If someone would ask me, "How'd the rest of the trip go?" I would probably say, "I don't know" or rather, "Sorry, I can't remember" Was there something that happened after the first trip? I supposed there was not…or was there?
To tell the truth, I couldn't remember what had happened after we left the aquarium. Probably because I was too fixated on reading the book that I'd secretly packed before I left the house.
After we got back on the bus, I hastily took it from the inside of my backpack and started pouring my attention into it. As I traced my finger on each line, it kept me more and more interested. That was why I hadn't noticed that the time flew by and we arrived at our last destination, which was the amusement park.
I closed my book and slid it back into my backpack, carefully not to accidentally fold any pages. Since I wanted to keep my books in their best condition.
Setting foot on the grassy ground, the wind grazed my skin along with its cold that swiftly crept over me. I shivered, but I don't think I should put on the jacket that my big sister packed for me since the sun heat completely balanced it all.
As I got off the bus, I heard someone call my name. I halted and waited for that person who was still inside, gathering her stuff to her backpack. A moment had passed and finally, she finished and stood next to me. I started to walk and she followed suit.
"Glad you chose me to accompany you, Sakura!" Miss Eimi said merrily.
It made me wonder why they wanted to accompany me. The last time I checked, I wasn't popular. Certainly, my grades exceeded the average year 5 student's grade but it wasn't enough to make them fight over who'd accompany me.
*Maybe, I am popular**,* I thought but immediately scratched it since it was a childish way to put it.
She smiled at me and I smiled back at her, not spilling the fact that I only chose her because she seemed less troublesome than the spiky boy. Probably, it would be the best choice since I could already picture how awkward it'd turn out if I were with the spiky boy. Considering what happened earlier, we would just walk together while his gaze fidgeting around with his mouth pursed.
"Your eyebrows are curving, Miss Sakura," Eimi said, looking at me dubiously. *Was I?*
"That reminds me, Miss Eimi."
"What it is, Miss Sakura?"
"Ummm… I'm just wondering…oum…why did you want to accompany me? I mean…it's just," I asked, stumbling my words.
After a moment she stopped walking and I followed suit, slightly turned my body, and looked at her. Now she was the one who had her brows curved. She had her eyes downcast as though contemplating. As I shifted my gaze from her to our surroundings, I noticed that most of our classmates were already at the amusement park's gate, energetically waiting for their tickets, swaying side to side while chattering with their friends.
"Sa…oum. On second thought, I'd better not," she opened her mouth and immediately discarded the thought. Honestly, it made me quite curious but I wouldn't press on it, since it seemed like she has her own reason.
"Anyway, you're quite a weird person, Miss Sakura!" she commented as she toddled over through the graveled road. I continued taking my step but unlike her, I walked normally.
"Excuse me? Where did that come from?"
"Huh, I mean, your such an amazing person, Miss Sakura," she said as she waved her hand as though creating an invisible barrier between us.
*I do believe that there's a huge difference between a weird and amazing person…*
"Oh, right! When we arrived at the zoo, you insisted to stay on the bus. Heh heh heh, I won't forget what teacher's face made when you said that!" she giggled, putting her hand on her mouth.
"Uh…huh…"
That reminded me, we were supposed to visit three places. No, wonder why I couldn't remember what happened after the aquarium trip. Did I really insist to stay on the bus? I hope I didn't create any trouble for my teacher…on second thought, I sure did trouble him. *I'll make sure to apologize later.*
Gripping the straps of my backpack, we went to the line where we could get our tickets. Obviously, I had my I.D around my neck since there was a chance that we lost inside the park, but personally, I don't think I must wear it. *I'm a grown-up, after all,* *and I know what I should do in case I'd lost.*
Apparently, even if I said that it didn't mean I would disobey any regulations—*I'm still a student, after all.*
"Miss Sakura?"
"Yes?"
"Where should go next?" Miss Eimi asked, tracing her finger on the amusement park's map.
