You know it is fine to wake up suddenly in the late night, but can somebody explain…WHY'S YEMEKO NEXT TO ME!!!???!!!??? 💀💀💀
AI: What the—! 💀
I'M NOT EVEN DARE MOVE!!!! HELP!!!!! 😭😭😭
AI: Calm down—!!!!
WHAT HAPPENED!!!! 💀💀💀
AI: ....I think I knew what happened, remember what happened yesterday? 💀
...
It was just a normal day where Yumeko and I just woke and were on our way to school — it was also normal where Cindy was next to Yumeko, they were having a great time chatting along the journey.
Cindy: By the way, do you have an IG account?
Yumeko: Um…no, but I have an X account.
Cindy: Really? Me too!
Yumeko: Wait, let me show you…
Yumeko patted on the pocket of her skirt, realized it was empty, she quickly checked on the front pocket on the bag, still empty — yep, she forgot her phone.
Yumeko: やば —! スマホ忘れた!!!(Damn—! I forgot my smartphone!!!)
The next thing she did — she finally noticed my existence which she turned to back at me with her hand folded.
Yumeko: ね,リン,ちょっと家に帰ってくる…いい?(Em, Rin, can we go back for a while?)
The reason for asking me to go back with her is simple — I'm the only one holding the door key, which I was intended to give her, but I don't trust her.
Me: いやだ (No)
Yumeko: ね,お願い ~ (Oh, please ~ )
It is fine to go back for a while, but it'll take an extra journey to come back. I took a look at the clock on my lock screen, we're about to be late.
Me: No, we're late for school.
Cindy: It's just for a while, come on.
See? That's the most apparent double standard.
If I'm the one going home to grab my smartphone, she'll have a different tone on me.
Me: No, I'm not getting a warning letter this year.
Yumeko: 心配いらないよ,すぐよくなるって (Don't worry, it won't take long)
You know what? I was annoyed by these two girls who thought they could manipulate me around like a puppet — it's time to show who's the host of the house.
Me: もういいから,うるさい! 家は俺が決める! (That's enough, shut up! My house, my choice!)
After saying that, I just continued walking…
Yumeko: Isn't…isn't that my home too?
Me: Your home is in Japan, not here.
The next thing I know, is when I turned back, I saw the tears flooding her eye frame without flowing out of it. She sobbed while staring at me angrily — it's my first time seeing her getting angry. 💀
AI: Okay, you're dead.
I know.
As she just continued walking to school, Cindy glared at me like looking at an unrecyclable rotten trash — that's the moment I realized I said something wrong. 💀
It took me so long to digest what I just said to her, I don't even have a mood to fix the code while I can't even sleep in the library. I was thinking of messaging her to apologize, but then I remember she left her phone at home.
AI: That was really hurting you know?
I guess this is the point where I can't take it anymore. I never intended to live with her, I never intended to give up my room to her, I never intended to take care of a cousin when I was enjoying my loneliness — yes, I'm mad at this for a long time.
Even Cindy who sat next to me kept kicking me all along the class slots. She glared at me with her classic fierce looking and humphed me every single time I looked back — she's angry I get it.
AI: You think she wants to be here? What if your aunt forced her to study here?
Suddenly I got a message from my aunt when I was self-condemning at the corner in the library.
Aunt: Hey Rin, how's Yumeko?
What should I say? "Oh sorry, I just pissed off your daughter…".
Me: She's good.
Aunt: Oh really? I messaged her and she's not replying…
Me: Um…I think she's still having classes.
Aunt: I see…you know I'm glad that she can blend in well.
Me: ?
Aunt: Yeah, she told me Rin took care of her well.
...I did?
Aunt: She also mentioned a neighbor named Cindy, she sent me the picture of them hanging out.
...😐
Me: She did?
Aunt: Compared to the life of being bullied in Japan, she's now happier…
Me: Wait, bully?
Aunt: Yeah, your mom didn't tell you about it?
...
...I…um…💀
After the conversation ended, I really think I deserve a place in hell. 🥲
I skipped classes just to see if I could coincidentally meet Yumeko around the campus, I search on second floor which is the floor of the Form 2 students, I search on the canteen to see if she's getting herself a comforting food, I search around the hall to see if she could be here…
Then I saw a freshly bloomed hibiscus — yes I do remember.
When I was around 6 years old, my aunt came to visit us. Of course Yumeko was here too. We got along well, she likes fairy tales and my Pokemon Game Cards. I like it when she teaches me basic Japanese as I think they're cute — everything changed on that day.
It was the day before they went back to Japan, me and Yumeko were playing the wedding role play. She's the bride holding a plastic hibiscus while I took my father's bow tie. The room was decorated like a wedding church hall, after we vowed — she suddenly kissed me.
I was terrified, I knew it shouldn't be like this, and I said to her — "Ew, that's disgusting!"
I now remember her smile fades, what's coming next is the redding eyes and flowing tears. I did not apologize but ran away, what I want to run away — I left her crying in the room alone.
Since then, they returned to Japan. Other than the scar, nothing was left.
"Looking for someone?" — yes, it was Cindy.
Me: What do you want?
