Chapter Five – Jealousy

Flashback

“Takeru has another girlfriend.” Miyako mentioned, looking over at his group.

“Miyako, why must you insist on torturing me?” Hikari whined.

“But you know they never last. He goes out with a different girl every week.”

“Miyako…”

“I mean, come on. I don’t get it. I’ve honestly seen much better looking guys than Takeru, no offense, but… how can he just play around like that? It’s frightening.”

Hikari had given up in trying to make her be quiet and went on to do something else. She and Takeru hadn’t talked much for two months. She had been going insane watching him practically stoop to their levels; laughing with them about stupid things, hanging out with them after school and not to mention, like what Miyako was saying, having a new girlfriend every week. They always seemed to forgive him because he was so cute, but Hikari saw right through him.

And yet she still wondered how he had no idea why she was mad at him. It wasn’t like he tried to fix anything, either. He was having so much fun with his new friends…

Even Patamon didn’t understand the change in him; it was like Takeru was a completely different person. He didn’t visit the Digital World as much as he used to. He was always busy. He drifted away from them all and went to be with people that would drop him in a second if he did something they didn’t like.

“I hate him!” Hikari yelled aloud without realizing it. Everyone looked at her, but she only saw Takeru.

“Hikari, you okay?” Daisuke tried to console her, but she pulled away. Hikari stood up and ran out of the room.

“She must be on drugs.” Said one of the girls.

Daisuke expected Takeru to stick up for her, but instead just sat there like an idiot. Frustrated, Daisuke ran out in search for Hikari. Even if he couldn’t get through to her, he had to try.

“Hikari! Wait up!” Daisuke found her down the hall and ran up to her. “Hikari…”

“Leave me alone…”

He could tell she had been crying. “Hey… you have to move on…”

“Stop it!” Hikari covered her ears with her hands. “What do you know?!” She yelled.

“Look, no matter how much you want to deny it, Takeru’s not the same person anymore! He’s changed and not for the better, either! He ditched us!”

“But he was my best friend!”

“Well, obviously he doesn’t feel the same about you!” Daisuke knew he was being harsh; he wished he could shut up but the words just kept coming out. “I don’t know what happened or why he suddenly became this way but he doesn’t want to be around us anymore!”

“Stop…” Hikari cried, falling to her knees. “Please…”

“Hikari… you have to accept reality… if Takeru wanted to make things better he would’ve done it by now…” Daisuke kneeled down and put his hands on her shoulders. “Forget about him…”

“But… I can’t… if he had any idea how I felt…”

“I hate to say it, but…” Daisuke paused, “he doesn’t… care…”

And that’s when she really began to loathe Takeru Takaishi…

End of Flashback

o.o.o

She loves me, she loves me not.

“That’s stupid.” Takeru commented aloud about the movie they were watching. Nobuko was right next to him. She had slyly slipped her arm under his and wrapped it around his, which he didn’t notice until a moment later and was getting closer as the movie went on. He tried to deal with it as kindly as he could, but ending up giving up in the process and just let her stay there.

Yusuke had invited a girl and two other guys over to his house to watch this movie. The scary thing was, Takeru was actually starting to become comfortable around these people. He was laughing and joking with them earlier without thoughts behind it. Was this bad?

Ever since he decided to give up on Hikari, his life became a lot easier. She didn’t bother him and he didn’t bother her. All she was now was a distant memory. He couldn’t burden himself with that stuff anymore; he had to grow up. Not just for his own sanity, but for Yamato’s and everyone else’s sake. Takeru actually liked not having to worry every moment. Although he’s not completely over her and that she will always have a place in his heart, there just wasn’t any reason to try anymore.

For now, he had to enjoy life to the fullest and get Yagami Hikari off his mind.

o.o.o

In gym class the next day, Hikari noticed the popular kids that Takeru hung around had been giving her more attention—and not exactly the good kind either. Yusuke and another boy named Hiroshi winked at her and then laughed like idiots and the girls glared and whispered nasty things to each other. Hikari learned to ignore it as she continued to run her laps around the track. Although, she did see that Takeru had his arm around a certain someone…

Nobuko. She and Hikari have hated each other for years. And Hikari thought Takeru hated her too…

Apparently not.

She felt a little discouraged for the rest of the day at the sight of him and Nobuko; it was hard to focus in class. They were all over each other; she more than him; sitting in his lap and making kissy faces at him and taunting Hikari from a distance. She could’ve sworn she saw Nobuko looking her way a few times and snickering.

After school was over, Hikari grabbed her bag and headed out of the classroom. Tailmon had been sleeping in her locker and jumped into the bag to hide. People crowded the hallways with their friends, walking quickly and pushing others out of the way. She never realized how invisible she really was in this school.

