Pandora's Box - Chapter 2
TITLE: Pandora's Box - Chapter 1
DISCLAIMER: I didn't own any of the character but i own the plotXD
GENRE: romance, slice of life, drama
CHARACTERS: Inoo, Yabu, Yaotome, Arioka, Yamada, Takaki, Nakajima
SUMMARY: Hatred turned to love, silence turned to seeking and lies become truth. Kota just hit the rock bottom making him realize that memories should not remained unlock. He seek for truth, he yearned for what really happened and why things are going this and that. But what if he is going further to what is already near to him? Is everything gone too late to change? Everyone is given curiosity and so will you open the box as well?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the revised version of my on going fanfic Pandora's Box. Enjoy^___^
Pandora's Box
Chapter 2
"Welcome"
“Kou… can I come in?” Suzanne asked as she knocked on Kota’s room that same night. The door opened and she saw Kota already on his home clothes and messy hair that showed that he was lying down on his bed the whole time since he arrived. “What do you need?” Kota asked uninterestedly.
“I want you to eat dinner together with us.” Suzanne said. “I prepared your favorite food so that you can eat well with everyone.”
“Sorry but I don’t have appetite.” Kota replied back as he scratched his head. Suzanne noticed that Kota have bandage on his left hand and she grab it and take a look but her son immediately pulled it away from her.
“What happened to your hand? Did you fight? How did you injure that?” she asked worriedly. Kota look at his bandaged left hand and he just sigh. “It’s just the first day of school but you…”
“It’s nothing.” Kota interrupted. “I just punched a door and so it got a little swollen but it will heal any minute.” He continued. “I don’t want to eat with everyone. I am not hungry.”
“Kou… please…”
“You know that I don’t like crowd.”
“They are not just crowd… they are your new family.” Suzanne replied seriously. “Please Kou, come to the dinner with us. We will going to wait for you.” she continued and finally she decided to leave. Kota immediately closed the door of his room, locked it and he jump over his bed.
…
“Mom, are we not going to eat? I’m already hungry.” Sora asked as her eyes and mouth craved for the food in front of her. They waited for 15 minutes but no Kota gone down to met and eat with them.
“It seems like brother didn’t want to eat together with us.” Haruka added.
“I guess we should eat already, Suzanne.” Kamiyo said. He saw the two girls delighted face when they heard they can eat already. He put some rice on Sora’s plate when he suddenly heard some footsteps coming downstairs and when he glanced he saw Kota standing there and looking at them. Kota sitted down on the available chair for him without saying anything at all and even Suzanne nor Kamiyo tried to say a thing.
They started their first dinner with a complete attendance but everything feels awkward because of the silence. Haruka and Sora keeps on talking about what happened on their first day in school and Kota just silently listened to them while focusing on his own food.
“How about brother? How’s your first day in your school?” Haruka asked making Kota stopped from eating for a moment. “I heard that there are lots of good looking guys in your school.”
“Where did you hear that?” Kota finally talked. “Everyone looks like a monkey in my class except me.” he said seriously but then Haruka and Sora laughed as they can imagine to their minds what he just said.
“Brother is good looking.” Sora commented. “I am glad that I have a handsome brother now. I already have a big sister and then I have now a big brother. I feel like I have a complete family already.”
“Aren’t you a third year student?” Kamiyo asked Kota “Do you have plans for your future? I mean university and stuffs?”
“I don’t have any plans yet.” Kota replied.
“If you already think about it you can freely consult me so that I can give you my opinion. It’s better if you consult an adult when you are preparing for your future career so that you will not regret in the end.” Kamiyo told him.
“I will.”
…
“Examples of nouns are our names, animals and anything that became a subject of a certain topic.”
Kota’s eyes were fastened on the blackboard checking on the stuffs written on it when a piece of paper was thrown on his table. He tilted his head to see who did it and at the corner of his eyes he noticed Kei glancing at him. They have a new sitting arrangement on their English subjects and Kei was just beside him. He opened the letter and read silently what was written on it.
I’M SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
Kei signaled Kota to write on that piece of paper if he has something to reply but then Kota just crumpled it and throw it back to him. Kei pouted and then he wrote back again and put on Kota’s desk.
I’M SINCERELY APOLOGIZING HERE.
Kota just crumpled the paper again and ignored what Kei wrote. He averted his eyes in front and started to write notes but then he received another paper and it already tickled his irritation. He didn’t open the letter and ignore it again but then he received another one and then another one. “Can you stop that?” Kota snapped.
