EPILOGUE
I AM NAOKI GRAEN!
Then the next day,
“Good morning guys!” I greeted everybody as I entered the classroom. Jae and Toph smiled at me and we chatted for a bit.
“You seem happy. Are you ok?” my ever worrisome friend Jae inquired.
“Everything’s fine,” I simply answered.
I don’t want them to know just yet about that… about us… about the hug and about the kiss.
The final bell for the morning classes rang and Mrs. Raiverra entered the class and started with the lesson.
The bell for the next subject rang then the next and the next. Today went fast, but I was productive. Even my teachers noticed it.
After classes, I hurriedly made my way to the third year’s floor after my cleaning duty.
“Yes, may I help you?” a senior asked.
“I’m looking for Chiyo, is she there?” I said, embarrassed and all.
“Chi,” I heard her classmate, other than the one in front of me, called, “Your boyfie’s here!”
B-boyfie? Waah, that made me blush!
Yeah, that’s right, last night I became Chiyo’s b-bo-boyfie.
“How cute. He’s blushing!” Chiyo’s girl classmate rushed towards the door and teased me. I bet they see me as a kid who happened to wander in the adult’s world.
“Don’t flock over him. I’m getting jealous,” I heard her said.
Her classmates were teasing her and all, but it didn’t seem to bother to her at all.
“Come, let’s go,” she said then pulled me out.
I came far—it took me years to finally realize what I want. I had roller coaster feelings. I almost gave up and need to constantly be reminded of things. Good thing, Jae was there and Toph understood. Though, I still have to patch things up with Aimi.
“I love you,” I whispered to the lady beside me. She smiled back and squeezed my hand. “I love you today. I’ll love you again tomorrow and the next day after tomorrow and the next, and the next. I won’t love you in the future, though,” I paused and looked at her dazed look, I squeezed her hand, “I will supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-ly love you!” I beamed at her and her eyes welled up, smiling back at me too.
I’m gonna say it to her every day until I hear it directly from her.
That night was the most unforgettable night in my life, after all, that started everything we have between us right now;
After that heartbreaking, world-shredding, tear-jerking moment I had when Chiyo tortuously said goodbye to me, I didn’t have the guts or the energy to continue staying there in a place full of her feelings.
After I gestured to Toph that I’m leaving, I went straight to the parking lot; Jim told that he’ll wait for me there.
I had some deep breaths while I was heading to the lot. I really can't believe it. I really truly can't believe it. I thought everything will be fine since she was looking happy earlier when she told me to come and visit her exhibit.
She had all those pictures of me, and now they’re out in the open. It’s as if saying that she’s really giving up on me. She doesn’t have to do that.
It was too much for me.
“Jim, let’s go home,” I said upon getting in the car.
“In one condition,” I didn’t know that Jim can imitate a woman’s voice.
“Where did you lear—”
It’s Chiyo! But I thought she… and she… but earlier… I…
“Um, w-what are you d-doing here?” I queried. I don’t want to be sued of kidnapping or anything.
Plus, that was goodbye earlier, right? She already gave up on me, right?
“Aren’t you happy?” she asked me in return.
“But, I thought you—you already left?”
“I have conditions for you.”
“What are you talking about? You already rejected me a number of times. If you really don’t want to be with me, you don’t have to make conditions. I’ll stay away from you if you want, I won’t even cross your path.”
Conditions? She doesn’t have to go that far as to set conditions just so I would stay away from her. I’m not that dense. I know she doesn’t want me around.
“I want you to hug when I’m sad. I want you to be there for me. I want to see you after school. I want to have at least three dates a month.”
Hug? Be there? Three dates per month? Only lov—ers do that…
Wait! Just wait a minute! I love Chiyo but I would never do that to someone I’m not in a—, “A-are you t-telling me to g-get together? As in t-together-together?” I stuttered; how lame was that?
In return, she just smiled at me and told me, “I’m sad right now.”
Of course I did what was conditioned; I got into the car and hugged her tightly.
“I love you. I love you so much,” I whispered.
“Make sure you don’t miss one condition,” she kidded.
Though she failed to return my ‘I love you’, I was happy that she felt the same. She’s just an arm’s length now.
Now that I think about it, this is my first time holding her like this.
“Promise me, you will tell me everything,” I whispered again.
“Mm,” she nodded and buried her face in my neck. It tickled a little but it also run a small pleasurable jolt throughout my body.
“You never changed your number for three years, didn’t you?” I asked her when we finally parted.
“My number’s still registered on yours? I thought you already changed.”
“Well—it’s a long story,” I told her and hugged her again. Jim was outside, looking in at us, grinning like some proud father. Talking of fathers, I’m sure this thing and the stuffs I’ve been saying earlier, will surely reach my parents; the windows were open, after all.
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Yey! Thank you for reading up to here. You have no idea how happy you made me feel.
I’m serious, really. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*kisses then smile*
YOU ARE READING
a SNAPSHOT to the HEART
Teen Fiction[EDITING, again] Naoki Graen, Sakura's avid fan, has been fed with unreliable informations about his Idol, his Venus and his Muse. When he finally did meet her, the reasons behind her hidden identity was even surprising than the person itself.