”Sorry, I didn’t see you there.” Said a student who happened to bump into her shoulder and knock all of her books over, but then didn’t even bother to help her pick them up. Hikari kneeled down and assembled them together, hoping not to get stepped on. She finally stood up, only to see Nobuko and three other friends of hers in front of her. They were blocking her from going anywhere.

”Well, look what the cat dragged in.” Nobuko crossed her arms and gave her a menacing look.

”I’ll show her what a cat—“

Hikari shushed Tailmon and tried to get past the group of bimbos. Her attempt failed. Nobuko pushed her against the wall. Another girl, known as Mary spat on her shoes. Hikari gasped. Without thinking, she kicked Mary in the leg, making sure the spit smeared onto it. While they freaked out, Hikari made a run for it.

”You bitch! Get back here!” Nobuko and her friends darted after her. Hikari jolted out the front doors and onto the sidewalk. Tailmon jumped out of her backpack and ran alongside her.

”Hikari, let me at ‘em!”

”No! You can’t!”

She was running out of breath. The girls were gaining up on her. Hikari took a swift turn around the corner and into someone’s backyard. She saw some woods up ahead. Sure that Nobuko and her friends wouldn’t dare to get theirselves dirty, Hikari went for it. She was right; they stopped at the edge of the woods.

”You can’t hide forever! You stay away from my man!” Nobuko called out.

”How did she—“ Breathless, Hikari couldn’t finish her statement out loud and kept running until she was out of sight. She found a tree stump and sat on it, extremely exhausted.

”You should’ve let me attack them!” Tailmon hissed.

”No… they don’t stand a chance. As much as I hate them, we can’t have people knowing that Digimon are back in the real world…” Hikari said. “It would cause way too much trouble…”
”Yeah but…” Tailmon sighed.

Hikari stood up, almost losing her balance. She didn’t even run that much in gym class. She got out her phone and called Sora. She knew that she could get to her house through these woods. Sora accepted her request to stop by.

Hikari arrived ten minutes later. Sora noticed how messed up her hair was and that she had a few scratches on her arms and legs.

”What happened?” Sora asked.

”Takeru’s new girlfriend hates me, but what’s new?” Hikari sat down on the couch.

”He has a girlfriend?” Sora yelled.

”Yeah, it’s none other than my worst enemy—Nobuko.”

”That girl? Seriously?” Sora was shocked. “You think he’s dating her on purpose?”

”What, to make me jealous?” Hikari looked away in disgust.

”That little brat…”

o.o.o

”Oh, Takki!” Nobuko ran up to Takeru and grabbed his hand.

”Takki? What in the world is that?”

”Your nickname, silly.” Nobuko giggled.

”Right…” Takeru wasn’t all too pleased with it, but he decided to deal with it. He’s had worse.

”Where are you going?” Nobuko asked.

”Home…” He gave her a ‘duh’ look.

”Oh! Am I going to get to meet your parents? Wow, this is wonderful! I feel closer to you already!”

Takeru was about to go off on her, but then reminded himself that she knew nothing about him. He also didn’t like the fact that she just invited herself over suddenly. However, he’s learned how to have patience around them.

”Takeru, is that you?”

A boy with shoulder-length blue hair stood in front of him, flabbergasted. He wore a uniform different from the one they were wearing, but that was because he obviously didn’t go to their school.

”Ken!” Takeru released his hand from Nobuko’s grip and went over to his old friend.

”Ken Ichijouji?” Nobuko knew of him. Everybody knew of him.

Ken gave her a warm smile and turned back to Takeru. “I was actually on my way over to your apartment. I know I didn’t call, but I don’t have your number anyway. And my D-3—“

”Oh, you were?” Takeru stopped him. Nobuko knew nothing about their past as a Digidestined. “Great! Join us!” He exclaimed, glad to have someone other than her come along, even if he was a third party. The last thing he needed was his mother embarrassing him in front of his ‘girlfriend.’

”That’s alright.” Ken declined, sending Takeru into a disappointed state. “I just wanted you to give this to Miyako. She’s in your class, isn’t she?” He handed him a piece of paper.

Little did Ken know, Takeru didn’t associate with Miyako anymore, all for the sake of his reputation.

He wondered what Ken would do if he found that out…

”Miyako? You mean the nerdy girl from Class-A?” Nobuko questioned, almost mocking her. Ken shot a glare her way.

”She’s not in my class, but she is in my gym class. I’ll be sure to get it to her.” Takeru said nervously.

”Thanks. It’s really important.” Ken walked off.

o.o.o

Takeru and Nobuko entered his apartment. She was amazed at how clean the place was and seemed to be looking around for something—or someone. She didn’t know that Takeru’s parents were divorced, or that Yamato didn’t live with him.

