Japanese Primrose (Love at First Sight)

Japanese Primrose (Love at First Sight)

(Hinami POV)

A year have passed and I was still finding my way back to my own era. Asagao-neesan and his husband Botan took care of me for the past year. I told them the truth on how I got here. At first, they are skeptical. They hardly believed me but they can’t explain on my unconventional clothing. They thought I was a foreigner at first due to how I was dressed when they found me. I told them the truth. It was a shocked to them. I asked them favors on doing my experiment on my way back. I did not lose all hope back then. Still comes failure after failure.

Eventually I stopped all my antics and experiments and settled to learn the way of their life. They asked me to call them mother and father. Mainly it was Botan’s request. It was awkward at first knowing I am not their biological daughter. Eventually, it comes naturally and it was never that long, I get a hang of it.

Mother told me to visit the Kamado-jinja Shrine. She told me I might have missed our shrine back then. I was dumbfounded to hear her. I was elated just by the thought of it. I did not openly suggest to leave or visit other places knowing her recovery from the pain of the past. I hugged her tightly and my smile beaming. The following morning, I visited the shrine. The priest their told me that I can visit as often as I like. I had experience with shrines considering we live in one. Today was one of my usual visits to the shrine. It was mystical and nostalgic.

I asked mother if I could stay there for the night. Mom was really worried but I assured her that I will be fine. So, I had my official overnight stay in the shrine.

The moon was bright today and the stars are illuminating the dark blue sky. No clouds to hide its beauty. The flowers are like crystals due to moonlight. I remembered the night before my birthday. It was this magnificent. Come to think of it, I stopped dreaming of that guy ever since I got here. I can’t even remember his face. I was distracted by that thought. I sighed deeply and admired the moon once again.

(Michizane’s POV)

My father was training me to become a scholar. We are not aristocrat but all the prestige and honor one can get had been my father’s motivation. He even opened a school for other people. All the pressure was immense and the only time I can relieve all the pressure was looking unto the flowers and the beautiful moon. I was supposed to postpone today’s visit of the shrine but it seems like the shrine is calling me.

We had flower garden but nothing can compare to the beauty and majesty of the shrine. This shrine was the shrine for people to find love and to find who they are looking for. I never wanted to find love, knowing the pressure. Now is not the time for love.

I was walking up the stairs to the temple. I was on the last step and raised my head to see the temple only to find a goddess marveling the moon.

Her stance was dignified and her eyes was captivating. I have never seen such beauty. To compare her to a goddess was a blasphemy yet her beauty was that ethereal and incomparable to a mortal.

I was struck with awe. Speechless and captivated by her beauty. This place was his place for solitude but he did not expect to meet someone that would own her heart.

He was motionless for a couple of minutes but to him time stops.

(Hinami POV)

The night was pure bliss. I decided to take a break from the entrancing moon and took a glance at the growing darkness. I was taken aback by a man standing near the entrance. How long was I looking at the moon that I did not sense his presence? He was just standing there looking straight at me. Our eyes meet and he showed a quite reserved nature for a guy. He glanced to the side hiding his shy demeanor. I found it cute. I can’t help but giggle at his genuine reaction. I tried to hold back my amusement trying not to get rude to him but his cute side was really amusing to see.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to laugh at you. Its just that I find you cute with all the shyness.” I said apologetically.

I got his attention and he looked back at me with ecstatic eyes

“Really? Y-you find me cute? I don’t seem to understand that word but I feel that that is a compliment.”

“Sorry. What I mean is your face is glowing.” I corrected myself

He smiled and thanked me. He still keeps his shy demeanor. I can’t help but smile back.

“The night is cold. Would you like to get inside the temple? We rarely have visitors at night. Would you like to wait in a room while I visit the priest for permission. It would be dangerous for you to go back at this late.” I offered.

“Thank you. I did not mean to burden you. I wanted to admire the moon tonight and visit the shrine. I was not expecting to meet such a lovely lady like you.”

“Thank you for the compliment. It’s really not a problem. Please follow me.”

“My name is Michizane.Sugawara. May I have the honor of knowing your name my lady?” He asked politely. A true gentleman I would say.

“My name is Hana. Ah-I mean Hinami. My family is not well known so we don’t have family name. You may call me Hinami, Lord Sugawara.”

“Please, I want you to call me by my given name and I can call you Hinami. I want you to be my friend. If you want, I will call you Lady Hinami if you insist on calling me with my family name. I want to feel like a friend to you.”

“No, my Lord. We are of different status and I can’t do that kind of dishonoring act. Please my Lord.”

“Then I will call you Lady Hinami.”

“No, my lord. That’s inappropriate for my status. Forgive me but I cannot allow you to call me that.” I begged him and bowed my head low. He is going to be the death of me.

He sighed. “How about you call me Michizane or Michi if we are alone and I’ll call you Hinami. That is the condition. You can only call me Lord Sugawara when we have company but when we are alone, I hope you could forget the formalities. Would that be to your liking?” He suggested.

I contemplated for a while and abide to his terms. Totally defeated.

“Yes Lord Sugawara. As you wish.”

“What did I say about my name Hinami?”

“Sorry Michizane.” He nodded in affirmation and smile.

“You can call me Michi but you will be the only one calling me that?”

“Yes, as you wish Michizane.” I was never defeated in an argument. But now total defeat. Knowing our status, I can’t help but concede.”

I was guiding him to the shrine’s guest room. I excuse myself to get a tea for him and inform the priest on my way to the kitchen. I got the priest’s permission to accommodate the visitor. The priest told me that he often visits this shrine twice every two weeks and rarely visit at night. The priest allowed me to accompany him which he requested.

(Michizane’s POV)

I opened the door to watch the moon and the blooming cherry blossoms. The garden was well maintained due to the shrine maidens. I was writing my poetry while viewing the dazzling flowers. I make a stroll at the garden and picked a primrose flower. I want to give her a flower for our first meeting and this primrose is perfect just like her. I hope one flower would not ruin the whole scenery. I waited back to the guest room leaving the door fully open. Letting the moon light illuminate the room.

I was looking at the primrose in the table thinking about her. The door opened and I saw her face once again. She brought newly brewed tea.

“I do apologize for keeping you wait. I had prepared this tea for you. I hope it is to your liking.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate the hospitality.”

She placed the tea cups on the table and started filing my cup with the aromatic tea.

“May I know what are you writing?” she curiously asked.

“I was writing a Haiku. My grandfather introduced me in this form of literature and I loved it.”

“I was also fascinated by poetry before. I wrote poetry when I was 11 years old. May I read your poetry when you are done with it? ”

“Yes, with delight. Oh, I want to give this flower to you. I want to give you a memento of our first meeting. I hope you would accept it.” I handed her the purple primrose flower and she accepted it. I was elated when she accepted my gift.

“Thank you. I’ll keep it with me. It was really nice meeting you.” She said while giving me her warmest smile. I wish it will always be like this.

We talked throughout the night. I wished this would not end but it ended soon enough. We go to bed on our separate room. Her good night greetings was enough to give me a good rest till morning.

Hana walked through the hallway with a lighted candle to guide her in the dark. He gently put the Primrose in the vase with water to keep it fresh. She made her bed and prepare to lay her head to sleep. Throughout the silence of the night both their hearts was filled with happiness through this fateful encounter and the Primrose will remind her of this day.

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