Chapter Text
~Tokiya’s POV~
Leaving?
Teresa is going to be leaving?
“Why?” I could not help but ask.
“I-“ Teresa starts but her voice cracks. “I made a deal with Aka.”
A deal? I would have laugh out loud if it was not for that I want to hear more of what Teresa has to say. It seems like Aka has not change at all, making deals even with her sister. I guess it is a habit for the eldest twin to do when she cannot decide if an idea is good or not.
“I want to prove that I can graduate being a composer on my own. Without her by my side.”
A sad and tired laugh leaves Teresa’s mouth as she looks down into her lap. Her left hand, now bandage, opens and closes, like she wants to squeeze something. I am tempted to grab her hand, but it is not the right time to comfort her. I need answers and either I get them from her or her sister. That did not mean that my heart aches for her.
I remembered our childhood. Both Teresa and Aka did not have a great upbringing. If anything, they have the worst upbringing than anyone I have ever met. The two lost their parents to a house fire when they were just babies. I do not know the details, but I heard that it was Aka’s fault that their parents died. Even as a child, I knew that it was impossible for a baby to set a house on fire purposely. Growing up, Aka would always be ignored at best or abused at worst. I do not know how she does it, but Aka never let any of that bother her. She would always brush it off. Of all things, Teresa would the one who would get mad at even the slightest slander that leave anyone’s mouth. I am honestly jealous of them as I am an only child but being with them sure feels like having real sisters though. It was when we were all 10 years old that the twins disappear suddenly. I thought it was because they got adopted, but they would have informed me about it since adoption is a lengthy process to go through, if the family who wants to adopt is lucky that is.
Before I get even more lost in my thoughts, I feel something warm press against me. I see Teresa lean heavily against me, shivering from the cold night air. My heart jumps a little from the simple contact. This is when I realize that she is only wearing a t-shirt and thin pajama pants. Without thinking, I wrap my arm around her. My hand rubbing her arm to keep warm.
Teresa looks at me with widen eyes. Her eyes were still watery and red, but still as beautiful as ever. My heart is now beating fast. Even after all these years, my feelings for her have not changed. I honestly do not remember when I started falling for Teresa, but I knew when I start realizing it when she and Aka left.
I tighten my hold on her as I thought about her leaving me again. No, I will not let her go again. Even if it is Teresa’s sister that is forcing her to leave.
“I’m not letting you leave.” I say, resolve in my voice.
Teresa stiffens, but it did not last long as she slumps against me. Her head drops onto my shoulder.
“I don’t want to leave.” Teresa says, her voice wavers. “I want to continue to stay here. I want to stay with you. Of course, I have to mess it up. I always mess things up.”
It breaks my heart to hear Teresa say that. I do not know how much she changed during our time apart, but it seems like she is more self-loathing to herself than before. This makes me want to protect Teresa even more.
“Then we’ll show her.” I state.
Teresa picks up her head and looks at me with confusion.
“We?”
“Yes, we. We will show Aka that you can stay here and graduate without her.”
I do not know what face I am making, but Teresa looks into my eyes for a moment before putting her head back on my shoulder. We sit in silence for a while before Teresa moves her bandage hand over to my hand that is not holding her. She squeezes my hand.
“Do you really think we can do it?” she asks, her voice so small that I almost missed it.
I rest my head on hers and rub my cheek into her hair.
“I do. Just because Aka isn’t going to be around all the time, doesn’t mean that you are alone. You have me. You have Syo and Ren and Nanami-san and all your other friends. You’ll never be alone.”
I feel Teresa’s shoulders shaking as I hear sniffling coming from her. Teresa turns her face and buries it into my shoulder. Her arms wrap around me. Something wet soaks into my shirt. I say nothing as I wrap my own arms around Teresa. It must have been so long since Teresa has been held like this. I laugh inside my head as I thought that even after so many years, Teresa is still the same person that I remember.
For the first time since I became Hayato-
No, the first time since Aka and Teresa disappear, I am happy.