“Yabu-kun, who are you talking to?” Mrs. Pippin asked. Everyone look anxious because they knew that Mrs. Pippin is really a strict teacher and she didn’t like noises in her class.
“N…no one.” Kota answered.
“Then you are just talking to your own self?” Mrs. Pippin asked him again and Kota didn’t answer her anymore. “Go out, raised your hand up high until my class is over. You have the guts to utter sound in my class even you are just new.” She ordered. Mrs. Pippin continued to write on the blackboard as Kota exit the room without looking at anyone but he was burning with grudge against Kei.
Finally the bell rings and Mrs. Pippin went out of the room and stared at Kota who really did his punishment because he have a pained expression on his face like he wanted to put his hands down already. “Next time I don’t want noise to my class again.” She said before she go to the faculty office.
When Mrs. Pippin was already gone Kei immediately approached Kota who was stretching his arms because his muscles are killing him. “I’m sorry Yabu… I’m really sorry.” He repeated so many times and then he bowed down so many times as well. “That’s the reason I signaled you to write your reply.”
“So you are telling me it’s my fault?” Kota retorted back.
“I…it’s not like that…” Kei whimpered but Kota didn’t answer him back and the taller guy just went inside the classroom, brought his back to him and went out to eat for lunch. Kei feel devastated, he knew he made Kota mad again.
As class ended that day, Kota noticed that something was missing on his bag. He searched on his desk and even below his table but its nowhere to be found. Only 5 students were left in the classroom that time and Kei was one of them who was busy fixing his things on his bag. He continued searching for it until it’s only him and Kei were left inside the classroom. “Where did that go?” he whispered.
“A…are you looking for this?” Kei asked as he showed him the amulet that was in his palm. Kota immediately grabbed it and hide it to his pocket. “It falls down from your bag when you rushed to go out this lunch.” He explained.
Kota didn’t say a thing, he didn’t thank him either for giving it back. He put his things back to his bag and then when he zipped it Kei started to say a thing again. “I… I’m sorry.” For the nth time he said it again.
“Do you want me to forgive you?” Kota asked him and when Kei heard that he smiled happily. “Leave me alone, with that I can forgive you.” he said. “It’s not hard right? It’s easier than writing on a piece of paper.”
“But I wanted to be friends with you.”
“I don’t want a friend who only brings me misfortune. Can’t you understand what I am telling you? Or you are just so stupid that you can’t comprehend simple words like that?” Kota asked him but Kei was not able to respond immediately and so Kota grabbed his bag and started to walk but then he felt that someone grab his coat from behind.
“I… I’m sorry… I… I lose my balance.” Kei whispered.
“Let go!” Kota ordered like a boss as he stared seriously at Kei’s hand that was grabbing his coat. Kei immediately let go of Kota’s coat and he was shouted again. “Let me remind you…I hate people touching me the most. Even it is just at my clothes that is considered as touching on my part and also I hate people who didn’t know when to stop. Do I have to tell you repeatedly what I wanted you to do? Can’t you understand my words in just one say? I told you to leave me alone.”
Kei was not able to say a thing and he just watched as Kota leaves his side. In that four cornered room, Kei was standing all alone inside. He lifted up his right hand that he used to hold on Kota’s coat and glanced at it for a moment until he decided to move.
…
Kota was so irritated, he never met someone in his whole life as persistent as Kei. Mostly people avoid him at first sight because he knew he emit an aura saying that they should not approached him but that guy was so different from them. He won’t listen on first try but after shouting on him for the second time he was sure that he will stop bothering him already. He felt exhausted even he didn’t do anything yet and he wanted to sleep on his bed and have a rest. He went downstairs but on his way he was bump by some third years who are going upstairs.
“Hoy… hoy… not even saying sorry to us?” Bom asked with an evil smirked on his face. Kota sighed as he encountered another misfortune that day. Bom is the well known bully in the school and also he was with his other accomplice which we will just call as Boy 1 and Boy 2.
“Why will I? It’s you who bump me so you better apologized to me instead.” Kota answered back.
“What did you say? Are you mocking us? Didn’t you know who we are?”
“Obviously you are the bad guys of this school but I don’t have free time to spend it together with you so… get loss.” Kota said without any traced of fear on his face. Bom felt intimidated as he heard Kota’s brave response. He approached him and planned to grab him into his collar but Kota immediately kicked him on his stomach before Bom was able to touch him and because of that he falls down the stairs.
Bom immediately stand up like falling in the stairs felt nothing. “You brat…you will pay for this!”
