Next Time

"Hello…"

"Hm? Hello?"

"Rin, are you awake? Get up… it's already evening."

"Oh, Onii, I'm awake…"

"Yeah, right… you just woke up, still half-asleep, huh?"

"Hehe."

"Get up, wash your face, take a shower, and then get dinner ready."

"Okay."

"Alright, alright, get up then. We'll talk later."

"Okay, thanks for waking me up, Onii."

"You're welcome… tata."

"Bye."

"What should I do tonight? I have no idea."

I guess I'll prepare for tomorrow's lectures…

After a while…

*Ting tone* 📩

"Onii, what are you doing?"

Ah, I thought this little girl was done for the dinner … I'll call her back.

"Hello, Rin."

"Hello, Onii."

"So, Rin, have you eaten dinner?"

"Yes, I have. What Mom cooked today was really delicious."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Hehe."

"Since tomorrow is a holiday, Rin can just relax tonight."

"Right, tomorrow's going to be easy-going."

"Well then, let's watch some anime tonight."

"Sure, I'm in. What are you going to watch, Onii?"

"I'm not sure yet… I just finished work, so I haven't thought about it."

"Oh, is that so? Mr. Onii is so hardworking."

"There you go teasing me again, kiddo… you know I hate that."

"Hehe. Well, go do what you need to do, then."

"I'll tell you when I'm done."

"Okay."

"Alright then, tata, Uncle."

"Haa .. there you go again teasing me…

Alright, see you later, little one."

"Giggles, bye-bye."

After she hung up the phone, I was left there smiling… Sigh, this girl… she's something else, always messing with me…

"Onii!"

Parker calls out to me…

"Dude, what are you smiling about now?"

"Oh, just Rin, teasing me."

"Hey, dude, let me ask you something… for real."

"Ask what?"

"Does she have a boyfriend or not?"

"Man, you're so blunt. Why are you asking that?"

"Come on, dude, just ask her… clear it up."

"Okay, fine, I'll ask."

"Go ahead, do it, man."

"I'll give her a call."

After a while…

"Hello… Hello, Rin."

"Yes, Onii?"

"Oh, Rin…"

"Wow, Onii, that was quick."

"No, I'm not done yet. I just had something to ask you, Rin."

"Sure, ask away, Onii. What's up?"

"Well, today, when I was in your room, I saw that you left your phone on the desk. So I picked it up and put it on the table."

"Oh, yeah. I was in a rush and forgot."

"Yeah, that's fine. Sorry, I noticed your phone's wallpaper… he's really handsome."

"Oh, hehe, is that so? Of course, he is. He has to be, right?"

When she said that, I felt something tighten in my chest…

Parker saw my reaction…

"Dude, keep asking her."

"Right."

"So, Rin, is that guy your boyfriend? He's really handsome."

"Hm?"

"What are you talking about, Onii?"

"Oh, I mean, the guy in your wallpaper. Is he your boyfriend? He's really handsome."

As soon as I said that, Rin started laughing uncontrollably…

"What's so funny? You're laughing all by yourself."

"Hahaha…"

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, sorry, sorry. It's just so funny… Onii, you're hilarious… What boyfriend? Where'd you get that from? That picture… Haha…"

"Huh?"

I couldn't say anything back… and I didn't understand at all…

"Rin, what do you mean?"

"Oh, that picture, Onii… That's me when I was younger with short hair… I took it a while ago. Haha… Isn't it cool?"

"This girl… really?"

"Haha, you said he was handsome… I might float up into the sky… What boyfriend? What are you talking about… I don't have a boyfriend… I actually prefer being alone."

I couldn't say anything more… I just laughed along…

And in that moment, I felt my heart bloom like a flower… feeling so content and happy…

"Haha… Alright then, I'll talk to you later. I'm going to take a shower now."

"Oh, oh, someone is curious."

"Me? Nah, it's nothing."

"Haha, alright then, Big Uncle."

"Tata, little one."

"Bye, bye."

After hanging up the phone, the whole room erupted with noise… Parker and I were cheering because… Rin doesn't have a boyfriend!

"Man, I told you it couldn't be true, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right… I'm so happy."

"Haha, dude, you admitting it now?"

"Hey, it's not like that… I still have some things to figure out… you know."

"Yeah, man, I get it."

"Well, whatever the case, this is good news… What do you want to eat? Dinner's on me tonight."

"Whoa, for real? I'm loving this."

"Yep, let's go."

"Okay, man."

After dinner…

"Hello, Rin."

"Yes, Onii? Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, I just got back from dinner."

"Really? It's starting to rain. Don't go out too much at night."

"Yes, ma'am."

"By the way, the new episode that just came out is amazing… it's so good."

"Yeah, the new characters they introduced are also awesome."

And so, we talked until it was nearly 1 AM…

"Rin, are you sleepy? It's almost 1 AM."

"Oh, yeah… I didn't realize how late it was… Time flies when I'm with you, Onii."

"Yeah, time's never enough."

"Tomorrow's a holiday, so I heard the other kids in class talking about going to the playground… they invited me… do you want to come, Rin?"

"Really? I'd love to go, but i didn't get any invitation so, I'm not sure if it's a good idea."

"you'll be fine… I'm sure of it, ONii is with you."

"Okay, then I'll go… tomorrow. Right?"

"Yeah, around 11 AM."

"Okay, I'll be there… I should get some sleep now, then."

"Alright, good night… see you tomorrow."

"Good night, see you tomorrow."

"Okay, tata."

"Bye-bye."

Sigh… why is my heart racing so much… Alright, I better get ready for tomorrow… What should I wear… I'll figure it out… And that's how I ended up staying up until almost 3 AM picking out clothes for tomorrow…

Ah, I'm going to be late if I don't get to sleep… I need to get some rest… And so, I finally went to bed… When I woke up…

My heart was pounding… I quickly took a shower and got dressed… Once I was ready…

*Cling Cling* 📞

Ah, it's Rin… She must be here already…

"Hello, Rin. Are you here?"

"Ah, Onii… I can't go today…"

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, something came up, so I can't go."

"Oh, okay."

"Sorry, Onii… I said I'd go, but now I have to cancel… Are you ready to go?"

"Um, no… I haven't gotten ready yet… I just woke up."

The truth is, I was already ready, but I didn't want to make Rin feel bad…

"Oh, really? Haha, good thing then… you should go back to sleep."

"Yeah, I'll do that… see you later, Rin."

"Bye-bye."

I don't know why, but I felt this emptiness in my chest…

Just as I was standing there in front of the mirror, a student saw me and said,

"Hello, Mr. Onii… are you ready to go?"

"Well, Paul… Actually, something urgent came up… I'll have to skip this time."

"Oh, alright, Mr. Onii… Maybe next time then?"

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's fine… I'll be going then."

"Alright, have fun."

"Thanks, Mr. Onii."

And so, I was left alone in the school hall… not knowing what to do…

Hmm, maybe I'll go back to sleep… This time didn't go as planned, but next time…

I still want to go out with you… 🦋

Together… ✨