Chapter 1
Kumo and Yurei, they’ve been friends since grade school. Both of them had been outcast as children but as they grew older, Yurei had gained more popularity due to her looks. Kumo was also a looker but people admired Yurei’s long white hair. As Yurei grew more into the popularity, she found that she was enjoying the popularity but had loved Kumo romantically way more. Kumo was considered a person that wasn’t easy to get along with or was always misunderstood, although she didn’t mind. At the time, it was Yurei’s peak of popularity, though her only true friend that she talked to was Kumo. Yurei had soon gone out with Kumo, drowning her in words that Yurei told Kumo over and over again. Kumo felt that it had been the first time that someone had tried to understand her. She felt that someone had finally accepted her, though on the day when Yurei began to use Kumo, she was bewildered but didn’t struggle. Kumo had loved Yurei too much, she was tricked into a relationship with one sided love.
A while after a year, almost two into the relationship, Kumo realized that Yurei was using her, she found that Yurei had at least been with 6 other women in the past half a year. Social media was talking about it everywhere and Yurei herself was not ashamed to hide it. Yurei would even openly talk about cheating on Kumo straight to her face when she found out. Finding the joy in shattering Kumo’s world everytime after the build up by telling her that she was only someone for relief and others were better. She knew that Kumo wouldn’t dare leave her in fear of losing the only person she loved, but Kumo also knew that past all the popularity, Yurei had actually loved her.
[damn, did you hear?]
[hear what? Did Yurei dump another one?]
[yeah, she’s with a different girl again.]
[which one is it this time?]
[it’s the 9th one, some girl with short brown hair]
[poor Kumo, she knows that all this is happening yet she hasn’t left Yurei.]
[yeah, she says that she’s ok, but is she really?]
[it’s their problem, Kumo will learn soon.]
[let’s leave it for now]
Kumo stared down at her phone, looking at online conversations talking about Yurei’s new “girl”. “Kumo, would you please answer this for us?” the professor asked Kumo. “uh- sure” Kumo answered, getting up from her seat and walking down to the front of the lecture hall to answer the question written on the board. Answering the question, the professor thanked Kumo and marked it correct. “You’ve been spacing off recently.” Okami told Kumo, a classmate. She had recently gotten closer with Kumo but had also known about Kumo’s situation. “You should really break up with Yurei.”
“But-”
“Kumo, It’s unhealthy, I mean look at you. The professor called you a few times before you snapped back into reality.”
“. . .”
“You should also ignore and stop looking at those messages”
“Yurei-”
“Kumo, I know you love Yurei and have been friends since grade school but it’s time for you to let go. It’s going to start affecting you a lot more, it already has.”
“I can’t bring myself to leave Yurei. . .”
“That’s what I thought you’d say. Look, it’s going to be hard, but you’re going to have too. And probably move away from Yurei as soon as you can.”
“Where would I go? I can’t do anything without Yurei. . .”
“. . .I wouldn’t mind if you stayed at my place for a while. As long as Yurei is out of your life.”
“I can’t. . .I can’t leave Yurei. . .not yet. . .”
“. . .of course. Well, I don’t want to force you or anything but please do realize soon but you already know, don’t you.”
Okami let Kumo know, drawing her attention back to the professor.
Kumo walked back to the shared apartment, passing by the convenience store to buy a few snacks for the winter. She unlocked the door to the apartment and found Yurei with what looked like a new girl sleeping on the couch together. Taking a closer look at the girl on the couch, she realized that it was a junior in their college, a year younger than them. Attempting to ignore the two, Kumo headed straight for her room with her bags.
“Ahh, welcome home Kumo.~”
“You’re awake?”
“Of course, I was waiting for you”
“Then why are you with another person?”
“She’s just a plaything, you know I love you more”
“That’s what you tell everyone you go out with.”
