people pleaser | nishimura riki

22. pretty

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

"You look..." The male in front of her stared in awe. "Great."

"Thank you, Sato." Aira chuckled.

As promised, she had agreed to attend the spring festival with her former homework leecher. Though the memory was poor back then, she was glad she could now laugh about it. Upon talking it out with him, he had apologised multiple times for his behaviour to which she had forgiven every time.

With a heart like Aira, there were going to be no grudges held.

Remi on the other hand, did not have a good feeling about this boy. However, who was she to stop her. Aira could make her own decisions.

"Hey so did you do plastic surgery?" Sato asked, completely unhinged.

"What?" Aira could almost think she was hallucinating. "Am i usually a catfish?"

"Wait no! I mean, you look extra pretty today." Sato blushed in embarrassment.

Asshole did not know how to talk to a girl properly.

"It's the makeup." Aira laughed. "I just don't usually wear it at school because I get lazy."

"It's fine. You look good either way."

"Wow, if only you spoke to me like this a few months ago."

"Sorry."

"Kidding, now let's go!" Aira purposely turned around to his direction. In his perspective, he would've assumed she was looking at him, but in reality she was looking at her three musketeers trailing behind.

Trying hard not to laugh, she turned back again as they made their way to the different events.

Spending time with the grade's bully was not as bad as she thought. Though, there were some gestures that reminded her of him.

"Oh please don't pat my head. My head is sensitive to headaches."

No, she just didn't want to be reminded of him.

Nonetheless, from trying new treats to playing a couple games, they were both having fun.

---

As they both stopped for a bathroom break, Aira was out first. She sat by the bench as she waited for her friend on her phone. Busy texting on her phone with Remi, an unfamiliar voice caught her by attention.

Assuming it was a girl asking for assistance, she smiled before looking up. However, that smile dropped to with a gap as she was faced with the girl she had always been compared to.

"Hey...are you Aira?" It was Dana.

Dana looked so much more prettier in real life, it was almost a sight for sore eyes. However, Aira kept her composure and greeted her.

"Yes? You are...?" She played it dumb.

"Oh sorry, i'm Dana." Dana introduced herself as she approached the sat girl. "I know you may be wondering how I know you, but i used to be Riki's...friend."

"I see." Aira wondered why she didn't just admit it to her.

"How has Riki been?" Dana went straight to asking about her former partner.

"He's been...alright." Aira asked, just as unsure. "I haven't spoken to him in a while."

"Did you guys break up?"

"We never dated to begin with."

There was a second in which she saw Dana's eyes glisten, but didn't think too much about it.

"Oh right. Sorry to assume. It's just that him and I used to date so i tried to speak more carefully."

"You're fine." Aira smiled politely. Wondering what was taking Sato so long, she just wished she could leave. It was way too awkward to her liking.

"Dana?" Speak of the devil.

"Oh Saro! Long time no see." Dana flashed a smile.

"It's Sato. You guys know each other?"

"No we just met." Aira shrugged as she stood up.

Hoping this was their queue to leave, Dana also stood up as she began chatting with Sato. The conversation was nothing interesting and rather dragged. However, it all stopped when the reason they know each other appeared.

"Is that-" Before Sato could even finished, the girl he was initially conversed with was now gone.

"Riki!" Running into his arms, Dana smiled with joy.

"Dana." Riki was taken aback by the sudden contact. Yet, he didn't break it. "What are you doing here?"

"I missed you. I heard you came back." Dana smiled.

It was hard to hate her. Especially when she was once someone whom he had treasured.

"Yes he did." Miu had to be the one to break the contact.

"Miu! I missed you too." Dana smiled innocently.

"Thank you." She only accepted and did not return.

"So what are you doing here." Sunjae asked this time knowing the reply would not be the same.

"Oh I was just speaking with Sato and Aira."

"Aira?" Riki looked up just in time to see the girl beside the male turn around.

"Yep. I think she's on a date so I just let them be."

"Date?" Riki repeated like a robot.

"You know she's really pretty. Made me feel a little insecure." Dana joked.

"I know." Riki muttered under his breath as he watched the two of them leave into the distant.

It was ironic.

The girl he was missing so much was now in front of him yet, his eyes were locked on the girl who broke contact with him.

Guess the saying is true.

You only realise how important someone is, once their present is gone.