one [sachio ueda]

n i n e t e e n : m a i

"So you guys did not fight at all?" Yuken pointed at both of us, then put his hands on his hips. "Not even a little bit? You expect me to believe that?"

We nodded in unison.

It was morning and we were standing with our arms crossed at the gateway of Yuken's house. It was those types of mornings when you know the day was going to be dull. You'd see elderly men in white tees and baggy shorts jogging around. It reminded me of my unhealthy habits.

"Be honest." Yuken continued as he pulled down the sleeves of his grey cardigan.

"We are being hundred percent honest." I assured. Sachio nodded with me in agreement.

Yuken loured at us before Sachio gave in with a sigh.

Weak ass bitch.

"Okay, maybe a bit." His arms dropped to his sides.

I rolled my eyes. He couldn't pretend even for a while.

"I knew it!" Yuken pointed at us again. "You guys can't even stay in the same room together for an hour without insulting each other."

"I can." I scrunched my nose. "He can't."

Sachio flashed his eyes at me. "See! She's the one who starts it!"

"And you're the one who can't even lie properly."

"Well, it's not in my nature."

"Stop!" Yuken threw his hands up. "You guys can go now, alright?"

"Yeah, fine." Sachio snarled. He walked down the stairs, turning his head a few times to glance at me.

Each day I got to know more about him and each day I liked him a little more. That didn't mean I wanted to be near him. Everyday I wished I could go back to the times when Sachio didn't know I existed.

Fujio is to be blamed. I bet he was also the one to give Sachio the dare. There was no one else who would do that. Housen was mature. At least more than Fujio.

Oya, I went straight to the deck. That's where Fujio will be. And that's where I'll dig his grave. I envisioned myself barging in and screaming on top of my lungs but found myself timidly searching for him, trying not to draw attention.

I saw the man with a ragged jacket and undercut sitting near the dirty pool. My invasive thoughts wanted to kick him into the gunk. Instead, I slapped his shoulder.

"You've caused so many problems for me." I squatted beside him.

"Oh. Mai. You're back!" Fujio looked at me cheerfully.

I could never be completely angry at this guy. Not for more than five minutes at least but he deserved to know how terrible I felt. He deserved to know how dreadful his beloved Sachi made me feel.

"Why did y'all give Sachio the dare? It was definitely you who came up with the idea."

"What dare?"

"What do you mean by 'what dare'? You know what you did."

Fujio furrowed his eyebrows at me. "Dare as in the dare from the game Truth or Dare?" He asked.

"Yes... I think."

"We weren't playing any games. We were just talking."

"Huh?"

"Why do you ask?" Fujio threw an empty plastic bottle into the pool. Did he not have any sense of responsibility towards the environment?

Either he's lying or Sachio's lying. I didn't believe either of them. Both of them are equally shitty.

"No reason. Nevermind." I got up, pulling up and straightening my pants.

"Mai." Fujio called me back. "Rao wanted to meet you."

I wanted to meet him too. Rao was so much easier to talk to than Fujio or anybody else. All he did was listen while I did the talking. When I'm with others, I'm always the one who has to listen. I'd tell Rao all the embarrassing things I did and he'd still listen to me with a smile.

"Yeah, okay."

"You want me to tag along?" He jumps on his feet to stand up.

"No! Stay away."

"You're arguing with me now? First it was Sachio. Now it's me?"

I stopped, realising that nearly everything on this planet annoyed me. Firstly, I couldn't tolerate anyone. Secondly, nobody could tolerate me. People tell others to find a person who will tolerate your mood swings and fall in love with that person. Here I was, crushing on a person who doesn't tolerate my mood swings but instead joins my tantrums and shows off his mood swings. The fact that he only fought back when it's me he's talking to, made me even angrier. I used to see him talking so politely to other girls. He would keep his composure and keep himself uncanny.

Sachio has split personality disorder. I'd bet on it any day.

"You just have a way of ruining things." I mocked him, trying my best so that my words don't come out that rude.

"I didn't do anything!" Fujio gasped, faking his disappointment.

"But you will." My voice came out downcast unwillingly.