Chiyoko's Visit [2]

​Our last name should be changed to the Workouts instead of the Satos. That was such a lame joke; I need comedy therapy ASAP.

​As the tour reached its conclusion, only two places were left: my room and Miyu's. “Okay, the tour ends here. My room is off-limits. I don't even know why you enter without my permission sometimes, you perv.”

​“Hey! I'm no pervert,” Miyu uttered. “Whatever, it's not like there's anything of value in that room.”

​Hey now, watch it.

​“Now it's confirmed: you're hiding corn, aren't you?”

​“What's wrong with you!” I blurted while looking at Chiyoko with a blush as I transitioned to Miyu with veins popping all around my face.

​“That reaction is not helping your case, you know.”

​You little… God, so help me. I'm gonna strangle this little moron.

​Just then, my phone rang in my room as I heard the ringtone. It was a pop song I liked a lot. So hearing it was pretty easy. “I'll be right back; behave yourself, Miyu!”

​“I make no promises.”

​Oh my days, I hate you so much, you little turd!

​I left them there in the passageway as I entered my room while they entered Miyu's. I walked to the bed, sat down on it, took my phone, and answered.

​“Hello?”

​“Heya kid, did you miss me?”

​“Oh, hey, Dad. And no, I did not miss you at all.”

​“How cruel, just like your mother: prickly on the outside, but warm and soft on the inside.”

​“Aren't you sad that I took most of her traits and didn't even take one of yours?”

​“Of course I'm sad about that; what kind of father wouldn't be?”

​“A bad one.”

​“Exactly.”

​“Hahahaha…”

​“But there is one trait you took from me.”

​“Do tell.”

​“Haven't you noticed that you tend to repeat a word when you lie?”

​“I have.”

​“That's the trait you took from your old man.”

​“So you're to blame for my curse. I can not tell a lie, and it's all your fault, you old geezer.”

​“Hahahahahaha… old geezer, huh? You know that's something I used to say to your grandpa before he kicked the bucket.”

​“You've told me before.”

​“Really?”

​“Uh-huh, like so many times.”

​“Well, I guess that's because I miss him.”

​“How about we go to his grave on his birthday?”

​“That's a great idea, kid. Let's do it. Oh, and we'll have to bring your sister too. Speaking of, where is my little angel?”

​“Angel? Are you kidding me? Nothing is angelic about that little monster.”

​“Be nice to your sister.”

​“Yeah, sure, I will.”

​“I gotta go; I just came back from work, and I'm tired as hell. I think I'm gonna grab a drink before I sleep.”

​“You know you won't die if you don't drink, right?”

​“I'll die of insanity and thirst.”

​“Forget it; I forgot that you're a lost cause.”

​“Heh heh heh… let your old man enjoy himself while he's still young. Life is a fragile thing, you know. It can be extinguished so easily, like moths to a flame.”

​“Philosophical much, but yeah, I know. Well, enjoy your youth then. Later.”

​“Later, kid. Make sure to get yourself a lady over there.”

​“You'd be surprised.”

​“Ohho, I'm intrigued. But that's a topic for another time. Tell your mom I said hi. And your sister.”

​“Alright.”

​I ended the call as I tossed my phone onto the bed and lay on my back as I faced the ceiling, the memory of that weird dream surfacing like a hungry shark.

*****

​Miyu's POV

​Meanwhile in the other room, Chiyo and I hung out as I sat on my office chair while pretending to be one of those bosses who turns around dramatically on said chair; as they press their fingers together and place their elbows on the armrest to gaze at their employees as if threatening them.

​Chiyo, on the other hand, sat on my bed while she admired my room, which, of course, boosted my ego to even greater heights.

​“Your room is lovely, Miyu-chan. It reminds me of my own room back home. I never knew or even guessed that you might like pink.”

​“Naturally, it is my room, after all. But thanks for the compliment. I'm proud of this room, too. If yours is like mine, then I guess it was destined that we'd both end up as sisters.”

​Chiyo's face moved for a moment as if twitching in some sort of agonizing pain.

​“Yes, about that. There is something I must tell you, sister.”

​“Lay it on me.”

​“You see, I don't even know where to begin, but,”

​You know, the pain of finding out something you were never supposed to know is quite palpable. I never understood it until now, because before, I'd just go about my life without caring about other people and their personal problems.

​I was okay with that. I was fine with that. But when Chiyoko told me her personal problem, albeit her personal story, I felt a sharp pang in my chest. It pained me in a lot of ways that I couldn't even utter or ponder. That's how personal her story was and how pitiful it made me.

​Normally, I'd joke around and shrug someone off if they try to use me like their confession box. But Chiyoko is my friend. She's probably my most honest friend, aside from my brother, of course. But this time, I couldn’t. Why? Because Chiyoko was speaking from the heart, not her mind.

​“[****].”

​Huh?! I gasped as I heard her words, then I looked at her as she avoided eye contact and looked at the ground. My voice came out bitter unintentionally as I muttered,

​“You haven't told him, have you?”

​“I… haven't. And please, don't tell him; I want to be the one to do it.”

​I clenched my shaking fist as I held it with my other hand. “Sigh, I'll respect you and let you do things your way, but sooner or later, you'll have to tell him, okay?”

​“Yes, thank you, Miyu-chan…”

[To be Continued...]