"Doliah my lovely...it's starting to get late are you sure you don't wanna try eating something? I can make you a salad or something light if you want."
"Takano I'm really ok you don't need to make me anything I can cook for myself ya know." She puffs up her cheeks and points at him "Besides how am I supposed to get better at cooking if you're always trying to do it for me? " She chuckles and moves some of her hair out of her face
"Mm well I guess you are right about that I'll give it to you." He chuckles as well and turns toward her "But I wanna take care of you while you're visiting."
"You are honey trust me; I haven't felt this taken care of since I was in middle school. I really appreciate you doing all this for me but I'd really rather you not do so much. You haven't even been logging into your classes because your so worried about me. I told you I took off from work and used most of the PTO. " Doliah sighs and tilts her head back "Your life doesn't have to revolve around me Takano, I'm not going anywhere if that's what your worried about. I'm pretty tired of being cooped up in your apartment anyways." Takano turns away abit
"Heh. You're right I'm sorry. So, what is it that you wanna do then? " It isn't that I don't wanna take you out I just don't want us to run into Shiki while were out, I can't face her yet. If I saw her now I'd have no idea what the hell to say.
"I wanna go shopping..." She crosses her arms "I've been here 2 weeks and I've barely gotten to enjoy any shops here-!! "
"Well that's fine and all but I really want you to eat something Doliah.."
"Then take me out to dinner." She says firmly "Your my boyfriend aren't you? I wanna go to a fancy restaurant and dress up all nice for you and stuff. " She twirls a bit of her hair between her fingers. "If it's a money issue I can cover myself, you won't have to worry about that."
"H-huh!? N-no no no! money isn't the issue it's just...I- uhh..." Doliah stands up and looks over at Takano frowning.
"...." Is something the matter? I haven't seen you act like this before. "Takano are you hiding something from me? You haven't been acting like yourself for almost 2 weeks now. Are you not feeling well? If you aren't then you're the one who needs to rest and eat."
"No Doliah it isn't-- "
"It isn't what? I really don't like what's going on. We always talked about all the fun stuff we'd do together when I finally got up the money to come and visit and this IS NOT what I imagined at all. " Takano sighs and covers his face. How can I explain all this without seeming like a two timer? I don't want Doliah to hate me.
"I just- I have alot on my mind. I didn't mean to keep you all cooped up inside, if you wanna go out don't mind me. " Doliah walks overs and leans down in front of Takano, touching his cheek with her hand softly.
"Takano just talk to me, whatever it is we'll get through it together. Unless it's something criminal then- I can't help you there. " She chuckles and Takano looks up and rubs his face against her hand a soft blush decorating his face
"Your so sweet Doliah, I love you so much. " Doliah smiles, blushing herself
"I love you too but are you going to start spilling or not ?" She raises an eyebrow
"I...really don't know where to start though." He looks up at her
"Just start from the beginning and go from there I'll be listening the entire time while I'm getting ready to go out for some dinner so c'mon into the bedroom with me." Takano nods and follows Doliah into his bedroom where she was currently keeping her clothes.
"Well it's about my best friend. " Doliah nods as she looks through her clothes, tossing the selected pieces onto the bed. "And well she-- "
"She? " She turns and looks over her shoulder at him before thinking for a moment "Actually go ahead, continue " She returns to the closet. Takano feels himself sweat
"Y-yeah well I've known her for alittle under 5 years now. I met her in school during her freshman year and my 2nd year. She uhh looked up to me and all that because we had met in one of her advanced classes, she had decided to take her starting year. We found each other pretty funny and sort of hit it off from there. We hung out more and more on and off campus uhhh... Fast forward to a few months before We met. I was having a hard time deciding whether or not to go to your city for my work study and Shiki was the one who pushed me to go. Looking back at it I'm glad she did if not we wouldn't have met. The stupid thing is at the time I didn't wanna be apart from her because-- I...I had feelings for her. I enjoyed how we could be so natural around each other, No tension, No awkwardness it was just us. I still didn't know what I wanted even then-- " He lets out a shaky breath "I saw you and You knocked the air right outta me. I didn't think that someone so beautiful could even be in a world like ours but there you were. I still remember it super vividly. You were in a park sitting on the edge of a fountain, strumming your guitar and humming like an angel. Your hair was tied up in a messy bun, you had your moon earrings, a Targeted' crop top paired with ripped jeans and topped off with a pair of strapped up boots." Takano closes his eyes and holds his hands. Doliah looks over at him before she starts getting undressed.
"...." It definitely sounds like you were in love with her, but if you were why'd you even approach me? Takano--
"I know it sounds really bad, but I promise me and Shiki never messed around or anything. She's a bit of a prude. I'd tease her and make her blush the same way I do you it's just maybe more platonic with her well until she started to get too attached to me. It wasn't like she was clinging to me or anything, but she'd take most things about me pretty seriously and sometimes when she'd fall off, she'd always call on me which I of course accepted being her best friend but eventually it started to sort of weighed on me. "
"Takano...Nn...what if you sent her mixed signals, There are plenty of people who read into things and think there's something there that isn't and you not being clear or direct with her might have confused her. "
"Maybe but she eventually got a handful of other friends, started her job and settled into campus but We'd always find ourselves together. I didn't hate or regret it but there was a small part of me that wanted to protect her and keep her safe, I was also afraid of what could have happened if things didn't work out. I didn't want to be the one that got rejected so...heh-- I sorta did it to her first before we even actually developed anything romantically."
"...." Takano you...
