~Flashback~
Iori Yamaguchi's POV
"Mommy...Daddy...where are they?" My little nine year old child voice questioned the doctor. Her expression turned melancholic. Tears started rolling down her red blushed cheeks, immediately wiping them away with the sleeves of her white coat.
"Little one, they are somewhere...in a better place." She smiled as if trying to cheer me up. At that moment, I didn't really know what she meant until later on....I finally knew what she meant.
~
A few days have passed and I was now living with my aunt in her house. It was a weekend in the afternoon and I had nothing to do at that point of time, only being in my room and thinking about my parents...thinking whether they would come back any soon. I was a nine year old boy who was naive about everything and anything. I was oblivious and I didn't knew anything back then. All of a sudden I heard a knock on the door. I turned to face where the sound is coming from.
"Aunt? What are you doing here?" My aunt rolled her eyes at me, looking done as ever.
"Come with me. We're going to the hospital, kiddo." She immediately walked away from the doorway and was nowhere to be seen. The hospital? Wait, mom and dad is back? For real?! I smiled brightly and quickly ran to catch up with Aunt. I want to meet them, and I am sure they will be happy to meet me too!
~
My Aunt and I went to the doctors office that attended to both my parents when they were sick. I can finally see Mommy and Daddy!
"I am really glad that you can come even though it has been...a few days." The doctor seemed disappointed with my Aunt. Aunt groaned.
"Cut the talking Himari. Just get to the point. How's Iori's parents?" It seemed that both Aunt and the doctor knew each other way before. Himari, which I assumed is the doctor, turned to look at me with a concerned expression.
"Uh Kanna, I think it's better if we talk somewhere else and Iori can just stay here for awhile." Aunt was getting impatient. She finally snapped.
"Can you just quickly say it?! Eventually, Iori has to know! Say it in front of his face!" The doctor was taken aback and didn't know what to say. Himari didn't dare to challenge my Aunt, knowing that she had multiple tricks up her sleeves...and assuming that Himari knows my Aunt's cruel personality for so long. The doctor took a deep breath and exhaled.
"Both Iori's parents...I deeply apologise. We did all our best but we can't save them. I'm...I'm sorry, Iori." From that day onwards, my world turned dark. Nothing mattered, the ones dearest to me is...gone. Will someone ever turn my life into colour? I'll be waiting. Even if takes years and years.
~
~Fast forward to a few years~
Years has now pass, and now I am 16 years old... old enough to know things now. I am already in my second year in high school, soon graduating. I am still staying with my Aunt, and I hate it that I had to live with her. Why? Well, she brings men home. Whether old or young, it still makes me uncomfortable. Some nights, I would hear "sounds" that I shouldn't be hearing. It didn't make me horny or anything, more like I wanted to kick out both my Aunt and the men she brings home every night. Decided that I had enough with her crap, I packed my stuff and left the house for good. I already had a place in mind to stay for awhile.
~
Ding Dong!
I ranged the doorbell to my best friend's apartment.
"Coming!" I could hear his voice from the other side of the entrance door. Within a few seconds, the door was open.
"Iori? What are you doing here? It's literally in the middle of the night!" My best friend looked confused as he questioned me. Mitsue. Mitsue Yamada, the first friend that I made when I first entered high school. I was a loner at first, but when the most popular guy in school approached me to become his friend, I accepted the friendship. I'm surprised that till now, I'm still friends with him. I was a bit embarrassed to tell him that I wanted to stay over at his house for a while, but damn his parents...bet they won't allow considering that I have a caretaker that is a sexual escort.
"Uh, Mitsue? Do you mind if I stay-"
"Staying over at my house? Bro, you don't have to ask me. I can see that you brought your things with you." Mitsue chuckled. Ah, how can I be so stupid.
"But it's not only a one night thing...Do you mind if I stay here for a while? Its because of...you know who." Mitsue suddenly realised it was my Aunt that I was talking about, and he nodded.
"I understand. You can stay here for as long as you want 'cause both of my parents have some business to do overseas. They won't come back till seven years later." I was shocked. Seven years? By then I would have graduated high school and I can go to college, doing a part time job at the same time...and also rent an apartment. Yes, that is my plan.
"S-Seven years? Their overseas business sure is important huh?" Mitsue sighed.
"Yeah...and I'll miss my Mom's cooking." His face looked rather disappointed but realising that I knew how to cook, I decided to cheer him up.
"Hey, you know that I can cook right?" Mitsue's face lightened up and facepalmed.
"Oh yeah! How can I forget about that. Cook me some spaghetti bolognese ok?" He winked at me teasingly. This guy, taking advantage of the situation but I gave in anyways since he is my best friend.
"Sure, no problem." I smiled softly. Mitsue opened the door bigger to let me in.
"Make yourself at home. Here, let me carry your luggage." Mitsue carried my luggage and I wanted to stop him but he was stubborn no matter how many times I asked him that it was alright for me to carry my own luggage. He then showed me where my bedroom was. Everything was what I had expected about Mitsue. He is indeed a nice guy.
Each day pass by within a blink of an eye. I realised the times that both of us had spent, brought us closer than ever.
*Ba-dump*
Every time I'm near Mitsue, my heart just keeps beating fast for no apparent reason. My body will start feeling hot and my breath will hitch. What...What is this feeling?
~
3rd Person POV
"Iori and I have been close friends for a very, very long time." Mitsue tightened his grip on the photo of the couple, staring deeply into the photo.
"When his parents passed away, I just can't bare to leave him with his aunt...knowing how she was." Mitsue looked at Hiroshi.
"And the people in this photo are Iori's parents. They were kind hearted people and they helped me and my family when we were going through difficult situations." Mitsue's facial expression softened but then realised something was not right.
"Wait. Where did you find this photo?" Mitsue was becoming more serious.
"I found it when we were chasing the paparazzi and do you remember when I fell at the alley there? Yeah." Mitsue gasped and facepalmed.
"Don't you get what's happening? You found the photo of Iori's parents when we were chasing the paparazzi." It took a few seconds for Hiroshi to realise and he too gasped.
"Wait! For real?! Are you sure it's him?" Mitsue looked at the photo again.
"Well, I am certainly sure."
~End
A/N: Hey guys! Thanks for reading until the end of this chapter. I wrote a bit less for this chapter as I am currently busy with school stuff and all so I apologise if the chapters posted is a bit shorter than usual. Anyways, stay tune for the next chapter!
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Skeleton In The Closet
General Fiction"Ahhh, that was a nice shower." I twist the pipe to turn off the water that was coming out from the shower head. I got out and put on my comfy sweater and sweatpants, and went to the kitchen to make some breakfast. I took out all the ingredients nee...
