Would you choose to live forever?

Chapter 9: Her Story

"Haah... Haaah..." I panted as my legs felt like they were soon about to give out from how long I had been sprinting without a moment to rest.

It was as if they would soon be broken off like twigs yet, I couldn't stop to do anything about it either. There was no time to rest, not when there was so much at stake right now.

I passed the stores of the streets and disregarded those passing by the area and before long, I bolted past the familiar gates of the school compounds and reached the front, there I found the many pitched-up banners and flower stands to commemorate the students of their graduation.

It looked to be still in session and though there were many out in the front of the school taking pictures and chatting away at final conversations with classmates and teachers, I didn't hesitate to run through the school grounds to get to my destination.

Eyes quickly shot towards me and though they found it odd that I was running, none made an attempt to stop me rushing through the venue and passing my familiar faces, it quickly caused a stir, leading those that were initially watching now engaged to take action in stopping me.

Yet their slow attempts to catch up didn't make a difference to impede me and eventually, I made it into the doors of the school. I pushed passed many who were simply walking through and up the stairs, I felt my body slowly crying for the sweet relief of rest.

But once again, I stopped myself from slowing down, and up the decorated stars full of small banners representing the graduating classes, I eventually reached the upper floors of the building.

I steered myself to take the final steps forth and opened the door that led to a small balcony, there I found Riku standing at the very edge; her back turned against me as her head pointed toward the clear blue skies of the morning.

As soon as the door came fully open, she turned to look and as her eyes fixed to look, we then made eye contact. I was still panting even now but the fact that she was still well and alive relieved me beyond comprehension.

Above all else, her safety was what I valued most at that moment.

After all, she wasn't immortal, unlike me...

"Riku-chan! Pant... pant... Please... don't..." I said as my lungs begged for me to simply fall to the ground and take a breather.

"Eito...kun? Is... Is that really you...?" She said, on the verge of crying once more as her eyes looked reddened from who knows how of sobbing.

We remained standing there for a second longer, with me still leaning on the door frame as Riku took a step down from the edge of the building in response to my arrival.

The wind blew harshly, gushing forth a gust of wind that complimented the skirt Riku wore as the soft light of the sun highlighted her current complexion.

She looked as if she was out of a storybook, her dazzling eyes and flowing hair. My ached each second I hesitated and unable to wait any longer, I tried to speak out towards her; my eyes weary, unready to begin conversing with the one I had already hurt once.

"Riku-chan, I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. Everything I said, you didn't deserve to hear those things and... and-" I tried to say yet, the words couldn't leave my mouth fast enough before she intervened.

"Eito-kun... you don't need to apologize, I really deserved what you said that day, since I lied in your face just like that... The betrayal I brought onto you and the pain that I suffered at that moment, it's incomparable..."

"You lost everything after all and with nobody by your side, I lied to you because I was so selfish then..." She said in a while smiling, yet the tears that flowed down her cheeks contrasted greatly to the way she tried to portray herself.