Can You Keep A Secret? (Inupi Seishu)

| Chapter Four: The Fallout

"You really like my brother?" After the incident you didn't expect for Akane to react as she is right now.

"I'm sorry." You say meekly to her, it felt like you were once again back at making friends with her in the beginning. Like a reset of getting to know someone.

"Oh don't be. I can talk to him if you want?" She says, giddily and smiling.

"Really?" I couldn't hide my excitement. "Um- Is it okay with you, I mean it's just a silly crush."

"You could've just said that to me in the first place." She reached over and tucked your hair, when you saw her reach out to you, you saw that scar she had indented on her index finger.

The skin lighter than the color skin, the time in second year she had accidentally stabbed her finger from that sewing machine.

--

3rd year already, and you and Akane were close to graduating. She sets you up with her brother finally.

You waited at the lounge, couldn't keep yourself from not tipping off the red nail polish Akane colored for me two weeks ago.

I thought it would be impossible for Akane to set up a date with me and her brother knowing he lives miles away from us, but luck got in the way and he wanted to visit his sister on a holiday.

You arrived at the cinema a little early, heart pounding in anticipation. You wore a casual yet stylish outfit, wanting to make a good impression without appearing too formal. Her long, (h/c) hair cascaded down her back in loose waves. As the anticipation grew you finally saw the familiar face walking through the sea of people, he looked from side to side, until a warm smile grew once his eyes caught you.

"Hey." I stood up, dusting off the mini dress I wore for the movie.

"Y/n. You look beautiful." Inupi carried a small bouquet of fresh flowers he had picked up on his way to the theater, a sweet gesture to break the ice. His compliment had swarmed up butterflies in your stomach as you tried to fight the blood rushing up your cheeks.

Inupi should be the one to be called that. Despite the discoloration of the birthmark he has on the side of his face he never hid it, unlike how Akane does.

Inupi's gold hair got longer that reached his jaw, he wore a white shirt and a powdered blue open button polo collared shirt and khakis.

Inupi were someone for you that stopped time for a while. It felt unreal how everything was a blur and focused on the place he stood.

All the possibility, energy charged, emitted and alive, his own gravity held me and I felt in charge for a while despite how I was used to living to follow along the surface, I was held by his stare.

Forever I learned to be invisible along with other people around me, but his stare alone had found me. I was seen.

"Thanks, Akane picked it out for me." You gestured over the dress.

"Shall we." He says with a grin, his cold gaze that I once met on the first meeting had vanished there.

Inside the theater they found a pair of seats near the middle, settling in as the lights dimmed and the iconic Warner Bros. logo appeared on the screen. As the movie began, they shared knowing glances during the famous lines and moments, and their hands brushed against each other as they reached for popcorn.

Inupi was a gentleman, so friendly and very thoughtful.

As the movie played on, they gradually became more comfortable with each other's presence. They whispered comments about the film and laughed softly at its witty dialogue. It felt like they were in their own little world, the outside world fading away as they focused on the screen and each other.