So tired...

I took my luggage from the baggage tray after a 14 hours flight. It was so crowded at the airport, and I just hoped that I could go home by teleporting.

Where is she, huh?

"Syo! I'm here!"

Someone shouted, not far from me. I sighed because I didn't want to take another step since it was really tiring.

"Risa-san, please help me out."

I raised my hands while waiting for my cousin to reach me. When she approached, I gave her a tight hug.

"Well, why did you become so tall right now? It's so unfair! I hate it."

"I'm not that tall, Risa-san."

"Wait, what's with your complexion?"

"Risa-san, I haven't been sleeping for more than 24 hours. You know, I'm not that type who will sleep at the airplane."

We let go of the hug. Risa dragged the luggage, and I followed her from behind. I was terribly soulless and didn't want to walk at all. The exact answer is I didn't want to do anything except for breathing and taking a sweet, long, and comfortable sleep. Risa also said a lot of things, but somehow it was just flying away from my ears.

"It's not like your first flight, what the hell did you do for another 10 hours?"

"This and that?"

"Nuts."

I yawned so hard and accidentally bumped into someone because I closed my eyes.

"I'm really sorry! It's my fault, I didn't pay attention."

I bowed even though I was so lazy at that time. I raised my head and took a glance at the one I bumped into.

"That's ok--- Hmm?"

The person in front of me tilted his head without finishing the sentence. My heart was pounding so hard. I was afraid that the person would hear it. I tried to manage myself because I didn't want to be impulsive. I took a deep breath to calm down.

"Syo? What are you doing? Let's go!"

"I'm really sorry I need to go now."

"H-hey!"

I ran away, left the man in a confusing situation. To be honest, I was glad that Risa called me. My face was so hot, maybe that person could see how flustered I was back then. I wasn't wrong, that person was shouting at me at the end.

Damn, I didn't think that I'll be seeing him so fast...

"What's wrong? Your face is blushing. Did you catch a cold?"

"I'm fine. I just bumped into that person earlier."

"So careless."

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

↫ 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬

It was April, and the pink petals from the cherry blossom trees fell so prettily whenever the wind gusted. I walked through the sidewalk to high school as a freshman. There was a thrilling sensation inside my body that I couldn't explain, either I was excited or scared. I could only squeeze my bag to transfer at least a little of my nervousness.

"Good morning!"

People around me greeted each other. I wondered if I was going to be an outcast once I attended class later.

Don't jinx yourself, idiot!

I clenched my hands to cheer up myself. For the final act, I even slapped my cheeks, just for a reminder to get a grip of myself.

"Watanabe-san?"

"E-eh?"

"A-ah, I'm sorry. Did I startle you? I've been calling your name, but you didn't pay attention."

IT'S SUZUKI-SAN!

My inner self was screaming, surprised by the figure beside me. I became speechless, even a simple greet couldn't come out from my mouth. I rubbed my eyes to make sure if I saw an illusion, but the person who called me earlier was exactly right beside me. I unconsciously pinched that person's cheek.

"Watanabe-san? Are you surprised?"

I nodded a few times. After that, I realized that I did something stupid.

Syo, you're insane... Ah, I want to hide right now.

Meeting an old friend, but I ended up pinching his face for the first time in the morning. I pulled my hand and bowed to him.

"Suzuki-san, I'm really sorry. I didn't expect to see you."

"It's fine. Actually, it should be me who is surprised by seeing you in here."

"Ah, you're right."

I rubbed my hair because it was really awkward between us.

"Anyway, this is too formal. Can I call you Syo like before?"

"O-of course! I'll call you Ren then."

A moment of silence between both of us. It had been a long time since we saw each other. I moved to another district when I started middle school. We used to be neighbors, but I also rarely went outside and played with other children back in that time. Even in primary school, I was never in the same class as Ren, but oddly enough, he remembered me.

"Syo, do you live in the same place as before?"

"Y-yes. Ah, I mean no. I live in an apartment. But it's not that far from our old house."

"I see."

Walking side to side with Ren, I never imagine such things will happen right on the first day in high school.

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔, 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒑𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆

𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐮 ┊ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎

And then, we became classmates...

"You can rest in here, and then I'll take you to your apartment tomorrow."

"Thank you, Risa-san."

I threw myself to the bed with a big exhale. I would move after the apartment finished the furnishings. I was about to do it by myself, but my mother was wrong when she paid for the studio.

For now, I stayed in my old house, which had been taken over by my uncle, my father's old brother. In the past, I couldn't stay with my uncle, since it was really packed and didn't dare to bother, so I lived in an apartment near this house back in high school.

