Page 38

Aoi

Visha chews on his sushi as if he hasn’t eaten in days, enjoying each bite.

I still have so many unanswered questions and my patience is running low. “Do you already know where exactly you will be staying? Like the address or something?”

“Uhm, yeah. Kind of.”

I nod, waiting for him to continue but he hesitates, coughing for no reason.

“He mentioned a villa, I think, and the address over the phone. I wasn’t really paying attention. I’ll ask him again eventually.”

“You weren’t paying attention? Do you think that’s smart?” I remark, annoyed at how he always seems unbothered by what truly matters.

He lets go of his chopsticks and runs his hands through his hair, groaning aggravatedly. “I’ll text you every info when I have them. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. It’s not like he’s kidnapping me.”

I’m not sure of that. Many things could go wrong, and I’d prefer being aware of the details rather than being kept in the dark.

“Can I be honest with you?” I ask, biting the inside of my cheek. He stares at me, surprised until he offers me a slight nod. “I don’t want you to leave,” I mutter, eyeing his reaction. “We’ve been together for so long and I- I don’t know how to cope with your departure. It’s so sudden and I can’t wrap my mind around this. I just don’t understand how you can decide to leave from one day to another.”

Visha’s lips part but he shuts them right away, choosing silence.

“I don’t expect you to give up on your chance to be with your only blood relative. I just…I just wished it would’ve been different. You have every right to choose to leave with him, but it just doesn’t make any sense to me. You’ve always behaved like you couldn’t live without me and then you decide to leave? I don’t know. I just don’t get it.”

I shouldn’t have said that. He must feel so guilty now because of my own stupid emotions. Sighing, I bury my face in my palms, laughing at myself.

A pair of slender hands wrap around my arms, forcing me to look at him. “I’m sorry,” he whispers. “You’re right that it doesn’t make sense and I’m really sorry for that. I don’t know how to make things right. I thought about the situation over and over again and I don’t see what else I could possibly do.”

I see the guilt he attempts to hide so clearly, and I hate myself even more for it. He wants to leave but he doesn’t want to abandon me.

I’m the adult and yet he’s comforting me .

What a failure.

“Is this really what you want? Do you really want to go to France with Bellami?”

He shuts his eyes and nods.

“Alright then. I can’t forbid you, can I?”

He laughs. “You can always try. I wouldn’t mind seeing you fight him to keep me here.”

“You’re laughing but I genuinely considered it. I almost dared to kick his ass after he acted like a jerk during dinner. The only reason I can’t do it is because he’d sue my ass.”

“He might. He seems like the type of asshole to just get rid of people if they get in the way. You know, like those rich, tattooed guys in movies.” He straightens in his seat with a small jump. “Since we’re talking about tattoos. You think I should get one? I want one.”

“A tattoo? Of what?”

He hums. “Not sure. Maybe I’ll get your name tattooed on my forearm as a reminder of the day you grabbed my hand and pulled me out of hell.”

I gawk at him. Tattoo my name? That’s a bit too much. “Don’t do that. I’m not against tattoos but don’t get my name inked down. You’ll regret it. I know you can get them as a minor with parental consent in France but wait until you’re eighteen. And don’t do anything stupid.”

“Like tattooing your name on my skin?”

“Exactly.”

Visha starts grinning from ear to ear as he gazes deeply at me. I never know what this kid is thinking.