"When you break up, your whole identity is shattered. It's like death." - Dennis Quiad

XXV.

Grandpa, I really need you right now.

You only left me clues and it was not enough.

I need you to clarify everything to me.

"He was your lover."

Everything just doesn't make sense.

How can I possibly...?

I narrowed my eyes at the duo and clenched my fists on the table. "Do you see me laughing?" I asked them then leaned on my seat. "It's not funny," I drawled.

Yuta-kun wouldn't lie to me, wouldn't he? It's because...

"I love you so much, Yuri!"

And my parents wouldn't lie to me either because...

"We care for you and we're doing what's best for you, Yurika."

Yukari immediately stood up from her seat and slammed her fist on the table. "Yurika, we're not--"

Erika grabbed her arm that made Yukari cut her sentence off then darted her head to the strawberry blonde female which she only shook her head, signaling her to calm down.

She looked at me. "We're not forcing you to believe us, Yurika," She said, her voice was calm and gentle. "But just so you know, we're not going to gain anything from lying to you."

I shook my head then stood up. "Please don't confuse me more than this..." I muttered as I gather my belongings. "I've already wasted enough of my time."

Yukari smiled bitterly then sat down once again. "Wasted... huh?" She emphasized. "This is our first reunion for the past 8 months and I'm sorry because I'm not sorry we wasted our time with you."

I looked at them and sighed. "I'm sorry," I shook my head and massaged my temples. "I'm just so... tired."

"No, it's okay, Yurika." Erika interjected with a sympathetic smile. "You can take your time and think. But if you need us, don't hesitate to talk to us."

I nodded slowly then mirrored her smile. "Thank you," I said sincerely. "I'll see you guys... soon."

They nodded and without another word, I turned on my heels and walked away from my what so called best friends.

"Soon..." I whispered to myself with a simper.

Grandpa, I hope you can read what's on my mind.

I'm so very confused.

"You know you had a lot of practice with your boy. And I must say, he's quite a genius."

"Your boyfriend! Duh."

"Seijuro-kun needs you."

The boy that my grandfather implied as my playmate in shogi and the other boy who needs me... so they're the same boy.

Seijuro Akashi.

So... it's true then?

My feet stopped functioning at the question and I seem to get lost in my own little world.

I don't want to believe this...

They couldn't possibly... no...

No, no, no.

I felt letters being painted in my heart.

Naive.

I don't want to believe that they had lied to me...

Open your eyes, naive girl.

They care for me and they love me! They're supposed to...

Now is the time to not get fooled again.

I continued walking, more like jogging, and turned on the left but then stopped as I saw a familiar brunet leaning his back on the wall with his arms crossed across his chest and he stared at me with his unrecognizable impassive brown eyes.

"You heard us." I said it more like a statement, not a question.

"Yes," He admitted as he made his way to me. "Do you really think I'd just sit back and watch the game while I knew of the fact that they're blabbering about things that could only worsen your condition?"

"So why did you let me go with them?"

"Because I know you're as curious as a cat." He simply said.

And it killed me.

I gave him a blank stare. "I want to go home, Yuta-kun." I deadpanned then walked past him.

And might as well scream at you.

He didn't protest nor did he talk back. He just simply followed me out of the area and drove us home, no words, smiles or even glances shared.

Just as we arrived at the front door of my home, I turned around and faced him. I pursed my lips into a thin line then clenched my fists on my sides. "Do you love me?" I asked him and he looked at me.

"Yes, of course I love you, Yuri." He muttered then looked away, shoving his hands inside his jean's pockets.

You love me yet you lied to me... a voice said darkly in my head. Or your love, too, was a fraud as well?

"Then I want you to answer me honestly," I drawled as tears were forming at the sides of my eyes but I quickly blinked them back, not wanting to appear broken as I bit my lower lip tightly. "Did you lied to me?"

His mouth opened to say something but then he closed it as he was unable to utter a single word to defend himself. No words came out of his mouth and he looked away, his bangs covering his eyes.

Say something... I'm giving you a chance to deny.

Deny it.

Lie to me.

Lie.

Liar.

