After they dropped off Nao to their house, Van is now walking with Reiko back to her own residence.
Van was talking non-stop about something, but Reiko's mind is flying elsewhere.
She can't help but to feel jealous on Van's close relationship with Nao.
Reiko had this feeling that the Van she knew changed after seventeen years of being together. They were born on the same year. They went to the same gradeschool. They were also in the same class for three years back in middleschool. And now they go to the same school as senior highschool students. They were inseparable in the eyes of many people.They are known as childhood friends...
She started hoping that they could cross the line from being childhood friends into something more special. Reiko started feeling that way when they were in middleschool. Her feelings grew when they were a freshman in highschool, but she decided to hide it first. Now that they are already a senior highschool student and she wanted to let Van know about her feelings for him...
"Reiko?Are you even listening to me?" she suddenly heard Van's voice.
"Huh? What is it again?" Reiko asked, looking a bit startled.
"Aha! So I was talking to myself all along!" mused Van.
Reiko forced out a smile at him.
"Sorry, I was just thinking of something." she said.
"You're still thinking about the prefecturals competition?" probed Van.
"Well, yes. And some other things too." enunciated Reiko.
"Just like what said, you don't have to push yourself." spoke Van.
Reiko became silent for a moment.
She then raised her gaze towards Van.
"Van?" Reiko called out.
"Hmm?" Van mumbled, while kicking some peebles on the ground.
"Why can't we do the things we usually did before?" she asked straight ahead.
Van stopped on his tracks and turned around to meet Reiko's eyes.
"Let's see...Is it because our responsibilities in life has increased? Like me doing part-time jobs and you as the captain of our school's swimming club?" Van replied.
"Do you really think so?" Reiko was waiting for another answer, but she was also a little scared to hear it.
Van narrowed his eyes on her,while looking bewildered.
"Would there be any other reason?" he asked quizically.
"There is." Reiko's mind insisted.
Reiko decided to force a smile as she flicked Van's forehead.
"Gotcha! This is the second time seeing you with a serious look on your face." she cracked up, as she tried to divert the topic.
"Ah! That was a trap? I must've looked like a fool!" exclaimed Van.
Reiko lets out a big laugh. But she's secretly hurting.
Reiko noticed that they are almost at her house. She stopped walking and looked at Van once again.
"You can stop here.I can just walk from here." she said to him.
Van nodded.
"I'll head back then. Don't think too much, okay? See around at school." he stated, as he gently pats her head.
Reiko faked a yawn to hide the feeling of awkwardness because of what Van did.
"Goodnight." she said.
"Goodnight." Van responded, and he turned his back on her.
Reiko has been looking at Van's back whenever he walks away from her.
Since the time she realized that she is inlove with her bestfriend.
"How long would I hide my feelings for you, Van?" she sadly whispered,as she opens the gate and went inside the house.
================
Back at Van's house.
"I'm back!" Van announced, as he enters the living room. He was about to go straight to his room when his father called him from the kitchen.
"Van, do you have a minute?" asked his father.
"Dad? I thought you're already sleeping?" Van probed as he pulled a chair.
"You and I need to talk. Man to man." his father myseriously said.
"You sounded like the leader of a mafia." said Van.
The old smacked Van in the head.
"This is a serious matter,okay?" he barked at him.
"Sorry, Dad." Van apologized.
His father stared at his face as if he's looking for something.
"Well?What is it?" Van's getting antsy because of his old man's behavior.
"I was once a teenager, son... I did a lot of awful things. But there are also good things. And I became straight as a stick when I met your mother." his father started.
"Huh? What are you trying to say?" Van puzzily inquired.
The old man smirked in return.
"You're torn between Reiko and Nao, aren't you?"
Van's jaw almost fell halfway to the floor after he heard his father. It took him few minutes before he can speak again.
"Of course not!" he defended himself.
Taka stared at his son with observant eyes.
"If you're not torn between them, then you already like one of them!" he guessed.
"H-How can you be so sure?" Van's forehead started to sweating.
"Tell me,son. Does your heart hurt and it's making you harder to breathe whenever
you see her even just a few meters away?And you're hyperventillating whenever you're together?" his father interrogated.
Van absent-mindedly nodded.
"--Do you always see her face before you go to sleep?And see her face again the moment you wake up in the morning?" Taka questioned his son again.
As if he was under a trance,Van nodded again.
"That's it! You're hopelessy inlove, my dearest son. If you need some advice, don't hesitate to ask me any questions, okay? the old man said.
Van quickly stood up. He can feel his whole face burning because he's blushing like a steamed crab.
"This is ridiculous! I'm going to my room now!" Van shot back, but he just wanted to
get away from his father, who was grinning from ear to ear.
If only he could erase that stupid grin on his father's face!
Van grimly marched towards his room and sulkily jumped jumped into his bed. He tightly closed his eyes as he tries to sleep but it was useless in the end. Just like what his father said awhile ago, her face was clearly etched on his mind. He angrily covered himself with a blanket.