Hibiki

Chapter 20 | A Broken Record

"Hibiki, right?" Haruki, who's standing beside the window, looking from afar, asked me.
          "I've only learned your name because I've seen you with him before."

...

          "Who?" I asked even though I already know, clearly who he was talking about. I took a sip of my coffee. It's sweet... I don't like the way he makes coffee.
          "Kaede." His face that's being shined down by the hot, morning light took my attention. His eyes were shining.. but quickly disappeared as he looked back at me. He lit a cigarette that he took from his pocket and with a playful smile he said, "Do you wanna know why he changed?"

Changed? What changed?

          "Changed?" My mouth spoke for me without knowing.
          "You didn't even sense that something changed? Wow, are you really his best friend?" He laughed, probably sarcastically. "Wanna know why he changed?"
          "You've asked that again and again, I don't think I have a choice."

          He walked towards me while still wearing that smile and sat on a chair in front of me. Put out his cigarette that he barely even used with the table and threw it away.
          "Actually, I don't feel like smoking right now," He said as he looked at me straight in the eye. Unfortunately for him, these eyes have nothing. "I'll tell you."
          "Why would you?" This sudden change with his actions makes me feel some suspicion, like there's something he wants out of me. Thinking about it again, he did try to ask me for help that time. "Speak." Although I don't think I'd be interested with anything he says.
          "Kaede Yamato's boyfriend. Did you meet him?" He said as his smile gradually faded. "Oh, do you even know his sexual orientation?"
          "No." I didn't even think that he'd have a girlfriend or anything, so the thought that he'd have a boyfriend would be impossible, but hearing Haruki say it.. "Why would I ever have the need to ask him that?"
          "Oh so you don't have a thi- ohhhh," He said in a way that he almost seemed laughing, while he has his hand on his forehead, massaging. "Pfft haha! I thought you guys are together!"
          "Excuse me?" What nonsense is this now?
          "You know, you too seems to be very clingy every time I saw you together before when, even more now."
          "What do you mean before?" I internationally furrowed my eyebrows as to look even more confused. Still, I really am confused right now.
          "Duh when Kaede and I were together? Forgotten already?"

...

          I don't even wanna ask anything because I'm too confused to even process a question to ask. What does he mean 'before' and 'together'... So this is probably something from the past.

          "I asked you if you already knew Kaede's boyfriend as a joke but I didn't think that you, of all people wouldn't know that we were in a relationship. He didn't tell you?" He asked as he laughed, he then only stopped when he took a bite of a toast from my plate.
          "You really didn't know... Then there wouldn't be any use to telling you," He suddenly stood up and quickly finished his coffee. "I'm leaving."
          "Wait." I found myself holding his wrist to stop him from leaving.
          I need to keep him here for a little while, I need to know more about my past. His past. Besides Kaede, he might be the only one left who knows anything about the past, Kaede won't tell me anything so he's my last choice. "Tell me."
          "I told you, there's no reason to tell you anything. After all, if you weren't involved with him like that then I won't have any reason to. I only really came here because I thought you and Kaede were together. Hehe wanna stir up something you know."

          He gave a smirk then pushed my hand away. "Why do you wanna know so bad anyway? Why do you suddenly want to know why he changed? If he wanted to, then he could've told you himself."