Dear Diary - Love, Sakura (Published Book Out Now)

CHAPTER ONE (SAMPLE ONLY)

It was nearly sunset and the sky was ablaze with a stunning blend of orange and light magenta hues. As I strolled through the corridors of the school, I couldn't help but be captivated by the breathtaking view outside the windows.

The stillness of the place made it feel like a second home, unlike the noisy bustle of the early morning. As my habit, I counted my footsteps as I walked. "Ichi...ni...san..."

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when I arrived at the library. Upon peering inside, I realized that the lights were off, indicating that Miss Saito, the librarian, had left earlier than usual. Stepping inside, I flipped on the lights and sighed contentedly. "I love this place. It's so peaceful."

I wandered through the towering shelves, scanning the titles and trying to decide which book to read. Suddenly, it dawned on me: did they have any manga here? I'd always read during this time of day, but I'd never checked to see if there were any manga collections hiding on the shelves. And then I saw it. "Ah! Hana Yori Dango." My fingers brushed against the spine of the well-worn manga, eliciting a blissful sensation. Though I wasn't particularly fond of romances, I decided to give the manga a try to pass the time, even though I'd already seen the movie adaptation countless times thanks to my little sister's constant viewings. I addressed the manga as if it was a living thing. "Alright, Hana Yori Dango, let's give you a read."

I hurried over to the long tables and chairs situated in the center of the library. But as I was about to sit down, I noticed a pink diary left on the table. I set the manga aside, my curiosity piqued.

"A diary?" I gazed at the diary for a moment, then shook my head. "No, no, no. It's wrong to read someone's diary. It's private." I even smacked my forehead a couple of times in an attempt to rid myself of the temptation. But the urge was too strong, and I couldn't resist. Cradling the diary gently in my hands, I slowly flipped to the first page.

The handwriting was immaculate, so pristine that it almost looked like it had been printed by a computer. "Wow, this is so pretty!"

Dear Diary,

Today is the anniversary of my unrequited love.

As the little birds sang their melodies and the breeze danced around us, I first laid eyes on you.

Do you remember what I said to you? 'I want to teach you the meaning of unrequited love.' But in the end, it was I who learned its true meaning. Isn't it unfair? The world is cruel and unjust; we both know that.

For safety's sake, I won't write your name. Instead, I'll give you a pseudonym. Let's see... how about Sora, which means 'sky' in Japanese, or perhaps Azora, which means 'sky blue'? Yes, Sora Azora, that's it.

I always knew you would love her instead of me. Your usually pensive gaze would light up when you saw her, becoming warm and affectionate.

Sora Azora, you kept that blue shirt, the same color as the sky. Is it your favorite color?

As I read, I couldn't help but chuckle... "So clever and adorable."

I flipped through the pages, eager to see what else was written.

You're always so focused on practicing with the boys' soccer team that you don't even notice the girl who watches your games. The only girl who cheers for you from the sidelines.

People say you're not particularly handsome because your face is plain, but to me, you look like one of my illustrations done in a sketch style. Drawing is my hobby, and sometimes I use watercolors to paint on blank canvases, scraps of paper, or any old notebook I can find.

No matter what I do, I can't stop thinking about you. It's evident in my drawings because they're all of you. A sketch of you with a blank stare, or sometimes a drawing of you playing soccer.

But the whole time, you keep your gaze fixed on her, even though she never bothers to notice you. She never takes the time to explore your quiet world, to see how you enjoy watching the birds sing or smile when the wind blows through the petals of the cherry blossoms. They float through the air, as if the world has come to a standstill. You see her, but not me. I wish you would say 'Happy Birthday' to me!"

Love sincerely,

Sakura H. Bloom

As I finished reading, I felt a twinge of sadness for Sakura, but at the same time, I was relieved that I had never experienced unrequited love myself. I had never fallen in love, not even once, and I hoped it would stay that way. I didn't want to end up with a heart full of emptiness like my parents did when they fell out of love. I had kept my heart guarded all these years, and I intended to keep it that way.

Sakura... I didn't recognize that name from our class. Was she in a different grade or even a different building? Our school was massive, with three buildings the size of a mall. There were so many students, it was impossible to know everyone.

I pondered what to do with the diary. How could I ever return it to Sakura? Then I had an idea."What if I leave it here? Maybe I'll be able to see her tomorrow."

So that's what I did. I left the diary lying on the table, its watercolored pages closed as if untouched. All I could think about was what Sakura looked like. I wanted to know her, to see her... Sakura H. Bloom.

I returned the manga I had borrowed and swiftly zipped my backpack closed. After taking a deep breath, I slung my backpack over my shoulders and hurried over to switch off the lights and shut the door.

The hallway was empty as I made my way towards the school entrance, but her name echoed in my mind. As the tired school guard bid me farewell, I returned the gesture and waved my hand.

Lost in thought, I spoke her name as if she were right beside me: "Sakura, will you ever know my name?"