As I watch him in so much pain and anger, my heart starts aching, like someone had pierced a spear through it. But, I can't even ask him because it's his personal life. I'm not that familiar with him, that I can interfere with his private matters, now. I'm a mere classmate for him or may be not, or may be, just a strange girl who always bump into him in awkward situation. Right now, I can only ask him this question.
" Mina-Minamoto kun, do you wan-wanna eat purin*? Huh? ", I anxiously asked this to Minamoto kun. He turns his attention towards me, and starts staring at me, with a poker face.
I'm looking deep into his eyes without blinking, and say in my heart, "[ I don't know, what's he thinking about me, and I don't care, if he become angry at me. I just want to remove that uneasy pain from his heart which is making it uncomfortable to beat. ]" He's still staring me without saying anything.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
" Do-do you like it, Mi- Minamoto kun? ", I asked him, and eagerly waiting for his response.
He nods his head slightly, and just says, " Hmm. ", while eating a caramel purin.
"[ Even though, he doesn't show any expression of joy on his face, but it still makes me happy. At least, even a little bit, his mind got distracted. ]", I smile and then, finally take a sigh of relief. I also take a bite from my purin. My anxious mind also get calm when I taste it. My eyes get shiny.
"[ Ahh amazing! It's so delicious. It's so smooth and bouncy. The golden caramel sauce on top of it, makes it even more delicious. I should thanked to my mom later, for telling me about this shop. It makes my heart happy also. ]", and I happily continue to devour the rest of pudding.
Right now, I and Minamoto kun, are sitting in a small pudding shop which was recommended by mom, when she visited it last month. It is located near that previous grocery shop. This purin shop has beautiful flower interiors with pastel walls. From outside also, it looks very beautiful. Veins of pink and blue morning glory are blooming and hanging on it's balcony and outer walls. The beautiful view of flowers with purin, makes it more enjoyable.
" Hmm, it's really delicious. ", Minamoto said it with a very gentle voice. When these worlds spoke out from his mouth, it makes my heart starts beating fast with loud 'thump, thump, thump' sound.
"[ He really liked it. ]", my heart flutters, and I give out an overbearing wide smile, which makes my eyes look like two crescent moon.
" Really! I'm glad to-to hear that yo-you like it. I al-always believe that a-a purin can makes any per-person happy. ", I'm gazing at him quietly with shyly eyes. After listening to my childish words, his face first makes a weird expression, then he slowly bursts into laughter.
" Hahahaha! I should also start believing in it from now. It really can makes anyone happy. ", I also starts chuckling. People around us are looking at us with a surprise look on their faces.
After finishing pudding, it's time for payment. I and he, both are standing at paying counter.
Then, a cashier tells us with a smiling face, after calculating our dessert's bill, " Your total bill is ¥1,110.94 for two caramel purins. "
" Okay! ", Minamoto kun smiles and nods his head . I pick my small pocket wallet, which is in shape of a cute little tiger's face, from my pantsuit's pocket. He also slowly starts moving his hand to back pocket of his pants. I noticed his movement, and quickly took out the money first from my wallet, and put it in the hands of cashier.
" He-here! Please take it. "
He happily receives it, and says with a happy look, " Thank you! "
I take Minamoto kun by surprise, and he exclaimed, " Why did you do that? I was going to pay. "
I nervously smile, and say, " Ah! It-it's okay, Minamoto kun. I'm the one wh-who asked you. So, I should pay for you also. "
" But, still it's not okay. At least, we could paid in half. "
" No, no, it's okay. Just take it as a thank yo-you gift for helping me, earlier. "
He opens his mouth to say something, but he doesn't say anything, and gulp back his words into his throat.
" Please, visit us again. ", cashier greets us as we're leaving the shop.
The door opens automatically, and we walks to the pathway road, outside of shop. He stands there, and looks at me with a serious look and knitted brows, and says " Next time, If we happen to meet again, then I'll treat you, okay? ". We're looking at each other, standing on the pathway road.
When I listened to those words, I feel like flowers are blooming everywhere. I nod my head eagerly, revealing all my excitement to meet him again. He also smiles back at me.
" Excuse me, Aizawa san? "
" Yes. "
" I want to ask you something. "
" Ye-Yes, of course ! ", and I said curiously.
" How did you know that me and Komatsu are best friends? ", he asked in confusion.
My body become stiff and my face turns white by listening those words.
"[ Oh no! What to tell you? That since, I like you, so I listened all the gossips related to you from my class girls' group. ]" Then suddenly, I think something, and try to fool him with my words.
" Ah! It looked li-like I'm getting late. My mo-mom will be waiting for me. ", I had such a expression, like I just remembered something important, while saying this.
I laughed nervously and say, " Then, I'll take my lea-eave first. Bye-bye, Minamoto kun. Se-see you at school. ", as said those words, I run as fast as I can leaving behind an unanswered and stunned Minamoto kun.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
I arrive at my home, and hurriedly enter. I close the door and lean back at it. I am huffing and puffing. I take a sigh of relief, and say, " Phew! How many times will I have to run away from answering his questions? Argh, oh God! I can't do this anymore. " I rest there for a while, then finally, walk to the kitchen with bag, full of groceries products. I place it at it's counter, and informs my mom, " I'm home. "
" Ah! You've come back, Masuyo chan. I've been waiting for you. What did take you so long? ", she loaded me with questions while coming to the kitchen.
