The Truth Comes Out

“Hey, don’t cry. Let’s keep moving. I’ll tell you on the way.”

I sighed as I looked at Xiao Xi, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Really? You’re not lying to me, Senior?” Xiao Xi sniffled and looked at me with a hint of grievance.

“Really.”

Since she’d found out, I might as well tell her. It wasn’t a big deal anyway. A girl wouldn’t normally want to go to a guy’s house, right? She was probably just hung up on the fact that I was the only one who knew where she lived, while I had kept my own address a secret.

“Good. Because if you dared lie to me, I’d be angry. I hate being lied to.” Xiao Xi let go of my shirt and stood next to me, her eyes unusually serious.

“…Yeah, I get it.”

I was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

This was the first time I’d seen Xiao Xi like this. It was kind of scary. (Was she really that sensitive about lying?)

“Alright, alright. As long as you don’t lie to me, let’s hurry up and go.” After staring at me for a few seconds, Xiao Xi suddenly flashed a cute smile, as if her previous intensity had never existed.

But for some reason, I felt a sudden pang of unease. It vanished in an instant, though, and I figured it was just because I’d never seen Xiao Xi so serious before. I didn’t think much of it.

After that, Xiao Xi and I walked toward school. Maybe it was the fresh morning air, or maybe it was because I didn’t have to guard against Xiao Xi anymore, but I felt unusually relaxed. The weight that had been hanging over me finally lifted. No more walking on eggshells.

“What a nice day today.” I took a deep breath and stretched.

“Is it? Feels the same as usual to me. And shouldn’t you be telling me now, Senior?” Xiao Xi interrupted me, ruining the mood.

“What’s the rush?” I glanced at her.

(What a pain. Can’t you just forget about it?)

“So, you don’t want to tell me?” Hearing my words, Xiao Xi turned her head and smiled sweetly at me. She reached out a slender finger and gently poked my waist, drawing slow circles that made me shiver.

“H-How could I? I’m about to say it, so can you please stop moving your hand, Junior Xiao Xi?” I quickly scooted away to avoid her finger. The ticklish sensation on my waist gave me the creeps.

“Then hurry up and say it.” Xiao Xi rolled her eyes and withdrew her hand.

Sigh. Looks like I have no choice.

“…I live right above your apartment.” I hesitated, then gritted my teeth and said it.

“Huh… hehe… hehe…”

Xiao Xi was visibly stunned for a moment, then lowered her head and let out a creepy laugh.

(Hey, hey, hey. What happened to your cute and soft image?)

I stared at her in fear, at a loss for words.

“So you never really saw me as a friend, did you, Senior? You live right upstairs, yet you said ‘next time you’re welcome to visit.’ That was all a lie, wasn’t it? It must have been a lie…”

Xiao Xi suddenly lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes locked onto me. It startled me.

Her reaction was way too intense. I thought telling the truth would be fine, maybe she’d just get a little mad. But at this rate, if I admitted I never actually planned to invite her over, I’d be dead for sure.

“X-Xiao Xi, how could I lie to you? I just…”

No, I had to come up with a good excuse to brush it off. But I was so nervous my mind went blank. I couldn’t think of anything.

“…Can’t say it? So you really were lying. Come to think of it, you were only nice to me before because you were deceiving me, weren’t you?”

As she spoke, tears threatened to spill from her puffy eyes.

(Why are you so fond of crying today?)

I fumbled for some tissues and handed them to her, but Xiao Xi just stared at me with red-rimmed eyes, ignoring the tissues in my hand.