“Look at this.” Boy 1 said and that caught Kota’s attention. He was shocked when he saw what he was holding into his hand. He take a look at his pocket and there is no doubt that it is his own. “Is this amulet given by your girlfriend? Is this precious to you that you hold into it even at school?”
“Give it back.” Kota said.
“Then will you apologize for what you did to our boss? Why don’t you kiss his toe for your sincere apology?” Boy 1 ordered him.
“Who the hell will do that?” Kota hissed.
“Who said we will give this back to you that easily?” Boy 1 asked with a mocking smirk and after saying that he started running away together with Bom and Boy 2. Students who were still inside the school saw the guys running away and they think that there was a fight with those problematic student. Kei also saw the chasing and he even saw Kota running towards the guys. He noticed that one guy was holding the amulet that he give to Kota a moment ago.
“That transfer student kicked Bom in the stomach.” Someone screamed from the students which Kei heard.
“Seriously? Is he digging his own grave?” another student commented which is just standing near Kei. When Kei heard that he run towards the same direction as to where Kota run and the others.
The guy who have the amulet run into the river which is near the school and there are children playing at that are when they arrived. “Not bad… coping up with my speed I think you are great.”
“Give that back.” Kota gasped.
“Is this really important to you?”
“Just give it back!”
“I told you I will give this back to you if you apologized to my boss while kissing his toes or if you don’t want I will throw this amulet in that river and let it flow going to the sea where you can’t find it anywhere anymore.” The guy said as he put his left hand on his waist while the other hand was holding the amulet and he ready it so that it will going to fall on the river if Kota answered differently from what he wanted. “Come on… are we just going to stand here the whole time? Or you will do what I want you to do?”
Kota breathes deeply as he look straight to the amulet. “Fine… throw it away.”
“What?” the guy asked who seems so surprised with what just Kota said.
“Are you not listening? Just throw that away… I don’t need it anymore.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me? You just desperately chasing after me for this but now… are you pretending? Acting?”
“I am not… besides I have a plan to throw that away. If you will do it then you are doing me a favor.”
“I’m really going to throw this away…” the guy said but Kota didn’t make any reaction and just watch him from where he is standing. He hold the amulet from it’s nearest end waiting for Kota to say something but it seems like it doesn’t bother him at all. Finally he let go of it from his hand and Kota dash towards that guy’s direction but then another one comes toward that direction and tried to reach the falling amulet.
Kota punch the guy on the face and it falls down the ground. He look at the river and saw Kei lying in the riverside totally wet because of the flowing water. He move a little by looking at his hand and he saw the amulet on his right hand safe and sound but also wet. “Safe…”
“What are you doing?” Kota asked Kei as he stand in front of him.
“I catch this.” Kei said as he sit down and the he lifted up his hand and offer the amulet to Kota. “This is yours right? You can’t just throw something so important to you.”
“It’s a trash…”
“But you are looking for it desperately before and also why you chased that guy until here if this is not important to you. This is given by someone important to you right?” Kei asked and then he remembered that Kota didn’t want being touch and so he just put down the amulet on the ground so that Kota will just going to pick it up and their hand will not touch each other.
Kota pick up the amulet that is totally soaked and then afterwards when Kei was standing up Kota grab his hand to help him from doing it. Kei was hesitant to touch him but he still did “Th…thank you.” Kei said.
“Don’t do reckless thing like this anymore. If you fail your dive then there is possibility that you hit your head on those rocks. I will not take responsibility if something happened to you.” Kota told him.
“No worries… I did it perfectly anyway.” Kei said with a smile again.
…
“Kota Yabu, HIkaru Yaotome, Yuno Kozumo, Hiro Kashi, Tori Sakachi… your turn.” Mr. Shuni, their physical education teacher, called the 5 students and asked them to take their position. They were doing a 10 meter dash and their time will be checked and recorded. The 5 guys stretched for a while before the teacher blow the whistle. Kota noticed that Kei was not around and he wonder why.
“Kei is not here.” HIkaru said. “He is exempted in PE since he have a weak body.”
“I am not searching for him.” Kota defended as he stretched his arm up high.
“Some of our classmates told me that you shouted on him again. Are you really that cold hearted to do that to someone like him?“ Hikaru commented. “Ne…. I don’t know what is happening between you and Kei but I hope you will not do anything bad to him. That guy is just too kind that he reject the fact that all people will always have their bad side on them.”
“Then he is a psycho.”
