Kyohi's Past (2)

"Serves you right." Momo gave back the silver scissors from the home economics lab back to the person she snatched from. "That's what you get for looking up to me like that. No one disrespect me or other wise you'll have the same thing as her."

The last sentence wasn't meant for Kyohi but for the gang to not go against her and everyone should keep their mouth shut about what happened there. They were not in place to go against one of the multi-business owner's little princess daughter.

Momo glared at the girl on the ground, bleeding from the forehead as if she was trash and huffed before walking away from the spot followed by the fake boob gang.

Kyohi couldn't put strength in her legs and just sat there, staring at the ground with shock, confusion, anger and fear.

She wasn't sure why, how and what was happening to her. Why did they do this to her? How did this happen? What did she do?

She was so focused on her thoughts that her brain wasn't registering the pain she was feeling from her forehead, lips and her hands until there was a loud car hunk that fixed everything in Kyohi's mind.

She jumped up from the pain in her hands and looked at them as if that was her first time seeing the wound. She then carried on to touch the injury on the forehead through her messy hair and confirmed its existence.

Kyohi took a hold of her bag with a broken strip and slowly walked away from the scene.

She knew if somebody saw her that way, they were going to call the ambulance and cops and make everything a big thing so she went straight to the pool area to wash off everything.

She also did that to clear her vision and wash the dirt on the wounds on her hands. She remembered her grandfather teaching her about infections rusted iron could bring since he was a blacksmith and knew that she shouldn't leave them that way.

Somehow the wound didn't hurt as much as she thought when she washed them, especially the forehead cut. Maybe because she was used to it...

After she was sure that the wounds were clean, she removed hello kitty bandaids from her pouch and stuck them. One for each wound on the hand and three for the forehead cut.

She couldn't let anybody see that she got hurt, especially her mother.

Kyohi made sure that there was no blood in the sink which she used and walked out of the poolside washroom as if nothing was wrong when she was actually terrified inside.

She constantly touched the wounds to affirm to herself that everything was going to be alright.

Apart from her messy cut hair which she tied up into a bun, everything was like usual. As long as she acted cool, nobody was going to suspect anything.

She walked straight to her house without having to greet anybody.

Entered the apartment silently and faced the messed-up room that she called home.

/////

"Kyohi, are you going to eat?"

The girl blinked a couple of times and smiled at her new friend gently, "I am going to eat."

Ever since Helia Knight came into the life of Kyohi Takanashi, things took a change in a good way. Two weeks of staying with her proved to her that.

Helia was the energy Kyohi needed in life. Brings laughs and surprises every day, successfully making her smile more and open herself to her.

Ever since that day in the canteen, Momo and her side chicks had tried to pick on the duo but her father's status did nothing to a person from another country who didn't even know of the cooperation. So, for now, nothing was happening.

"My grandma made this and it's really good. You should give it a try." Helia pointed at the egg roll in her bento box and looked at the other expectedly.

"Okay." Kyohi gladly accepted and gave a thumbs up after taking a bite of it. "It's really good!"

Helia smiled brighter than the sun and said, "She's going to be happy to hear that. Also, when I told her about how you add a spoon of honey into the rolls, she actually tried it today."

"Really? No wonder it tastes familiar and not familiar at the same time."

"You sure that you knew? Are you saying that because I told you?"

"It's true! I just didn't say it before and now I told you!"

"Uh-huh. And I believe ya."

The harmony of laugh the two created was so peaceful, fun and pleasing to hear.

Since the rooftop of the peach wing became their spot, it became their relaxing space and a place to have a talk without caring about the rest of the world.

They really liked how other students and students didn't want to come because of the 'creepy' vibes and wasting a very good spot and experience up there.

Kyohi often listened to Helia talk about the life she had before coming to this country with her best friend, who she dearly loved like a brother, with excitement.

Because she had never gone outside of this country, or this prefecture, and she was the only child, everything was full of surprises and excitement.

She liked seeing the expression on her friend's face hearing about an experience she was never going to have was all fun.

In return to Helia's story, Kyohi told her about the legends of the city along with the life she had with her grandfather, who was currently admitted to a hospital for treatment for his illness.

As Helia didn't have much experience with her grandparents, it made her jealous and wanted to have that kind of relationship with her grandparents now that she had a chance and was living together.

The way Kyohi's face shone, talking about her childhood memories was different from her usual self.

Now that Helia was here, Kyohi surely laughed more and smiled more, but even Helia couldn't bring out that kind of expression from her. Yet.

The girl turned into a whole new person when she spoke about her grandfather. As if how she was in class and in front of everyone was an act. There was life in her eyes along with happiness and tenderness.

It made Helia wonder why she wasn't like that all the time. Surely, if she was this chatty and lively, people would stop misunderstanding her.

Also if she changed her style.

Get rid of the glasses and the mask and already, she was a natural beauty. With the additional help of make-up and her posture, then she was good as a real-life doll that everyone would admire and dream of.

"Is there something on my face?" Kyohi noticed the way the girl in front of her was staring at her and stopped telling her stories.

Helia smiled and shook her head. "Nope. Just wondering why you only show me that smile. It's so sweet and a sight to be hold."

Kyohi immediately looked down at the food on her thighs and avoided answering that question.

"I know you have your reasons and I won't force you into telling me or doing that." Helia told her with a calming and relaxing voice then to a teasing tone, "I wanted you to know that you are stunning and very, very cute. Just wanna put you in my pocket."

Kyohi blushed and replied with a small smile, "That's not true. I'm not that small."

"Girl, I'm sure that I can't fit your clothes, so in my eyes, you are short. Now, get in my pocket." Helia reached for the girl teasingly as the girl giggled and wiggled away.

Helia didn't let the girl go easily and chased after her teasingly as the other ran away, laughing.

After Kyohi was caught by Helia they were back to eating lunch again, she quietly said, "I have a question."

"Shoot." Helia popped rice into her mouth and chewed as she waited.

"Why are you here?"

Helia stopped everything she was doing and asked with genuine confusion, "What do you mean? If you mean why came to this country, it's because of my parents. And if you are asking me about why I'm on this rooftop, it's to eat my lunch in the best spot of the school."

The other shook her head vigorously and rephrased her words, "I mean, why you are staying with me? I know you are very popular in your class and can stay with anyone but why stay with me?"

"First off, you are wrong." Helia paused there and drank water, leaving Kyohi in suspense. After she took a deep breath from swallowing, she continued, "Nobody openly talks to me or tries to be a friend of mine since I embarrassed that b*tch Momo and they are scared of her. Second, 'cause I want to stay with you."

Kyohi widened her eyes for a moment and looked down guiltily. She was keeping something inconvenient for her so that Helia won't stay away from her and she won't be lonely.

So when Kyohi decided to tell her, she couldn't look into Helia's eyes of the fear of being despised but nonetheless managed to keep her voice steady. "Helia, I've been keeping this from you but-"

"I know. You don't need to say it." Helia interrupted her from finishing the sentence and drank water again. "I don't blame you for keeping it because I'd do the same thing if I was in your shoes."

Tears gathered in the girl's eyes and soon dropped.

"I don't know the reason why they are doing this to you but, I know that bullying is never the right thing to do. So, let's end this."

Kyohi felt a warm hand on her shaking shoulder. It was a familiar, comforting feeling. The action was what her grandfather used to do for her every time she felt sad or hurt.

She had forgotten about the feeling since living with her mother but it wasn't. The person to make her feel relaxed and comforted was just passed on.