Fourteen hours of flight did really affect me a lot. My head started to spin around. When I began to close my eyes, I recalled the airport's moment so suddenly.

"It was Ren. Truly, it was him."

He looked mature, handsome, and his height...

Just like what I had imagined before.

"WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT!"

I screamed and punched the guiltless pillow to erase my thoughts. I stood up so suddenly and looked for a mirror. When I saw my reflection, there were tears near my eyes, about to fall. No one could expect a half-day flight would make me looked so miserable.

"He saw me like this?"

I started to be a denial. Maybe Ren didn't even recognize me in the first place. Even if it had been for two years, I also have changed. My figure plus with today's messy appearance.

He shouted after I ran away...

"What am I gonna do?"

I sat down on the bed and took my phone. I wanted to call my parents to inform them that I had arrived. If I could, I wanted to go back to New York. I shouldn't be so confident about going back to Japan, if the little accident at the airport earlier, could make me tremble and irrational like this.

I imagined things again.

I wasn't ready because it was like an ambush by an enemy when I kept my guard down.

Well, maybe, if we were to meet again, I could be prepared and didn't do a shameless thing like ever before.

I better avoid him.

But I barely know his about and situation right now. It will be a disaster if we bound to meet again in the future.

Since I have escaped from reality, especially from him...

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

"... Mom, I wanna go back... No, everything is fine, it's just I suddenly don't want to be in here... Please don't be mad... I went to sleep yesterday, no chance to call you and still jetlag... Love you, mom."

I exhaled. On my phone with my mother beforehand, I was a little sad because she didn't even comfort me nor else asked about my reasons. But on the second thought, I wouldn't also answer it so quickly. She wasn't that angry, but she sounded so stern like a usual mother would be.

After called my mother, I went down to meet my cousin, Risa. There were only both of us since the others hadn't come back from their vacation.

"Risa-san, good morning."

"Syo, good morning. A Japanese breakfast?"

"I'm not picky, you can decide for yourself."

I checked my phone, aimlessly. I didn't know what I should do by now. It was so dull. I wanted to do something, but I didn't want to unload my things since it would be troublesome.

"Risa-san, I feel like my confidence has gone down to the lowest level. I think it's zero right now."

"Why did you randomly spout some nonsense? The breakfast is ready."

"I was scolded by my mom earlier."

"What the hell is happening with you? We will go to your apartment after breakfast."

No one wants to understand how I feel...

I ate without saying any words. The meal was excellent, but sadly I didn't feel well. I didn't get sick, I was normal, but my mind wasn't in a reasonable state since the encounter yesterday. I kept fighting with my inner self rather than thinking about how to keep myself calm.

"Thank you for the meal!"

"Glad you like it. We'll depart in five minutes."

I nodded. Without being any polite, I put my head on the dining table.

I was stupid back then. I know if I were to come back, there will be a moment when we are going to meet each other. But, so fast?

No, no!

I didn't do anything wrong back then... I wasn't...

Ah, I did something serious.

Maybe I should pretend not to know him if we meet again.

I laughed, but it was like mocking myself. I could say that I'm a genius since I found how to avoid Ren, but it was just a reason to comfort my stupidity. An excuse to escape from reality.

"What are you gonna do if you did something stupid to someone else?"

I mumbled. My cousin somehow listened to what I said.

"Of course, you have to apologize. What else?"

"I'm sorry, I remember something."

Why do I have to apologize? It wasn't a crime, I just...

... confessed to Ren.

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔, 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒑𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆

𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐮 ┊ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎

Along the way to the apartment, I felt much better than before. Risa had been asking me again about what happened, but I only denied with a jetlag excuse. I did jetlag, but after having asleep, I didn't feel awful like before. People outside still wore something warm, because it was spring. And in no time, it would be busier later since the schools and universities were going to start.

"Hey, could you please not wear your earpod? Just connect your iPod to the car."

I like using my earpod more...

"You won't like them. My taste is unique. Just use yours."

"Don't care at all because I'm driving now. "

I sighed and connected my iPod to the car. I chose my general playlist, which I had made long before in case people were asking me the same request as her. I don't have a specific favorite genre, because if I like it, I will add it to my playlist.

I'm too considerate...

After six songs had been played, we finally arrived at the apartment. It was beyond my expectation since I thought my parents wanted me to suffer.

"Risa-san, you didn't want to get in?"

"No. I need to go back to work. Don't worry, I already told my colleagues that I'm going to be late today. You okay by yourself?"

