Love is very...

Chapter 1. The Boy

I've never thought about falling in love or ever being together with another person. Going on dates, spending time together, meeting up with each other, holding hands, and even kissing, all these things you do with your loved one. That idea never came up in my mind before. I've read all sorts of romance novels and always see couples in magazines once in awhile. But for myself, love never came up in my mind. Until I met a certain person.

It was during my first year of high school, the school year had already begun. I had two people I can call friends, but they weren't people who'd know everything about me. They were just some people I would exchange sentences with. I guess they were fun to be with, but I've never thought of getting too close with them. I was one of those people who didn't really interact with others as much.

One day, after the last bell rang and all the students left the classroom, my homeroom teacher, Kamome-sensei, called me over, "Kiseki-san, I have a favor for you. Would you be kind enough to take that pile of books, over there, to the library?" She pointed at the pile of books in the back left corner of the room. "Many of the students were irresponsible and didn't want to bring it themselves so they just left them in a pile over there," she sighs deeply, "I don't know what to do with those kids. I'll need to punish them later."

"No problem sensei, I was going to stop by the library anyways," I answer gleefully.

"Thank you, Kiseki-san. You are probably the most decent student in my classroom," she says smiling back at me.

I take the books and bear it in my arms. I use my chin to support the books from falling out of my arms. Slowly, I climb up the stairs and walk through the quiet hallways. The door to the library is on the left side of the wall, when you turn right down the hall. As I got close to the intersection of the hallway, around the corner, I hear someone talking.

I hear a masculine voice, "Come on, please? Just once."

The next voice was a more feminine type of voice, "Okay, fine, just this once."

I peek my head around the corner to see what was going on. I turn my back around so the books wouldn't show. I look over and I see a boy and a girl kissing, lip to lip. The boy had short, dark brown hair. I could see that he had at least three ears pierced, but I couldn't see his face clearly because of his long bangs covering up about half of his face. The girl had long, luscious, black hair, but she didn't seem like she was in my grade so I assume that she was probably in the higher grade level. So that means that the boy might also be in the higher grade level as the girl. All of a sudden the girl looks up and our eyes meet.

"Stop, someone's watching us," the girl says pushing the boy away from her.

"Huh? Where? There's no one here besides us," the boy says leaning towards her again.

The girl pushes him away again and grabs her bag. "Over there, around the corner, I saw a girl staring at us through her spectacles," she answered frustrated, "I gotta go now, I'll see you tomorrow. Bye." The girl goes the other direction and disappears down the hall. The boy looks towards my direction. He pulls his bangs back with his hands, as if his hands were a comb and lets his hair go. His face was very clear and prettier than any usual boys' face. His bangs fall back gently onto his face. I see him walk into a nearby classroom and I take the chance to quickly get inside the library.

In the library, I place the pile of books on the desk. I hear someone walk up behind me, "Kiseki-san? Is that you?" I turn around slowly and look up. It was Nasubi-sensei, the school nurse. I often end up going to the nurse's office whenever I had problems, so I have always been in good care under her.

"Oh, yes. Good afternoon, Nasubi-sensei. I just came to put these books back because Kamome-sensei had asked me to on my way to the library," I reply, placing my hands on top of the books.

"Very well then," she said walking towards the door. "I'll see you again, sometime." And she walks out the door and into the hallway.

I wonder who that boy and the girl were. That boy had such a pretty face. Hmm, it seems like he's in the older grade level though. But I feel like I saw him somewhere before. Oh well, what does that have to do with me. Hahaha.

On my way home, I get a phone call from my mother saying that she'll be home late so I would have to cook dinner tonight. I stop by the grocery store to buy some vegetable and meat for tonight. By the time I get home, it's already 5:30pm.

"I'm home!" I yell, peeling my shoes off my feet and changing into slippers. I hear footsteps from the staircase down the hall. "Minao? Minato? Are any of you home?" I call out to my two twin brothers.

"Yeah..." I hear Minato call out. "Minao's home too, but he locked himself in our room. Now I can't get back in."

"What happened this time?" I ask walking into the kitchen. This is just another one of their arguments over something petty. I take out the groceries, and lay them out on the counter. "By the way, we're having stir-fried vegetables and meat tonight. Mom and Dad are going to be late tonight too."

"Why do you always have to include the vegetables? And again? Why do they think we're okay with being with you, sis?" Minato complains.

"Vegetables are a must, you won't be able to grow if you don't get your vegetables. And I'm sorry about mom and dad, but you'll have to stick with me. Mom and dad are busy with work lately," I reply, a bit annoyed. I take out the frying pan and all the ingredients.

I go up to my room after dinner and place my stuff by my desk. I throw myself onto my bed. I remove the spectacles off my face and rub my eyes, then fall into slumber. When I come to, I spot my brother standing in front of me.

"Oh my goodness! Minao, you scared me. Don't just come in and not say anything," I utter, reaching out for my glasses.

He places his palm on his stomach and says, "My stomach hurts...but nothing comes out."

"Okay, okay. I'll see if we have any medicine for your stomach," I say quietly. I get up and slide my slippers onto my feet. I look in the medicine cabinet, but nothing for stomach pain. "I guess I'll have to go buy some." I grab my wallet and my sweater, change to my shoes, and walk out the door.

On my way to the convenience store, I can see all the trees starting to bloom after the long, cold winter. I remove the hair tie in my loosened hair bun and comb through it with my fingers. The convenience store is just across the street from where I'm standing. I walk across, enter the store and search for the stomach pain medication. I grab the one we usually get and stand in line. I stare at some of the magazines by the window and debate whether I should get one or not. Eh maybe not this time.

"Next," the cashier recites. I move up and place the item on the counter. "Is this all, ma'am?" the cashier asks politely.

"Yes, thank you," I answer with a smile. The cashier scans the product.

"That'll be 550 yen," she says kindly. I hand it to her with exact change. She hands it to me in a small bag, with my receipt.

"Thank you."

"Thank you."

As I'm walking out the store, someone else comes speeding behind me, causing me to lose my balance and tip over. My hair flies all over and covers my face.

"Oh, sh*t, sorry. I didn't mean to push you over," I hear a boy say. The voice somehow sounded very familiar. Like I've heard it somewhere very recently. I get up and dust myself off, and he hands me my purchased item.

"Sorry," he says and runs off. I quickly move the hair out of my face and all of a sudden, I remember where I've heard that voice. It was the boy from school, this afternoon. He was the one who was kissing that girl. I fix my glasses. From afar, I can still see him, but he's with someone. Oh! It's the girl from this afternoon. I see the girl throw her arms around, and the boy is rubbing his head. Then all of a sudden, the girl slaps the boy. Oh my goodness! I think I just saw something I shouldn't have seen. What happened to them? Oh no, I have to go home now. I forgot about Minao. The way back home, I think of what must've happened with the boy and the girl. Poor guy.