Voices

"HUH?? UTSURO-S---, N-Nakano-san???" Aoi said in surprise.

[Translation]

空ろ (Utsuro) - means hollow, empty, blank

Aoi was confused when he saw Nakano-san's face. A face who's staring at nothing with no trace of any expression could be seen in them, as if her mind were drifting away, away from her.

"Heyy !! Nakano-san ?? !! Are you alright ??! " Aoi shouted in a worried tone.

* sigh "Relax, Aoi." I said while making him breath normally.

He is very confused, instead of being confused he should just think of a way that can help Nakano-san. What could have happened to her? The situation will only get worse if Aoi adds up with what is happening.

"Try tapping her face." I calmly said. Then he tapped Nakano-san's cheeks to snap her out of it.

She shook her head and opened her eyes. She's back. She suddenly stood up as if nothing had happened.

"Are you alright?" Aoi asked.

"I-I'm fine." She answered.

"Strange, I can see it." I bluntly said as I stared at her face.

"What do you mean?" She confusedly asked.

"Heyy Haru, stop it. You're freaking her out. " Aoi said as I started to blubber something unusual.

"I can see how empty and miserable you are." I straightforwardly said.

"Stop blubbering nonsense." She retorted.

"Then what your eyes are saying is nonsense." I bluntly said.

"What do you even know?" She suddenly asked because of what I've said with annoyance.

"I'm just stating what I see in your eyes. Didn't you know that eyes state what you truly feel." I straightforwardly said.

"You don't know anything." She whispered, trembling.

"Then why are you trembling? Trembling in fear that we might know something?" I asked.

"N-no, y-you're saying nonsense without knowing anything." She said while she looked like she's trying to compose herself.

"Yeah I don't know anything, but if you're trying to hide something then don't show it on your eyes." I responded with no emotions in my face.

"You're all just talking and saying things without any basis." She explained angrily.

"You talk confidently even though you can't say what you truly feel. Stop lecturing me." I tiredy answered.

"Hypocrite." She straightforwardly said.

"Are you referring to yourself?" I asked confusedly.

"This is what people say whenever they've got a happy life that you don't even know the word miserable." She bluntly said.

"Shut the f *** up, you don't know my past so stop being a hypocrite that knows all." I said in a serious tone.

"Stop it, you too." Aoi interrupted.

"Stop lying to yourself before it's too late." I continued. That made her startled by what I've said.

The surroundings became quiet and heavy because of our sudden argument. I'm just telling the truth to her but why is she still angry with me? The question I think that I can't find the answer to.

"I'll be going Aoi, just take her home. She needs that." I said and then walked out of that building.

Is it that hard to help? They are just the same.

Not wanting to know the truth is already in front of them but they still prefer to live under the lie that gives them short-term fun and comfort.

Resulting in their hypocrisy and telling lies to the people around them.

As my Father and Mother did the same, our life turned miserable.

Yeah, I know I'm unusual.

One reason why Aoi is the only one I consider my best friend, is because he is the only one I found to be true to himself. He only shows what he really feels, not like the people everywhere, that just so they can please themselves or other people they are telling a lie or something that is the opposite of how they really feel.

Strange things I could see on their faces or eyes. Weird huh? But I'm already used to it after I first experienced it when I was a child. I could no longer erase from my mind that thing that happened from the past, which left a shocking event that shaped what I am now.

[Flashback]

I was young when I learned that emotions can change depending on what I want people to show even if it is contrary to how they really feel. Deceptive emotions that hurt others.

"Everything is fine, Haru." Mom patted my head as she smiled.

After she said that, she went to their room and since I was young then I was left in the living room while playing. After playing I got up and walked towards my room but I noticed that dad and mom's room was a little open. I glanced intently at Mother who was inside as I looked at her I heard weak sobs as if someone was crying.

I slowly opened the door and saw mom.

"Mom, are you ok?" The first thing I asked when I saw her sad face while crying.

"I'm fine, Haru." She replied as she gave me a smile, smiles that allayed my anxiety.

"Hmm!" I answered and gave her a smile back. I kissed her on the cheek before I left and went to sleep.

-------

Several times I rolled around on the bed as I hugged the teddy bear that dad and mom gave me. I sat down and rubbed my eyes, opened it and then stood up.

I remember that night I could not sleep because every time I close my eyes I remember the face of mom that she showed earlier. I walked out of my room and walked to mom and dad's room. I saw that the door was not closed and it was opened a little the same as earlier. I peeked slowly but I could not see anything inside because the lights were turned off. I slowly opened the door and walked inside.

I only saw darkness as I walked inside.

"Mom?" I said as I looked for her.

I stepped carefully as my hands stretched out in front of me to guide me in the dark. I could not turn on the light that time because I could not reach it.

In the middle of my searching, something seemed to hit me in the head, I tried to touch it. I was frightened when I found out that the thing that I bumped into is a foot floating from the ground.

I quickly ran out of mom and dad's room following my father's arrival. I was trembling as I went to my father and carried me. I only felt scared then, because I thought I saw a ghost.

"Haru, what's wrong? Where's your mom?" Dad asked in confusion.

All I could do was point out the thing I was afraid of without a word coming out of my mouth. My father put me down and his belongings then took off his shoes. He walked first and then I followed.

"Hon, I'm home. What happened? Haru looked scared. Is everything ok?" My father said when he got to the living room, but no one answered.

He was surprised by the silence that enveloped the house. When we got inside, I was just looking in the direction of mom and dad's room. Dad immediately went to their room while I followed him. He turned on the lights and then I saw mom's hanging body right in front of me. Her tongue was stuck out and her eyes widened as if she was looking at me. I could see on her neck a rope attached to the ceiling fan.

The father quickly lowered mom's body that was hanging. I could see in dad's eyes the nervousness, fear and sadness that he had never shown before. While I don't know what to feel. I just stared at mom's body while my dad was trying to revive her.

When I grew up there I learned the word suicide. That mom did suicide.

And that is also where my loss of trust to people began, and the hearing of voices that always whispers to me.

[End of Flashback]

I remember the memories of the past again. Nightmares of the past that always visit me. I can hear again the voices that keep on whispering to me.

"Liar."

"Don't trust anyone."

"Everyone's a liar."

"They're hypocrites."

"A great pretender."

"They are all liars."

"Ugh !! Stop!" I shouted as I held my ears but no matter what cover I did I could still hear them, whispering and haunting me everyday.