“Of course not. The one who is a psycho here is you. You’re weird, you got mad easily even with just a mere touch.” HIkaru accused but Kota didn’t reply on him since their teacher already signal them to get ready and with a blow on his whistle the 5 guys started running. Hikaru and Kota raised to get the fastest time.
…
Kei was watching his PE class from the window of his classroom. He was watching as students cheer for a certain student to be the first one who arrived at the goal. While watching Hikaru and Kota’s turns he heard someone called his name and when he turned back it was Yuya. “Kei.”
“Yuya, what are you doing here? Don’t you have class?” Kei asked him as he positioned himself in a comfortable position.
“We have but the teacher said that it is self study. Everyone was noisy inside the classroom and I decided to walk for a while and I saw you here all alone. So you are still exempted on PE class this year.” Yuya replied. Kei nodded as he look at the outside again. It was Ryosuke’s turn to run together with other 4 students and they are stretching before their teacher signal them to position.
“Yuya… can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” Yuya replied.
“Ryo’s sudden change is because of you right?” Kei asked all of a sudden making Yuya surprised. He look back at him with a serious eyes wanting to know the truth behind Ryosuke’s sudden change of image and maybe even personality. Yuya paused for a moment as he look away from Kei and turned his sight up in the ceiling. He then sit down besides Kei.
“I always hate the fact that you can easily read through people.” Yuya said. “It feels like you have power to see what others can’t see.” He continued but Kei didn’t comment on that and silence for seconds filled the room until finally Yuya confessed the truth. “He confessed to me. He said that he likes me but you know… I can’t accept his feelings.” Yuya answered. “Coz I like someone else.”
“Why didn’t you give him a chance?”
“Why?” Yuya repeated. “Maybe because I am really seriously in love with that someone I like that I will not give up my feeling for him even he already rejected me.” he answered as he stands up.
…
Kota is about to exit the gate when he saw Kei standing there all alone and kicking the dust on the ground. He saw that there is band aid on his hand thinking that he get a scratched from what he did the other day when he caught the amulet from the river. He was planning to ignore him but then when Kei saw him he immediately approached Kota like he is the one he is waiting for. “How’s the amulet?” Kei asked.
“You approach me just to ask for that thing?” Kota asked him with a cold treatment again.
“Well… it was totally soaked yesterday and I am thinking that it could ruined it.” Kei replied.
Kota showed Kei the amulet and it was not broken and Kei felt relief upon seeing it. “Are you happy now?”
“Yeah… I am.” Kei smiled. “Yo…you can go now.” Kei smiled as he let Kota go.
Kota started walking towards the park as he noticed that Kei was also walking from the back but he is a meters away from him. He noticed that Kei is not submissive anymore like he used to before. Insisting that they should be friends and the like and maybe he already realized that even how many times he tried nothing will happen and so he give up already.
But…
“Are you following me?” Kota asked as he turned back and saw Kei stop as well. “Why are you going to the same direction as I am?”
“I… I’m going this way as well.” Kei answered.
“Where?”
“My mother is waiting for me at the park so I’m going there.” He replied. “I… I am not trailing you.”
“Who said I am thinking that way?” Kota answered back and then he continued his steps and also Kei started to move as well but now their distance is not that far from each other anymore.
“I…is your house this way?” Kei opened a topic.
“No, it’s the opposite.” Kota replied which is unexpected.
“Then why are you going to this direction? Are you going to buy something?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Are you watching that Isshon group? There is an independent band that is performing in the park and they are really good.”
“How did you know?”
“A guess.” Kei uttered. “Well actually you have this atmosphere on you that you like music and according to your personality I think that you preferred their genre of songs. There are lots of students who are into them lately and said that they always perform at the park.”
“Don’t tell me you are a fan of them?”
“Yeah… every time I heard their song… I feel like they are talking about me.” Kei answered and then silence was caught in between. “Yabu… I am not giving up. I still wanted to be your friend even until now.”
“Whatever…”
“Huh?”
“I don’t care anymore… do whatever you want.” Kota replied back. “You are the persistent type who even I chase away will still keep on coming back. I don’t have patience to those kind of people and so I don’t care anymore.”
”Then I can introduced myself properly now right?” Kei asked. “I’m Kei Inoo. Nice meeting you Kota Yabu.” He said as he offered his hand for a shake hand.
Without a second thought I lifted up my hand and touch him. His warm hand touching my skin feels different than others. It’s comfortable like it’s warmth will going to melt every insecurities that I have. Is this the right thing to do? Is it the right thing to let Pandora enter my life?
