one [sachio ueda]

t w e n t y f o u r : m a i

The moon barely showed up at Oya. It was always covered by the dark clouds. Tonight, the crescent decided to show up without any disruptions.

I never liked it when Sachio was in Oya. And I hated it even more when he stayed with Fujio.

Like what do they even do? A sleepover? Paint their nails?

I glanced at the mirror multiple times, looking at the deep lines on my face and lips. They had dried up a bit but they'd definitely leave scars.

I rummaged through Fujio's cupboards and drawers, searching for anything that was to my interest. It was a habit of mine. I used to search for random things subconsciously ever since I was a kid. I found a pack of cigarettes.

Did Fujio even smoke?

No, he didn't.

The pack was unopened and sealed. Maybe it wasn't his. It could be his friend's. It can't be Sachio's either. I knew he didn't smoke. He was very strict on stuff like these.

I quietly and stealthily put the pack in my pocket along with a lighter and sprinted out of the house.

While Sachio and Fujio kept talking about things couples talk about, maybe I could learn to smoke.

I sat on the same bench where they were sitting when I entered the scene with my bleeding face. I lit one of the cigarettes but I started coughing immediately.

My short tempered ass was running out of patience. It seemed like everything was against me. Even these cigars.

Taking the lighter, I burned the entire packet on the ground.

If I don't get to enjoy these, no one else will.

"What a waste." I heard a voice right behind the bench. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Either it is me or him who's always popping up behind each other's backs. "You're annoyed again?" He walked up and sat beside me.

I shot him a look. "What do you mean by 'again'?"

"Forget it. Just be happy you have people who support you."

"Who?" I scoffed. "Fujio? I'm the least of his worries."

"He cares about you though."

"I do too. But it's not the same."

"What do you mean?"

"Fujio has a hundred people he cares about and I'm probably at the end of the list."

"So..." Sachio hums. "Am I below or above Rao in the list?"

I glared at him again. He gulped and looked away, followed by a few minutes of silence where we both were blankly staring at the sky.

"Doesn't matter." He finally spoke.

"What?"

"Fujio's list." He looked at me. "It doesn't matter. You know what matters? My list."

"Uh, okay?"

"You're at the top of my list."

I froze. He's going to make another joke out of this again. Surprisingly, he didn't.

"Corny." I grimaced.

He tsked and looked away. This was followed by a moment of silence. The silence was comforting. Arguing with Sachio for fun comforted my impatient ass and Sachio got his entertainment too. It was a double win. Besides, I never thought my biggest crush would end up being a friend of mine.

"You know the dare wasn't a dare, right?" He broke the silence. He crossed his legs over the bench, not caring about how little space there was on the seat.

"I know." I mumbled back. I didn't know what else to say because I never went past the stage of having a crush. Neither did he though.

"Look, you need to stop."

"Stop what?"

"I already know there's something between you and Rao. I don't know if you like him or if he likes you since I've only heard so much but for fuck's sake,"  He exhaled. "Just choose one of us."

My expressions turned tough. I didn't even look at him but I could feel his gaze on me. It had become difficult to act around Sachio these days.

"There's nothing between me and Rao."

"Then whom do you like?"

"No one." I lied. I lied to make him shut up. "What do you want me to do?"

"Like me back. Again"

I scoffed and shook my head.

"At least say something in reply, I don't know." Sachio's voice was getting tense. "You're making me restless. At least accept what I said and smile. Even a 'thank you' will do."

"You liking me." I said flatly. "It feels unreal."

"Why?"

"Look, there are like three other girls who like you." I contorted my expressions. "Not to mention the gay best friend you have. You also forgot that I was your stalker."

"Shoji was a worse stalker, don't worry." He assured.

"That's not helping." I picked up one of the leftover cigarettes on the ground that hadn't burned and started fidgeting with it.

"I'll start crying if you don't say anything about my confession." He threatened.

"As if I care." I cackled.

He kicked my feet with his from the side in return, taking out that tiny bit of anger that was building up inside him.

I ignored it and kept staring blankly into the sky. "The moon. What do you think of it?" I asked monotonously.

"Looks pretty." He looked at me and then at the sky.

"Looks lonely." I corrected.

"See, this is why Koa scratched you."

"Oh, shut up." This time, I kicked his feet. I could feel he was still upset. I had to say something. No more lies that will make him worry. "Sachio." I called him, not daring to glance at his face.

"What?"

"I lied."

"You lie all the time. Which time are you talking about?"

"When I said I didn't like you anymore."