8.
The next week I kept getting looks from Akiko during class, but I noticed that the gossip girls stopped staring at me. I wondered what she said to them to get them to stop. It confused me, because I would have thought after all the information she dragged out of Miyu and myself, the girls would be more curious. But they on the most part returned to normal. It was only Akiko that acted weird.
Miyu, on the other-hand, had gotten bolder and took every opportunity to lock arms or hold hands with me in public. The campus seemed to be ripe for this sort of thing, unlike some of the other public area we went too. I guess universities are just liberal that way. Miyu, also got into a new hobby of picking out outfits for me, and enjoyed playing dress up. It made her happy, so I did it. It felt odd to be seen as pretty.
After three weeks our relationship was really blossoming, thought we still hadn't worked out way to actually doing it yet. I think both of us are too shy to make the first move. Other than us changing in front of each other, that's as naked as either of us got. There was still over-the-clothes petting, maybe a bit of under, but nothing more than that. Part of me wanted to be bold and do more, and I could tell she was the same, but at the same time we didn't want to mess up what we already had.
One morning Monday morning Miyu texted me and told me she wasn't going to university that day because she was feeling under the weather. Sadly I hadn't seen her that Sunday due a family emergency so I didn't know how she got sick. I hated not seeing her several days in a row. Sometimes life happens, but I couldn't believe how much I missed her.
At lunch, I took our usual bench outside. It seemed far to lonely. But I would have taken the loneliness over Akiko awkwardly joining me with her own bento.
"Nice day to eat outdoors." She commented to me, as if we were friends.
"Yeah." I gave her a dry response, hoping she'd take the hint and go.
"Where's your girlfriend?"
"She's not feeling well today." I tried to ignore Akiko as I ate my own lunch.
"Too bad. It's rare to see you alone these days."
I glanced at her, then bit hard into my croquette. What the hell did she want anyway?
As if she could read my mind she gave a huge sigh and pushed her bento box away from her. "Why won't you talk to me anymore?"
I gave her a look, not sure where she was going with this. We didn't really talk all that much before, other than idol classroom chatting, and even then I didn't even know her name. "You called my girlfriend a loser." I finally told her.
"So what." Akiko glared at me. "Didn't I get those other girls off your back?"
"I guess so." I had suspected that was the case but now it was official. "Why did you?"
"Just because."
Great reasoning there. I thought to myself. I really didn't know what to add, other than something rude, so I didn't say anything else.
"How is everything going with Hoshino… you know, with all of that…?"
"Fine."
"C'mon give me more than that." Akiko rolled her eyes.
"I don't know what you want to hear." I told her truthfully. "You want to know if we fight? Or do you want to know how far we've gotten? Either one is too personal to tell you anyway, so what do you want me to say?"
"Don't be such a prude. I'm just curious is all. I've never met a lesbian before."
"Well I hope I'm entertaining for you." I seethed.
Akiko sighed and picked up her bento box again and scooped rice in her mouth. We ate in silence for a while then she placed her box down again. "You're not a side show to me."
"Then why do you want to know about that sort of thing?"
"I said I was curious, didn't I?"
"Yeah, well I'm not about to talk about my personal life just for your curiosity." I told her.
She gave another hard sigh, which came out more like a snort. "Fine. I'll tell you something personal if you tell me something personal."
"I don't want to know anything personal about you." I informed her. "I already know you're snuck up and noisy."
"And you're stubborn and protective."
"So what." I shot back.
"You're also pretty and caring." Akiko went on as if I didn't say anything.
"Wha-" The shift of tone was jarring. "What are you going on about?"
Akiko was blushing suddenly. "Idiot. Can't you figure it out yourself? You like girls, so you should know…"
I looked at her again, seeing her retreat her gaze from me when I studied her. "No way. You don't got the hots for me do you?"
"Shut up."
"I already have a girlfriend." I pointed out.
"I know that already. But it's your fault I started to like you in the first place, so take responsibility."
"How is it my fault?"
"You slapped me."
"Yeah… I didn't know slapping girls turned them into lesbians."
