Even Though I Loved You First

Around That Time I Started To Feel This Way

“Sorry, honey…I wish………stay…come…………later…okay?”

I still can’t quite really recall what she was saying at the time, I just remember that amidst the suffering I was experiencing, I was left all alone… just like it has always been.

Ever since I was a kid, my parents were always buried with work, they always went on business trips or stayed at their offices due to overtime. I didn’t mind, the money they earned fed me at the end of the day.

… I didn’t mind… yes…

Then, if they are earning enough to feed me. Can’t they just take a rest? Can’t they just think about me for a while?

I don’t really have any memory of my parents… I don’t even have any attachment to them. Though I keep on complaining, there are times when I’m just indifferent to what they’re doing or where they are.

Well, all families are like this…

Right?

↤⨳↦

Present

Ichirou’s POV~

“I feel like I’m gonna die…” I said as I tried to get up. My head was spinning, my throat was incessantly burning and my stomach hurt like hell… I also felt like I’ve lost all strength across all my body…

I got sick…

It also seems like this time, it really affected me as I could barely move. Where’s my phone? I thought as I scanned the room with the minimum strength I had left.

I lifted my left arm as I laid in bed, I could barely grab a hold of my phone, just when I managed to grab it…

Shit…

It dropped to the ground. Then, I planned something else which was going to hurt a bit, but it was the least I could do.

Thump

A bang could be heard all across the room as I fell on the floor, mustering the rest of my strength to unlock my phone and send a message to someone.

My uncle. Even though he lived about an hour from here, he was the only one I could turn to in this situation. So, typing everything I could, I sent two messages, giving me even time to send a little sticker.

If I remember correctly… I left the front… door opened… right? Was the last thing I thought before drowsiness took over.

↤⨳↦

Third Person POV~

As she finished rearranging the books on their bookshelf, Kotone sat down on her bed letting out a heavy sigh. It was the second week of summer vacation, and as per her custom, she was cleaning her side of the room.

I’m finally done… It took me longer than expected and ended up being the last one to finish cleaning… The household all had their respective cleaning days according to their schedules, however, due to some setbacks, she ended up being the last from her family to finish, even though she was supposed to start earlier than Kei or her twin Karane.

“?!” Noticing her phone’s screen suddenly lighting up, she noticed that she received two new messages. Messages from none other than the student council’s intermediator and her junior, Ichirou Segawa.

[Segawa: got sick no strength]

[Segawa: could you bring medicine door unlocked]

The contents of the message were extremely cut, however, Kotone clearly noticed that they were written within a very small amount of time.

Did he message any random contact…? I don’t really know what’s going on, but it seems he intended to contact someone else… Kotone taught.

She was sharp, so she deduced that the message wasn’t meant for her. Normally, she’d drop the case and go on by her day like normal. However, knowing that Ichirou was in such a state, she couldn’t…

“I have some medicine in my cabinet, don’t I?” (Kotone)

↤⨳↦

Due to previous occasions and assignments from the student council, Kotone has already been to Ichirou’s apartment twice along with the former vice president Hanako and the former president Tomokazu.

Just like the message read, the front door was indeed unlocked. She gently opened the door and the only thing that she  saw was an empty and dark hallway.

“I-I’m coming in…” She said in a slightly loud voice.

She walked down the hallway all the way to Ichirou’s room, of course, guessing. She opened one of the doors and she was right on the money.

“S-Segawa?!” Flustered, Kotone rapidly went over to Ichioru who was laying on the floor with a ragged breathing. She wasn’t as strong as her younger brother, however, she made an effort and tried to lift Ichirou on her own.

After, she proceeded to wet a towel and making sure it stayed damp enough, she placed it on his forehead. Basic cold caretaking, to be exact.

↤⨳↦

Ichirou’s POV~

My forehead feels cold…

As I opened my eyes, everything I could hear was what seemed to be the sound of a woman’s voice. Mom…? I thought, as I also saw the figure of a woman standing right there beside me.

“Are……awake?”

I could barely make out what the woman was saying, however, I tried to get up and as my vision began to adjust, I could clearly make out the person in question.