Cindy: Nothing, just want to see if you still have conscience.
I ignored her and sat onto the bench at the canteen, she sat down next to me.
Cindy: It was just a smartphone, is it even necessary to do that?
Me: I don't know…wait, aren't you supposed to be in class?
Cindy: Just skipping class once a time, it's not a big deal.
Is this the real Cindy or the mysterious urban legend of Cloned Human???
Cindy: Same as the journey back to grab the smartphone, it was not a big deal either.
...
Until the end of class, me and Cindy were waiting for Yumeko. I don't know if she's still angry, at least let me apologize.
Cindy: All the Form 2 students left, where's Yumeko?
...
...wait!
Cindy: Where're you going!!! Hey!!!
Cindy almost grabbed my arm when I was about to run.
I don't know what, I think something happened to Yumeko — I think I started to worry.
This is the moment I feel something different.
Is this…..panic?
My head was blank at the moment.
I think I can hear myself breathing.
I checked the teacher's offices, female toilets, all the staff room and even the lockers to see if she's in here.
What if she's being bullied again???
What if she got kidnapped!!!????
What if…
Seriously, I hate this feeling.
Just at the moment of filling in the blank about what might happen to her, I opened one of the storerooms, and just before I checked if someone's inside — something warm rushed onto my body, the familiar black hair appeared in my sight.
I found her.
Yumeko screamed out loud and cried.
I was shocked but at the same time I felt relieved when I found that she's fine.
I took a look at the storeroom door, it's SR-019, the only room with a broken lock, which can only be opened from the outside…
Is she being bullied again?
AI: No, I checked the camera footage, she locked herself in there.
Why?
AI: No idea, wanna ask?
I don't know...I don't care, for some reason I'm not sure if I should let go.
AI: Just hold her tight, buddy. The scattered pieces are recovering.
Which I didn't, I didn't push her away and kept saying sorry to her…
…What's wrong with me? 😐
...
Hold on, this does not explain why YUMEKO IS NEXT TO ME!!!! WHY!!!!???? 😭😭😭
AI: Traumatized I guess, you better don't push her away.
WHAT??? MY TURN TO BE TRAUMATIZED!!!! AHHHHH!!!! 😭😭😭
AI: You better not wake her up, she might want to disappear on the spot.
…yoohoo! Same here!
...
OI!!!! THE HELL WILL SWALLOW ME IF I DON'T!!! HELP!!!!!😭😭😭
AI: Calm down, buddy. You're now a safe zone to her.
...for some reason, she's sleeping soundly.
AI: Trust me, buddy. Fractures take time to recover, if you push her away right now, she'll be broken again.
...
I padded her head like comforting a little bunny to see if she's really sleeping…yes, she is. 😒
I guess I'll keep my eyes open till the morning — and…I failed, I fell asleep somehow.
The next morning Yumeko was gone but a stain of saliva left on my shirt…yuck!!! 🙄🙄🙄
She came out from the bathroom and realized I woke up, she slightly bowed, she was dodging my sight on purpose, I bet she knows what happened last night.
Me: あの… (Um…)
"ごめん" — we apoligized at the same time.
Yumeko: 本当にごめん,実は....(I'm really sorry, actually…)
Before she continues, I decided to interrupt as I know there's something that I need to confess before it is too late — I'm done regretting.
Me: 悪かった,ごめん (My bad, I'm sorry)
I was scratching my head and kept my sight away from her. I still have no idea how to apologize properly, I just want to try my best to let her know.
Me: じ.....自分を許せないから,でも僕... (I…I won't forgive myself, but I….)
The next thing that happened was Yumeko walking towards me. I'm ready for a slap if it makes her feel better.
But what shocked me was — she grabbed me tight with her voice sobbing.
Yumeko: もう許したよ.(You're forgiven.)
...
I patted her head like I did last night, there's something I need to inform her in person.
Me: 今日から,ここは夢子新しい家だ,君をずっと守って.
Yumeko: は — ?
....
Welp, she looked at me with all the question marks in her eyes — I have question marks too.
That's the moment I realized, that was the signal that tells me — I said something wrong, again. 🥲
WHAT DID I JUST SAID????? 💀💀💀
AI: Um...I bet you were trying to say "I will take good care of you", right?
Yeah, and?
AI: You said "I will protect you forever"
What —The —!!! 💀
AI: ...rest in peace buddy.
Resting.
Yumeko: わかりました (Understood.)
Me: あ...あの,ち...違うよ,ご...誤解しないで,実は… (Um…N…No, you…you misunderstood, actually…)
Yumeko: I get it, I'm okay.
I HOPE YOU TRULY GET IT!!!! 😭😭😭
WHY'S SHE SMILING!!!!????
AI: Trust me, buddy. You should stop speaking in Japanese.
YOU SHUT UP!!! You should've warned me earlier!!!!!😭😭😭
AI: Chill, buddy. I think she really got it.
...
And what now? She's still here.🥲
IT FEELS LIKE AN OVEN INSIDE HERE!!! AHHHH—!!!! 😭😭😭
AI: You started it, take it. 😏
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!!!😭😭😭😭