The two girls' sudden departure from the table was a little bit odd, but I quickly forgot about it. Now that they were gone, me and Himiko were alone atlast! For one moment I thought she was going to follow Akane and Yumiko out of the cafeteria, but from some stroke of luck... She chose to stay with me and talk! We could talk with eachother for once! Oh, this was just a dream come true!
I leant forward on the table, resting my head in my hands.
"So, if you're gonna break rules, maybe I should bring my friends over-"
"Sorry, Hifumi." Himiko interrupted me. She smiled, a perfect and beautiful smile.
"Oh." I blinked, confusion washing over me. "Why not?"
"I dunno."
She shrugged, absent-mindedly twirling her fork in her small plastic salad box.
"I guess, my friends are pretty normal. While you're great, your friends are ... Less so. We, uhm, we can't really have them here." She insisted.
"But you never spoke to them, I'm sure you'd like th-"
"Please, Hifumi. Listen to me. I'm not trying to insult your friends, but..." She smiles but her eyes didn't crinkle. "They're just ... Think of how it'd make me look... Plus, this is our time, as a couple. Y'know?" The implication was heavy in her words.
I nodded like an idiot. "I know... You're right. I'm sorry for asking."
She giggled. "It's okay, silly. You know Nigito from class, right? When he was with his ex, he'd never bring his friends around because he said that it was supposed to be their time and theirs alone, honestly, he's such a gentleman. You could learn something." Himiko smiled softly at me and I swooned. God, she was so clever ... So beautiful...
While personally, I'd have no issue with writing out my entire lengthy lunchtime conversation with my beloved Himiko, detailing every aspect of her day and her diet and her pet peeves and her suggestions on my fashion, I have a feeling that you guys aren't interested. If that's the case, I really pity you... My queen is just so amazing and beautiful, and you nerds would benefit from seeing what a healthy relationship looks like. But if you guys aren't interested, then you aren't interested.
When she talked, I nodded dumbly and smiled back, I issued my platitudes of affection, I tried to fit in a brief comment where I could but the conversation was more focused on her than I. As Himiko talked, I couldn't help but wonder about what she said earlier. My girlfriend hated my friends and for good reason, considering she's a classy woman and all. I do admittedly like my friends, despite their many, many flaws, but you guys haven't met them yet. If you have any sense, you'd hate their guts too.
"Uhm, Hifumi?"
I was broken out of my trance. Midway into our lunch together, Himiko was scrolling through her phone. A strange smile was on her face. She chewed on her lip nervously.
"I gotta go."
I perked up.
"Can I come?" I immediately asked. Himiko waved me off with a beautiful, sweet laugh.
"I'm just going to the library to study. Just enjoy your lunch, alright? Bye!" She was already getting up from the table to hurry off.
"W-Wait! Can I have a kiss?"
She didn't say anything back. She hurried away through the bustling cafeteria, leaving me alone on the table.
"What about on the cheek?" I called after her, half-heartedly.
Evidently, she must not have heard. Ah, well. It didn't really bother me all that much. Why? Because I got to watch that booty bounce and jiggle under her skirt as she hurried off, that's why! At the sight, my quarter African American blood flowed strong through my veins. I stroked my chin, an appreciative grin on my face.
"Sheeiiit...!"
I was content to stand up and head over to my friend's table in the far corner of the cafeteria, but then, a peculiar thought suddenly struck me. Motivated by nothing but simple curiosity, I dared to crane my head to watch the distant shape of Himiko as she walked out of the cafeteria... then, she took a left turn, heading down the hallway.
I've been studying at this place for years and I know the layout like the back of my hand. Nothing is interesting down that particular hallway. At the end are two double doors which leads to a dark, secluded alleyway that connects to the rear exit of the school. That's odd. There's literally no reason to go there, unless you want somewhere private or... you want to truent.
Earlier I had watched her friends, no longer with her, and they went the exact same way. I didn't think much of it, but now, Himiko was going there, too — perfect, studious Himiko? I scrunched up my face in confusion. She told me she was going to the library. Why would she even go that way?
The peculiarity of the whole scenario spurred me, as a good boyfriend would, towards investigating. I had to get to the bottom of this. Likely, it was nothing, but my curiosity was just overwhelming me. She couldn't have possibly lied to me, right?
...Right?!
I got up, leaving my lunch behind and briskly walking out of the Cafeteria. My brisk walking turned to a slow stroll as I travelled alone through the winding hallway. Soon, the smells and the deafening noise from the cafeteria quickly died down, receding into the muffled background. Alongside my curiosity, I couldn't help but feel ... On-edge. I had the creeping sense that something, I don't know what, just something was wrong...
I reached the end of the hallway. Now, I stood infront of the double-doors. Underlit by harsh lights, the double-doors seemed to loom apprehensively over me. I didn't open them just yet, I leant closer, putting my ear to the cold steel and listened. Gruff, indeterminate voices sounded from the other end. A spike of cold fear went through my body. I withdrew my ear like I had just pressed it against a hot iron. Oh, no.
I suppose there's something else that I should tell you guys, about my school and its students. My school isn't awful but it also isn't great, y'know? Most students here care about their education and future, but no matter how hard the administration of any school tries, there will always be a certain few individuals who just don't care. This is a global thing, really. Anyone who went to school can recall a certain few guys who don't want to listen to authority, who think that the rules and niceties of society just isn't for them, who liked baseball bats and knives more than books and pens. This school was no exception.
