"Dad, we have a new neighbor!" Little Lumi said excitedly to her father from the window. "I think they have a son!" There weren't many children or teens in their neighborhood and Lumi was desperate for a friend. It had just been her and her father together since she was born. She never got to meet her mother. Her father also didn't like to talk about her much.
"Oh yeah? How about we bring some desserts over later to greet our new neighbors." He said, smiling at her. She smiled brightly back as they both ran to the kitchen to whip up some baked goods. It was their favorite hobby.
After they finished baking their bread pudding her father washed up. "Go brush your hair now sweetie and then we can run over there." Lumi ran to her room and sat in front of the vanity her father had made her. She pulled out her comb as she brushed through her brown locks stopping at her shoulders. Even after brushing them they would bounce back into a natural wave. She looked into her own hazel eyes through the mirror with excitement of making a new friend.
Later that day.
Lumi and her father stood on the doorstep of the new family that had just arrived. Her father rang the doorbell. "I got it!" shouted a feminie voice. The woman had brown hair and she was pretty fair. The door opened and the pair were greeted with a smile. Lumi's father gestured to the bread pudding in his hand.
"Oh my goodness. Ren, come see who it is!" She shouted with joy. A boy came running to his mother's side. Unlike his mother Ren had darker hair and dark eyes. Lumi's eyes widened as did her smile. He gave a smile back.
"Come inside." The woman said and motioned her father to put the pudding down on the kitchen counter. "Look honey, bread pudding." She said to her husband in the kitchen. He was asian, Lumi guessed Korean. They seemed like a sweet couple Lumi thought.
"Ren, why don't you show Lumi your room?" She winked at us as the adults began to chat in the kitchen. Ren turned to Lumi and then ran up the stairs to his room as she followed.
He sat on his bed and she sat on the floor her shorts stretched slightly. "I'm Ren Kim." He said as he went to the closet and pulled out his handheld game console. Lumi's eyes lit up. She had the same gaming device.
"I'm Lumi Mitchell." The girl replied. "I have one of those too. Want to add me as a friend?"
He nodded and handed the device over to her. She took it and typed her user name in.
He took it back from her once she finished and read the name "Applepie12..?"
She smiled and said "Yeah I love apple pies. Any pie really." He giggled and agreed.
"Lumi, sweetie, let's head home!" Her father called.
"It was nice meeting you." She said before leaving to greet her father and they crossed the street back to their house. When Lumi got home she ran to her room and grabbed her gaming device. It was the color blue just like his. She turned it on and the screen lit up with a notification of a new friend request. She smiled and opened it up. "SoccerRulesz0" She giggled at his name. DING! She got a message bubble from him.
"hey this is Ren"
She smiled and typed back. "HI"
"I really liked the bread pudding"
"Thanks! My dad and I luv to bake!"
"Cool what else do you bake?"
They chatted back and forth into the night.
The first day of school was coming up. Lumi was excited to introduce her friend Ren to her classmates. Lumi was starting the 7th grade and Ren the 8th. They said hi to each other in the hallway and had lunch together. Everyone was fascinated with him. Lumi felt a little jealous but knew this was part of meeting new people.
During their P.E. period Ren had to introduce himself. He was kind of shy.
"Tell us a fun fact about yourself Ren." The teacher said as they stood in front of the whole P.E. class. Lumi seated on the gym floor amongst the other kids.
She smiled knowing he was trying to figure something out in his head. He blinked when he figured it out.
"I'm half Korean." He said almost as if a question to get validation that that was good enough so he could leave the spotlight.
"Alright!" The couch clapped signifying the rest of the class to clap. "Go get a spot Ren. Let's start stretching!"
Ren walked to stand beside Lumi and she stuck her tongue out teasing him for his performance. he smiled back.
"Today we will be playing tag."
Lumi groaned. "Ugh I hate sports."
"It's not really a sport." Ren replied.
"Running! You know what I mean!"
Ren laughed and then tapped her shoulder. "You're it."
Lumi gasped in the betrayal. "Oh no you didn't." She started laughing when he sprinted off.
Several Months Later.
Lumi and Ren were closer than ever. They had shared so many things together most people didn't know about them. Like how Lumi liked to draw. It was mainly fashion related but she had drawn pictures of Ren as well as of late. Also how Ren disliked girls who were too girly which is why he got along with Lumi. She was more of a tomboy. They were inseparable. They rode to school together everyday and texted throughout the night after Ren got out of soccer practice.
