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After Reiji and Koji told me those things, I didn’t see any of the Takeis for over a week. It was an awful week for me. I found myself stopping at the cherry tree every day after school and lying awake at night, just looking out my window past the drifting cherry blossoms. On the third night I even snuck out of the house and walked down there while father was sleeping. But no sign of that gleaming hair.
I remembered what Reiji and Koji told me. They’d told me Haru had a new girlfriend. I hated what I was feeling right now. It was like Haru was messing with my heart. Didn’t he know how I felt about him? There was no way, now that I felt his warmth that my heart could live contently without him.
Then on Wednesday, Mariko came to my house and she helped me with my homework. Father said if I failed one more class, he would transfer me to another school.
“Sakura, I think you’re getting the hang of this! See that wasn’t so hard now, was it? Sometimes I think you’re failing on purpose!”
“Thanks so much, Mari-Chan! I couldn’t have finished all of this homework without your help.” I was lucky to have a friend like Mariko. She always helped a friend in need. And she certainly kept my mind off Haru.
“Oh, Sakura I forgot. My sister wanted me to give this to you. I didn’t know you knew each other, what’s this all about?” I didn’t know what was going on either. Why’d Rumiko send a letter to me and why couldn’t she give it to me herself?
“Well Sakura, it’s none of my business so you don’t have to tell me anything. I’ll see you at school tomorrow all right? Bye!”
Later, after she left and I read the note that had been folded over countless times in her hands, I wondered if Mariko had read the letter? Now that I think about it, she might have, from the weird way she’d been acting. The note said:
Dear Sakura,
Please wait for me under the cherry tree tonight after ten. It’s the only way I know to see you. And if you don’t show up, I’ll have no choice but to come and get you. Please don’t hate me for sending this note.
Forever Yours,
Haru
I took the paper to the backyard and read it through three times. It was the sign-off, the Forever yours that kept me thinking. You’ve got to be kidding me. He expected me to go and see him again, after he already has another girlfriend? But I decided to go anyways-not like I had a choice. I could finally have the chance to yell at him and let everything out. I left the note hidden under the old tree and left it there all afternoon.
Father didn’t get home until ten thirty and didn’t go to sleep until nearly midnight. I was worried he wasn’t asleep good when I snuck out through the backyard. I stood on there for a second and he didn’t come after me, so I relaxed a little and walked across the yard. There was a gentle wind that night that helped muffle the sound of my footsteps, and I got out of the backyard with no problems. I walked under the bright streetlights, and finally got to the cherry tree. Then one of the streetlights went out and I started to get scared. It was dark without the light to guide me. The shining moon was hiding behind the clouds and was of no help to me. I felt a warm breath down my neck. I screamed, but a hand covered my mouth. The person let go and I turned around. The minute I did, I saw Haru and he had a sweet smile on his face. Then he burst out laughing.
“Sakura-Chan, what took you so long? I was just going to get you. So you got my letter. I was scared you didn’t. I waited for two hours.” It was weird how a person like him would get scared over such a little thing. I almost forgot why I came to see him again.
“Ow! What was that for!? I wasn’t expecting that. A kiss maybe… but a slap? I thought you’d be happy to see me!”
“Don’t play dumb, Haru! Why did you want to meet me here? I thought you didn’t want to be seen with me. And you already have another girlfriend don’t you? You’ve been gone for so long and you expect me to come back to you?” Haru’s smile faded away. He stood there in silence.
“Sakura-Chan, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve been gone for a while, but not for the reasons you think. Please believe me. I’d never lie to you. And I don’t have another girlfriend. You’re my-my first.”
“Then why? Why did Reiji and Koji tell me-?”
 Chifuni · Thu Jul 26, 2007 @ 03:07am · 1 Comments |
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