Our Sparkling, Heart pounding Moment

Teardrops

After cleaning up the dishes and the trash, everyone else headed home, all except myself and Arisa. Aa-chan already went upstairs to her room, leaving the two of us in the living room with the leftover air of the party and the Christmas Eve magic. My heart pounded and I feel myself growing warmer. 

"Hey, Kasumi? How come you haven't given me my locket yet?" Arisa asked.

There were many reasons. One I don't even know my own feelings towards Arisa. For many years I've almost always known how I felt about things, but this is the first time that I have really ever been conflicted with emotions. I made her's special, having a picture of us back in our third year of high school at the culture festival on the other side of the locket. I don't know what I was thinking at the time but I only did something like that for her. Really what was I thinking? I gave her an honest but vague answer.

"I-I was just embarrassed to give it to you. But I'll give it to you now...now that no one else is around..." I respond handing her the locket.

Arisa looked puzzled until she looked inside the locket herself and she turned a bright red. She just stared at the locket. She gave a small cough.

"Y-you idiot, you were embarrassed about this?" she said trying to play off that she wasn't just embarrassed herself. 

At that moment I clung to her, and I gripped her arm tightly. I didn't want to let go. I didn't know how else to convey myself at this point other than being completely direct. I felt her hand pet my head, stroking ever so gently.

"Honestly, you never change do you?" she sighed whilst petting my head.

H-hey, Arisa? What do you think of me? Honestly." I ask. I want to know. What does the person that I'm growing feelings for think of me?

"This is quite sudden, but I guess I'll play along to your antics like usual," she continued to pet my head.

"When we first met, I honestly thought that you were the biggest thorn in my side, you refused to leave me alone just to see that guitar, Random Star. But it was when I first saw how broken you were when you dropped that guitar. I couldn't help but feel bad really. When you dragged me to be a part of the band I was actually really happy, I didn't have many friends through elementary and middle school and it was the reason I wouldn't show to school that often. But you gave me a reason to keep coming. "

I looked up to her and changed position to be laying in her lap. "You mind if I stay here?" I ask.

"N-no, not really," she turned away to try and hide her face but I can see that her ears are red. And to be honest so are mine.

"Anyways, even though you were such an annoyance to me, I didn't hate. More like I don't want to live without it. You made a place where I feel that I can belong, and for once I have close friends I can rely on. Though I'm sorry that I still hide things from you guys. So that just brings it back around to how I feel about you. I want to say that you are my best friend, but you are more than that. I don't know what it's like. Like a more than friends, but not quite lovers."

I realized what she said and I turned to her and she seemed to realize that at the same time.

"It's n-n-not like I think we should be lovers or anything!" She immediately denied.

I got up and looked, from her lap and sat upright at the couch. I have made up mind. After hearing that I have made up my mind. I turned to her and looked her in the eye.

"Well, that's too bad," I gently hold her hand and grasp it tightly in both of my hands.

"I'm going to be really straight with you, I have feelings for you Arisa."

"E-eh!?"

"And I don't know how I should deal with these feelings. I realized it when you were gone, how lonely I felt. Sure I met with the other girls but I didn't feel fulfilled until you came along. It was you. You were my sparkling, heart-pounding moment. And I never want to let go of you again no matter what."

I hold her hand tighter and look her dead in the eyes.

Arisa looked away turning a very flustered red. Then turning back to me.

"Seriously you never seem to stop being an annoyance. The first girl to bring me out of my hermit lazy ways. The first girl to give me a dream to look forward and work towards. The first girl that I want to be with me every step of the journey."

I lean in closer and closed my eyes. My heart was pumping, I let my faith be in Arisa's feelings and the Christmas Eve magic. This is it. I can finally convey my feelings to her properly. I felt my lips touch something soft, and I stayed savoring the moment. It was sweet, and a bit larger than I expected. 

"Kasumi?"

I opened my eyes to see that my lips have been stopped by her hands. And behind is a blushing Arisa. My heart immediately sank realizing this rejection that I just had and the embarrassing show I just put on for her.

I was immediately hugged by her and she whispered to me, "I'll give you my answer at the show."

A sense of dread came over me, realizing that I probably did something to compromise our friendship. It seemed to show because Arisa was quick to comfort.

"Hey look, no matter what my answer is, I'll still be holding on to you tightly. Never letting go of you. That's much I can promise."

She took my hand, I looked up to see her teary-eyed face, myself being somewhat teary, I saw her beautiful round face, her glistening hazel eyes that compliment her light brown hair that layered down in a flowing motion. Her hands, small and firm, gripped me, shaking. 

"No matter who, no matter where, no matter what, no matter when, I will never, absolutely never, let go of this hand."

Everything brightened and glowed as she said this. I was struck with awe at her proclamation. It sounded awfully familiar too like I've said those exact words before. At that very moment, I felt tears running down my face. Arisa lifted her sleeves, wiped them, and gave me a hug.

Arisa leaned closer to me spoke low, "Let's search for a new dream together."