Saturday, August 14, 2010

So It's You - Part 4

“So I heard you turned down Gui Gui.” Osamu said as he sat beside me at the study hall. I was busy taking down notes that time when he was talking to me. “Yeah.” I said monotonously. “And I heard there’s this cute chick that visited you here at the uni. I glared at him. I saw that he have this playful smirk on his face. “Watch your words.” I threatened him. He laughed. He didn’t take it seriously. “So, who’s the hot chick?” Osamu asked. “Can you treat girls a little bit nicer, Osamu. She is not a chicken.” I told him in an annoyed tone. “Fine… so, who is this new girl? Where did you meet her? Are you dating her? Is she the reason why you turned down Gui Gui?”

I put down my pen, and face him. “Her name is Hikaru. I met her last year. I am not dating her, for she is a friend. A special friend. And yes, she is the reason why I turned down Gui Gui.” I told him. He gave me another smirk. “Special friend, huh? So you like her?” he asked again. “I do.” I said proudly.

I like Hikaru. I know I’ve said this before. I like everything about her. She can never be compared to any other girls, especially to Gui Gui. “So, when can we meet the girl that made the great Yan Ya Lun fall in love?” he asked again. “I’m planning to make her my date at the spring dance. So, don’t worry. You’ll meet her soon.” I told him. And with that, Osamu stopped asking me questions about Hikaru.

--

I met Hikaru at the park that afternoon. We were just sitting at the bench as she ate the ice cream that I bought her.

Spring dance is coming in a couple of weeks. Last year, I decided not to go, because I found no reason to go at all. This year, I want to go. I want Hikaru to go with me. It would be an honor for me to be her first dance. It would be great to have her beside me as we watch the fireworks light up the night sky. “Hikaru…” I called. She looked at me, and gave me a smile. “Ya Lun.” She said in a sing-song tone. Why is it that when she calls my name, my heart starts beating fast.

“I want to ask you something…” I began. She was all ears to me. “The… the spring dance is coming soon…” She nodded her head as I speak. “And… and I’m wondering if you would like to go with me… I… I can ask permission from your grandpa if you like.”

She just stared at me for a long time. I was nervous, for she might turn me down. “What is a spring dance?” she asked innocently. I could help but laugh at my silliness. Of course, how would she agree to be my date if she doesn’t know where she’ll be going to? “It’s a celebration being held at the beginning of the spring. All the student will go there, and dance.” I explained. Her face lightened up, as if she discovered something. “Ooooohhh like the one Cinderella went to when she met the prince?” she asked. I smiled, and nodded my head. “So, we’ll be going there and dance? You will dance with me?” she asked. “I will certainly dance with you the whole night. And then, we’ll watch the fireworks.” I said. “Fireworks!” she said as she clasped her hands excitedly. I nodded my head, and smiled. “I want to go! I want to go!” she said.

My heart was beating fast once again. “She said yes… she said yes…” I thought over and over again. As soon as I walked her home that afternoon, I decided to talk to her grandpa to ask for his permission. “I don’t think that would be a good idea, Ya Lun…” he said to me worriedly. “You know Hikaru’s condition. She is not like those students at the uni. What if everyone makes fun of her?” he continued. “I’ll be there to protect her.” I told him. He shook his head. “I don’t think you can stay beside her all the time, Ya Lun…” he said.

I lowered my head in dismay. If Hikaru will not go with me to the dance, then I wouldn’t want to come at all. “I’m sorry, Ya Lun. I’m just protecting my princess. Not everyone can understand her condition the way you do… I know because it had happened before, and it only hurt her.” He said. “I understand…” I said in a low voice. I said goodbye to him, and went back to my dorm.

I understand where Rihito-sensei is coming from. I understand that he was just protecting Hikaru. I know it would be hard for the people around me to understand her condition, and not mock her. But she is the one I want to dance with on that night. She is the one I chose to love. Maybe people will not understand why of all the girls chasing me, I chose someone like her. The answer is simple – she is special, and she always makes me feel special. When I met Hikaru, she brought color to my world. She brought laughter and smile to my face. I felt like free man when I’m with her, and I can put all my worries aside. A person my age would start to have all kinds of problems. I know, because I do have problems of my own. Sometimes, I wish I could be as carefree as Hikaru is. I can only be like that when I’m with her. When I’m with her, I was able to do the things I missed during my childhood.

