Maybe This Time: Sakusa K.

Chapter 10: A Long-Awaited Conversation

The photo is from Pinterest. Credits to the owner.

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The school near the house had an open ground, a baseball diamond, to be exact. On one side was a small hill where you could sit to see the sunset. Thankfully, they didn't build tall buildings that would block the beautiful scenery in that area.

We also attracted too much attention as we both wore formal attire. But we couldn't care less.

Kiyoomi took out his handkerchief and laid it on the bench before sitting.

We sat in our usual spot and just enjoyed looking at the vast surroundings around us; there were kids playing football, kids playing tag, and others.

"Have you been coming here this past year?" I asked.

"Just once. When Oto-san got out of his surgery, we all gathered here for two days." I looked at him, a little shocked at what I heard.

"I- what happened to your father?"

"He had a vagotomy-antrectomy. He didn't want to do it at first, saying that it's too expensive, but I think he forgot that all his kids are working already." He averted his eyes to me, smiling slightly. I nodded.

"When was that?"

"Three years ago." I stopped. I looked at my hands that are wrapped around my knees to support, fidgeting.

Was that the time we all lost contact? When I nearly dropped out of college because I wanted to go back here. I don't even want to remember that year. It was too hard.

But I thought not having communication is better. They'd be calling me and I could see tiredness in their faces. Trying their best to tell me a story or to listen to my complaints. I didn't pay attention back then. Maybe because I was too greedy and selfish to get them to listen to me ramble for four hours.

Gosh I felt so terrible.

"Stop what you're thinking." He muttered. I stopped fidgeting my fingers, noticing the faint red mark on my left thumb. I didn't notice my right thumb's nails were repeatedly scarring my other thumb.

"Whatever negativity from the past you had in mind, stop it, they do not matter now." When I looked at him, his gaze was calm, not a hint of pity or annoyance. "Whatever happened here, wasn't your fault. Besides, I'm pretty sure you had multiple urges to come back home. It must've been lonely in the US." He avoided my glance and focused back on the sun that is about to set in any minute now.

"It was sad. I didn't have any friends. I didn't experience racism around the school, but I would whenever I went somewhere and tried to get to know the country. They were so mean, Kiyoomi. But then I met Christina. She's Filipino and has been living in the US for half of her life. She helped me love the country at least a little bit. She taught me how to enjoy college even when I'm far away from my country." Memories suddenly came rushing in. How Christina has been part of how I was able to last in college.

"I'm glad you had Christina." I nodded my head. I am really glad.

"Hmm tell me about yourself." I asked, trying to fix my posture and slightly facing him. We've been together everyday, but we've never talked about ourselves. I even got to talk about life with Motoya first.

"About me? What is it about me that you don't know? I show you everything, besides nothing changed much about me. I am still that Kiyoomi you met from middle school."

"I know." I chuckled. "Just a little bit tolerable now." I could see how he raised his left brow before looking at me, starring 'Are you serious?'