Warming a Frozen Heart

Alleviation

CHAPTER 16
Alleviation

-JC-

"So, you're also invited."

I threw a pillow in Kyousuke's direction. "I am not attending a slut's party!" He simply laughed at me and sat beside me. Okay, this is awkward. For some reason, every time he's near me, it feels so awkward. His hand drifted to meet my fingers, and I froze on the spot. Crap, it felt like electricity. "Come on now, Grumpy- oh, wait. I'll call you GC instead of JC! Haha!"

"How cheap," I muttered with half-lidded eyes. "But still. I don't give a damn if it's Margaret's sweet sixteen or her bitter sixty. I am not going."

"You're so stubborn." He put an arm around me, which held my breath for a while. His fingers played with my hair and brought it up to my nose, making me sneeze. After recovering, I shot him a glare. He fended it off with a smile. "You'll survive. Just do what I do."

"What do you do?"

"What I always do."

I snorted and slapped him lightly. "Stop fooling around and get this sushi arm off me." He sighed and slouched in his position. "Come on now, JC, attend the party. Don't pay any attention to the celebrant if you hate her."

"Why?"

"Because YOLO."

I messed my hair in frustration. "Dammit, Kyousuke! How stupid are you? Margaret knows that if she doesn't invite me, you won't come."

"Perceptive as always, JC."

I took a deep breath and studied his features. After recognition, I'll never see them again. How much would it bother me? Would it affect my grades? Would it affect the circumference of my eyebags? Would it affect my status? These questions were left unanswered as I came to the realization that I might not survive school without him. "Fine. I'm going." It was no use to deny him of what he wants, since he'll be going soon.

"Now that's more like it!"
***

A few days after that conversation, the slut's big day arrived. I'm not into parties and all that stuff because I never really feel the joy. Although, to be honest, I loved parties before that event happened.

I stayed close to Kyousuke like a shut-in leaving her room for the first time. It was raining hard outside, the thunder reflecting my emotions as of now. I finally let go of Kyousuke when I saw a girl in a pink dress-- namely Margaret, approach him and make goo-goo eyes at him. I seriously wanted to gouge her eyes out for that but, well, it's better to watch the rain than to cause a gory scene. Trust me, if it wasn't her birthday, I could've taken the bowl of punch sitting at the table and poured it all over her as payback for everything. Plus, those extra curls she put in her hair don't suit her at all. With her bright blonde hair she looked like a cup of noodles that grew a face. Just saying. I still have some fashion sense, you know.

I leaned on the balcony, watching the sky light up once or twice and roar with loud thunder. A few drops of rain were whisked to me by the wind, yet it didn't bother me. The chill might've caused a person to go inside a room, but it was just the way I liked it. Somehow, rain alleviated my fear of losing Kyousuke. I was practically just hanging around the balcony when someone covered my eyes. Well, the feel and the shape of the hands gave away the person's identity. "Kyousuke. I'm watching the rain. Stop that."

"What's to watch about the rain?"

"I find it comforting." I gave him an irritated look. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be out there, flirting with Margaret."

"Oh, that." He leaned his back on the railings. Man, all he needs is one little shove and off he'll go tumbling down. "I didn't like the atmosphere inside, so I went skirting around the house looking for you."

Looking for me. That statement made me want to execute this dense dog. "I-it's not like I like being here with you."

He tilted his head slightly, and then began walking away. Seized by unreasonable and irrational fear, I made a grab for his sleeve, but I caught his hand instead. A flame of red lapped up at my cheeks. "D-don't go."

"Which way? Go back in there, or go back to my homeland?"

I lowered my head down, thankful that the dark hid most of the color on my face. "Both. Just... dang it... don't go."

I heard him chuckle slightly and watched him walk towards me. I pulled my hand away swiftly and fiddled with it. "Don't you think it's a little unfair to the birthday gal to deprive her of my presence?"

I scoffed. "Come on now, you were the one who chose to leave."

"Okay, you win. I never win an argument with you." He cupped my face in his hands. The lightning illuminated his features, and the sound of thunder made me flinch at his touch. "Um... Kyou--"

"Kyousuke! Come over here! My friend wants to see you!" Margaret called from inside.

I sighed. "She wants to see you."

"I heard her alright." He winked at me. "See 'ya."

I nodded nervously. Anything related to him saying goodbye freaked me out of my skin. I gave him a nervous smile and watched him walk away.

"God, JC. It's just him," I muttered, but my mind told me otherwise.

It's not just him.