Mistaken Identity- Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I groaned. My back still felt stiff. I opened my eyes and I saw the room was pitch black. It was night time and my stomach was growling. I sighed and looked on my left. I saw Nino sleeping beside me. I smiled and I had an urge to touch his hair. It was a bit messy and an idol can’t have messy hair, right?

I decided to fix it up for him, as a favor. I slowly raised up my hand and fixed his waxy hair. He moved his head. I sighed and tried to fix it up for him again. He raised his head up and saw me. Oops! I woke him up.

“Gomen ne. I was fixing your hair.” He smiled at me. I gave him a weak smile. Then my stomach started to growl. He giggled and bent down to pick up something. It was a white box. He placed it on the table that was in front of me. He opened it and it was a birthday cake. I had totally forgotten that my birthday was this week. That was my main purpose for coming here, to celebrate my birthday with Naoko.

I widened my eyes. I straighten my back and I saw that the cake said. “Happy birthday Naoko and Kazu.” I looked up at Nino. He smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek.

“Happy birthday Naoko-chan.” He whispered to me. This was suppose to be a special moment for Nino and Naoko. Instead, he couldn’t even spend his birthday with Naoko this year.. He spent it with me.

Tears came out from my eyes. I looked away and covered myself with my covers. Nino started to shake me. “Naoko-chan, what’s wrong?” I had to stop spending time with him because I was about to rip myself soon.

“GO AWAY! I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU ANYMORE!” I shouted. I started sniffling, I didn’t want to say it but it was the only thing I could do.

He mumbled something and left the room. I took off the covers from my head and looked around the room. He had actually left. I looked at the cake that was in front of me.

I bit my lip, he really cared for me. Then I saw a card beside the cake.

Dearest Naoko,

I'm so happy to celebrate my birthday with you. We can always celebrate our birthdays together.

Naoko, when I met you at the department store, we each bought a birthday cake for ourselves. You laughed because we both ate a birthday cake alone. It made me really happy.

When I introduced myself as Ninomiya Kazunari, you didn’t even care that I was famous. I remembered what you said. “What you’re an idol? Ha. Then that means I’m a princess.” You didn’t even believe me. Then I brought you to the Johnny’s building. Instead of waiting for me, I had to wait for you until you were done talking to the employees.

You got along with anyone and no matter how mean they were to you. You helped them open themselves to you. I’m really proud of myself that I can tell people that you’re my girlfriend.

Happy birthday, Naoko.

Love, Ninomiya Kazunari

I wiped my tears away with my arm. The card was meant for someone who didn’t exist anymore. I placed the card back on the table and took a bite of the cake.

“Happy birthday, Hikari.” I said to myself and ate alone in the dark hospital room.