to the moon and back

zero

five years later...

—ICHIGO

I woke up from a strange dream. I couldn't remember what it was about, but I still felt it. I felt shivers go down my spine, and when I sat down, I realized I was crying.

"Why?" I said to myself. However, I stood up and ignored it. I mean, it was normal, wasn't it?

I got ready and made my way out.

It had been years since that day, the day right after the festival; I woke up and felt as if I had forgotten about something or maybe someone. I couldn't help it and think what it was every morning after that day.

I stopped feeling stuck.

—I graduated and applied to an art university in Korea. I moved there and visited the museum once in a while. I barely had time for myself. I always stayed in the studio trying to find inspiration for my works, but there was nothing.

Something was missing in my life. Why couldn't I find out what it was?

Every day, I felt a hole in my heart, and I only thought it filled a bit when I visited the art exhibitions. I was free that day, so I decided to go.

The museum's artworks always filled me with inspiration. I walked around the room and saw many people around, but the only thing that mattered to me was finding something that would make me feel less lost.

—SAKUTA

I wasn't able to sleep the whole night. There goes another night of thinking about that day, the day that time stopped, and I started feeling empty.

I had been all these years looking for something, or maybe someone. I couldn't understand what was going on in my life, somedays I would even wake up crying or have a weird dream about someone. That day I stood in front of fireworks but felt like I was meant to see them with someone was when this feeling started.
One month after that day, I was able to graduate. My sister moved with me to Korea, and I wasn't planning to study though I worked at a fancy restaurant. I felt some connection with art, so I would sometimes go to different exhibitions when I had free time. I liked writing and reading, but I didn't have inspiration. My friends would tell me to date girls and find someone who would inspire me and make me feel happy, But I was too scared to date.

Today I felt like going to a museum. I was bored and needed to distract myself.

"Nyx, I'm on my way to the museum; see you later."

"Alright, Sakuta, have a good time."

I walked out the door and walked to the museum. I first stopped to get ice cream. I have always loved to walk around the city. Not to mention, all the places I liked to go to daily were close to my building.

The art university was close too, so I would see pretty girls walking in and out of every morning. It was perfect.

***

I entered the museum and began walking around. The works looked gorgeous this day. The more I walked around, the more I liked it.

And then I saw a girl. I couldn't see her clearly, but she seemed very pretty from behind. I was brave enough to walk up to her. She had been standing in front of the same work for about two minutes.

—ICHIGO

Suddenly, some guy stood beside me as I stared at the art. I didn't turn around since I didn't feel like it was meant for me to notice him. "Beautiful, isn't it?" The guy commented. We were looking at the same sculpture, it wasn't clear, but it was beautiful.

Was he talking to me?

"Eh? Uh yes, yes, it's very—" I didn't know what to say; I was frightened. I didn't even turn around to look at him.

He moved closer and glanced at me, a little confused. "You're shy, aren't you?"
"I'm sorry," I turned around, my eyes widened, and my heart skipped a beat. His eyes gleamed after he looked at me.

The guy's eyes were bright grey. His hair was platinum blonde; he was tall, his structure was... beautiful.

He looked familiar. But from where?

"Well, I have to go, have a good time," I said. I couldn't understand what was happening. I made my way out. I ran down the stairs and then to the front door.

I felt someone following me.

"Excuse me," the boy shouted, catching my attention. I didn't turn, but I stopped walking. "Do I know you from somewhere?" He asked. Tears started covering my sigh.

I turned around to look at him before saying anything. I could remember him.
"Five years ago..." He whispered. Time stopped. I couldn't understand what was happening.

"Sakuta..?" He gasped, tears flooding his eyes. "Is that your name?"

"Ichigo, your name is... Ichigo."

And so did I realize it was him. The person I had been looking for, for the last five years. The only one I ever loved, I loved him to the moon and back and I always knew...

That this feeling would never change.