My Elementary Crush

3rd Grade to 4th Grade

My parents took me back to my hometown during summer break thus, making me leave without saying goodbye to any of my classmates. My cousin told me that on the first day of school in third grade, Ben approached him and asked him why was I absent on our first day. He also said that Ben thought I was going to be late for school.

Of course, none of them had any idea that I left. So when my cousin told him I moved back, Ben left with a frown plastered on his face.

Since then, my cousin sent me letters and greetings that Ben told him to say to me.

I stayed two years at my hometown and met some of my childhood friends. I joined a dance group and won a competition in third grade. I was into singing and had a little crush on my neighbor in my fourth grade. Things had change but there was one person I couldn't forget in all those years I didn't see him, Ben.

It was odd to me that I forgot half of my classmates' names yet I still remembered every letter in Ben's full name. Maybe it's because he's the one who only cared when he knew I left or maybe, it's me who couldn't forget him. Either way, I didn't know.

****

One night, my father told me that he had to send me back to the city since chaos broke out again and it would be dangerous for me to stay. I was hesitant at first since moving back meant leaving my family and friends behind and living with my aunt again.

"I c-can't." I stuttered as I held my tears. "I don't want to go back."

"Please, Kei. You have to understand." My father held my arms and made me looked up to him. "Listen, you're going to be a maiden soon. It's safer there."

"But how about you?"

"We'll figure things out." My father smiled. "As long as we know you're safe, we'll be good here." My father embraced me. "We know it's so sudden but it's for your own good." I felt my dad's warm tears fell down. "It hurts us too to let our daughter live on her own." On that same night, I cried myself to sleep.

****