The last Goodbye

Breaking point

                                                                                Luka

I stood in the foyer, my father's words cutting deep. "You're useless, Luka. You'll never be worthy of leading this family."

I didn't flinch, didn't react. I'd learned long ago to hide my emotions, to keep them locked away.

But when my father stabbed me, I felt a spark of something. Pain, anger, maybe even fear.

I looked up to see Mayuami watching from the shadows, her eyes wide with horror. I knew I had to protect her, to keep her safe from my father's wrath.

As my father stormed up the stairs, I followed, my heart heavy with foreboding. I knew what was coming.

When he slapped Mayuami, I felt that spark ignite into a flame. I wanted to intervene, to stop him, but I knew I couldn't. Not yet.

So I waited, my eyes fixed on Mayuami, as my father raged on. And when he finally left, I helped Mayuami up, my movements mechanical.

As she tended to my wound, I couldn't help but look at her. She was so fragile, so vulnerable. But there was something in her eyes, something that gave me hope.

Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to escape this life, to break free from my father's grasp.

As Mayuami finished dressing my wound, I felt a twinge of...not gratitude, exactly, but acknowledgement. She had done what I needed her to do.

"Thanks," I said gruffly, not looking at her. I didn't want to show her any weakness.

Mayuami nodded, her eyes still wary. I didn't blame her. I wouldn't trust me either.

I stood up, my arm throbbing with pain. "I'll be fine," I said, dismissing her concern. "Just...don't mention this to anyone."

Mayuami nodded again, her eyes darting to the door. She wanted to leave, to get away from me. I didn't blame her.

I turned and walked back to my room, leaving her standing there. I could feel her eyes on me, wondering what I would do next.

But I just shut the door behind me and leaned against it, my eyes closed. For a moment, I let myself feel...something. Not quite pain, not quite anger. Just...frustration.

And then I pushed it away, locked it down. I couldn't afford to feel anything. Not now. Not ever.
-
-
I was pacing back and forth in my room, my anger and frustration boiling over. I punched the wall, leaving a dent in the plaster. I grasped my hair, pulling it hard, trying to release some of the tension.

Mayuami heard everything. I knew she did. But I didn't care. I couldn't stop.

But then she was there, standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with concern. "Luka, stop," she said softly. "You're going to hurt yourself."

I didn't listen. I kept pacing, kept punching, kept grasping.

But Mayuami didn't give up. She came closer, her voice calm and soothing. "Luka, it's okay. I'm here. Let me help you."

She reached out and grabbed my arms, holding me still. I struggled against her, but she was strong.

Slowly, she calmed me down, her touch gentle, her voice soft. She led me to my bed and sat me down, stroking my hair like a child.

She started singing a soft, melodious song. I didn't know the words, but the tune was hauntingly beautiful.

As she sang, she joked, "You're not really mean, Luka. You just say mean things."

I looked up at her, my eyes narrowed. "And you're not really annoying, Mayuami. You just do annoying things."

Mayuami laughed, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, burn."

I smiled, just a little. And Mayuami kept singing, her voice weaving a spell of calm and peace around me.

As Mayuami continued to sing, her voice grew softer and softer, until it was barely a whisper. I felt my eyelids growing heavy, my body relaxing into the mattress.

Mayuami's hand was still stroking my hair, her touch gentle and soothing. I felt myself drifting off, my thoughts growing fuzzy.

And then, suddenly, I was aware of Mayuami's head nodding forward, her chin dipping towards her chest. She was falling asleep, right there next to me.

I tried to sit up, to push her away, but it was too late. My own eyelids drooped, and I felt myself sinking into the pillow.

We both fell asleep, right there together, like two exhausted children.

I don't know how long we slept, but when I woke up, Mayuami was still there, her head on my shoulder, her hand still tangled in my hair.

I felt a jolt of surprise, followed by a wave of...something else. Something warm and fuzzy, like a feeling I'd never experienced before.

I looked down at Mayuami, her face peaceful and serene. And I knew, in that moment, that I couldn't let her go. Not yet. Not ever.

I gently pushed her off me, trying not to jostle her awake. But she stirred anyway, looking up at me with bleary eyes.

"What time is it?" she mumbled.

I checked my watch. "Late. You should go back to your room."

Mayuami nodded, still half asleep. But as she stood up, she stumbled, her legs wobbly.

I caught her by the elbow, steadying her. "Careful," I growled, trying to sound gruff.

Mayuami looked up at me, a small smile on her face. "Thanks, Luka."

I dropped my hand, feeling a pang of...something. Not quite guilt, but maybe a tiny spark of conscience.

"Go," I said, turning away. "And don't mention this to anyone."

Mayuami wobbled out of the room, her legs still unsteady from sleep. I watched her go, my eyes fixed on her...Shorts. She was wearing tiny, frayed shorts that barely covered her thighs. I felt a jolt of surprise, followed by a spark of...not quite interest, but maybe awareness.

I looked away, trying to shake off the feeling. I didn't care about Mayuami's clothes. I didn't care about Mayuami.

But as I turned back to my bed, I couldn't shake the image of those shorts from my mind. And the way Mayuami's legs looked in them...

I growled to myself, trying to push the thoughts away. I had more important things to worry about. Like my father. And my plans.

But the image lingered, refusing to be dismissed.