Akiko was burning red now. "It wasn't the slap, idiot. More like I could see that you really love Hoshino. It kinda… kinda turned me on."
"Ugh, I am just a fetish to you, aren't I?"
"NO!" Akiko quickly shouted. "I just realized that… that I wanted you to feel like that for me."
"Why me?"
"I don't know." Akiko. shrugged. "I guess I like girls like you is all."
"Well find one already, I'm taken." I blushed.
Akiko laughed slightly. "Yeah, cause it's that easy to just go out and find a girlfriend. I'm used to dating guys. I have no idea where to start. Since you made me like this, I want you to tell me how to get a girlfriend."
"Just ask out a girl you like." I told her simply. "What else am I supposed to say? Miyu was the one who…" But I stopped. I didn't want Akiko knowing about my first kiss.
"UGH!" Akiko groaned frustrated. "Why is it that I fell for someone like you? What's wrong with me?"
"Like I know." I sighed looking at my lunch, not really hungry now. It felt odd that Akiko confessed she liked me. The more I thought about it, the more flattered I got. But I wasn't interested in a snobby brat like her. Miyu was the only one for me.
"So, how far have you and Hoshino gone anyway?" Akiko asked.
"None of your business." I told her cooly.
"At least tell me if you've done it."
"I'm leaving now. I'm flattered you think I'm hot, but I'm not interested."
Akiko gave a fake laugh. "You think you're so cool, don't you?"
"Later."
I walked away, aware of Akiko's eyes following me. It was an odd feeling. It was awkward having her confess to me as a guy, but even more so as a girl. I wondered what that meant. Akiko must have been waiting for a chance to get me alone all this time, and I blew her off. How did I become so popular in the world of girls? I thought of Miyu, sick in her bed right now, unaware of what happened feeling slightly guilty.
When school ended I texted Miyu I was going to visit her. She texted me back telling me I didn't have too, that she didn't want to get me sick. But I was missing my Miyu fix, so I decided to go anyway. When I got to her apartment, it took quite a while for her to answer the door.
She looked out of breath and pale. I could tell she tried to make herself look a bit more pleasing in a rushed fashion, maybe even pick up a bit, as she looked completely exhausted. I pretended I didn't notice for her sake and insisted she lay back down on her futon.
"How are you feeling?"
"Not as bad as before." Miyu spoke weakly. "I think I caught a summer cold."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Miyu smiled and shook her head. "I'm happy you came… even if I look like this."
I wanted to kiss her, she was being so cute, but I knew she'd fight it. So I held her hand instead. "Don't worry, I'll wash up later." I told her as she was about to protest.
"I wish I could be better company." Miyu said after a long silence. She had been zoning out, staring at me.
"It's okay. You can go to sleep if you want. I just want to be around you." I told her truthfully. "I could make you something to eat later."
Miyu nodded, sleepy eyed, I just wanted to hug her.
"Go to sleep, Miyu-chan." I smiled at her.
Within minutes, whether she was fighting it or not, she passed out, her hand clinging to mine. I sat next to her, watching her sleep. Part of me wondered if I was being creepy, but she looked so beautiful to me, even sickly like that. I watched her chest rise and fall as she breathed in and out, and how her facial expressions changed when she started dreaming about things.
I don't know how long I was doing that, but a knock at Miyu's door broke my trance. She was dead to the world and didn't hear it, so I got up and answered the door. Standing outside was a girl I've never seen before, looking bewildered at seeing me.
"Hello? This isn't Miyu Hoshino's apartment is it? Did I get the wrong one?"
"No this is the right one." I told her quietly. "She's feeling sick, I'm just here looking out for her."
"Oh. Mind if I come in?"
"Uh…"
"Sorry. I guess it's rude of me to ask that and not tell you who I am. What was I thinking?" She giggled. Despite myself I thought she was slightly cute. Inwardly I blamed Akiko for making me realize there were other girls in the world.
"How do you know Miyu-chan?" I asked, about to let her in.
"Oh… it's rather embarrassing. I guess you can say I'm her girlfriend."
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