"Hey Ishako, lost again in your own imagination? Oh, let me ask you again, what are you thinking all the time?

"Nothing," I said.

[School dispersal bell rings]

Oh, I think it's dispersal time already. Meet you tomorrow, Yahiko! Okay, bye!

"Hey, why are you always in a hurry? Listen to me, Ishako!"

He was Yahiko, my best friend. We have been together since we were 6. He's one of those persons I used to talk to in the whole class.

Oh, it's a hot, sunny day again in my town. I HATE SUMMERS! But there's nothing I can do about this.

[Ishako went near a blossom tree.]

I used to come here frequently. Even I don't know why, but this place holds a special place in my heart. Maybe because I've been coming here for many years, so I'm emotionally attached to this place. But it's really peaceful; I feel like home here.

Haaaaaahhhhhh!!!! Just another realm. [Hours and hours passed.]

I think it's time to go home, but obviously, first, I have to pick up all the mess I created here while making my sketches.

[Ishako picks up all the wrappers of chocolate he ate there.]

I'm just ready to go, and suddenly, I heard a voice I'm familiar with.

"Hey, Ishako, how's it going?"

Oh, looks like Agito is here. She's Yahiko's girlfriend and one year older than me. She's also one of the persons I used to talk to in the whole school after Yahiko.

"Hey, Ishako, what are you doing?"

"Nothing much, just going home again."

"See, Ishako, I know you are suffering from lots of things which you really don't deserve, but believe me, you'll get the happiness you really deserve. Just keep believing in yourself, okay?"

"Hmm, yrr, Agito, my father's alcohol habit is getting worse day by day after my mother's death. I don't know when, but let's hope he'll leave the alcohol soon."

"You were missing your mother again, right?"

"Uhh, nah, but..."

"I know you very well, Ishato. And now, about your father's alcohol habit, so don't worry; he will leave the alcohol when he realizes. Don't worry about that, Ishako. Now it's too late, so just go straight home, okay?" she said.

"Hmm, but..."

"What are you thinking, Ishato? Now, go home. Do you have enough money?"

"Yes, I got enough," I said.

[She passed me 10 dollars.]

"Okay, so keep this too, and make sure to eat something, okay? Now, go home, take care."

"She's kind of a nice girl... At least she was always there with me when I needed her, just like my elder sister."

I turned around to go home, and suddenly, I checked, so I realized I forgot my sketching notebook near the tree. I ran quickly to grab that. And suddenly, I saw a very beautiful girl sitting below that tree and looking at my sketching notebook. I just stopped for a minute; I wasn't feeling anything. She was wearing a very beautiful pink gown with dark pink flowers embroidered on that, with a very innocent face and a flower hairband on her head. She was really very pretty.

But wait, what is Agito doing there with that girl?

"Hey, Ishako, you're here again? What happened? Is everything alright?"

"I was going home, and suddenly, I realized in the midway to my home that I forgot my sketch notebook here," Agito pointed towards that new girl and said she has that.

"Sorry, but can I have my sketchbook? It belongs to me," I said.

"Oh, yes, why not," she said.

[She handed my sketchbook to me.]

That was the first day I saw her. I felt very relaxed when I saw her.

I quickly grabbed my sketchbook and ran away.

"He was a cute guy," she said.

"Yes, he is," said Agito. "You know what, his mother and his younger brother died last year in a car accident, and I don't know if I should say this or not, but his father used to beat him very badly. After his mother's death, his father suddenly became very insensitive and toxic towards him. Even his academic marks are so good in the whole class.

If there was someone else in his place, he would have given up long ago, and who knows what he would have done. But, and you know what, Yumine, he never thought suicide was an option. He's always so positive, but he never talks to anyone. But you see, he is really a strong guy.

No wonder why he talks so little; he suffered lots of things at a very young age."

I ran quickly and reached home, but again...

To be continued:

He,

is really a strong guy,

No wonder why he talks so little, he suffered lots of thing at an very young age,

I ran quickly and reached home but againnnn......

[futhur]

My father was yelling at my mother like everyday, (uumm... Yes, my first mother died a year ago, i loved her a lot....... And the one in front of me, she is my stepmother, but i can say that she is very nice towards me......and she is literally opposite of to all the shit words that stepmother doesn't treat well,

or maybe she is nice because she doesn't have her own child yet), she's good but i never saw her as my mother of you can say that i don't like her as my mother.......

Uhh, I- I- I miss you maaa....... [with slight numb voice]

But why my father is yelling at her,

Aaahhh.... Not againnn...

And actually This is one of the many reasons i don't like much to come at my own home......

Maybe I should sneak into my room

Heyyy ishaakooo.....

Ohh shittt----- He noticed me

When did you came?....

Just a little while ago... I said

Why are you coming home at 5 o'clock when school ends at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?... He said

Umm..i just had some work to do..

What will be the use of such a useless person like you... who cannot take care of himself

even today--

Even todayyyy I feel ashamed to call you my son..... it is better that you never come home like this and go dieeee----- He said

Papa, don't talk to me like that... Or maybe he's right... [ I said in my mind]

I--I--am...

uselesss....

Hey Tatsumo Don't talk like that with your son... [my so called mother said]

I saidddd Youuuu keeeeep yourrrrrrr mouthhhhh shuttttt..... he said

[He threw the plate of food at me and slapped her]

I didn't feel right at all after seeing this and I ran upstairs to my room as quickly as possible....

[after crying continuously for some time]

Tinggg-------

Oohhh maybe I Got a notification on my phone...

Waittt, let me checkk

Uuhhhh----

Oohhhhhh.....A friend of mine had sent me a photo of his trip with his family in osaka.....

I got up from my bed crying...

