Waking Up

If you can promise me not to flee, I'll never leave you as long as you need me... ― Florence Joyce

xxxxxx

[Setsuji]

3 ½ hours later...

URGH! I hated it! I hated waking up like this.

Seriously, waking up with a terrible headache as if several beer bottles were smashed on my head was the worst feeling. But what was I complaining, anyway? I let myself get drenched in the rain for more than an hour. I was completely aware of the fact that I had a weak immune system when it comes to rain, and yet I still stayed there.

I had my reasons, though. And for me, that reason was something I would consider a life-or-death situation. Or at least, the life or death of my heart was what was at stake. Yes, I knew. It was corny and cheesy. But I don't care.

Speaking of which...

I blinked a few times just to dissipate my eyes' blurry vision. It didn't take long for my sight to become clear.

Only the lampshades fastened on the wall and placed on my bedside table were the ones that provided light in that room. And when I looked outside the window, I noticed that the rain had stopped. I could see the stars in the sky. But my attention immediately shifted to something else when I remembered something.

My eyes widened and I sat up. But pain seared in my head as I did that. Damn it! Here I go again, rushing into things. I winced at the pain. But it was only for a short while. At least the pain slowly subsided after a few more moments. I heaved a heavy sigh after that. Afterward, I looked around my room as my heart began to race in anticipation.

The room was big for a bedroom but it was only like that because that place was, in fact, a small library-slash-study room-slash-bedroom. And as I looked around in that room, I couldn't help feeling the heaviness in my chest.

What in the world? I had this feeling that I'd end up disappointed at that moment. But then again, I should have expected that. I had no right to stop that person with her decision in the first place. Maybe... I had to accept that—

I felt my heart suddenly stop beating for a few moments as I saw something by the study table. I even blinked a few times—rubbed my eyes, as well—just for me to be sure that I wasn't hallucinating or anything. It didn't disappear even when I did all that.

Then that means...

It was real. 'She' was real.

Fukuizumi Rinako was there. She didn't leave. If I woke up like this with her beside me inside that room, does that mean...?

But I wasn't completely satisfied. When I took a deep breath, I got up from my bed and slowly walked toward the study table where Fukuizumi ended up sleeping. God, I hoped I wasn't hallucinating no matter how many times I rubbed my eyes.

It was just a few steps, but somehow, I could feel as if I'd walked a few kilometers. Definitely dramatic right there. I should erase that in my mind for now. And here I was, standing beside the girl who was sleeping on that study table. Fukuizumi was still holding a book. She was probably reading it while waiting for me to wake up.

Just the thought of this girl watching over me while I was sleeping, I could feel as if my heart leaped to the sky. Only this amazon girl could give me that weird feeling. Only this girl had changed me up to this point.

This girl... who did nothing but complete my day even though I kept annoying her, always teasing her, and she would always glare at me...

...and even though she already witnessed the brutality I could do.

This girl... never left my side despite all that.

I didn't do anything to stop my tears from falling. See? This girl could even make me cry like that even when I was only looking at her sleeping form. But I was crying at this moment because of one big reason.

I hastily wiped the tears that streaked down my face upon noticing that Fukuizumi was slowly waking up. I even held my breath while watching her open her eyes.

Moments later, our gazes met. Just like what I would always feel and notice, it felt as if time had stopped. I had no idea how many moments had passed that we stayed that way. The next thing I noticed, the surprise I saw in her eyes was replaced with worry.

She straightened herself in sitting on that mahogany chair and faced me. "Why did you stand up all of a sudden? You could have a relapse, you know." She placed her hand on my forehead, then to the sides of my neck. "Are you okay? Is anything else hurt?"

But I had no response to Fukuizumi's question to me. I only looked at her. I still couldn't believe she would worry this much about me.

"Does this mean you'll forgive me?"