Chapter 1

*Miyu looked at the cherry blossom as they fall from the trees. The blooming of blossoms represents spring and a new start after a long cold winter. As the blossom falls, it was also the time to say goodbye to their beloved school. After the graduation ceremony, Miyu decided to wait for him and finally say the three words that would convey her true feelings. She glanced at the path where she came from but the person she was waiting for hasn't shown up yet.

"He's really late," she mumbled in disappointment but decided to still wait for a while longer.

She remembered clearly that she left the note under the book that he always read so that person wouldn’t miss it. A few more minutes passed and the sky started to change color from bright blue turning into the deep reddish-orange sky. She glanced in the same direction one last time but no one was there.

"M-Maybe he went home." she felt upset after missing her opportunity to talk to him about something important. “Could it be that he didn’t get the letter that I left?”

Miyu decided to leave when suddenly she heard someone called her name. She looked in the same direction one more time and saw someone standing under the cherry blossom tree.

"M-Miyu!"

She was confused for a moment. "S-Senpai! What's the matter?"

The guy didn't respond to her. He slightly bowed his head, hiding his violet orbs and the blushed that was spreading on his cheeks. Miyu waited for him to say a word but instead, he took some steps closing in the distance between them. He stopped just a few steps away.

"Senpai? Are you okay? Your face is kinda weird."

"Miyu..." he said her name again with a slightly serious tone.

"You keep saying my name. What is it?" she tilts her head a little to the side just to get a glimpse of his embarrassed face.

"I'm going to tell you something important!" Kazuki raised his face and their eyes met. Miyu was caught off guard, he didn't expect him to have such a determined look. "I know we've been friends for quite a long time now…"

"Who said we're friends?" she interrupted.

"Can you let me finish?!" he snapped after feeling his tension was getting higher. "Ugh! I don't even know how to tell you this but…" Miyu couldn't resist but giggled as his face is filled with panic. He was so easy to read and from all of her friends, he was the honest one. She was surprised when suddenly Kazuki grabbed her by the shoulders. "Don't show me such a cute face. You're testing my patience, Miyu." she could clearly tell that he was trying his best to hold back.

That moment, Miyu felt this was getting dangerous. She was having a slight idea where this is heading.

"Senpai, it's getting late. I have to help my Dad with…"

"Just give me a few minutes," he begged. "Just a few minutes will do." he let go of her shoulder but he caught one of her hand. "Miyu, you've been the most interesting girl that I've ever met." he tried to laugh but Miyu could see the nervousness he felt. "All I'm saying is, I've been in love with you Miyu."

Miyu’s eyes widened in shock. To be confessed by Kazuki-senpai was out of her expectations. She was speechless for a while, trying hard to look for the best word as a reply because she won't dare to hurt him. Kazuki was like a brother to her and she will try her best not to hurt his feelings.

A crack sound caught her attention. Just a few feet away, someone was looking at them. Miyu thought of vanishing on the spot, How could this kind of twist happen to them? The person that she was waiting for was there all this time and probably heard everything that Kazuki said.

"R-Reo?" she muttered.

"Reo, what are you doing here?" Kazuki asked as he noticed him too.

Reo lowered his head but before he did, his eyes got a glimpse of Kazuki's hand that was holding hers. Miyu's mind was in chaos, she could feel her heart squeezing inside her chest. This was not what she expects to happen.

"Sorry to disturb you guys," Reo said in a monotone voice.

Miyu pulled her hand away from Kazuki and was about to stop Reo from leaving when suddenly Kazuki put his hand on top of her shoulder and intentionally stopping her from saying a word.

"Don't worry, Reo. Miyu and I are done talking." then Kazuki let go of Miyu and walked towards Reo, "Miyu, congratulations on graduating."

Miyu didn't respond. Her eyes were searching for his but he never even gaze at her or say goodbye. He definitely received the letter that’s why he was there but why won’t he wait and listen to her? 

Miyu just stood there, like a statue.

"I like you…" she muttered. "Reo…"

Her confession was heard by the trees surrounding the school path yet it won't ever reach the person she loves, not now that they began to drift away from each other.

10 years later**

Miyu's hand moved in different directions over the large tracing paper. She would smile as she pauses and looked at her design. When she was in High School, she never thought of becoming an architect but after visiting Italy, she fell in love with their building designs and structures. Every time she makes a design it was like being happily drowned in her river of thoughts and creativity. The moment she sketches a line to start up her work, the mesmerizing attraction of her creativity binds her with the sketch until it is fully completed.

She took a deep breath as she finishes another design for her client when someone suddenly opened the door to her office.

"Miyu-chan you did it!"

Miyu sighed and remove the ponytail that was binding her long brown hair. Her wavy strands fell down to her shoulder all the way to her chest.

"Look! We won the bidding for the floor design." Momoka came to her showing off a newspaper with a picture of her during the presentation. "You really are something, Miyu-chan!"

"Hehe. I guess I just got lucky!"

"Lucky?! Your designs don't even match with the other competitors," Momoka said being all fired up.

"C' mon don't say that. Those people did their best on their designs." Miyu said as she opens her computer.

Momoka leans down against her desk, "You know, Miyu-chan. You are too serious." Miyu couldn't help herself but giggle as she continued typing on her computer. "Just get a boyfriend already!"

"Not another one of your get-a-boyfriend advice!"

Momoka slammed both of her hands on the table as a protest. "Miyu-chan, I won't let your beauty go to waste! With your good looks and amazing talent in design, no man could ever resist your charms."

For a brief moment, she remembered someone. His face flashed in her head and she could feel the pain squeezing her heart. She wanted to laugh it off, that phrase was never accurate not now and definitely not 10 years ago.

"Miyu is it because of a past love?"

Her eyes widened a little but she makes sure that Momoka won't notice a change in her expression.

"Past Love? What makes you say that?" she asked forcing a smile to convince her friend. "Besides, stop thinking about my love life and worry about your report that is due tomorrow."

Momoka moves away from her table with a sullen look on her face. "You always know how to push me away, don't you?"

"Of course not. I'm just worried about your report. You wouldn't want the manager to scold you again."

"Alright, I'm going!" Momoka said in defeat and gathered the folders that were on top of Miyu's desk. As she went through the door she added, "You meanie!"

Miyu chuckled, "You're welcome." she said a little louder for Momoka to hear.

When Momoka left, Miyu continued doing her report on her computer. She kept staring on the flat monitor and yet no words came in mind about what to type on the document sheet. It was like her mind won't let her think of anything else. She let go of the mouse and leaned against the chair to cool off her head. Her eyes were fixed at the ceiling, thinking of his blurred face again.

"Past love, huh?" she mumbled then she felt the same pain in her chest. "Such a cruel love… how could I forget?" she forced her eyes shut, trying to erase the painful thoughts in her head. She shouldn't remember what happened 10 years ago. Not now that she's back in Japan.

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