The following day, Susanne agreed not to take me to school, and so I had another day in my room. When school hours were over, I decided to go to Aki's house to apologise to him in person. Mr Nakamura came over to pick me up and I was happy to see him, since it had been awhile. Before leaving, I decided to take my art sketchbook. If anyone could help me complete it well, it was Aki. Maybe if he forgave me, he'd help me out.

As I followed Mr Nakamura down the corridor, I passed the living room where Katie was sitting with Amber, and they were whispering, but loud enough for me to hear.

"I can't believe she didn't know about it before..."

My body tensed.

"You think in her country they don't tell the girls about it"?

"That's impossible, Amber. But it must have been so embarrassing to watch. I would hate for that to happen to me".

"The worst thing was that it was in the school corridor and people were just looking at her, oh my God I can't tell you how much I cringed..." Amber trailed off when she noticed me standing in the doorway, and her eyes widened. She nudged Katie who quickly turned around to look at me.

"Oh, um...you feeling better"? She asked me, her voice high-pitched, trying to cover up what they were just talking about. Then we both tensed, as we realised that was the first time she had said a word to me in the two weeks since our argument, without the adults around.

I narrowed my eyes at her, as I felt the tears stinging them. I held in my breath so as not to let it all out, and walked towards the front door where Mr Nakamura was already waiting for me.

I kept my head down as I put on my shoes and coat, and even when I followed him outside, biting my lip and blinking back the tears that threatened to stream down my face. I climbed into the back of Mr Nakamura's white Audi, and he started up the car.

The sky seemed to reflect my mood, as the grey clouds became darker, and thicker, blocking the sunlight from passing through it.

"So, what exactly happened with you and Aki"? Mr Nakamura asked me, "He won't tell me whenever I ask him. All I know was that you two seemed to have a fight".

"It wasn't really a fight," I replied, staring out the window, watching as the trickles of rain began to slap against the glass, "I said something I shouldn't have...I was having a bad day, so I just lashed out at him. It wasn't his fault. I just feel really bad about it".

"I see," Mr Nakamura glanced at me through the lens of the front mirror before focusing back on the road. "Jemimah, I don't think Aki blames you for anything. If you were having a bad day, he would understand that. I know how he is. He won't hold a grudge".

"But Beatrice said he was really angry that day, and he never gets so worked up about things. I think I might have crossed a line..."

Mr Nakamura seemed to be deep in thought for a while, before he let out a deep breath. "What exactly did you say to him"?

I stayed silent. If I brought up anything about Aki standing up for himself, then Mr Nakamura would know about the bullying. And then Aki would never want to talk to me again."It's complicated," I replied after a while, and he sighed.

The Nakamuras lived in another neighbourhood, closer to the mall, and so it was much busier than the quiet neighbourhood I was used to. Their house was a wide white cottage, with loads of plants in the surrounding area within its gate. Mr Nakamura opened the front door for me, and I walked in to be greeted by the smell of incense.

"It smells so nice in here". I breathed it in.

Mr Nakamura had a sad look in his eye when I said those words, as he took off his shoes. The place had a mix of a woody scent and plants, and the cream coloured walls had paintings along them, next to each door that led to a different room.

Aki came into the corridor, still dressed in his school shirt and trousers, but his blazer and tie were removed. He looked surprised to see me, and he stopped in his tracks.

"A..Aki..." I stammered.

He raised his hand in greeting, but kept his distance. Mr Nakamura signed to him about something and he looked from him to me, and still didn't move.

Removing my shoes, I went over to Aki, and gulped before rubbing a small fist in a circle against my chest, feeling slightly embarrassed just in case I did it wrong. "Um...did I do that right..."?

I had practised the sign in the morning from online videos, looking in the mirror to try and do it in a way that didn't look awkward. I hoped Aki would understand what I was trying to say.

Sorry.

He looked at my hands for a moment before a smile spread across his face. I smiled too, and continued with the other sign I had practised.

Forgive me?

His smile grew bigger and he signed back in a way I didn't understand. "It's okay" He mouthed, before wrapping his arms around me. I wrapped mine back, sighing with relief. "I'm sorry too".

"I told you he wouldn't hold a grudge," Mr Nakamura grinned with a sort of teasing tone in his voice, "That's pretty impressive, Jemimah. You learnt those signs yourself"?

"Yes, I practised online today. I just felt like it would be nice to communicate with him this way".

"It's definitely easier. Aki has a lot of books on it, so you can practise if you like. Aki, won't you offer our guest a drink "?

"Oh, it's fine. I'm not feeling for anything right now". I told them honestly. Aki then seemed to remember something and suddenly backed away from me, signing for Mr Nakamura to translate.

"He asked if that stuff is still happening to you..." Mr Nakamura explained, clearly confused about what Aki could be talking about. Obviously I knew what he meant, and I suddenly went bright red.

Aki sucked in a breath and quickly waved his hands in dismissal telling me not to worry about answering. He did seem frightened, and I remembered what Beatrice had told me about his research. I chuckled quietly as I remembered it, amused.

"You don't have to worry about it now though". I said, smiling in reassurance. He nodded.

Aki then gestured to the living room, and I followed him there. It was small, but felt comfortable and the olive covered walls felt welcoming. As we walked through the living room, I noticed a small arc in the corner of the room that led to a smaller space. I only managed to glance at it, so as not to stare, and noticed the small table with flowers and a picture on it, but I wasn't able to see who it was of. The small incense holder was in there, and that was where the scent was coming from.

It looked like some kind of memorial table.

Aki noticed me looking, as he settled on the brown couch opposite the television. I averted my gaze, and sat next to him, choosing not to say anything.

"You sure you kids don't want anything to eat"? Mr Nakamura placed his hands on his hips. Something seemed to be troubling him, I could tell by the unintended quietness in his voice, and the worried look in his eye.

I glanced over at Aki, who also seemed to be slightly miserable. Maybe today was not the best day to come. It seemed like something had happened. Either that, or he wasn't really happy to see me at all.

"I'm okay thanks, Mr Nakamura". I replied, breaking the temporary silence. He smiled briefly at me and shrugged.

"Well, my study's next door, so if you need anything I'm here. And Aki will show you the kitchen if you do get hungry". He said, before walking out the room.

I noticed Aki's shoulders relax, and he let out a loud sigh. The tension in his body seemed to release as he did so.

"Is everything alright"? I asked him.

He blinked and turned to me. He smiled and I smiled back, and he waved his hand in dismissal before grabbing the remote and turning on the television.

Nowadays, it seemed like everyone had that sad look in their eyes. Everyone was going through something, but all kept quiet about it.

Beatrice was right.

We needed to talk about things.

"I wish we had the confidence to say everything we needed to say".