“…why are you…?” I asked, as I turned towards her.

She was Kotone Ichinose, my senior and treasurer for last year’s student council.

“I think you accidentally sent a message to me… Even then, I couldn’t let you stay like this… For now, do have some rest. Here, I brought some medicine with me.” She said as she handed me a pill and some water.

I drank about half the contents of the bottle, it looks like my illness really dehydrated me…

“Sorry… to accidentally call you during your summer break…” I sincerely apologized. Kotone maybe had something better to do, I was sure I was being nothing but a hindrance.

“It’s okay. I can’t let you stay like this.” She shook her head. I laid back down and properly covered myself with a blanket.

My head was still spinning, my throat still burned somewhat… but my stomach ache steam to be easing little by little. I couldn’t think straight. Then, I heard the door to the room open. It broke me…

Thump

“S-Segawa?!” (Kotone)

“…where are you going…?” (Ichirou)

I don’t want to be alone anymore… Every time, ugly thoughts that make me selfish swim through my mind, I’m no one for them to choose to spend their time on me rather than on something more significant…

Then why…?

Maybe it’s because of my fever? I can’t exactly tell the reason behind the sickness itself, however, if I had to guess. I can remember that around these times I used to get extremely sick and sometimes I went bedridden for a while.

Maybe this is also one of those times?

“I-I’m just going to make some tea. My father used to brew some for me whenever I was sick… Is that ok?” (Kotone)

Is that where her liking for tea came…? I thought. I knew that I was being a nuisance, so everything I could do was to slightly nod as I tried to lay down back on my bed and get some sleep.

↤⨳↦

A little while after, Kotone handed me a cup of tea after waking up. The taste was the same as always, however, I could feel my throat ease a little along with my stomach pain.

“Feeling any better?” (Kotone)

“Unn…” I nodded. It’s been about two hours since Kotone came… I think, however, I could now move my body more freely and I didn’t feel as dead as before.

“Still, you should get some rest.” Kotone said as she took the cup from my hands and placed them on the table.

“I don’t really… get sick like this… sorry… to bother you…” I couldn’t help but apologize one last time before drifting off to sleep.

↤⨳↦

I had a dream. Well, it was more like a distant memory. The scene was during my middle school days, I was eating lunch with my back-then girlfriend. I felt a little at ease with her, I somehow could forget the emptiness that awaited me beyond the apartment doors once I returned home.

I never told them, did I? I never really told my parents once about her… Well, there’s no use now, it’s not like I feel anything for her anymore…

The scene changed… Third year middle school parent-teacher conference… Haha, they were absent that day, I remember how my uncle and his wife had to cover for them that day.

Huh… I never really shared any moments with them, did I? Well, it doesn’t matter. I believe that’s normal…

It’s not fair.

I want to believe it’s normal… I want to… However, there are families near me that are filled with love and warmth… and all I get is money. I can’t tell them anything because I’ll be selfish.

I can’t tell them anything because I can’t bring myself to…

I’ve been patient all this time, hoping one day, they decide to settle down and rest… and maybe I could cook something for them… eat together for the first time or even see a movie… Kuh, I think my headache is getting worse…

I’ve been patient… I’ve really been.

But even though I’ve been thinking about them all these years, I don’t think they ever thought of me at all… Little by little, my patience is starting to run out.

I’m reaching my breaking point.

↤⨳↦

My consciousness started to come back. As my eyelids opened slowly I scanned all over the room. My vision finally adjusted properly, turning left and right… Kotone was no longer there. However, there was a bottle on the table along with a sticky note.

‘It’s getting late, so I’ll head back. I left you an energy drink and some pills, do take a pill every six hours. Also, please give me a call when you’re awake, I atleast want to know how your health is going for the next few days!

Kotone’

Was what was written in the note.

“…where are you going…?” What happened a while before I fell asleep flew through my mind.

How embarrassing… I said to myself as I picked up my phone and decided to call my savior for the day. I told her I felt much better compared to before, but still, she insisted that I should take it easy for the next three days at least…

After ending the call, I looked through my contacts to call uncle Seiya and tell him about today’s little problem… of course, leaving Kotone’s name out of it.