What I've neglected to mention up until now, is that there was a certain calibre of people who hung out in that alleyway during lunch. That's why I couldn't help but feel a little nervous, because this alleyway was the hangout spot of the infamous school delinquents. Or as my ancient African-American ancestors would refer to them... Hood Ass Niggas!
Delinquents across the world may have different appearances and methods... Thugs, Gopniks, Roadmen.... even the heavily armed criminals in Brazil who like playing Call of Duty I.R.L... They were all very similar to one-another in terms of mindset. They all had no life, no goals. You could say that a good chunk were there because of poverty, but if you know a few of them — and I think we all do — there's some guys who were just... belligerent for the sake of it. Like Raiders in Fallout or Renegades in STALKER, they're just belligerent and generally shitty people for no reason. A lot of them were like that. Mondo, the biggest and toughest delinquent in the school, was like that. I know from experience ...
I was scared, sure. These were not the guys you wanted to be caught spying on. Where there's delinquents, Mondo would certainly be present. But more powerful than my fear, I was worried. Himiko went down this way, she'd encounter them for sure. So would her friends!
I went to listen again, pressing my ear once again to the door. I heard those horrible delinquent voices, their harsh slang... and to make matters worse, amongst the deep male voices, was a distinct sweet, high-pitched voice. My eyes went wide. Himiko.
Himiko was with the delinquents?! I listened more and realised that Akane and Yumiko were present, too! I couldn't tell what they were saying, but their voices were loud... Were they screaming? Were they in trouble?! What kind of horrible things would the delinquents do to those poor, defenseless ladies?! Would they bully them like they do weaker male students, mug them, or maybe they might have thought Himiko was hot and...and...
I paled at the thought. I swallowed hard. No. Anything but that!
I had to investigate. I didn't have a choice in the matter! Yeah, it was scary, but I had to see what was going on, what kind of boyfriend wouldn't be caring about their partner? I summed up all my bravery, I called on my Japanese and African American blood to imbue me with the spirits of Samurai and Black Panther alike. I gripped the pushbar, and as slowly as I could, I pushed the door ever so slightly open.
Cracks of light came through into the dimly lit alleyway. I couldn't risk poking my head in there, it would have been obvious. I just listened for now, straining my ears. Now, I could listen.
Himiko and her friends weren't screaming.
They were laughing.
Huh? Confusion overcame me.
"You're a pig, you know that?" That was Yumiko's voice.
"Yeah, whatever, hoe." Mondo's sneering voice echoed down the alleyway, followed by the girls bursting out into laughter and giggles.... Wait, Mondo was there?! Fear returned to me, even though it was apparent that they weren't in danger. But amongst the laughter ... Himiko's voice.
One question niggled at me. Why was Himiko, classy and kind Himiko, who criticised me for my shitty friends... Hanging out with a group of delinquents? I couldn't risk poking my head out, but I had to see what was going on. Suddenly, I was struck with an idea.
I remembered my training from SWAT 4. I repositioned myself, crouched low beside the crack in the door, took out my phone and used it's reflection to peek out and discreetly watch the scene. Unfortunately, I didn't have my Benelli on hand, so just observation will have to do.
In the dark reflection of my phone, I saw everything. Himiko and her friends in the alleyway, with the dark shapes of Mondo and his friend leant against the wall, towering over them like spectres.
"Come on, guys!" Himiko laughs and smiled. She never smiled like that with me... With me, it was a restricted, serene smile. With Mondo, it was genuine, her eyes crinkled.
"That's no way to speak to a lady." She chastises softly.
Mondo loomed over her.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're a hoe, too. You just got such a nice body as well."
Mondo purred in a deep and cruel voice, a sharp-toothed grin pulling at his lips.
"And a fat ass too. I love ass!"
Then, it happened.
It was like in slow motion. It was seared permanently into my memory.
He didn't ask, he didn't care. Mondo's big, calloused hand reached behind Himiko's waist, following down her short skirt, until he savagely stuck his hand up... And .. and he groped her. He groped her ass, her short skirt hiking up, some of her fat pale asscheeks hanging out of her purple panties. He groped her ass.
Himiko yelped, brushed her skirt down with both hands.
"Hands off!"
She gasped at his audacity, but it became a laugh. Her friends joined in too.
"You should be grateful, you fat bitch. I'm payin' you a compliment." Mondo laughs along with her.
"I've... I've got a boyfriend!"
It wasn't outrage. Shock and amusement was written on her face. She placed a hand on her chest.
"So what?" Mondo sneered. "I've seen that Wimpy little punk. What's he going to do?"
"You are such a pig!"
She scolds, but she still smiles.
They talked more, but soon I couldn't hear it. A ringing was in my ears. My eyes blurred, unfocused, I could no longer see my phone screen. The world was spinning. I leant back against the wall of the hallway, my mind stormy with horrible thoughts. One word rang out.... One word that I tried to ignore....
I wanted to tell you guys that I felt angry. I want to tell you guys that I was actually getting ready to barge in and show that asshole who's boss for touching my girlfriend. I wanted to channel my inner Hood Nigga and introduce the concept of "crashing out" to Japan ... But in truth... I only felt one thing right now.
Cold terror flooded my body at his words. They played on repeat. Wimpy little punk. Wimpy little punk. I swallowed.
I should have went over there and taught him a lesson, but I couldn't move. My body was paralyzed. I could only sit there in abject horror and shock. That single word rang though my mind, like the funeral bell of my relationship and my dignity....
Cuck.... Cuck.... Cuck ....
I think Himiko was cheating on me....
But .... Worse than that ...
I think I was in an NTR....
Oh, god.
I think I'm going to puke.