The boy next door

I looked out the window and saw him walked out of their home. His usual camouflage bag was dangling on his shoulder, and his hands were kept in his pockets. He was always an hour early when leaving for school.

"Kirin, are you up?" my mother opened the door so I immediately closed the curtains and welcomed her with a smile.

"You're watching that delinquent again? Remember what I told you. Don't ever approach him again, okay?" Mom said with a stern voice.

I smiled and nodded before I went to the bath to prepare for school. As I felt the warm water flow from my head down to my feet, his jet-black hair and dark eyes were all I could think of. I had been curious about him for a long time, but the people around me wouldn't even let me get close to him.

As I walked down the corridor, I was hoping that maybe I could see him in an empty room. I  wanted to know how he spends his time or who he eats with. I wanted to take a peek at his everyday life aside from the ones I see at home.

"Kirin, let's have lunch together," Midori said as she pulled me towards the cafeteria.

I shook my head and followed her in disappointment because I was already planning to eat in the garden. I was hoping that maybe I could find him there and I could somehow strike a conversation with him. I had been searching for opportunities to approach him but fate didn't seem to agree with me. He was so good in avoiding crowded places and hiding which made approaching him too difficult.

My disappointment faded when we entered the cafeteria and I caught a glimpse of him at the corner. I volunteered to reserve a seat for us and immediately went to a table located a few meters away from him.

Midori heaved a sigh as she sat in front of me. "I don't really understand why you are so eager to know him. Curiosity could kill a cat, you know?"

"It's okay. Cats have nine lives." I smiled after sneaking a glance at him.

His name is Eiji Shinohara, a 3rd-year engineering student, who was considered a genius. Everyone would've liked him if not for his rough personality. He had jet-black hair, tall muscular build, and scary eyes which made people scared of him, despite his cool looks.

"He is cool," I defended him though I know that he couldn't hear us.

"Have you forgotten? His father belongs to yakuza and everyone knows that he was the one who killed his grandfather," Midori said with a hushed voice, careful not to let the guy near us hear what she was saying.

"We don't know about that," I tried to defend him.

It was after his grandfather's funeral when he moved to our neighborhood. Rumors said that he was the one who killed his grandfather just because they had a huge fight on the night that the old man died. Everyone believed it because he was known as a delinquent. His old neighbors said that he would always come home late at night with new bruises and sometimes broken bones. Some of my classmates even saw him fight when they were still in high school.

I looked at him again and smiled sadly when I saw the scar on his eyebrow. It was from the day he moved next to our house. I could still vividly remember that day when I was waiting for my Dad to come home and I saw him walking in a zigzag. His clothes were torn, his arms were full of bruises and cuts, and blood was dripping from his face. Back then, I didn't saw the ruthlessness that everyone used to define him, all I saw was loneliness and despair.

He just sat there in silence while I was treating his wounds. His expression was not an expression of guilt or remorse. It was full of grief and regret. He was like a fragile child who was about to break any moment. His eyes showed no tears, but I could hear his silent cries in his heart with the way he clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. At that moment, I knew that he wasn't someone to be afraid of. He was just someone who was sad and lost.

"Kirin, are you still with me?" My mind drifted back to reality when Midori called for me. I smiled apologetically and pay attention to the food in front of me.

My attention was then caught by a lovely lady who entered the cafeteria and walked straight to Eiji. I think it wasn't just me; everyone in the cafeteria was watching them.

"Eiji..." The girl called in a soft gentle voice. "I'm really sorry about your grandfather."

Eiji glared at her when she mentioned his grandfather. He stood up and roughly pulled the girl away. Like a reflex, I immediately stood up to follow them. I even ignored Midori when she called my name to stop me from following the two.

I saw them hide under the staircase so I hid somewhere near. I wanted to hear what they were talking about. I wanted to know a part of Eiji that only a few people knew.

"Whatever it is that you want to say, forget about it. Forget about the past. Forget about my grandfather and me," Eiji said in a stern voice.

I was so curious. I wanted to know what happened between them in the past. Was the girl connected with his grandfather's death?

"But it was my fault—"

"It was mine," Eiji cut her off. "I killed him. Everyone knows that, so forget about it, Hina."

"It wasn't your fault, Ei-chan, you just protected me! You protected me and they wanted to get back at you so they took it out on your grandfather. They killed your grandfather because you saved me from being harassed! How did that become your fault?" The girl wiped the tears that escaped her eyes. "Was it your fault that they harassed me? Was it your fault that you helped me? Was it your fault that your grandfather was proud of what you did, and he opposed those gangsters?"

"Hina..." Eiji had said with a stern voice before he sighed. "I want to forget it too. So please, never show up in front of me ever again."

I stood there in awe as I watched the girl walked away with tears pooling in her eyes. I didn't know what to do. Should I follow her? Should I go to Eiji?

Before I could even take a step, I saw Eiji in front of me. His scary eyes wasn't even scary when he looked at me. He was more annoyed than mad.

"Do you need anything from me?" His deep voice sent a tingling sensation within me. It was the first time that he had talked to me. I didn't even know if he remembered that time when I treated him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

He already started walking away even before I could finish my sentence. My shoulders dropped and my chest felt heavy. I bet he was disappointed when he saw me eavesdropping.

He stopped walking and turned to face me again. "If you want to talk, I know a café where no one would pay attention to us."

When I heard him say those words, my lips curved to a smile and I followed him. He might be judged by others, but I know better now. Eiji Shinohara was amazing and from that moment onwards, I would always do my best to help him get out of the position where people boxed him in.