That Girl Who's Always Alone At The Back

chapter viii - Listen!

And for two days, Amu-chan was nowhere to be found. She was not even messaging me. Not even posting memes. It was very unusual for her. Since she is very obsessed with me. She even told me that she would beat my ass in Pokemon the other day.

And want to know what's weirder? On the same day that Amu didn't appear, Rianne Gray started to talk to me. With a catch.

"I heard you like girls with short hair." She said. She had her hair cut. It looked good on her. But I'm not sure if the readers would like it. I'm sure the artist/author is just too lazy to draw girls with long hair.

"No, don't blame the author/artist! It's just that...." Rianne blushed as she sat next to my seat. The recess just ended and I got to the room first because the other two, namely Mark and Alistel, wanted to eat more. "I just don't want to give up on you yet..."

She had teary eyes behind her glasses. "I have a girlfriend now..."

"I know." She smiled. Rianne pulled her phone from her skirt pocket and along with it were a pair of pink earphones. "Want to listen with me?"

As far as music is concerned, Rianne Gray is an audiophile. Meaning, she is very picky when is comes to music and sound quality. Hell, her earphones looks so damn expensive. It probably cost around 1.2k Php. And yet, Rianne Gray still hands me her other earphone. There's no way I could refuse her.

Even though I could only listen with one ear, the song got to me. It felt like it took me into a river. Trees around and a clear blue sky above. If you close your eyes, you could hear the water flowing through the river.

"What song is this?" I have to ask.

"by the water by med.monk." She smiled. "You like it?"

"That would be an understatement." I said.

After classes, I went to Amu-chan's house. It was a long walk so I wore my earphones and listened to music. As always it was on repeat.

And then, after one song, something unexpected played.

"Hi there, my future husband!" It was Amu's voice. Now I know why she borrowed my phone. She didn't just took a picture of herself and made it as my wallpaper. But also recorded a voice message. "I want you to know how much I love you but...." She giggled. "I don't know how to turn my feelings into words. It's kinda scary, doncha think?" Amu sighed. "I can't say this to you personally... so... yeah.... I love you so so so much. And... I hope that it's you and me till the end. I know I'm not wife material. Heck, I can't even cook. But I am now practicing. I do hope that you could taste test my dishes. I asked my mom if you could come here. She said yes. So.... yeah... when I get really good, like Guy Fieri or Chef Boy, I would make you eat them. Okay? I want you to know that you're my first love... and my first kiss. I wish that you're also the last. I love you very much, Echo! I'm sorry if I'm bad at showing it. But I hope you're happy with me. Even though I'm like this.... I love you!"

To be honest, she is also my first kiss and my first love. Then I remembered that last night we met. That night where we kissed like there's no tomorrow. I still remember how her tongue feels and taste like. The warmth of her mouth. Her sweet mouth juice... just remembering it is enough to make me drool. Also... I squeezed her loli ass. Haha.

And was probably seen by Rianne. Oh well.

And then, when I got in front of her house. There was a black banner that has her name written on it.

My whole world stopped.

My heart stopped.

There's no way.

No fucking way.

I ran toward her house. And there, inside a white coffin, I saw her dead body. Smiling.

My tears ran down my face. Suddenly, it felt hard to breathe. Like there are daggers inside my lungs. My vision became blurry. And no matter how many times I wipe my eyes, tears just continue to flow.

.....

..

.

"Want to listen with me?" Rianne asked as she sat next to me.

I nodded and wore the earphone that she handed.

I gazed outside the window. Hoping that everything was just a dream. But it's not. I just woke into a nightmare. A world where Amu is dead. I should just kill myself so that I could be with her.

Her mom talked to me last night. She told me that her body was found the other day. She was raped and died from torture. The one who committed the crime was still not caught nor do they have a suspect for it.

I hate myself.

Why did this has to happen.

Why Amu.

Why....

"I'm sorry for your loss." Rianne said. She wore a sad smile when I looked at her. "But I'm still here for you. Even though I know you like flat chests more." She laughed. My face didn't changed it's expression. "I love you. And I will do anything for you." She held my hand and placed it on her left chest. I felt her soft breast. But I was not in the mood for any pervertness. "I will give you my all."

"I'm sorry... it's just."

She hugged me, not caring about our classmates. "It's alright. I'm here for you. I don't care if you love her. Just let me be here for you. Let me be there whenever you need someone."

Silence.

Rianne would not let me go. My face was buried in her chest.

"Hey... can you hear it?"

"...."

"Listen!" Rianne Gray said. "My heart beats for you, Echo.I want you to know that."