The good guy

““Okay, okay, it’s a middle school boy.”

“What, why, how? I mean I’m not saying this is any less weird but you could have phrased that a little better.”

“It’s for shock value I guess.”

“For whom?”

“I don’t know, it’s funny.”

I gave away a confused face and shake my head, signaling her to explain.

“Well, I’ll make it simple and short. The boy’s a middle schooler, and well he’s just like you and I. He’s bored and stuff and he needed a companion, a friend. So, I stepped in and lived with him, it’s a win-win situation. He gets to have some excitement living with a beautiful girl, and I get to have a roof above my head for free.”

What the actual hell?

“Okay, do you expect me to just accept that? Why would the boy let a complete stranger inside his house? Where are his parents? And you’re fine with living with him as well?”

“Yeah, I’m fine with living with him, what’s he gonna do? I’m three years older than him. And regarding his parents, they’re on a long trip abroad so not to worry. About him being fine with it or not then why not? I mean he’s just a kid, a bored kid, it’s not too surprising, right? Well, it would be if the genders were reversed.”

This alone shouldn’t have been enough to convince me but for some reason, I started to put myself in the boys’ shoes. I guess I’m not that different, if that mysterious girl Kae had asked to live with me back then I probably would have agreed. Besides, I should respect her decisions.

“All right, I trust you.”

“Really? I thought it was going to take harder than that.”

“Yeah, I’d prefer to meet the boy myself. But I wouldn’t say the story is unbelievable. At least when the case involves you.”

“Heh, guess you still haven’t changed much. I like that.”

“What does that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing nothing, don’t worry about it. And since you’d prefer it so much, let’s go meet the boy then.”

“Shouldn’t he still be at school?”

“He’s about to have a lunch break. Apparently, his school let people outside go in during recess and lunch, as long as they don’t look suspicious. They aren’t very strict.”

“That so? So do we just go in?”

“Yeah, basically.”

We finished our drinks and headed toward my motor outside the building. Kiri then instructed me on the way, passing her apartment meanwhile. The school is located quite near where we had just gone through, and in a matter of minutes, we had reached our destination.

The gate surrounding the school was rusted, leaving tawny blemishes and a dark greenish shade. Passing through the entrance, I could see a vacant security guard booth. Before us, a playground. It has a decent size, with an outside basketball court and a few kids running around. A few trees here and there, and some plant pots as decorations.

“Three stories? This is a pretty small school.”

“Yeah, you must have noticed the poor structure. That and the security.”

“The boy’s parents work abroad, shouldn’t he be a rich kid or something.”

“It’s because his family’s poor that his parents are trying to solve their poverty by working abroad.”

“That so.”

We went inside the facility. To our sides were hallways only fit for a few people to walk through at the same time. Seeing the stairs to our left, we went upon them.

“So we’re going to the cafeteria or?”

“Nah, the boy’s waiting for us, well me, on the rooftop.”

“The place for loners. Classic.”

“Don’t say that.”, she reprimanded me in a joking tone.

As we ascended the stairs, we could feel a few stares, though I would have expected more. Finally seeing the door that led outside, we opened it.

As soon as we could see the outside, a boy could be seen leaning on the rooftop enclosures and he turned around to greet us.

“What took you so long? I was wa- Who’s that guy?!”

“John, meet Stan. Stan, this is John.”

Following her introduction, I waved my hand as a gesture to say hello. While the boy in front only responded with a questioning and unwelcoming face.

“Kiri, I need explanations, who the hell is this guy.”

Before she could answer, I stepped in.

“I think you should mine your tone bud. I know you’ve been sleeping with my girlfriend here.”

I spoke in a menacing tone, trying my hardest to imitate those gangsters you see in movies. To match my intimidation, I slid my head to the side and cracked my knuckles. Even though no sound came out, it looked like the kid was still terrified.

“What’s with that stupid face, say something.”

“G-Girlfriend!? I’m sorry I didn’t know. Sh-Sh-.“

I don’t know what kind of collective consciousness was at play here, but Kiri caught on quickly.

“What? Are you blaming it on me, you brat? Honey, I think you should teach him a lesson.”

“No need for words babe. So, face or belly, which one do you choose?”

As the boy crouched down and enfolded his head with his arms, I looked at Kiri and smiled a devious smile.

“No! Why does this keep happening to me?”

Maybe it was a little too far.

“Woah, we’re sorry kid. It was just a joke.”

“C’mon John, chill.”, following me, she also realized that it was the end of the jest.

Still a little bewildered, the kid looked up with teary eyes. And after a moment of collecting himself, he stood up.

“W-What’s with that joke Kiri!? I actually believed it, the times we spent together, I thought it was a lie!”

“Okay okay, I’m sorry. It was funny though, right?”

“Whatever, I’m getting used to you anyway. But you still owe me an explanation.”

Getting the chance to bring myself back into the conversation, I indulged the kid’s inquiries. I didn’t go into details, only information regarding me being Kiri’s childhood friend and that we stopped seeing each other in high school.

“You never told me you had friends, Kiri. I thought we were soulmates, forgotten by society.”

“I just had to make my story more tragic for you to let me in your house. Sympathize with me here, John.”

With questions on my mind, I shifted everyone’s attention toward them.

“So let me get this straight, John. You let a random high school girl live with you just because you thought she was a loner like you?”