I went to my window and just looked at the sky... Aaahhh it's so relaxing....

Those stars looked so beautiful...

A cool breeze was blowing on my face, the whole city was filled with moonlight...

I woke up to the sound of cars... but today it all felt very nice.... I have always devoted my entire attention to the stars.......

I still remember that my mother used to bring me to this window every night before going to bed and told me.... that a star with the name of the one whom you remember has come in the sky...

but maaa, why there's so many stars today? Which one is your's maa??

I-- really miss you maa......

Hey Ishako, get up now, don't you have to go to school??

Ooho This boy sleeps so much... If only he could sleep the whole day.

Ishkoooooo, it's 7 already ... now get up

Hnn Maa I am just getting up....

I quickly got up and brushed my teeth and took bath and took out the clothes from my wardrobe to go to school,.....

ohoooo mother used the iron and had kept them there the night before....

[Then I really woke up]

Ohh... That was a dream of mine....

I watched the stars last night but I don't know when I fell asleep....

Heyyyyyy, ishaakoooooooo..

get up quicklyyyyyy.... Aahh.. this boy is sleeping all the time, I don't call you useless for nothing... Now come down and have breakfast, otherwise there is no need.....

I got up quickly from my bed and brushed my teeth and after bathe, I came to take my clothes from my wardrobe and i saw that no one had ironed them... So I ironed them myself... And another day I went to school in the morning without breakfast....... Honestly I'm used to it

But todayy before i could leave...my so called mother stopped and said.... Look Ishako, your father is good at heart, and uou know it very well that there is a lot of grief in his heart which brings out the anger.... So please Don't mind his words, his words are harsh but his feelings are a lot sweeter than what he says.....

No--No, I never mind what they say

Maybe, I am really useless, I said

Ooh----don't say that, she said

OK I'm leaving---- Good bye!!, I Said

But eat somethingg firstttt.... Ishaakoooooo???, She said

Neither night nor day, nothing is going well these days, ohhhhhhhh..... I don't feel like going school today..... Today I just feel like sitting at my favorite place.....

Today as soon as I went to sit near that tree, I saw the same girl again......

Woooaahhhhhh...... Seeing her again I started feeling very light, i feel as if all the tension in my life had gone away in the cloudssss.....

Today she wore a yellow colored shirt with such lovely flower embroidered on it and a very beautiful yellow colored skirt which was so long that it reached below her knees...... She is looking sooooo beautifullll.........

Oohh heyyy ishaakooooo......

Waittt whatttt--- she is calling me???

To be continued:-

Today she wore a yellow colored shirt with such lovely flower embroidered on it and a very beautiful yellow colored skirt which was so long that it reached below her knees...... She is looking sooooo beautifullll.........

Oohh heyyy ishaakooooo......

Waittt whatttt--- she is calling me???

wait wait waittt.... she is really calling me!!???.....whattt should I do?.....what should I do now?? I think I should talk to her......

[with a very calm face]

Ooh, Hi Ishako.....

How the hell she know my name??? Ooh right Agito should have told her.....

Hello...Uuuummmmm???

Ohh ye, I'm Yumine, andddd.....You must be thinking that how do I know yourrrrrr nameeee right?

Magicccccc, I can name people by looking at their facesssss.... [she started laughing]......I Was Kidding..... Agito told me about you... she said...

Ohh yes yesss, maybe Agito might have told her... I said....

I felt a different peace in her voice, looking at her it seemed that there was no tension on me.....

I shouldn't be asking this but agito told me about you... She said...

But before thattt why did not you went school today?.... She said

nothing muchh i just wasn't.... Ummm... Like.....aahh.... I said...

Didn't you feel like going to school today?... She said

Yeahh something like thatt... I said

Well, today I also did not feel like going to school, so I came here.... She said...

Have you come to this city for the first time?... I asked her...

Naahh, I grew up here as a child... And then my uncle was transferred to another city, so... I also had to go with him... She said

Uncle??... I asked her again

Yeahh, I use to live with my uncle and aunty... Avtuallyy.... Like...aa...My father, was brutally murdered when i was around 5 and then after some years my mother died due to some illnesses..... She told me...

i felt so bad for her, So much happened in her life but still she always had a smile on his face and talks so calmly....

Still, you are so calm... Like how?? I asked her...

Actually... now, I have nothing left to lose... She said...

And since when youuuu have been coming here? Under this tree???... She asked..

I have been coming here since childhood, my maa used to bring me hete when i was kid..... so whenever I am sad or confused, I come and sit here,

here I feel as if I am with my maa... I said...

Yeah, Agito told me about your mother...

She also told that you don't talk to anyone much... [she smiled very calmly]

Yess, because i feel like....

I have nothing interesting to say at all...

No problem, from now on I am with you.... She said...

[She extended a hand to be towards me]

Friends???.... She asked..

[Suddenly my heart skipped a beat...then a gust of cold wind moved towards me.... Many thoughts started coming to my mind...Suddenly I raised my hand and we shook hands.]

Friendss... I said

As soon as I touched her hand, I felt as if... I.... I can't explain it in words....

Her hands was so soft and so warm..i can feel that warmth hand of her....

suddenly my heart felt so muchh relaxed......i never felt that before..

When i looked in her eyes, Her eyes were shining like a star, they were sooo beautifullll....

After looking at her eyes....I--I felt like I've lost somewhere.....

Was i lost in my own thoughts or somewhere else i dont know...?

My heart wa beating so fast...this all happened within just few seconds...

The wind blew on the trees like this and that sound came as if the tree was trying to tell me something....

She tucked her front hair behind her ear....

I was feeling as if I was going somewhere deep and getting lost in her beauty....

How she is so beautiful.....?

To be continued:-