Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, be-
Aya hit the alarm button. "Shut up you annoying thing." She
rolled into her other side, ready to fall asleep again, but
then she bolted right out of bed. It was Monday. Her first
day of her last year in middle school. She was NOT going to
be late this year.
She went downstairs in a hurry, hearing her mom already
readying breakfast. The smell of toast which dominated
the entire house mixed with the heavenly scent of coffee.
"Good morning."
Morning sleepyhead. How did you sleep?"
Natalie hadn't changed much, time not leaving its mark on
her except for the deep laugh lines around her eyes and
mouth. She was currently filling two cups with coffee while
keeping an eye on the bread being toasted.
"Surprisingly good. I didn't think about school at all and I
dreamt of a giant Barnie chasing me."
"Honey, the last time you watched Barnie was ages ago.
Here, take the coffee upstairs and get ready while it cools
off a bit."
a
This. This is what Aya loved about her mom. She was
always easy-going and didn't follow the traditional way if
rising children most of the time. She loved living alone with
her, it was the best life she could have imagined.
Aya walked around the now-familiar school building.
Heading to the reception, she asked the desk lady about
her class.
"Name ?"
"Ayano Maria Kurosawa"
"Class?"
Aya facepalmed mentally. "That's what I came to ask about
miss" she said in a voice that showed she was struggling
to stay respectful. The receptionist looked at her above the
rim of her glasses while loudly chewing a piece of gum,
clearly picking up on the tone.
"Oh right." A few minutes passed in silence and Aya was
considering to come back later. "Fourth year student, class
4m2. Good luck, and stay safe."
Aya was confused at the last bit until the receptionist
handed her a flyer on sexual harassment and another on
periods along with a bag if sanitary products. Her cheeks
were ablaze and she quickly shuffled out the office and
towards her class.
Aya hoped that when she went to highschool it would be a
rotating system for pupils not teachers. Sitting in a room
for six hours a day sure was exhausting.
"Psst, Ayano"
"Huh" Aya looked around confused. No one called her
Ayano except for adults.
"Over here dumdum"
She saw a boy waving his had infront of her face. Dyed hair,
wool shirt, cross earring. He looked like a miniature
Pinterest model.
"Oh Felix. Didn't realise who was calling. Wassup?"
She had met him earlier before lessons. He seemed off his
crack if she was being honest, but that made him the more
interesting to her. They had instantly bonded over the fact
that they preferred window seats and hated their history
teacher. The person she was sitting with was a girl who
was seemingly entering a pastel pixie girl phase. Pigtails,
pastel purple shirt and a white skirt with a matching
backpack featuring a cloud design. Aya briefly wondered
how everyone had such great fashion taste before focusing
back to Felix.
"I was wondering if your parents would be okay if you come
over. I mean we could hang out if you want. Sandy can
come too."
Who was Sandy ?. "Yeah sure, I'll let my mom know. Say,
who's Sandy ?"
"Your deskmate? The pastel girl."
Ohh. "I'll ask her, thanks dude."
"No prob. I'm dying of boredom anyway."
It was lunch time. Her mom had signed her up for the
school canteen, she had said " I'm tired of cooking and
you're not living off of take-out all week."
She was currently heading towards the bathroom after
spending an hour getting to know Sandy and Felix. Turns
out Sandy wasn't a pixie girl after all, she just genuinely
liked the colors. And listened to metal. Aya laughed
internally. She loved her new aquintances, hopefully they'll
turn out good friends.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she got put of one of
the many stalls lining the bathroom wall. A young woman
was sitting on the sink, her legs almost touching the floor
and a black mask and hood covered her features except
her eyes.
"Hello little one."
Aya's mouth stood agape. She couldn't believe it.
"I- Rya?"
A chuckled came from the young woman. "Long time no
see. What are you up to?"
She couldn't utter a word. Rya used to come every year
since her sixth birthday. She always showed up on her
birthdays, most times just to hangout but sometimes she
listened to her childish problems and gave her solutions.
Until she didn't. She stopped visiting her once she reached
ten.
A tear slid down Aya's face and the stranger's eyes
suddenly started to glow as though filled with tears too.
"What's wrong little one ?"
"|- you never came back. I waited, and waited, and waited.
But you never came." Aya's voice wavered. She couldn't
understand why she was getting emotional, after all, she
realised she didn't know anything about her. But she had
felt safe when she talked with her, although she was just a
child then.
"Forgive me"
The now almost inaudible voice sounded deeper than
usual, and icy wind swept through the open windows of the
cramped room. Aya didn't know what to say. On one side
she wanted nothing more than to hug this strange woman
and talk with her like she used to. On the other one... let's
say she might have been the reason Aya found it difficult to
trust people.
She smiled nonetheless. "It's okay." She looked down the
back at her again. "Is it okay if I sit beside you?"
Rya nodded but said nothing. Aya went and sat beside her
for a few moments, then out of habit, she tucked her legs
and leaned against her.
"What are you doing here ?"
"I came to check up on you."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're missing for four years and
then you suddenly feel like seeing me?"
"Yes. I've also come to deliver a message." Rya paused and
out of habit too, started to stroke the teenager's hair.
"What is it?"
"Don't go to Felix's tonight."
Aya frowned, but said nothing. She had learned long ago
that Rya's advice was always right even though its reason
were obscure most of the time.
"Rya ?"
"Yes ?"
"Who are you?"
"You know I can't tell you that little one."
"I feel as though I know you inside and out, but at the same
you're a complete stranger." Aya continued, ignoring Rya's
reply. "You're so mysterious, my head hurts just thinking
about you." Aya realised what she had just said
"Not that I think about you. I mean- Damn it."
Another deep chuckle came from under the mask.
"Do you feel safe with me?"
"Yes." The teenager didn't hesitate a second.
"Then that's all you need to know. Maybe someday you'll
find out about me."
"You know, if I didn't trust you I'd think you were here to kill
me."
"Oh believe me, that's exactly the opposite of why I'm here."
They sat in comfortable silence until the bell interrupted
them.
"Promise you won't go to Felix ?"
"If you promise that you'll try visiting from now on."
"Dman little one, you've certainly grown. Yes I agree, I'll try
coming sooner."
"Yes! One more question though."
"Shoot." Rya was in a comfortable position, still on the sink,
her back against the mirror and her hazel eyes -not unlike
Aya's- were twinkling under the bad lighting cast by the
bathroom bulb.
"Can I take a picture? With you I mean."
The woman's body language changed from relaxed to
agitated, but Aya didn't notice. "Erm, sure." It was the first
time she had sounded not in control to Aya.