Nothing New, or is it?

I stepped out of the bathroom, barely wiping my head with the towel before throwing it on the chair. I looked at the boxes left unpacked but then thought - tomorrow. If I am to ever get an award at something, prolly it would be for prolonging, pfft.

I slumped down on the bed and took a deep breath. Hah, new beginnings. Though this isn't much different than before. Back when my grandma passed away, Haruto begged his family to take me in. I laughed remembering that. The idiot. His parents were nice people but they've only just met me so it was not possible for them to take my custody. Fortunately I was placed in a children's home run by my grandma's friend, still in kanazawa. It was warm and nice but it took me some time to settle in with the feeling of being - alone. But, Haruto was there always. We went to the same school and even though I was living in the children's home, I was spending most of my time in Haruto's house. Haruto's family was well deserving of being called his, as they were just the same!

Haruto's father Shirou Takahashi, was a business man and his mother Harumi Takahashi, was a housewife who gave home cooking classes. They were warm people. Ojisan and Obasan always looked after me. They never made me feel left out. With Haruto, I found a friend, a family and a place to belong to.

I wonder when those feelings started turning into something else. Hah...

Sighing I looked at the clock hanging over my desk, it was half past midnight. Am I an owl for thinking it's still to early to fall asleep? I layed their looking at the lights of the streets reflected through my window. It has started to drizzle. Somewhere, a puddle was created and light reflected from the small pool of water and created shadows of waves on my ceiling. It was so..quite.

I got up and grabbed my phone. Smiling at the funny group chat notifications, I scrolled down to read Haruto's comments.

Kai: "- so I was thinking about ham or chicken? Help me choose! "

Ryouta : "You're getting dinner this late ya idiot?"

Kai :" It's for midnight snacks, hehe. But where'd Haru go? Brat's hiding a gal I swear!"

Haruto : " I'm here, you! And I just had a text from club is all"

Sasaki: " club texting you at midnight?"

Kai : " Oi, when you getting here? Are you gonna skip the whole week or what?"

Ryouta :" He said he's coming tomorrow? "

Sasaki: "What he said. "

Ryouta: " And Haru's gone again, wanna bet?"

Haruto :" Ok, fuck. So I have been texting a girl, happy?!"

Reading this made me frown. Not that I have a right to. Yet..

Kai: " Atta boy! So what's her name?"

Haruto: " Shove off. It's just a girl from our Department, she also happens to be on the cheerleading team so we got introduced is

all."

Ryouta : "She cute?" (smirking emoji)

Haruto : "Actually, more like cute and pretty, also smart "

Kai:"Lover boy!--"

I dropped the phone on the bed and curled on the other side. Why am I getting this uneasy, dammit! It's not like..it's the first time.

" Isami, meet Mika-chan." a high schooler Haruto grinned sheepishly yet proudly.

" Ah, Hi! Nice to meet cha. New friend huh?" I smiled, knowing in some corner of my mind that that's not the case.

" My girlfriend, girlfriend you baka! "

" Haha, congratulations "

How easy it is for you to know all of me yet be deceived by my smile that has cracks of sadness seeping in? No, It's not your fault. It's only human nature. Always searching for love, when we finally find it, we suddenly become blind to all imperfections around us in the bounds of happiness of being with our beloved. Isn't that, just like me also? I hurt and hurt so much yet looking at your bright smile - I forget all the heartache.

No! I won't be so pathetic to feel sad over nothing. That's right. It's just a friend, didn't Haru said he's not looking for a relation now? right?

Yes, just a friend.

Yet when I'm on the brink of sleep.... I feel moisture slip from the corner of my eyes. Not tears! Probably.. the rain got in....