Warming a Frozen Heart

Confirmation

CHAPTER 18

Confirmation

-Luke-

I looked at Kyousuke in an amused way as we walked towards my mom's office. He wasn't a bit flustered about earlier, since he sees it as openly as he could watch two people do it in the movies. I like how his mind works in these kind of things. He's so open, and there's no streak of malice in his thoughts. Maybe that's what makes him dense.

"Why did your mom call for me?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"I have no idea," I replied. It was true. I don't really have any idea on what's going on in my own mother's mind, but one thing is for sure: she's twice the mischief-maker as I am. That's why she didn't bat an eye when I asked her to roll the recording of JC and my dense friend all over the school's speakers. Heck, she was even the one who set it all up.

We arrived in the headmistress's office promptly. My mother was twirling a pen between her fingers and was looking at Kyousuke carefully, as if he was still a new student. "You know, it'd be a waste if you don't get to finish here at St. Peter's."

Kyousuke cleared his throat. "So it's final?" Mom nodded and gestured for us to sit down. "You'll be sent back to Kawahara Gakuen after recognition."

I felt sad when I heard that. I wasn't sad for myself, I was thinking of JC's welfare. I bet she already knows, given the fact that I've been noticing her attitude getting more gloomier than before. We were dismissed by Mom after a few paperwork for Kyousuke, so after that I led him outside. "You'll be leaving, huh? Does JC know?"

He nodded weakly. "What can I do for her? You know, to make her happy."

A laugh rose up my throat. Putting my hands at the back of my head, I answered, "Just do what you're always doing. Your very presence makes her happy, you know." I gave him a naughty smirk. "Can I do a test?"

He looked at me curiously before nodding nervously. "First question." I raised a finger in the air. "Do you feel comfortable when JC's around, and unsettled if not?"

"Um... not much. Her quiet aura makes me feel like she's not the--"

"So that's a no. Is she valuable to you? As if you don't want to lose her."

"Yeah." I made a mental note that if he says yes to at least five out of my ten questions, he's practically in love with JC. I told Erin about this, so I bet while we're here, she's asking her the same things. "Do you find her nice?"

"Yup. She's really nice under all those thorns. Like a rose, I might say."

That makes it two. "Do you miss her when she's not around?"

"Not much. She's always prowling in the room, so there's not much time when we're not together."

***

-Erin-

"Hey, JC, I'm going to ask you ten questions about Kyousuke. Be honest, okay?"

She nodded without a care. I sighed and proceeded, wishing her harsh side wouldn't get the best of her. For the first three questions, she scored only one. "Are you concerned for his welfare?"

"Yes. For some reason, yes."

This is bad. If she scores just one on the next three, then she's not interested in him at all. "Does your heart beat fast when he's close to you?"

She gave me a dry chuckle. "I want to say no, but to be painfully honest, it does. Feels like my heart would jump out onto my hand if I wasn't paying attention."

I smiled at her for that. That makes three. Just two more. "Do you always think of him?"

"If you remember that red mark on my forehead, you would very well know the answer."

Okay, one more. Two questions left. "Do you feel possessive of him?"

"No."

The final question leapt to my throat as I tried to conceal my fear. "Did you like him when you knew who he really was?"

She gave me a light smile and nodded. Five. The exact number that I needed. It was kinda typical. So I thought of another question. "JC, what do you see in your mind when you look at him?"

"I see my future." Right after those words came out of her unguarded mouth, she held her hands over it and turned a little red. "I-I mean... hehe... I just see him. I-it's not like I think of him that way." I chuckled at her sudden denial. "JC, you said it. You said what was in your heart, so those lies of yours can't cover up for it."

"W-what's taking those two homos so long, anyway?"

"They're probably chatting and walking like they're in a park." Homos, haha. Luke and Kyousuke? A little unlikely. "My beloved Luke isn't a homosexu--" It was my turn to cover my mouth. JC shot me a questioning look, and there was mischief dancing in her eyes. "Beloved, you say. How long have you been together? Don't deny it, Erin Gale. My perception is never wrong."

I took a deep breath. Oh Luke, forgive me for slipping that out. "Two years."

"So while I was rotting away in a rehab, you two were making it out." She crossed her arms. I read her expression quickly: she was feeling victorious with her revenge. "How many?"

"What?"

"How many kisses a day, hmm?"

I felt heat creeping up my cheeks. "No, we're not as bold as you and Kyou are," I teased. I was happy that JC and I were doing these little girl talks again. She blushed a little, too. "We weren't gonna kiss at all!"

"Prove it! How many times did you two sleep together on the same bed, anyway? And Luke hasn't carried me in his arms yet, unlike your handsome roommate."

"We. Did. Not!" She started giggling, something that I was longing to hear. Back when we were freshmen, JC was always laughing. "And that move wasn't meant for anything aggressive, anyway!"

"Okay, fine! But at least we don't sleep while hugging each other in the dark."

"Erin!"

***

-Luke-

I kept on asking, and his results were six out of ten. Safe enough. There was one last question that I made up and didn't tell Erin about. It would put a period on this sentence. "Kyousuke, what do you see when you look into her eyes?"

He sighed, as if thinking of an answer. "I see my whole world."