DISCLAIMER: I didn't own any of the character but i own the plotXD
GENRE: romance, slice of life, drama
CHARACTERS: Inoo, Yabu, Yaotome, Arioka, Yamada, Takaki, Nakajima
SUMMARY: Hatred turned to love, silence turned to seeking and lies become truth. Kota just hit the rock bottom making him realize that memories should not remained unlock. He seek for truth, he yearned for what really happened and why things are going this and that. But what if he is going further to what is already near to him? Is everything gone too late to change? Everyone is given curiosity and so will you open the box as well?
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the revised version of my on going fanfic Pandora's Box. Enjoy^___^
Pandora's Box
Chapter 2
"Welcome"
“Kou… can I come in?” Suzanne asked as she knocked on Kota’s room that same night. The door opened and she saw Kota already on his home clothes and messy hair that showed that he was lying down on his bed the whole time since he arrived. “What do you need?” Kota asked uninterestedly.
“I want you to eat dinner together with us.” Suzanne said. “I prepared your favorite food so that you can eat well with everyone.”
“Sorry but I don’t have appetite.” Kota replied back as he scratched his head. Suzanne noticed that Kota have bandage on his left hand and she grab it and take a look but her son immediately pulled it away from her.
“What happened to your hand? Did you fight? How did you injure that?” she asked worriedly. Kota look at his bandaged left hand and he just sigh. “It’s just the first day of school but you…”
“It’s nothing.” Kota interrupted. “I just punched a door and so it got a little swollen but it will heal any minute.” He continued. “I don’t want to eat with everyone. I am not hungry.”
“Kou… please…”
“You know that I don’t like crowd.”
“They are not just crowd… they are your new family.” Suzanne replied seriously. “Please Kou, come to the dinner with us. We will going to wait for you.” she continued and finally she decided to leave. Kota immediately closed the door of his room, locked it and he jump over his bed.
…
“Mom, are we not going to eat? I’m already hungry.” Sora asked as her eyes and mouth craved for the food in front of her. They waited for 15 minutes but no Kota gone down to met and eat with them.
“It seems like brother didn’t want to eat together with us.” Haruka added.
“I guess we should eat already, Suzanne.” Kamiyo said. He saw the two girls delighted face when they heard they can eat already. He put some rice on Sora’s plate when he suddenly heard some footsteps coming downstairs and when he glanced he saw Kota standing there and looking at them. Kota sitted down on the available chair for him without saying anything at all and even Suzanne nor Kamiyo tried to say a thing.
They started their first dinner with a complete attendance but everything feels awkward because of the silence. Haruka and Sora keeps on talking about what happened on their first day in school and Kota just silently listened to them while focusing on his own food.
“How about brother? How’s your first day in your school?” Haruka asked making Kota stopped from eating for a moment. “I heard that there are lots of good looking guys in your school.”
“Where did you hear that?” Kota finally talked. “Everyone looks like a monkey in my class except me.” he said seriously but then Haruka and Sora laughed as they can imagine to their minds what he just said.
“Brother is good looking.” Sora commented. “I am glad that I have a handsome brother now. I already have a big sister and then I have now a big brother. I feel like I have a complete family already.”
“Aren’t you a third year student?” Kamiyo asked Kota “Do you have plans for your future? I mean university and stuffs?”
“I don’t have any plans yet.” Kota replied.
“If you already think about it you can freely consult me so that I can give you my opinion. It’s better if you consult an adult when you are preparing for your future career so that you will not regret in the end.” Kamiyo told him.
“I will.”
…
“Examples of nouns are our names, animals and anything that became a subject of a certain topic.”
Kota’s eyes were fastened on the blackboard checking on the stuffs written on it when a piece of paper was thrown on his table. He tilted his head to see who did it and at the corner of his eyes he noticed Kei glancing at him. They have a new sitting arrangement on their English subjects and Kei was just beside him. He opened the letter and read silently what was written on it.
I’M SORRY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.
Kei signaled Kota to write on that piece of paper if he has something to reply but then Kota just crumpled it and throw it back to him. Kei pouted and then he wrote back again and put on Kota’s desk.
I’M SINCERELY APOLOGIZING HERE.
Kota just crumpled the paper again and ignored what Kei wrote. He averted his eyes in front and started to write notes but then he received another paper and it already tickled his irritation. He didn’t open the letter and ignore it again but then he received another one and then another one. “Can you stop that?” Kota snapped.