"Doliah? I know it's alot to take in but-- "
"Wait- So this so the reason we haven't been outside? Because of her? You want to avoid her that badly? What would you have done if she decided to come here to check up on you? You would have tried to ignore her like you already have been, wouldn't you? "
"It- It's not that I'm ignoring her I just- "
"Then what do you call it!? I've heard your phone going off I started to get worried I thought someone was maybe trying to tell you something and I guessed right. But it seems like she eventually stopped trying. " She holds her hands "I really don't get how you can just sit here pretending as if she doesn't exist while trying to do the opposite with me. "
"Doliah I- " Takano shakes his head "No your totally right I'm sorry for all of this."
"I think I should go back home Takano." Doliah slides on her socks
"Huh? No y-you can't.."
"If I wanna go you can't stop me.." She looks over at him coldly "I think I may be having second thoughts about us." Doliah you can't she. She isn't-
"......" This is the last fucking thing I wanted to happen, Doliah's pissed at me and she wants to leave
"I'm going out to clear my head I'm taking your spare keys, and don't worry I'll be alright if anything happens I'll call you. You need to fix this and your not gonna use me as an excuse anymore. "
"Y-yeah." This can't...
"See you later Takano. " Doliah turns to leave the room and Takano reaches out toward her arm. I can't-- I don't wanna be alone
Doliah leaves Takano's building guitar case strapped on her back and a head full of all sorts of thoughts. I have to find a place to clear my head. Doliah pulls out her phone and tries to find a place with a fountain.
I need to play, I have too many things on my mind right now.
After a while of searching Doliah finds a nice spot to sit and play. Sure there's no fountain but it'll have to do. She sets up and makes herself comfortable, with a few deep breaths she begins strumming the strings of her guitar.
Maybe I'm just fooling myself. He was trying to fill a void. My heart aches. I can't bring myself to hate him though, I've fallen too deep. What could he have said to her? Does she feel the same way I do? I can't pretend to be happy not after hearing all that. I am the one who asked but for it to be something like this? How long as he really been holding this in? Has this always been in the back of his mind? Does he fear being lonely that badly?
Ya know love, you remind so much of someone I know. Thier laugh always makes me happy your does the same thing but it's adds so much more life into me. I can't wait to be able to hold you again and tell you all the ways I find you beautiful Doliah. Being apart from you really tears me up inside but it's only temporary right? I can't think of anyone else who makes me this happy. You're so warm, like a summer sun washing over me helping me drift off into bliss.
Takano..Y-you idiot...How many of those things that you said to me- Were actually meant for her? I...I Don't wanna think about it.
You're my everything Doliah, promise me you'll never leave- Heh eheh I'm only joking. I sent you those flowers because I thought you deserved them, If I can't be there to help you smile they can in my stead.
There's no one I love more then you.
No. You liar, you love her too.
Doliah, I'm so glad you're here I missed you.
Did you actually? Or was it just a lie.
Doliah hadn't realized it just yet in that moment she was covering her precious guitar with tears.
I love you too much Takano! I want to believe everything you've told me but how I can after hearing all this? You've given me so much. I wanted to shoot for higher stars because of you and your promises to always be there to catch me if I fall... but what if you aren't there like you promised-
Takano..
"Excuse me miss? You don't look well are you alright?" A man seemed to be passing by but decided to stop and see if Doliah needed help. She looks up tear tracks covering her cheeks, the cold air slightly burning her eyes. A tall man about Takano's height stood a little away from where I was sitting holding what looked like a bag full of groceries. His hair was slightly messy and dark, his eyes stood out the most to me though maybe they were just weird contacts, but they looked yellow and orange.
"H-huh? " Doliah sniffles and wipes her face with her sleeve. "Oh..heh yeah I-I'm alright I just- I had a fight with my boyfriend. But I'll be okay. "
"Hmm well I hope things work out between the two of you for the better. You seemed deeply troubled by the matter but the truth will fix things for you so find solace in that. I can't stand to see beautiful ladies with tear-stained faces- oh sorry hmhm I don't want to say anything out of term toward you."
"N-No you're fine I appreciate you stopping at all to try and comfort me. It's actually helped me a good amount. I've been cooped up inside for alittle under two weeks so I'm slightly out of touch." Doliah chuckles slightly with a light blush on her cheeks
"ah I see, well I'm always happy to help. I do truly hope things with your boyfriend work out. Speaking of working out I wonder when the last time she's gotten any exercise in is."
"Mm? " Doliah blinks
"Oh- sorry I was just talking to myself there; I was actually on my way to see someone rather special to me as well. I should get going before she starts to worry. Maybe you should head back as well, you'll have to face the truth eventually and the sooner the better." He gives Doliah a soft smile and she looks away nodding. This guy's voice it's so nice to listen to.
"Thank you, sir. I really do appreciate it. I will. " She turns back and nods over at him
"I bid you a good evening then miss." He waves with his free arm before turning back toward the path and making his way to wherever he needed to be.
I needed that- I think I did need a small push. Takano I'm coming back.
"Another week? A-are you sure? Ok. I'm really sorry again heh I've been a bad best friend huh? ah alright talk to you the-- " They hung up, I guess I deserved that.
"I've returned! I hope your hungry I was able to find everything I needed to make this dish for you. You keep relaxing and I'll get to work on dinner, ok? Mm? Is something the matter? It's... oh. I'm sorry but it'll be alright I promise. I'll make you this delicious spread and you'll forget all about it in no time." You won't have to worry about anything.
Shiki.