CHAPTER 19

Lee Yuki’s POV:

I really can’t take it anymore! How my sister and Yuuki acts… it’s driving me crazy! Ugh.

I was walking with Maki-chan along the hallway right now; we were heading behind the school to talk about our little mission. She already knows what we need to do and she’s very into it.

Like me, she also observed how Yumi and Yuuki are right now and it’s frustrating for our part how none of them are doing anything at all for their relationship to progress.

It was already a week since their great escape. And this is what exactly happened when we woke up the day after that escapade…

*FLASHBACK*

I suddenly woke up upon hearing something—or someone rather—whispering and mumbling inaudible sounds somewhere behind me.

I was still rubbing my eyes when I turned to look behind me just to see a chanting ghost.

A CHANTING GHOST?!

Ahhh… Well, though it really looked like one but it’s not really a ghost. It’s actually my sister looking like one hell of a scary spirit guide.

She’s still wearing her white ruffled pajamas and her hair was all scattered and covering her face. And what’s worst is that she was looking at the ceiling, mumbling whatever.

“Yumi-ssi?!”

“Yuki…” she said almost in tears. Then she suddenly jumped to hug me tight.

“I just couldn’t sleep! It was so crazy how that stupid guy’s face kept on reappearing in my mind and even in my dreams! Uwaaaa~!!!”

“Anou… Stupid guy? You mean…?” I was already patting her back as she was already sobbing in my chest.

“Faker guy.” She answered in a stern way. Her brows were already meeting in a deep frown.

“Oh. Well, that’s… curious.” I wanted to laugh my a** off right now, if only my sister didn’t look like she’s about to breakdown.

Geez. Can’t she just admit that she really likes Yuuki already?

“Actually Yumi, I really do think that you—“

“Mornin’!” Ryo-hyung’s face suddenly appeared by the doorway, cutting me midway from what I was supposed to say.

He went in and greeted us with his usual bright smile. Then he sat on the bed as he ruffled Yumi’s and my hair.

“Hey… What’s wrong, Yumi? Bad dream?” he asked, particularly looking at Yumi who was still flustered and teary-eyed as ever.

“Ahh… Y-yes… Just a bad dream, oppa…” Yumi already sat up straight and hugged Ryo, who in turn kissed her lightly in her forehead.

“I guess that’s normal given that today is Kaachan’s death anniversary. Both of you must miss her too much, ne?”

Yumi just sighed and I looked away as an answer. We do miss her so bad, and however we try to distract ourselves with things that are happening around us, we still can’t take our mind off of what our family has been through.

Especially Yumi… She’s really been through so much. Given that Mom has always been her bestfriend and Dad is her knight in shining armor. She has always relied in both them too much… but now that both of them are gone, I’m actually scared that just having me won’t be enough to take away her pain and hurt.

I looked at her as she tried to mask her hurting with a sweet smile as she looked at Hyung. Despite everything, she’s still trying to act strong.

“Let’s go and bake a cake then! I know we shouldn’t be sad today because Mom wouldn’t like that…” she said as she stood up. Then she pulled me and Ryo-hyung out of bed.

“Come on! Both of you get ready… I’ll just take a shower then I’ll head downstairs as well, okay?” she said as she smiled. I felt a pang of pain in my heart then, because I knew my sister too well. And I know that behind those sweet smile of hers is the pain she tries hard not to show. She didn’t want to look like she was hurting because she didn’t want us to worry about her.

Yes, Yumi is honest and she really shows her feelings no matter what. But she’s different when it comes to the people she treasures the most. As much as possible, she really doesn’t want the people she cares for to worry about her. So even if it hurts or even if she’s in pain, she’ll try to hide it especially when she knows that it’ll hurt the people she loves as well.

I went over to Yumi and hugged her tight. She was a bit shocked when I did that, but maybe because we already know each other too well, she hugged me back and said in her gentlest voice,

“I’m alright… I’m gonna be alright, Yuki…”

“I know you will, Yumi. And so will I be. We’re gonna be alright. Just know that I’m always and will always be here for you whenever you need me. We’ll talk later, okay?” I said and looked at her eyes. She smiled and nodded.

“I love you…” I said softly as I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. Yumi is the only family I have and I will do everything just to see her happy.

“And I love you too, Yuki.” she said as she pinched my cheeks and laughed.

“Ehem. Both of you are being too cheesy… And the sibling romance is really killing me. Eww.” Ryo joked and even acted like he was about to throw up, making me and Yumi laugh loudly.

“Alright, fine. Go and take a shower… We’ll wait for you by the kitchen. Oh, and I need to check on Yuuki-kun, too.” I said, making Yumi blush as she ran across the room to the bathroom in a flash.

And I couldn’t help but smile. I guess my sister is really starting to like Yuuki… A LOT. And I know Yuuki-kun likes her, too. He might even like her already too much without even realizing it. I just hope that if they do fall in love with each other, they’d end up falling in love so much… So much that they won’t get to hurt each other. I hope that Yuuki-kun falls for my sister enough that he wouldn’t even think—or even imagine—hurting her. Because for the very first time, I’m actually thinking of having someone help me protect and love my sister. For the first time, I can imagine someone else, other than me, make her happy… I just hope Yuuki’s the right person for that.

*END FLASHBACK*

***

Lee Yumi’s POV :

I don’t really know what happened but Yuki just stormed out of our room with Hiragawa-san and left me all alone to eat lunch.

I just don’t understand why he keeps on pushing me towards that Faker guy. I know and I do admit that I’m starting to like him ever since that time when we got lost. And I think that I came to like him more when he stayed for Mom’s death anniversary and her birthday last week. It’s just that, I also know how I shouldn’t be feeling this way at all.

I can’t like someone nor can I make someone like me. I don’t want to fall in love and I can’t have someone falling for me. I can’t make the same mistake again. And I know that whatever I do, I can’t trust anyone else anymore. I can’t love anyone anymore.

I sighed as I stared out the window and remembered what happened during Mom’s death anniversary.

*FLASHBACK*

Sigh.

After waking up—No, actually I wasn’t even able to sleep because of that fake—and after talking with Yuki and Ryo-oppa, I went to shower before helping out to bake Mom’s cake.

“…Oh, and I need to check on Yuuki-kun, too.” I suddenly remembered what Yuki said before I went in