TGJ 2: My Grumpy Jerk (On Hiatus)

Chapter 2

Before completely leaving the mall, we wander to get kimonos for the festival. Chocho seems very excited about it. I just figured out that she wants it to be memorable since after that our lives will probably change.

She picks and points to the kimono we bump into. She really enjoys looking for the perfect matches.

"Don't you think you're so pushed about choosing kimonos?" I tell her but she seems to just reject my comment. I hear her murmur while she looks at the kimono.

"Don't worry I'm totally fine," she assures me.

"Are you sure? You look so worked out already," I remark but she shrugs.

"I want to make sure that we will be the most beautiful girls at the festival," she winks at me.

"We don't need to be one anyway," I think I'm defeated.

"Just relax there okay? Leave this stuff to me," she says and resumes checking on the kimonos hanging on the wall. I just shrug at her statement.

After a while, she is stunned by the kimono in a distance.

"Sarada, I bet that one looks good on you," she states and dashes toward the dress.

"Chocho wait up! You don't have to push yourself to get me a fancy kimono. I think I have enough money for just a simple one," I complain but she ignores me most of the time. I think I'm hopeless.

"It's so beautiful," her eyes glitter as she cups her cheeks.

"You're impossible," I mumble hopelessly.

"Look at the price tag. It's not that expensive. Let's buy this," she declares. I give her a "what?" face.

"Let's get something simple," I insist.

"Come on, your mom will surely like it," she keeps blabbering about it.

"Fine," I say in defeat. I know she won't stop until I say yes.

"Yeah!" she celebrates like a small child getting candies from a store. So, we bought the two kimonos and decided to go home already.

"The festival will start at 5 p.m. See you at our meeting place tomorrow," she tells me then waves goodbye. I wave back and watch her back fade away from my eyes.

I sigh before entering the house and mom's not home yet. I head straight to my room and hang the kimono in the closet. I lay on the bed thinking about the entrance exam and the University I should choose again.

Countless sighs came from my mouth. This thing is stressing me out since after our graduation. I don't think mom will let me study at a university far from home.

My eyes tire and they are slowly shutting down and then everything goes black. I don't know what happened next as I had already fallen asleep.

"Sarada, faster. The festival is about to start!" Chocho shouts at me while I struggle to walk with my kimono and geta (footwear).

"How can I even hurry with this kind of outfit?" I say while gasping. She frowns at me and grabs my hand.

"Let's go!" she yells and puts her hand in the air. She drags me like I am wearing our casual school uniform.

"Wait up! I may trip, you know?" I tell her while doing the balancing work on my shoes.

"Chocho..." I murmur. She keeps dragging me and walking past everyone else in the streets.

We stop at an upright place where countless steps should be made to appear right in front of our eyes. I lift to see what's above. Lights hanging at the shrine gates.