Hollow Heart

6

Tuesday, 4:15 pm

I arrived home at the nick of time,the best part about the trip was that the wind blew a cool breeze which made the travel easier.

I got the room key from my bag and opened the door, which strangely enough, was left unlocked.

Eh? Someone could have just bust in here...

I turned the door knob and pushed the door open. I would usually find Yuumi sitting on the couch, reading a book or watching tv, but nothing. The whole room was empty, not a trace of my cousin anywhere.

I drop my bag in my room, take off my uniform, and throw it in my laundry basket. I checked the remaining extra uniforms I had left, I realized I only had 1 left, which means...

Laundry day

I grab my laundry basket and go down to the basement. Our apartment building seems to have a room filled with washing machines. To use them is free for tenants.

I approach an empty one and toss in my laundry. I input the settings and pressed "start". The washing machines here automatically input detergent and stuff, and that's not something most of them usually do.

Well, what do you expect from Hazashi Industries, the top technologies company in the country.

I figured I'd just take a shower while waiting. I feel kinda awkward walking around in my undershirt along with a pair of boxers.

When I entered the room, there still wasn't a trace of my cousin anywhere. If she went out with her friends, she would've left a note. If she were in her room, it would've been locked. I checked for both, but nothing. I decided to not worry about it for a moment, grabbed my towel, and took a shower anyway.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After my shower, I changed into a plain white T-shirt and some comfy black shorts as sleepwear. Still, there wasn't a trace of Yuumi anywhere. Suddenly I got worried, even though this has never happened before.

I couldn't understand what was happening to me. Why am I suddenly feeling worried about my deep cousin even though she never even a crap about me.

Wait... the NOTE...

I scavenged through the waste basket I threw it in to find it. Once I did, I opened it and read it over and over again.

I didn't notice it, because I didn't actually bother to analyze it, but she stated that she did worry about me. I then suddenly recalled the scene yesterday, where I slammed the door on her when she wanted to see how I was. Apparently she worried about me there too, and I just rejected her.

She worried about me this whole time... crap...

I then saw a person's shadow coming from the glass door which connected our room to the balcony. I checked to see who it was, and that's when I found her. She was sitting on the edge, and it was as if she was going to jump off any moment now.

I approached her and tapped her shoulder. She turns to me, and what I saw on her face was something I've never seen before...

Tears...

"Yuumi? Is there something wrong?" I ask,

"K-Kayden? Why are you...?" She asks, wiping away her tears,

"I was just looking for you... then, here you are..." I reply sincerely

"Change of heart already?" She says in a tone which somewhat seems agitated,

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"You think I haven't noticed? The way you act around me? You always seem like you hate me..."

Yes, my cousin is annoying. Yes, she treats me like poop, but let me get one thing straight:

I DO NOT HATE HER

"Well... I guess its just-"

"No, I get it... am I annoying you too much all these years? I guess I couldn't blame you for hating me because... because..."

Yet again she's welling up with tears. I guess what I did to her last night was kinda... um... cold? (I think that's the right term?). She wasn't able to finish her statement, and its getting annoying. As far as I know, I HATE CLIFFHANGERS.

In order to get her act straight, I did something I knew I will regret soon...

I stretched out my arms... and hugged her.

"Yuumi... I don't hate you, I just think you're her very annoying. Nothing more, nothing less" I say to comfort her,

DAMN IT I KNOW I'M GONNA REGRET THIS... GAAAH WHAT AM I DOING...

"R...really?" She asks,

"Yeah... after all... you've been taking care of me haven't you?"

Even though I'm saying these "nice" things to her, I could never put myself to smile. In all my life, I've never smiled once, or I have but could never remember how.

After my statements, she looked at me with pitiful eyes. Eyes that I've never seen on her before. Then she buried her face in my chest and bawls like a child. Inside, I felt like pushing her off, instead, I patted her head.

Wait what!?

"You know Kayden..." Yuumi says

"What?"

"You're warmer than you think" Yuumi says with a cheerful tone (which I did not expect to hear)

"Eh? Am I sick?" I say confused,

"Haha... dummy, you'll get it some day" Yuumi says as she embraces me,

God damn it this so awkward as f*ck right now...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner and a quick chat with Yuumi, who eventually started feeling better and locked herself in her room, I locked myself in my room, and banged my head on the wall several times for what I just did.

I couldn't understand what was happening to me. Why am I suddenly doing these random things that I've never done.

And since when have I known how to do these things!?

I let out a large sigh as I dropped onto my bed. My mind was conflicted whether I should regret the things I have done or just let them slide for now. I can't imagine myself ever doing this again. Ever.

As I tried to fall asleep, I grabbed on to one of my nearby pillows and hugged it tightly, but then-

"Kayden... can't sleep well without me can you?"

I opened my eyes to the sound of my mother's voice. I don't think I ever knew her enough to remember her, but somehow these flashes play so vividly they might as well be dreams.

My only wish, was to meet my real family again...