“Come here. I want a kiss from you”
“Later, you smell like that junior”
“*tsk* fine~”
Yurei sighed before laying back down with the junior taking her phone. Kumo took one last look at the junior, making a mental note of her looks before shutting herself in her room. She dropped her bags on the floor and took out a notebook, noting down the appearance of the junior. Looking over her little notes of all the people that Yurei has been out with other than herself, Kumo realized that there had been a pattern. Yurei changed girls every two to three months or so and had always brought home a black haired girl or someone with a “cute” personality or appearance.
Later that night, Kumo received a text from Okami.
[Hey, a few others, Ryu, and I are going out to the bar, wanna head out with us?]
[maybe, who else is going?]
[like I said, Ryu, me, and then the two who sit in front of us in mathematics, and one or two from Ryu’s classes]
[alright, what time and which bar?]
[11:00 pm at the bar beside the department store]
[k, thanks]
[see you]
[yeah]
Kumo turned off her computer and closed her books. She took out a few things and dropped them in her tote bag and left her room. Drawing her attention to the couch, Kumo saw that the junior was gone. “Probably in Yurei’s room with her or something” Kumo thought as she headed out the door for the bar. She grabbed the keys and walked down the stairs to her car, taking her leave.
She drove into the parking lot of the bar, noticing that there were multiple cars she had recognized but there was one in particular that stood out. Kumo tried to ignore it and parked her car before heading into the bar towards the reserved table. Seeing her friends at the table, Kumo approached the table taking a seat. “You came” Okami greeted Kumo.
“Yeah. . .I think I saw Yurei’s car out there, did you invite her?”
“Nah, neither did Ryu, and plus, you and I are the only ones who share classes with her, no?”
“I think so. . .”
“Alright, come on, have a drink”
Okami said, ordering a drink for Kumo and sitting Kumo down at the table. Around an hour of drinking, Kumo found herself only on her 2nd or third shot. She didn't feel like drinking at the time but also didn’t feel like going home yet. Staying there any longer would just be wasting time. “Kumo?” a young, soft, seductive voice called Kumo’s name.
“What are you doing here?”
“. . .” Kumo turned around to see Yurei with the girl she saw Yurei sleeping with before.
“I was drinking with some friends. . .”
“Were you now?”
“. . .yes. . .”
Yurei shooed the girl by her side away before walking towards Kumo and latching onto her.
“You should return to me~. . .”
“. . .”
“You know I love you right?”
“. . .how would you love me when you have been sleeping with others. . .”
“Kumo. . .you know their only side chicks, you will always be mine.”
“. . .”
“Come on Kumo~, come back to me”
“. . .not yet. . .”
“Why is that?”
“Until you’re only focused on me. . .I don’t want to be with you. . .”
“Oh. . .jealous, aren't we now?”
“No. . .”
“Whatever. . .I know you’ll come running back to me soon.”
Yurei walked away, leaving Kumo where she stood. Quickly, Kumo grabbed her bag, said goodbye to her friends and ran out of the bar. Trying not to drive herself into despair as she knew she could never bring herself to leave Yurei. She loved Yurei way too much to leave her, Kumo herself didn’t even know what she loved so much about her. She just loved Yurei.
Quickly getting into the car and shutting the door, Kumo rested her head on the wheel. “Why. . .why. Why can’t I get myself to leave her. . .” Kumo whispered to herself. Lifting up her head again after a few moments, Kumo turned on the car and drove to a night cafe.
Driving though the city at night was always a good feeling for Kumo. It was a good chance for her to take things off her mind. Often in her night drives, Kumo would go to the night cafe, one that her friend owned, Xuanlu. Only a few years older than her, and graduated from the same college. Being in this state, it didn’t take too long before Kumo found herself in front of the cafe. Swinging open the door, she entered the dimly lit building. “Welcome to- ah, It’s you” someone called out. Someone from the cafe.
“The usual?”
“Yes please, by the way, Fuji. Is Xuanlu here today?”
“I think she was opening today, she should be! Let me find her for you.”
