Sunday, August 15, 2010

So It's You - Part 5

I walked the school’s hallway. I noticed the looks on the students’ face as I passed by them. I could hear them snickering. Some looked at me with pity. Some looked at me as if I assassinated someone. I could hear them talking behind my back. And I know the reason behind all of this – it’s Hikaru.

Rumors do spread like wildfire. Before I knew it, everyone knew that I turned down Gui Gui, the most popular girl in school, was turned down by me, Yan Ya Lun because of Rihito-sensei’s crazy granddaughter. I was mad. I was angry. Who are they to judge Hikaru, anyway? They never knew her the way that I do. They could never realize how special she is. The problem with people is that they easily judge a person because of how they perceive them to be, and not really get to know them better. Sometimes, I feel Hikaru is much better than these normal people, because she never judged them the way that other people judges her.

“Ya Lun!” I heard Da Dong call me. I stopped walking, and he came up to me, putting his arm around my neck. “So, I heard about your girl…” he said. I simply glared at him, but that did not stop him to make snide remarks. “She is Rihito-sensei’s granddaughter, no?” he asked. “Hikaru.” I pointed out. “Oh, yes… the seven-year-old girl? I never thought that you’re into… much younger girls… Aren’t you scared that you’ll end up in jail because of corruption of minor?” he said.

I feel my blood boiling on top of my head, but then I have to control my temper. “She is the same age as us.” I snapped at him. “So I heard. But… your girlfriend still acts as if she’s seven years old. Tsk tsk tsk…” Da Dong said. I stopped walking, and turned to face him. “Look, Da Dong.” I said in a firm tone. “If you can’t say anything nice to her, just shut the fuck up.”

I walked away from him. I was pissed off with his snide remarks about Hikaru. I hated the fact that one of my friends could be so narrow-minded like the rest of the people. If only they could see how Hikaru makes my day happy. If only they could see how I changed to be a better man because of her. Unfortunately for them.

That afternoon, I walked to the park, and as usual, I saw Hikaru sitting by the bench. The moment she saw me, her face lightened up. I know she waited a long time for me, because I know, I do. Seeing her just makes me forget all the ridicule and insult I had for the day. It was all worth it, for her. She stood up, and ran towards me. She put her hands behind her back, and swayed from side to side. “I’ve got a surprise for you!” she said in a sing-song tone. “All right, what is it?” I asked. “Guess.” She replied.

I let out a laugh. “Hmmm… let me see… a candy bar?” I asked. She giggled as she shook her head. “One of your origamis?” I asked again. She shook her head again. “What is it?” she asked. Slowly, she took her surprise for me from behind. It was a white teddy bear. “Here!” she said, handing it to me. I took the teddy bear from her hand, and smiled to myself as I looked at it. “That’s my favorite teddy bear, Ah Bu.” She said. I looked at her, and smiled. “Thank you. But… why are you giving it to me?” I asked. “When I feel lonely, I just look at Ah Bu, and talk to him. It helps me a lot. So, I’m giving this to you. Because… you seem so sad lately… and when I go back to Osaka at the end of spring, I know you’ll be sad like me. I have a lot of teddy bears like Ah Bu, but I know that you don’t have one. So I gave it to you… so that when you’re sad, all you have to do is look at Ah Bu, and then think of me… and then I will be there for you. I will be there for you even if I’m far away.” She said.

I stared at her for a long time. My Hikaru. My lovely and gentle Hikaru. Sometimes I wonder what is it that I’ve done to have someone like her in my life. I walked up to her, still staring at her smiling face. She was gentle and fragile. She shimmered under the sunlight. Sometimes, I felt that this girl standing before me is not human, but an angel sent down to save me from my life. “Thank you…” I whispered to her. I pulled her into a hug, and hugged her tightly. I closed my eyes as my fingers brushed through her curly hair. For that one moment, I wanted her to be mine, to make her feel my heart. I wanted so much to tell her that I love her, I wanted to so much to kiss her to let her know how I feel, but I was afraid that would scare her away.

“Ya Lun…” I heard her call my name. “Hmmmm…” I said as hugged her close to me. “I… I like you…” she said. I let out a smile. “I like you too… “ I whispered into her ear. I closed my eyes once again, and let myself feel her warmth. I wanted to be this way forever. I wanted to be with her forever.

--

I sat in front of Rihito-sensei. The chess pieces before me stood still in their place, as I determine what move I’m going to make. Saturdays have always been a chess day with Rihito-sensei, and it also gives me an opportunity to spend more time with him and Hikaru. I have no more moves left. I have a few pawns, a bishop, my king and my queen left, and any minute now, I know he will beat me again.

