Kirito squirmed in his sleep. He was perspiring heavily and was extremely uncomfortable under the blanket.

"You psychopath!"
"I prefer creative"

He opened his eyes all of a sudden got up. He was wet with sweat and his head was spinning. He fell back on the bed and looked overhead.
"Great, I can't sleep now. At this rate, I'll go mad"

He tucked his knees into his stomach and curled his back. He clenched his arms and dug his face into the pillow. He moved into every position he could think of but it was all vile effort.

"Alright, I can't sleep." He got up. Vivian was asleep on the sofa. He walked towards the fridge and searched for a beer can.

"We are out of beer. I'll just get some more." He said as he moved towards the entrance and tucked his shoes. He walked out of the apartment. The streets were empty and dim lit by the street lights. It was quiet and still.

"It's been a month since I went to work" Kirito mumbled while walking "I can't let dad take over forever. I need to get my shit together."

He entered a convenience store and walked towards the cold stacks. He took twelve beer cans wrapped together in one packet and paid through his card. He walked out of the shop. He stopped by a park and sat on the bench. He looked ahead and then looked at sky above him.

"I couldn't sleep today either" He said. He opened one can and started drinking. He sat there for about an hour, staring at the stars.

"Why can't I forget all about the past."
"Maybe because deep inside, you don't want to forget it. You want to remember it" Jericho sat beside him. Kirito looked at him "Another dream?"
"Maybe" Jericho picked a beer can.

"Who are you? Are you some kind of spirit?" Kirito asked.
"Not really. You won't call me a spirit." Jericho took a sip of the beer.
"Then, what are you?"
"I'm the truth. A truth which everyone hates. Everyone but you"

"That's why you are talking to me?"
"I talk to everyone who can hear me"
"You're really difficult to understand" Kirito kept the can aside.
"You'll understand when everything falls in place and the first snow hits the ground."
"What do you mean?" Kirito asked as he looked at him.

"Somebody is here to pick you up." Jericho pointed behind him. Kirito turned back and found Vivian standing at the gate of the park.
"Vivian?" Kirito said as he got up "What are you doing here?"
"I have told you not to leave without telling me. But you like to make me worried." Vivian walked towards him.

"How did you wake up in the middle of the night?"
"Somebody left the fridge's door open. I started feeling cold so I got up and bam you were gone." Vivian looked at beer can.

"Drinking?" Vivian asked as she picked up the empty cans. He turned back and Jericho was gone. She threw the empty cans inside the dustbin.

"I'm going crazy." Kirito mumbled as he looked at the ground. Vivian raised his chin "It's okay, everyone is crazy in their own way."
He looked at her as she picked up rest of the beer cans "Come," He walked behind her as they walked towards the apartment.

They entered the apartment and Vivian arranged the beer cans inside the fridge. She turned back and twisted his ear. He shouted.

"What are you doing?" He slapped her hand.
"Why can't you sleep?"
"I don't know..."
"Bullshit! Get into your bed! Now!" Vivian shouted in German.

Kirito quietly did as told. She rolled him up into the blanket "Now sleep"

'She can never understand...' He thought as he closed his eyes. He turned his back towards her and looked at the wall. She pressed her palm on his head.

"Call me if you need anything." She smiled and went towards the sofa. He lay on the bed for another few minutes and finally got up.He walked towards Vivian and sat in front of her. She was asleep already. He pressed his palm over her head.

"Help me" He said, softly.
She held his hand and opened her eyes.
"You didn't sleep?" Kirito asked.
"I can't"
"Why?"
"Because you have been sad lately. I'd rather have you angry than sad."

Kirito smiled "Idiot."
She smiled and looked into his eyes.
"Kirito, do you have insomnia?"
"No, I just can't sleep some nights because I need to fight my demons"

Vivian rubbed his hand "You're beautiful when you're honest"
"Am I not beautiful when I'm not honest?"
"Then you're just handsome"

'Should I tell her? That my mind is fighting a body that is trying to trying to kill it? My mind is in ruins and I've got a garden to keep.'

"Hey," Vivian got up and sat on the sofa. Kirito looked up at her as he sat on the carpet. She pressed his cheeks with her thumb
"Idiot loves you, okay?"

He looked at her.
'Something has changed
I can't...
I can't change it back...And surprisingly, I don't want to.'

"I was a mistake" Kirito finally spoke out. Finally, he broke down that smile which was a dam to the troubled waters of his soul. Vivian took a deep breath as she looked at him.
"Tell me about it"
"I can't tell you. I promised I would never"
"To whom?"
"I can't tell you"
"Hiomi..."

He got up and sat beside her. He moved closer to her. She looked at him. It was as if his heart was talking through his eyes. He pressed her hands on his face "Rough hands aren't that bad. But I'd prefer the soft."
"I'll apply some lotion."

He pressed his hands on her face.
"Yours are soft." She smiled. He moved them across her hair and brought his face closer to hers.
"Hiomi?" She blushed.
"I can't believe how much I love this. It's something so pure and ethereal."

Vivian turned from pink to red. He smiled naughty and touched her nose "So, wanna do some husband-wife stuff?"
"I- I don't know what you're talking about" Vivian moved away.
He laughed "I am just teasing you." He got up from the sofa and stretched himself.
"You mean you won't do anything?" Vivian asked.
"Well, someone sure is disappointed."
"Not really," Vivian made a pout. Kirito smiled as he looked at her.

Jericho stood into a plane, which drove over Fox Glacier, New Zealand.
"Alright passengers, has everyone got their parachutes?" The instructor asked.
"Yes" Three English men stood beside him.

"Jump!" The instructor shouted. They all jumped down. Jericho spread his arms and howled.
"So, this is how mortals taste death! It is actually fun! Wo!"

- To be continued

My Heart Hates MeBecause I Love You