Gravity

Part 11: Memorization

I am really good at memorizing, except names.

And for today, I must try my best. I

 looked at the paper. 

"Rin-the guy who always smiles; Aya-girlfriend of boy groupmate, Jun-boyfriend of girl groupmate," I read aloud,

This should be easy.

I should start with the couple.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

I repetitively state that mentally.

One more time.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

Aya and Jun.

 Okay, this should be fine now. 

I gulped and went to my locker. A girl classmate approached me. "Good Morning Miki, you'll be cleaning today with us right? Can you be kind enough to do my part? My mother was rushed to the hospital and she needed someone to take care of her, can you?" she told me straight.

What was this girl's name again?

"Hey, Can you?"

".......okay."

"Great, thanks! I'll tell the head cleaner today!" she said and ran away. 

I saw her meet a guy and he patted her head. She immediately hugged his arm. I shrugged. She wouldn't lie. Right? I went inside the room. The girl groupmate went to me. 

"Good Morning Miki!"she smiled. 

 "Good morning..."

What was her name again? Crap. The memorization... didn't work.

"Oh, what's with the sad face?"she asked me. 

".....Nothing," I answered meekly and went to my seat.

I looked at the paper.

Aya. 

 That two-syllabic name, I couldn't even remember?! Oh my. I didn't know I'm this terrible. What more, with the other names? This is terrible. Terrible. Terrible. I am the worst.

The bell rang for lunch break. Most of the students left the room to go the cafeteria. 

I need not go there, Mama always make me packed lunch everyday. She said it's better to eat homemade. You'll get fuller stomach if the food comes from the person who cares for you. I looked down on my box. It's shrimp skewers and bean sprouts today. I smiled and started to eat. 

I heard a screech. "

May I join?" someone said. I looked up and saw that it was the girl group mate, whose two-syllabic name I cannot even remember.

"............yeah,"

She smiled and sat down. "Jun's practicing for the baseball team, I'm left alone and then I saw you here,"she smiled and opened a bag of chips. "Oh.. wow.. a packed lunch, did 'Mama' prepare it?"she continued as she munched on her chips.

"....yeah,"

Should I offer her some? I pushed the box in front of her. 

"... you can get some.." I said simply, looking down. Her eyes grew wide and took a bite on the shrimp. "Wow.. 'mama's recipes are good," she smiled and licked her fingers.

".......yeah,"

There's no way we can get a good conversation unless I call her by her name. This is an awful situation.

We continued eating. I wonder why she only have chips for lunch.

"Miki, you know what, you're really weird,"

Weird. That's what most people tell me when they encounter someone like me. I don't talk to people, I always hide my eyes. I can always just give them nods and shrugs. My parents mistook for it as me having a disability, until I told them "no". 

From that on, i got used to the term. Like it was a normal word attached to my name. It could even be my first name. Weird Miki. Followed by my surname Ashikaga. 

Perfect. 

Weird Miki Ashikaga.That's my full name.

"But it makes me want to know you more, as your friend," she suddenly smiled.

What... did she say?

I blinked.

She's smiling at me.

I blinked again.

She's REALLY smiling at me. 

A Friend? 

"Will you let me be friends with you?"she asked. 

I nodded in delight. "Perfect! Now I can really have you as my friend!" she smiled again in delight. 

 My cheeks suddenly felt hot.

I really want... to remember her name...and be friends with her.

I smiled. 

I can try again, right?