THE FORGOTTEN SPRING

CHAPTER 12

"THE FORGOTTEN SPRING"

by: Dark Flame Master

KAI'S POV

“Just put it on my table, thank you, Kai,” my teacher said as we entered the teacher’s office.

I nodded, walking silently toward her desk with the materials in hand. My chest felt heavy, but not because of the work. It was because of him. That annoying p*****t.

These past few weeks, I could feel him watching me, like he wanted to say something. But every time I turned to face him, he’d look away, avoiding my gaze like a coward. What’s his deal? If he thinks I’ll talk to him, he’s wrong. It’s not my fault, so why should I apologize? He’s angry at me for something I can’t even remember. For all I know, he’s lying. How can I trust him when I don’t even understand what he wants?

I placed the materials on the desk, ready to leave when I overheard the teachers talking. Their voices were low, but the name they mentioned made my ears perk up.

“Haru is an intelligent kid, but why transfer here when he was already at one of the best schools in the city?”

They’re talking about p*****t? That annoying guy? There’s no way they mean him. He doesn’t act like a genius. He’s clumsy, weird, and annoying. Another teacher added, “Naze ka wakaranai kedo, karera no ryoushin wa daijoubu tte itteru kara, amari ki ni shinai.” (I don't know why but his parents are fine with it so I don't really care.)

Parents? Why would they let him transfer from a prestigious school to…here? That doesn’t make sense. Maybe his family is as strange as he is. Not that I care.

“I heard that Haru is adopted. Maybe that’s why.”

Adopted? My stomach twisted at the word. It echoed in my head, louder and louder until I had to shake my head to clear it. No! I don’t care. This has nothing to do with me. I shouldn’t care.

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When I returned to the classroom, my heart sank. Haru stood up the moment I walked in. My chest tightened. Is he walking towards me?

“Kai,” he said, grabbing my shoulder firmly. “Don’t move,” he added. His voice was low but steady, almost commanding.

“What?” My voice trembled. “What do you mean?” Before I could step away, he leaned closer, his free hand reaching toward my face.

“I’m going to remove this,” he said, his fingers brushing against the edge of my mask. No. No! Not my mask. My arms felt heavy, like they weren’t mine. I tried to move, but I couldn’t. Why couldn’t I move?

“Stop it,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

And then it happened.

I felt his lips on mine. He kissed me. KISS!

A shock of disgust and rage coursed through me. “WHAT THE HELL?!” I yelled, shoving him as hard as I could. My hands trembled as I wiped at my mouth, my breathing quick and shallow. I could feel my chest tightening, a heavy weight pressing down on me. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, so loud it drowned out everything else. I ran out of the classroom.

~Kai-chan! ~

I clutched at my chest, my legs barely able to keep me upright as I staggered into the hallway. The walls seemed to tilt and close in around me, the bright lights above burning into my eyes.

“I-I can’t breathe…” I gasped, tears streaming down my face. My chest felt heavy, tight, disgusting. It's so di.. disgust. I’m d-disgusting.

~DAMARE! KAI-CHAN~ (SHUT UP! KAI-CHAN!)

“No! H-hanase!” (Let me go!) I choked out, my voice breaking. His voice, I could hear that voice again. Why won't he leave me alone. Why won't he leave my mind?

“Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! DON’T TOUCH ME!” I screamed, collapsing onto the cold floor. My arms wrapped around myself, as if I could shield my body from the memories clawing at my mind. I couldn’t stop shaking. My breathing turned into harsh, broken gasps.

“ai... Kai!..KAI!”

“LET ME GO! I’m s-sorry… I-I wanna go home…” I stammered, each word dragged out between heaving breaths. “Ugh… s-sawaru na—!”

“Kai, doushita no?” I blinked, my vision blurry. This annoying guy's face swam into view. The sight of him brought another wave of nausea. “No! Don’t touch me!” I whimpered, trying to crawl away, but my body refused to listen.

“Kai, are you okay? I’m sorry! It’s our fault!” Cyrus. That voice was Cyrus. My eyes darted toward him, pleading for help.

“Just go!” What is this annoying guy saying? Help me Cyrus... “You’re making your boyfriend worry!” What did he just say? Cyrus has what?

“Huh, is it that obvious?” Cyrus? You too? Y-you… you’re also disgusting.

“No,” Haru replied casually, his gaze shifting to me. “I’m just good at observing people.”

No! Don’t touch me. Don’t look at me. I wanted to scream, but the words wouldn’t come. My vision dimmed as the world tilted around me, the sound of their voices fading into the distance. I felt myself falling, slipping into darkness, with nothing to hold onto.

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When I woke up, I was on someone’s back, their hands holding me steady.

“Huh? W-where am I?” I mumbled, my voice weak.

“I’m walking you home,” Haru’s voice replied.

Realization hit me like a truck. I was on his back. “Hey, let go of me!” I tried to wriggle free, but my body felt too heavy, too weak.

“No,” he said firmly. “You’re sick. Let me just walk you home, okay? I’m sorry.” I didn’t understand him. Why was he apologizing again?

“Sorry for what?” I asked, leaning my head against his back.

