Paradox

21: A Convoluted Mess

“You’re not spending the night here, aren’t you?”

The snide inflection in Jiro’s voice didn’t ruffle Izo’s feathers. In fact, he was even chuckling. “No, I’m not. But I can stay here for as long as like, actually.”

It satisfied Izo to see Jiro’s jaw clench like he was controlling himself not to punch him. It was most definitely priceless and harmless.

“Keep away from my girlfriend, all right?” Jiro warned.

Izo looked up and rolled his eyes to pretend like he was thinking. “Sorry, can’t,” he shrugged and then leaned on his car. “You see I’m friends with Sasako’s sister and we’re usually together. And Sasako usually tags along.”

Izo paused for a moment to build up the tension, watching carefully how Jiro’s expression flitted from angry to irritated then to angry again, and then continued, “Especially when you’re not around.”

“Who the hell do you think you are! She’s mine, all right? So. Back. Off.”

Izo stood straight to show his full height, more to look down at Jiro than to intimidate him, although it worked both ways, seeing Jiro blink quickly but did his best to stand his ground.

“It’s late. You should be going,” Izo stated in flat, deadpan voice.

Jiro tried at another lethal glare. Izo returned it with a bored look, controlling himself not to wave him off like a fly. Slowly, Jiro stepped back and take his bicycle he had left clasped safely near the hedge of the Hatakeyama residence.

Izo almost laughed when Jiro looked back to glare at him again. He doubted he would’ve died even if looks could kill. Izo didn’t feel the slight ounce of threat.

He sighed when Jiro the puppy was gone and leaned against his car again. He turned his head to look at Sasako’s house. The fact of the matter was, he didn’t plan on stealing Sasako away.

Another sigh issued from his lips.

He’s never been rendered so helpless before. What was he doing here really?

Izo suddenly realized how he had not thought out everything well. Anytime soon, Sasako was going to find out how he felt about her. He had an additional present delivered to her house when they were out at Hep 5. He made it himself. It took him a painstaking half year creating and polishing it to perfection.

But what was the point? It wasn’t like she was going to break up with Jiro and then take him in like they were long lost lovers of the past.

“This is stupid,” Izo muttered bitterly to himself. Izo marveled at his own words since he rarely second-guessed himself. What was he thinking? What was he doing confessing to a high school girl? As swiftly as the thought crossed his mind, his quick-witted brain defended with a retort directed to himself.

She’s graduating next year.

Sure.

But then after that, what happens?

“Ow!” cried Sasako. She pulled out the toothbrush from her mouth and found a part of her gums was bleeding. “Dammit.”

She was so angry she didn’t realize she was brushing too hard. She quickly rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth softly this time, her gums throbbing a bit from the pain.

What a great way to ruin her day! Izo could’ve left Jiro and her alone, but he chose not to! What in the world was his problem? He just wanted to annoy her, that’s for sure.

As soon as Sasako was done, she went right back into her room and flopped on the bed.

She tried to push away the bad mood out of her system but found that she couldn’t. She wasn’t even aware how her hands got hold of a pillow and how she was now screaming into it.