Kazoku Futarikiri had never placed much value in labels - fat, skinny, loud, quiet, nice, mean. All they were good for was dehumanizing someone, trimming their existence down to a few adjectives.
But she was pretty sure she was a bad person.
Steal...
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Today started off normally but progressively got more suspicious as it continued.
What was possibly so suspicious?
Futarikiri never said a word to me unless I was the one who approached her. But not only did she she say hello when we passed in the hallways, she approached me after school, her usual demeanor shifted into something more... concerning.
She usually appeared insignificant, not in a bad way, she just didn't stand out. The way she carried herself, purposefully placing herself out of the way, only added to this. Her expression tended to be guarded, making it difficult for people to start conversations with her unless they were already aquatinted.
But not today.
Today Futarikiri's movements were sloppy, not that they were usually elegant, but they did always seem to have a sense of purpose to them that I had never noticed until it had now disappeared. Her hair, which usually fell freely, was now tied back in a messy bun that was barely holding together. Her uniform was askew as well. Instead of being neatly tucked in it laid in wrinkles over her skirt.
She also didn't hesitate to look me in the eyes.
Eye contact always seemed more like a game to her, she only ever spared me glances when I said something particularly attention grabbing or challenged her.
But now that I looked into them, there was a certain storminess to her grey eyes that definitely wasn't there before. Like a silent plea for help.
"I need to talk to you real quick," she said, her voice hoarse and crackly. I couldn't help but wonder what could've happened for her speech to change so drastically in a mere day.
"Go ahead." I turned to her, knowing better than to ask her what was bothering her. Those type of conversations never went anywhere with her.
Instead of a response, she began rummaging through her bag. After a few moments of searching she pulled out a money and a gift card which were paper clipped together. "Here," she outstretched her hand for me to take it, but I left her hanging.
"Are you buying my silence or something?" I asked, "I thought we were done with that."
"It's what I found in your wallet," she went silent for a second before she mustered up a demanding countenance. "Now take it."
"No." I turned, beginning to walk away. "We came to our agreement."
"I'm trying to pay you and you're just going to pass it up?" Her words should've sounded angry or aggressive, but all I heard was a desperate, melancholy tone that made me whip back around.
Her usual neutral expression had crumbled into something close to despair.
"You need the money more than I do," I assured her. Ideas on what to do kept falling short in my brain. How could I think of a solution when I didn't even know why she was upset? "You're looking after yourself and your brother, I don't want to make that any harder."
She flinched. "That doesn't matter, I stole it and you just let me get away with it."
Momentarily I reached out my hand to grab the money before rewinding. Red flags were beginning to pop up and I sensed a trap. "Why the change in heart?"
"I'm just trying to make up for all the shit I did," Futarikiri muttered. "Maybe get some good karma, I don't know."
"Good karma?" I questioned.
She nodded, her eyes met mine again. I never understood the saying "the eyes are the window to the soul" until now. Those two simple orbs conveyed a million emotions and thoughts. None of them seemed to be good. They couldn't possibly be with the way she furrowed her brow and the way storms were brewing behind the mask of her irises. "Yeah, maybe then something good will happen for... us."
I knew when she said us, she was referring Nikko and herself. Yet the distinction felt forced.
"Alright..." Slowly I took the money, counting it briefly before I put it into my pocket. Fifty-two dollars and a gift card to Dairy Queen. "Well, thank you."
"Yeah," she said, "sorry for bothering you."
That was the final straw. Her apology. Futarikiri never apologized, the only time she did was for pickpocketing me. She didn't seem like the type to throw "sorries" around like it was going out of style. She used them sparingly and meaningfully.
"You weren't a bother." After all, she did give me money. "Is everything all right?"
She froze as though she hadn't anticipated the question. It was odd seeing her so... readable. I watched as momentary panic flooded her features before being replaced by the previous despair.
Her response took a moment, I knew she was deciding on how honest she wanted to be. But it always seemed to be the same with her. She was at war with herself. Part of her wanted her to remain guarded while the other desired to be open and request help.
"I- I don't know," she replied finally.
"Then how about you meet me after practice and we can talk then if you want," I offered. I prayed that she'd take the bait. Aside from tingling curiosity, overwhelming concern over her enveloped my mind.
She seemed careless, tired, and depressed. None of which I'd usually use to describe her.
Slowly but surely, she nodded. "Alright. Thanks."
Before I could reply she wandered off back down the hallway. Her steps were sluggish and her posture was poor.
Whatever had occurred, it was clearly beyond concealing. That fact alone made me wonder how much she'd really be willing to share.
But for once, I hoped she'd tell me the full truth.
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I don't even know to say here.
I started The Scarlet Letter and it made me feel bad about my writing so I spiced it up a bit incase you couldn't tell lol.
But ya
Anyways thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!
