Chapter 9
Akira's POV
I understand now why even she's there I still feel sad and lonely.
.
.
.
"Let's break up..."
I said to Yuna, she turned around. I already know this will shock her.
I can't look at her so I just turn my eyes on the side
I'm so sorry but I really need to say this now or I may no longer have the courage to say this to you.
I may not have learn to love her still, I can't stand hurting her.
Yuna remains quiet and I just stand there waiting for her reply.
"It's okay Akira..."
Hearing those words I return my eyes to her to see her face.
She looks calm and composed now.
I don't expect her reaction will be like this.
I don't understand why is she saying that this is okay?
"You are right, we should end this here. Let's break up."
I was surprised because I never thought that she will just agree like this.
*********************
(Flashback)
(Akira 7 years old)
I was sitting in a hospital bed lean into two white soft pillows in order for me to be able to sit straight while reading a book. There is linen covering half of my thin body.
I can no longer count how many times I have been admitted here.
I look at the left side of my bed and there she is, the girl with dark brown hair with twin ponytails. Her petite body is almost as tin as mine but my pale color is so obvious compare to her.
I appreciate that she came here again to visit me. She makes this lonely room a bit lively with her presence.
She is sitting on a chair just staring right at me with her hands under her chin and her elbows on my bed. She has been staring right at me for a few minutes now with that wide grin on her face. Her stares make me a bit uncomfortable.
I took a sigh and tried to talk to her.
"Yuna have you read this book?"
I said showing to her the front cover of the book that I'm reading.
"Ha...ha...ppy? Prince?"
"Uhm"
I replied with a nod.
"uh...uh..." she replied with a cute voice moving her head from left to right.
"This is my most favorite book. Do you want me to read this to you?"
Yuna rises up from her chair, she presses her hands on my bed, and excitedly answered.
"Yes!"
I return a light smile...
end of flashback
********
I searched all over the place. It's already dark and still no sign of them.
I stop to catch my breath. My legs are almost numb from running and walking around.
I am afraid that something might happen to them.
My phone rings all of a sudden
.
.
.
An hour later...
I am running towards Yuna's home.
Earlier I received a call from one of Mikan's brothers. He told me that they already found Yuna.
The moment I heard those words there is an urge inside me to ask how is she... I want to know if Lure is okay. Is she safe? Is she not hurt or is there anything that happens on her? I care for Yuna as well but she is the one that I cared most at that time. I feel like I will get crazy if something bad happens to her. I've been keeping this feeling that I have for her for a long time now...
(Flashback)
Start of the school year- Senior high
"Wahhh! Her face, her figure her looks are perfect but that girl is so cold to everyone."
Toji said with a remorseful tone leaning on the window sill. At his side is me. I was leaning on the window sill facing inside reading a book in my right hand.
Toji is my classmate and the first friend I have after entering high school. I am a bit taller than him but he has a muscular build like mine. He has hair dyed red with soft spikes while mine is just soft black.
"Uh! Look Akira."
I turn around to look behind me. There she is the girl that makes every man in our school go crazy.
I will lie if I say I am not attracted to her beauty even I already have a girlfriend.
I feel that girl and I have something in common.
Toji and I watching on her from the 3rd-floor window.
A student came to approach her. I think that student is same year as mine. He stands there blocking on her way while she is walking towards somewhere so she stops. She only looks at him with a poker face.
That guy looks at him intensely. Toji and I can't hear from here what that guy is saying but I think he is trying to confess to her in front of other students.
A moment later that guy fell on his knees devastated.
She just walked right passed at him like nothing happen.
"damn! so cold. Another guy got his heartbroken by the ice princess."
"Have you heard the story of the happy prince?"
I asked suddenly to Toji.
"Huh? what?"
he replied with a confused face.
"Never mind."
I said then I straightened up and close the book that I'm holding.
"Let's just go back to our seat. Our next class will start in a moment."
I said while walking towards my seat.
