Ugly to you, Mine to me
Chapter 33: He Held Me Tighter, and Somehow I Still Felt Far Away
Akiro started waiting for her after class again.
No questions.No expectations.Just… presence.
He leaned against the lockers, hands in his pockets, eyes half-lidded like always.
But when she passed by?
He'd fall into step beside her like he never left.
"You still drink that bitter canned coffee?" she asked one day, teasing gently.
"Still awful," he muttered. "Still better than people."
"You're not that different," she smiled.
He looked at her sideways.
"You think I'm better now?"
"I think you're still pretending you don't want to stay."
He didn't answer.
But he didn't walk away either.
That afternoon, they sat behind the gym — their old hiding place.
He handed her half his sandwich.
She took it with trembling hands.
He noticed.
"Are you cold?"
"No," she lied. "Just tired."
She bit her lip as her heart fluttered too fast again.
That dizzy spell from last night hadn't passed.
Akiro leaned back on his elbows, eyes on the sky.
"Do you ever think about the future?" he asked.
She hesitated.
"I used to."
"And now?"
"I try not to."
He glanced at her.
"Do you want me to stay this time?"
She looked at him — the boy who vanished, who returned with bruised hope stitched into his words.
And she wanted to scream yes.
But instead, she whispered:
"Only if you promise not to mourn me."
His face twitched.
"What does that mean?"
She smiled.
But her eyes were glassy.
"Nothing. Just… don't fall apart if I disappear first."
He laughed once.
Too softly.
"Impossible."
That night, her phone buzzed.
[Doctor's Appointment Confirmed: Tomorrow, 3:00PM]
She stared at the screen.
Then at the new bruise blooming on her ribs without cause.
Her hands shook.
But she didn't cancel.
She just typed a new note in her phone:
"If I die, let him have the sketchbook."
And below it:
"But don't tell him yet. I want him to believe I'll stay."