(A Reverse Harem)
If there's anything Anri Hinomori loves more than fictional characters, it's drama. By day, she's responsible for the anonymous gossip column for her high school's newspaper, and by night, she blogs extensive, long-winded reviews o...
A coldness in the air that trickled down my spine, coating my entire body in goosebumps.
"Ren, I think she's talking to you." Ever so considerate, the boy seated next to Takumi—Naoya Otomo, his accredited best friend—nudged his arm.
In response, Takumi released a weighted sigh. His marble-grey irises pierced through my soul the moment I laid eyes on them. If looks could kill, I'd be a corpse right around now. Takumi's attractiveness was an undisputed fact. His hair was bicoloured, the right side a luminous shade of black and the left side, ivory-white. He had high cheekbones and a jawline sharp enough to cut a person. Compared to elementary school, when he was nothing but a short yet skinny twig, it was a huge upgrade.
"I can see that," Takumi remarked to his friend, sparing me a flat look. "What I'm not understanding is why she is."
The minimal chatter in the background turned into static in my ears. Takumi's undivided attention was on me. We hadn't been face to face—this close—in years. It was a strange feeling, all right. The last time we were in close quarters, he wrenched my glasses off of my face and had me chase him around our sixth grade classroom. Ultimately, the lenses ended up shattered, and I earned myself a beating from my mom.
I didn't like him.
I wanted nothing to do with him.
Even now, all these years later, only crummy memories and emotions bubbled up.
But I had no choice.
I had to do it. Play this game and win. In order to do so, I had to put aside our differences. Make an effort to start on a clean slate.
I balled my fingers into fists.
Say it.
"I'm sorry." My throat thickened. As if I were being choked, I couldn't muster any oxygen. It felt wrong. But it was a start. It was. "For cursing you out and holding a grudge all these years. You deserved it, but, we were kids. I'm all for putting the past behind us. What do you say?"
As if a pressure had been lifted, I sucked in a deep breath, giving myself an imaginary pat on the back. Look at me being the bigger person. Although it'd be nice, I didn't require an apology. We could start fresh as of today and then I could figure out a kind and gentle plan to get Takumi on his knees for me.
Seconds elapsed.
Seconds in which evolved into a full-blown minute.
Takumi didn't make a peep. In fact, his eyebrows were furrowed, forming a crease between them. He analyzed me—picked me apart from head to toe.
Finally, he said, "What the heck are you talking about? Who are you?"
.
.
.
This had to be a joke.
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