IAM- Ch 1/8
Chapter 1: Yuya Tegoshi
As I passed by the corridor, I saw a group of three, clustering around somebody.
Their silhouettes are the only thing I can see from the distance.
I decided to look away.But when I spun around and looked back at their direction, my eyes wanted to pop out from its socket.
I saw one of them raised their hand on the air. And his face threw on the left.
I grip my fist.
I closed my eyes and exhale loudly.
I took a step inside the empty room. By the time, they saw me; they got startled and started running away.
My eyes wandered, where is he?
Then I saw him crawling like a baby on the ground.
I quickly dash closer to him.
He was covered with blood. His uniform got stains as well.
"Are you okay?" I asked.His hands were groping on my shoulder, I smiled faintly.
He was trembling. "Err--- I guess not...." I tried to joke. He just laughed lightly. I loop his hands around my shoulder as we tried to stand up together. "Ne... if someone tries to bullied you again. Just call me okay?"
"Yes. Vice president."
That's right. I'm the student body vice president and it's my duty to look after my schoolmates. We exited the dim room only to find out that it was twilight soon.
"Chiaki-san."
"Ehh? You know me?"
He looked at me oddly. My eyes grew wide as we stare at each other. "Yeah? Of course, we're classmates. Since our first year."
My eyes wanted to fell out. Shock, yes. Embarrassed, likewise. "Ah... Ah... really?"
He groaned in agreement. "Sorry... I didn’t take time to notice you and your presence."
"It's okay... On the first place, I'm not as popular as Miss Ino Chiaki."
I laughed lightly. "I'm not miss popular... Anyway, may I know what is your name?"
"Yuya Tegoshi."
__________________________________________________________
After that embarrassing moment of my life as the student body vice president, I decided to talk to him, and to all people, as much as possible. I don’t want to repeat the same situation, where someone would get embarrassed because of me.
The rooftop is my place. My favorite place and my comfort place.
If this is a comfort food, this is a chocolate.
Under the vast blue sky, I walked closer to the ledge and gaze on the peaceful scenery.
In 15 months time, we would be graduating from high school.
Everything would change. New friends. New breathing ground.
I wonder.... What if I get trap on a space warp? Or maybe a time warp, where I would be high school forever?
That would be awesome! Being together with your friends and someone you love, forever.
On second thought, that wouldn't be awesome. It feels like you're a vampire. An immortal who is trap on a human body.
Or Peter Pan, the boy who didn't grow up.
I shook my head. No. Life is about moving forward, never backward.
I should make the most of it. I should make my last remaining days very fruitful, so that I won’t regret it someday.
Suddenly, my stomach growls. I realized I haven’t eaten yet. I turned around and decided to head back on our classroom.
I glimpse over the side.
I got surprised as I saw him sitting alone on the shade.
I hesitate not; I walked closer to him and sat in front of him.
"Yo!!!" I said cheerfully and giggled. He look upward, confused. He still has some food over his mouth. He chewed it slowly.
And that’s when it happened, one second, he was sitting in front of me, another, he was walking far away. Eh? Last time, I’ve embarrassed him, now I scared him?
“Cho-chotto matte (wait a minute)” I yelled as I follow him.
He turned around and faced me. Not literally, because he was looking at the ground. “Nande? (Why)”
I shook my head. I came into my right senses. Why am I following him on the first place? “Ah. Nothing…” I said.
Then again… why is he avoiding me?
“Ino-san. I’ll go first…” He bow in front of me and walked away.
_______________________________________________________
“Chiaki-chaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!!!!!!” I spun around and saw Ayame running on the hallway.
“HEY! I said no running on the hallway!” I said while laughing. She smirked.
I looped my arms around hers.
“It’s been a while since we did this.”
“Yeah, I know. Gomen ne (I’m sorry.) I’m just busy with school works and being the VP.”
“I understand.”
From my peripheral vision, I saw Ayame, pouting.
Ayame is my closest friend inside the classroom and outside.
We’ve been friends since our freshmen year.
As we stand at the door of our classroom, my attention was abruptly caught by the strange Yuya Tegoshi.
“Ayame…” I whisper. But she was not listening; she was busy shouting with our other classmate on the other side.
I got irritated. I poked the noisy and giddy Ayame. Finally, it caught her attention!
I whisper again, “Ayame, do you know Yuya Tegoshi?”
Her eyes got wider and look around, subsequently she whisper again. “Who’s Yuya Tegoshi?”
“He’s the guy sitting on the corner.”
She nodded slowly.
“Oh…. I don’t know him… Is he a classmate of ours? He looks weird.”
“Yes, he’s a classmate of ours. And that is quite mean.”
“How come I didn’t notice him before?”
“It’s because you’re not observant!”
“So what’s with him? Is he your next target?”
She laughed her famous wicked chuckle. I glare at her in a joking manner.
“Of course not! I do have a qualification for a guy, remember?”
“I know right! Your dream guy, he must be talented, a great guy, with pleasing personality, can give you a bright future, with a stable job” On every description she stated, I nodded. Ayame does really know me well. “Demo… (But) why are you asking about him?”
“It’s because I’m a little bit concern. One time I saw him being bullied by other students. The other day, I saw him on the rooftop, when I came to approach him; he suddenly vanished in my eyes.”
She sighed dauntingly. “That’s because he’s weird.”
I gave in. I didn’t reply back. As much as I want to argue with Ayame and convinced her, that he wasn’t. I feel sorry for him.
