Sometimes, when I'm with you, I find it so strange that I'm smiling... ― Like The First Snow, Kim Jang Hyun
xxxxxx
[Rinako]
"It seems that... you're okay. At least for now."
I looked at Mayu while we were traversing the route that we usually go together going home. I just smiled at her comment but decided against the fact to tell her what had happened. Just like what Setsuji told me, whatever happened in that place would stay there for good.
"Really? But I think... I'm okay."
Seriously speaking, Rinako. It was already obvious, and yet you still had the guts to deny it.
I saw my cousin roll her eyes, which means she didn't believe what I said. "You know what? You can fool everyone, but not me. Okay? I'm your cousin and at the same time, your best friend so you can't hide anything from me."
See? I just shook my head.
"I know. But I'm okay now. Don't worry so much because that would make you end up gaining more than just wrinkles if you keep up being a worrywart."
Mayu didn't say anything anymore afterward and we just continued walking. I don't know. I couldn't understand myself at the moment. It seemed like... I felt good and light. It was as if... whatever it was that made my chest feel heavy had completely disappeared.
I didn't have any idea about what Setsuji had done when he comforted me at that time besides embracing me. But whatever it was, it helped me a great deal.
It was weird... but nice.
"Hey... She's smiling~" I heard Mayu teased in a sing-song voice that made me focus my attention on her.
"So? What's wrong if I smile?"
"Nothing. But take it slow, okay? Because you'd end up looking like an idiot for no reason when they see you like that." And this witch even smiled cheekily as if she had some weird plans currently swirling in her mind.
Maybe she was the crazy one and not me.
"I'm the one you're paying attention to again. I'm being quiet here, okay?" And I just returned my focus to the path we were taking.
As for Mayu, she was just laughing. Well, more like she was giggling for some reason I didn't want to know at that point because I wasn't sure what kind of 'horrific' thoughts were running in her mind. I didn't any plans to discover that at the moment.
We already reached the park when all of a sudden, I frowned. Was it me or did I just hear someone calling my name? I even stopped walking just for me to make sure I heard it right.
"What's wrong?" Mayu asked who also stopped walking.
"Don't you hear someone calling me?" I scanned the surroundings just for me to make sure if there was anyone looking for me or not.
Not long after, I saw someone running towards the spot where Mayu and I stopped. There were two figures. It didn't take long for me to figure out who they were.
"Seriously, what kind of crazy mind does your dance practicum partner have and he thought of chasing after you until he reached us here?"
I looked at Mayu and raised an eyebrow. "And you're seriously asking me what kind of crazy mind he has? Are you sure you're still okay? Maybe you're the crazy one and not him."
"Well, I was just checking. I just want to make sure, okay? You two were the ones who would usually talk these past days, right?"
"It was only for our practice's sake and nothing else," I emphasized.
"Who do you think you're fooling?" I heard Mayu whisper and I wasn't sure if I would retaliate that or not.
But then, what was I supposed to say?
However, before I could even think of anything to be used as retaliation, Setsuji and Seiho who were running had already reached us. I wonder what was wrong and these two even thought of looking for us?
"You're insane... Both of you can walk fast," a panting Seiho commented. "Are you in a marathon and you walked that fast?"
"Don't blame it on us, okay? It so happened that you're just a slow walker. Maybe you should do some exercise so you'd be able to keep up," Mayu replied soon after. Of course, it only started a series of banter between the two.
And yet that wasn't where my attention lies but towards Setsuji who was still trying to catch his breath from running. Seriously, who even told this guy to run just to find me?
And heck! What were this guy's purpose and he even decided to look for me?
"Maybe you should take deep breaths a little slower. There's still tomorrow, you know." I even tried to lighten up his mood but then I failed in that department.
He exhaled heavily one more time before he straightened himself up and faced me. Well, more like he was looking down on me because of his height he was 5'10" while I was only 5'4".
Sheesh! Talk about me lacking such height when it comes to this guy. Why was he this tall, anyway?
"Sorry... I just have to reach you, that's why."
I frowned at his words. "Sounds like it's really important."
"Well, it depends on how you value it. But for me, it is." He took something from his bag. It was a yellow-colored rectangular box, although the color was actually in a paler shade. "This is actually for you. I hope somehow this would make you smile."
I looked at Setsuji without losing that frown on my face. My heart was hammering inside my chest like crazy despite my obvious confusion. And yet, he was there standing in front of me holding a rectangular pale yellow box.
Could it be that...?
My eyes widened all of a sudden when I felt something touch my forehead. And before I could fully comprehend what had happened, I just saw him running away from there together with Seiho. All I could do was to stare with wide eyes at his retreating figure.
I looked at the box that he handed to me.
Did Setsuji actually... kiss me? On my forehead?
"It looked like he outsmarted you there with that kiss, huh?" my cousin commented with a laugh.
But I couldn't find myself laughing the same way or even getting angry about it. I didn't know what to think about all this, to be honest.
I didn't allow my curiosity to even reach home when it comes to that box. Without further ado, I opened it as carefully as I could despite my hidden excitement whether I admit it or not.
But when the content of that box finally revealed itself to me, I couldn't help smiling widely at that.
He gave me 3 yellow tulips.
Well, if that guy wanted to make me smile then he surely succeeded.
But... what definition of the yellow tulip did he want to convey to me? Because as far as I knew, yellow tulip had two meanings in the language of flowers.
"Nako-chan, what's wrong? Is there any problem?"
I looked at Mayu because of her question. But I couldn't answer that since I wasn't even sure how would I be able to.
It was reasonable if Setsuji gave me these flowers intending to make me smile. And maybe because he wanted me to smile. It was because, in the language of flowers, one definition of yellow tulip was "there's sunshine in your smile".
But there was another meaning for that flower in the language of flowers. And that particular meaning was the one commonly used in association with yellow tulips.
"Isn't yellow tulip usually defined as a flower that meant one-sided love?"
Exactly!
I was left completely speechless with that because that was the truth.
Did Setsuji give me that flower because of the definition of smiles or because it bears two meanings?
That couldn't be it... right?