Same Paths, Different Ways Pt. 3

"Tell me, Tsuki... What do you know about me?" she muttered sinisterly.

"...What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"You talk to me as if you know everything about me. Every little thing from the way I talk to the way I walk. In that case, you should probably know what I'm thinking as well, right? So go on. Tell me."

"What are you—"

"Tell me!"

As she stood there, her brows furrowed even deeper. Her teeth were bare, tightly gritted like a wolf baring its fangs. The look in her eyes petrified me.

Unlike before, when all I could see from her expression was rage, she now had a slight hint of desperation. 

"You don't know, do you?" she scoffed. "Of course you don't. Why would you? You're just some asshole who keeps annoying me for no reason."

"And you're someone who doesn't see anything wrong in the way you speak," I growled. "No... Hah. It makes sense. I would expect nothing else from an obnoxious girl who thinks she is superior to everyone else. Even after I risked my life to save you... You're far worse than that."

"Hah! Yeah, sure. Real rich coming from a fucking assassin."

She crossed her arms and tilted her head away. I don't get what's so hard to understand. Can't she see that I'm just trying to make her understand my side? It's the only reason why I'm raising my voice to this extent.

"Look, Taiyori... I just... want you to understand," I sighed. "I don't... I don't want you to hate me."

"The fuck?" she scoffed. "Is this some kind of sick joke?"

"You know I don't joke."

"Oh, do I? Were we really that close for me to notice? Let me give you a hint. No, we weren't, and we sure as hell aren't anywhere near the level where I'd do any more than look at you with contempt. You're the one who kept me in the dark, you're the one who hurt me, so don't start acting like you actually give a fuck about me!"

The more I thought about it, the more it didn't make sense. Why should I bother myself with her? She can go off and do whatever she wants. As long as it's not affecting me or Sakuno, then I couldn't care less. That's what I've always told myself, so why... Why does my heart ache?

"You know, my name is Taiyori Ayaka," she said. "Of course, you knew that, so you also must know about where I came from, right? I'm just a snobby rich girl, huh? Look here, it's the daughter of the fucking CEO of Yori Corp!"

"What does that have to do with anything—"

"IT HAS TO DO WITH EVERYTHING!"

For a moment, her gasps hastened and became audible, so much so that I could see her chest rising with every breath she took. She glared at me intensely, yet all I could do was stare back in shock.

"Do you know what it's like to be the only daughter of such a fucked up family like mine?" she asked. "Instead of doing things a normal little girl would do, I had to study and refine my etiquette. My grades were all that mattered. A fucking piece of paper with a number on it. Hanging out with friends? Never. Playing with toys? I wasn't even allowed to do that."

I couldn't say anything, and my silence made that clear, so she continued.

"Look, she's holding her silverware so inadequately. Did you see that? She's singing to herself while brushing a doll's hair. How is someone as childish as her supposed to inherit Yori Corp? For every mistake I made, I was mocked relentlessly by people I didn't even know, and thereafter, my father would scold me, spitting some bullshit about how I should be presenting myself better as his daughter—to hell with that!"

"Taiyori—"

"No, listen, and don't you dare say another word. Hah! Actually, wait! Why would you even bother to listen? I'm just a bitch with the 'Taiyori' name attached to her, right? An arrogant girl born with a silver spoon, being able to buy anything that she wants, and having everything done for her with a snap of a finger. You think I chose to live like this? When the hell did I ask for any of that? Even then, what... what gives you... the right to say that I... t-that I'm..."

Eventually, her breath hitched, and she began gasping uncontrollably. Her hand flew to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. Within moments, those tears spilled over, and her anger unraveled into a desperate cry of anguish.

I wanted to go to her. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and hold her close. I wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay—but how could I?

Who am I to offer her comfort when I've always been part of the problem? Like everyone else, I was blind to who she truly was, to the terrible things she endured that twisted her into the person she is now. To her, I'm just another fool who approached her for the wrong reasons, who judged her too quickly.

Taiyori wept for what felt like an eternity until her sobs faded into a heavy, exhausted sigh. Slowly, she lifted her head to look at me. In that moment, a single heartbeat sent a violent ripple through my entire body.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her gaze dropped. Her lips, once tense with anger, were now drawn into a straight line. The tears kept falling, but her face was empty, drained of all emotion. She looks... completely defeated.

"Tell me, Tsuki," she muttered. "Have you ever been surrounded by fake smiles, scheming and conniving, waiting for their chance to take a bite out of you? Have you ever locked yourself in your own room and starved for hours just to avoid those people? Have you ever hated your life so much that you wouldn't mind falling asleep and never waking up again? Because I have. Many times."

I opened my mouth, yet nothing came out, for I was unwilling to interrupt her again.

"You saw it yourself. I was kidnapped simply because I'm that old man's daughter, and it's been like that my whole life. Since I can remember, I've been nothing but a mannequin to be gazed upon and admired—a fucking tool for others to use as they please. No desires, no wishes, no thoughts of my own. That's how it has always been, because not a single person in this damn world knows how desperate I am to just be free. Not even you, the one person I thought who could give me that chance. That's why it hurts so much right now, Tsuki... because you turned out to be one of them."

I'm not... I swear... but how can I even say that at this point? Even then... What right do I have to tell her that?

"I hated myself. I hated my life, but I wanted to keep living... So, I refused to stay silent for any longer. I told myself that I would never let anyone walk all over me again. No matter what, I would never show people my weaknesses or sit by and watch as they exploit me. You said that I don't see anyone else as my equal, didn't you? Because I'm scared... I'm so fucking terrified of going back to those days when not a single person in the world was on my side. I want to do what young girls my age do. I want to live a fun life, have friends of my own, go on trips and hang out with them, maybe fall in love and have my heart broken. I want people to look at me and think that I'm just like everyone else, not some rich and privileged child. I just... want to be ordinary... but I guess even that is too much to ask for."

My eyes widened at the sound of those words. The 'Belle,' a perfect girl with the looks and status to back such an overly grandiose title. However, she was not perfect. She's a broken person who simply wanted to be normal... just like me.

It felt like my heart was being stabbed a hundred times over. My body was shaking, and my breaths were shallow. Hearing those words, I couldn't help but see her as an echo of myself.

This... This is what really goes on in that head of hers. Her struggles, her pain, all hidden behind that confident face while I was only adding fuel to the fire.

Finally, I steadied myself and mustered the courage to speak, but it was short-lived.

"Taiyori... I..."

"Go on," she said coldly. "Speak your mind. I'm listening."

"I... I'm so sorry. This whole time, I—"

"Didn't know? Yeah. Of course you didn't. After all, you're just like every other idiot who bothered himself with me just because I'm a pretty girl, huh? Maybe you wanted my money. Or you just thought it'd be fun to completely destroy a desperate girl who simply wanted a chance."

"What? That's not it!"

"It might be. It might not be. Truthfully, I don't care anymore. I'm too tired to decide who I should or shouldn't trust now. Think what you want, and do what you want... but never show your face in front of me again."

With that, she turned away to leave, but for some reason, I dashed forward to grab her wrist.

"Taiyori!"

"What? Are you finally regretting all the shit you put me through?" she scoffed. "Good. Now, you know how I feel. Nothing makes me more happy, especially since out of everyone I've ever met in my life... You made me feel the worst."

Suddenly, an ear-splitting whistle filled the silence, but our eyes were fixed upon each other. It went and went, until the dark sky once lit only by the moon was now filled with such a colorless display of fireworks.