Heroes and Villains

32 - Don’t let this feeling fade

Jack

I am really surprised. I was not expecting to see Daniel of all people involved so deeply with a woman in his own lab. The fact he was with Lady Yumi only makes it even less believable.

Honestly, I am a little hurt he hasn’t told me anything about his relationship sooner. We used to tell everything to each other when we were kids.

I guess we just aren’t kids anymore…

Now, everyone has their own secrets that we can’t share, not even with our brothers. I feel like we are falling apart from each other, especially since Mara had that accident. She was the link that always kept us together, even when we had our disagreements.

With her gone, I fear we are never going to be the same anymore.

I sigh as I reach the Main Hall where all the important guests are starting to arrive. I look around in search of Mia as I told her to meet me here, but I guess she isn’t here yet. She is probably late considering I totally messed up by telling her the party was tomorrow and not today. If not for Cain intervening, we would be totally screwed.

I rub my head as I still feel the bump from when Cain hit me earlier. It doesn’t matter that I am already 20 years old, I’ll always be the baby of the family and they will always treat me accordingly.

It sucks sometimes.

I know I have nothing to be proud of in my life comparing to them, which is why I resorted to numbness instead of facing my own issues. I always try to act cheerfully and hide how I really feel but whenever I start to sense that façade slipping away, I go down the rabbit hole again.

The only time I manage to feel like myself is when I am with her…

Maybe that’s why I invited her to this party.

I feel the dryness on my throat when I see the liquor table nearby and my fingers itch to go grab a glass of anything that may take this pain in my chest away.

Then, I remember the promise I made and her stern look flashes before my eyes. That’s right. I can’t go down the rabbit hole until I finish her training. No matter how hard it is living without the one woman that made my life have meaning. No matter if I can no longer force a smile on my face to hide the sorrow I feel.

With another sigh, I watch the guests arrive at the party, each of them looking fancier than ever before.

I’m not surprised they haven’t invited most of the company workers. They are not suitable enough for this type of party. Honestly, I’m wondering why I am even here. If we weren’t part of the Yoshiro family these people wouldn’t even take a second glance at us.

Not that it would bother me much. Anything is better than having every single person in the room look at you as if you’re the odd one out.

Scouring the room like I am still working as a bodyguard, I capture every single persons’ face and memorize it, taking in their actions.

Coming across my brother Ricardo, I observe as he tries to keep Hikari from running off on him. He picks her up and tickles her, managing to keep her on his lap for the time being. She looks so happy to be able to spend more time with her dad.

I don’t know what changed Ricardo’s heart, but ever since I found him in his mutant form at Dan’s lab, he has been acting differently somehow. He looks more like his older self, before Mara’s accident, and he has been spending a lot more time with Hikari.

A strong pat on my back that nearly has me fall forward catches me by surprise, but I already know there’s only one person strong enough to leave me with a bruise from a simple pat.

“How are ya holding up?” Cain asks me as I look at him, somewhat displeased.

“I’m fine” I simply tell him, not even bothering to try to smile. Not that I could anyway.

“Where’s your date?” He asks me.

“I never should have told you I invited her” I say, my voice giving away how regretful I feel.

“Hey, she’s one of my girls” Cain says. “I would have found out one way or another”

“I’m sure Mia has a lot of secrets you don’t know about” I tell him and his smug smirk pisses me off. I don’t know why it just does.

“I don’t think so” He says. “Have you gotten to second base yet or is all that training just grinding?”

I feel heat rising from my tight collar and I look angered at him.

“We’re just friends!” I shout at him, trying to stand tall but only making myself look ridiculous as he is several feet taller than me.

“Whatever ya say, bro” He dismisses me.

When I don’t answer, we both fall silent and I look back at Ricardo and Hikari while he tries to fix her hair.

“What happened to Hikari’s hair?” I ask, amused at my niece’s pigtails, or should I say, attempted pigtails.

“Tell me about it” Cain comments, a new drink in his hand already. He hates these parties as much as I do. “Ric wanted to do her hair but failed horribly”

I chuckle as Hikari nearly jumps out of Ricardo’s lap and he manages to grab her at the last second. That girl is too much for him to handle.

