I sniffed the air that I missed so dear, the floral scent of my grandma’s garden which oddly was still in full bloom though it’s caretaker have long passed away. I ran hastily towards my favorite spot, the sakura tree that I loved so dearly. The swing set attached to it was still there as well though it was already kind of rustic. I’m glad!
I immediately sat upon it and started swaying myself back and forth faster and faster. I spread my arms like a wing every time it reaches the top of the height it could reach. I miss this—I miss being a child again—I miss being here.
It feels like a dream. Maybe because I see it so often in a dream that it doesn’t feel real now. But I was awakened that everything there was true when a familiar face came up to me with a laugh saying, “You’re such a kid!”
Matusuru kept laughing at me now as if he’s never seen anyone do what I’m doing before, or maybe not my age at least. But I don’t care! I think I deserve being a kid once in awhile after being forced to mature early by my parents. Sometimes it even feels like I’m older than most of the adult around me.
I stuck my tongue on him like a kid he thinks I am and he just laughed even more. Haruka and Shuichi were laughing along now too as they came closer to where we were.
“Ka—kawaii,” we all heard someone mumble in a corner and we all saw Ryota there blushing as he stared at me. He looked away immediately after he realized we were all staring at him in shock and he immediately went back to his grumpy demeanor once more.
That was a first. He was blushing and thinking I’m cute? Or maybe he saw something cute behind me. Is it possible that he really was jealous earlier? But if he was, doesn’t that mean that he likes me? Oh no! This is starting to fill my mind. It’s not good for me to get distracted when our lives are still all in danger. It’s no time for us to think of stuff like that. No!
My heart started to pump erratically again as I thought about all those things. What if…but na! It’s bloody impossible.
“Is that your grandma’s house?” Shuichi asked pointing to ann old looking cabin across from where we were. “Yup, that’s it,” I answered, feeling a little melancholy as I remembered she’s not there anymore.
“Well if it’s abandoned, might as well stay here for awhile. I don’t think those guys will find us here right?” He asked but didn’t even bother await our reply as he started jogging towards the house immediately.
“Hey, wait for me!” Haruka said annoyingly as she ran right after him. “Geez! Why can’t you stay with everyone else?” Shuichi scratched his head in frustration as Haruka caught up to him.
“Those two are quite unbreakable right?” Matsuru said with a giggle. “More like Shuichi can’t run away from Haruka no matter how hard he tries. That girl is so desperate,” Ryota said snickering.
“Oi, don’t be so mean to Haruka. I can see that she’s trying her best to win Shuichi’s heart. One day, Shuichi will respond to her feelings. Just wait and see,” I said defending Haruka the best way I could. I can tell that Haruka is deeply in love with Shuichi and for some reason Shuichi is taking advantage of Haruka because of that. I hated seeing that situation but it’s not like I can do anything about it. Although we’ve been spending a lot of time together cause of this incident, we’re still basically strangers so we have no right to delve into each others problems.
“Or more like Shuichi would break down one day,” Ryota answered with a laugh and unbelievingly, Matsuru laughed with him and they even exchanged a high five. How dare them!
“You boys…” I said in pure frustration as I cracked my fingers and was preparing myself for a fight. Even though they’re boys, I’m confident I can take them down. After all, what’s good is it that I’m a black belter in taekwondo if I won’t use my skills.
I jumped up and down and pulled my arm close to my face before I gave Ryota a right hook which landed directly on his left cheek and an elbow for Matsuru which landed near his lips. They both fell to the ground yelling in pain. “Ahh, what did you do that for?” Ryota said in rage. “What the…” Matsuru said looking at me unbelievingly. I can’t help but smirk as I look at them lying on the ground.
That felt great! It made my frustrations and anger about the situation go away.
But my enjoyment was immediately disturbed when we heard Shuichi and Haruka yelling at the top of their lungs like they were in pain or more like they were in trouble. I looked at the two boys worriedly and immediately sprinted my way towards grandma’s house. I can hear the both of them right behind me. What is it now? Did they found us already? That’s what kept flashing on my mind.
We immediately busted the door to the kitchen revealing Haruka and Shuichi being pummeled by a broom. Matsuru and Ryota passed by me and immediately tried helping them but I was stock there. I can’t feel my legs. I can’t even move. I can’t take my eyes off her.
“We’re sorry, we’re sorry. We didn’t know someone was here,” Shuichi yelled an apology as the old lady was still beating him.
“Grandma please, let go of the broom. Let’s talk about this,” Matsuru asked desperately as he tried to force the broom out of the old ladies hand. Haruka was yelling in panic and Ryota is doing his best to drag the old lady away from them, while I, I just stood there with tears on my eyes.
The commotion only stopped when the old lady finally caught a glimpse of me. She looked at me in confusion at first but then she smiled so gently and said, “Oh, Fiory dear. When did you get back from the states?”
But I wasn’t able to digest what she just said. The only thing that kept coming out of my mouth was, “Grandma…grandma…grandma…”
I was trapped in the valley of confusion.
YOU ARE READING
Hitsuzen (Completed)
Novela JuvenilHitsuzen is a story of a girl trying to find herself outside the comforts of her own home. But as she undergo this journey, she met four strangers, each trying to find a path of their own. But as their path entwined, they'll soon find out that it wa...
