[If... Marui appears a certain way, she doesn't notice. She's not really looking at anything. But what she does do is go silent for a few seconds, her mind already trailing off. Maybe he doesn't need to hear more than what she's already said. Her friend is gone. What more should be said? But she's been going over things in her head, trying to understand. And it all just... comes out.]
Mm. We've been through a lot together, but not... all of it was good. There was a time when I didn't talk to him for a while because of something he did. But he really helped me out after I moved into my own place back home. Even now, I... think he still kinda blames himself for what happened. He was really messed up. And not just because of what happened, he's been through a lot himself.
[She's naive and she knows it. She's always had a soft spot for people that were suffering, or had suffered. Alvin was no different. And while she didn't know everything about him, the little that she did was awful. She might've been angry with him for hurting her, but he wasn't in control of himself either. Fortunately, that's changed.]
Things are different now, at least. Actually, I'm still really impressed by how much he's changed. We both help each other out in our respective careers, and cheer each other on. He's become a perfectly respectable businessman and I couldn't be more proud. [it's the second time she's managed a smile tonight.] Of course, he is pushing thirty and still a philanderer, so he still needs some work.
[There's a tinge of amusement in her voice when she says that. He tries way too hard to be young and hip. And she'll forever tease him about it, but...
Talking about him this way, it's like some puzzle pieces have finally managed to slot together.]
... Guess the more I think about it, the more I realize it's pretty terrible of me to think he left by choice. I thought maybe I did something wrong, like I annoyed him, or said something stupid, teased him one too many times about how I hope he goes bald, or that he should settle down and find a wife instead of acting like some playboy.
[It had been a little selfish of her. She hugs her knees tightly, still staring ahead at nothing in particular.]
But I think... even with all of that. That even if I majorly ticked him off, he still would've told me goodbye, if he could.
[Her eyes sting again, but this kind of lifted the weight off her shoulders a little...]
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Mm. We've been through a lot together, but not... all of it was good. There was a time when I didn't talk to him for a while because of something he did. But he really helped me out after I moved into my own place back home. Even now, I... think he still kinda blames himself for what happened. He was really messed up. And not just because of what happened, he's been through a lot himself.
[She's naive and she knows it. She's always had a soft spot for people that were suffering, or had suffered. Alvin was no different. And while she didn't know everything about him, the little that she did was awful. She might've been angry with him for hurting her, but he wasn't in control of himself either. Fortunately, that's changed.]
Things are different now, at least. Actually, I'm still really impressed by how much he's changed. We both help each other out in our respective careers, and cheer each other on. He's become a perfectly respectable businessman and I couldn't be more proud. [it's the second time she's managed a smile tonight.] Of course, he is pushing thirty and still a philanderer, so he still needs some work.
[There's a tinge of amusement in her voice when she says that. He tries way too hard to be young and hip. And she'll forever tease him about it, but...
Talking about him this way, it's like some puzzle pieces have finally managed to slot together.]
... Guess the more I think about it, the more I realize it's pretty terrible of me to think he left by choice. I thought maybe I did something wrong, like I annoyed him, or said something stupid, teased him one too many times about how I hope he goes bald, or that he should settle down and find a wife instead of acting like some playboy.
[It had been a little selfish of her. She hugs her knees tightly, still staring ahead at nothing in particular.]
But I think... even with all of that. That even if I majorly ticked him off, he still would've told me goodbye, if he could.
[Her eyes sting again, but this kind of lifted the weight off her shoulders a little...]