Poppy and Lotus [COMPLETE]

•❀Twenty-Three❀•

The springtime was a lot more memorable this year.

Not only were the most beautiful flowers in full bloom, sprouting across the city and giving it a natural seasonal charm, my relationships were, too! I expected a quiet break from school, stuck in the house until Ren and I went out on a date or something like that, but it was anything but quiet.

In fact, Sumire invited me, Hinata, and Ren on a 3 day trip to the countryside for the break. I had to admit, I was pleasantly surprised to hear they'd want to hang out like that outside of the club.

After all, I was still recovering from loneliness and having my heart broken by who I had thought were my friends. I had been patient with myself and had consequently shut myself off from other people in fear of being hurt again. That entire experience led me to think everything I believed about friendship was a lie. I had forgotten how great it could be to have genuine people who wanted to actually be with you and spend time with you and adventure with you...

As sad as it was to forget what that felt like, it made me so happy to remember.

"Ayame! Quit zoning out, we're trying to make memories, here!"

I jumped as a shish-kebab was stuffed into my mouth suddenly. I had completely succumbed to my thoughts for a moment, and Sumire wasn't having it. She tended to shove food in my mouth when I let my mind wander, it was kind of her thing. She did that to everyone, actually. Now, if only she could do it to herself! She zoned out way more than the average person. Especially in class.. I wasn't sure how she managed the good grades.

"Sorry, I'm just trying to savor the moment." I grabbed the stick and started to bite off the meat and vegetables.

The four of us were having a cute little picnic/fireworks party outside of Sumire's family villa. I couldn't believe the ocean view they had outside of it — a gorgeous beach that spread out as far as the eye could see.

Just now I had gotten lost in my thoughts simply just gazing out at the dark water, imagining what could be inside it. I wondered how dark the ocean floor was? It must be so nice to be a fish and  just calmly float in the center of it without a care in the world. Unless you had sharks to watch out for. That would suck. I'd get eaten like 5 minutes after hatching from my egg and splitting up from my family to go out and be on my own.

Why was I thinking about how I would fail at life as a fish?

Damn ocean doing stuff to my mind.

I shake my head and swallow the bit of kebab I had in my mouth. Sumire and I chat excitedly together about celebrities and TV shows while Hinata and Ren run along the ocean shoreline with sparklers in their hands. Hinata twirled in circles and Ren ran like a ninja. It was funnier than it sounded. Ren was a pretty slow runner for someone so athletic looking.

Sumire and I giggled as we watched Hinata trip over something in the sand and land face first. Ren turned around to see what happened and burst into laughter almost immediately. Our boys started rolling around in the dirt like a couple of dummies.