Maybe This Time: Sakusa K.

Prologue

Five years ago...

"Kiara!" I stopped walking but I didn't face my Mother, "If you leave that door, you shall receive nothing. You hear me? You will be penniless." She shouted angrily.

I stared at the wooden double door ahead of me as I felt my eyes swell with tears. I don't care about being penniless. But I know I have been living life depending on my parents' fortune. I just wanted to pursue sports, and I thought during my remaining high school days, all my achievements, I thought I have already persuaded them to let me be with what I want. Apparently, I'm wrong.

"We let you play those rugged sports, so you will take business when you get in college!"

"Volleyball is not a rugged sport, Okaasan !" The last thing I said before I ran away from that sickening household.

I stopped on my tracks as I recognized the huge house in front of me. It's like my body moved on its own accords and brought me here.

I walked closer to the gate while trying to catch my breath and pressed the doorbell. In just a few seconds, the front door opened revealing the Okaasan of the house. I bowed my head to show respect.

"Hiroshi-san."

"Kiara-kun, are you looking for Kiyoomi?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Come inside then."

"Oh no, I just have something to tell him, Hiroshi-san. I can just talk with him here."

"Are you sure?" I nodded. "Alright then, wait here, sweetie."

Out of habit, I touched my pockets to search for my hand sanitizers but they are nowhere to be found. When I was about to turn to walk away, the front door opened and presented an old friend of mine, Sakusa Kiyoomi, in his black overall pants and jacket and of course his mask.

"What are you doing here?" I avoided my gaze as water began forming on my eyes. I wanted to seek his comfort but I can't. He won't like it.

"Uh nothing, I - uh ju-just... uhm" My lips tumbled as I couldn't think of any excuse. He walked closer and even opened their gates.

"Did you cry?" He walked closer but I immediately took a step back.

"Don't, I'm not clean." I kept my head low and I noticed how his feet stopped moving.

I felt disappointed. - why? What were you thinking? That he would still come near you even after hearing you're not clean because you're friends? Stop expecting, Kiara.

"So why were you crying?" He kept the distance between us. His monotone voice could match the cold weather of the night.

"I'm leaving." I managed to say.

"You're going home when you just came here? Where is your driver?" He looked around, trying to look for my chaperone that I have always had ever since I learned how to walk.

"I mean, I'm leaving, Kiyoomi. For college." His look remained the same. Plain, stoic. He probably doesn't even care.

"Where is a better college than here in Tokyo?"

"My family let me be with volleyball so I could then do what they want. And they want me to take over our family business." I fumbled with my fingers as I tried to look straight into his eyes, trying my best not to shed a single tear.

"Good luck then." It's like I could hear my heart break into pieces. Was the 5 years of friendship nothing to him?

I at least expect him to ask anything. Will I come back? That I try to keep in touch?

"Thanks." Let's not expect anything, Kiara. I lowered my head and took a step back.

"I think I will miss you." Immediately, my shaking hands stopped, my face heated up. "I guess keep in touch? I'm not asking you so, if you don't want to. Good luck on your endeavors, Ara."

That was more than enough. I nodded eagerly as I felt my tears finally running down my face. I laughed, thinking how silly I looked right now in front of Kiyoomi, disgusting either. I used my hands to wipe my tears but stopped when he handed me a blue handkerchief.

With shaking hands, I took it.

And with a heavy heart. I turned my back on him. If he were to leave, I don't want to remember him crying. I want him to remember me only as someone who loved volleyball as much as he does, someone who would give him cleaning products, and someone whom he called a friend.

While I, on the other hand, would remember him, as that guy who made me love volleyball, someone who showed me that there is more than what others tell you to do, and someone whom I liked but afraid to say because of the friendship that has been developed.