Sixteen-year-old Arianne took a deep breath as she stared at the bent figure of her friend Kyohei Sawada. They are currently in the library of Holy Cross Academy and spending time. They are both graduating this batch. Kyohei was their class valedictorian while she was the salutatorian.
Kyohei and Arianne have been friends since they were in grade one. Ever since he defended her against their peers who were bullying her, they have become friends. Kyohei was always by her side. He does not neglect her. She thought he was a brother, friend and partner at first.
Until she liked him.
She did not know when she changed her mind about Kyohei. At first he was just a friend of hers but she only woke up one morning looking for something else — seeking his love.
They were in their second year of high school when she noticed that she was treating men differently. He fell in love with Kyohei, fell and was unable to get up. Until he finally sank — he loved his friend.
When they were in the fourth year of high school he accepted to himself that he really loved his friend. He did everything to hide that. She did not want to lose the only man she had ever been friends with. Yes, he has other friends like Ian who was his friend before he became friends with Kyohei but Kyohei is different from Ian.
Very different.
But he is having a hard time hiding his feelings. The difficulty of hiding the emotion forced out of his heart. She wanted to keep her view of the man secret but she was having a hard time. He was within reach of the man but he felt it was far away.
He rested deeply. He could feel sweat forming on his forehead as it was cold here inside the library. He was nervous about the decision made in his brain. How many days has he been thinking about it? It seems to be Sunday. They have graduation tomorrow. He wanted to at least tell his friend his love for it before they even parted ways. What he knows is that he will go to college in Japan.
Even if he leaves, he will have no remorse because he can express his feelings for it.
"Is there a problem, Yannie?" that voice of Kyohei aroused his thoughts.
Her heartbeat quickened when she met the melted chocolate of her eyes behind the glass she was wearing with the black frame. He looked so cool when he was wearing that black-rimmed eyeglass of him.
He smiled. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Kyohei. There is something about Kyohei that causes a smile to appear on his lips for no reason. Just seeing the man makes him smile. This is probably how it is when you love.
"Yannie?"
He blinked and slightly waved his hand. "No, no. I just had a sudden thought." he lied.
Yannie. Kyohei is the only one who calls him that. When someone calls her "Yannie" besides Kyohei she is furious. She wanted only the man to call her that.
"You seem to be thinking deeply. Your forehead is very wrinkled, oh," he said. He approached her slightly and gently stroked her frown.
He felt something because of its simple action. I guess this is what they call "spark."
"Actually, I have something to say to you, Kyohei," he said in a low voice.
He raised both elbows on the table and placed the chin on the palm. It looked straight at him and he couldn't help but be misled. It seems that it can read its most secret secret because of its kind of stare. He seemed to want to melt under its gaze.
"What's that?"
She closes her eyes as fear envelops her heart. When he says how he really feels for Kyohei, it is not far off that their friendship has been tested for a long time. How many days has he prepared himself for this day but why is fear still in his heart?
But he no longer wanted to be confined to a pretense. She only pretends to be a friend to the man even though she already loves him dearly.
"Kyohei, I, ah ... I, ano—"
"Hmm? Is something wrong with you, Yannie?" he said and touched her cheek.
He closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly in his hand. If the end of his confession does not turn out well, this is probably the last time he will feel the warmth of his hand. This is probably the last time he will talk to her. Anyway, it's going to Japan again, eh.
He looked up and looked Kyohei straight in the eye. "I love you, Kyohei. Not as a best friend or brother. I love you."
He heard no response a to man. It just kept staring at him. Tears welled up in her eyes especially when she saw the various emotions in her chocolate-colored eyes. She saw guilt, pain and sadness on them.
"Yannie—"
"I'm not asking for you to love me, too, Kyohei. I just want you to know because it's so hard for me to hide, eh."
Kyohei was blown away by the wind and violently stroked her long hair. "I'm sorry, Yannie. I only think of you as a sister."
It was as if a knife had pierced his heart when he heard what he said. Yes and he is ready for this to happen but it still hurts when you hear from the mouth of your loved one that he will not be able to love you because he only considers you a brother. They are right that a friend or brother is the most painful person the person you love so much will call you.
She smiled hard despite the tears forming in her eyes. "Hey, it's okay, no! Don't look at me like that. I'm fine," he said and forced a laugh. He immediately bent down and scratched his bag to hide the tears from his eyes. "Oh, I left something in the classroom. Wait, I can't go home at the same time, Kyohei. Sorry!"
He did not wait for the man to answer and quickly left the place. On both cheeks was the abundant tears that flowed directly into the drip.
Right there and then, she vowed to herself that she would forget what had happened. Even if it meant forgetting her best friend, Kei ...
