sae does not particularly like the smell of alcohol and cigarettes in general, but for her he would tolerate it. she never drank per say, but she did smoke every once in a while.
"that shits unhealthy," scolded sae as he saw her blow a smoke. "it can kill you."
sae and aiya sat at the playground's swings once again at night. it was a constant occurrence between the two of them.
aiya laughed at him, waving the cigarette around, "that's the point."
"don't even joke about that," mumbled sae quietly.
she turned to him, throwing away the burnt away cigarette, "huh, what'd you say?"
"nothing," sighed sae. "you only smoke when you're really stressed. did something happen at home?"
aiya stayed quiet for a while before hesitantly answering, "my older sister just misses mom and dad, so she took it out on me."
sae frowned, "it's not your fault."
aiya didn't smile or frown. she pursed her lips in thought, "when i'm dead like my parents, do you think she'll mourn for me like she does for them?"
his breathing hitched at her words.
what do you mean "when"? you can't go.
"i would."
her eyes widened before turning to look at him and chuckling, "it was just a rhetorical question, no need to be so serious about it."
sae couldn't look at her, his throat felt clogged and it felt as if his heart dropped to his stomach all because of her rhetorical question. he finally looked at her, straight in her eyes and with softness, he said,
"i hope you stay."
itoshi sae could not love or hate the smell of cigarettes.