"Come on come to my game tonight. You never go to any." Ren plead with Lumi as he ate his school lunch.
"Nope. I am boycotting all sport events." She announced. That made Ren laugh. He never really laughed as much before meeting Lumi. Another fact why he enjoyed being around her so much.
"But I will cheer you on from home." Lumi said to soften her words. She handed him a spare dessert bun from her lunch bag.
A snooty girl in Lumi's grade over heard the conversation and was annoyed with how close Lumi and Ren had got. She wanted to be just as close with Ren but because she thought he was cute. She didn't know much about him.
"Aww does Lumi have a crush on Ren!?" Chloe teased from down the lunch table. Ren and Lumi looked back at the girl shocked. It was the first time they even thought about one another having a crush on the other. A flush of red appeared on Lumi's face.
"No I don't!" Lumi said and ran off. Ren glared at the girl who quickly got up and left as well.
They went to the same middle school which was nice since Lumi didn't have many friends. She was kind of a loner before Ren showed up but he was not. He was in sports and clicked really well with the males in their class and the females. Lumi on the other hand was more into arts and drawing. She was not athletic and with all the time her and her father spent baking goods she had even gained some more weight as the school year progressed. Lumi noticed a lot of the girls started talking to her as well but not to be her friend. They just wanted to ask questions like "What's Ren's favorite color?" Blue, just like her's. "What's Ren's favorite food?" Dessert buns, just like her's. Or so she assumed, but it was really pizza.
She ran and hid in a small hall and tears pricked at her eyes. Lumi realized then that she had developed a small crush for her best friend. She didn't understand why at first. She badly just wanted to be his friend but these feelings were starting to take over. She found herself many times twirling her hair in class while daydreaming about his face and his smile. His smile made her melt which she hated.
"Lumi..." The familiar voice said, making Lumi jump.
"...hey." She saw Ren and pushed her palms into her eyes to wipe away any tears that dared to fall.
"Don't listen to Chloe." Lumi nodded and took her lunch bag from his hand. "Thanks."
They stood there together for the rest of the lunch period making small talk.
"How could she think that?! I mean we're just friends!" Her embarrassment now turning into frustration.
Ren chuckled and the school bell rang signifying the next class period.
"I don't know, you blushed pretty hard." he teased. Her jaw clenched as she went to swing her fist at him she missed and he went running away while chuckling.
Her hands went up to her cheeks and she sighed. "I DO NOT LIKE HIM." she said to herself before stomping off to class.
Winter Break.
"Dad, is it ok after we do Christmas if I could go to the Kim's?" Lumi asked as she sat anxiously waiting next to her wrapped gift in front of the tree. She started to pick at the red and green wrapper.
"Of course sweetie." Her father plopped down next to her in front of his gift.
"You go first." She said, smiling at her father.
"Aw ok." He started to unravel his misshapen gift and smiled with joy to new oven mitts. "Thank you sweetie, I love them!" He planted a kiss on her forehead. "Now you go."
Before he could finish she had unwrapped her whole gift. It was a clothing box with a new outfit inside. She pulled out a shirt and some jeans with a smile on her face. "Thanks dad!"
He smiled back and said "I noticed you have been outgrowing your other stuff so I thought I'd get you something new."
She giggled knowing it was her father's way of telling her she had gained some weight but it didn't bother her. Her weight was the least of her worries at the age of 12.
"I just can't resist your dessert buns!" She giggled and got up to give him a hug.
They laughed and talked for a little while before she got up to go get ready to head over to Ren's house. She brushed her brown locks and put on a red dress that opened down to her knees. It was just a tad snug around her waist and she sucked in her stomach to flatten the dress but only for a second before releasing. She sighed and shrugged. The weight really didn't bother her. She only noticed it because of the small comments from her father and classmates. Ren never mentioned it to her though. He didn't care and neither did she.
She finished her outfit with a white cardigan and slipped on some socks and put on her black booties. Before leaving she went to the kitchen to kiss her father goodbye.
"Wow you look beautiful sweetie. Ren is going to fall in love." Her father teased. Lumi blushed.
