giving in to the love

are we all lost stars?

"Ow!" Nagumo winced after getting smacked by his mom, shielding himself with an arm.

"You weren't saying 'Ow!' when you were fighting that boy back there!" She yelled, attempting to hit him again with her hand.

The school's basketball team was competing for the Winter Cup and the plan was to win. But Nagumo, well, he had other goals in mind. During the final quarter of the game, when players became exhausted and tempers flared due to the closely matched scores, he punched somebody but not from the opposing team—it was his own teammate, Gaku, the boy you've been fooling with.

"Ri," you bite on your nails, "I feel responsible."

The two of you could hear Nagumo's mom scolding him from downstairs. Although her words were unclear, you both knew she was fuming. Who wouldn't? Her son excels in sports and got the grades to keep up with it. This is the first time he's acted this foolish, of course she's dismayed.

"And why is that?" Rion raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know—"

Nagumo's bedroom door slammed shut, startling you and Rion. You could hear his mom stomping down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Where can I find the first aid kit?"

She hummed, with a dubious look on her face, "What are you up to?"

Hesitant, you sighed, "Nagumo saw me and Gaku arguing before the game...I think he heard stuff."

"And?" She asked again with a hint of curiosity this time around.

With eyes far away, leaning closer to Rion, "What if he picked a fight because of that? You know how annoyingly against Nagumo is about him, right?" You hypothesized.

Rion didn't answer and rose from the couch. Being familiar with your habit of overthinking, she knew you would not stop fretting over it. She also is well aware how you got her cousin whipped, but according to her: These two are idiots but I'll watch this unfold...for fun. As good friends and cousins do, she started rummaging the shelves near the television and went back to you with the first aid bag.

"Here," placing it on the coffee table, "I'll distract auntie," she said before heading towards the kitchen.

You stood up from the couch and froze, feeling hesitant at the thought of going to his room alone.

Suddenly, her head poked from the doorway, abruptly bringing you back to reality and mouthed, 'Go!'

You snatched the bag from the table and sprinted upstairs quietly. When you reached Nagumo's bedroom door, you placed your ear against it: It's quiet.

You knocked softly, but got no reply. Carefully, you turned the doorknob and peeked your head inside, whispering, "Hey!"

Nagumo's eyes widened at the sight of you entering tiptoed with a first-aid kit in your hand. He sat up from the bed and removed his headphones. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, he speedily scanned his room: Is my room clean enough? What is she doing here?

The mattress sank as you sat beside him, "What happened?" You inquired in a hushed tone.

He was lost for words. You were sitting so close to him—inside his room, on his bed, the two of you completely alone. He couldn't even meet your gaze. In an attempt to keep his cool, he fake yawned, "Nothing."

With an eye roll, you nodded to him, "What do you mean nothing? You busted a lip," you whispered.

He wasn't sure if it's the fragrance of your shampoo or the dress you're wearing—the hemline stopping just above your thighs, your knees faintly brushing against his own—that was causing his head to spin. That's what she has on under her coat?