn.

"You have a bright future ahead of you," she continued, turning to him, her green eyes hard. "So forget about me and focus on your life."

She stood up and walked away, throwing the cigarette in a nearby trash can.

Hoshi watched her till she finally disappeared from his view. He had seen the hurt and pain in her eyes and for a second, her mask had slipped. He didn't know how he could forget about her when she's all he ever thought about.