Compromise

Chapter 13

Ai's POV

I am thinking of what excuse I can say to Ryosuke~kun so that he'll let me go out... What if I tell him I'll buy girly stuffs? But whenever I tell him that, he'll go with me... What if I leave and just face his wrath afterwards? Mou!!! This is so difficult! I need to come up with an excuse whatever happens. Tomorrow is the day I'll meet with my friend. I lay down and closed my eyes. I placed my arm on my forehead. What should I do?

~

Crap! I fell asleep! I looked at the clock, it's already 6am. I hurriedly stood up and went to the bathroom to clean myself and stuff. I need to do this quickly. I intend to leave without saying a word to him.

After I took a bath, I slowly opened the door and peek through it. I can't feel his presence. Ok! Coast is clear. I silently ran to my room and silently closed the door. Yokatta! I hurriedly dressed, combed my hair and got my small bag with my wallet. I'm ready to go!

I opened my door carefully. He's not around. Yoshi!

I went out. I walked quickly toward the door. I opened it carefully, avoiding to make any sound.

"Where are you going?" asked a familiar voice.

Waaaah! I'm dead now! I turned around and faced him but I can't look at his eyes.

"Ettou... I'm... I'm going t-to the... to the c-convinient store," I said nervously. I looked at him, his brows are furrowed.

"Why?" he asked again.

"I... I... I- I'll buy sanitary napkin..." what the smurfs did I say?! Of all the things I can say, why sanitary napkin?

"N-napkin?" he echoed.

"H-hai," I evaded his eyes.

"Ok," he said.

Eh? He agreed? I looked at him. He looks serious.

"Ah, ok, I'll go now," I said and went for the door.

"Ah, wait!" he said.

"H-hai?" I felt nervous again.

"We don't have cooking oil already, so buy a litter. Then buy cereals and green tea," he said. He got his wallet from his pocket and got money from there. "Here," he said, handing them to me.

I got the money. "O-ok," I said. "I'll go now," I bid goodbye. He just nodded.

Yokatta! That was unexpectedly easy!

I hurriedly went to the cafe where I will meet my friend.

When I arrived, I searched for her. I saw her sitting on the back part of this cafe. I went to her.

"Nagi!" I called.

"What took you so long?" she asked.

"Ah, sorry. I woke up late. Hehe," I lied. She shouldn't know about me and Ryosuke~kun.

"You still haven't change," she sighed.

I giggled. "Ah, what's the important thing you'll tell me?" I asked, excited.

"But before that, my condolences," she said sadly.

"Huh?" I asked.

"You didn't even text me or e-mail me that your father died already," she said.

"Huh? What?" I didn't understand what she said.

"What 'what'?" she asked, confused.

"What do you mean my father is dead?" I asked her. That can't be. I chuckled.

"Your father is dead. I went to your house about two weeks ago but no one was at home. Your neighbor saw me and told me that your father is dead already and you're not residing there anymore," she explained.

"That's not a good joke," I said and laughed. "Now, tell me, what important thing are you gonna tell me?" I asked.

"Ai, I'm not joking. I'm actually mad at you because you didn't tell me," she's still on that thing.

"That's impossible," I said.

"But I'm not lying. Why are you denying it?" she asked.

"No! That can't be!" I shouted at her.

I stood up and ran. I'll go to our house and prove that my father is still alive!

~

I'm in front of our house now. I pressed the button of our door bell but no one came out. I pressed it again. And again. And again. Maybe father went somewhere. I'll just wait here by the gate until he comes.

I fell asleep while waiting. I woke up by a tap on my shoulder. I hurriedly looked up.

"Otoosan?" I called... but it's Sakida~san, our neighbor.

I stood up.

"What are you doing outside your house?" she asked, she seems worried.

"I'm waiting for my father, Sakida~san," I smiled.

"Your father?" she asked.

"Hai," I answered.

"Your father is no longer here. Don't you know that?" she asked.

"Then where is my father?" I asked.

"H-he's dead already," she replied.

"That's a joke, right?" I asked then I chuckled.

"No. Hmm your father told me that you're working in a faraway place. He told me that before he committed suicide," she narrated.

My eyes gone wide. My heart bang out loud. I feel light headed.

I laughed. "Suicide?" I echoed. "My father won't do such thing," I said almost like a whisper.

"I also thought of that. But he did it..." she lowered her head and looked down.

"H-how?" I asked. It seems like I can no longer speak. I- I feel weak.

"It was morning and there's a mail in my mail box. I read it and it said there that he wants me to come over by 8pm. He wants me to eat with him. So I did. Then I saw him..." she paused like she doesn't like to remember whatever she saw that moment. "He's hanging on the ceiling. I- if I only knew he would do that," she cried.

"H-he'd always invited me to come over and to eat with him. He seemed happy that's why I didn't expect he'll do that..." she continued. "Even if it's just a little amount of time that I spent with him, I saw how good a father he is. He treated me like his own daughter," she narrated between her sob. While I'm just staring at the pavement... It's not yet to sink in to me...

"W-when did he die?" I asked without looking at her.

"4 months ago. December 15. .." she answered.

My eyes gone wide. It's 2 weeks after he gave me to Ryosuke~kun... Tears fell from my eyes...

"W-where is he burried?" I inquired.

"At Tennin Cemetery," she replied.

"Arigatou..." I muttered.

My feet moved by themselves. I'm walking like a zombie... I don't know where I'm headed to...

I just walk... and walk... Endlessly.

END OF CHAPTER 13