Polaroid | Suna Rintarou

07: Cuddled Up

As I scrolled through my social media account, watching some funny fight videos reminiscent of the twins' constant bickering, an idea struck me. I could upload the video I took of them foolishly arguing, perhaps make a quick buck off of it.

But before I could fully entertain that thought, a notification popped up on my phone, unsurprisingly from [Reader]. She was the only one crazy enough to call me at three in the morning.

Usually, I ignored her messages until morning, but this time, she's calling me. Curiosity gnawed at me as I swiped right.

".... Rin-kun..." her voice trembled at the end of the line, and my heart lurched. She was crying.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Anxiety coursed through me as I sat up, unable to remain passive.

"I... I couldn't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, my nightmares come back," her voice quivered, her breathing unsteady, as if on the brink of a panic attack.

"Okay... Just breathe. In through your nose, out through your mouth," I instructed, trying to steady her. But even through the phone, I could sense her fear.

"Where are your parents?" I inquired, hoping for some reassurance.

"They're away on a business trip until tomorrow night... I'm all alone," her voice wavered with vulnerability.

"Do you want me to come get you?" The words slipped out before I could fully process them. I didn't even realize I'd offered until she responded.

".... Yes, please..." Without hesitation, I threw on a hoodie and headed out the door, staying on the line to calm her as I walked. I couldn't bear the thought of her being alone in that state of distress.

Her house wasn't far, and within minutes, I stood before her door. When she opened it, dressed in pajamas, her eyes were red from crying, tears still glistening on her cheeks.

Without a word, she threw her arms around me in a tight hug, catching me off guard. But seeing her so small and fragile, trembling with fear, tugged at my heartstrings.

"I'm here... I'm here," I murmured, enveloping her in my arms, my hand gently stroking her hair, offering what comfort I could.

"I'm really scared, Rin-kun... He keeps appearing in my dreams, and I swear I see him in my room. His face is so scary," she confessed, tears welling up once more. I wiped them away with my thumbs, gazing into her eyes with reassurance.

"Shhh... You're safe."

"I don't want to be alone here," her voice quivered with vulnerability, and I nodded, determined to ease her fears.

"Why don't we go to my house? I'll buy you ice cream on the way. Will that make you feel better?" I suggested, unwilling to leave her alone in her big, empty house.

"That sounds nice. But first, I need my jacket and my phone. It's cold outside," she replied, her voice steadier now.

"Okay, I'll wait here."

"What? No, come with me."

"Okay."

Stepping into her room for the first time, I took in the spacious surroundings, noting the scattered shoujo manga and romantic DVDs. It was a far cry from what I expected, but I pushed aside any thoughts and focused on getting her what she needed.

"Where are the house staff?" I asked, remembering seeing one on a previous visit.

"They usually go home after dinner and return in the morning," she explained, emerging dressed warmly, her hair still tousled.

"Ready to go?" I asked, and she nodded.

Despite it being summer, the night air was chilly, sending shivers down our spines as we made our way to the convenience store. As promised, I bought her ice cream, hoping to bring a smile to her face, even if just for a moment.

"Don't you like cookies and cream?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I do..." Her smile was faint, but it was something.

"Do you always see him in your dreams?" I inquired gently.

She nodded slowly, her gaze distant as if lost in the horrors of her own memories.

"When I was still a kid, there was this guy in a smiley costume. It was Halloween. He came out of nowhere, grabbing my hand and trying to pull me into his car. All I could do was cry and scream for help, but he held a knife to my throat. Someone intervened, thankfully. My father rushed to my rescue, and the police took him away. He's still in jail, but... the fear never left me. I still see his creepy mask, that stretched-out bloody smile, those eyes carved into his skin, and his sickening voice. He haunts my nightmares, holding that knife to my throat. Every time I close my eyes, I see him," she recounted, a tear tracing a path down her cheek.

Back at my house, we watched movies until exhaustion caught up with us. When I woke up, I found myself on the couch, her sleeping peacefully beside me, her warmth seeping into my bones.

Before I could fully process the situation, my mother's voice interrupted us, snapping us out of our trance-like state. She greeted [Reader] warmly, inviting her to join us for breakfast, leaving me bewildered by the turn of events.

I was at a loss for words. It was a traumatizing event for a child, and I couldn't begin to fathom the depth of her fear. Yet, here she was, vulnerable and reaching out for comfort.

"I'm glad you called," I finally said, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "I'm here for you."

A warm smile graced her lips, and I couldn't help but return it. "Always." I added softly, determined to be her solace in the darkness.

We ended up watching movies and romantic films (which she insisted on) in my living room, but she ended up falling asleep halfway through. Before I knew it, exhaustion caught up to me, and I drifted off to sleep as well.

When I woke up, I couldn't feel my arms. Opening my eyes, I found her cuddled up with me on the couch, my arm wrapped around her, our bodies pressed together. Heat rushed to my cheeks. How on earth did we end up sleeping like this?

She must have sensed my confusion because she opened her eyes, mirroring my bewilderment. We were frozen, neither of us daring to move. I braced myself for her to push me away, but to my surprise, she didn't. Instead, I found myself captivated by her gaze.

My eyes trailed down to her slightly parted lips. She swallowed, and it felt like a magnetic pull drawing me closer, urging me to bridge the gap between us. Our breaths hitched in unison, anticipation hanging heavy in the air. I searched her eyes, looking for any sign that could stop me from making a mistake, but all I found was a shared sense of hesitation.

"Good morning! Oh!" My mother's voice interrupted the charged atmosphere, and we both jumped at the sound.

She quickly untangled herself from me, and I tumbled off the couch with a loud thud. "Aw! What the hell?" I groaned, rubbing my sore backside.

"Good morning, Suna-san!" she greeted my mother with her usual sweet smile, as if nothing out of the ordinary had just occurred.

"I'm [Reader]. Nice to meet you. I'm Rin-kun's friend and schoolmate." She bowed respectfully, and I couldn't help but marvel at her composure.

"I've heard about you! Please, join us for breakfast," my mother said, ushering her to the dining room, leaving me utterly perplexed by the whole situation.