UNINVITED GUEST (PART 1/2)

The next day.

Haru had a hard time going downstairs. When he was eating, her mom suggested that he'll just stay home and help his father at their shop.

When he heard about being absent, his mind seemed to function in just a split second.

"OK" Haru immediately said.

After eating breakfast, he began to wash the dishes and do household chores.

"Sigh, I thought i'll just lay down on my soft and squishy bed all day" Haru secretly thought in his mind.

After doing his chores, he went to the bathroom and soaked his body on the tub. When he got in, he could feel his skin was opening it's pores who was hungrily sucking the warm water. He could feel his fatigue go away.

When he was done, he went back to his room and changed his clothes. After that he went to fetch a chair, took out his canvas; paintbrush, and paint.

He closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing into a slower pace and when he opened his eyes again; you could see an abyss. He was also a different person, more like an old geezer who achieved peace.

He then slowly dipped his paintbrush and began painting. Sometimes, he would do a gentle stroke and sometimes a hard one. While painting, Haru remembered the first time Akatsuki talked to her. They went to the rooftop and even locked the door so that none of the other students can hear their conversation, which turns out to be just an invitation to go get coffee. Which Haru seldom drinks.

Haru closed his eyes and unknowingly he began to smile.

He opened his eyes and the brush on the canvas began to dance.

He remembered the time Akatsuki asked him to go to a steak house and thought they'll go out on a date. He remembered that he became completely dumbfounded when he saw Akatsuki being so beautiful. Then someone interrupted them...

Suddenly, the way Haru paints became faster and faster.

He remembered his first kiss being so sloppy. The way they ran towards the streets with nowhere to go to. But for some reason, he was disgusted in Akatsuki because of her impulsiveness and using him as a shield without him knowing.

When they arrived at the apartment, he saw her true colors. They began to drink alcohol and couldn't really handle it. Soon enough, they began to say gibberish words to each other.

"My parents wants me to marry that guy at the restaurant earlier because his parents are the only hope for our company to rise again."

"At first, they was still hesitant because of the rumors."

"They was put on a hard spot and decided to let Atsuhi marry me."

"I don't know what to do back then. Will running away from home do?"

"After some time, suicide also comes into my mind. But thinking of my grandparents who were so kind to me see me like that... I can't do it."

"When I got to school that day, I put on a mask. A happy mask, so that no one will know I was bothered by something."

"I actually noticed that you were stealing glances at me. So am idea struck my mind."

"I did not dare to say my intentions to you because if you knew, you wouldn't agree to it'

"I became selfish."

"So I thought that letting you gain some advantage will appease the guilt in my heart."

"I'm so sorry Haru-kun"

Haru listened to her and could feel his heart melt. He heard sobbings and decided to sit beside her.

"It's fine, really." Haru said while putting Akatsuki's face on his chest...

After God knows how long the time went by when he was painting. He saw a meal on his bed and didn't even noticed it. The food had gone cold. After resting for a while, he could hear her parents talking to someone downstairs.

He got up, get the food and made his way down with great difficulty. When he got down he saw his parents smiling at a woman. Her back was facing him so he really didn't think much and just went straight to the kitchen to have his food. But, her parents still haven't cooked anything yet so he dejectedly walked back again.

"Haru, why are you so dirty?" Mom asked, finally noticing him.

The woman turned around and Haru could clearly view her face. It was no other than Akatsuki.

When he saw her, his heart almost dropped and instictlively ran towards his room but he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"You just got injured!" his mom suddely stood up and ran towards him helping him get up.

"Mom, i'm fine. Just let me take a shower."

"OK"

When Haru was done taking a bath, he walked to his room. He was just planning to get changed when he saw Akatsuki staring at his painting.

"She's just staring at herself." Haru thought in his mind. It's because she painted Akatsuki herself.