Obsession (Ayano x Budo)

Chapter 3

Now she was before him again, except she was closer. Much closer. He could only stare at her, enthralled. She was bathing in a vat of golden, ethereal light, shining like a beautiful angel at him as her arms coiled around his neck.

"Budo," she whispered into his ear, her soft breath sending a wave of tingles up his spine, "What are you waiting for, love? I'm right here."

She pulled back ever so slightly. Her grey eyes were locked onto his, a questioning look in them as he looked back in confusion. Budo didn't understand her words, but he loved them, and he adored her smile. He wanted to reach his arms out and bring  her against him.

"What are you waiting for?" her voice echoed. She took a step back.

Budo couldn't move his arms. "No! Come back!" he was shouting at the top of his lungs, although they only came out in the quietest whisper. She took another step back, and was already fading into the golden light around her. Panic sprung up in Budo as he struggled against the invisible ropes that held him pinned to the spot.

"What are you waiting for?" came her fading voice as she disappeared into the blinding mists of amber. "I'm right here."

Budo gasped as he broke out of his nightmare, heart racing in his chest as he stared at his black-shadowed ceiling. He was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and his covers lay tumbled between his legs and falling on the floor beside him. It was eerily quiet in the darkness of his room, his fast breath sounding much too loud.

Slowly, Budo blinked his eyes, brought his hands up to his face, and wiped the sweat from his cheeks and forehead.

What am I waiting for? he thought to himself, hearing them spoken in the soft murmur of Ayano's voice. I need her. More than I've ever needed anyone before. I won't last without her.

His own desperate thoughts scared him, because he knew they were true.

There's only one thing to do, then.

~

Budo entered the school that morning earlier than usual, while the sky was still pink with dawn. His usual huge grin plastered on his face as he greeted the gym teacher standing inside the school, however inside he was feeling much more than what he was showing. When would she arrive?

Not long, that was apparent. Just a few minutes after his arrival, Budo's searching eyes caught hold of an all-too familiar black head that gave his heart a tug. She was walking idly up the lane of pink Sakura trees leading up to the school, her hair tossed gently by the morning breeze, her eyes  cast downwards on her phone as drew nearer. The picture was almost complete. He wished she would look up just so he could see their stormy perfection.

"Hey, Ayano," he called, smiling.

She looked up, and as soon as their eyes connected, a shock of electricity ran up his neck, a feeling he felt would never grow old on him.

"Hi," her beautiful voice muttered blankly, and she turned her head back to her phone as she passed him.

Budo's shoulders sagged in disappointment as he watched her continue on without him into the school building. He'd been hoping that last night's dream had been some sort of indication, that she had been trying to tell him to get her, that she would give him her the smile than he hadn't actually seen yet. Didn't she even remember who he was?

He could still feel her pull on him, urging him also through the school doors, like an invisible string tugging on him.

What are you waiting for? Newfound determination
rushed into him, and Budo decided to follow his instincts.

Quiet as a panther, he entered the school. Immediately his eyes found the back of her head. She was walking up the stairs. Budo quickly followed behind, his steps silent. Where was she going?

To the rooftop. Budo couldn't go out there, in the vast open, for fear she would turn around any moment and catching him. So as she strolled into the open space of the roof, he slipped behind the opened doors and peered around the corner.

What was she looking at? Ayano was leaning against the metal railing, head on her hands as she stared before her. Budo watched, befuzzled, as his eyes followed hers, into the courtyard, at the fountain... where his friend was sitting, book stretched open on his lap.

She's looking at Taro, he realized. And for the first time, he saw how soft her face was, as if she were looking at the most beautiful thing in the entire universe. Something inside of him cracked.

She likes f**king Taro.

Budo barely caught the raging fury inside of him, barely managed to control himself from rushing backdown the stairs, storming into the courtyard to Taro reading his stupid book and...

And what? He's your friend.

Budo screamed internally, eyes trapped onto the love of his life's adoring face. He'd never felt a rage so fierce. His fists were white along the edges of the doors.

She's mine! I love her - so much it kills me! You're not going to rip her away from me, you won't come between us-

The sound of steps coming up the stairs behind him, and then the gushing chatter of a group of girls, drew Budo out of his fury. There were more students arriving now. He had to go.

Budo gave one last angry glance at Ayano, before he straightened himself, slipped his hands casually in his pockets and started walking back down the stairs. He gave the girls, Saki and Kokona, a quick smile as he passed them.

As soon as their cheerful voices disappeared behind him, Budo felt a strange, apathetic determination sink into him. He stared blankly at the passage before him as he walked.

Taro isn't going to have her, Budo thought to himself with chilling certainty. One way or another.