“Rio… Wait for me…”

--

Yamada heard his heart thumping rapidly along with the silent breeze creeping up his cheek. He gulped for the nth time as his hand trembled while holding a bouquet of flowers on his left hand while the door knob touching the other.

It’s only been 2 hours since he arrived Japan and the only thing he had in mind is to see Rio – the girl who is now probably cursing his existence. He didn’t even bother resting even just a few minutes after his long travel and gone straight to the girl’s apartment.

*ding dong*

It’s not long when a few sounds of footsteps were heard on the other side of the door.

“Who’s ther—“ Kim’s mouth opened after seeing the younger boy who seemed to had run a full marathon… “Yama-chan? Aren’t you suppose to be in Thailand right now?” she said with a doubtful tone. She was about to let the boy in but suddenly, the thought of Rio came to her mind. The girl haven’t been outside of her room much but she knows that Ryosuke is the last person she wants to see right now.

“Can I please talk to Rio? Please nee-chan…” Ryosuke stepped closer, as if inviting himself in.

“Wait here. I’ll call her…” the older one said with sympathy after seeing Ryosuke’s begging eyes. It was the first time she saw him like this – like a child who lost its mother.

Fourteen minutes had already passed and Ryosuke waited patiently outside the door. He fidgeted with the bouquet of flowers and hoped Rio will at least let him explain. It wasn’t long when the door opened behind him which revealed the same girl she encountered earlier but this time, she was with 3 other girls – Hannah, Fai and Yuki. He scanned around to look for Rio but to his dismay, the girl is nowhere to be found.

“Yama-chan…” Yuki uttered silently… “Gomen ne? Rio-chan isn’t feeling very well…” she lied. Yuki isn’t good at lying and Ryosuke knows this very well.

“Please… I really need to talk to her. Even just for awhile. I just want to explain. Please.” Ryosuke pleaded with sorrowful eyes. He looked at the four girls while they look at each other with guilty faces… “Please tell her I won’t go until she talks to me…”

“But nii-chan!” Yuki protested.

“I don’t care how long I’ll wait… Just please tell her I won’t move an inch until she talks to me” the boy said with a firm town. The girls just couldn’t help but to sigh in desperation as Ryosuke’s figure stayed still outside their door.

--

*2 Hours later*

“It’s been two hours… Ryo-chan is still in there.” Fai said worriedly… “I’m getting worried. It’s dark already.”

“Rio-chan! Aren’t you gonna talk to him?” Kim asked the younger one. She was expecting an answer but the girl just continued to hug her knees and rest her head on top of them. Not a single word escaped … “At least speak to him…”

“He’ll go away in a bit. When he gets cold or hungry, I’m sure he’ll surrender.” Rio whispered but enough for the group to hear. It’s the first time they saw Rio resisting Ryosuke… Unlike before, their fights never lasted for even a day.

The girls just couldn’t help but to sigh and worry.

--

*Another 2 hours later*

“Achooooo!!” Ryosuke left off a big sneeze before rubbing his arm with his hands. He’s already been waiting for 4 hours and not a sign of Rio was seen. He then stood up and look at Rio’s bedroom window before leaving another deep sigh… it’s not long when his gaze landed on a large piece of cardboard box near the garbage can outside the gate.

*ding*

A sudden idea hit the boy. He pulled a marker pen from his bag and took the piece of cardboard before writing neatly on it.

After scribbling, he quickly pulled his phone from his pocket and texted Kim:

“From: YamaButa

Nee-chan! Please tell Rio to look outside her bedroom window. Please nee-chan!”

-

Kim felt her phone vibrating from her skirt pocket, making her look who just texted her. She smiled while shoving the phone near Rio’s face while the other girls looked at them curiously.

“Rio-chan… Your prince charming wants you to look outside your window” the older girl elbowed Rio while the other girls just left off a teasing cheer. By this, the 4 girls pulled Rio near her window only to see a handsome young man holding a big card board sign.

“I’M SORRY RIO. PLEASE FORGIVE ME”

Ryosuke continued to stand outside their house while holding his big sign, hoping that the girl he loves will accept his apology. To his dismay, the girl just closed her curtain and pretended she didn’t see anything.

--

“THAT’S MEAN NEE-CHAN!!” Yuki said, as if feeling what Ryosuke is now experiencing. The youngest girl then quickly looked back at the boy only to see his disappointed face.

“Just let him be imouto… Please understand me. I’m sure he’ll go away soon.” Rio uttered while distancing herself from the group. The girls just looked at each other with ‘what-do-we-do-now’ look but little did they know, Rio is already dying inside.

--

On the other side of the universe, Ryosuke looked down as he fought the urge of crying. It was as if the God of Luck is not on his side when drips of water started dropping down his face.

“What the—“ he whispered to himself before looking up into the sky. He now realised how God hated him as the rain come pouring down his whole body… “Nandayou!!! Even the sky hate me now?” he cried while sulking his head down – still holding the card board sign up.

--

The sound of the ticking clock just kept banging on Rio’s head as the thought of being guilty was felt. Her conscience slowly swallowed her along with the battle against her pride.

“I’m sure he’s not here anymore… he’s not here. Only someone stupid will wait outside for nearly 6 hours. There’s no way he’ll be here.” She reassured herself. Rio then couldn’t resist and took a peek at the man right outside their house, still clinging on to a bouquet for flower on the right hand with his a card board on the left.

“Y-Yama-chan…” she mouthed the words of worry as soon as she realised that it’s been raining outside. Without further ado, she rushed down their apartment and quickly grabbed her red umbrella sitting next to their shoe rack.

-

“ARE YOU AN IDIOT??” Rio shouted, making the boy turn around to see the girl he was waiting for… He slowly walked towards the younger girl while both ends of his lips pulled apart to form a smile.

“R-Rio…” he said, trembling… “Please listen to me… Even just for 5 minutes. Let me explain” his tears mixed with the droplets of rain pouring down his pale face. It’s not long when his figure reached Rio. Rio felt Ryosuke’s cold hands cupping her face which was enough to make her own tears travel from her eyes.

“That girl… I just met her that day. I lost my phone and wallet and she’s the one who helped me.” He explained, almost in one breath… “Please believe me… I-“

“Shhhh…” Ryosuke’s sentence fell flat as soon as Rio’s own hands travelled up his face. The girl placed her index finger on Yamada’s lips and hindered him in uttering any word… “You’re an idiot…”

“I know…” Ryosuke nodded and pulled the younger girl in front of him… “But I’m your idiot…” he whispered under his breath and pulled Rio’s face closer