Chapter 17.8 The Eyes Behind the Keyhole

Haru came from downstairs, his eyes were red and his eyes were streaming with tears. Veronica's mom, who was making dinner in the kitchen saw him cry and just stopped whatever she was doing.
"Haru?" she asked gently, wiping her sweating hands against her apron. "What's wrong haru dear?"
But Haru did not respond. He simply looked at her and shook his head, his lips trembling, and fled out into the chill of the evening air. The door closed behind him, and there remained only silence and the diminishing sound of his footsteps.
Veronica's mother frowned and glanced at the stairs. Something was wrong . She went to Veronica's room.
As Elizabeth remained, her movements softly kissed Veronica's forehead. It was a final, silent kiss, when the handle of the door was turned, Elizabeth was gone, leaving only an ethereal remnant of perfume.
The creaking door opened. Veronica's mom entered and see her daughter were  sleeping on her bed.
"Veronica?" she quietly asked, sitting beside her.
Veronica's eyes slowly opened, her eyes rubbing. "M-Mama? What happened ?"
Her mother smoothed back her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Haru came down the stairs sobbing," she whispered. "did something happen ?"
Veronica's eyes blinked, startled and slightly terrified. "Crying? I don't… I don't know, Mama. Perhaps I was sleeping so deeply and didn't hear that haru kun came."
Her mother smiled weakly, though there was still concern in her eyes. "Okay, sweetie. But you've been home long enough now. Tomorrow you'll go to school, okay? Haru will take you."
Veronica groaned softly, covering her eyes with her hands. "Nooo, Mama… I don't want to go."
Her mother smiled warmly. "Yes, you will. And Haru will be there."
At this, Veronica poked her head out behind her hands, growling, "Haru will take me to school?"
"Certainly," answered her mother with a smile.
Sunny light at last seeped through the drapes. Veronica woke up slowly, blinking and yawns. She got dressed in her school uniform, neatening her hair. But as she em
Open her room—
Elizabeth was there.
"Eliz…?" Veronica whispered, surprised.
Elizabeth smiled faintly, her dark eyes hungry. "Just one kiss before you leave," she said, moving forward.
"No, Eliz… not now. I have school," Veronica backed away.
"Please…. " Elizabeth's voice softened, then hardened again as she moved another step forward. "Just one."
Veronica shook her head. "I said no."
Elizabeth's hands shook a little — and then she took Veronica by the throat and jostled her up against the wall. "Come on, Veronica," she whispered, her face against Veronica's.
Veronica gasped. "Alright… just a little," she muttered .
Elizabeth's lips clamped over hers, the kiss hard and intense. Veronica tried to push her away, but Elizabeth's grip was firm. She broke free after a moment.
"Stop it!" she screamed, her voice trembling. She grabbed her doll off the table and ran downstairs.
When Veronica came downstairsHaru was already outside on his bike. He eyed her, his face expressionless but his eyes depleted.
"Let's go," whispered Veronica, a try to be normal.
Haru nodded. Veronica got on, standing on the small back rail rather than sitting down.
"Veronica, sit down," said Haru.
"No, I don't want to," she replied, holding her grip on his shoulders tight. "Can I ride on your shoulders instead?"
He nervously chuckled. "No, we'll fall."
"Alright then…" Veronica smiled weakly and kissed the top of his head.
Haru stiffened momentarily, but said nothing.
When they arrived at school. In class, Veronica's smile disappeared when she noticed another girl sitting in their seat Teana.
"Stand up," Veronica curtly demanded.
Teana blinked. "Haru-kun, I can sit next to you? Just today?"
Haru glanced between them. "You can sit in another seat, Veronica,"
"No!" Veronica cut in, moving closer. "You can't sit there!"
Haru leaned in closer to her and whispered not today. Teana's expression grew stern. "Fine," she grumbled, getting up and walking off with a scowl.
Veronica sat down, right on Haru's lap.
"V-Veronica!" Haru whispered, his eyes wide.
"Shh," she said, turning his face to hers. "What are you reading?"
He attempted to disregard her, still looking at the book.
"Haru-kun," she whispered again, "Haru-kyun~"
Finally, he sighed. "It's a novel… about a boy and a girl who were in love. But then the girl abandoned him… for another girl."
A few of their classmates standing in the back tittered. "Aww, they're so cute together!" one of them cooed.
Teana spun around, laughing. "No, she's not his girlfriend."
And, Veronica pouted, tears already forming in her eyes. "No… girls can't be with each other," she whispered.
Haru smiled at her softly. "They can be, Veronica."
She shook her head, eyes brimming over. "No… no they can't…!"
"Okay, okay…" Haru breathed they can't be together, hugging her tight and kissing her forehead. "They can't. It's just a story, okay? Don't cry."
Veronica sniffled, punching her heart with befuddlement, jealousy, and something else nameless.
And from the side of the classroom, Teana's eyes fell narrow, set not on Haru, but on the doll sitting quietly beside Veronica's bag.