Hikaru's POV
I dug through my closet, finding something warm to wear once I go out. Lilac and I are going to meet up today to talk about a certain someone—Ryuji.

"Damn, where the heck are all my jackets and sweaters?" I asked myself, rummaging through them.

A pastel brownish yellow cardigan suddenly revealed itself to me the moment I tossed all my unfolded jacekts out of the closet. It was my only cardigan, and I got it from my sister back in middle school.

I wonder if it still fits me.

I grabbed it and put it on, facing the mirror. Hmm, surprisingly, it still does. To be fair, though, when my sister gave me this back in middle school, it was oversized. She got the wrong size. I actually only wore this once, which is also middle school. This cardigan used to almost reach my knees when I first wore it, and since it was big, I kept it inside the my closet and never wore it due to rhe size problems. I only get to wear it again now that I found it.

I recalled my words to Elza back then—I compared her to my cardigan and told her she's my favorite. I had no idea why I said that, I only have one cardigan. Just like how I only have one girl who really brightens my day—Elza.

"I'm leaving!" I told my sister as I walked out of our house. I rode on the bicycle, pedaling to the park.

Lilac was already there, sitting on the bench while munching on some bread. She donned a thick dark green trenchcoat, underneath was light green blouse tucked in black pants.

I parked my bike by the lamp post, then sat beside her. "Did I make you wait?"

She shook her head, a small smile painted on her face. "No, not really." She replied, her voice on a high pitch but soft and calming.

"Now, you promised me you're going to tell me what's the issue between you and Ryuji." She reminded as threw away the wrapped that used to contain the bread she's eating to the bin nearby.

I did promise her that.

The argument between Ryuji and I had started years ago since I dated Amy—Elza's younger sister. I genuinely loved Amy, always cared for her. But Ryuji came into the picture, making the once beautiful painting, a mess.

Ryuji was a manipulative & violent boy, always using force to get what he wants. He wanted Amy, and did everything to get her.

Ryuji was also the main reason why Amy and I broke up. And that is when it all started.

I witnessed how Ryuji treated Amy at first. He was kind, sweet, caring, and always looking out for a girl. But things took a turn after a month of that friendship—he was slowly becoming manipulative and gaslighting Amy.

He was able to take control of Amy's mind and made me look like a bad person in her eyes. Thus, our breakup. And Ryuji made sure to keep it that way.

It worsened as time passed. Ryuji was forcing Amy to be with him, blackmailing and threatening her. He did everything so he can Amy stay dancing on the palm of his hand—and I just know...it wasn't Elza who pushed Amy to the brink of suicide, it was Ryuji.

Amy didn't mind the bullying Elza gave her before. She knew the jealousy Elza had, and she was trying her best to get rid of it and be on good terms with her older sister. But it didn't work out—because Ryuji was secretly pulling the strings. He was making them fight so when Amy felt down, he can come to the rescue and be all sweet, all to keep Amy tied in his leash. And he controlled Elza to be the bad guy.

He had been manipulating the Forte sisters, and his aim was to get Amy. Sadly, he didn't succeed since Amy well...

He had done those methods to other people in the past. Now, he will be repeating the same thing to Elza.

The day I found out Ryuji had his eyes on Elza, I had to act somehow to push him away. But for some odd reason, Ryuji still won.

Was I being puppeteered by him all this time? Or can he really just foresee my movements?

I explained everything to Lilac, from the start up to present. She had a shocked look on her face, a hint of fear in her eyes.

"He's bad news, huh?" Lilac mumbled, "What are you waiting for? We have to push Ryuji away from Elza." She stood up, stretching her limbs.

I chuckled sadly, "How? She hates me."

"The opposite of love is not hate, but apathy. She can hate you, but she can also love at the same time." Such wise words from Lilac. I'm glad I came to her.

Lilac was right. I can't let Elza go through the same thing Amy has went through. I already lost Amy—losing Elza...will leave me haunted.

"By the way, do you have any idea why Ryuji seemingly targets you with his tricks all the time?" Lilac asked. Now that she mentioned it, I really didn't get it either.

Why does Ryuji seem to have his eyes on me like a hawk?

Is it really because of Amy?

Or is there something else?

It's like, he's preying over my friends—specifically, my closest ones, Amy and Elza. And his other victims were also few of my close friends. Why? Just...why?

I clasped my hands together, rested my elbows on my knees, and hunched but forward. I am, sadly, unable to think of an answer.

"I don't know." I admitted, my eyes narrowed as my voice slowly deepens in both anger and anxiety—anger towards Ryuji, but also anxiety to him. It's like up to now, I'm still dancing to his tune. How I wish I knew what the real reason, how I wish I knew he was trouble when he walked in.

"Lilac, All I knew right, is he's trouble."