Our Little Cherry Blossoms

three. uncertainty

ＳＥＰＴＥＭＢＥＲ (( ＬＡＲＫ ))

A month has passed since our 'book' project started, and my partner has yet to actually complete the book we chose. My eyes drifted away from our task sheet to sneak a brisk glance at the boy whose attention was consumed by his computer. His tanned fingers gently combed through his taupe hair, dark eyes seeming to coruscate without the help of the glistering lamplight embedded in the ceiling. I could feel a significant thump from within my chest and deftly returned my gaze to the paper. Even then, I wasn't able to concentrate properly, for his imposing facial features were glued to the sides of my head like a sucker fish while feeding. I yearned for it to leave, to disappear from my mind like a banal tune I've overplayed just one too many times, but it stayed. Rubbing beneath my eyes, I began to stare intently at the sheet as if that would help me retain focus. All of a sudden, there was a harsh clatter from my side and I peered at the boy through narrowed eyes. How annoying. He shifted closer to me and adjusted his laptop screen for my eyes to study properly. What a peculiar boy, what will be show me?

"Lark, look at this! We could do something like that for our presentation"

The enthusiasm was evident in his voice as he tapped the spacebar to play a video he had pulled up. We didn't have time for this nonsense, but I said nothing. Even so, I could imagine the vexation in my gaze to be quite obvious. A placid animation appeared, its images portraying an almost serene atmosphere. The stolid yet soothing song also went well with the video. It was a rather mournful display, a sense of loss silently entered my thoughts as it came to an end. The boy looked towards me with exuberantly eager irises, probably anticipating my delight of this video. He asked me how it was with a wide smile. I replied with a mere nod and said that I would try and attempt an animation for the song. The boy's expression brightened considerably, his cheeks lit with a virtually feverish excitement.

"That's so cool! We're gonna ace this."

The both of us exchanged suggestions every once in a while until class ended and first period was over. I folded the sheet neatly and slid the paper into my folder, clipping my backpack shut. Heading for the door, I stepped in front of the light-wooded entrance and held it back soundlessly for the rest of my classmates to pass. Several uttered simple words of gratitude while others rushed by without so much of a thankful glance as they chased after their friends. The boy took his own, sweet time packing up, his shoes scattered with one on a desk and the other in a corner; as always. I'm not so certain myself why I did this, but I waited. My eyes were inevitably drawn to the flora from outside the class window, our english teacher paying absolutely no mind to the winsome cherry trees that swayed along with the benign summer wind. Glancing back at the boy, I was surprised to find myself making eye contact with his glistening, groundless gaze as he stood up. His tan cheeks were flushed an amaranth pink so faint that I thought I was mistaken.

"Are you waiting for me?"

He asked softly, his face frozen in an amid expression. Without thinking, I gave a mild nod and he presented me with a beatific smile that seemed to illuminate the entirety of that glum, english classroom.