Stealing Spree

Yue noticing all of that was well within my expectation. In fact, I was waiting for her to ask me about it. However, she saved that until this moment when I had to leave and we got into the topic of whether we would meet again or not.

Personally, I would love to meet her again…

Unfortunately, associating with me again would have a high chance for her career to spiral downward. Look at how her answer on what inspired her to sing devolved to the current situation where she had to hide herself from the heat.

True. It’s kinda her fault for honestly answering like that when she could just stop downplaying it by saying that ‘a disheartening experience’ inspired her to release the song that became viral and her stepping stone to the world of the music industry. But that blunder could be attributed to her being still rather inexperienced.

“Yes, they are presents for my girlfriends…”

I answered just as honestly. But not to explain to her. This was an attempt to discourage her from meeting me again.

This might look like I was trying to run away again but all logic pointed to the detrimental effect that my returning to her life would influence her.

But I couldn’t deny that this was also my selfishness. Deciding what’s right and wrong or what’s good and bad for her through my own perception.

“That’s a plural. And girlfriends? That’s great. The guy who heartlessly rejected me can now call girls as his girlfriends and not just a girl he stole and made his.”

Yue delivered out a huge amount of bitterness in that statement. Nonetheless, she remained in my embrace despite the sudden trembling of her body. Following that, her hands grabbed my arms, her grip tightening on them.

The girl noticed the change in me and even nailed onto the fact that the presents I bought were for different girls but hearing me claim that they’re my girlfriends truly shocked her.

“Mhm… That’s one of the changes in me.”

Telling her everything was definitely impossible at the moment. Her manager was on the way. If she’s fast, she might arrive while I was still here. If she found out that Yue brought a guy in, who knows what would happen? I couldn’t let myself inconvenience her further…

Haa… But could I really stomach leaving her like this? Gloomy and bitter.

Really, I could appreciate my overthinking this time… it’s allowing me to weigh my choices in just a little time.

“And in light of that, there’s a lot more. You deserve to know everything about it, Yue. But tonight’s not the right time.”

“If you can have girlfriends now, can you accept my confession now? Can I be one of them?”

This girl… She also got stuck in the first part of my answer.

“Really? Despite knowing that, you still wanted to be my girlfriend?”

“Why not? It’s not the first time you’re with another girl while you’re still with me. You basically just put a label on us.”

She’s not wrong but she’s also not right. That’s just because she lacked all the information. She’s still stuck to that time that we spent together even with the changes that she observed from me. For her, this was probably the next day after I rejected her – I was still the desire-driven guy who started putting labels on the girls I stole.

And that means, even though Akane has her number, she never used it to contact her.

“No. This time, it’s different… Anyway, I have to go, Yue…”

“No. Stay here for the night. I’ll hide you.” Yue tightly held on to my arm and refused to stand up from my lap. She even closed her eyes like a child throwing a tantrum.

“No. I’m afraid I cannot do that. Someone is waiting for me at home. But let me change my answer to your question earlier… Yes, you will see me again. I’ll make sure of that.”

Still ignoring a part of my statement, Yue’s eyes snapped open and the previous gloom disappeared in a flash, replaced by her excitement.

“Really? How? Will you come knocking at my door every night?”

“If I can scale the wall and reach this floor without passing through the main entrance… No, not every night. Let’s see, how long will you be here?”

“Two weeks. This is my third day.”

So, she moved her a day after that talk show appearance…

“I see. I still have school and there’s a lot going on for me. I can’t come and see you everyday but… I can talk to you through that.” I pointed at her phone.

“Why don’t you skip school?”

This girl… She’s still being selective on what to take from my answers. In any case, this was her attempt to establish a clear connection with me after this reunion. And she’s not settling with just a phone call or interaction through the internet.

Now, I’m tempted to wait for her manager, talk to her and plan together on how we could stop this girl with her career-destructing mindset.

But I doubt her manager would sit down with me and talk. So… that’s not plausible.

In any case, to set the mood again and clear up the slightly heavy air that hadn’t been dispelled yet, I flicked her forehead once more and turned her body around to face me completely.

“I’m not like you who’s allowed to study outside your school’s premises. There’s no such thing as a special treatment for a no-name like me… I’ll see you again. I promise. And when that happens, I’ll tell you everything. Sounds good?”

Upon hearing that, Yue deliberated for a few minutes. And while doing so, she pressed her face on my chest, seemingly inhaling my scent for her to remember me by. On the other hand, I endearingly caressed her head and back, letting her feel that I care for her…

“… Okay, I accept. But what will we talk about if you’re not going to tell me through this?” Yue raised her phone and tilted her head.

“Anything? I’m sure there are a lot of stories you can tell me. And I’ll do the same. It’ll be boring though.”

“I can imagine that. You’re so anti-social, after all…” Yue laughed at me before pulling my head down again and pressing our lips together. Seconds later, that quickly evolved to a more passionate one.

Making that our last kiss for the night, she then sent me down to the lobby. All for the few minutes that she could extend our time.

By the time I left the vicinity of the condominium, I noticed a speeding blue car entering its premises. Although I only saw a glimpse of the rider, thanks to the light inside the car, I associated that to her manager.

Well, not just that. Yue mentioned what kind of car her manager drives after all.

In any case, I continued on my way while looking at the first message I received from the girl.

“Did I mention this earlier? Thank you for escorting me home, Ruki. As I thought, I still love you. A lot more than you can imagine. I think I can write a new song for today. I want you to be the first one to hear it.”

That’s kinda long for a first message but it’s clearly heartfelt. Complete with heart emojis as a finisher.

Anyway, coincidence, reunion and reconnection. All of that happened for us today.

It’s just the other day that I decided not to involve myself with her but look at what happened? I easily went back on my words…