Whispers of Jealousy

As I stood frozen, a tableau of emotions unfolded before me. Cherry and the newcomer were caught in an embrace that seemed to transcend time itself. Finally, Cherry released herself from his grip, a cascade of surprise and excitement transforming her expressions in the blink of an eye.

"You scared me, Ryuu! When did you come back?" Cherry's voice rang with a mixture of astonishment and delight, her demeanor shifting like a dexterous dancer altering their steps.

"Yesterday. Hehe," Ryuu's chuckle filled the air, an embodiment of the familiarity they shared.

"And this is Karma, a friend of mine." Cherry said all excited.

Ryuu acknowledged my presence with a casual nod, a glint of recognition flickering in his eyes. "Ah, I see. You're starting to make friends? That's something new, and I'm glad that you're getting comfortable again." His hand found its way to Cherry's head, a tender gesture that painted a vivid picture of their relationship.

Questions swirled in my mind like leaves caught in a whirlwind. The unspoken connection between them intrigued and perplexed me simultaneously.

Who exactly was this guy? How did he know her? What was their relationship?

Inadvertently, I must have displayed a puzzled expression, and Ryuu appeared to catch on quickly.

"Ah, my apologies. It's not great that I didn't introduce myself earlier. I'm Ryuu Sato. Nice to meet you."

His hand extended toward me, an offering of camaraderie. Despite my hesitation, I accepted the gesture, our handshake a silent exchange of acknowledgment.

"Nice to meet you too. I'm Karma Nakamura, a friend of Cherry's," I replied, the formality of introductions shrouding my swirl of thoughts.

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have come to pick you up," Cherry's voice held a playful pout, her concern and fondness evident.

"Aww, I wanted to surprise you, dummy. I visited your place earlier, your mom mentioned you were at the convenience store. So, I went there and didn't find you. Figured you'd be taking the scenic route home or engrossed in some manga or game like an absolute nerd. And it seems I was right." Ryuu's words carried a blend of familiarity and teasing.

"You know me better than I know myself. Creep," Cherry's retort was accompanied by a cheeky grimace, a dynamic that only close friends shared.

Laughter echoed between them, a melody that resonated with shared history and memories. "Man, I missed all this so much," Ryuu confessed.

"Me too. I missed all this terribly. I'm so happy you're back," Cherry's response was tender, a testament to their bond.

Ryuu's voice took on a playful tone, a hint of self-deprecation. "It's been a while, hasn't it? I thought you'd forget me and all, but you do remember me. Lol, that makes me happy."

Cherry's playful punch landed on Ryuu's arm as she retorted, "How could I ever forget you, you dumbass?"

Observing their camaraderie, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance.

Why were they so close? What was the big deal about this guy?

The unease grew within me.

"Alright, catch you guys later. I'm running late, got stuff to do," Ryuu announced as he made a hasty exit.

Ryuu was definitely an enigma, and his connection with Cherry seemed to intrigue me more than it should. His protectiveness felt overbearing, igniting a feeling of jealousy that I wasn't ready to admit.

With Ryuu's departure, Cherry and I were alone again. We began our journey back home, discussing the remaining portion of our project. Our collaboration had proven unexpectedly productive, and we were well on our way to completing it.

Soon, we reached a crossroad, the juncture where our paths diverged. We discussed wrapping up the project in the coming days, the anticipation of freedom for the weekend making the task all the more motivating.

"So, we can finish the rest within a day or two, and then present it on Friday. We'll have the whole weekend to ourselves," I proposed.

"Yeah, that would be perfect. I just want to cocoon myself in my room and sleep," Cherry's voice held a hint of fatigue, the toll of schoolwork evident.

Her sentiment couldn't help but spark a smile. "You sound like you really need that rest."

As we chatted at the crossroads, Tatsuya joined our conversation. "Hey guys, what's up in this scorching heat?"

"Running errands," I replied with a sigh, expressing the mundane nature of our activity.

Tatsuya's response was laced with jest. "Ah, that's a bummer, man."

Turning his attention to Cherry, he continued, "And how are you doing, Sinclair? Has my little buddy Karma been causing you any trouble? If he has, don't hesitate to tell me—I'll be sure to give him a good talking to."

Cherry's laughter was infectious as she shook her head, her amusement clear. "Haha, he's pretty cool. I'm actually having a good time with him."

While Tatsuya playfully spewed nonsense, the three of us enjoyed a brief but meaningful moment of camaraderie. Just as the atmosphere was settling into a comfortable rhythm, the unexpected return of Ryuu brought a new twist to the scene.

"Hey, look who's here again. You still not home, Cherry?" Ryuu's presence was marked by a casual greeting.

"Just a little longer," Cherry replied, her tone indicating a reluctance to wrap up the conversation.

Ryuu's curiosity seemed to pique. "You've been standing here all this time, talking?"

Cherry confirmed, "Yep, we were discussing a school project and having some random conversations."

I couldn't help but feel an undercurrent of irritation as Ryuu inquired about our conversation. His sudden intrusion grated on me, and I found myself fuming silently.

Tatsuya, ever observant, seemed to sense my frustration and curiosity about Ryuu. He took the opportunity to introduce himself, perhaps hoping to glean more insights.

"Hi there, I'm Tatsuya Kurosaki, a friend of both Cherry's and Karma's."

Ryuu returned the gesture with warmth. "Nice to meet you. I'm Ryuu Sato."

Tatsuya's curiosity was evident as he probed further. "I didn't see you around here earlier. Are you new to the neighborhood?"

Ryuu explained with an easy smile, "Well, I used to live here but went abroad for a few years. Just got back yesterday, hence the surprise appearance."

Understanding dawned on Tatsuya's face. "Ah, that makes sense. So, you both know each other from before?"

Cherry nodded in affirmation. "Yeah, we go way back."

Ryuu's voice held a note of agreement. "Absolutely."

As if on cue, Ryuu redirected his attention to Cherry, signaling an intention to wrap up the interaction.

"Alright, Cherry, if you're done with your chit-chat, let's head home. Oh, and I got you some of your favorite snacks on the way."

Cherry's eyes lit up as she peered into the bag he held, her excitement palpable. "Oh my goodness! Thank you so much, Ryuu! You're the best!" Her joyful reaction was accompanied by a delighted jump.

With a few more exchanges and light banter, we eventually parted ways. As we made our way home, Tatsuya couldn't resist a playful jab at me.

"Seems like someone's feeling a bit envious, huh?"

The notion seemed preposterous, and I brushed it off with a scoff. "Jealous? Who would be jealous over something like that?"

Tatsuya's smirk was unmistakable. "Well, my friend, the way you reacted suggests otherwise."

An unexpected surge of anger prompted me to express my frustration more openly. "That guy is a real nuisance. He could clearly see that Cherry and I were talking, yet he had to butt in and whisk her away. It's infuriating."

Tatsuya's sigh was tinged with wisdom. "Karma, you might not realize it yet, but you're definitely a tad jealous. It's okay to admit these things, you know—it might actually help."

With Tatsuya's words echoing in my mind, I watched as Cherry and Ryuu disappeared into the distance, contemplating the complexities of emotions I hadn't fully acknowledged until that moment.