LOVE 9 LIVES
PROLOGUES

Those eyes. I've never seen Kisa's eyes that angry. Flaming red. Usually I find peace in those eyes, but not now. Those eyes also made me realize. Eyes and a hard slap that landed on my cheek.

THE PLAQUE!

The slap that made me shake. I should have been in pain, but I felt no pain at all. The pain in my chest hurts more than the pain in my cheek. I knew that Kisa's heart also hurt when she slapped me. Pain to see my condition. I've never seen his anger that big. I have known him as a patient man. Very patient though.

"When do you want to be like this?"

Kisa's loud voice made half my consciousness return. Quickly, Kisa's hand grabbed a bottle in my hand and slammed it. The bottle was thrown away from my place and I don't know why my body moved to take the bottle. I struggled to move even I crawled to get the bottle. All my body ached as if I didn't care and I kept going to the bottle. However, all my efforts were in vain because Kisa kicked the bottle back further and further. I can only reach for my hand that will not be able to grab it again.

"Please.I need that bottle."

"For what?"

"You don't have to interfere in my business. Give me the bottle." I don't know where that power came from. The power to yell at Kisa. The impact that never came out of my mouth. Especially for Kisa, a man who has been my friend since childhood. The man who always accompanies me when I'm sad. Even when no one wants to be with me. Kisa is always there.

"OKAY. If it wants elo."

Kisa's steps seemed to vibrate towards the bottle she was kicking. The insect medicine bottle was thrown ten meters away as Kisa kicked it hard. If not exposed to the wall in the park, of course the insect bottle will be thrown even further. I know Kisa's kick is very strong. Moreover, he is a person who likes to play football. Kisa picked up the bottle and walked towards me quickly. The anger was still clearly visible on his face. Kisa froze the seranga bottle she had in her hand and gave it to my hand. Kisa held the insect medicine bottle in my hand. Hand vibrates.

"Let's take this medicine, Cathy. Come on."

Kisa's hand shook. I felt a cold in his hand. I don't know why his hands can be that cold, when I feel the air is very hot. And indeed I saw that almost his entire face was covered in sweat. Also hand. Sweat as big as corn pours.

"Let's drink. Wait especially? At least I don't have to bother anymore."

For some reason when I heard Kisa's words, my whole body froze. I can't move. The insect bottle in my hand also fell. Tears were no longer coming out of my eyes. I fell and fell. It was fortunate that Kisa was quick to hold me so that my body did not get hit by the ground. Slowly, Kisa sat on the grassy ground. The green grass in the garden was usually able to eliminate all the sadness in my heart, but somehow this time it hurt. I sat with him too. Kisa looked at me sharply. The anger that had been clearly visible in his eyes, now turned into a loving gaze.

"When are you like this, Cathy?"

The man was crying. Kisa crying. Shaken shoulders. For 22 years of my life knowing Kisa, only this time I saw Kisa crying. Is he crying to see how I am?

My hand was trying to wipe the tears that came out of Kisa's sharp eyes. I can't see her tears. My chest is getting claustrophobic with all these circumstances. Unaware I lay my head on Kisa's shoulder. Kisa was silent.

"When are you like this, Cathy?"

I don't know how many times that question came out of Kisa's mouth. The real question she didn't need to ask was because Kisa already knew what answer I was going to give.

"Up to nine times I express my love."

Ja. Nine times. Nine times is the amount I decided to express my feelings to Sega. And this is the eighth time my love has been rejected by Sega. I never knew why Sega was able to do that much rejection. And I also never knew how big I was until I could express my feelings to Sega that much. In my heart there is only Sega. A man with a loving look. Everything he does makes me happy.

"But, it doesn't have to be like this, is it how you handle Sega's rejection?"

I went back to silence. I held my head up so I could see Kisa's face. It looks so bad in that face. And I know that what I'm doing is wrong. Trying to take insect medicine after the eighth time Sega refused my love. Blank. My feelings were empty when Sega rejected my love. And I never know what I'll do next. All I remember, Kisa was already in front of me just like this. The difference is, I always do different things to kill myself. When Sega refused my love for the first time, the first thing I remembered was Kisa's smile carrying me from the roof of the building.

Am I going to kill myself after being rejected by Sega? I don't know at all and maybe I won't want to know. All I know is that Kisa won't let me do that. Kisa is my best friend and always takes care of me no matter what.

"Life goes on. We can't stop let alone retreat backwards. When we stop, someone else will hit us. And when we retreat backwards, of course we will hit people and will make others hit us. The way forward is the only option in life."

I don't remember how many times Kisa told me that. Indeed, I knew I had to come forward in this life. But I didn't know how to go forward when my love for Sega was rejected outright. Life stopped when Sega rejected me. Like when the pause button is pressed just for me. And I can only walk back when there's Kisa.

"There's still another chance to get Sega's love. You have to believe that you can get her love."

I got back up after hearing what Sega said. At least, I still have two more chances to express my feelings to Sega. And Kisa promised to help me express my feelings.

"Remember, Cathy. Your love for Sega is the love of nine lives."

♥♥♥