That night, I lay on my bed with her on my thoughts. My Hikaru, my lovely and gentle Hikaru. I know my life would never be the same without her in my life. I know I could never live through another spring with her. As I fell into a deep slumber, I came to a conclusion that I am hopelessly falling in love with this childish girl I met. And I wish… I wish I could let her know how I feel.

--

I was on my way to meet Hikaru that afternoon at the park, when I met up with Gui Gui. “Ya Lun… can we talk?” she asked. “I’m in a hurry, Gui Gui. Can we talk next time?” I asked. “Just give me five minutes of your time. I want to ask you something. I let out a sigh. I had no choice but to hear her out. “All right. What is it, Gui Gui?” I asked. “Who… who is she?”

I knew she was pertaining to Hikaru. I looked into her eyes, and saw the pain written all over it. I know I caused that pain. “Do… do you love her?” she asked. I nodded my head as an answer. “I do.” He said. “She… she’s Rihito-sensei’s granddaughter, isn’t she?” she asked again. I nodded my head. “Ya Lun, you know what kind of girl she is!” she exclaimed. I knew anytime now, she would throw a fit. I could feel anger building up inside me because of what she said. “Tell me, what kind of girl she is?”
“She’s crazy. She’s a cuckoo. She doesn’t act her age. She is someone that’s not fit to be your girl.”
“And what made you think you fit to be my girl? What right do you have to judge her?”
“Why her? Why do you have to love her? Why can’t you just choose me instead?”

I took a deep breath before giving her an answer. “Because she is special.” I said. “She’s special, and she made me feel special. Because she’s innocent and unpretentious. Because with her, I don’t have to worry about a thing. Is that enough reason, Gui Gui?” I said. I saw her slowly lower her head. “I’m sorry that I turned you down, but I have to be true to myself. I am in love with Hikaru, and nothing can change the way my heart beats for her.” I said.

Maybe Rihito-sensei is right. It’s hard for other people to make them understand Hikaru’s condition. For them, she is a crazy girl who had psychological problems, just because she acts like at seven-year-old girl. If only people would stop judging her, and see her the way that I do, maybe they would learn to like Hikaru. It hurts me so to hear people say those things to her. She was more than that. She is not crazy. All I know is that she is the smartest girl I’ve ever met. And I love her for being that.
“Ya Lun…” I heard her call my name with worry. We were sitting by the bench that afternoon. I looked at her, and saw her looking at me worriedly. “Are you OK?” she asked. I smiled, and nodded her head. “I’m OK.” I assured her. “You look sad…”
“I’m sorry if I’m sad.”
“Why are you sad?”
“Because someone said bad things about my special friend.”
“I will be sad as well if someone said bad things about you.”

She smiled. And that smile took away all the negative feelings I have right now. Just her one smile is enough for me to go on, to protect her from the people that misunderstood her. I wanted the world to see what she really means to me, and not to judge her just because of her condition.

My mind drifted again. I felt something on my shoulder, and as I looked beside me, I saw Hikaru’s head on my shoulder. She fell asleep on me. I smiled as I studied her sleeping face. She have a soft rosy white cheeks that I wanted to caress. Her lips are pink, and I want to give her a kiss. “Do you like me?” I whispered. “Do you like me as much as I like you, Hikaru?”

I remember that conversation last spring. She told me she like me. I don’t know if she liked me as a friend, or more than that, and I wish it’s the latter, because I know that I do like her – no, I love her. I love her with all my heart. I wrapped my arms around her protectively. The sun sets down, and I let her sleep peacefully on my shoulder. As I stared into the horizon, I made a silent promise to her. A promise that I will never ever break till the day I die.

I promise that I will love her and protect her for all my life.




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Labels: fan fic, So It's You