Scarred - Chapter 4
Title: Scarred
Author: Me
Pairing: Takaki Yuya X OC
Genre: Romance. Slice of Life. Slight Angst.
Paper planes fall.
Leaves wither.
Sun sets.
Stars disappear.
People get wounded.
Wounds turn to scars.
After Himari got ready for school, she went down the stairs leading to the living room. Her sleepy eyes went wide when she saw her father walking toward the door that leads outside, wearing a corporate uniform. “Dad!”
Her dad stopped and faced her. His weary expression was replaced by a genuine smile. “Good morning Himari.”
She ran toward him and hugged him tightly. “You went home last night?” she asked even if it’s already obvious. She doesn’t know why. She just wanted to ask that.
She felt her father kiss the top of her head. “Yes sweetheart. I’m sorry if I haven’t been home for the last nights. It’s just...”
She waited for her father’s answer but she just heard a sigh. She looked up at him. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
Her dad smiled. “Yes. And I need to go now.”
She let go of her dad. “Are you going home?” she asked, her smile slowly fading.
Her dad turned his back on her and shrugged. “We’ll see.” Then, he went out of the house.
She watched his back as he walked farther. She’s happy. Really. She’s glad that even though his dad has a problem with her mom, he still comes home at times. At least, he still thinks that this is his home. This is still his family. And he still loves them... or her.
At least.
After eating her breakfast, she went out of the house, leaving her mom since her work is still at 8:00 am. She was welcomed by a cold breeze of the autumn wind. She shivered and hugged herself.
“You might get diabetic.”
Himari took another bite of the third slice of custard cake she bought for lunch. “I don’t eat sweets everyday, Hayate.”
Hayate grabbed the fork she’s holding which made her protest and took a piece of her cake. “I really don’t know why most of the girls eat sweets when they’re stressed.”
She grabbed back the fork after he ate what he took and glared at him. “ And I really don’t know why you keep on eating what I am eating.”
He rested his chin on his hand and looked at her. “I really don’t know why you’re mean to me when you’re upset.”
She took in the last piece of cake to her mouth. “I really don’t know when you think I’m mean even though I’m not.”
He grinned. “I really don’t know why you keep on copying my sentences.”
She grinned back. “I really don’t know why you’re accusing me of copying you.”
“I really don’t know why you’re denying it.”
“I really don’t know why I became friends with you.”
The two of them laughed. This is what she really likes about Hayate. He has this talent to make her feel okay by just being his usual playful self. He seldom comforts her through cliche hugs and sympathetic words.
But she knows he cares. She knows how much he cares.
Then, she bell rang, indicating that lunch time is over. They looked at each other with eyes wide. Without saying a word, they hurried out of the school garden where they usually spend their lunch breaks.
“Who’s your next teacher?” Hayate asked while running.
She grimaced when she realized who’s her next teacher. “The new Art teacher. I’m so dead.”
He laughed at her. “Will this be your first detention?”
She ignored him and continued running until she reached her room. She didn’t even bother to bid her best friend good bye. She opened the door and unfortunately, her grumpy teacher is already there.
Himari sighed as she drop down the last box of artworks. Luckily for her, she was allowed to attend her Art class and wasn’t given a detention slip. However, she needed to help some of the students from the Art club compile all the old artworks in boxes at dismissal.
“Shall we carry these?” she asked.
The president of the club shook her head. “The boys will be the ones to bring those boxes to the faculty room.”
She nodded and looked around. Her eyes caught something resting on the top of the small cabinet. She walked toward it saw a small brown box. She opened it and saw some paper origami inside. She stared at those for a moment and took it . She went near the president. “Can I have these?”
The president glanced at the box she was holding. “Go on.”
“Hey, Himari.” She looked at the guy standing beside the door. She knew that he is one of Hayate’s classmate. “Hayate’s going to be late. He asked me to tell you that he’ll meet you at your usual place.”
“Okay, thanks!” She smiled.
After a while, they were already dismissed. She started walking toward the river of the lower part of the hill where they stay to relax. It takes 10 minutes to reach that place.
She walked pass the streets full of buzzing students who were also walking like her. She passed by the shops, turned left as soon as she reached the coffee shop and walked straight until the view of the sun which is about to set after an hour is seen. She stopped for a while and stared down the river glistening because of the sun rays striking it.
She moved back a little to see a larger view. But as soon as she did that, she heard a sound of a fast moving bicycle. She looked at her right and saw Yuya. She tilted her head and stared at him for a while. His eyes are closed and he looks so relaxed.
“Hey!” she greeted.
His eyes opened. And because of surprise, he lost balance as he advanced toward her.
“Woah.” She captured his arm to stop him from moving and held the handle of his bike. She looked up at him and chuckled. “Why am I always seeing you in a near accident scenario?”
“Yeah,” he shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care.
She felt like her throat was suddenly dry. She looked at his face. She doesn’t know if he’s irritated or what but she’s sure that he isn’t glad to see her. She let go of his bike and backed away.
“So... Uhm..” She didn’t know what to say and it’s rude to just leave him after approaching him. “Be careful next time.” She showed a small smile.
She slowly turned her back and started walking. She went down a few steps on the short stairs made up of cement and sat down on the fourth step. She set down her bag beside her while she put the box on her lap. She opened it and checked all the papers folded inside.
She took out the biggest and simplest one, a white colored paper plane.
She heard someone going down the steps. She didn’t mind that since she and Hayate aren’t the only ones going there. But when that someone sat down the step behind her, she turned her head and was surprised when she saw Yuya there, staring at the view in front of her.
The wind blew again. And his gaze was transferred into her. She felt her heart jump a little. Because of surprise, maybe?
She wanted to start a small talk to avoid the awkwardness. But she stared back at him, focusing on his eyes, seeing if there’s something in it that could tell her anything about him while fiddling with the paper plane. However, all she could see are his brown irises, devoid of any emotion.
“I love the wind,” he told her.
‘Random.’ The side of her lips lifted. She doesn’t understand what’s happening at all. Earlier, he was a bit grumpy. Then, he sat behind her, stared at her and blurted out something random. But she doesn’t mind. She actually likes it. “Yeah? Why?”
“Because the wind is amazing.” He averted his eyes and looked at the other side of the river. “When you feel it, the thoughts bothering you will be carried away. Your mind will be cleared. And worrying about nothing feels beautiful.”
She returned to her earlier position. She looked at the small plane on her hand and raised it up. “How far can the wind take your thoughts away? As far as the distance it can take a paper plane?”
She smiled at herself. “Nonsense,” she muttered. She threw the paper plane and watched it as it moves around, letting the air take it anywhere.
“Maybe,” Yuya answered her non sensible question. “But paper planes fall after a while. No matter how far it goes, it will still go down and you’ll either pick it up and let the wind take it again until you get tired or just leave it there and let it stay.”
It seems like he answered her non sensible question with a non sensible answer. However, she feels like there’s something in it. Is he still talking about the paper plane? She thinks not.
She faced him with a smile. And a goal to know more of him. “You know what? I want to see you again the next days. And the next weeks. And the next months. And the next years.”
He smiled at her. A small smile. But she knew that it is something he seldom shows. “We’ll see.”