Saturday, August 14, 2010

So It's You - Part 3

Spring day passes by.

I frequent Rihito-sensei’s house to keep company to Hikaru while he is at the uni, giving lectures. With each time that I spent with her, the more that I get to know her. There were a lot of things I learned about her, thing that I discovered with myself while I’m with her, and things that I find in common with her.

Like how she likes strawberry cakes. She loves eating the cake off the plate with her mouth, making her nose filled with icing. It never fails to make me laugh when she dips her face on the cake and have of her face had icings on it. And of course, I would have to help her clean up, because when she do the cleaning, the icing will just scatter all over her.

She loves making origami. Her favorite to make is a paper crane. She had a jar full of paper cranes that she always brings with her.

She loves to read books. Not just books that a child would read, but books that her grandpa had on. Sometimes, you could keep her behaved by handing her a really good book.

She loves to chase after butterflies. One time, I was too busy reviewing for a test, that she almost got lost chasing another fly.

She had an IQ of 150. She would have a bright future ahead of her, if not for that tragedy that happened to her and her family, which made her to be like what she is today.

I could go on and on telling what else I know about her. Without even uttering a word, she have let me into her world to take a peek, and soon I find myself liking what I saw. I look forward to each afternoon I’ll be spending with her, because it means there would be something new that I would find out about Hikaru. I love keeping her company because of this peaceful feeling I had when I’m with her. For once, I could be myself when I’m with her. There is no pressure, just a relaxing afternoon playing and kidding around.

But as days passes, the spring finally came to an end.

I stood outside Rihito-sensei’s house, watching as he put the luggage inside the van. The end of spring means that Hikaru will have to go back to Osaka. She stood beside me, her head hanging low. The moment Rihito-sensei told me that Hikaru have to go back to her family in Osaka, I became sad. But I guess there’s nothing I can do. She was just here to visit her grandpa for the whole spring.

“Hey…” I said in a low voice. She looked up at me. My heart wrenched upon seeing the sad look on her face. “Don’t be sad.” I said. I smiled, and pinched her cheek. She let out a faint smile at me. “Don’t worry, your grandpa said you’ll be back next spring. I’ll still be here next spring.” I assured her. “You will wait for me?” she asked in a hopeful tone. I nodded my head, and smiled. “I will wait for you.” I said. She held out her pinky, and I linked mine to her. “Promise.” I said.

Her grandpa called on her, and we both knew it was time for her to go. She smiled at me, and waved at me. As she got into that car, I was wishing that the seasons would change immediately. I wished that it would be spring once again so that I could see her.

I wish…

--

A year later.

“Ano…”

She shyly bowed towards me, then she handed me a box of chocolates. It was Valentine’s day, and I never expected that Gui Gui would come up to me and try to give me those chocolates. “Ya Lun… daisuki. I… I like you for so long…” she said. I let out a sigh as I looked at her. Gui Gui is a nice and pretty girl, and all the boys in school likes her. It would be flattering on my part to know that she likes me, but sadly, I don’t like her in that way. I can only see Gui Gui as a friend.

“Gui Gui…” I said. She looked up at me. I knew that if I accept her chocolates, she would think that I like her too, but it’s not the case. There is someone else that I’ve liked for so long -someone whom I’ve been waiting. Someone whom I’ve promised to see this springtime “I… I’m sorry, Gui Gui. I can’t accept your chocolates.” I said.

We were interrupted by someone calling my name. “Ya Lun!”

I could remember that happy voice, and the owner of it. I find myself smiling unconsciously as I look up. And there she is, Hikaru. She was smiling and waving at me. Just like the last time I saw her, her long curly locks were in pigtails. She was wearing a pink flowery dress. I felt my heart beating fast upon seeing her. The long wait is over, and my spring came earlier than I thought. Hikaru is here, and I felt like the happiest guy on earth. “Hikaru-chan!” I shouted.

I totally ignored Gui Gui, and ran up to Hikaru. I hugged her tight, and spun her around. I was so excited now that she’s here. Her giggling is like music to my ears, and I love it. I love it when she was happy this way. I am at my happiest when I’m with her. I held her by her shoulder as I grinned from ear to ear. “You’re early!” I said. She smiled, and nodded her head. “Aiba-chan needs to attend to some things so I went with him.” She said. I just nodded her head. “I missed you, Hikaru-chan.” I said. “I missed you too.” She said in a sing-song tone.

I looked into her face. For that moment she was in my arms, it felt that the time stood still. Nothing else really mattered to me, but Hikaru. I see her blushing as I stared at her face. She was so close to me, that I fear she could feel the heart beat raging against my chest. No one had an effect on me like this, no one but only her.

--

We went to the park that afternoon, playing and running around like little kids. As the dusk sets in, I walked her home. I was holding her hand as we walked towards her grandpa’s home. Sometimes, I wonder if Hikaru could feel how cold my hand is as I held her small palms. I wanted to laugh at myself for being such a giddy school boy around Hikaru.

I looked at her. As we walked her eyes were roaming around the flowers that’s surrounding the neighborhood. An ordinary person would never look at it with awe in their eyes. But then again, Hikaru is no ordinary person. She is a special girl. A very special girl.

“Oi! Hikaru-chan!”

We stopped in front of Rihito-sensei’s house. There, I saw him standing, with a much younger man beside him. She lets go of my hand, and ran towards her grandpa. “Dear, you’re back. I was worried you would not be able to find Ya Lun.” Rihito-sensei said. She smiled at him, and shook her head. “I know I will be able to find him no matter what. I was able to find him the first time!” she said proudly.

The younger man approached me, and extended his hand to me. “I’m Aiba. I’m Hikaru’s aniki.” He said. I took his hand, and shook it. “Yan Ya Lun. I’m Rihito-sensei’s student.” I said. “I heard so much about you, Ya Lun. For that past year, Hikaru have been talking to you nonstop.” He said as he laughed. He looked back at his sister, and smiled at him.

Just like last year, I found myself in the comforts of Rihito-sensi’s house. There was a cup of coffee in my hand, and I sat in front of Rihito-sensei and his brother. “When Hikaru found out that I need to go to Tokyo for some business matters, she insisted to go.” Aiba began. “Usually, every spring, we send her to grandpa for a change of scenery. The doctors said it might help with her condition. Nothing was the same during the past few years we send her here, but last year, something have changed.”

He looked at his sister, and let out a smile. Hikaru was making origami once again while we “grown ups” had a talk. “She easily throws tantrums. There are times that she would not speak for a long time, and just play with her toys. But last year, when she came back from her vacation, she became a behaved little girl. And, she always talks about a new friend she met while staying with grandpa. She was talking about you, and meeting you again. Hikaru… never had a friend. She always stays indoors. When she was young, kids made fun of her because of the way she’s acting. Even until now. We sometimes have to keep her from the world so that nobody could hurt her. She never had a friend, but you… you have been gentle and kind to her. And so, I was glad to finally meet you. To thank you for being a friend to my sister.” Aiba said.

I was flattered by what he said. I never thought that that small act of kindness could mean a lot to Hikaru’s family. “Is there hope for her? To get well?” I asked as I eyed on her. “I don’t know… we’re not losing hope. I believe that one day my sister will get well, and she will live a normal life. But for now, we all have to take care of her.” Aiba said.

Just like Aiba, I believe that one day, Hikaru will be back to her old self. And when that happens, I wish that she will remain as innocent as she is today.











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Labels: fan fic, So It's You