“I’m glad for him” I admit, still looking at them. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Ricky smile like that”

“Yeah…” Cain agrees, also looking their way.

“And it seems Danny is quite happy too” I say. “With his new girlfriend and all”

“No way!” Cain exclaims, surprised. “Dan has a girlfriend?”

“You’ll choke on your drink once you find out who it is” I say, smirking at him. “It’s Lady Yumi”

His flabbergasted look reminds me of the old days and I can’t help but allow a genuine smile on my face.

“Just so you know” Cain starts and I bring my attention back to him. “That girl is quite special. You would do well to hold onto her before she slips away”

“Mia?” I ask, confused at his sudden declaration. “I’ve told you, we’re just friends”

“What if she doesn’t want to be just friends?” He asks and my heart stops beating in my chest.

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “Did she tell you anything?”

“Would it change your mind if I told you she did?” He says, looking at me.

I can’t think right now. This is too much of a shock to take in. I never before considered Mia could have feelings for me. It was just too unthinkable. We’re friends, we’ve always been friends.

“Speaking of the devil” Cain says, interrupting my distressed thoughts.

I follow his pointing finger to the entrance of the Main Hall and find the most beautiful sight I have ever seen.

My jaw goes limp and drops slightly as I look at her. She looks positively stunning in that orange dress and with her hair fixed like that. For the first time since I met her, I am seeing the woman she is.

No amount of stripper suits she has worn has ever made me feel this way. Not even Kitty Girl’s costume has this kind of appeal.

But what really strikes me is when she finally sees me among the crowd and smiles, showing off her dimples.

My heart hammers in my chest like crazy and I have to gulp down the accumulated saliva in my mouth. I can’t believe I’m feeling this way towards my best friend. Wait, is she JUST my best friend?... I don’t know anymore…

It’s true she has always been there for me, no matter how far down the rabbit hole I went. She has supported me when everyone else gave up on me. Maybe Cain is right, maybe she does have feelings for me.

Question is: Do I have feelings for her?

All this time, I could only think of Kitty Girl and how awesome she is. I didn’t even bother looking at other women even if I did have some fun on the side. I never before considered Mia could be… Could be this beautiful…

“Heya, guys” She greets us when she approaches us but I am still too stunned to respond.

Cain smirks knowingly at me while admiring Mia too.

“Seems like Jaden did a good job” He says and she does a little spin to show off her new dress, doing no good to calm my beating heart.

“I know!” She says, excitedly. “Don’t I look great?”

She looks at me, obviously waiting for some kind of response but I got none. Actually, I think I might have swallowed my tongue in these past few minutes.

Cain nudges my side but the only sound that comes out is gurgled noises. Damnit, I’m salivating too much.

Now, Mia looks worriedly at me and I better say something fast before she starts thinking I consumed something gnarly.

“Y-you look great” I manage to say and she smiles, looking relieved.

“Thank you” She says, showing off her adorable dimples again.

At this moment, the music starts playing and I recognize the first song to be one of Mia’s favorites: What you’re made of, by Lindsey Stirling. Suddenly, I have a crazy idea, my happy mask coming on my face again.

I grab Mia’s hand and pull her to the dance floor, starting to dance with her to the beat of the music. She is surprised at first but quickly joins me in my dancing. She even starts singing the lyrics and I admire her voice like it is the first time I’m hearing it.

She does have a lovely voice. How come I didn’t notice it before?

Being the only couple on the dance floor, we move around like we have this song choreographed by a professional.

While we swirl around, I find that my mask has completely vanished and it is actually me who is feeling all this happiness. It’s been years since I’ve felt this way and I got to be like this simply because I am with her.

At the slowest part of the song, I pull her close to me and hold her in my arms, admiring the flushed look on her face from all the dancing and singing.

How did I never notice before? She places Kitty Girl in a corner. Her plump lips, her hazel eyes with tinges of green, her smooth hair… I wouldn’t even mind if her hair was messy right now. She’s beautiful and I can’t believe I am only realizing it now.

The song picks up the pace again and she moves away from me to continue dancing. I do the same, smiling as we move in unison to the beat of the music. She smiles back, lightening the room like my own private sun, and I hold her close when the music stops.

Maybe life isn’t so unbearable after all.