RYKER"Love, I looked everywhere for you. Where have you been?"As soon as I saw Claire at my in-laws' house, I felt a strong urge to give her a big hug."Looking for you almost drove me crazy," I whispered.Because Claire didn't say anything, I was able to hug her. It took a while, but eventually, I let go of her. Then I turned my attention to my respected in-laws and looked at their faces with an unwavering gaze. Their eyes seem to send me a mysterious message—a quiet call to prepare for what I don't know.As my eyes moved to the stairs, Heiji smoothly descending them caught my attention. He had a strange look, similar to how my mother-in-law looked at me with her eyes. It was like I sensed something odd about us all. His lips were adorned with a sly grin, and a soft tug suggested that he was quite fun.I looked at Claire again. "Let's go home.""Ryker, I'm not going to your house."A deep wrinkle appeared on my brow as I twisted my face into a dissatisfied look. "My house? Are you
CLAIRE"Have you made a decision?"I turned my gaze to Heiji, who was standing still behind the chair I was sitting in. I couldn't find peace, so I decided to stay in the green refuge of my yard and let my thoughts wander. I feel very guilty about what I did to Ryker, which weighs heavily on my mind. At this very moment, I feel like my heart is being broken into pieces that can't be put back together. For some reason, though, I don't want to lock Ryker into a relationship I know will never work out. Furthermore, I have to free him from being tied to me because he is about to take on the grave responsibility of being a father. I worry that the child will grow up without the father's supervision owing to my selfishness.Heiji set the beer bottle on the table's shiny surface in a smooth movement. The golden color of the glass sparkled in the soft light. He moved quickly and sat on the empty chair across from mine, putting himself in my sight."That," he says softly, "will help you sleep.
CLAIRE"Claire..."While lying on the bed, I felt warm and cozy from the blanket. I gently pulled my legs together and cradled them in a private show of comfort. Tears ran down my face as I did this, showing how distraught I was. It's like forgetting has snagged my mind and thrown me into a sea of broken memories. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that something so unexpected would happen. In my heart, I always wanted Ryker's touch. The things that occurred tore apart the very fabric of my life, leaving my world in a mess. The sad truth is that I can't remember anything except the painful memory of an aching pain that plagued my mind the night before while Heiji and I were talking. He reached out to help me and led me up the stairs with a gentle hand. Anything after that time is lost in my memory, and I have no more thoughts. I feel uneasy in the depths of my being like the very fabric of my mind is becoming less stable. The lines between what makes sense are fuzzy, leaving me lo
RYKER"She's taking too long."By strangely tilting my head, I looked through the glass window and into the cozy little shop. There is no way for me to tell how much time has passed in that room. Minutes have passed since she walked in, but the time seems to have gone on forever. I saw her figure, firm and immovable, standing in front of the cold room that held a variety of cooling drinks."What does she want to buy?"I was lost in thought when the sharp sound of my phone ringing woke me up. Quickly, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, eager to find out who was bothering me. Before my eyes, the letters that make up the name "Alice" appeared on the bright screen of my phone. My hand shot forward and quickly and decisively took the call."Have you met?" Alice's voice echoed through the phone line quickly, and her question reached my ears with a sense of urgency. "She doesn't pick up when I call. I worry about what happened to her.""I'm with her; don't worry. We are on our way somewhere
RYKER"Would you like some beer?" As the words escaped my lips, a subtle undertone of uncertainty accompanied them. "Are you sure about that?"Once we had finished our meal of instant ramen, Claire and I made the decision to remain in the comfort of the living room. As I stood in the kitchen, conversing with Claire's mother over the phone, Claire remained seated nearby, her presence filling the room. With a sense of urgency, I promptly relayed the events, making sure to alleviate their concerns and provide a clear explanation of my actions. The length of our stay in this place remains uncertain, hinging on the swiftness Claire can find in her heart to forgive me. At this moment, I have a strong desire to converse with her. I intend to provide a comprehensive explanation and delve deeper into the various facets of the situation.With cautious steps, I inched closer to Claire, my heart pounding in my chest, a mixture of fear and intrigue coursing through my veins. In a composed manner,
RYKERWith a slight curl of her lips, Claire gave off an air of knowing that was mysterious and interesting. I was caught off guard when she gently touched both of my faces. The kindness of her actions made me feel good. She stroked the curves of her face with great accuracy, using a light touch to apply a slight force. I was filled with awe as I felt her warm skin on mine."You've been in love with me that long?" Claire asked. "Gosh, that was five years ago, and I didn't even notice it.""Indeed," I said in a low voice that was hard to hear over the wind's whispers. "Perhaps I must exercise self-control; you never notice it, but I hope you can feel it."Claire's smile suddenly faded, and tears started to fall down her face. She slowly pulled her hand away from the soft touch on my cheek. She touched the thing lightly, running her palm along its surface. I carefully took Claire's tiny hand in mine."If my feelings for you are not sincere, I won't wait five years to restrain myself. An
RYKER"I am a failure."I sighed in contentment as I set the empty amber liquid container on the table. Its contents were once bubbly and flavorful, but my use has drained them. After finishing my drink, I enjoyed the aftertaste. I sat on the sofa's velvety back and took a deep breath. I cupped my head in my hands and gently kneaded the knots of stress that had formed inside. Twelve bottles of beer were almost completely gone. I, too, am in a daze, and I, too, give in to the dizzying feelings that assault my senses. I let out a faint sigh as I released the air from my lungs. As I closed my eyes, I found comfort in the darkness and welcomed the little reprieve it provided.Unfortunately, once Claire left, she never came back. Taking stock of the situation, I hoped that a thorough explanation of what was going on would help bring everything back into balance. Unfortunately, I have no idea what caused her sudden disinterest in me.'But, Ryker, I'm no longer worthy of you.'It was always
RYKER"Love...."As I approached the wall, I noticed Claire still seated in the exact spot where I had left her. I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs with a rush of air. With a determined stride, I closed the distance between us and settled myself in the seat beside her. I positioned myself at a distance, ensuring I would not startle her."If you're worried that I'm mad at you, don't worry; I don't feel anything like that." With a quick flick of my eyes, I glanced at her. "My feelings for you will not change.""But I'm not clean anymore." Claire's voice barely escaped her lips as a whisper."How can you be sure about that? You mentioned that you don't remember anything unless you had some feeling when you woke up."With a swift movement, Claire shifted her gaze toward me. "What do I feel?"With a calm nod, I replied, "Yeah." My eyes briefly flickered toward Claire. "Hey, do you remember every time we had s-x? After, how do you feel?" Claire sat in silence, her mind consumed with thought