TRUST ME | Brothers Conflict | ✔

04

The cab pulled over in front of the stairs, stopping at a place reserved for disabled people.

"That'll be 6900 yen, miss," the driver told me.

Handing him the money, I stepped out of the cab, tripping over the edge where the pavement began.

Someone caught me before my nose could hit the pavement, hands steadying my shoulders.

"You're always caught up in one disaster or another, aren't you?" Kaname asked me, letting go of me once I stepped back.

"It's an accident," I argued, rummaging through my bag to find his smartphone.

"To what do I have the honour of meeting you here again?" he asked me, a sharp edge to his voice.

"I'm not stalking you," I assured him, figuring that my presence was at best unwanted. "Here." I pressed his smartphone against his chest. For reasons beyond my comprehension, I felt oddly peeved.

Without paying him any attention, I turned around, stomping away. Perhaps, I would have made a lasting impression if I had returned to the cab which was still waiting by the side of the road. However, my financial situation would be on the verge of collapsing if I indulged in another ride.

Kaname didn't follow me, which was probably for the better.

Suddenly, I tripped over an uneven edge again, barely keeping my balance, making my dignifying retreat a failure.

I should have smashed the smartphone, regardless of whose smartphone it was, I thought for a moment. Then my conscience made an appearance, recalling all the things Kaname had done for me.

It was only later when I had calmed down considerably, that I started to wonder.

I hadn't imagined that sharp edge to his voice or the hostile demeanour. Their reason, however, was mystifying.

Could I have been right?

Objectively speaking, Kaname was handsome, sweet, had a horrible sense of humour -but a sense of humour nonetheless- and was chivalrous. Despite my unwillingness to acknowledge it, Kaname was quite the catch. It wasn't a far stretch to assume that he had a couple of stalkers on the loose. Worse was the fact that he believed me to be one of his stalkers.

"Arrogant jerk," I huffed, glaring at the plate in my hands.

After I had settled on the couch with a plate filled with steaming food on my lap, I switched on the television.

"Today in our study we welcome Asakura Fuuto, rising star in the world of the idols. How are you feeling today?"

For some reason, the boy who entered the set through a thick curtain reminded me of Kaname. Was I going crazy if I started to see Kaname everywhere?

The interview was about a new album, but my attention wandered to my plate, the food having cooled down already.

Even with the television turned on, the apartment felt empty, the heavy silence unsettling me. I had been going out a lot lately, leaving me with little time to wallow in self-pity and loneliness. The realisation that I was alone frightened me a bit.

I was dependant on people, needed company to feel complete. Some might describe it as a character flaw, but I thrived on being around people.

Sighing deeply, I sank deeper back on my couch, barely avoiding dropping my plate on the carpet.

"Why am I so clumsy?" I whined.

Was it a bad sign that I was talking to myself?

"This calls for a movie," I decided, hoping that some action could take my mind off my questions about my sanity.