Wouldn’t she be disappointed.

Luckily, his mother wasn’t home. Nobuko took this opportunity to try and cuddle up with him on the couch.

”Uhh… whoa!” Takeru felt her hand touching his leg and pulled away.

”What’s wrong? I thought you wanted me…”

”Can we just… sit here… and like… keep our hands to ourselves?” Takeru felt so stupid for saying that. Yamato would’ve let a girl do that to him… if he wasn’t with Sora, of course.

’Ack…’ Takeru had no idea why he was dating her. Popularity probably had something to do with it.

’I guess if I want to move on… I’ve got to try new things…’

Takeru looked over at her. She seemed bored out of her mind. Takeru closed his eyes tightly. An image of Hikari popped up in his mind. ‘No… I can’t let her control me anymore… this feeling… it has to go…’

”Takeru, are you alright?” Nobuko asked worriedly.

’Hikari, Hikari, Hikari… why can’t I get rid of you?! Why do you continue to haunt me… why…’

”Takeru…?” Nobuko shook him a little, but he didn’t do anything.

’I know I hurt you… I know what I did was wrong… why can’t she forgive me? No, snap out of it, Takeru…’

All of a sudden he felt a slap across his face. Nobuko stood in front of him with her arms crossed and seemed very angry. He looked up at her, speechless at first.

”I know you’re thinking of her!”

”Wha--?” Takeru got out.

”Stop it! Stop it now!” Nobuko demanded. “She doesn’t like you, okay?”

He wasn’t sure if they were talking about the same person, so he continued to play dumb. “What are you talking about?”

”I know how you feel about Hikari, but you just need to forget it!”

’How does she know…?’

”You’re wrong. Hikari and I aren’t friends anymore.”

”But you still love her! Gosh, Takeru, do you think I’m stupid? You stare at her all the time during class…”

’I do?’ Takeru asked himself.

Nobuko sat close to him, trying to make advancements. “I’m so much better, Takeru. She hurt you… I can make you feel better than she ever did…” Nobuko ran her small fingers through his hair and down his back. Takeru shivered.

’Wrong… I hurt her…’

Nobuko began kissing his neck. Takeru tried to get away at first, but fell over onto his back. She climbed onto him. He was about to say something, but she put her finger over his mouth.

”Listen, babe. I’ll make you the happiest man alive.”

She was scaring him. He didn’t want this. He didn’t want her…

Suddenly, all of his recent worries about his reputation as Takeru Takaishi were discarded. He pushed her off of him. She fell onto the floor. Frightened that he hurt a girl, Takeru immediately came back to his senses.

”Oh my gosh… I’m so sorry…” Takeru tried to help her up, but she didn’t let him.

”Oh… you’re so going to pay for this. Once everyone finds out that you’re too scared to have sex, you’ll be so—“

”No! Nobuko… you can’t… I was just…” Takeru tried to come up with any excuse he could think of.

”I thought Takeru was fearless; I thought he would do anything…”

”I would… just… I…” Takeru couldn’t say anything now.

”Okay, I’ll make you a deal.”

”A… deal?” Takeru’s blue orbs widened.

”If you even THINK of Hikari Yagami again, I’ll tell the entire school you’re nothing but a wuss, details included. In exchange, you must continue to go out with me. You will not talk to her, look at her or even say her name. Understood?”

It sounded absurd, and any sane person would’ve denied that on the spot, but Takeru was too afraid of everyone. He didn’t want to be made fun of. He didn’t want to lose what little satisfaction he had; without his status, he was nothing.

Absolutely… nothing…

”Oh, wait!” Nobuko walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. Takeru stared at her nervously. “Better idea!”

”W-what’s that?”

”You and I are going to make Hikari’s life… a living hell…”

o.o.o

The nightmare had started all over again.

’Takeru… no… please don’t leave…’

’I promise to protect Hikari at all costs!’

’Takeru…’

’Happy Birthday, Hikari. I got you this necklace… I hope you like it…’

’Come… back…’

’I can’t let them see me with you, I’m sorry. I have to go.’

’Why did you choose them over me…?’

’I thought you loved me…’

’I thought you cared…’

’All that time we spent together growing up… does any of it even matter?’

Takeru’s face appeared. ‘You and I… how can I put this…’

’What’s so special about them?’

’Hikari, I can’t be your friend anymore.’

o.o.o

Hikari woke up in a cold sweat.

o.o.o

A/N: Well, thanks for reading! Now things are really going to heat up, so stay tuned! I really hope you leave a review… that’d be nice… thanks for all the support!