“Alright, thanks”
Sitting at the table she often sat at, Kumo looked around the cafe. It was often emptier at night than the day. Sure, it was a night cafe but more people went to the day shifts. Opening at 8am, closing at 1pm, then re-opening at 5pm and closing at 4am. She waited for Fuji to return with her drink. “Here we go,” Fuji said, putting the cup down and having a seat across from Kumo. “Are you taking time away from Yurei again?” Fuji asked, putting on a worried face. “Sort of. . .”
“I was supposed to be at a bar with some people from college but then I ran into Yurei and her ‘side chick’, without a thought I up and ran out of there.”
“Then you came here?”
“Yes.”
“Hey, I know you’ve heard this a million times already. But it would be good to leave Yurei. I also know you’ve been thinking about it yourself.”
“How. . .can I do it.”
“Breaking up with Yurei?”
“Yes. . .”
“Hmm. . .I mean, everyone does it differently.”
“Right. . .”
“I’ve been in a few relationships but each time, I broke up with them over the phone.”
“. . .”
“But some people prefer to do it when they meet up in public, or when they're in private like at their house or something.”
“I see”
“And try not to plan out your whole break up story, just stick to what you feel like saying.”
“Alright.”
“Hello, Kumo, thank you Fuji for keeping her company for me.”
“No problem! I’ll get back to the kitchen now”
“Just relax, you know we’re not as busy during the night”
“Right.”
Taking the seat Fuji was in, Xuanlu sat down. “Alright, I heard you were looking for me? It’s pretty late for a college student like you, what’s up?” Xuanlu asked, leaning towards Kumo. “How do I break up with Yurei?” Kumo asked. “Oh. you’re finally thinking about it?” Xuanlu replied, surprised at the words that spilled out of Kumo’s mouth. “Yeah. . .”
“First of all, Let’s talk about how you got here.”
“I was invited out by a few friends to go drinking, I didn’t feel like it but I still went.”
“Ok, continue on.”
“When I got there, I saw Yurei’s car but I ignored it.”
“Alright, and?”
“Well, I got inside and stayed for about an hour or two before running into Yurei.”
“And I’m going to guess that’s when the drama broke out?”
“Yurei told me to go back to her, even when her ‘side chick’ was right beside her.”
“And what did you do?”
“I didn’t say anything, I ran away.”
“And you came here.”
“Yes. . .”
“Alright. It’s about time you break up with her. Yurei was such a sweet girl, now she’s caught up in all their popularity, she’s changed.”
“. . .”
“Either way, how you want to break up with Yurei is up to you. As much as I want to, I really can’t help you in this situation, sorry.”
“It’s ok. . .”
“I’ve always thought of you as a younger sister to me. Honestly, It hurts me to see you in this state, especially at the fact that you’ve been like this for her for over a year now.”
“Thank you. . .”
“Mm, let’s move away from this subject and talk about something else. . .how are you doing in college? What’s the drama?”
“College is doing fine, we’re beginning our last term.”
“I see, and how is it going so far? Are you liking your classes?”
“I mean, everything is basically the same, just my schedule looks different.”
“How nice, any new drama?”
“I mean, there was a big fight between two groups last week, I heard that some of them were even just bystanders.”
“How interesting, why did the fight happen?”
“I think it was from the sports team, two or the sports got into something and then a fight broke out over something stupid.”
“Hm! I hope you stayed out of it?”
“Yeah”
“That's good.”
After talking for a little longer, Xuanlu urged Kumo to go back as it was late, but she ended up staying till the cafe closed. “Dear me, alright Kumo, you better hurry back and get a bit of sleep before your first class!” Xuanlu shooed Kumo out of the cafe and waved goodbye. “Don’t worry, my first class isn’t till 10,” Kumo said, waving back. Kumo got into her car, now feeling a bit better, and her mind off of Yurei. She drove back to her apartment and got some rest before heading to her first class.