“Yabu-kun, who are you talking to?” Mrs. Pippin asked. Everyone look anxious because they knew that Mrs. Pippin is really a strict teacher and she didn’t like noises in her class.
“N…no one.” Kota answered.
“Then you are just talking to your own self?” Mrs. Pippin asked him again and Kota didn’t answer her anymore. “Go out, raised your hand up high until my class is over. You have the guts to utter sound in my class even you are just new.” She ordered. Mrs. Pippin continued to write on the blackboard as Kota exit the room without looking at anyone but he was burning with grudge against Kei.
Finally the bell rings and Mrs. Pippin went out of the room and stared at Kota who really did his punishment because he have a pained expression on his face like he wanted to put his hands down already. “Next time I don’t want noise to my class again.” She said before she go to the faculty office.
When Mrs. Pippin was already gone Kei immediately approached Kota who was stretching his arms because his muscles are killing him. “I’m sorry Yabu… I’m really sorry.” He repeated so many times and then he bowed down so many times as well. “That’s the reason I signaled you to write your reply.”
“So you are telling me it’s my fault?” Kota retorted back.
“I…it’s not like that…” Kei whimpered but Kota didn’t answer him back and the taller guy just went inside the classroom, brought his back to him and went out to eat for lunch. Kei feel devastated, he knew he made Kota mad again.
As class ended that day, Kota noticed that something was missing on his bag. He searched on his desk and even below his table but its nowhere to be found. Only 5 students were left in the classroom that time and Kei was one of them who was busy fixing his things on his bag. He continued searching for it until it’s only him and Kei were left inside the classroom. “Where did that go?” he whispered.
“A…are you looking for this?” Kei asked as he showed him the amulet that was in his palm. Kota immediately grabbed it and hide it to his pocket. “It falls down from your bag when you rushed to go out this lunch.” He explained.
Kota didn’t say a thing, he didn’t thank him either for giving it back. He put his things back to his bag and then when he zipped it Kei started to say a thing again. “I… I’m sorry.” For the nth time he said it again.
“Do you want me to forgive you?” Kota asked him and when Kei heard that he smiled happily. “Leave me alone, with that I can forgive you.” he said. “It’s not hard right? It’s easier than writing on a piece of paper.”
“But I wanted to be friends with you.”
“I don’t want a friend who only brings me misfortune. Can’t you understand what I am telling you? Or you are just so stupid that you can’t comprehend simple words like that?” Kota asked him but Kei was not able to respond immediately and so Kota grabbed his bag and started to walk but then he felt that someone grab his coat from behind.
“I… I’m sorry… I… I lose my balance.” Kei whispered.
“Let go!” Kota ordered like a boss as he stared seriously at Kei’s hand that was grabbing his coat. Kei immediately let go of Kota’s coat and he was shouted again. “Let me remind you…I hate people touching me the most. Even it is just at my clothes that is considered as touching on my part and also I hate people who didn’t know when to stop. Do I have to tell you repeatedly what I wanted you to do? Can’t you understand my words in just one say? I told you to leave me alone.”
Kei was not able to say a thing and he just watched as Kota leaves his side. In that four cornered room, Kei was standing all alone inside. He lifted up his right hand that he used to hold on Kota’s coat and glanced at it for a moment until he decided to move.
…
Kota was so irritated, he never met someone in his whole life as persistent as Kei. Mostly people avoid him at first sight because he knew he emit an aura saying that they should not approached him but that guy was so different from them. He won’t listen on first try but after shouting on him for the second time he was sure that he will stop bothering him already. He felt exhausted even he didn’t do anything yet and he wanted to sleep on his bed and have a rest. He went downstairs but on his way he was bump by some third years who are going upstairs.
“Hoy… hoy… not even saying sorry to us?” Bom asked with an evil smirked on his face. Kota sighed as he encountered another misfortune that day. Bom is the well known bully in the school and also he was with his other accomplice which we will just call as Boy 1 and Boy 2.
“Why will I? It’s you who bump me so you better apologized to me instead.” Kota answered back.
“What did you say? Are you mocking us? Didn’t you know who we are?”
“Obviously you are the bad guys of this school but I don’t have free time to spend it together with you so… get loss.” Kota said without any traced of fear on his face. Bom felt intimidated as he heard Kota’s brave response. He approached him and planned to grab him into his collar but Kota immediately kicked him on his stomach before Bom was able to touch him and because of that he falls down the stairs.
Bom immediately stand up like falling in the stairs felt nothing. “You brat…you will pay for this!”
