Dark corner

Chapter 3: Part 2

Hey guys! I'm really sorry for the late update. I got a bit busy moving here and there. Thanks for all your support! Please enjoy~

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Reiko hopped around getting her skirt and leggings off. After wiggling her tank top off, she grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom. The smell of roses filled her nostrils as soon she opened the door. She looked into the tub and became surprised to find fresh blood-red rose petals floating around in the water. Taking the towel off, she let her hair out and stepped into the tub.

The dizziness is gone now. Thank god.

Now that she could concentrate she let herself dream and think more clearly.

What was up with all that affection all of a sudden…?

Reiko dipped herself in the warm water more and stared at it.

Not that I mind it…I actually sort of missed being with him like that.

Reiko had very vivid but beautiful memories of Yukio and her when they were younger. That was when, Yukio was more open with her. Everything was just as Reiko wanted. It was perfect. Just all of a sudden, everything changed. Yukio had disappeared into the night and his uncle was murdered. It was so sudden, that Reiko couldn’t accept it. Reiko never knew his mother nor his father. In fact, she had never known him to have one when he had first moved into the neighborhood 16 years ago. They had known each other to such an extent that they could read each other’s minds. Not long after that, his disappearance four years after, sent a shock into the neighborhood. This place itself was safer than any house. Not only did the disappearance affect them, but it was the way his uncle was brutally murdered. Yukio came back a year later during late fall. She had spotted him on a hill putting flowers by his uncle’s grave. He had grown taller even though he was younger than her by three months, not that it made a difference. She remembered her happiness and the way she ran all the way up the hill with the autumn wind blowing behind her and hugged him tightly never wanting to let go. But he didn’t hug her back. She remembered drawing back and looking into his eyes. They were gloomy as if he had nothing more left in this world. It made her cringe on spot. She wept silently in front of him. She was so sad she was ready to kill herself. She kept the sadness all to herself the past year and now it was all coming out like a waterfall. She valued him so much. What had happened to him? Why didn’t he smile? Then on that hill Yukio wrapped his arms around her and she did the same still weeping. The trees had turned blood red and sunny yellow and a few were green. And that was it. That was the end of it. He didn’t come to school after that.  As far as Reiko knew, he had been going to another school not far from that place. They never met. He didn’t come out to meet her nor did he talk to her. Middle school went by like that. The bond that they shared soon faded away. It was in high school that they reunited but weren’t that sort of close friends. She missed every bit of what they once shared together. She did not know what had taken place during his disappearance that could so drastically change the happy and friendly Yukio.

Ame…

Suddenly Reiko was reminded of her beloved sister.

*Ame pronounced as Ah-meh

Sacrificing herself for the sake of everything?

Why did she leave this world?

Ame had left this world four years ago. She was Reiko’s twin. Such a caring and beautiful sister she was to Reiko. She had a weak body. Nobody expected her to live too long. But she thrived and showed them she could. She called Reiko her big sister even though she was the elder one. They were so happy. But in the end…

Reiko realized the rivers of tears that was rolling down her cheeks. This time she didn’t stop herself. She kept on weeping. She wanted to let it all out.  All these things she kept inside of herself, tortured her incessantly.

Everything I once had and valued were torn from me…

Reiko trembled cringing. She sniffed and snuffled but the tears didn’t stop.

Why all of this now?

Reiko dipped her face in the water and wet her hair. She couldn’t think straight either. Maybe it was being so close to Yukio made her suffer.

I’m getting cold. I should get out.

Reiko got up from the tub still sniffing, with her eyes puffed and red. She grabbed the baby pink towel beside her and got out of the tub, wrapping herself in it. She quickly dashed out the door and looked around, spotting a closet.

I’ll grab something to wear from in there.

 Just as she was about to walk towards the wardrobe, the door clicked.

Oh crap…Please don’t te-

The door opened.

“Good nigh-“

Yukio paused expressionlessly for a second seeing Reiko wearing nothing but a towel standing by the wardrobe.

“Bad timing, I think…”

Reiko froze with the blood rushing to her head and turning her face into a tomato.

Oh…My…Good…Lord…Help me.

Yukio put one of his hands in front of his eyes and gave her a thumbs up and crashed out of the door.

Reiko ran like her life was on the line and slammed the door.

“WHY DON’T YOU KNOCK BEFORE YOU COME IN?! THERE’S A REASON WHY PEOPLE TELL YOU TO!” She snapped at Yukio from behind the door.

“Alright, Alright! I’m sorry. Good night! Jesus Christ!”

Reiko walked back to the wardrobe still blushing like a tomato.

Jeez…I won’t be able to sleep today.

She opened the wardrobe doors. There were white pajamas, blue socks, and red long pajama pants. Nothing caught her attention until she looked all the way in the corner. There was a beautiful silvery white night gown with silver lacing with netted decoration on the back. Reiko touched it and liking it, she took it out and held it in front of her. Ever so carefully, she picked up the dress and put it on. She turned and walked over to the mirror.

DONG!

The grandfather clock struck ten.