as much as i love you // rui kamishiro.

1

chapter one.

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Tick, tick, tick.

The annoying sound of someone playing with their pen infested the chilling silence. My blood ran cold in my veins, even though the temperature in the room was over thirty.

I didn't want to think about what would soon happen in this living "oven". A foul smell coming from everyone's sweat, that even the air conditioning couldn't camouflage.

Phew, it felt like I was running the marathon to exhale and inhale like that, sitting still in my chair next to the window.

It was impossible to share oxygen with these people, being selfish people who would want to take it over, leaving those poor and defenseless, whose lungs do not work without pure fresh air.

Stop breathing! It's unbearable enough, having to come on a horrifyingly hot day, the day after that torturous first day.

Tuesday, second day of school.

I must say, nothing interesting happened yesterday, if you thought you got lost or anything along the way. I don't want to recount the extensive instructions I received from the teacher, he broke a record for talking non-stop for four hours. Hours in which I would spend asleep, dreaming that I'm in a better world than this, reality.

☆ A brief summary:

We left early that day (just yesterday), this being a special occasion and perhaps, the only time in the year that this would happen. I had observed how most of the students went straight to some cafe or restaurant nearby, filling up instantly. As if they were pests, they were causing disturbances to those who were eating peacefully.

What a racket.

Obviously, I was going home. Why go out? No one invited me or anything like that, I didn't have any after-school things to do either. All I wanted to do was run away from here, hide in the comfort of my soft bed, in my big blanket.

Sleep what I couldn't because of nerves, dozens of possible scenarios unfolding through my mind, like a movie. It exhausted me physically, but, it was already too late. At about three in the morning, I closed my eyes only to open them three hours later, that was only on the first day.I longed too much to put my feet on the floor of my room.

It was a lie when I said that, upon arrival, I fainted instantly, falling into my cozy bed. And I don't know how many hours had passed.

I woke up that afternoon with a headache, a dry mouth, my hair disheveled, a wrinkled uniform and best of all, a mild sore throat. I couldn't wish for more, could I? Five for the price of one, not to mention it was ten p.m. Did I say late? I guess it was the kitchen lights still on.

"Ughh..."

I feebly made my way out of there. With the little strength left in my tired body, I went downstairs in search of something to satisfy my appetite and soothe my sore throat, a refreshing glass of water invaded my mind like an insatiable desire.

"Mom?"

I called into the void, receiving no answer. I stumbled upon a note and a cold plate of dinner on the table, which I distinguished amidst the darkness by the lamp lit over it. The note read:

"I hope you had a good start, it's the first day for many opportunities! Seeing you exhausted, I didn't have the heart to wake you up. I'll leave you something in case you wake up at midnight hungry. Love, Mom."