113 Bitter Swee (2/2)

”But we're not dating,” I responded.

”Huh?”

The waitress's eyes widened as she looked over at us. Her eyes first went to me, and then to Luna who was resting her head on my shoulder and holding onto my hand. I guess to others, we must appear to be a couple. However, I know that we'll never be able to achieve that status. This gesture that we shared isn't one of love. Rather, it's one of companionship. It isn't an affectionate intimacy. Rather, it's so that we don't get lonely. Our relationship will never progress to lovers. It will never.

”S-sorry,” she bowed her head and apologized. ”But since I've brought it out already, would you like to keep the cake?”

”Sure,” I nodded.

Then, the waitress left our table with a confused look on her face. She approached one of her coworkers and spoke with her. Turns out, they must be talking about us for the group of girls glanced over at us with looks of surprise on their faces.

”You're pretty mean,” Luna softly whispered as she got up and readied herself to eat.

”How so?”

”You made her apologize and feel terrible about herself for this,” Luna said with a smile. ”You couldn't just played along.”

I frowned. ”I don't want to reinforce that idea...” I muttered. ”We're not lovers and we'll never be able to become lovers...”

”Yeah,” Luna nodded. ”That coming from a guy that wouldn't even satisfy a dying girl's wish.”

She must be referring to last night. I'm also disappointed in myself for my unwillingness to proceed. However, I know that if I were to continue last night, I would feel extremely disappointed in myself for taking advantage of her. If it weren't for her disease, she wouldn't have done that last night. Therefore, I don't want to engage in such intimacy with her knowing that it only happened because she doesn't have much time to live. Besides, if we really were to proceed to that stage... then how am I supposed to let her go when it comes time for her to die?

”Why don't you eat what you like?” I asked her as we finished up with our meal. ”You don't need to worry about your body figure.”

”Now I don't like to hear that,” she sighed and shook her head. ”Even though I'm about to die, I would still like to be lowered into my coffin in as beautiful of a state as possible.”

”That sounds odd,” I looked down at the empty plate before me. ”If you're dead, what does it matter?”

”Don't you know that spirits take the form of the physical body at the moment of death?” Luna smiled as she looked over at me. ”Would you like me to be fat when I come to haunt you?”

”Well...”

”You don't have to pretend and say you don't care,” Luna pressed her finger against my lips. ”I know all guys like pretty girls.”

”I guess you're right...”

She smiled as she gently retracted her arm. Then, in a surprising gesture, she pressed the same finger she had pressed against my lips onto her lips, forming an indirect kiss. I blushed as I realized what she had done, but on her face was simply an amused expression as she laughed, mocking how flustered I got.

I listened in to her laugh, although somewhat mad that she's making fun of me, I still enjoyed watching her like this. Her liveliness seemed to wash off against me, making my mood even better. Her vigor and vitality just seemed to have that effect on people, even the most gloomy and moody me. Therefore, it's still hard for me to believe that someone like her... a girl as beautiful and filled with life as her, have only around half a year to live. It's... it's just not fair, and no matter how hard I try to accept it, deep down within me, I still deny this fact.

Luna will eventually die in the near future. Our time together is extremely limited. She might not even make it to the end of the school year... I enjoy spending time with her as I love how sweet our experiences together are. However, knowing that those experiences will become mere memories, that seemed to have added a strong, bitter taste to the memories, just like the red wine that I drank with Luna last night.

Our short time together, it will forever be bitter sweet.