[too late for that, he would've told her, but she's already on her way out.
he's no good with girls. he wasn't romantic, not in the slightest, and he had neither the time nor interest in pointless sentimentality. stories, poems, works of fiction -- none of them meant anything at all. all worthless schlock. they were just excuses for escapism. they were just another form of running away. he would know. he's done it all his life.
monika could be dangerous and dangerously unpredictable, but the sudden outburst still catches him by surprise. he wasn't offended, far from it, nor did he blame himself for it, but it felt like having hot coffee splashed in his face all over again. she was upset, albeit for a very different reason, and it's aggravating. it's aggravating when he said stop running and then she went and did it anyway. so while she tries to run, she doesn't get far. he's not good with girls, but he knows this much: you can't just let her go like that.]
Monika!
[she's real. he calls out her real name. nearly leaps to his feet. and he catches her by the wrist, leans on his heels. grounds them there.
stop it,
stop it,
stop it,
and shouts with all his might, just as much at monika as himself:]
no subject
he's no good with girls. he wasn't romantic, not in the slightest, and he had neither the time nor interest in pointless sentimentality. stories, poems, works of fiction -- none of them meant anything at all. all worthless schlock. they were just excuses for escapism. they were just another form of running away. he would know. he's done it all his life.
monika could be dangerous and dangerously unpredictable, but the sudden outburst still catches him by surprise. he wasn't offended, far from it, nor did he blame himself for it, but it felt like having hot coffee splashed in his face all over again. she was upset, albeit for a very different reason, and it's aggravating. it's aggravating when he said stop running and then she went and did it anyway. so while she tries to run, she doesn't get far. he's not good with girls, but he knows this much: you can't just let her go like that.]
Monika!
[she's real. he calls out her real name. nearly leaps to his feet. and he catches her by the wrist, leans on his heels. grounds them there.
stop it,
stop it,
stop it,
and shouts with all his might, just as much at monika as himself:]
I said
[stop it—]
stop running!