“I know what you’re thinking, Ya Lun.” He said with a smile. I gave the older man a puzzled look. “You are thinking of a way to protect your queen.” He said. I nodded my head. “For sure, when you make your move on me, it will be checkmate.” I said. “When we play chess, you always tend to protect the queen….” He said. He made a move, and I thanked heavens it was not checkmate. “You sure do love your queen. And you sure are protective of her.” Rihito-sensei commented. He looked up at me, and smiled. “And I understand why. Because without a queen, a king is nothing.” He said.

I gave him another puzzled look. “Rihito-sensei…”
“Do you believe in the saying that behind the success of man, is a woman?”
I nodded my head.
“And do you believe that behind a man’s change is a woman who made him change for the better?”
I stared at him for a long time. “I don’t understand…” I finally said, moving one of my pawns. “A man will not protect a woman with his life without a reason. And the reason will always be one thing.” He let out another laugh as he moved his king. “Love.” He said. He let out a sigh as he looked up at me. “Love will always be the reason for everything, right, Ya Lun?” he said. I nodded my head. “And when you’re in love, you don’t have to find a reason why. You love because you feel love.” He added.

I wonder if Rihito-sensei have been hinting about my feelings for his granddaughter. Would he be mad? Would he think that I’m taking advantage of his granddaughter? Would he ask me to stay away from her? “Have you ever felt the need to protect someone, Ya Lun?” he asked again. “If I do, does it equate to being in love?” I asked. He shook his head. “There are times that you need to protect someone because it is your obligation. There are times that you protect someone because you felt that you have to. And there are times that you need to protect someone because it comes to you as an instinct to protect that person.” He answered. “So, which among them is love?”
“I ask you… which of them do you think is love, Ya Lun?”
“If it’s an obligation, I don’t think it’s love. If you feel that you just have to protect someone just because you felt that you have to, I don’t think it’s love either. Maybe when protecting someone becomes an instinct, it is equal to love?”
“You’re wrong.”

I looked up at him, and saw him make another move on the chess board. “You love someone, and you protect them because you know that having them without you by your side will hurt you. When the one you love is hurt, the pain you are feeling is a hundred times of what that person feels.” He said. I glanced up at him, and saw his lips turn into a smile. “When you hear people say something bad about Hikaru, why do you easily get mad? Is it because you are hurt with what you’re hearing?” he asked. “They never knew Hikaru in the same way that I know her.”
“But you are hurt as well. You are hurt, even though Hikaru could never hear what they say… You protect Hikaru from them because you are hurting for her.”
“And because I protect Hikaru…”
“It means that you love my granddaughter.”

I froze in my seat. Rihito-sensei knew what I really feel for her, and I don’t know what will happen next. “For the past ten years, I’ve been praying to the gods. I’ve been praying to them to watch over Hikaru. I am an old man, Ya Lun, and I don’t have much time here on earth. I can’t always be there to protect her.” He said. “There will be other people willing to protect Hikaru as well. Maybe you just have to give them a chance.” I told him. He let out a laugh, and then he stood up from his seat. I watch him as he retreat back to the kitchen. “The spring dance is in a weeks’ time, isn’t it?” he said. “Yes.” I answered. He looked back at me, and smile. “I bought a lovely kimono for Hikaru for the dance. I hope you’re still interested in taking her to the dance.” He said.

My smile widened upon hearing what Rihito-sensei said. Finally, he agreed to let me escort Hikaru to the spring dance. “I still am.” I said. “Thank you, Rihito-sensei.”

--

The spring dance came.

I waited in Rihito-sensei’s living room. I could feel my heart beating fast with each second that passes. I’m waiting for Hikaru to come out, so that we could go to the dance together.

“Ya Lun…”

I heard that familiar voice. I stood up from my seat, and saw her – my lovely Hikaru. She was wearing a pink kimono with sakura design. Her long curly hair was tied behind, and flowed through her shoulder. The child in her seem to have gone, and was replaced by a young lady. She was lovely – much lovelier than the beginning of spring when I saw her once again.

I was speechless as she walked up to me. She smiled at me, and at that moment, I felt that my world stopped. When I didn’t respond to her call, the smile faded from her lips, and she lowered her head. Her fingers fidget on her kimono. “I… I…” she stuttered. She shyly looked up at me, and I smiled at her. I held her by her shoulder, and looked into her eyes. “You’re beautiful tonight…” I said. Those words were enough to put the smile back on her face. “Grandpa bought it for me!” she said gleefully. She twirled around to let me see how beautiful her kimono is. “Look! Do I look like Cinderella now?” she asked me. I nodded my head in awe. “More beautiful than Cinderella.” I said.

“And since you are Cinderella tonight…” I heard Rihito-sensei said. He looked up at me, and smile. “I expect my princess to be back by midnight.” He said to me. “I will take her home before midnight.” I assured him. I looked at Hikaru, and smiled at her. I extended my hand to her, and she took it excitedly.

This will be a memorable night for the two of us. That, I know.






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Labels: fan fic, So It's You