Chapter 68

Gumi.

"What're you going to sing?" I asked Yuma as we left the school. He had his arm thrown over my shoulder, and he pulled me closer.

"I don't know," he said, "Really, I don't know."

"Well, you're going to have to decide soon, right?" I frowned, "I mean, there isn't much time left till the big day!"

"You're going to be there, right?" Yuma asked.

"What? Of course!" I said, surprised by his question, "How could I not be there if you're going to be there?"

He grinned. "Just checking."

"When you smile at me, I feel like I've just gone for a jog," I said.

"Really?"

"Yeah," I smiled, "My heart just beats faster and faster and faster...and within a few minutes, it feels as though I've been running laps all day!"

"I didn't realize I had that kind of effect on you," Yuma mused, "Do you want to drop by my place?"

"Your mom's cool with it, right?" I frowned. He shrugged.

"She's not home at this time on Thursdays," he said, "Come on, I want to show you the view from my balcony."

"Okay," I nodded, "But can we race to your place?"

"You'll win," Yuma said, suddenly grabbing me by my waist, "Unless I do this."

I yelped as he lifted me in his arms and ran down the street. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held tightly, shutting my eyes.

"Y-You're going too fast!" I laughed, peeking for a second and then shutting my eyes again.

"I could never go too fast for you," he said. There was humour in his voice. I sighed and pressed my head against his chest, opening my eyes only when he stopped.

"Here we are," he said between breaths, "You know this morning, when I said that you weren't that heavy?"

"Yeah?"

Yuma stretched his arms with a slight groan. "That wasn't entirely true."

I punched him the shoulder. "You liar!" I grinned. He grabbed my arm and began tickling me. I felt my limbs go out of control as my laughter echoed down the empty street.

"I'd carry you no matter how heavy you'd be," he said, finally stopping with the tickling, "Er, not that you're really heavy or anything, it's just..."

"Yuma," I said, grinning. He looked at me.

"Y-Yeah?"

"It's fine," I said, "Now, are we going in or not?"

Luka.

"Come with me," I said, crossing my arms as I watched Gakupo finish his meal. He looked at me blankly.

"Come with you where?" He frowned. I looked at his face and wiped it with a paper towel. Food was all over his mouth.

"We're going to watch a movie," I said.

Gakupo was quiet. "Like, a date?" He said finally.

"No, not like a date!" I burst out, "L-Like a...make-the-depressed-guy-feel-better movie..type...thing..."

He grinned at me, amused. Something told me that he was feeling at least a little bit better.

"I know," I looked away, "I'm stupid."

"No, no, you're not," he shook his head, "It's just...the way you talk really makes me feel better. That's why I was smiling."

I scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"I'll go see a movie with you," he said. I nodded slowly.

"We'll go in a little while," I said, "Let me wash these dirty dishes first."

I took his empty bowl and plates, but he grabbed them, too. The tips of our fingers met, and I let go suddenly, feeling an almost electrical sensation rippling through my body the instant we touched.

"That was kind of scary," I said my under my breath. Luckily, Gakupo didn't seem to take notice.

"I'll wash these," he smiled, "You should go home and get changed."

I nodded quickly, without really thinking twice. "I'll be here in two hours," I said.

"Take your time," Gakupo said, "I mean, for the last five days or so, you've been coming to my place and helping me out. You've been trying to make me feel better. Now I want you to go home, maybe take a shower, relax, take a nap or something. Whenever you're ready, just call."

"B-But...," I couldn't believe that I was stuttering in front of him like this.

"It's okay, Luka," he said softly, "I'll be fine. Thank you."

Len.

I swallowed slowly, keeping my eyes locked with Rin's. We walked down the hall and made a turn, slowly heading towards the door.

I really wasn't sure how to start. My hand slid down past her wrist and my fingers became tangled with hers, but I pulled away quickly.

"I'm sorry," I began. My throat felt extremely dry, "If I didn't tell you, I'd just hurt you even more. Telling you...will also hurt, but I need to tell you. You have to know, Rin, I can't..."

I covered my face with my hands. Rin's hand crawled up my back and she patted reassuringly.

"Please tell me, Len," her words were so soft and quiet that I could barely hear them.

I smiled weakly as we left the school. Sunlight splashed over us and I squinted, shielding my eyes.

"It's your father, Rin," I said finally with a sharp exhale. She looked at me, confused.

"What about him?"

"He's...," I paused and rubbed the nape of my neck, "He's...my father, too."

Rin looked at me as though I was crazy. "W-What?"

Wordlessly, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the photograph of my parents.

"My father left my mother when she was pregnant," I explained, handing the photograph to her with a shaky hand, "That's him. Ren. He's...my dad."

She stared at the picture for a long time as we left the schoolyard and continued down the street. A gentle breeze blew through my golden locks and the trees around us cast cool shadows over our small, insignificant presences.

I watched Rin carefully as her facial expression changed constantly, from one of surprise, to despair, to sadness, love, anger...so many feelings, all evoked by a simple explanation and an old photograph. Rin rubbed her eyes and rubbed the photograph with the pad of her small thumb, specifically Ren's face, as though she could rub it off and change who my father was.

"No," she whispered, "This can't..."

"We can't be together, Rin," I bit my lip as my voice began to crack. Here I was, about to cry again, "We can't...not in that way..."

"Why does it have to be this way, Len?" She cried, looking up at me and shaking her head, "Why can't I...fall in love with you and stay in love?"

"It's more than a crush," I said, swallowing back the urge to crumble in front of her, "It's more than love at first sight. It's...a connection between us. We're...bound by blood, and that's why we were drawn to each other..."

"Len, I can't accept this!" Rin said, shoulders shaking as she handed the photograph back, "S-So that's why..."

"When you wanted to kiss me under the stairwell," I began slowly, "I wanted to let you, but I couldn't...I'm so confused, Rin, but...we can't be together."

"We can't," her voice rang out like the sound of shattering glass. Suddenly, she bolted down the street and ran to those gates outside of her house.

"Goodbye," she mouthed, tears streaming down her face. I shut my eyes and looked away. Both of us couldn't crumble, not at once.

I didn't follow her.

Oh my God, you guys...freaking out much? I'm sorry, it's just...I'm freaking out! Yes, even though I'm the writer, I'm freaking out, how silly is that?
Tell me what you thought of Len's talk! And isn't Luka adorable?
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