“For earlier and for what I said last time,” he murmured. “I didn’t know… I should have known… We’re almost the same aren't we?"

His words didn’t make sense, but I didn’t have the energy to ask. My eyelids grew heavier, and before I knew it, I was asleep again.

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“Kai! What happened to you? Why are you so wet?” Mom’s panicked voice jolted me awake.

I blinked, realizing we were standing in front of my house. This p*****t had set me down, and I swayed slightly, my legs still unsteady. I glanced at my clothes, now soaked through. The sound of rain registered for the first time, the cold seeping into my skin.

“Are you his classmate? Thank you for bringing Kai home. Come inside, you must be cold,” Mom said, her voice kind but urgent.

“N-no, don’t worry. I’m going to head home,” Haru stammered. “It’s my fault anyway…” he muttered under his breath.

Mom ignored him, grabbing his hand and pulling him inside. “Your english is good. Put your uniform in the dryer,” she said.

“I’m really sorry,” he repeated. I wanted to tell him to stop apologizing, but my body felt too heavy, my mind too foggy.

“KAI!” Mom’s voice grew more frantic as I swayed on my feet. My vision blurred again, and I collapsed into darkness.

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"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry... Gomene... Kai-chan." A soft voice whispered near me. I flinched at the sound, my chest tightening again. Who?

I blinked slowly, everything blurry. My head hurt, and it felt like the room was spinning. The light was too bright, like it was stabbing into my eyes. I turned toward the voice, my body heavy and weak.

"Kai, you're awake! Wait a minute, I’m going to call your mom," That annoying guy? Why is he here?

~DAMARE, KAI-CHAN!~ (SHUT UP, KAI-CHAN!) The voice—that awful voice—boomed inside my head.

I froze. My body felt cold, frozen like ice. My breathing hitched, and my chest started to burn. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, loud and fast, drowning out everything else.

"No... no... No! Ugh... No! Don’t touch me!" I cried, my voice shaking.

"A-are you okay? Is something wrong?" This annoying guy asked, his voice sounding far away even though he was right there.

~DAMARE, KAI-CHAN!~ (SHUT UP, KAI-CHAN!)

The voice was louder now, echoing, bouncing around in my head. I clutched my head, curling myself, trying to block it out, but it wouldn’t stop.

"Stop it... stop it... stop it..." I muttered, my hands trembling as I clawed at my arms. The words spilled out on their own.

"Kai!" Haru’s voice came again, but I couldn’t focus on him.

~You’re disgusting~

"No! I’m not... I’m not dirty...haa..I'm not!" I screamed, shaking as tears blurred my vision. My throat burned, and I could barely breathe.

As I looked up, I saw Haru's face clearer now. "S-stay here," I whispered, the words tumbling out of my mouth without thinking. "Don’t leave me alone." No! No! I don’t need anyone. I don’t need him. But the words kept coming, unstoppable. "H-hug me," I whimpered, my voice cracking.

"H-huh? B-but—" Haru stammered, his voice shaky.

"Please... Haru..." I begged. My chest hurt so much it felt like I was being crushed. "I don’t want to feel... the touch of that... disgusting guy."

There was silence. Then, slowly, I felt his arms wrap around me, warm and steady.

"W-what do you mean?" he asked, his voice soft. I didn’t answer. I buried my face into his chest, his warmth pushing away the cold that was suffocating me.

"Calm down," he said gently. "You’re fine. It’s okay. Don’t worry."

His voice felt like a blanket, soft and comforting. My breathing slowed a little, and the tightness in my chest loosened. I glanced up at him, and that’s when I noticed. He wasn’t wearing a shirt.

Haru’s bare skin was right there, but what caught my attention wasn’t that. It was the scars on his back and shoulder. Burn scars. They were rough and uneven, covering half his back and one of his shoulders.

I blinked, my hand reaching out before I could stop myself. My fingers touched him and he flinched slightly.

"Oh, don’t worry, it’s nothing," he said, smiling that usual annoying smile.

I leaned my head against his chest again, his heartbeat steady and calming. It's the first time I felt calm with another person this close to me. Why do I feel this way? He's the one who made me remember the memories that I don't want to remember but he's also the one who made me feel...safe?

"That must hurt a lot," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"No," he said softly. "It doesn’t really hurt." But I didn’t believe him. A scar that big must've hurt a lot. Before I could say anything else, the door flew open with a loud bang.

"MUSUKO NI NANIN YATTERUN DA!?" (WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SON?!)

My dad’s voice thundered through the room, and in an instant, his fist connected with Haru’s face, knocking him to the floor.

"Dad, stop!" I screamed, my voice hoarse. "S-stop it! T-tomodachi da!" (He's my friend!) The words sounded strange, but I couldn’t let this happen.

"Stop it, honey!" my mom’s voice cut through as she rushed into the room. "He’s the one who helped Kai!"

Haru sat up slowly, rubbing his face where my dad had hit him. His usual smugness was gone, replaced with something else. Tiredness. As my parents argued in the background, I slumped back against the bed, the heaviness in my chest returning. I closed my eyes, wishing the world would just disappear, even for a little while.