Can you Sing for Me? (MiMo)

Chapter 22 [3/3]

"Wait,"

Kei halted. "Don't you have celebration inside? Why, you want to laugh at me, mock me? Go ahead. You win."

"No, I don't come to mock or laugh at you," Mina said. "I just want to know the reason." She was confused when Kei chuckled.

"It's over, it doesn't matter anymore."

Mina caught the girl's arm when she was about to leave, turning her around. "It matters to me, because you hurt her." She released the arm, looking down at the girl. "I want the reason, now."

"Is she really important to you?" Kei asked.

Mina was taken aback for a moment. "Of course she is," she stated. The girl looked down, still keeping the small smile. "Now, the reason."

Kei brought gaze up. "You don't remember?" she asked.

Mina knitted brows, confused.

"You didn't," Kei said. She spun around. "At my first day, in first year, some boys locked me inside classroom after school, because I didn't let them to use my new textbook. I cried but they just laughed at me, keeping me inside." She inhaled, smiling slightly. "Then someone came by, scolded the boys. She unlocked the door and helped me out the room. She saved me."

"You...you're the girl?" Mina finally could remember the incident. It was her first day too at Academy. She was grown up in a foster care that she had seen many bullies. It made her angry at those boys. But Kei looked different from the girl she had helped back then.

"You didn't recognize me, did you?" Kei said. "Well I had changed my appearance since then, to get your attention. I want to be your friend since I had no friends back then. But you never noticed me, sadly."

Mina looked aside, breathing out a heavy breath. All things happened because she had ignored the girl. The girl broke her relationship with Momo, trying to ruin her reputation, only to have revenge on her.

"I always study hard, get the best grade in all my classes, practicing every day in hope you will see my performance, but it's useless. You never looked at me," Kei said, turning to Mina. "Everything is useless." But the next second a slap on face surprised her.

"Idiot girl," Mina said. "Nothing is useless. You have learned and practiced hard, it makes the person you are now, smart with great talent. Never say such word again."

Kei couldn't bring gaze up, letting silent tears roll down her cheeks. She felt ashamed. She was surprised when Mina grabbed her shoulder and hugged her.

"I'm sorry," was what Mina  could offer. At moment she cursed herself mentally for her cold attitude. She never had any interest in anything except dance and music. Until Sana came into her life and she learned to trust other people. And later Mina, who had changed her a lot.

"It's alright," Kei said, pulling off. She turned around, taking deep breath. "You are lucky to have her. She really cares about you." With that she left.

Mina watched as the girl walked down brick path toward formal garden. She sighed. She then noticed Momo. "Haru,"

"You suddenly disappeared that I got worried," Momo said. Mina surprised her by suddenly hugging her.

Mina closed her eyes as she breathed in Momo's boy cologne. She was very grateful to have the girl. She would never hug anyone let alone apologize before. She blamed Momo for changing her.

When Momo felt Mina's kiss on shoulder, she frowned. "Mina, what's wrong?"

Mina leaned off, putting arms over chest. "It's chilly here."