After we tried a certain amount of rides, we decided to take a rest under the shade. I don't know what this thing was called but it was a wooden table with a huge colorful parasol attached to the middle. I considered giving this thing a name, only to realize that someone should have had named it already. *Well,* *I'm not the one who invented it, what do I expect?*
The breeze felt chilly, but for some reason, there was sweat on my back, and it made my clothes clung persistently to my skin. It was been only an hour or so since we started wandering around the park, but I already felt exhausted. *I should exercise sometimes,* I decided and took a sip on my pineapple juice.
"Wherever you want is fine," I answered. Since I believed there was no merit for me if I was the one who decided.
"Are you sure, Miss Sakura? I'm the one who always chooses where will we go… That feels like, between the two of us I'm the only one enjoying this trip, and I'm just dragging you along," she said sulkily.
Something deep inside me felt guilty. She always asked me where would we go next and I knew it was her way to make sure she wasn't the only one enjoying our trip. I took another sip on the straw and my gaze suddenly fell to my feet. Flailing it, I realized she only wanted us to enjoy ourselves.*...Yep, I feel guilty.*
"Miss Sakura?" she called as she noticed that I went in silence. After a moment she'd begun to panic. "Oh…uh…it's okay, Miss Sakura. Oum, I… I will handle where will we go…so Ummm," stammering, she waved her hands at the speed of light.
"'Sakura' is fine," I said as I straighten my back and looked at her. She had a dubious expression on her face as though she wasn't sure what I was talking about. "Since it's been a while that we're together, you can drop the formalities, Eimi."
She shifted her head, preventing me to see her expression, however, I could clearly see how her ear suddenly turned red. I supposed she was embarrassed by what I said, I should learn a thing or two about socialization.
"Ummm, then…Sakura…is there a ride you want to visit?"
"Huh?" *oh, we're back at it, again.* "Now that I got time to think about it."
I glance around, searching for the ride that we had yet to visit. Then a huge line of crowds caught my eyes.
"How about Ferris wheel?" Surely we had to wait for a few minutes to get in but I'd think it was worth it than throwing questions back and forth.
"Ah," her tone suddenly dropped and added, "Ferris wheel…is not good. I mean Ferris wheels are supposed to be the last part of the trip since they have the best view of the closing fireworks so… " she waved her hands as though making an invincible shield. "Anything but the Ferris is fine," she said, putting her hands back on her lap.
*Not too picky, aren't we?*
I glanced at her face whose slight averted away from me. As I expected, her feelings were showing on her face. And what kind of expression she was showing? Well, I guess I'd leave that to your mind.
Anyway, if the Ferris were no good then.
"How about the—"
"Oh, how about that one, Sakura?"
She pushed herself up and pointed to me. Eventually, I noticed that I wasn't the one she pointed at but the stall passed me.
*Shooting game, huh.*
To be honest, I wasn't proud of my shooting skills or anything. In the first place, why would I learn shooting techniques? What merit would I obtain if I learn one?
That reminds me, I was in the middle of reading when we stopped here, which means I still hadn't finished reading my book. Just the thought of it made my fingers itching to grab it from my backpack.
"Then, let's do that, and after that…" *I'll read my book.*
"Ehe he," Eimi giggled with her hand covering her mouth, as she sat back on the chair. "I knew it, you're weird, Sakura."
"Am I?"
"Yes, it feels like you have your own perspective about your surrounding and—," she paused. I watched her eyes widened and her shoulder trembled, panicky she said, "N-no, wha-what I mean to say is, it just feel as though you see the world differently than us. Oum and…and sorry." I was startled as she suddenly lowered her head.
Taking another sip of my drink, I felt somewhat relieved. It seemed like somehow I started to become a grown-up. The fact that someone noticed my maturity made me feel delighted.
"Thank you," I gave her my honest answer.
"Wua? No, umm"
She looked at me confused as though the words I'd said to her didn't register in her mind.
"What?"
"No, it's umm… Never mind, it's not important, Sakura," she said and grinned at me.
For some reason, I felt like she was about to say something important but decided not to. Did we misunderstand each other? I was certain that we were not…no maybe we were.
Thinking about it, if only I didn't misunderstand her words. I wonder what kind of grown-up I'd become.