“Look at this.” Boy 1 said and that caught Kota’s attention. He was shocked when he saw what he was holding into his hand. He take a look at his pocket and there is no doubt that it is his own. “Is this amulet given by your girlfriend? Is this precious to you that you hold into it even at school?”
“Give it back.” Kota said.
“Then will you apologize for what you did to our boss? Why don’t you kiss his toe for your sincere apology?” Boy 1 ordered him.
“Who the hell will do that?” Kota hissed.
“Who said we will give this back to you that easily?” Boy 1 asked with a mocking smirk and after saying that he started running away together with Bom and Boy 2. Students who were still inside the school saw the guys running away and they think that there was a fight with those problematic student. Kei also saw the chasing and he even saw Kota running towards the guys. He noticed that one guy was holding the amulet that he give to Kota a moment ago.
“That transfer student kicked Bom in the stomach.” Someone screamed from the students which Kei heard.
“Seriously? Is he digging his own grave?” another student commented which is just standing near Kei. When Kei heard that he run towards the same direction as to where Kota run and the others.
The guy who have the amulet run into the river which is near the school and there are children playing at that are when they arrived. “Not bad… coping up with my speed I think you are great.”
“Give that back.” Kota gasped.
“Is this really important to you?”
“Just give it back!”
“I told you I will give this back to you if you apologized to my boss while kissing his toes or if you don’t want I will throw this amulet in that river and let it flow going to the sea where you can’t find it anywhere anymore.” The guy said as he put his left hand on his waist while the other hand was holding the amulet and he ready it so that it will going to fall on the river if Kota answered differently from what he wanted. “Come on… are we just going to stand here the whole time? Or you will do what I want you to do?”
Kota breathes deeply as he look straight to the amulet. “Fine… throw it away.”
“What?” the guy asked who seems so surprised with what just Kota said.
“Are you not listening? Just throw that away… I don’t need it anymore.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me? You just desperately chasing after me for this but now… are you pretending? Acting?”
“I am not… besides I have a plan to throw that away. If you will do it then you are doing me a favor.”
“I’m really going to throw this away…” the guy said but Kota didn’t make any reaction and just watch him from where he is standing. He hold the amulet from it’s nearest end waiting for Kota to say something but it seems like it doesn’t bother him at all. Finally he let go of it from his hand and Kota dash towards that guy’s direction but then another one comes toward that direction and tried to reach the falling amulet.
Kota punch the guy on the face and it falls down the ground. He look at the river and saw Kei lying in the riverside totally wet because of the flowing water. He move a little by looking at his hand and he saw the amulet on his right hand safe and sound but also wet. “Safe…”
“What are you doing?” Kota asked Kei as he stand in front of him.
“I catch this.” Kei said as he sit down and the he lifted up his hand and offer the amulet to Kota. “This is yours right? You can’t just throw something so important to you.”
“It’s a trash…”
“But you are looking for it desperately before and also why you chased that guy until here if this is not important to you. This is given by someone important to you right?” Kei asked and then he remembered that Kota didn’t want being touch and so he just put down the amulet on the ground so that Kota will just going to pick it up and their hand will not touch each other.
Kota pick up the amulet that is totally soaked and then afterwards when Kei was standing up Kota grab his hand to help him from doing it. Kei was hesitant to touch him but he still did “Th…thank you.” Kei said.
“Don’t do reckless thing like this anymore. If you fail your dive then there is possibility that you hit your head on those rocks. I will not take responsibility if something happened to you.” Kota told him.
“No worries… I did it perfectly anyway.” Kei said with a smile again.
…
“Kota Yabu, HIkaru Yaotome, Yuno Kozumo, Hiro Kashi, Tori Sakachi… your turn.” Mr. Shuni, their physical education teacher, called the 5 students and asked them to take their position. They were doing a 10 meter dash and their time will be checked and recorded. The 5 guys stretched for a while before the teacher blow the whistle. Kota noticed that Kei was not around and he wonder why.
“Kei is not here.” HIkaru said. “He is exempted in PE since he have a weak body.”
“I am not searching for him.” Kota defended as he stretched his arm up high.
“Some of our classmates told me that you shouted on him again. Are you really that cold hearted to do that to someone like him?“ Hikaru commented. “Ne…. I don’t know what is happening between you and Kei but I hope you will not do anything bad to him. That guy is just too kind that he reject the fact that all people will always have their bad side on them.”
“Then he is a psycho.”
