Take my hand || *discontinued*

Chapter 2|| my story

Chiyo's POV

"You are Ueda Chiyo... Right?"

I narrowed my eyes to the boy standing in front of me. How did he know my name? As I closely observed his face I remembered who the grey haired boy is.

"Yes." I spoke out. "You are Sugawara Koushi?"

"Yeah." He answered me back and looked down at the box with puppies, looking questioned. "Did you do that?"

"Huh? Oh yeah, I saw the puppies today in the afternoon and the weather forecast said that it would snow today so I.. I thought let's bring a warm blanket and some food for them." I awkwardly played with my fingers.

"Ueda-san." Sugawara called my name with a serious voice. "Where were you all the time?"

I stayed silent and thought of how I could answer his question. A lot happened before and when I left. A lot of unpleasant things. I took my phone out of my pocket and looked what the time was. Not enough time to explain and he was on his way home. I can't bother him right now.

"How about we meet up?" Sugawara asked in a sudden.

My eyes widen at what he said, but I simply nodded.

Sugawara kindly smiled. "Tomorrow at 1pm here?"

"Sure." I quickly said before turning around and avoiding his gaze. "I got to go. See you tomorrow." And I silently left, leaving the boy behind.

~~~

The next day I was fidgeting what to wear. It was a saturday morning and I woke up quite early today because I got excited seeing Sugawara again. It felt weird that since I came back for only two days, the first one I got to see was Sugawara. And it was totally unexpected and I even managed in the end to go and meet each other.

I sighed as I stared at my closet. I slapped myself a couple of times on my face to finally decide what to wear. I changed myself from my pajamas into a grey skirt with hearts on it, black t-shirt and black high knee socks. My hair was just loose and over my shoulders. I got out of my room and took my bag.

"I'm leaving mom! See you later!" I said and walked to my father's room and knocked on the door. "See you later dad."

The two of them just mumbled 'see you later' as I left.

On my way walking to the place we would meet, I saw him already standing near the box. And I thought I came here early. As Sugawara saw me walking towards him he held his hand up and smiled.

"Hi." I shyly said and took a peek inside the box with puppies. They were doing okay and to be seen Sugawara had put some food and water for them.

"Well, let's get going." He said and took the lead. "I know a nice place where we can talk."

~~~

That 'nice place' was a cafe. It indeed was a nice place, it was warm and cozy. We sat in the corner where sofas with fluffy colorful pillows and a big round table between them. We ordered cappuccinos and it was awkwardly silent between us. I took a sip of my cappuccino as I looked up at Sugawara, looking serious.

"Thank you for coming."

"Don't mind it." I whispered. "Just.. Get to the topic."

"Right." Sugawara said and drank his cappuccino. "You know, we were all very shocked when you suddenly left in middle school. Your friends were upset too."

I avoided eye contact and held grip onto my skirt.

"I felt guilty, because on that day I rejected you. And on that day you also left. I think it's unfair for the others that I was the last one who saw you before you left. But the thing is. Where were you?"

"Didn't your home room teacher say it? I moved to Korea. My mother is half Korean, her family lives in Korea. And she just decided to move there." I swallowed my throat and felt really heavy.

"Why didn't you tell anyone about it?"

"I'm bad at saying goodbye. Especially when it comes to people who are important to me."

"Than why did you say to me see you soon?" His voice dropped.

I remained quiet and didn't say anything. I thought Sugawara would eventually ask me again, but he remained silent too. Maybe I can tell him. If I just give him a chance.

"You know." I began. "It wasn't that easy for me that time. I.. My parents divorced in the beginning of the third school year. Me and my mother lived together and we were doing okay until..." I sat uneasy on the sofa and I was slightly shaking.

"Hey, you can take your time. Don't worry, you can tell me." Sugawara said with a gentle tone. It made me feel at ease again and I continued my story.

"The day before I left, my father suddenly came in the house. He was drunk and had a huge fight with my mother. I was afraid and cried in the corner, watching them discussing. Until he pushed my mother and she fell on the floor. My father sprung on her and held her wrists, screaming weird things in her face. My mother cried and I didn't know what to do... But then I took the house phone and decided to call the police."

Sugawara stared at me and listened carefully to my story.

"In the end, he wasn't arrested. He moved somewhere to another country. My mother also decided to move out and start fresh. I actually didn't want to move, but after all what my mother experienced I obeyed her and stayed with her."

"I'm very sorry." The grey haired boy said pitiful.

"And if you're asking why I'm back, my mom fell in love with another man again. He's a really nice guy and I call him my dad. She also believed that it was better to graduate in your hometown." I smiled. "Sorry, long story huh."

"I'm actually really happy." Sugawara said as he asked the waitress for the bill. "I wanted to ask you this for quite a long time. I couldn't get you out of my head. And if there's something, please talk to me."

My cheeks turned rose pink as I slowly realized what he just said. Sugawara hasn't changed at all. He still got his sweet personality and the prettiest smile ever. As I thought,

I still love him.

"Could we stay in contact?"

"E-eh?" I sat straight up and covered my cheeks with the palms of my hands.

He rubbed his neck with his hand and slightly shrugged. "I want to keep in touch with you. We are friends, right?" He chuckled sweetly.

"H-how about.. We exchange phone numbers..?" I stuttered.

Wow, that was pretty straight forward. Maybe he did change a little?