“What are you doing at an art gallery?”
Haru keeps his eyes on the keys as he keeps playing. “I’m also interested in art. I saw you with your friends earlier, but I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“They’re Christian’s friends,” I tell him. “I just met them today.”
“They don’t seem very friendly.”
“You don’t even know them.”
He looks at me for the first time. “So, I’m wrong then?”
I don’t answer this.
“Nice flower, by the way.”
I glance at the rose on my shirt. “Christian gave it to me earlier.”
“He must really like you.” Haru turns back to the piano, continuing his song.
I listen to him play for a moment. “He’s been really nice to me. It’s just his friends I’m not the biggest fan of. But they’re not the worst people in the world.”
“Is that why you’re sitting here with me?”
I don’t say anything.
“You know you don’t have to stay.”
“What do you mean?”
Haru pauses the song and says, “We could leave right now. The two of us. I bet we could still catch that movie in the park.”
“I can’t just leave,” I tell him. “Christian will think I ditched him.”
“You had no problem doing that to me.”
We look at each other.
“Is that what this is about? Why you’ve been gone these past few days?” Someone passes behind me, making me lower my voice. “We could have watched that movie yesterday. You knew I was waiting for you. But you’re choosingright now? When I’m with someone?”
“So I’m an inconvenience.”
“That’s not what I said.”
Then my phone vibrates. It’s a text from Christian.
Where did you go?
I let out a breath. “Christian’s looking for me.”
“Then you should go find him,” Haru says, turning back to the piano.
I don’t get up immediately because I hate to leave things this way. And maybe a part of me wants to go with Haru. I imagine us leaving through the back door, running down thestairwell together. But I couldn’t possibly do that to Christian.
“I can’t blame you, though,” Haru says, somewhat out of the blue. “He can give you a real rose while I can only give you a paper one.”
“Haru…” I start to say something. But my phone goes off again. It’s another text from Christian, asking if I’m alright. “I have to go. But hopefully I’ll see you again soon.”
“Enjoy your evening,” he says.