“Of course not. The one who is a psycho here is you. You’re weird, you got mad easily even with just a mere touch.” HIkaru accused but Kota didn’t reply on him since their teacher already signal them to get ready and with a blow on his whistle the 5 guys started running. Hikaru and Kota raised to get the fastest time.
…
Kei was watching his PE class from the window of his classroom. He was watching as students cheer for a certain student to be the first one who arrived at the goal. While watching Hikaru and Kota’s turns he heard someone called his name and when he turned back it was Yuya. “Kei.”
“Yuya, what are you doing here? Don’t you have class?” Kei asked him as he positioned himself in a comfortable position.
“We have but the teacher said that it is self study. Everyone was noisy inside the classroom and I decided to walk for a while and I saw you here all alone. So you are still exempted on PE class this year.” Yuya replied. Kei nodded as he look at the outside again. It was Ryosuke’s turn to run together with other 4 students and they are stretching before their teacher signal them to position.
“Yuya… can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” Yuya replied.
“Ryo’s sudden change is because of you right?” Kei asked all of a sudden making Yuya surprised. He look back at him with a serious eyes wanting to know the truth behind Ryosuke’s sudden change of image and maybe even personality. Yuya paused for a moment as he look away from Kei and turned his sight up in the ceiling. He then sit down besides Kei.
“I always hate the fact that you can easily read through people.” Yuya said. “It feels like you have power to see what others can’t see.” He continued but Kei didn’t comment on that and silence for seconds filled the room until finally Yuya confessed the truth. “He confessed to me. He said that he likes me but you know… I can’t accept his feelings.” Yuya answered. “Coz I like someone else.”
“Why didn’t you give him a chance?”
“Why?” Yuya repeated. “Maybe because I am really seriously in love with that someone I like that I will not give up my feeling for him even he already rejected me.” he answered as he stands up.
…
Kota is about to exit the gate when he saw Kei standing there all alone and kicking the dust on the ground. He saw that there is band aid on his hand thinking that he get a scratched from what he did the other day when he caught the amulet from the river. He was planning to ignore him but then when Kei saw him he immediately approached Kota like he is the one he is waiting for. “How’s the amulet?” Kei asked.
“You approach me just to ask for that thing?” Kota asked him with a cold treatment again.
“Well… it was totally soaked yesterday and I am thinking that it could ruined it.” Kei replied.
Kota showed Kei the amulet and it was not broken and Kei felt relief upon seeing it. “Are you happy now?”
“Yeah… I am.” Kei smiled. “Yo…you can go now.” Kei smiled as he let Kota go.
Kota started walking towards the park as he noticed that Kei was also walking from the back but he is a meters away from him. He noticed that Kei is not submissive anymore like he used to before. Insisting that they should be friends and the like and maybe he already realized that even how many times he tried nothing will happen and so he give up already.
But…
“Are you following me?” Kota asked as he turned back and saw Kei stop as well. “Why are you going to the same direction as I am?”
“I… I’m going this way as well.” Kei answered.
“Where?”
“My mother is waiting for me at the park so I’m going there.” He replied. “I… I am not trailing you.”
“Who said I am thinking that way?” Kota answered back and then he continued his steps and also Kei started to move as well but now their distance is not that far from each other anymore.
“I…is your house this way?” Kei opened a topic.
“No, it’s the opposite.” Kota replied which is unexpected.
“Then why are you going to this direction? Are you going to buy something?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Are you watching that Isshon group? There is an independent band that is performing in the park and they are really good.”
“How did you know?”
“A guess.” Kei uttered. “Well actually you have this atmosphere on you that you like music and according to your personality I think that you preferred their genre of songs. There are lots of students who are into them lately and said that they always perform at the park.”
“Don’t tell me you are a fan of them?”
“Yeah… every time I heard their song… I feel like they are talking about me.” Kei answered and then silence was caught in between. “Yabu… I am not giving up. I still wanted to be your friend even until now.”
“Whatever…”
“Huh?”
“I don’t care anymore… do whatever you want.” Kota replied back. “You are the persistent type who even I chase away will still keep on coming back. I don’t have patience to those kind of people and so I don’t care anymore.”
”Then I can introduced myself properly now right?” Kei asked. “I’m Kei Inoo. Nice meeting you Kota Yabu.” He said as he offered his hand for a shake hand.
Without a second thought I lifted up my hand and touch him. His warm hand touching my skin feels different than others. It’s comfortable like it’s warmth will going to melt every insecurities that I have. Is this the right thing to do? Is it the right thing to let Pandora enter my life?