Ready to Fall

Chapter 16 You're in love

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You're in love. That's the way it should be

'cause I want you to be happy.

You're in love and I know that you're not in love with me.

Ooh it's enough for me to know that you're in love

Now I'll let you go 'cause I know

That you're in love.

-'You're In Love' by Wilson Phillips-

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Three weeks and two days after that cold and empty night…

.

Exams came and went.

.

The weight has been lifted off from most of the students. Some feel the pressure even more as they waited for the results.

For Miki, it was all the same—her feelings before and after the exams. Although, she did felt a little better after crying that night in her room, with Sarah comforting her.

Her friends didn't bother her anymore about her feelings, but she saw their silent concern as she covered herself with more books the day after that night. She guessed they have just gotten busy themselves to keep arguing with her.

Now that the last of the exams were behind her, she somehow felt vulnerable again. She can't hide anymore with her books.

That, after a long time, made Miki genuinely smile. Who would have thought the time will come for her to gain comfort from books—from studying?

The sun was shining brightly—indicating the last of the winter season was gone as well, and spring has completely took its place.

"It's so exciting!" Selena blurted out and twirled merrily as they walked around Central Town, just them, girls. For some reason, during the past few weeks, their group has been divided in to two. It wasn't decreed, but it seemed there was a consensus that the girls should join Miki, and the boys should join Daniel. Although, it was not like they were taking sides. Miki thought her friends probably just wanted to lessen the awkwardness when they were all together, especially at meal time.

Also, as if in silent agreement, Daniel and Miki found themselves shifting schedules on who should join their friends in the Dining Hall during meals. However, the arrangement took all the energy and effort in Miki not to worry about him when he was not joining them, wondering if he was skipping meals instead.

But it has been three weeks and she never once asked about his whereabouts when he was not with them—and she was always dying to know.

"The Sakura trees are blooming, and just three days left before the Sakura Festival Ball," Selena continued, oblivious to the thoughts running in Miki's head.

Sakura trees.

A Sakura tree.

Our Sakura tree.

"Do you have a calendar reminder of all the occasions, Selena?" Nonoko asked half-joking and half-serious. "You seem to be always the first person to mention these occasions."

"What's so wrong with that?" she replied, pointing her nose up in defense. "I just happen to enjoy holidays, festivals, gatherings and dancing."

Just like the rest of Japan, Crimson University also celebrates the Sakura Festival. For a week after the exam, the Central Town would be swarming with little stalls, selling various items related to the Sakura tree or the spring season, in general. And at the end of the week, the last night would be the Sakura Festival Ball. The Assembly Area in the University would be turned into an open ballroom, filled with paper lanterns hanging on the Sakura trees surrounding the area. Some of it, courtesy of the Technical Ability Class, will be floating around the space of the make-shift dance floor, which would be surrounded by tables for dining groups of five to ten people each.