It Was All Unexpected (editing)

chapter 7

****TAKERU****

I can't keep my excitement inside. Oh gosh! Just a day after tomorrow is Ayane's birthday 18 July. I want to be the first to wish her. A couple of days back we exchanged our phone numbers. I like her a lot.... I want it to be a good summer... a good year.

For her birthday me, Nana and Ibuki are going to meet her in Shinjuku.

On the day of her birthday

We all met at Shinjuku station. Nana gave her a big bear hug and screamed at her face 'happy birthday girl.... You turned 17.'

'Oh cmon let her breathe' I said and Nana narrowed her eyes.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was dressed in a perfect yellow flowery summer dress, and brown flats. Her hair lying perfectly smooth.

'H..happy birthday' I was so nervous when I said this.

'Thank you' she said with a smile and then averted her eyes. My heart suddenly was beating very fast.

'So where are we gonna go?' Ibuki asked. 'I am starving!'

'There's a cafe nearby. Let's go there and then' she took out four tickets from her bag;  movie tickets 'we can have fun...but it's horror.'

'I love you!!' Nana hugged her dramatically.

'Shouldn't that be my line Maeda San? '

Ayane's face went red again. Gosh so cute.

We walked for a while and had cold coffee with simple lunch in a cafe owned by a young couple. The food was good. After that we went to the movie theatre and it was brimming with people. I am not a huge fan of horror especially gore.  But surprisingly the movie she chose was gore. She would flinch every time a bloody scene came but it became too much for me so I got up to go outside.

'Where are you going?' she held my arm and asked with concern.

'I need some fresh air.' I said managing a smile.

'I will come too' she got up and told the other two that we would be out. There was still an hour left.

We moved out of the theatre and sat on a bench in a park facing the complex.

'I am sorry I didnt mean to ruin your movie.' I apologised and drank some water from the bottle I bought from a vending machine.

'Don't be silly. You didn't ruin anything. I couldn't take it anymore either. But I like horror in general.' she chuckled.

'Really.  What else do you like? 'I asked looking at her.

'Anything....as long as it doesn't have a sad ending....a book, movie, drama,  anything. Ends should be happy. '

'But don't you think sadness is what makes them beautiful.' I asked trying to know what she feels.

'You are asking me this.' she giggled in surprise. ' No I don't think like this. Sorrow is sorrow...it is painful and it's not beautiful...its only dark. What's bright is..' she looked at me '...is the way we live, being happy, keeping others happy, going about our daily works with a great enthusiasm and making new bonds and connections. Right? What's bright is how.... You look at me and then look away.' she giggled.

I smiled. 'See you have known this all along and yet you are afraid to be free. Do you need someone to tell you that you are strong. Can't you see that yourself.'

Her eyes widened and then closed. She didn't say anything for a long time after that.

She spoke suddenly but calmly. 'Nobody ever said this to me.' She looked at me and then blushed.

'But now you know.'

'Thanks.'

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I feel so ecstatic today. I am falling deeper every day. It feels good when you get to know someone. 

I remember how we gave her presents.... Her favourite anime stuff and screamed with joy in the cafe. It was kawaii.

But life doesn't go that smooth. It drives you nuts sometime.