"Summer vacation means beach!!!", Mayu skipped down the street while holding unto Ren. "Mayu, people will misunderstand", Ren sighed as he gently remove Mayu's hand. "I remembered, Kumiko's family runs a resort at Yaeyama, right?", Mayu asked. Hayato flicked Mayu's forehead. "We cant go there", Hayato said. Ren looked at Hayato with curiosity. "Are you scared of Ichirou-san?", Ren teased. "I'm not", Hayato blushed. "Oh, are you going somewhere?", Aimi asked while she meets them on the road. She's wearing shorts and her hair is ponytailed. "Ohhh!!! Is that you Saotome-chan?!!!", Hayato took a photo of her. "What are you doing here?", Mayu asked. "I went to buy some groceries", Aimi answered. "Let me walk you home", Hayato grabbed the plastic bag. Ren pushed him and grabbed the bags. "Didnt your Mom called you?", Ren said then led the way. Mayu looked at Ren's facial expression. "Lets go!!!", Mayu drag his brother.
"Uhmm,thank you for helping me", Aimi followed the guy. "Why are you the ones in front? We're going to my apartment, right?", Aimi asked. "You have a lot of questions", Ren looked at her. "Its a bit hot, isnt it?", Aimi averted her eyes. They entered her apartment. "Have a seat", Aimi offered and went to get some juice. The silence was deafening. Aimi opened the television. "Woah, its been a while since I watched", Aimi suddenly said. "You're not busy? Tanaka?", Aimi asked. "I'll go if you're uncomfortable", Tanaka stood up. "Aimi!!! Did you buy me some pineapple juice?", Ichirou went out of the bathroom, topless. "Ichirou-ni?!!!", Aimi threw a pillow at him. "Ichirou-san, what are you doing here?", Ren stepped back. "Are you having an illicit relationship?", Ren asked again. "You're wrong!!!", Aimi defended themself. Ichirou laughed and locked Ren's neck on his arms. "You dont really trust your big bro. Aimi and I are gokd friends", Ichirou informed.
After a while, the three of them sat at the living room. No one is talking. "This is boring already. Okay, Aimi and I met long time ago. I can come here easily because she treats me as an older brother and I look at her the way I look at Kumiko", Ichirou explained. Ren looked at him with his poker face. "Why didnt you talk to him back at the resto?", Ren asked. "You're also a curious guy, arent you?", Ichirou chuckled. "There are things that doesnt really need to be talked about. Most especially from a stranger like you", Ichirou looked straight into Ren's eyes. "Right, Aimi and I will be going to our resort", Ichirou winked at Aimi. "I am also going", Ren stood up. "Why?", Ichirou had a sly smile. "Coz I wanted to see the beach", Ren answered. What a lame answer. "I didnt know Ren can also get tripped like this", Ichirou laughed.
The next day Aimi blinked few times seeing the crew gathered in front of the train station. "Why is mushroom here?", Mayu looked at Aimi. "Mushroom?", Aimi pointed at herself. "Yeah!!! You appear in the most unexpected places", Mayu explained. "Its good to have another one in the boat. Its more fun that way", Kumiko covered Mayu's mouth. "Then, you will be my assistant", Shou crossed his arms. Ren just sighed and went ahead of them.
Ren sat beside Ichirou. "Why did she asked us to keep it a secret? About knowing you and being someone close to you?", Ren asked. "Why didnt you tell her that you are the son of the right hand of the controller of company system?", Ichirou asked. "Its not about that", Ren bit his lips. "She doesnt know anything about you, Shou, Mayu, and Hayato. If she does, what do you think will happen?", Ichirou asked. "I dont want to talk further", Ren wore his headphones. Kumiko sat beside Aimi. "Oh, I see. You're coming to have a vacation as well. Our resort is the best on the beach", Kumiko boasted. "Thanks for having me here", Aimi smiled. "Then Aimi, do you know how to play cards?" Kumiko asked. Aimi nodded and Kumiko's eyes brightened. They played for a long time. Aimi won 5 times and Kumiko won for 4 times. "Another one!!!", Kumiko challenged. "You're so cute, Takuma", Aimi commented. "Can you call me by my name?" Kumiko asked. "Hmmm. Kumiko?" Aimi said it without any hesitation. Kumiko hugged Aimi. "You're now my best friend", Kumiko pinched Aimi's cheeks. "I feel honored with that but lets work more in being friends", Aimi looked in her eyes.
