Strawberry Kiss

three

chapter three:
sweet like cinnamon

Yesterday, Papa came home with news that he had a job already. He will start today, but it was a surprise when he came home in the afternoon, exactly 12 o'clock noon. I was reading an another book, as I have long abandoned the book I was reading yesterday. I got tired.

"Papa? What on mother loving earth are you doing here? You're supposed to be at work?" I ask him in sequent. I am curious and rather worried that its something bad. But instead, he smile at me and raise a plastic.

"I brought us food for lunch, since you'll be applying for school today at 2pm!" I gaped my mouth at him. How? Oh my god.

"What?"

"I just didn't spent my whole morning looking for a job, I was looking into some schools, and found a good one—really near here. But they want to see you and test if you need some help with your japanese and etc." He explains. I look at him, bewildered.

"Papa? In the middle of October?"

"Yes, its in the middle of second semester, but its okay. You can catch up. You'll be under modules for the first quarter, but you'll be attending the second quarter." Modules? That sounds a lot of paperwork. And it'll be all japanese, do I even have the time to do that?

I'll probably die out in boredom and becoming all busy. Ugh. I want to say that I can just start next year, but the appointment is already made and, he looks happy right now.

In the past weeks, he was sad. He was under melancholia and lamentation. Can't say I blame him, because I am too. So seeing him practically glowing and almost jumping of happiness, makes me want to say nothing at all.

As soon lunch is over, Papa went to sleep for an hour since the school was near we can just walk to the school for the appointment. And I am left in the living room in silence. The book in my hand is again abandoned. I have no energy and interest into reading it again, so I turn on the television. And once again, its Japanese.

Out of control, hot liquid fell from my eyes. And I just let them be. I am frustrated and sad at the same time. Before my sobs could be heard, I raise the volume of the television to hide it. I bit my lower lip and gasp—in shuddering breath, I scream in the cushion pillow. Letting go of my frustrations.

It lasted for 5 minutes before I fix myself in front of the mirror and let the hour pass by.

Me and Papa arrived at the school, which was really near. It was scorching when we were walking but good thing we had an umbrella, if not, we would have been burnt into an overcooked toast. The gates were wide but not that high, but still look good. The inside were very spacious. Especially the school ground.

The school's interior looks beautiful, after all, simplicity is my forte.

Students were inside their own classes, I supposed. At first it was father who came inside the faculty before we were lead into a room where the interview began. Mostly asking questions of how good is my japanese and about how I can catch up since the education system of both countries are different, especially their school calendar.

If my previous school has two semesters, here has three semesters. And they say they want me to take the entrance test before taking further steps. As I step out of the room and is trying to locate the bathroom, I bump into a couple of students going out of the school. Is class over? At what, 3:15? Wow.

Then there, a glimpse from a far, I saw him again. That guy from the beach. I couldn't see properly as there were many students, but when I look back, he was gone. Was it just an imagination of mine?