Blue Eyes I First Saw

Chapter 24

“Can you dictate me the number in there?”

“Wait, Sei.” he sighed once again. “You don't have to do this.”

“Shh!” I shut him up at that. “I want to, okay? Now, tell me his number.” 

Souru did and I felt nervous as I stared at the number on my phone screen. “What's your brother's name?”

“Seikatu. Seikatu Ikemen.” 

My brows raised at that. “What's his first name again?”

“Seikatu.” he repeated and I have to dig further for information to recall.

Didn't I hear it somewhere? I'm sure I don't know someone with that name but it's familiar to my ears. 

“Is there a problem?” Souru asked carefully and I shook my head.

“The name seems familiar to my ears.”

Seikatu. Seikatu. Seikatu. Where the heck did I hear that name? Sei . . .Katu. 

I sighed. My memory can't recall it but, I really heard it somewhere. I sighed once again and tapped the call button on my screen.

One ring.

Two rings.

Three. None.

I tried again while Souru's face was hopeful. This man must answer his phone or I'll chase him to their house. 

The phone on the other line rang once again. My nervousness is getting higher every time. 

What the hell. Why am I feeling like this?

Then, the ringing died again. 

“He's not answering?” Souru asked and I nodded. “He might be at work or studying.” he assured himself and I.

“Maybe.” I tried again, letting the phone on the other line ring. “Is there an address on the paper?”

Souru shook his head but looked at me brightly as if a bulb lights up on his head. “I know his address— where we live before. Maybe he's still living in there.”

I nodded and ended the call. His brother might really be busy at this hour. 

“Spill it.” I said readying the Google Map application on my iPad. 

Souru spilled it and my eyes widened at the realization that hit me. “I just went here this morning! I mean— near.”

It's in Minato City! Near the McDonald's Faya, and I went! “Here look!” I showed him my iPad's screen and pointed at the McDonald's branch. “That's where I bought this food.”

Souru's face lit up. “That's where my brother works! If he still is up to now.” he grinned.

“That's where Zire— the man from last time works too!” I exclaimed.

“Zire is Sei's friend. He is my brother's friend that's why I know him since . . .then.” he stated.

“Is that why you said that he is a good man?” I recalled him saying that from the last time.

He nodded and we both laughed. “I can't believe that finding your brother is way easier than I thought.”

“Uhh— I figured it out when you and Zire met each other.” he boasted and I rolled my eyes playfully.

“Whatever, Mr. Smart. What's the plan?” 

“You sound like you're eager to know my brother.” he teased and I just shrugged. “We— probably, ‘you’ will look and talk to him for me. That's it.”

His brother is making me nervous, what if he ignores me? I didn't even know him— well, I still don't but will know him soon. Aside from the familiarity of his name, I don't have any reference to rely on. 

“Is your brother some kind of snob?”

Souru chuckled. “He's cool but cold.” The simple description sounds unapproachable. “He's easy to talk with.”

“Sounds not to me.” I figured and his lips twitched in a smirk. My mind went to the information he told me about his brother. “You told me that he is a college student at the University of Tokyo— one of those bright ten chosen scholars, in his last year, you said.”

“And then?” 

“That he works at McDonald's, has Zire as a friend. I'm sure your brother is bright as hell and you two likes nature and bonds a lot before then. . .that's all?” I blink my eyes upon realizing those things. “He's intimidating.”

“He's not.” Souru defended.

“It's because you two are brothers while I'm a stranger to him. He's intimidating to me.” His brother's intelligent quotient or credentials are intimidating.

Souru sighed. “You can do it, Sei. Fight your fears by talking to my brother. You see, you'll hit two birds in one stone.” of course, he uses his negotiating tactics. This kid knows how to play someone's mind.

He is right though. I am like hitting two birds with one stone. One is helping him, and the other one is helping myself to face one of my fears, both are just by talking to his brother. Heck, did Souru's mind trick me?

“Hey, brother. You think your brother—whatever his name— will talk to me?” 

“He's Seikatu and, yes. He'll talk to you . . .I hope.” he chuckled on the last part.

I sighed and tapped the call button of my iPhone once again. The phone on the other line started to ring as my nervousness grew again.

After three rings, no one answered so I hit the call button again. 

“Who's this?” a cold baritone voice answered and my eyes widened, so did Souru. 

“He answered!” I said and glee and Souru signaled me to talk on the phone. “Uhm . . .hello?”

“Who's this?” Heck, the man on the other line is so cold. “Hello? Who's this?” Is he irritated already?

“I'm— uhh . . .are you Sei— Mr. Seikatu Ikemen?” my voice sounds so hesitant.

“Who is this?” the man asked again and I bit my lower lip as I looked at Souru who has hopeful blue eyes looking at me.

“This is Zyosei— uhm.” should I tell my last name? “Z— Zyosei Kanasimi.”

“Kanasimi?” he repeated and the race on my chest due to nervousness doubled.

