The Other Half On The Second Floor

Chapter Twenty-Two

My stomach ached as I sat near the toilet unable to calm my sobs and feel my meal coming up. After god knows how long of being alone, I hear keys beginning to unlock the door and Yui rushing into the bathroom to aid me. I wasn't able to say anything for some time. When I was no longer able to throw up anything else, I felt my lips become pale and my head was spinning.

Yui brought a cup of water along with a wet towel. "Eiichi.. you have a slight fever and look horrible. What happened you weren't like this in the morning?"

She places the towel on my forehead and I refuse the water. Knowing I'd only throw it up in my state. "Everything... everything went wrong again."

"What are you talking about?"

I open my mouth to explain what happened, but my elder sister covers my mouth with her right hand, the door slowly and quietly creaked as if it was being opened. Yui had left the door open in a rush to get to me. The footsteps were light and quiet, but became louder as the person got closer. Leaving Yui and I paralyzed in the small-scaled bathroom.

The footsteps get louder until eventually, the figure is standing in front of us. "Eiichi! You left your door open, I thought someone had broken in." His face turns to immediate horror at my condition. He begins to place his hand on my own, "Hey, you don't look so good. Do you need me to bring anything-"

I push his hand away. "What are you doing here?"

"I know what I said and did was wrong, but... I think I realize why it bothered me so much that you and Akiyama."

I cut him off once again. Only this time, not with words, but rather, with laughter. A sarcastic and hysterical one. "Are you serious? You only came to explain why my relationship with Akiyama was bothering YOU? Instead of you apologizing and realizing why regardless of what you think of Akiyama, you should be apologizing for what you said and did? Don't you see what you've done to me..? I feel worse than when I was with Nanase, and maybe even after he left." I pause for what feels like a split second. I could feel Yui's confused face staring at me. And I didn't begin to imagine the look on Kaito's face. "You know what.. Why do I bother? Get out."

"Wait, Eiichi-"

"I said get out! I'm done with you and your nonsense. You've made me miserable and I don't know why I have to put up with it. You're like a devil dressed as an angel!"

He stands up. Considering his weight, the sound of him getting up and silently leaving, was practically unable to be heard. My lips that once felt numb and pale, were now being bitten by my teeth. My face burned with anger. My brown eyes felt hot again. When I hear the door close, I gasp. I still had a mild fever, and now with Kaito out of my sight, and maybe even my life, I could get better by the time the weekend was over.

—- ♡ —-

Every limb in my body ached. The cool towels on my forehead felt hot after just a minute. My eyelids felt heavy even though after I tried closing them and going to sleep, I couldn't manage to fall into an unconscious state. Yui bombarded me with questions as she constantly changed the towels being placed on my head. I answered them to the best of my abilities while I only grew worse.

"What is going on?! You two were okay this morning.. I don't understand why you suddenly ended things."

"I don't think we were okay for a while, I just lied to myself hoping things got better on their own and now this was the result. Today was the last straw."

She places the towel onto her lap, "Eiichi, I don't know the full story, but I think you two just need some time."

I flip over to my right side and stare at the beige wall in front of me, "He can have all the time he wants, I don't want to see him again."

All I hear is a deep sigh of exhaustion, "Give it time. I know you still care and love him."

"I doubt it."