How long has it been since I last talked to him? I stopped around the middle of my first year in high school. I'm at the beginning of my third year now, so… about a year and a half.
Realistically, a year and a half isn't that long. I can recall the days that have passed with relative ease.
But when it comes to people, it's completely different.
Kevin stepped away from his friends and moved a little closer to me. He wasn't close enough to invade my space, but he wasn't far enough to ignore.
"Wow, it really has been a while. You've changed!" he exclaimed loudly.
I sheepishly shook my head. "Really? I think I still look the same as before."
"Oh, c'mon, you don't have to be so humble! No offence, but you used to be kinda ugly before," he said with a light-hearted laugh. "Now look at you, though! I could hardly even recognize you!"
One of his friends tapped his shoulder. "Kevin, do you know him?"
"Yeah, I do," Kevin replied, his gaze fixed on me. "He was my first ever friend. I hung out with this kid from kindergarten all the way to high school."
"Really? I don't recognize him from our school."
Kevin sighed dramatically as he lightly slapped his friend on the chest. "That's because he goes to a different school, dumbass. Use your brain a little bit. If he still went to our school, I'd be hanging out with him every day."
A bitter lump hardened in my throat as I struggled to keep it down.
We'd be hanging out every day? That's a lie. If we really wanted to, we would still be hanging out right now. The difference in school has nothing to do with this.
"Right, Hoshino?"
I nodded along smoothly. "Yeah, that's right. The only reason we stopped talking is that it was hard to match our schedules. I still consider him a friend, though."
"That's right!" Kevin said brightly. "We've known each other for over a decade. Even our parents know each other. It's no wonder that we're best friends!"
My smile felt slightly strained, but I kept it there. In situations like this, it's best not to think about it and just nod along.
"So, how's everything been, Hoshino?" he asked.
"It's been fine. How about you?"
He shrugged. "The usual. School has been a bit of a pain recently, though, with university entrance exams and everything."
"Hahaha, yeah, I get what you mean."
Everything here was a formality. He didn't really care about how things were going, and neither did I. We were both doing it for the sake of being 'best friends.' Just like the day I met with Julie at the arcade with Lily… this is the type of charade I hated the most.
Suddenly, the bell above the door rang behind me. I moved out of the way and turned, expecting customers. Instead—
"Hey, what's taking so damn long!" Luna complained while Yu stood next to her.
Before I could answer, a loud voice cut me off. "Ohhh, Yu! It's been a while!"
Yu turned, his eyes narrowing. He usually despises it when strangers act casually toward him. But when he realized it was Kevin, his face lit up, erasing his intimidating scowl. "Ohhhh shit! I haven't seen you in so long!"
Yu brushed past Luna and me and pulled Kevin into a hug. Kevin laughed and returned it with three solid pats on the back.
They began their own little conversation, but their voices dulled in my ears as the world slowly blurred. Without saying goodbye, I turned and walked out of the store. The bell didn't even signal my departure.
I mindlessly dragged my feet forward until the ramen shop was a distant memory. Then I slipped into the nearest alley and fell against the cold brick, my gaze fixed on a single pebble on the ground.
I didn't expect to run into him here…
The day I stopped talking to Kevin, I thought that was it. And in the one and a half years that followed, we never crossed paths.
But that was nothing more than a coincidence. I should've seen this coming. We live in the same city, so of course we would run into each other again. The only reason we hadn't until now was sheer dumb luck. And luck always runs out.
Well, it's fine. There's nothing that could have been done anyway.
From a distance, I heard footsteps quickly approaching. I looked up. Luna stood in front of me with a frown that didn't suit her.
"Are–"
But before she could even finish speaking, her mouth suddenly snapped shut with a loud *thuck* of her teeth.
She let out a deep breath, then leaned against the opposite wall without her feet so much as scrunching the gravel.
We were only a few feet apart, but our walls would never meet.
A stale silence hung in the air. From the edges of my vision, I noticed Luna's eyes flicker toward me occasionally.
Luna raised her hand and gripped her arm. The soft jingle as her bracelets collided forced my attention onto her.
The frown was gone, but the smile wasn't back either. Instead, she just stared at me—steady, unwavering.
I sighed. "If you have something to say, you can say it, y'know. I'm not the bogeyman," I said, sounding as lighthearted as I could.
Luna swallowed hard before pushing the words out in rapid succession. "You know… you'll always be one of my best friends, right?"
"What about it?"
