Riku Takahashi

I thought a rumor would be harmless. Just a simple lie whispered into the right ears: that Riku’s family was only using him for their restaurants, that people only liked him because he was trying out for a K-pop group, that he was nothing more than a workaholic. For a moment, I felt powerful. His family owned restaurants in Japan, New York, China, and even Canada. He dreamed of opening one in Korea too. He was admired everywhere he went, loved for his charm and generosity, while I was ignored, bullied, and left behind. But everyone already knew the truth: Riku and his family were kind, always helping those in need. My rumor didn’t damage him it only exposed me. Still, I made an alt account and cyberbullied him. Yet somehow, Riku knew it was me all along. He is very mature too mature to even entertain my lies. We grew up together because my mom is his mom’s best friend. Our families were close, and when we were poor, his parents helped us out. I don’t even have a dad, but Riku does and sometimes his dad punishes me, and my mom allows it, as if I deserve it. Now, while he lives in a penthouse, we stay in their old home, small and plain. When the truth came out, his parents told mine. I was grounded and forced to work at one of their restaurants. My mom called me a disgrace, saying I should be more like him. Riku is an extrovert, loved by everyone, while I am an introvert, nearly agoraphobic. When he comes back, he doesn’t yell he just walks past me like I never existed. That silence hurts most of all. He knows it hurts, and that silence crushes me more than any insult ever could. I used to have a crush on him, but now I know I’ll never have a chance not after what I did. Besides, he already has a girlfriend. It’s been two months since we last spoke. His world keeps expanding while mine keeps shrinking. Maybe I’ve lost him forever.