Limerance

Chapter 62

Takumi gave you a look of simple horror. He was caught, and he had no excuse.

"Takumi... did you do this?" you whispered, your voice shaking. "Did you hurt these animals?"

He didn't respond, his silence confirming your worst fears.

"Answer me!" you demanded, your fear turning into anger.

His lips trembled, and he finally spoke. "Th- they belonged to Mom. She loved animals. More than she ever loved me... Each day, I would see her protecting those creatures while I was defiled. I lost it one day and began to kill them."

Your hand covered your mouth as you inaudibly gasped. He had lost his sanity. The trauma from his childhood had broken him completely.

"This is no excuse. Because you were hurt... you hurt someone back? You are..." You couldn't think of what to call him. A victim or...

Takumi's eyes were wide with desperation, searching for understanding, for forgiveness. "I didn't know what else to do. I just wanted someone to see me, to care for me... like they did for those animals."

You shook your head in disbelief ." How could you never get caught.?How did you get away with all this.?"

Tears streamed down Takumi's face as he tried to reach for you, but you shrugged him off.

"I did," his voice was grave, revealing the weight of his past. "My mom sent me to this summer camp when I was twelve. But it was not a summer camp. It was for kids like me. A rehabilitation center."

Your ears perked up in curiosity, even at this moment, wanting to know the truth. "Rehabilitation center?"

Takumi nodded, his eyes distant as he recalled the memories. "It was a place for troubled kids, kids who had done things they shouldn't have. They tried to help us, to make us better. But it wasn't... it wasn't enough for me. I was too far gone."

You swallowed hard, trying to digest his words. "And after that? What happened when you came back?"

"Yes." There was a brief pause making you doubt his answer but he continued.

"I tried to be normal," he continued, his voice trembling. "I tried to forget what I had done, to move on. But the urges, the darkness, it never really left me. Drawing was the only thing that helped, the only thing that gave me some sense of control. But then you came along, and I couldn't help myself. I watched you, I drew you, I... I kept your things. It was the only way I could feel close to you."

"Close? The only thing you've made me feel after all this is disgust. You disgust me, Takumi." You pressed the wound on your collarbone, the persistent itch a painful reminder.

Takumi's eyes reddened, tears flowing freely. "I will be better. Don't say that, Y/N. Don't say that." His voice was desperate, pleading. "I'll do anything. Don't push me away."

"Then stay the hell away from me." You pushed the lanky boy out of your way, finally exerting enough strength to stand up and walk to the door. "Open it," you thundered.

Takumi's tears continued to fall as he walked to open the door, his shoulders shaking with sobs. "I'm sorry," he whispered, opening the door. "I'm so sorry."

You took a deep breath as the door closed shut behind you, creating a wall between the lavender-haired male and yourself. The hallway outside felt cooler, more open.

You leaned against the wall, trying to steady your racing heart, the reality of the situation crashing down on you.

Takumi crashed down on the floor, clutching the butter knife he retrieved from his art supplies. His hands began to obsessively draw patterns on the floor.