“Zaki, I understand how you feel but… if it was Hinari who was dying and she told you to leave her alone, would you leave her?” Sei asked and after a long pause, Zaki suddenly trembled and his grip on Sei loosened.
The next moment, Zaki broke down in tears.
He cried hard like a child, as though he finally reached his very limit and was now bursting out of control, as if the pain and tears that he’d been suppressing subconsciously all this time were now coming out without stopping.
He sobbed in front of Sei, burying his face on the arm that was still holding Sei’s collar.
Sei on the other hand finally heaved a sigh of relief because it looked like realization finally dawned on Zaki.
Sei then raised his hand and he was about to pat Zaki when he noticed someone looking at them. He raised his face and when he saw Hinari standing there with a shocked expression, he suddenly didn’t know what to do. Well, she obviously could see that her Zaki was crying while his hands were on Sei’s collar so Sei couldn’t blame her for looking at him with such an intense and accusing gaze.
Sei also saw the extreme worry in her eyes as she looked at Zaki so Sei didn’t have a choice but to tell Zaki that she was here.
“Zaki, Hinari is here.” Sei said and the crying Zaki immediatety stopped.
He slowly turned and when he saw Hinari looking at him, he suddenly turned his back on her. He hastily let go of Sei as he tried so hard to calm himself, wiping his tears in haste.
Sei on the other hand quietly stepped away and as he passed Hinari, he whispered to her.
“I will leave him to you.” He said and without waiting for her response he left.
Hinari then worriedly stepped closer to Zaki. Her heart was beating so wildly when she saw that he seemed to be crying. She was so worried, maybe because this was the very first time she saw him cry.
“Z-zaki, are you alright?” she asked as soon as she reached him and caused the man to jump a little. Without turning to her, Zaki cleared his throat before he spoke.
“I’m sorry, I need to go to the toilet,” he suddenly said and was about to dash away when Hinari quickly hugged him from behind, causing Zaki to gasp in surprise.
“A-are you crying?” she asked. Her voice filled with worry and pain as though she was feeling hurt as well.
Hearing her, Zaki swallowed air as he shook his head.
“I’m not.” He denied but Hinari moved to try to look at his face. However, Zaki tried his best not to let her see. Hinari then stepped to the left to get a better angle but Zaki turned slightly to the right so that she wouldn’t see his face. She tried stepping to the right, but Zaki evaded her again by turning slightly to the left. It was like they were dancing to a song that only they could hear. The next moment, Hinari tried to take two quick little steps to the left but the man anticipated this and countered. Grunting in frustration, Hinari almost wanted to stomp her feet like a little girl throwing a tantrum when Zaki spoke.
“I’m not crying, I just got sand in my eye from the wind! I just need to go wash my face.” He said as he kept turning his back against Hinari and when Hinari had finally had enough, she, all of a sudden hopped on Zaki’s back, held Zaki’s face from behind and kissed him.
The kiss made Zaki halt for a moment but that one moment was enough for Hinari to make her move. Thus, before Zaki could hide his face from her, Hinari was already standing in front of him. Her eyes glimmered with different emotions as she looked at his tear stained face and reddened eyes.
As their eyes met, Zaki didn’t know why but the tears he was trying so hard to stop wanted to gush out of his eyes again. He looked down to the ground, hiding his face as he cursed within him. Damn it! What’s happening to me? When did I become such a cry baby? Why are these tears not stopping at all?
As Zaki’s tears fell from his eyes, Hinari’s warm hands held him. She made him look at her and when she saw the crystal-like tears flowing down his beautiful face, she smiled as she too teared up along with him.
“It’s okay, let it all out. I will cry with you so it’s fine. Let’s cry together until there are no more tears left.” She said and Zaki gritted his teeth. But the next thing he did was yank her in his arms and he hugged her so tight as their tears continued flowing like an endless river.