"Of course. Thank you so much, Risa-san."

I bowed, and Risa waved her hand from the car. After she left, I got into the building since it was still cold, even if you wear padding. Someone greeted me and gave me the card and keys to my room.

"Need some help, Watanabe-san?"

"You don't have to. I didn't bring that much." They will ship it from New York later...

"Okay, have a good time."

I left the tiny room behind the receptionist's desk and walked to the front of the elevator. I was waiting for it to go down. I lost in my thought about what I should do after this. To be honest, I was still too tired to do anything else. Risa packed some meals that at least I could survive until tomorrow.

The bell rang, and the elevator's door opened. When I was about to get in, I was stunned.

It's Ren, again? Does he also stay in here?

I was glad that Ren didn't pay attention to me. Still, I was trying to keep calm, so I would be unnoticed at all. But, since I had been having an unlucky day, I somehow dropped my scarf, and a stranger poked my back.

"Your scarf."

"A-ah, thank you."

After a moment, our eyes met, which is basically the last thing I wanted to happen. This time, Ren even looked more surprised. I avoided his gaze and walked into the elevator fast. I was in agony and debating with my inner self, whether the acting was natural or not.

I really need to go back to New York before it's too late...

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

"Excuse me, I'm sorry."

Ren came back, and he also got into the elevator.

Why is he coming back!?

He stood up just precisely in front of me. Meanwhile, I didn't breathe at all. It wasn't because the elevator was packed, but I just felt like I couldn't let any sound or air out from my mouth.

One by one arrived on their destination floor, and that was left with Ren and me inside the elevator. I stepped back until my back touched the elevator. I only needed to get off on the 20th floor, but I just realized that there was only number 20 left glowing among the button numbers.

He's on the 20th floor too? What bad luck is this!?

I wanted to make a phone call or whatever, but of course, it is not possible to do when you are inside an elevator. The cold and silent moment was strangely eerie. The nervousness literally covered me. I had a conversation with myself. Maybe this time, Ren forgot something, so he decided to go back again. It wasn't all about me. Maybe.

The bell rang. I pulled my suitcase without overthinking. I somehow relieved because Ren got out by himself first. I acted like a stranger because it would be weird if I started an awkward conversation, like "Good morning," or "I'm sorry about yesterday." Ren might not remember it at all.

Ren is in front of me, I hope...

Ah, he stops.

"Keiko, it's me."

Ren knocked on the door a few times. I passed through him, trying not to give much attention. I walked, not slow nor fast. Something bothered me that time, Keiko is a girl's name...

I arrived right in front of my room. I took the keys from my jacket's pocket.

This is my room. Glad it's not that close to Ren or that Keiko's room.

"Ren, why are you back? Do you really miss me that much?"

I startled because my guess was right. It was really a girl's voice. She sounded so cheerful and happy, but something came up that made me fretful.

"Are you kidding me?"

I tried to open my room, but there was a problem. The key stuck inside the keyhole, and when I tried to pull it, it broke. I cursed so many times inside my head. I could feel the blood rushed through my head.

"Shit, why..."

I grumbled in a low voice.

"You should've not forced it that way."

Ren, why is he here?

"Is that so? But it already happened. Even the spare key won't work because the broken key still stuck inside."

I cleared my throat because I was almost losing my coolness back then. I sounded so grumpy.

Calm down, calm down, calm down.

I took my phone and called the apartment's management. Ren was waiting with me the whole time, but he didn't say anything at all. He only looked at the door being fixed.

I guess, Ren didn't know that I'm Syo... Should I be happy?

"Do you want to wait inside my apartment? Keiko won't be bothered, so don't worry."

"No need. It will finish soon. Thanks."

Why should I? I don't want to bother a lovey-dovey couple in their apartment. Why did he have to mention that Keiko girl, someone I don't even know?

I pouted, and I was more furious when Ren smiled disparagingly to me. I didn't want to admit it, but I indeed was in a bad mood and tired by now. The jetlag was still there. To be honest, I might accept the offer if he didn't mention that Keiko girl.

After everything finished, the worker left, but Ren still stayed leaning the wall right beside my room's door.

"Thank you for me?"

Ren said that with his baritone voice, so gentle and pleasing to the ears. My heart skipped a beat. I flustered once again. I was speechless once again. My eyes pinned to Ren's gaze once again.

"It's been a long time, Syo."

I think I fall in love, once again.

✩｡:*•.───── ❁ ❁ ─────.•*:｡✩

𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒖𝒑𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔, 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒑𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆

𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐮 ┊ 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