2 Months ago

"Come on, let's go to the XXX place; the flower garden there is to die for!" Aiko shook Riku's shoulder while he swiped his screen.

Riku pulled her closer. "Look here, this place is a little far, but there are so many rides." He handed her the phone. 

She scrolled through the article while he continued. "They also have an enormous flower garden; their resort is also gorgeous."

"Yeah, but this place is too expensive." Aiko pointed at the article.

 "Are you paying?" Riku snarled. "All my classmates went there—"

"So what? It's not compulsory that we have to follow this trend." 

"Oh miss, I-am-too-perfect. Dad is doing the payments; you aren't now, so pipe down so I can go to this place."

"Riku, Dad's money is our money so we all need—"

"SHUT UP!" Riku shot up, glaring at her. "Fine, you all can go to your stupid place, but without me..."

He rushed out of the kitchen, almost bumping into his mother. 

Right...I was always the aggressive one...

"I am sorry, Riku. Let's go to the place you wanted to go to...." Aiko spoke with a faint smile.

"Ah...Ah...Thanks..."

And she always made sure to cope up with me

March 20, 20XX

Riku tried opening his eyes; pain filled his entire body. Sirens echoed. His legs pressed against something hard. He managed to call out.  "Mom?"

"The boy is alive... I think I heard his voice."

A-alive? Right, we were on our way to that place...

He heard a thud, and someone grabbed his arm. He felt being pulled out; his body ached with the sudden motion.

"Yes, the boy is breathing; he is alive. What about the girl?"

"She wasn't too lucky."

"Yeah, she and the father were sitting on the side where that van crashed."

What?

When I regained consciousness, I was informed Aiko died.
And Father was in a critical condition.
After his surgery he survived... but he was mostly unconscious.

Then after Aiko's funeral 
When Father was somewhat awake, our relative told him about Aiko's death....

"Aiko...My Aiko..." Their father embraced Riku. "I knew they lied... I knew you survived... you are my kind little girl... you don't deserve to die."

"D-Dad?" Riku shivered in the embrace. He looked at his relatives, but no one intervened. He pushed him away, panting heavily.

Their father's eyes widened. "Oh, Riku..."

"You shouldn't have pushed him like this... what's wrong if he mistook you..."

"Besides, it would have been better if the problem child died."

Oh, so that's how it is .....

Aiko was perfect; no wonder everyone likes her more

Lying on the bed, tears stained the white pillow. Suddenly, he stood up and walked out of his room.

His footsteps echoed as he walked down the hallway. The emptiness of the house haunted him. His father was still hospitalised, and his mother mostly stayed with the father, leaving Riku alone.

He opened Aiko's room, stopping at the entrance. It wasn't warm nor too decorative, but it was calm.

He strolled inside; he could feel Aiko's presence. The room itself felt like Aiko.

"Only if she were here..." Stopping in front of the mirror, he scowled at himself.  "We look alike, but why was our lifespan different?"

The day turned to night; he lay on the floor still looking into the mirror. The mother arrived at one point late at night, but he didn't realise.