"Ew...stop." She tucked a strand of wavy brown hair behind her ear and left.
She stood in front of the Kim's house and knocked on the door while the other hand held a plate of dessert buns. "It's Lumi!" She shouted.
Mrs. Kim opened the door and let her in. "Oh hi dear. Mmm dessert buns?" She coughed afterwards.
"Yes they are! Are you sick Mrs. Kim?" Lumi asked.
"Oh no no just allergies." Lumi looked into her eyes and gave a weak smile and then hugged her.
"I hope you feel better."
"Thank you dear. Ren, Lumi's here!" She shouted.
"Hey Mr. Kim!" She high fived the dad sitting on the couch with his mug.
She heard footsteps of more than one pair catching her attention towards the stairs. It was Chloe and Ren.
"I'll see you at school then." Chloe said giving Ren a hug goodbye. Ren waved as he shut the door behind her.
He turned to Lumi and blinked. "What?" He was also shocked by her attire. A dress..he thought.
Lumi said nothing as she stomped up to Ren's room. She could hear Mrs. Kim giggling behind them. Ren gave his mother a look of unease and then followed Lumi.
When they both entered his room he slightly closed the door making sure not to close it all the way.
"So are you guys friends now?" Lumi asked, plopped on Ren's bed now very comfortable in his home unlike before.
"She dropped by to give me a Christmas gift."
Lumi scoffed. "What was it?"
He turned to the new basketball in his room on the floor. Lumi looked at it and then back up at Ren. Ren tried to hide a smile which made Lumi laugh.
"A basketball!?" She laughed and fell back in his bed. "You play soccer though." She laughed harder.
Her laugh caused him to laugh as well. He liked the sound of her laughter.
"Chloe doesn't know much about sports." Ren said.
Once their laughter died down she looked up at him. Is he getting taller? She thought to herself.
"Ok ok what did you get me?" He said in a more serious tone now coming to sit beside him.
She sat up and reached into her small cardigan pocket and pulled out a poorly wrapped ball.
"Is it a smaller ball?" He asked taking it from her hand.
"No! Open it." She smiled.
He unwrapped the mess of wrapping paper and inside was a small metal key chain of a bun with glaze over it.
"Sweet." He joked and smiled while holding it up. It was cute he thought and he cherished it.
"Now where's my gift?" She smiled, blinking her brown eyes up at him. He reached beneath his bed to pull out a brown box with a red bow on top. He handed it to her and when she reached to grab it and their hands brushed slightly. It was small but it made them both almost blush. He looked down at his hands between his lap while she opened the box. Inside was a set of high quality drawing color pencils. Her eyes gleamed.
"Well do you like it?"
She turned to him and smiled while nodding. She set the box down opposite to him and without thinking jumped to give him a peck on the cheek and a hug. That time he blushed as she held him. As he slowly reached one hand up to pat her on her back the door creaked open.
"Aw did you see what Ren got you?" It was his mother. Lumi jumped back and looked at Mrs. Kim.
"Yes I love it!" She said excitedly. She also was blushing from her confidence to kiss Ren. To her it just felt natural to kiss him. She was so happy. It didn't mean anymore than it was did it?
"Well why don't you kids come down and we can enjoy some buns together."
Ren stood up and headed downstairs and the other two shared a smile before following.
That night when Lumi returned home she put her pencil set down beside her bed and smiled looking at them before laying down. She heard a ding on her gaming device and picked it up.
NOTIFICATION CHAT BUBBLE FROM SoccerRulesz0
"Um i liked ur dress today btw"
Lumi took a minute to think about his message and blushed.
"Thanks"
"Gn Lumi"
"Gn Ren"
She put her device back down on the bedside table and laid back in bed. She fell asleep dreaming about Ren and her lips brushing his cheek.
Summer.
Lumi was at the Kim's doorstep. She rang the doorbell and shortly Ren answered.
"Hey want to hang out?" Lumi asked with a smile.
"I can't..." He didn't elaborate. Lumi examined his face. He looked tired.
"Okayyy...is everything ok?" She asked, confused.
"Mmm I'd rather not talk about it." He said but really meant he didn't know how to talk about it.
"I got to go." he said more.
"Oh ok well just message me if you change your mind."
He nodded and shut the door.
