Showered by the Stars

11. Taking some time off

Ah! There are a lot of people. And most of them are couples. Darn! So this is what my classmates talked about the one they call Lovers’ meeting place?

A guy placed his hand on my shoulder. I flinched. “Ahhhhhhhhh!”

“Oi! Oi! Calm down.”

“Eh? Takeshima?” I exhaled.

“You didn’t have to scream. I looked like a pervert because of you.” He said.

“Ah! I’m sorry. I really thought it was a pervert’s hand” I blushed in humiliation.

He sighed. “Well anyway shall we get going?”

“Uhn!”

We walked amongst the crowd. I nearly lost him but thankfully he waited for me.

“The place is crowded at this time so you better get close to me.” Just as he said those words, someone bumped me and I got separated from him.

Ah! Now what? Should I wait for the crowd to lessen or should I go back home?

“Oi!” Takeshima came and grabbed my hand. “At least stay like this until we go to a less crowded place.”

“Uhn—“ I blushed. I really thought that those were just my options.

We went to the amusement park, shrines, arcade and watched a movie.

“Hmm—it’s nearly dinnertime.” He said. “Let’s go to a restaurant.”

“Okay.” Someone bumped me.

“Ah—sorry. Are you okay, miss” the guy said. I looked and saw Tsubaki Ren right in front of me. I instinctively let go of the hand that was holding me all this time.

It’s really him!

“Ah—Ren-kun? It’s Tsubaki Ren-kun, right?” I said.

“Um—that was my old name. I’m now Kaede Ren. You are?” ah? He doesn’t remember me?

“Um—I’m Minami Mizuki. We were classmates once in 6th grade.” I said.

“Minami—Minami—Ah! Mizuki-chi?” he exclaimed. “It’s you?”

“Um—yeah”

“Wow! You’ve become really pretty” he laughed. “Still eat gum before doing a speech?”

“Ah!” I blushed. “Not anymore. I’m fine without it now.”

“Eh? Is that so?” he laughed.

 “Um—your mom?” I asked.

“Ah—she remarried.” He said.

“oh.”

Takeshima yanked my bag. I looked at his annoyed face and realized I was rude.

“Um—this is Takeshima Masato.” I said to Ren-kun. “Um—Takeshima, he’s um—Kaede Ren-kun. He was a classmate.”

Ren-kun chuckled. “I see you got yourself a good-looking boyfriend, huh? Good for you.”

I blushed. “Ah! No that’s not it. He’s not my boyfriend.”

“Eh? Is that so? Well anyway, I’ll be going first. I’m going to meet my girlfriend.”

“Okay.”

“Bye.” Then he went away.

Meeting him was quite unexpected.

But I think it was fate that made it happen.

“Shall we have dinner?” I asked Takeshima.

“Y-yeah” he said.

He’s been really quiet for awhile.

“Hey! What’s wrong? You haven’t eaten much” I said.

“Hmm—h-hey. That guy was your long-time crush, right? Meeting him tonight was—for you—“

I got so pissed. What’s with his gloomy expression? So not cool at all.

I got up. “What the hell are you talking about, Takeshima?” I shouted. “Idiot!”

 I went home on my own.

I laid on my bed and sighed,

Takeshima! You’re such an idiot! You really don’t know a girl’s heart!

I whimpered.

The phone rang. It was Takeshima.

“Hello.” I said.

“Um—I’m outside your house. I want to talk to you. Please come down.” He said.

I hung up, went down and got out of the gate.

“Speak.” I said.

He was startled. “I’m sorry I said those things. I just made up my own conclusion.”

“That’s fine.” I said.

“Really—I’m really sorry. I just thought that you might still have some feelings for that guy.” He said.

Jealousy, huh?

“I don’t.”

“You didn’t feel anything when you met him?” he asked.

“Well I thought that fate brought us to the same place and the same time.” I said.

He looked really surprised. “W-wha? I don’t get what you’re saying.”

“I’m saying that because of that I can completely move on. And anyway it’s not like I ever loved him” I said, raising my eyebrow.

“Oh. I see” He relaxed.

“Then—thank you for hanging out with me, Takeshima.” I said.

“Sure. Let’s do it again” he smiled.

“Uhn!”

“Um—hey! Minami-san. Please call me Masato from now on.” He said.

“Oh. Alright. Goodnight Masato-kun.” I went inside and closed the gate.