平行線 (Heikousen), translated to parallel lines. Metaphor for a conversation or an argument that's being repeated and going nowhere. Parallel lines won't cross nor will it get close to each other.
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Reika felt like an outcast being with Yuzuru's group. He's like a superstar here, everyone adores him. Whenever he's walking on the hall, there are always people who greets him and even asking for a selfie. However, when he steps on the ice, his gaze looks different. It is as if he has a switch that turns on the second he skates. Game on mode.
And so Reika self-awarely excuses herself to sit at the corner of the cafetaria and trying her best to distract herself with her homework.
Hearing a familiar laugh, Reika looks up to the rink, watching from the glass window how Yuzuru's cheeks redden as he laughs along Javier and Evgenia. They skate around the rink playfully while telling jokes, having fun with each other.
Reika notices her self reflection on the glass, sitting alone at the corner of a place where she knows no one. She realizes how lonely she is.
The girl shakes her head to get rid of that feeling. She forces herself to smile as she takes her phone, calling his brother to lessen the loneliness.
He picked up instantly. "Rei-chan! I miss you so much."
"Jun-niisan," Reika's vision gets blurry as tears fill her eyes. "I–I miss you."
"Rei-chan? Jun, is that Reika? Move over, I want to talk to her too!"
"Aish, Kenma, she calls me, not you!"
"You little— just turn on the loudspeaker so we can talk to her together!"
"Argh, fine, fine!"
Reika chuckles at her brothers little banter. "Am I on speaker now?" She asks. "Hello, Jun-niisan, Ken-niisan."
"Reika~ How have you been?"
"I'm fine, Ken-niisan." She smiles, though her smile fades in seconds. "Not really, actually."
"Why, Rei-chan? What happen? Does that Hanyu motherf*cker not treat you well?"
"Jun! Don't curse in front of Reika."
"I want to go home," she confesses. "Truth be told, I think I'm... I—"
"What? No way— Does he... forces you to do it?"
"Do what?" Reika repeats, not understanding what her brother meant.
"Ah, euh, that... you know... That. If he does, I will actually go there and kill him myself."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Reika's forehead wrinkled. "I just... I think I love him but I don't think he feels the same."
"Nonsense. You are the most beautiful girl I know."
"Kenma's right. Remember when we went to Kyoto and every boys you walked by had their eyes glued to you? There's now way Yuzuru can resist you."
"There's this girl..." she begins carefully, lowering her voice to make sure no one around her hears. "She's a really gorgeus skater. And... she has a crush on him. What if he likes her back?"
"Then he's a fool."
"I don't like saying this but Kenma's right. Rei-chan, you are married to him. He loves you. He must. It is his duty."
Reika doesn't like that. Love is not something that should be forced to someone. Yuzuru didn't even want this marriage in the first place, she can understand if he doesn't love her. She understands. But why does it hurts so much? Even today he was so scary, his eyes looked sharp and her grip actually hurt her wrist. She couldn't care less about the pain on her wrist, the ache on her heart feels way more excruciating.
One-sided love hurts.
Reika said her goodbye before hanging up the call. She hugs her knees and drowns her face in her arms, crying in silence.
"...Reika?"
Reika looks up to that voice, her round eyes look glassy from the tears, with obvious teardrops line on her cheeks. "Yes?"
Yuzuru takes a step back, surprised. He didn't expect Reika to be crying. Panicked, he quickly squats down to be on the same level as her, his eyes focus on her only. Her papers on the table are a mess. Her eyes are wet with tears and hugging her knees, she looks so tiny and fragile. "Reika, why are you crying? What happened?"
"Ah," Reika quickly wipes her tears with her sweater sleeve. "It's nothing. Have you finished your training?"
"I have..." Yuzuru isn't sure if he should pushes for answer or brush it aside like what she's doing now. He stands there, his mind tangled.
"I want to go home." Reika finally says. Her voice was trembling, but she sounds so sure. Yuzuru feels like he has no choice but to agree. "Okay. Wait a bit, I'll change then we go home."
Reika tidies up and puts her papers and laptop on her bag while she waits. When Yuzuru finally comes to get her, she's all ready.
They didn't talk much on the way. Yuzuru was busy driving while Reika stared at the sky through the window the whole time. When they're finally home, Yuzuru watches how Reika takes of her shoes and heading straight to her room. But before she could take the steps, Yuzuru quickly grabs her hand.
Knowing that she can't escape Yuzuru's grip, Reika looks at him for answer. "What is it?"
Without a warning beforehand, Yuzuru pulls her to his arms and hugs her. Reika's eyes widen at the sudden arms around her, his soft hand patting her hair. "Yuzuru-san, wha—"
"It's okay now, Reika." He whispers on her ear, sending chills down her spine. "You said you're fine because of the TCC people, right? It's just me now."
"Yuzuru-san?"
"It's just me, you don't need to pretend everything's fine anymore." Yuzuru softly smiles, still hugging her tight. "Tell me why did you cry, I'm not going anywhere."
It's because it's you, I can't tell. Reika's tears stream from her glassy eyes. She can notice something strangely different about the man hugging her so tightly right now. The Yuzuru's scent that she's very familiar with is replaced by something completely different.
Yuzuru who usually smells like mint with a mix of his own body scent, now smells like lavender—the perfume of a woman in TCC.
author's note; this an unedited chapter. I publish it as soon as I finished writing, so please excuse the grammar errors and typos😔
