people pleaser | nishimura riki

19. cousin mei

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

"So...you decided to not only skip school but also came all the way to my university?" Her older cousin sighed as she finally found lost Aira.

"Meiyon..." Aira quickly ran in for a hug to which luckily, cold-hearted Meiyon accepted.

Maybe she wasn't cold-hearted, but her cousin was definitely strict.

"Does your parents know about this?" Meiyon grabbed her bag and held it for her. Before Remi, there was her biological cousin Meiyon who she saw as a sister figure.

Now, she was her ultimate role model.

From excelling in academics to sport, whilst looking like a model, in Aira's eyes, Meiyon was completely flawless.

"No. But I'm sure they won't make a big deal out of it."

"Right. Your parents are not like mine." Meiyon shook her head before leading her to a cafe. "You hungry?"

"A little."

---

Being with her cousin was like going to a safe space. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with her own parents, but there are some topics that are far too awkward to be spoke about. Thus, when it comes to being pushed around, mistreatments, and boys, she would always go to her next closest family.

"Who the hell is this Riki Nishimura." Meiyon scoffed in frustration. "So all this time, whilst he was being all sweet to you, he was actually using you?" She spoke, almost too loud.

"Shhh." Aira used her hands to fan the fuming adult. "It's not as bad as you think."

"Uh so there's worst?"

"Well...you see, I sort of did some stalking and profile digging." Aira confessed in shame.

"Oh no you didn't..."

"I just got curious about the type of girl Dana is."

"Okay fill me in."

"So she's a girl around the same age as us. Remi told me this part about how she used to be really shy and timid until she had met Riki. They sort of clicked and i guess started dating. Then one day he went away to study abroad due to family business and i guess you could say she dumped him over text? Then got with another guy the following week." Aira summarised the storyline.

"Oh. So the villain here is that Dana girl." Meiyon rolled her eyes.

"Well, we don't know that because they could just always be some rumours." Aira shrugged. "So based on what i found, Dana is actually so gorgeous. I don't know why everyone says I look like her because if anything, she looks like Chanel whilst i look like dollar tree-"

"Show me this girl." Meiyon cut off her cousin as she was not going to accept this sort of disrespect.

As Aira handed her phone over with the hot topic's profile, Meiyon's eyes furrowed.

"Wait I mean i can kind of see the resemblance but like..." Meiyon kept looking to between the phone and her cousin. "You two are different genres."

"Huh."

"You're like puppy pretty and she radiates more fox...like the eye shape are similar t first glance but you have a more innocent glisten."

"Thanks but I don't think I'm as pretty as her-" Once again, interrupted.

"It's the makeup. You wear absolutely non make up besides what? Sunscreen?"

"...and moisturiser."

"See? You just need make up and the moment you post, you will go viral."

"Are you sure."

"We are related after all Aira. If I'm pretty, so are you." Meiyon winked with confidence. "Okay what else was the tea."

"For context, Riki used to listen to this one playlist on repeat and because i did a little too much digging, I kind of found out at he actually made that playlist for her."

"Oh my god. And he still listens to it till this day?" Meiyon's jawsdropped.

"Maybe." Aira shrugged. "But yeah, I'm pretty sure Dana eventually moved schools and the end."

"Then you appeared."

"Yeah."

There was a moment of silence. As if the two of them are trying to figure this situation out.

"How do you feel?" Meiyon asked in a soft tone. Although she was blunt, she still cared. She wasn't going to let some boy ruin her self-esteem. Not when she had finally learnt to stand up for herself.

"I feel..."

How did Aira feel? Did she feel used? Yes. But does she hate him? No.

She could never hate him.

"I think I'm going to work on myself." Aira nodded. "And before you say anything, no not because of him. I wanted to work on myself since I've transferred but just never got the confidence to."

"And now that you are more confident, you will create a name for yourself." Meiyon smiled. "I'm proud of you Aira dear."

"So...can you take me on a shopping spree..."

"Girl..." Meiyon sighed. "I don't have a car with me today."

"Your friends?"

"Busy." Feeling bad for her younger cousin, Meiyon gave up and began scrolling through her phone until she lift it to her ears. "Sunghoon. Do me a favour."

If there was one thing Aira was always going to be grateful for, it was going to be her cousin. Not only was she older and experienced, she would always listen to her little high school rants despite the age gap. Instead of judging, she would always take her side. A girl's girl.

Now that she had spoke to someone about this situation, she felt much lighter.

Maybe this whole Riki thing was all a bad dream.

It's not as bad as she thinks.

Right?