This Side of Paradise (Megumi Fushiguro x Y/N)

4

Y/N POV

Thursday

I didn't realize how unaware and observant I am of my surroundings. Now that I've been seeing Megumi after school— granted, it's only been a few days— I've been seeing him around the school more often. Like he suddenly blipped on my radar. He's obviously in my advanced history class, but he's also in biology and lunch. I see him when I walk to art class and other random times in the hallway during passing periods.

I instinctively wave when I see him. At first, he would look away quickly, as if I caught him looking but now he nods my way. Once I waved to him when Brett was with me and he didn't like that. He said something under his breath and guided me away and down the hall. I'm not sure why I do it. We're not strangers anymore, but we're not friends either. Acquaintances? I guess? But I don't know if that warrants a wave. It's stupid, honestly; worried about whether or not I should wave at someone... sometimes I hate high school social expectations.

Despite Megumi keeping to himself, I feel my eyes drawn to him. There's just something about him that makes me curious. He's a mystery— has always been a mystery but now that I'm seeing him around more, I can't look away.

I say bye to Brett and head to the library. After dinner last night, I feel I had a breakthrough. It took some time but I walked into the library feeling more confident than ever before about history. When I walk through the main doors, boxes of textbooks are stacked on all of the main tables, including the one we usually occupy.

"Sorry dear," Mrs. Logston says. "A shelf broke in our storage room so the books are out here until we fix it."

"No worries," I smile. "Have you seen a guy come in yet? Uh... black hair, pretty tall." Really blue eyes.

"Megumi's actually been helping me move the books. I turned him loose and he's somewhere by the back section," Mrs. Logston says happily.

"That's nice, thank you." I say as I walk toward the back. I've been back here when I've had to tutor other kids or do my assignments. At the end of each long row of books, a small table faces the window wall, allowing nice natural light to stream in. I walk past the nonfiction and fiction sections and finally find him in the poetry section. His back is to me, writing away.

"Hey," I say as I walk over and place my backpack on the table. His shoulders tense and Megumi quickly shuts the notebook. He turns to me with narrowed eyes.

"What?" I question as I sit down.

"You're late."

"By like three minutes and only because I couldn't find you at first."

He sighs and puts the notebook away.

"Are you okay?" I ask.

"I'm fine."

"You look irritated," I start. "Do you have to be somewhere or something?"

"No," he replies, very snippily.

"...is this because I saw you at the steakhouse last night?"

"No."

"I feel like it is. Is it because I waves at you? Were you embarrassed?"

"Can you stop asking so many questions?" He responds.

"I'm just curious," I say, resting my head on my hand.

"Well stop being curious."

"What if I tell you something about me? A secret I will take to my grave."

"Did you murder someone or something?" He responds dryly.

"What? No," I roll my eyes playfully. "But if I tell you, I might have to kill you."