They arrived at the station where the boat ended. A car is waiting for them. "Uncle", Hayato rushed to greet Matsuda, Kumiko's father. "Oh, Hayato. You grew up", Matsuda patted his head. Hayato seems to wag his tail if he was a dog. "Dad told me to give you this wine", Shou handed him a paper bag. They all entered the van. "I can see that you have another friend", Matsuda looked at Aimi from the mirror. "Nice to meet you, I am Saotome Aimi. Tanaka and Takuma's classmate", Aimi gave a nod. "Oh, welcome to our place. I hope you would like it", Matsuda replied. They stopped in front of a huge hotel with a theme of forest. Aimi's eyes couldnt believe what she is seeing. "Its amazing", she appreciated. Mayu clung unto Ren's arms. "Lets go and take a bath together like we use to do, Ren", Mayu teased. "Stop making it sound weird", Ren ran away from Mayu. Hayato laughed and carried their luggage. "Aimi, lets go and check on the empty rooms", Ichirou carelessly called Aimi by her first name. "Brother!! Are you hitting on my new best friend?", Kumiko glared at Ichirou. "Im not. Since she's younger then I can call her that way", Ichirou made an excuse. Aimi laughed and followed him.
After checking the whole place, Aimi walked heading to the beach. She was startled to see Shou lying down the sand. "It's almost sunset", Aimi sat beside him. "I want to be alone", Shou said without looking at Aimi. "Can I watch the sunset with you?", Aimi asked for permission. "Do what you want", Shou sat and prepared his camera. "You're not going to paint it?" Aimi asked. "My hands are trembling right now, I cant seem create a great piece", Shou explained. Aimi ran and looked for any paints and a canvass to paint into. She also set it up. "When your hands are trembling, doesnt that mean its exciting you", Aimi panted. "Take your time to paint it", Aimi smiled and gave a thumbs up. She sat at the sand and watched Shou smiling while painting.
The four are watching them from a distant. "Mayu, when was the last time Shou smiled while painting?", Hayato asked. "Hmmm. Maybe when he was still a kid?", Mayu answered. "I might be imagining but I can see him smiling now", Hayato chuckled. "This art maniac. Did he come here for his paintings again?", Kumiko pouted. "I know its not just me, Saotome-chan is doing something to Shou", Hayato said while watching them. "Is she casting a spell on him?!", Mayu panicked. "She's casting a spell and the scariest part is it doesnt have a cure", Hayato turned around and walked away. Mayu and Kumiko followed him. "Are you not coming?", Kumiko asked Ren. "You can go ahead", Ren answered.
Once a spell is casted, is there really no cure?
Aimi looked behind and saw Ren looking at them. Aimi waved at him. Ren raised his hand and was about to wave back when he saw Shou showing the painting to Aimi. "Oh, Youth!!!", Ichirou shouted. "You're so loud", Ren complained. "Shou is starting to become a man", Ichirou used his binoculars. "Are you exaggerating?", Ren sighed. "Ren, I can see something in your eyes. What is it again? Jealousy?", Ichirou pointed on Ren's chest. "What are you saying? I dont have such feeling", Ren shove Ichirou and left.
Jealousy? Its an ugly monster inside human's heart.
Author's NOTE:
Beach scenarios are the ones that can never be deleted :)
Thank you for reading this far.
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Butterfly Effect
רומנטיקהIsnt it amazing that a single drop can cause a ripple effect? Isnt it also amazing that only one touch of memory can disturb the rest of the history. Our stories are entangled with one other, that's when our parents decided way back in the past.