" Ah th-that! There's many peo-peoples today. So, it to-took me a while to come ho-home. ", I told her nervously.
" Oh! Is it so? ", she asked again with a worry look on her face. I nod my head slowly.
" Oh my! Then, it'll be difficult for you. Sorry Masuyo chan, for troubling you. ", she apologized with guiltiness. I shake my head slowly, and smiled lightly.
I tell her, " It's fine. You don't ha-have to do this. I weren't get trou-troubled at all. "
She also gives out a sweet smile, completely different from mine. My smiles have some nervousness, while her smiles are full of cheerfulness. When the first time, I looked at her smile, I thought that I also want to smile like her. Being full with cheerfulness.
" Ah! I forget to tell you something important. You, me and your Daiki papa are going to see your papa, today. It's been already two months, since you've met with your papa. "
My eyes get lights up with excitement and happiness, " Really? "
" Yes, of course! Why should I lie about it? Now, go and pack your things. Since, we'll gonna stay there for two days. "
" Wow! Really! Really! Really! I'm so happy right now that I can't tell you mom. I'll go and pack up my things. " I pause for a sec and ask her, " But what about Akira chan? "
" She's also coming with us. He has already gone to take her from her school. Now, go fast. We don't have much time at all. They'll be arrive soon here. "
I excitedly nod my head, and go to my room upstairs.
. . . . . . . . . . .
We're waiting outside of the house. Then, a black car arrives and blowing it's horn, " Peep! Peep! ". It is my step father's car.
" Mama! Big sister! Aki chan and papa have come to pick up you guys. Hehehe.. ", Akira shouted it from the car's window with a great zealous and excitement, and giggles. She also waves her little hands towards us with a very bright and cheerful smile, showing us his two sets of her teeth. We both smile back at her, and wave our hand too.
The car stops in front of us. Daiki papa get downs from driver's seat, and walk to the car's backside. He opens it's trunk, then returns back to his seat without saying anything. There's only a calm expression on his face.
" [ He's just like me. So, quiet and unbothered. Maybe, also silently eager to meet his childhood friend again. ]", I smirk at my own thoughts.
" Masuyo chan, give me your bag. I'll put it into it. "
" It's okay! I-I can do it on my o-own. " We both walk towards the car's back, carrying our own luggage.
She and I, both after putting our luggage into the trunk, get inside to the car. Then, it takes it leave.
" Sister! Sister! ", Akira is as excited and happy as always. She's still in her kinder garden's uniform. I gently smile at her and ruffles his bangs.
" Yes? "
" Today, you know, my friend Hana chan brought her pet mouse at our class. He is so cute and fluffy like a cotton ball and ..... ", her story continues, and after telling me the whole story, she eventually fall asleep.
"[ Her sleeping baby face is so cute, that I want to pinch it, but I can't disturb her sleep. She's already being tired from her school. Let her sleep. ]", I smile, and gently pat his head which is lying on my lap. Earlier Inside the car, Akira's baby voice only can be heard, and now, it's totally silent. Mom and Daiki papa are sitting in front, and I and Akira are sitting in the back. My mom also get asleep. Daiki papa is still driving silently, and I'm taking enjoyment in looking at the beautiful landscapes.
"[ Talking about my family. My mom, papa and Daiki papa are friends since childhood. They're from same neighborhood and attended the same school from elementary to high school, also. They grew up together from a kid to an adult. But unfortunately, my papa's mother was suffering from an incurable disease, so, her last wish was to see him married, and having kids before she died. She asked him to get married, by looking at her condition, he couldn't refuse her. But at that time, my father wasn't dating anyone, and he also didn't know anyone reliable. So, he only left with one option. He went to my mom's house, and asked her father for her hand. At first, he wasn't agree to this, because this marriage wasn't out of love, but to just fulfill someone's wish. My father also knew that it's wrong, but he promised him to take care of my mom at all cost. Since, they're childhood friends, they can understand each other very well, so, my mom also got agreed. She also supported him, and finally succeed in persuading his father. They got married one month later, and had me after first year of their marriage. My father's mother died, after five month I were born. When I were three, my parents got divorced, and parted their ways with each other. After that, my papa married my step mom, and my mom married my step father.
They had a pretty hard life. My father married my mother because of my grandmother. My mother married him because he couldn't see her friend in suffering. They tied together unwillingly for four years. Those four years were really uncomfortable for both of them, as they regretted their decision. People tend to take impulsive decision to resolve the current situation without even thinking of it's consequences in the future.
The reason why I want to convey my true feelings to Minamoto kun, despite of, I'm not good at approaching and talking with people, because I don't want to live a life like them. There's no relation grew between them, other than friendship. Their married life was loveless. My father and mother tried their hard to live a happy life with each other. But when we try our hard to live together in a relationship, then there'll be no need for that relationship to be existed. I don't want to try to be in love, I want to live happily, and enjoy my life forever with Minamoto kun, while loving each other. ]"