“Alright, you guys have had a week to finish this essay, it is now due, so please hand it in the front right now. If I don’t get it by the end of today you’ll be late.” the professor said, taking out a tray and placing it on his desk before beginning to get the class materials. One by one, Kumo followed other people putting their papers into the tray. Sitting back at her seat, Okami was staring at her. “What?” Kumo asked. “Nothing, how are you feeling?” Okami asked Kumo. There was a pause, “I’m fine.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.”
Finishing up her final class of the day, checked her phone as she left the lecture hall. It was a text. Yurei sent her a picture. She clicked open the picture, showing a picture of Yurei in revealing clothes next to her ‘new girl’. A bubble popped up at the bottom, Yurei was typing. [look Kumo, don’t I look good with —-----?] Yurei sent. Kumo didn’t reply. Instead, she clicked the call button. Despite being out in public, she still called Yurei.
“Why did you call me?”
“Let’s break up.”
There was silence throughout the building and the line. Everyone looked at Kumo. “Did I hear that right?” “I think so. . .” some people around her began to gossip.
“. . .what? . . “
“I said let's break up.”
“Wait- Kumo!”
“I’m telling you I’m breaking up with you.”
“Why?!”
“I’m done with how you're treating me. I loved you. I trusted you. For over a year and a half, you’ve been openly cheating on me and I had to deal with it.”
“Wait Kumo- hold on-”
“In the beginning you were nice and kind, now you’re just a selfish, harmful person. Just because you began to gain attention, doesn’t mean you had to go ahead and get over confident and selfish and cheat on me. I was even nice enough to let you continue living with me.”
“Kumo, calm down! Come home and let’s talk!”
“No, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be staying at Xuanlu’s place for a while. You have a month to get out of my apartment.”
“Hold on-”
Kumo hung up on Yurei. The halls of the school went silent. Everyone looking at Kumo. people with shocked faces, some even with their phones out, possibly recording the whole conversation that could be heard with Yurei yelling through the phone. “Please stop staring at me.” Kumo asked, moving her shaking hand across the screen, swiping the screen, Kumo looked for Xuanlu’s number. As she walked out of the building, she could hear people talk about the commotion that she caused. *ring, ring* Kumo put the phone against her ear and she walked outside into the rain. Tears began to run down her face, voice trembling. “Xuanlu?” Kumo asked, hearing that the call was answered. “Kumo! Are you ok? Your voice is shaking!” Xuanlu worrily asked. “Do you think I can stay with you for a bit?” Kumo asked, running through the rain trying to find shelter but also a place without many people.
“Of course you can! But, why?”
“I broke up with Yurei and I don’t want to be in the same house with her until she moves out.”
“Oh. . .I mean of course you can stay, go get what you need and come to my place. I’ll be at home since I don’t have work today.”
“Thank you, Xuanlu.”
“Yeah, no problem.”
Kumo walked to class today, so she rushed back home. From the picture and Yurei’s background noise, it seemed like she wasn’t at the apartment. Entering the apartment, Kumo took out her travel bag and packed two weeks worth of clothes in her bag. In a separate bag, Kumo packed all her notebooks, textbooks, supplies for college and pens. Just as Kumo left her room, she met Yurei. “Ku- mo. . .” Yurei said softly. “Hey-” Yurei’s voice shook. Kumo walked past Yurei and began walking to the elevator. “Kumo! Please wait! I’m sorry! Please don’t leave me!” Yurei screamed. “Hey- you’re not actually leaving me- right?” Yurei asked, her voice breaking. Kumo didn’t need to look at her to know that Yurei was beginning to cry. “I want you out of here by the end of this month.” Kumo said, ignoring Yurei, her own voice shaking. As she got past Yurei, she could hear that Yurei fell to the ground. She felt something tug on her. “Kumo. . .please- don’t go-” Yurei begged, holding onto Kumo’s jacket. “Let go.” Kumo told Yurei, yanking her sweater from the grasps of Yurei.