pure petals || k. tsukishima

02 | 🍰

Door

ーーー

A breath of relief escaped your lips as you walked out of the classroom door, speeding your way through the narrow hallways. You walked past a group of girls, trying to avoid all the students. There was a whisper or two, and you weren't sure if you heard it right. All you could hear was the echoes of their gossip. In between the floor tiles of the hallway were the untruthful words that spread from the gossip. It was loud, even if it was a whisper. Quiet things travel so easily, sometimes you don't even realize how loud a soft thud could echo.

THUD

It did echo loud. The fall, the crash, the books and the pens that fell out. Your theory was proven right by a few shoes and trips. Your bag fell along with you, and this time you did care. Not because of the bruise that was forming, or that students were whispering and staring, but because your theory was proven right. How could you let it echo? Why did it echo, especially so loud? A crowd formed around you, trying to listen to the sounds as well. You didn't bother looking for the culprit, everybody looked the same. All their shoes matched one another's, it didn't matter who tripped you.

Each pen went back into their original spots, although the damage was already done. Cracks and loose caps were showing. Twisting the caps back on, you readjusted your bag. The fabric of your sleeve tightened as you moved to get up, catching someone's golden eyes amongst the crowd. He was far away, not quite listening to the whispers. He wasn't interested, and so he left, not wanting to indulge himself in something so loud.

You looked down at your knees, picking at the thin layer of the socks. Colors were dancing on the surface of your skin, and it tickled a bit when you tapped your fingers against it. Pulling the socks up, you decided to follow those golden eyes once more, curious and wanting again. The crowd dispersed, and the hallways returned to it's normal full state. It was loud again, however, this time you didn't care. Your attention was focused on one thing - those moonlight eyes.

Every flash of blonde hair drove you insane, much like the houses you tried to differentiate in your neighborhood. Curly, messy, tangled. How hard was it to find those eyes, ones that belonged to such a tall boy? Your legs only moved when you saw blonde, your pace only quickened when he turned a corner.

And as you followed him outside a door, you were met with the fresh breath of spring. The courtyard was quiet. A bench or two was placed in front of a few patches of plants and flowers. It was silent and peaceful, embedded with placidity, and bad days could easily turn into good days here. In the center of the courtyard, there sat a mix of florets and petals, making it their home. There was never any room for anybody else to talk here, to whisper, to gossip. You liked it that way.

Your bag gently hit your thigh as you made your way to the center of the courtyard, picking the same bench someone was sitting in. Finding yourself face to face with the same boy from this morning, you froze. Tsukishima Kei. Ironic, isn't it? The same boy who questioned your admiration for flowers, yet sat in front of something he can't quite understand.

He had his headphones wrapped around his neck and his bag that sat beside him. His eyes were fixated on you, caught off gaurd that someone would be seated in this quiet sanctuary. "Uh, hi. Can I sit here?" You chirped and scooted away from him, not realizing how close you were. His eyes averted, maybe he recognized you. "Whatever, I'll move." He uttered, grabbing his bag. Despite enjoying the silence, you wanted to talk with him. You wondered what he meant by that earlier this morning.

'It's just flowers, what's so special about them..'

That same phrase had replayed in your head this morning, and it kept you thinking. What was that look in his eyes when you met each other's gazes for a split moment? You had a chance to talk to Tsukishima Kei, the same boy that was just gossiped about when you walked past those girls in the hall. Did he even know your name? Did he even notice you in class? Was it okay for you to want? Right now, you didn't care. You wanted to talk to him, and so, not wanting him to go just yet, you gathered up enough courage.

"I thought you said flowers weren't special." You blurted, not really expecting an answer. He threw you a glance. "I never said that, I just questioned what made them so special." He got up and readjusted his bag. "Then," You started, unsure of what to say next. "Would you like to know?" You stopped breathing for a second. He paused for a bit, almost as if he had to think about what you had just said. "How lame." He scoffed before walking a few steps away.

You wondered if it really was lame, and why he said what he said. You got up and moved away from the bench. "Can I ask why you were sitting here, if they really are lame?" You gripped your bag, hoping for a response. Again, he paused once more. "It's none of your business." And so, Tsukishima Kei left you in confusion once more.

In truth, Tsukishima didn't know either. He didn't like the smell, he didn't enjoy the extra bugs that came with it, and he didn't think they were pretty either. He didn't understand your passion for those puny petals, things that could be ripped to shreds so easily. Why bother investing time in things that can die so easily? He didn't understand. So why was he sitting there? Maybe he was hoping for something good to come, or maybe someone.

"Do you want to eat lunch together?"

You breathed, wondering if those were the right words to say. He stopped in his tracks, and turned to look at you. He saw a door open, but not a real door. An invisible gate, finally being let open after forcing it closed for so many years. There were splinters and cracks left on the wooden markings of the door, damaged, broken, injured. The hinges were creaky and uneven, making it difficult to close and open. Then, he saw the flowers that decorated the path to the door. He saw lilacs, and those white flowers that slouched over like a crescent moon. He wondered. What were they called again?

Snowdrops.

He turned back and continued walking, but not before muttering something under his breath. You bit your lip, unsure of what his answer was to your unusual question. Your heart thumped and felt eager. You wanted something, when was the last time you felt this way?
It truly did seem like it was Spring, and the colors really did make the world so much brighter.

Your hand reached out, trying to grab. Grab what though? Was it okay for you to grab? To reach, and want? How can you grab when you're unsure of what you want? All you know is to want. And so, want you will.

The stormy sky's clouds dispersed, and the rain had stopped. It wasn't cloudy anymore, rather the sun wanted to smile brightly. The sun didn't do it because it had to, it shined because it wanted to.

You smiled.

ーーー

update again, surprise.

pray that i don't mess up again.