Tracing Memories

5: B o r e d o m

As our midterms approached I started to panic because I wasn't that good in Japanese. I knew the language but no way I could get good grades in a paper. You were the same way with English so we decided to study together after school. I'd help you with English and you'd help me with Japanese.

It had rained that morning and the streets were not completely dry by the time we took the route to my home. I walked, almost skipped, beside you while you walked with a casual confidence, your usual gait. I always became inexplicably upbeat every time it rained.

"What's gotten into you today? You seem different." You asked. Your amusement was visible on your face in the form of a smirk.

"I just love rain so much." I answered without pausing. I didn't find it difficult to talk to you anymore. You weren't a stranger now. We were friends. We now filled our silences sometimes with casual conversations. I say 'sometimes', because it wasn't a necessity for us to fill all silences between us. It was never awkward or uncomfortable.

A tired sigh escaped my lips as I flopped my head down on the table. You chuckled lightly at my action but truth was you were tired too. I could tell by the way you sat with your palm against your cheek, your sigh following mine and the fact that we had been studying for three hours straight.

"We've been studying for hours." I said.

"Let's take a break." You suggested.

"But what should we do now?" I tried to think.

We sat there thinking of an activity but it seemed like we suddenly forgot about every activity than can be done to cure boredom.

"Scrabbles?" I suggested after five minutes.

"No! No more english for today." You said immediately and we laughed.

"I have an idea. Let's go for a walk." You said after a pause. "We can go to the riverbank and back."

I agreed and we got up without bothering to open the blinds and checking the weather. I had closed them earlier because I kept glancing outside every time the sun went behind a cloud, hoping it would rain.

With the entire afternoon gone without a drop of water falling, I had expected to see a sunset with a sky tinted with shades of pink, orange and red but as soon as I opened the door to the front yard an entirely different sight greeted us. Instead of pink, the sky was grey and instead of a sunset it was heavy rain.

"Woah." I heard you mutter under your breath. I turned around to see your expression and found a mixture of amazement and worry on your face.

I, on the other hand, was overjoyed. "Finally!" I exclaimed loudly and ran to the porch with you following me calmly. Sunset was good but rain was better.

I extended my hand to get some of the rain on it while you looked at me with an amused expression. It was probably the first time I had acted like a child in front of you.

Suddenly, I couldn't resist anymore; I let everything go and ran out into the rain.

"Riye! What are you doing?" You exclaimed. You seemed surprised at my sudden action.

I stood in the middle of the garden with my hands outstretched trying to feel every raindrop. Within moments I was drenched but I didn't mind. I was happy. Every time the rain came, it seemed to change the entire world. It made it more beautiful and happier and more hopeful. It seemed the atmosphere was enchanted, it was not reality but a dream that's too good to be true and I felt I was a part of this dream.

I looked over to you and found you still looking at me with amusement. I gestured you to come under the rain. You shook your head immediately, mouthing "no, no." I came back to you and tugged on your hand urging you come with me. You finally gave in and I walked back out in the open, this time you accompanying me.

The rain was still in its full strength and it drenched you too, soaking your clothes and making your spiky hair fall down on your face. I stared at you trying to decide if your hair looked better this way. Without my realizing a smile was etched upon my lips as I looked at you.

"What?" You casually asked with a smirk, pushing the hair out of your face.

"You look...different." I spoke in a low voice and looked away.

"Different good or different bad?" You asked in a playful tone.

"Different good." I answered shyly.

You stood in silence, staring at me and smirking while I avoided your gaze, only glancing at you occasionally, smiling shyly.

"Kira! What are you two doing standing in the rain?" I heard mom's voice suddenly breaking our trance.

"Get back inside now or you both will get sick." She said worriedly and with that our adventure in the rain came to an abrupt end.

A/n : Guys, if you like this story please don't forget to VOTE and COMMENT.I'd love to hear from you what you guys think of it so far. Please don't hesitate.