Love Is Hard - Karma X Reader

Chapter 8

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i was so scared that I couldn't move. It was like my body had locked up, my wide eyes glued to the closed door, each breath shallow and quick.

Ding dong.

I flinched again, my heart pounding in my ears. Nagisa shifted his gaze from the door to me, concern flashing across his face.

"What's wrong?"

His voice snapped me out of the trance. I quickly shook my head, twisting my trembling fingers together in my lap.

"It's... it's nothing, I guess... I'll, uh, get it."

I somehow managed to stand, my legs feeling like they'd been turned to jelly. I really didn't want to look and find another empty hallway, but I couldn't let him know something was off. There was no point dragging him or anyone else into this-not until I figured out what was happening.

My throat felt dry, and I swallowed hard as I slowly approached the door. My hand hovered over the doorknob, nerves buzzing under my skin. I leaned forward, peeking through the peephole, holding my breath.

... Nothing.

I squeezed my eyes shut, a quiet whimper slipping from my lips. Letting out a shaky exhale, I turned back to Nagisa, preparing to force a smile, but-

He wasn't where I left him.

Nagisa stood just a few feet away from me, his hand outstretched as if reaching for my shoulder. His expression was soft, but it only made my chest tighten. He knew something wasn't right, even if I kept denying it.

Nagisa hesitated for a moment, then dropped his hand and stepped a little closer, his voice soft but steady.

"why don't we sit down for a moment."

His eyes met mine, and for a second, it was hard to breathe. There was no judgement in his expression, just concern-maybe a little worry-but mostly patience. He wasn't going to force me to say anything. But he wasn't going to ignore it either.

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Even after sitting down, I couldn't shake the tension. My body felt rigid, like I was made of stone. The warmth of Nagisa's hand on my shoulder was a small comfort, but it only reminded me of how fragile I'd become. His touch was steady, grounding, but I just sat there, frozen, unsure of what to say or how to react.

For a brief second, I thought I could hold it together-keep the storm of emotions locked inside. But the weight of everything crashed down, and before I knew it, my chest tightened, and the words poured out.

"I... I don't know what to do anymore." My voice broke, betraying the knot that had been lodged in my throat. My vision blurred as I blinked furiously, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I feel so... alone."

More alone than I've ever been.

Nagisa remained quiet, his hand still resting on my shoulder, offering a wordless sense of security. His silence was a lifeline, telling me it was okay to continue, to let it all out.

"I don't understand what's happening," I confessed, my words tumbling faster now, as if they'd been waiting to escape. "Everything is so strange-things I can't explain. And I'm scared, Nagisa. Scared that something... or someone... is coming for me."

My breath hitched as the tears finally fell. I wiped them away, though it did little to stop the flood. The reality of it all hit me harder than I'd expected-how far I was from home, from the people who made me feel safe. I hadn't realised just how much I missed them until this moment.