Mine

5.

Flashback - Age 10.5

The brick beneath your feet buckled as you held the top of the wooden fence to peek over, satisfying your curiousity. You watched Light paint the ladder of his treehouse as splinters dug into your palms.

"So you weren't kidding!" You called out, catching his attention. He lowered the bucket of red paint and rubbed his forehead of sweat.

He had finally recovered from his turn of the flu, and although you felt bad, you were happy to see he was okay. He smiled at you from across the lawn before motioning you over. You stepped on the lip of the wooden fence and hooked your leg over before propelling your body onto the grass on his side of the barrier. You huffed.

"It has taken a while, but it's finally finished."

"Yeah but now we can't go in because the ladder is wet," you pointed out. Light's head tilted.

"You're right. I didn't think about that."

You both headed inside for a can of soda before heading into Light's room where you admired his many trophies and certificates.

"You're getting smart," you commented as he took a seat on his desk chair, cracking the can open.

He didn't say anything, but you weren't surprised. He had told you heaps of times that he didn't care that he was. He didn't need the praise.

"How long will it take for the paint to dry?" You asked. He shrugged before standing back up and heading downstairs and outside. You followed after him with your coke, sipping it as he pressed his hand on the ladder. He pulled it away and revealed a red print, and you laughed.

"Let's just go up," he skulled his coke and threw the can on the grass before he climbed up the sturdy ladder onto the first and only platform. You climbed up after him, smiling as you saw your knees, shoes and hands were covered in red paint.

Light helped you up and showed you around. It wasn't anything fancy; it was a treehouse. But it had a few seperate rooms with proper walls and doors, and you were impressed at how strong it felt.

"It's like a small house," you said, looking around at the yellow walls, noticing a hole cut out in the roof for light. It was innovative really.

"Yeah, I'm gonna spend a lot of time out here," Light said, taking a seat on the empty floor. You sat down next to him, holding your coke.

"I think we should get married."

You stared at him, your fingers denting the can in your lap. Heat rose to your cheeks and you wondered if he knew you had a crush on him. Who would have told him?

"I mean I have a house, you can't say no to me," he added, smiling at you while wiggling his eyebrows. You nervously laughed and shook your head, trying to understand why you felt both relieved but heartbroken that he was joking.

~

It had been a few days since Light had broken up with Misa, and it was apparent he wasn't sad at all. You didn't complain though; it would be a huge turn off if he was a sobbing, blubbering mess.

You clutched the straps of your backpack tighter as you took the stairs of your apartment two at a time, a large sigh leaving your lips at the final step. Light had a day off today, but you weren't sure if he would be home or not, given he was rather popular and had a few hobbies. But once you reached the door and found it was unlocked, you noticed yourself feeling even more excited.

"You're back early," Light called out as soon as you shut the door behind you, and you smiled as you kicked off your shoes. The apartment was bright from the open curtains and smelled of delicious curry - you could recognise that scent anywhere.