I smiled bitterly. "Silence means yes." I stated and took a deep breath and that was when the tears started rolling down my cheeks carelessly. "The people I'd fully trusted, Yuta-kun, for 8 whole months... HAVE DECEIVED ME FOR THIS LONG!" I screamed and covered my face with both of my hands, sobbing uncontrollably. "Y-Yuta...-kun..." I whimpered and I was expecting for him to wrap his arms around me and ease the pain I've been feeling just for a little bit but that warmth never came. And instead, the last words that I wanted to hear escaped from his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, Yurika..."

I shook my head and turned on my heels. "Just go away..." I whispered but he grabbed me by the arm and he forced my to turn around to meet him.

"No, we'll fix this, Yurika! Talk to me!"

"I can't, Yuta-kun. I need to be alone... I need time to think... I need to heal." I whispered and he never released me from his grasp.

"Yurika... don't do this..." He begged. "I'll do anything just please... don't push me away."

"I need you to leave, Yuta-kun. And not a word will reach to my parents."

"But--"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled at him that made him flinch, releasing his grip on me like he had touched fire. "Just please go..." I pleaded.

After what seemed like hours of us just standing there with the deafening silence as our companion, his voice morphed into determination and confidence.

"Fine, I'll leave." He declared and I heard him turn around. "But this is not over for us. I'll give you time but we are not over. You're mine, Yurika." And with that said, I heard him walk away and got inside his limousine before driving off, leaving me broken.

I opened the front door and I wasn't surprised that there were maids eavesdropped through the door.

I gave them a blank stare as they looked at me like they are some sort of prey being cornered by a predator. "Y-Y-Yurika-sama!" They exclaimed. "G-Good evening!"

My lips twitched up into a lazy smile and wiped my tears away. "Good evening." I greeted as I gave them my bag and coat.

"What would you like for dinner, young miss?" one of them asked.

"No, thank you. I'm not very hungry."

The other maid nudged the one who asked me on the side and gave her an 'are you serious?' look and I smiled. "I'm sorry, I'm getting a bit rude for not knowing your names."

"Ah, um, my n-name is K-Kanae, young miss."

"You can call me Tsukiko, young miss."

I nodded. "You can call me Yurika."

"EH?!" they both reacted and I kind of remember some people who reacted like that when I gave them permission to call me by my first name.

"Excuse me." I said then walked past them but then stopped then peered over my shoulder to glance at them. "Oh, and please do forget what you have heard earlier."

I took a quick shower, surprised that I did not bawled my eyes out and dropped myself on my soft bed, pulling out my phone and received a text message from Yuta-kun that was sent not too long ago.

"I love you, that's the truth."

Tears were once again pricked my eyes and soaked a part of my bed. I dropped my phone and turned to the side then hugged my pillow as if that was the source of my strength. I covered my mouth with my hand, muffling my sobs.

"You love me yet you lied to me..." I whimpered.

I cried the whole night until I realized that I had fallen asleep.

I spent days... oh scratch that, weeks not communicating from the outside world. And throughout those weeks, I have only been reading books that I had on my shelves, my mother has been leaving voice mails to me about why I wasn't returning any of her calls and that she was getting worried but couldn't even come and see me to kill her curiosities because she has a company to worry about. And that was a convenience.

As I was in the middle of playing a piano piece I seem to know by heart for a reason, my stomach grumbled in hunger. My fingers froze and my eyes shot up, blushing. I looked at the wall clock and it was past lunch time. I guess making a simple meal for myself won't hurt.

I went to the kitchen and tried to look for a cook book then succeeded. I flipped through the pages and stopped to a familiar dish. Tofu soup.

As I was chopping onions, my phone vibrated on my pocket and I pulled it out, an unregistered number greeted my eyes. I stared at my phone's screen long and hard before unintentionally hitting the answer button and hovering the device on my ear.

"Hello?" I mumbled.

"Yurika," the smooth voice spoke.

My eyes dilated in shock as the familiar voice echoed through my ear and I bit my lower lip as I hold the counter for balance.

Even though I knew whom the voice belong to, I still questioned who he was.

"Who is this?"

And before I could hear the answer, a pair of big warm hands blocked my vision and I gasped in bewilderment.

I could feel his breath tickling my ear as I heard him whisper something to me.

"Guess."

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Hey guys, I've missed you :'< XD

Exams are finally over, yeeeeeeeey XD

Author's note is gonna be quick lels :'3

Thank you for reading, oh my gosh you guys don't know how much this means to me! //le cries

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