She slowly walked back to her own home. Ever since winter break they had slowly drifted apart and she didn't know why. They no longer rode to school together. Her father would just make an excuse for the Kim's but she knew something had changed. When they would talk at school Lumi noticed Ren losing interest in their conversations. And when she brought dessert buns over he would just say thank you and close the door behind him. Lumi felt helpless. She wanted to know what was going on but he wouldn't open up to her. Did she ruin their friendship by kissing him? Did he think she liked him for than a friend and didn't share the same feelings? She missed her friend.
A few weeks passed by and there was a knock at her bedroom door.
"Sweetie, Ren is here to see you." She sat up from her bed shocked. She looked herself in the mirror quickly and then the door opened. Ren walked inside as her father shut the door behind him.
"Hey...stranger." She said, not knowing what else to say. She looked at his eyes. They looked even a darker hue than normal and there were tired bags under his eyes. His hair looked overgrown and He sat beside her on her bed.
"I'm sorry I've been so distant." He said.
They sat there for a little bit soaking up the sadness of lost time.
"M-my moms...sick." He said trying to hold back his emotions.
Lumi's eyes widened and she focused on him. "Is she going to be alright?"
He looked down at his lap as if in a daze. "I don't think so."
This is why he had been so distant. He had been trying to keep it together but he was at his breaking point and just needed his friend.
Lumi's eyes began to tear up. The tears silently rolled down her face. She pictured the sweet smile on Mrs. Kim's face and the smile she brought to Ren's. Lumi's heart hurt from the pain her friend was feeling.
She reached over to grab one of his hands and squeezed it. "I'm here for you." She whispered trying not to sob.
Ren turned to rest his forehead on her shoulder and just released his tears. The tears he had been trying so hard to fight all this time. Lumi sat there crying with her friend that she missed so dearly. They just sat and cried for what seemed like an hour. Afterwards he got up and thanked her for being his friend and left. When he left her father was there to replace him and she cried in his lap as he ran his fingers through her hair. She felt sad and guilty for being upset with Ren for disengaging himself from their friendship and after hearing the reason why she was even more hurt. Hurt for her friend who she knew she loved.
The next few days it was gloomy and rainy. Lumi tried messaging Ren multiple times on their gaming devices but no answer. He had stopped coming to school and she was worried. Her father knocked once and then cracked the door open to her room. Lumi was just sitting on her bed when he walked in to sit beside her.
"Sweetie, I think you should go see Ren today. I just heard news that his mom passed." Lumi looked at her father and tears began to slide down her face. "N-no." She muttered in between her cries trying to deny the truth. Her father held her close with teary eyes as well.
She got up and ran out the house. She needed to be there for Ren. She needed to see him and comfort him.
When she arrived in front of the Kim's doorstep she knocked on the door and rang the doorbell. It was Mr. Kim who answered. He looked defeated and his eyes rimmed in red from the tears he shed. Lumi was still wiping at her cheeks and crying.
"He's upstairs." Was all he said and Lumi entered the home to run up to Ren's room. The door was locked. She knocked and knocked some more.
"Ren I'm so sorry!" She sobbed into the door. She could hear him sniffling on the other side.
"Go away Lumi." He said in a sad tone.
"No open the door!" She begged.
He didn't move.
She knocked again.
"Please..." She begged some more.
"I don't want to see you anymore!" He lashed. He didn't know why he was saying these things but he felt so much pain that he just wanted to let it out and he let it out on Lumi. Her smile and her warmth would remind him too much of his mother and he didn't want to feel those feelings for a long while.
"I loved your mom too and I-I love you." Lumi whispered while crying.
Ren stared into the ground where he sat beside his bed. The tears just falling down his cheeks now none stop. He just wanted the pain to go away and run out to hug her but he couldn't. Too much pain was clouding his mind and he just wanted to be left alone.
When Lumi realized he wasn't budging she turned to walk down the stairs and Mr. Kim was there ready to hug her. She gave him a hug back and gave her condolences before returning home.
Her father asked her if she was ok but she just ignored him and walked straight to her room. She shut the door and went to lay in her twin size bed pulling her blue covers over her head. She felt a little safer and then really cried. She cried harder than she had ever before and felt as if her friendship had ended.
Ren and Lumi never spoke again and ignored each other as if they had never met after that day.