Straying into my heart - Chapter Two
Chapter Two : Different Smiles
“Don’t be scared of him,” Yuto encouraged, patting me gently on the shoulder as we walked down the hall together once again. “I’m sure he’s a nice guy. Just try to smile when you talk to him, and be open to his suggestions.”
“Not everyone’s as willing to be as open as you are, Yuto,” Keito laughed. “You make it sound like Chii should just listen to everything this Ryosuke kid says and be his happy slave or something.”
“Well, I’m sure I wouldn’t be happy that way,” I stated defiantly. “But I’m all right, Yuto. I’m not scared of him.”
“If you say so…” Yuto raised an eyebrow.
I sighed, muttering under my breath. “He does seem to have something against me, though,”
“What for? He doesn’t even know you,” Yuto asked in surprise.
“I’m not really sure…” I have a feeling he likes Daiki too… but I wonder why he insisted on Daiki being partners with Kei then...
“You’re probably just imagining things,” Yuto assured. “No one would hold a grudge for no reason.”
“Right…” I agreed, unconvinced. We continued to walk on, heading towards their next class. Once I parted ways with my friends to head to biology, however, I was soon approached from behind.
“Hi, Chinen,” a soft voice called out as I felt a light tug at my sleeve.
“Hi!” I answered immediately, instinctively for whenever anyone called out to me. But as soon as I turned around, the bright smile on my face abruptly widened even further. “D-Daiki,” I greeted, nodding my head slightly in acknowledgement.
“Hi!” Daiki answered his greeting, his smile growing equally cheerful. “Chinen, right?”
“Y-Yeah,” I stammered, in disbelief that Daiki had really come to talk to me in the hall. I was a little scared by how Daiki didn’t seem to be very sure of my name, but at the very least, he had guessed correctly. Excitement buzzed in my mind and joy stole into my heart. Daiki. Daiki is actually talking to me. I could hardly keep myself from grinning almost stupidly in my dreamy happiness.
Seemingly relieved he had gotten my name correct, Daiki then continued. “So I kind of forgot that I had borrowed your eraser yesterday… And I’m sorry I stole it, I really didn’t mean to,” Daiki bit his lip, worry clearly shone in his normally smiling eyes. Reaching into his pocket, he drew out my little pink eraser and placed it timidly into my hand.
As our fingers touched, a shock of electricity ran through my body like lightning.
My heart skipped a beat.
I blurted out, “Oh, right. Sure, no problem.” My words collided with one other as they fought for exit from my lips. “Thank you.. for returning it.. Daiki,” I breathed finally.
“I felt really bad about it, since I even see you in biology, too. And yet, I still forgot!” Daiki smiled sadly.
“Yeah, no, really, it’s okay,” I smiled. “Thank you,” I repeated, truly happy to find out that Daiki had actually noticed I was in his class.
“By the way, you’re partners with Ryosuke for our next biology project, right?” Daiki recalled.
I nodded shyly, realizing Daiki really had been noticing me a lot more than I had originally thought.
“Have fun,” Daiki patted me on the back encouragingly, his sudden touch causing me to nearly jump away in astonishment. “Ryosuke’s pretty cool. You’ll definitely be able to rely on him for anything, so don’t worry.”
I could only nod once more. It was like my voice had suddenly abandoned me. I was too nervous to actually form words.
“I would’ve asked him to be my partner, even. But he insisted that I be with Kei, and so he took the fall of being partnerless, as always. I’m glad he got paired with you, though, Chinen. I’m sure you two will pull off an awesome presentation.”
“Thanks,” I choked. Talking to Daiki and getting complimented by Daiki in the same single conversation was something I had only ever dreamed of happening. And now, it was happening.
“See you later then, Chinen,” Daiki waved goodbye as we both entered into the biology classroom, and he left to go to his seat at the other side of the room.
I could find no words to reply.
I could merely watch from a distance as Daiki then sat down beside Kei, and started laughing at something the older boy had said.
I sighed, regaining breath in my lungs that had been suffocating in nerve-wracking tension from my amazing encounter with Daiki. Settling back into the real world, I sat down in my seat as well, controlling myself to only occasionally steal side glances over at Daiki’s corner of the room.
But before long, I was interrupted in his daydreaming as Ryosuke suddenly rushed into the seat beside him.
“I’m sorry,” was the first thing he blurted out.
“What?” I asked absentmindedly. Shaking himself out of his Daiki-filled daze, I was surprised by the sudden solemnity in Ryosuke’s voice.
“I’m sorry,” Ryosuke repeated.
Confusion and apprehension rose in my mind; I questioned suspiciously, “For what?”
“For being so indifferent towards you yesterday, I guess.” Ryosuke’s eyes averted mine as he searched for the proper words to describe what seemed to be his inner conflictions.
“What?” I was still in disbelief. “Yeah, sure, I mean, it’s all right, I’m not mad at you for it or anything.”
“That’s a relief,” Ryosuke exhaled softly, a gentle smile illuminating his features. For some reason, I couldn’t help but relate my conversation with Ryosuke to my previous encounter with Daiki. Daiki, too, had tried to apologize to me, but somehow, Ryosuke, his smile, seemed different, seemed warmer, almost more sincere.
I was dumbstruck. What was going on? This Ryosuke seemed so unlike the Ryosuke I had talked to the day before. Something was strange.
“Are you feeling all right?” was all I could think of to ask, believing Ryosuke to have some sort of unknown personality crisis.
“Yeah, I was just having a weird day yesterday, I suppose…” Ryosuke frowned slightly, as if thinking back to what had happened. He sighed, closing his eyes and furrowing his brows as he recalled unseen memories.
He must’ve been hiding something. But I knew I had no place to pry.
“Is it about this project?” He asked warily. “If you honestly don’t want to work with me, it’s all right, I can even tell Mr. Inohara to let you work with Daiki and Kei,” he offered bitterly.
“Daiki?” Ryosuke looked at me questioningly. “Why would I want to work with Daiki? He’s already got Kei.” He paused, but before I could answer him, he shrugged and continued. “No, it’s not about this project, either. Besides, I… I’d be happy to work with you. I really am sorry for how I acted yesterday. I’ll try harder not to anger you in the future.” Ryosuke’s earnest expression stirred guilt into my heart.
I was taken aback by his sincerity.
Why does he seem so sorry? I wish I knew what could’ve happened to have led him to act so differently yesterday… I don’t know anything about him, really, but it’s like, I feel like I want to. He’s hiding something, but I can’t tell what it is. He’s changed, but I can’t tell why. I can’t believe it… is this really his true self? I wish I knew…
Why does he care so much of what I think of him?
But then… why do I care so much about him?
Haphazardly, I shook the thought from my mind; there was no way I actually cared that much about Ryosuke. He was a stranger. And more importantly, he wasn’t Daiki. But still, I couldn’t stop myself from stammering, “N-No, it’s all right, really. I won’t be angry at you.”
Ryosuke beamed once more. I felt a strange fluttering in my chest at the sight of his beautiful smile.
“Let’s work hard together, ne?”