Stumbling Over Love | ✓

Chapter 40

_Chapter 40~ Intoxicated_

          "Listen, I truly believe I smiling can lead to a happier society!"

          "Yeah, yeah," I drawled.

          "There's so many studies!" he went on, scrolling through his phone for emphasis. "And all big words aside, they are basically saying that those who smile or laugh often are at a lesser risk of gaining heart related diseases. It can relieve you of stress and increase productivity. Plus, if you go around smiling at other people, they're more likely to smile back. And by smiling back, they're not only making the person who smiled at them happy, but are also lifting their own moods as well—"

         "What are you trying to say, Miyabi?" I deadpanned, resting my chin on the palm of my hand. "And what does it have to do with me?"

          In accordance to my response, Miyabi frowned. He set down his phone, poking his finger at me. "When I smiled at you today you didn't smile or gesture back; you didn't do anything!"

         "Hey, Miyabi, pointing is rude," Daichi scolded, grabbing his arm and pushing it down.

          Miyabi's shoulders squared. "I know, but it's all Sheep's fault!"

          I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the guy. "And what's so wrong with the fact that I didn't smile or gesture back?"

          "It hurt me!" Miyabi exploded.

          I rose an eyebrow. "And that's a bad thing because?"

          His jaw fell in disbelief.

          I recoiled as a result. Dammit, why did I always say this kind of stuff without thinking? "I-I mean..."

          Miyabi ducked his head, a pout evident on his lips. "C'mon, Sheep! Do you want to die early? Do you want to be vulnerable to something like heart disease?"

          Heaving a breath, I relented with a sigh, "Fine, fine." I forced my lips upwards, beckoning to it. "Here you go. A smile."

          Miyabi still appeared discontented by my gesture all the while Daichi from beside him let out a laugh. Students filed past the secluded area we were posted beside, chattering animatedly. The lunch bell had already rung, and lucky for me I'd managed to bump into these two the moment I'd left my classroom.

          "I was worried because you didn't show up yesterday," Daichi started with a smile, "but I'm glad that it wasn't anything serious."

          I honestly felt the same way. Although I was hopeless in the morning, after flushing myself with plenty of water I was already feeling like myself by the end of the day. My headache had gone down tremendously as well, and even now I felt perfectly fine and like myself.

          My vision focused itself upon the series of bandages and bruises highlighting Daichi's face that only seemed to increase in number whenever I saw him. What exactly did Daichi do in his free time? Was he that clumsy? Despite my growing concern, at the notion towards yesterday, my chest couldn't help but needlessly constrict. I avoided their eyes for a brief second before unclamping my lips.

          "Miyabi, Daichi," I started. "At the bowling alley, did I—"

          Their perplexed gazes only strung immense reluctance to blossom inside of me. I stopped myself at that, and immediately feigned a smile.

          "My birthday... was fun, right?"

          My shoulders slumped as matching grins enveloped their faces.