“Yeah, is there a problem with that? I mean she looks trustworthy and nice. Plus, how could I leave a runaway girl like her to fend for herself, I’m a gentleman.”

I facepalmed and shook my head. With utter disappointment, I was left speechless.

“C’mon Stan, there’s technically no demerits here, we both get what we want.”, Kiri assured me. And I would have been a little convinced if the little brat didn’t add more to the statement.

“Yeah, plus you’re the one who left her for that long. It’s your fault she’s not yours anymore.”

His words left a tick in me, so I glanced at him frustratingly and retorted.

“You know that’s not the problem here, right?”

“I don’t know. I mean you’re her childhood friend and all, why did it take you so long to find her despite her still being in the same city.”

Another tick, this time proved to be more irritating.

“What the hell do you know about me? Or are you asking for a real beating this time?”

“Okay okay, chill out, both of you.”

Sensing the soaring tension, Kiri stood betwixt the two of us to prevent it from furthering. This made me now aware of my sudden mood swing, and I backed up and thought of a way to save face.

“All right, the kid’s pretty annoying but he’s harmless. I guess I’m fine with your situation, Kiri.”

She smiled in response to my acceptance. Though, I would have expected likewise from John.

“Hey, since when were you the one the decide which is fine and which is not.”

Luckily, before I could think of a comeback, the school bell rang signaling this little brat to go back to his class.

Thank god I don’t have to deal with him anymore.

“Guess that’s my cue.”

The kid ran to the door we just opened a while ago, but before fully being engulfed by the inside, he turned his back.

“Aren’t you going to your part-time job, Kiri?”

“I will, just want to talk with Stan here for a bit.”

He gave me a doubting look, which added more to his bothersome attitude, but I didn’t voice my concerns.

“Whatever, I’m going to class now.”

And the door closed. With the brat gone, I shifted my attention toward the girl beside me.

“So what do you want to talk to me about.”

She took a step behind her and laid her back on the metal fence behind us.

“Nothing really. What are your thoughts on the boy?”

“Told you, annoying but harmless.”

“That so?”

As a hunch, I imitated her stance. With both our backs against the fence, I continued the stalemate of our conversation.

“I think he’s grumpy and obnoxious now but, him cowering like that when we first teased him didn’t really paint the picture of him now in my mind.”

“Yeah, I think it’s because he’s being bullied.”

What

I suddenly turned my head to Kiri and with a shocking tone I inquired.

“You knew that and yet, you were still fine with joking like that?”

“Don’t blame me, you were the one who started it. And it was funny too, don’t lie now.”

I shifted my gaze back to the front of where I was standing and let out an exhausting sigh. An unearthly thought crossed my mind, and my brain laid it to rest. However, an opposing body organ said otherwise.

“You spend all your day trying to figure out ways to gather money and work at your job, right? So, there’s no way for you to look after him.”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Then, I’ll replace you.”

She moved from her stance and looked in awe at me.

“What?”

My vision was still unwavering, I collected myself for what I’m about to express.

“I’ll take a look at the kid for you.”

“Don’t you hate him? Why?”

“Well, I don’t even know fully.”, since I couldn’t collect my thoughts to be coherent enough for speech, I decided not to continue. Nonetheless, with a baffled look on Kiri’s face right now I was urged to put a little more effort.

“It’s just that… do you ever just want to be the good guy?”

Befuddled, Kiri slid her head to the side.

“I don’t get what you’re saying?”

“Like, be self-effacing, help people, be kind. Be the hero of the story, that kind of crap.”

She averted her gaze from me and once again laid back on the fence. I thought what I just said seemed to be nonsense, although with Kiri’s pondering, maybe I did somewhat get through to her. After a moment, she spoke.

“I guess I haven’t thought much about that kind of stuff. You were always the worry type so I assumed you’d be like this eventually. Though, you never really voiced your thoughts on it.”

“Yeah, this fixation on being the good guy only came to me recently. I think it’s because of the realization of the guilt of what I’ve done… mostly to you actually.”

Hesitantly, I glanced at her for a reaction, notwithstanding the fact that she was doing the same.

“So, you’re still feeling guilt about all that happened back then?”

“Yeah, that’s the reason why I’m here right now.”

Once more I took a peek at her visage, though I did not expect her to have a warm beam on her face. Her expression hit me uncontrollably, and I could feel my face’s pigmentation shift toward something more reddish.

“So, you’re redeeming yourself by repaying the boy who gave me a home to live in?”

“Yeah, I’m fine with that for now.”, without much thought I answered.

“Thanks, Stan.”

Suddenly, Kiri put her hand on my shoulder. Unaware of the reason, I turned to face her, only to find our distance had been enclosed by a dangerous amount.

“I like this new side of you, Stan. I guess change can be good sometimes.”

Before I could muster up a word, she drew her face near mine. And I could feel a soft sensation on my cheeks. Like a flash, it was already over, and I could see Kiri’s whole face again.

“Well, I have to go to work now. I trust you to take care of John.”

Still obliging her rambunctious energy, the girl scurried to the door and left, and I was left there speechless. I lifted my fingers to caress my cheeks, cherishing the feeling of moisture and touch from her. My heart was now beating faster than a French core concert, and I could feel something inside me explode.

“She kissed me!”