Ch. 5: Today, To Me (SUN)
I put on the bracelet Lied had bought me and held it up to the sun.
It's really pretty.
Lied: "Are you happy?"
Lied looked at me curiously.
OO: "Yeah! It's super pretty. Thanks."
Lied: "Why did you say you were fine with just one?"
W-why did I…
OO: "I mean, I couldn't have worn all of those. And besides, if I'd had so many, I'd probably keep thinking about how I wanted
every beautiful accessory I saw."
Lied: "Hmm…"
OO: "Lied, why do you ask for everything no matter what it is?"
He took a shallow breath in at my question.
Lied: "The world might end in the next instant."
OO: "Eh…"
Lied: "Or it might keep going for a ridiculous amount of time. We don't know which it is, so people hold themselves back,
assuming that it's going to keep going."
OO: "L-Lied?"
Lied: "But I think it's best to enjoy the here and now."
Suddenly, Lied gently wrapped his palm around my wrist.
OO: "Lied…?"
His gaze went back and forth between my face and the bracelet.
Lied: "Today, to me, your delighted face is that. I was happy that you're happy. We don't know what'll happen tomorrow."
Not knowing about tomorrow…
Lied: "You."
OO: "?"
Lied: "Are you having fun being with me now? If you're not, it'd be pointless to keep going, so we can part ways here."
The bracelet on my arm flashed and sparkled in the sun's light.
OO: "I'm having fun. And by being with you, I've learned something new."
Lied: "…?"
OO: "Since we don't know what tomorrow will bring, I want to treasure the now even more."
Lied: "Yeah."
Lied smiled at me as if satisfied.
His beautiful hands still clasped mine.
Lied: "Even the heat of your hands is something that exists only now. Well, let's go."
The heat of his hands may have been something that existed only in this moment, but I found myself wanting to feel it forever.
END