I'm coming home for my best friend's wedding.
I smiled at the thought that one of my closest friends will finally marry the love of her life. Junji has been my friend since high school, and she has stuck by me through thick and thin. She's someone im always looking up to and we've been closer during college since we've become sort of flat mate. We actually have a large circle of friends, and most of them will also return home to attend the wedding in our hometown.
I'm coming home after being away for years, and as I drive down the familiar road towards our town, memories flood back.
I grew up in a small village where the people's professions were either fishing or farming. We may not be as wealthy as others, but we are content with our way of life. My father has an important job that could always provide for our needs, and I never had any problems growing up. I was well-fed, had nice clothes every now and then, and although there was an elementary school in our village, my parents wanted me to have the best education, so I was educated in the town proper, a twenty-minute ride away from home. I grew up somewhat spoiled, so maybe that's why I'm so confident in whatever I'm doing.
In 2007, I wasn't participating in any sports at that time, but our Grade Six teacher instructed us to watch the volleyball game and support our team. By then, I have a best friend who is always with me, Fluke. Like me, he also lives in one of our town's small villages, but he chose to pursue his education in the town proper, so we always walk together to the terminal after class ends. Fluke and I just shrugged and went to the town plaza where the event was taking place, and that's where I saw her. The girl was wearing a simple white t-shirt with her school logo emblazoned on the front and number 20 at the back. What captivates me the most is her wavy hair tied in a ponytail and the serious look on her face as she waits to receive the ball from the opponent's side. We sat at a distance, so I couldn't see her face clearly, but they played so well that they managed to defeat the Central School, which had taller players, through sheer will and determination. What amazed me the most is that my crush can spike the ball so well that I wish I had joined our school team so I could be her opponent in the round robin matches. That's also the moment I realized I like girls. I went home that day without even seeing her again since Fluke was in a hurry.
But i was never pleasantly wrong. Every month of March, our town is holding a weeklong festivities where the major event is the drum and lyre competition and every school was mandated to participate. Well, you should know by now that i'm a lazy person. Most people compliments my intelligence and quick witty response but i'm too lazy to study or even participate in any activities, so as usual, i dont have anything to do but be a bystander. Fluke was participating by then as a drummer and as a way to show my support to my friend, i was standing near the stage where i have a proper view of the events unfolding. Because of the huge prize, People were brimming and our huge plaza were so crowded but my thin frame can definitely go wherever i wanted.