“Yes.” I heard him clears his throat on the other line. “I called because . . .”

“What should I tell your brother?!” I whispered with a panic in my voice.

“Tell him you're with me. And . . .and our location?” Souru might feel my panic or is in panic too. 

“Hello?” the cold voice called as I put my phone back near my right ear. 

“Uhm . . .I called because of your . . .brother.” 

“Wait— my brother? Are you with him?” In an instant, his voice came in both hurry and surprise with worries. 

I'm with his brother, right? Partly? “Yes, I'm with your brother— Souru.”

“Where is he? Where are you?” It's like he's running from the other line. “Where are you?” he repeated.

“At the Aokigahara forest at Narusawa.” I bit my lower lip again. If I tell him his brother is a ghost, he won't believe me.

“Don't leave him. I'm on my way.” his manly cold voice sounds in a rush and I just nodded as if it would reach the other line. “Can I talk to him?”

My throat formed a lump that made me gulp as I looked at Souru with pity. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I knew what would be the answer.

“He wants to talk to you.” I whispered slowly and Souro's eyes filled with tears as he shook his head.

“I can't.” he sobbed.

I took a deep breath to disregard my sob. “He— he can't. I'm sorry.” my sobs came after the last words and the call died.

“I'm sorry.” I sincerely said to Souru. 

Amidst of the tears, he managed to give me a small reassuring smile. “It's fine, Sei.” 

“I'll try again. Don't worry.” I tapped the call button again and the call got answered after one ring. “Mr. Seikatu?” I took a deep breath.

“I'm on my way, please wait for me and just stay with my brother.” I can hear and feel the worry and desperation in his voice. “Is he fine?” 

I can't answer him. I can't lie about something like this. This man on the other line is so hopeful and desperate to see his brother while me, on the other hand, doesn't know how to explain the things that are happening. 

I shook my head as I covered my mouth with my left hand to stifle a sob. The other line is still there, I can hear noises and such. Souru's brother is coming, I'm sure of that.

The look on Souru's face is unbearable. He has the combinations of hope, longing, regret, sadness, and more emotions that one person can feel. I can feel how thankful he is knowing that his brother is still searching for him. A brotherly love that siblings will always have.

“Hello? Still there?” the voice gathered me back to my sane reverie.

“Uh— yeah. Where— where are you exactly, now?” 

“On a bus bound to Narusawa. Is my brother okay?” 

“Y— yes. I'll wait for you here.” I dismissed and ended the call.

“Sei!” Souru embraced me as he cried. The coldness of a ghost embrace made me shiver but bearable. I can't feel any physical contact yet the coldness and goosebumps are there. “Thank you.” 

As much as I want to console this kid and pat his shoulders, I can't because of the truth that he's not physically with us anymore. 

“You are welcome, brother.” I said as a smile carved on my cupid lips.

Souru pulled away and looked at the forest's arc— where someone very special to him will enter any minute from now. 

“I think it's better if we wait for him there.” I suggested and he happily smiled at me.

Souru made his way to the entrance while I packed the untouched left food back on the bag and placed my iPad inside my tote bag. I kept my iPhone in my hand to easily access it when Seikatu— Souru's brother called. Carrying it all again up to the entrance where Souru is walking back and forths with nervousness shown in his bruised face.

“He'll be here in no time.” I said to ease what he is feeling. Souru smiled at me and his blue eyes wandered outside the forest again. 

As I stare at those wandering blue eyes, I just noticed that it's sapphire blue. It's amazing to look at. Having it in the dark looks like it's just the normal blue I saw from non-asian people, it's more beautiful in the daylight. 

“What?” he asked as he stared back at me. “Something's wrong?”

I smiled. “Your eyes are beautiful with the light.” I commend and Souro smirks at me. “To whom did you get those blue eyes from?”

“My mother. My parents have blue eyes, one sapphire blue and one ocean blue.” he boasted and I'm envious.

“Wow. That's so cool!” Imagine having all those blue eyes in a household? The color of the sky and ocean! 

Ocean. I remember Zire's friend— I forgot his name but he has beautiful ocean blue eyes that mesmerizes me everytime I look— wait.

Ocean blue eyes. He's the one . . .I saw and followed on the Metro Tokyo street! Is that why he kept on staring at me? Heck! Did he recognize me?

“What's with that horrible look on your face?” Souru chuckled and made me blink my eyes. “Saw a ghost other than me?”

I shook my head in an instant. “It's nothing. Just some issues with a man with ocean blue eyes.” I shrugged it off but he raises a brow at me.

“My brother has ocean blue eyes too.” 

“It's probably not him. I guess and hope.” I chuckled nervously.

Now that Souru mentioned it, my nervousness grew. It can't be . . .right? Zire's friend and the man I followed can't be Souru's brother either! This isn't a very very small world after all.

I hope he's not. My tongue always got tied with him. That man is too . . .intimidating.

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