• Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me...


    Was all that surrounded in my head at that moment.

    I was bowing down, squeezing a letter between my fingers with and a slight shade of pink on my cheeks.

    I stared down at the grass that prickled at my shoes.

    I shifted my eyes, and looked at her long shiny locks of hair that fell on her shoulders..

    But i had no to courage to look at her eyes

    Or else she would see my face full of my feelings.


    She slowly unfolded the clean letter with her long fingers, and looked down at it.


    I lifted my chin a bit more until..


    Suddenly, she closed her fingers together at the top of the paper.

    Riiipp...

    Sounded in my ears.


    I stared at the falling pieces of paper for a moment, stunned and my eyes open wide.


    Riip...


    I watched them drop to her white shoes like the cherry blossom petals that blow in the wind in the Spring.


    I try to stand up straight...

    I now wish that i had not tried..

    Because...

    But the only thing i saw was her.


    Her fingers tearing at the paper that she had only seen for a second.

    The paper that held all my feelings, and emotions.

    All my happiness in the days.


    I looked at her face and it

    was completely emotionless.


    There was no happy glaze in her hazel eyes like i always had seen them as i walked down the hallway...

    Actually..

    There was nothing but the cruel reflection of the papers slowly falling to the concrete floor.

    Like she was tearing my paper heart into a billion pieces so it could disappear along with the Cherry Blossoms.

    --------------------------------------

    All the cherry blossoms had already blossomed long ago and melted off the trees, slowly wilting against the ground.


    Students walked noisily to school, teasing and pushing each other against the fence, laughing.

    Some were dragging their bags along the floor, counting the number of rocks and branches they kicked around.

    Others were laying against each other, hand in hand,with a bridge of a thick wool scarf hanging lowly from their necks.



    It looked like the warmth and comfort that i yearned for..

    Back when i was a shrimp; first year.



    Now, i was halfway through my second year of high school.

    Past elementary, and junior high.



    Way past who i used to be.



    I sighed against the morning air with a puff of fog escaping my mouth.

    I looked down at my feet crunching on the cherry blossoms that were slowly shriveling and fading from their bright pink-peach color..



    "Morning Haru-Kun!" i hear a joyful voice from afar.


    I looked behind my shoulder, and saw Hisashi running to my side, his chest heaving and the air catching the fog from his breath.

    I continue walking.


    His pace finally slowed, and he grabbed at my left shoulder with his hand. "Why didn't you... wait for me??" I could tell he jogged to school today.


    Hisashi has been my company for the past 1 1/2 years.

    Not exactly my friend.

    No, more like a nuisance.


    He is quite popular among the girls in the school because of his kind personality.

    His great grades and his athletic skills have gained him much pride and fame.



    All the girls gather around the wide doorway to cheer for him at the school Martial Arts/Self Defense class, and scream out his name in glee jumping up and down.


    Perfect?

    Almost...(?)


    Me?

    Never.



    I blinked my eyes and looked at Hisashi as he caught his breath and swiped away his light brown hair that always covered his forehead.


    He finally gave out a big sigh and looked up at me with his glassy eyes.

    "You okay?" I asked.

    "Yeah. Let's get to class."
    --------------------------------------

    The bell rings, and i'm left in the empty classroom with Hisashi.


    He came over to my desk, and smacked his hand down on the wood, making the room echo.

    I looked at him with a confused look on my face. He lifted up his hand, and put his hands back down on his side.


    I looked down at my desk. There lay a pack of crackers.

    "Have some. I saved it for after school. " Hisashi said to me as he smiled.


    I looked back up at him and gave a tiny grin. "Thanks."


    We walked out of the school, my fingers playing with the paper clip in one pocket and the pack of crackers in the other.

    Hisashi suddenly runs in front of me.

    "Let's hang out after my class." I nodded my head and followed after him.


    All the girls squealed softly as Hisashi walked forward, bringing up his arms to his chest.

    I stay on the outside of the wall, but still peek a bit into the large room with walls made of mats.

    He grabs and brings down the opponent with a thump that causes the floor to quake, and all the girls scream in satisfaction.
    Hisashi helps his opponent up with his reaching hand, and leaves to the other side of the room.
    He gathers a towel around his neck and wipes his sweaty face.


    I then see him walk slowly to a woman with a baby blue bag
    who is by herself.

    I stare at her for a long time as they talk, trying to adjust my eyes.


    "Long silky hair..

    that falls right down her shoulders."


    She grins and her eyes glimmer.


    And kisses Hisashi right on his cheek.