The happy prince is the story of a young prince who always wants to be happy. In order for him not to experience sadness, he builds a high wall, that way he won't encounter anything that will make him sad. Like the prince in the story that girl also builds a high wall around her but for opposite reason, I think she is just like me, we build that wall so that no one will see our sadness...
Either a girl or a boy she always brushed them off or pushes them away. No one can enter or break that high wall.
With that cold and emotionless personality, she keeps her sadness hidden to others...
For that reason, I became interested in her more and more without knowing I already fall for her.
But I can only adore her from a distance. I thought I will just be contented on that.
I noticed she loves reading books.
On that same spot everyday, on a bench at the side of our school building where there are only several students passing by she is always reading a book.
I wonder what book she likes?
I like books as well and I have lots of them. I actually have my own library at home. So one day I decided to share one of them with her.
I just left a book on that bench where she always sits before she comes for her to see.
To see if she will going to read it I waited patiently for her.
Just like what I expected, the moment she saw the book she threw it on a trashcan near her. She doesn't want anything from anyone but for some reason, I did not stop there.
Every day I leave a book on that same spot hoping she will try to read one...even every day the moment she saw them she only throw them away. I did it for almost a year until that day...
It was after class, I usually stay at school a little longer and leave once all students are gone. I thought I am the only one left in the school then I heard someone weeping inside one of the classrooms while I was walking in the hallway.
I wonder who it was so I followed the sound and there she is, standing alone inside a room crying...
I was bewildered by her beauty once more at that very moment...
I wonder if I am the only one who sees her so vulnerable.
I want to approach her and comfort her but I know she will only push me away...
So I just stand there hiding behind the door looking at her and I don't know for how long...
When I went home after, I just kept on thinking her face full of tears...
"Oh, Akira! You're late Yuna is here to see you. I know you might come late so I just told her to wait at your library. She's been waiting for you for so many hours now you know. You should never let your girlfriend wait for you this long...it's not nice."
Mom said as I enter the house.
I went to my library.
When I open the door of my library, Yuna is there standing right in front of one of my shelves, skimming in my books.
"Sorry Yuna for making you wait here."
I said with a fake smile.
She turns around happily.
"It's ok. I am the one who should be sorry because I came so suddenly."
I walk towards her then I place my right hand on her head. Then I bend over a bit to see her face closer.
"It's ok..." I said.
It surprised me when she suddenly gives me a kiss in my left cheek..
Huh?
She is the one who has stolen a kiss from me but between us, her face is the one who turns so red.
"I love you Akira..."
She said softly.
"Uhm yeah...I know."
I answered in a plain tone.
I just came here to see you. I really want to go next week to Aqua world can you come with me this time."
"Sorry, Yuna...but I don't really enjoy going to places with too many people. How about Mikan? Why don't you ask her?"
"Ehhhh...It's ok. If it's not with you I won't go. I will try to convince you until you go with me."
Here she goes again...being stubborn.
"Akira I should leave..."
She said with a big smile.
"Ok...Please take care..."
I replied to her.
"Come on just send me with a smile"
She said putting both of her palms in both of my cheeks.
I just give her a forced smile.
Then she removes her hands on my face.
"Uhm Akira...have you read again your favorite book?"
"Huh? why did you ask?"
"Nothing I just remember you always love that book."
"No...I haven't open it for a while."
"I see...sorry I said I will go. Thanks for your time...see yah!"
she said leaving.
.
.
.
When she left I just breathe out...
Now she mentioned it. I went to my table in the middle of my library and check inside my drawer.
I took out an old book which look like it's almost new. I remember I really like this book...
"The Happy Prince"
I whisper reading the cover.
The next day. Remembering her face from yesterday I left another book in that same spot again.
It was the book I grew up reading. It's my favorite book.
I hide from a distance again. She came to that bench again and sat there like before. Just like what happened before she picks up my book and throws it away...but after that, her action surprises me. She pauses there for a moment after throwing my book and look inside that trash can.
She picks it up again and she went back to that bench and started reading it.
That moment for the first time gives me real happiness...
****
Yuna's POV
I was in deep thought when Mikan asked me.
"Yuna, so how are things with you and Akira?"
I snapped back...