Chapter 288 - Expect The Pain, It'll Hurt Less

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Moriko's POV

My hands were inside the pocket of my jacket as they were freezing. I was smiling while shivering inside, as I didn't expect it to be this cold on Christmas Eve and to compliment that, it appeared it snow was starting to fall slightly.

I could see my breath fog up in front of my mouth as I was laughing at something silly my friend said. 

We were walking back after hanging out at the karaoke centre. We were rather full because we ordered more food than we could eat so it ended up with all of us struggling to complete the meal just so that it doesn't go to waste.

After clicking some selfies and posting a few stories on social media, we bid our farewell and continued on our own way. I was quite delighted because spending the Eve with friends was worth it.

While I was walking, a figure that appeared to be like Saishi was walking in front of me. It was quite crowded around me so it took me a few moments to close in on him. As I got closer, I realised that it was indeed him.

I walked up to him and tapped on his shoulders lightly, while greeting him with a huge smile on my face, "Hey… fancy seeing you here." 

Why was I smiling?

I didn't even know. 

I just felt a sort of enjoyment from seeing an old friend on such a great day.

"Ahh… you, Hi." He turned around and greeted me with a dry voice. His eyes were narrowed, and it appeared like he was irritated by something.

He was wearing a black sweater with what appeared to be a black shirt underneath. I could see properly because it was covered with his light-coloured muffler. In his left hand, he was holding a silver-coloured trench coat while his right hand was inside the pocket of his pants.

"What's with that reaction?" I replied, a bit disappointed as he nodded and smiled slightly, "Nah, I was just caught off guard to see you here."

"Caught off guard? Huh… don't tell me you're doing something fishy…"

"Your imagination still runs wild, huh?" He sighed, as I chuckled awkwardly, "Umm… you can say so. But what are you doing here?"

It then struck me at the moment that he was supposed to be Suzuha.

What was he even doing here?

"Weren't you supposed to be with Suzuha?" I asked, and he stared at me in confusion, "Suz… me? Wasn't she supposed to be with you?"

"Wait, a damn minute… what?!" I was taken aback by his reply. He nodded slowly with a frown on his face and said, "She told me she had plans with her friends."

"She told us that she has plans with you." I replied immediately, as his eyes shifted downwards and he said with a bored tone, "Uh… I see what's happening here."

I glanced at his indifferent eyes, and they seemed to be far from depicting any emotions. He was just as cold as he was in middle school. Never gazed at anything, acting as he cares about nothing except himself.

But I know he really wasn't like that.

"Yeah, even I know what's happening here, smartass." I clenched my jaws and took out my mobile in the heat of the moment. I opened her chat, "Let me just text her right now!"

"I don't think that would be useful." I heard him say from over there, as I looked at him in confusion, "Eh...why?"

"If I was doing something illicit behind my partner's back, I wouldn't respond to texts or calls." 

"That's… that's… kinda true."

"And the second thing is, even if replies, I don't want her half-assed excuses."

"Come on… it's not like the only possibility is her cheating on you…" I tried to think of something else, but deep down, I was well aware of what was happening.

I despised this side of Suzuha.

"I would like to believe it as well…" His voice trailed off as I rebuked him, "You're still pessimistic as fuck!"

"It's just reality! I know she is your friend, that's why you wouldn't wanna listen to anything negative about her."

"That's not the case… I know her better than you." I replied, and admitted, "The chance of her going out with another dude is very high."

"But I was just trying to console you…"

"I don't need your empty words of sympathy." I could see his jaws tightening for an instance, as I found myself in a pinch, "Well… I should apologise to you for her since she is my friend."

"You still as dumb as I remember you." He said in a bitter tone as I narrowed my eyes at him, "Ehe… Huh? What?!"

"Why would you apologise for something idiotic your friend did?"

Even I thought the same thing at that moment.

Why should I?

"Ahh… I mean… you have a point." I smiled nervously as he just gave me a subtle nod, "I always do."

"But I feel bad for what she did…" I said out loud, as he glanced at me and said in his rather deep voice, "Not your fault, so don't concern yourself."

I was always attracted to this quality of him. He was so quiescent about everything in life that at some point, it felt like nothing can affect him.

"How are you so untroubled, despite all this?"

"Because I expected this…" He let out a small chuckle, and stared at me for a few moments before continuing, "You can't get hurt if you already expect the pain."

I looked at the wry smile on his face and it appeared like there was nothing genuine under those curved lips. It felt like he was hurt so many times that he became numb to it at some point.

Even though I admired him for being numb to pain, I would never want to be like him.

Pain is a necessary element to grow in life.

"That… sounds quite depressing."

"It's not trust me."

"I can't bel… achewww!!!!" I couldn't finish my sentence because of a sneeze. Covering my nose with the handkerchief, I apologised, "Sorry…"

"Caught a cold?"

"I think… a small one."

"Let's walk… we'll be going the same way." He turned around and unwrapped the muffler from around his neck and handed it over to me, "And take this…"

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