"Cabin crew please get ready for take-off."
I stared out into the view of a warm sunset from my economy seat.
*FLASHBACK*
1st March
"Honey, are you sure about this? Are you really sure you want to do this?", said my mother in a worried tone as I was walking around my room packing my luggage.
"For the hundredth time mom, yes! I have already made up my mind a long time ago, it has been my dream to go to Japan for quite a while now. Don't worry so much! I'll be fine! I have already texted Aunt Raiya that I'll be staying at her house for a while before I move into the school dorm." I replied to her, trying my best to reassure my nervous mother.
"Aki.", I turned to the door and saw my dad standing there,
"Come here."
I walked over
"Here", he stretched out his arm around my neck and placed a necklace with an autumn leaf charm hanging down the chain around me.
"This is a lucky charm from your mother and I. Please don't be reckless there honey. I know you have a very outgoing personality but still be careful with the people there okay? If anyone tries to bully you, call us, I will FLY TO JAPAN and give them rascals a piece of my mind!"
"Hahaha yes yes dad, I will be sure to keep that in mind! And don't worry about me getting bullied! Your daughter, Aki Syan, isn't someone who is that weak!", I smiled at both of them and gave them a big hug.
*BACK TO THE PRESENT*
*sigh*
touching the necklace charm.
I do miss mom and dad...
But oh well! I shall not disappoint them!
"Thank you for flying with Japan Airlines! Hope you fly with us again next time..."
Ah! I'm here already! This is where it all begins!
"Aki! Aki! Here! Here! ", called out Aunt Raiya
" Auntie!", I called out as I reached in for a hug
"Oh my dear Aki, look at how much you have grown! The last time I saw you was when you were 10 and you came with your Mother to visit me in Japan. You were so small back then."
" Hehe! Well Auntie is the one who made me love Japan so of course I had to come back!"
Aunt Raiya is my mother's elder sister, the entire side of my mother's family is from Japan thus making me half Japanese, a mix of Japanese blood (from my mom) and English blood (from my dad).
We reached the apartment and I settled in quickly.
"green tea? water?"
"Water will do. Thank you."
Auntie sat beside me on the couch and started to ask about my future plans from now on. I told her that I got accepted into the Hokanko University through a scholarship I received when back in England.
When she heard the words H O K A N K O she almost choked on her water, "what?! Hokanko University?! Are you serious?!"
Well, it was not much of a surprising reaction since Hokanko University is one of the world's most elite schools, and only rich people attend there. I also mentioned that I will be moving into the school dorms in about 3 weeks time, 1 week before school starts. She gave me that worried look too, a face as if she were sending her little kitten into a den of tigers.
But before she should say anymore, I looked at her with a reassuring smile on my face and told her, " It's okay! Don't worry, I'll be fine."
And that concluded our conversation about my school plan for now.
*3 WEEKS LATER*
For the past 3 weeks, Auntie had brought me around Tokyo to let me familiarise with the new surrounding. Thankfully, since I know how to speak Japanese, it was not that much of a challenge to mingle around with the Japanese folks here.
ah... tomorrow is finally the day in which I get to see my new school and my new living environment! I'm feeling excited but at the same time, a little angsty. After all, it is going to be my school for the next 3 years and I either live it well or it'll be hell.
My Aunt Raiya dropped me off at the school gate and I waved her goodbye. Though it was not the last time I was going to see her, I still felt a sense of loss as there was no one else beside me whom I knew well.
*sigh* get it together me!
I walked into the school and was in awe, Hokanko University was HUGE, no not huge, GINORMOUS!! I turned to the sports facilities directory beside me and almost couldn't breathe. There were 2 Olympic Size Swimming pools, 2 Fifa world-cup-size football fields, an indoor sports hall with a 4 story gym facility, 4 dance studios, 3 basketball courts, 10 badminton courts... my head was spinning at the sight of the number of sports facilities they had.
I took a few steps back so that I could have space to absorb everything I just read but
"Ah!"