A Dangerous Liaison

-17-

Olivia

Wednesday

Olivia stood outside the house, her suitcases beside her. The warm morning air nipped at her cheeks, turning them pink. Ma and Charlie stood before her, their faces lined with sadness. The dark circles beneath their eyes mirrored Olivia's own exhaustion, a reflection of the grief they all shared.

Kita was already in the car, staring out the window, his body still and distant. He was waiting for Olivia, but he had been waiting for more than just her presence - he was waiting for something she couldn't give, something that had been taken from all of them.

Olivia took one last look at the house looming over her. What had once felt like home now seemed cold and oppressive, a reminder of everything that had gone wrong. A faint smile tugged at her lips, more bitter than sweet. No, I won't miss this place. Not one bit. She had been abandoned by those she had sought comfort in, and every day, she quietly suffocated in her pain, frustratingly unable to confide in those she always trusted. 

Returning to school felt like the only way out. Her friends had offered to let her stay with them, to give her a place on campus until she found a small apartment nearby. It was an escape, though one that felt uncertain. Winter exams were looming, and she hadn't studied at all—how could she, with everything going on? 

But she had to get away from this place. 

She was angry. Furious at Akira for disappearing when she needed him most. She was furious at her family for acting like she wasn't there, like she didn't matter. Even her time with Ma had only emphasised how far they'd all drifted from each other.

"Take care of yourself, darling," Ma whispered, her voice trembling as unshed tears clung to her lashes. She pulled Olivia into a tight embrace, but it felt stiff, awkward, like they didn't quite fit together anymore. Olivia stood still in her mother's arms, unsure how to comfort her, unsure if she even could.

"I will, Ma," Olivia murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "You take care too, okay?"

When Ma let her go, Charlie stepped forward. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his grip firm but gentle. "Remember, you can always call me if you need anything," he said softly. "And Akira, too."

The mention of Akira made her flinch, but Olivia forced herself to smile, managing a nod. "Thanks, Charlie. I'll be fine." 

I have to be.

The weight of their words lingered in the cold air as Ma retreated back inside the house, her figure disappearing around the corner. Olivia watched her go, feeling an ache in her chest. She wished there was something more she could say, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, she turned toward the car, her feet heavy as she walked across the gravel driveway.

Charlie gave her one last hug before helping load her bags into the boot. She climbed into the backseat, settling into the white leather, but she wasn't alone. Kita sat beside her, his eyes wet, but he said nothing. She didn't need to ask why. 

Before they could leave, there was one last stop to make.

+----------+

The car slowed as they approached Akira's house, and Olivia's heart pounded in her chest. She hadn't seen him in weeks, not since everything fell apart. He'd texted earlier, saying he was at home, but even now, the thought of facing him sent a rush of anxiety through her. How do I say goodbye when everything feels so broken?

She glanced at Kita, whose face was tight with emotion, but his focus was elsewhere. They pushed through the iron gates and made their way to the front door, Olivia's heart racing with every step. When the door finally opened, Akira stood before them. He looked tired, worn out by his own guilt and regret, but there was a flicker of relief in his eyes when he saw them.

"Akira," Olivia breathed, rushing forward to throw her arms around him. The embrace was tight, desperate. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know how to..."

Akira hugged her back just as fiercely, cutting her off, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm the one who should be sorry," he whispered. "I abandoned you both when you needed me the most. I'm so sorry. Forgive me."

Kita stepped closer, joining the embrace, and for a moment, the three of them held each other as if letting go would shatter them completely. The love between them felt fragile, but it was still there, despite the hurt raging within them. For a while, they stood there, holding on to each other like life-support monitors, until Olivia gently pulled away.

"I should let the driver know we'll be leaving soon," she said, her voice shaky but resolute. "I'll be right back."

She turned and hurried back to the car, her heart heavy. 

+-------+

Akira

Wednesday

Akira stood on the porch, watching as Olivia walked back to the car. He had missed so much—lost so much—and now, as he stood there, it felt as though his family were slipping through his fingers again. Guilt ate away at him, but before he could drown in his regret, he felt Kita's presence beside him, tense and unmoving.

Akira turned, noticing the sharpness in Kita's gaze, something more serious than he'd seen in his brother in weeks. The casual distance Kita had kept between them was gone, replaced with a sudden urgency that sent a chill down Akira's spine.

"Kita, what's wrong?" Akira asked, his voice low, sensing that something had shifted.

Kita hesitated, his eyes flicking toward Olivia, who was now near the car. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You need to keep an eye on Nino," he said, the words sharp and cutting, like a knife.

Akira blinked, confusion and unease flooding his mind. "What do you mean?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why would I need to keep an eye on him?"

There was something darker behind Kita's expression, something Akira hadn't noticed before—worry, maybe even fear. But before Kita could answer, Olivia returned, her voice breaking the tension between them.

"Ready to go?" she asked, giving them both a soft, tired smile, as if trying to lighten the mood.

Kita's eyes darted between Akira and Olivia, his jaw tightening. "Yeah," he replied, his tone abruptly casual again. "Let's go."

As they walked back to the car, Akira stood by the gate, watching as the vehicle eventually pulled away. He waved, feeling that same sense of helplessness as the car disappeared down the road, carrying his brother and sister away from him.

The silence that followed was deafening, and Akira's mind raced, trying to make sense of Kita's warning. What did he mean? Why would I need to watch Nino? His heart pounded in his chest as the unease settled deeper into his system. Instinctively, he pulled out his phone and typed out a message to Kita, hoping for an explanation. Minutes later, his phone buzzed, and a text from Kita appeared on the screen: 

I'll explain later. Miss you already :) 

Akira stared at the message. Whatever Kita had been trying to tell him was serious, and Akira was determined to get to the bottom of it. 

+--------+