Or more of myself, cause I couldn’t do anything.
________________________________________________________
With legs stretch, back against at the wall.
Under the blue sky, I patiently wait for Yuya Tegoshi.
I close my eyes and think of my afternoon schedule.
I have a meeting with rest of the officers.
Piano lessons.
Tutor Ayame on math.
I open my eyes again.
I saw Yuya Tegoshi looking at me confused.
He bow slightly and walk away.
"Hey!" I started to run, following him.
He look back. "Why are you ignoring me?"
"Because I'm afraid, Ino-san wouldnt remember my name, just like before."
The feeling was uneasy. I feel guilty because of my ignorance.
I never thought it would make a great impact on other people.
"Tegoshi-kun, I'm sorry about before. However, your name is already encrypted on my mind. It's Yuya Tegoshi. Class 2-B. The boy who sat on the third row, on the corner. "
He smiled.
The best smile I've ever seen from his face.
The smile, I've finally made.
I tap the floor beside me and ask, " do you want to share lunch with me? or... wait... wait... wait... before that, can we be friends?"
With pursed lips, he nodded gleefully.
I grin.
________________________________________________________
"YO!" I slap his back as I stood beside him. We were hanging out at the same ledge, on the same rooftop.
"Ino-san, ohayo. (good morning.)"
"Ne, Tegoshi-kun, you don't need to be formal that much, you can call me, Chiaki, just like the other people usually calls me."
"Hai. Hai. (Yes)" Then he faced me with sadness in his eyes. "People think I'm strange."
I didn't answer.
'what you don't know wont hurt you.'
I planted it on my memory.
I don't want to achieve another foul.
"Ne (Hey)... Chikai-san!"
"Oh?"
"You're my friend right?"
"Of course!"
"Then can we make a friendship promise here?"
"Sure. Anything."
"You have to promise, that you'll tell the truth starting now."
"Deal."
He cleared his throat.
"People thinks I'm strange, right?'
I swallowed hard. I wish to undo the time and never make that promise.
Forward. Forward. Never backward.
with close eyes, I answered.
"That's because people have different outlook on life."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Maybe because you're too silent for them, that they have perceive you're strange...."
"Am I strange to you too?"
"No.... In fact you're one of the best people I have ever met."
"Thanks.... " He said sadly. It was heartbreaking.
"Don't worry much, Tegoshi-kun, I'll help you gather your confidence! How about we'll do some make over?"
"How?"
"Try socializing with our other classmates..."
_________________________________________________
The plan worked. He emerge from his cocoon.
For me, it was somehow an achievement.
It was so close to perfection.
But I spoiled it.
As they say, Love comes when you least expected it.
It happened.
Every time we are together.
It feels so different.
There's a spark that was unexplainable.
________________________________________________________
As usual,
We hang out on our favorite spot and leaned on the brick wall.
We sat beside each other.
My head was resting on his shoulders whist his cheeks resting over my head.
"Chiaki-chan... I have a question."
"What?"
"How would you know if you're in love?" He asked. I moved backward and look at him oddly.
His eyes were close.
"They say... you'll know that you're in love with that person, when you cant stop thinking about him or her... When your heart starts to throb just thinking of him or her."
"How about you, how would you know that you are in love?"
I exhale and smile as I lean on his shoulders again.
"When I experienced this spark that is unexplainable."
Every words came from the mouth.
Every words were expressed by heart.
"She... I cannot remember when did I start liking her. But all I know is, every time I talked to her, it feels different. As if we are the only people on this world, like we have our own world outside this universe... She's nice... Every people whom I know, likes her, just like how I like her...." My heart started to pound. I felt anxious. I don't why... But I'm feeling happy. Then he continued, "She makes me happy... She helps me with lot of things... She inspires me... She's the reason why I still go to this school... She's like my everything."
I could feel the happiness on his tone.
____________________________________________________
"Did he say her name?"
Ayame asks happily as she face her computer.
I was busy staring at her ceiling whilst I lay down on her bed.
"No..."
"If not... That means, it's YOU! You are the girl he was talking about! Why don't you do the first move? If you like him, just tell him! It wouldn't make a difference if you would try."
"But... I don't want to assume, that I am that girl."
"You're not assuming yet you are expecting."
"Sort of?"
"Finally it came from your mouth!" She sigh exasperatedly. "At the same time, you are waiting too. If I were you, I would not prolong my agony. I'm going to tell him."
I sigh.
She's right.
__________________________________________________________
"Tegoshi-kun, let's meet at the rooftop later, I have something to tell you."
I told him. He smile confusedly. Then i walked away.
---
Two more steps and rooftop, here I am.
I feel edgy, twitchy.
I got an upset stomach.
Would Tegoshi-kun reciprocate my feelings for him?
I close my eyes and took a deep breath.
"Tesshi-nyan..."
I opened my eyes to the fullest.
Then I saw someone's back.
It was a girl.
I cannot explain my the anxiety level that I am experiencing.
I wanted to take a step forward to them, somehow, I cannot move my feet.
I feel numb. "Would you like to go out with me?"
She ask. It made me more shock.
'Noooo!' I wanted to yell. But my throat got dry. words wont spill out of my mouth.
Tegoshi-kun blushed and smile.
Then brightest smile.
He answered, "I thought you never ask."
I walked downstairs, with a heavy feeling.
And in silent...
I cried.