Ch. 4 - Remembering You pt. 1

Spring of my Senior Year of High School and today, we are celebrating our school festival today.

My class this year decided to do a cafe cosplay theme. I was quite thrilled since I have always been an otaku since forever. I was dressed as a maid and was waiting for my boyfriend, Ryan, to come and visit me but he never came. His class was doing a picture booth and was definitely a hit since half the basket ball team was in his class and they were popular.

“Rina-chii!!”

I see my best friend Charlene coming to me. She’s wearing a short princess dress that is pink since it is her favorite color. I did her hair into a casual, half curled pony tail with a large white bow on top. It was super cute!!

“Charlene,” I replied to her stressed, “Hey there.”

She grabs a hold of my hands with hers, “What’s wrong?”

I look at her and say, “Ryan hasn’t stopped by yet even though he promised me that he would. I know that he’s been busy with prep classes and stuff but I at leased wanted to spend time with him today.”

[I probably sound really clingy but it’s been nearly 3 weeks since we last hung out.]

We slowly started keeping distance due to studying since finals were coming and he also need to practice for the last basketball game. The game was 2 week ago and I went to watch him play, They won and I congratulated him but then he went straight home instead of the after party saying he was tired and need to study. Now that finals are over, I wanted to see if we could hangout this weekend before graduation to spend some alone time.

“Charlene!! It’s your break time,” says the class president.

“I’ll be going first okay?”

“That’s fine. Have a good break and I’m sorry for complaining.”

As she walked away, she looked back smiling, waving back at me giving me reassurance.

After 10mins, customers started slowing down and the class president came over to me, “Um, Rina…”

“Yes Minnie,” As I finish grabbing the trash on the table.

“Can you,” as she stutters, “Can you… go grab more cake in the cafeteria for us?”

“Don’t we have enough cake already?”

[Why do we need more?]

She walks up to me, leaning in close enough and whispers into my ears…

Rushing out the door, I head straight to the cafeteria and walk around back to where the storage unit is for the sports equipment is. I take a deep breath to calm myself and walk towards the storage until quietly.

Leaning against the sides of the building, I walk along the wall with my back against it.

“Ahh!”

I pause myself in thought of what that could be.

[It can be anything… ANYTHING FENNY..! Keep calm…]

I get around the corner and make my way closer to the doors.

“RYAN..!!”

**BAAAAM!!**

Startled from the sound, I flinch and stand still.

“Not…. Not there..!!”

I panic knowing the voice now that I am closer.

“No one is coming here Charlene… They’re too busy with the festival..!”

[…no…]

“We can’t… What about-AH… What about…Rina… She’s still… mmmmph… your girlfriend….”

“…mmmhmmm… you wanted this… not me..!”

[………!!]

Shocked, I start to feel emotionally broken from the action and conversation going on. Tears start to trickle down my cheeks as I sit at the door in despair while cover my mouth from making any noise from what is going on at the moment.

I went back to the classroom empty handed with swollen eyes. The class president came to apologized but told me how she found out. It was because she saw them 2 weeks ago arguing at the park late at night while she was walking her dog but before she could call out to them, they started kissing.

I don’t know how much time passed but Charlene came back. She greeted me but I just nodded in reply. I couldn’t even look at her or even stand to be in the same room as her. She kept asking me if I was okay but now that I know the truth, I just kept avoiding her.

It was finally my break and all I want to do is sit in peace to sort my feelings but then suddenly, someone grabs my arm before I leave. I turn back to see Charlene.

With much strain in her voice as we make quick eye contact, “Rina, What is wrong?”

[Let me go…!]

Tilting my head down, I began to stare at my feet since I don’t want to make a scene.

“Why won’t you talk to me,” she says while gripping me slightly harder.

[Stop.]

“Can we talk?”

[Stop..!]

“You can tell me anything. I’m here for yo-…’

“JUST STOP!!!!!”

Everyone within the area stopped and it quickly got quite.

“Rina.”

I lift my head to spot Ryan straight in front of me, arms length away looking confused, “Why…are you here..?”