She let out a heavy breath that deflated her shoulders, then shook her head. "It's nothing. I just wanted you to know that."
I knew what she meant without her having to say it. I have known all this time. Yet, my body stayed glued to the wall, refusing to let our paths cross.
Still, watching her try her best—I couldn't just sit there. As her friend, I was compelled to do something.
I mulled over my words, then spoke slowly and clearly. "Thank you. And if it means anything, you're one of my best friends too."
Those words weren't a lie—far from it. As much as I hate to admit it, aside from Lily, Yu and Luna are the closest to me.
Luna scoffed, a disappointed look etching itself onto her face. "Don't be stupid. Of course, it means something to me." A smug grin crept onto her face, as if she were relishing this moment. "You're hardly ever nice, so you saying that actually means a lot."
I couldn't help but laugh. "You're always talking shit about how mean I am. I don't think I'm THAT bad. I think you're just being overdramatic."
"Overdramatic? You should hear the things you say sometimes. I still remember that one time I asked you two if I looked fat, and you said yes right away!"
I looked away from her, whistling ignorantly. "I'm just the most honest man there is."
Luna stomped, her foot dragging across the gravel. "The worst part is—I couldn't even tell if you were joking or being honest!"
"I was obviously being honest," I said flatly. "If I think you could look better, I'll tell you you can look better."
"And there it is! The meanness."
"Shut the hell up. I'm just helping you out, and you know it. If I were to try to come out wearing a neon green t-shirt with an anime girl plastered on it, would you still hang out with me?"
Luna lurched back. "Uh, no. That's disgusting."
"Okay, then what would you do?"
"Tell you to get changed or I'll change you myself."
"Exactly! I'm doing the same thing you would!"
We both burst into laughter, the nonsensical argument finally breaking the tension. That's when I realized she'd been planning this all along.
What a sly bastard!
I tried to look annoyed, but the laughter never stopped—continuously echoing through the alley.
"Uh, are you guys okay?" a worried voice asked.
Yu stood at the end of the alley, looking concerned. The way his voice echoed in the alley made us laugh even harder. It was getting to the point where my stomach was starting to cramp.
Yu sighed, walked over, grabbed us both by our arms, and dragged us out. We began the walk back home. After a few minutes, the laughter finally settled.
"Phew," Luna said, wiping a stray tear. "I haven't laughed like that in a long time."
"Tell me about it," I mumbled tiredly. "After the ramen and now this, my tummy actually hurts."
Yu shot us a quick glance from the corner of his eye before looking forward once more. "What were you guys even doing there anyway? Or what I mean is, how did you get there? I thought Luna hated places like those."
Luna didn't miss a beat, reacting faster than I could. "Well, you were talking with that one dude, and it was getting kinda awkward standing around, so Hoshino and I decided to go on a little walk. I got tired fast, though, so we took a break in that alley and just talked."
"You got tired from that short of a walk–"
"Girl problems."
Yu shut up instantly, his steps crunching awkwardly against the pavement. There was a little problem with her lie—that being we were just laughing hysterically a few moments ago—but Yu was such a gentleman that he wouldn't ask about it.
An impressed shiver ran down my spine.
Damn… that was smooth as hell! Did you plan that out too? I see you, girl!
Luna shot me a subtle wink. I gave her an appreciative nod.
We continued our walk while talking about whatever popped into our heads. She hugged both of us before heading inside. After that, Yu and I then headed for my house. Once we arrived there, I quickly dapped him up, signalling him farewell, and he walked away.
Once he disappeared into the distance, I opened the door and entered my house. The moment I stepped inside, the light atmosphere I had carried with me decayed into something lifeless, a burning herbal scent lingering in the air. It was around seven, but the house was quiet—too quiet.
I knew exactly what this meant. With practiced swiftness, I soundlessly slipped off my shoes and entered the living room. In the distance, Mom was sleeping completely still on the sofa, her breath barely audible in this silent room.
I walked over to the fridge and filled an empty cup with lukewarm water. I then placed it on the small glass desk right next to where Mom slept. Aside from the cup of water I had just gotten, multiple bottles of medicine were sprawled chaotically across the surface, each one toppled over.
I didn't waste another moment as I scurried up the stairs and retreated into my room. The house that night stayed silent as everyone remained holed up in their own rooms, as if afraid of coming out. My Dad's obnoxious laughter, my sister's usual antics, they all rotted along with the atmosphere that night.