Somehow, I managed to arrive at the medical store. I go there in rush, and buy a pack of sanitary pads. I run at the counter for checking out, in huffing and puffing.
" Haa.... Plea-please... Haa.... check out... Haa.... "
The cashier also looks at me with surprise, and tells with a troubled smile, " O-okay! "
He checked out my bill. Then, he greets me as I'm leaving the shop.
" Thank you! Please take care. "
" Thank you! ", I also greet them back. I open the door, and take my leave from there.
I put the pack into my bicycle's basket, and ride for the public washroom near a hospital. I release a sigh of relief.
" Phew..... THANK GOD! They had it there. Otherwise today would be gonna end game for me. "
I arrive there. I park my bicycle near the washroom, and as I'm going there my eyes get stuck at Minamoto kun at the nearby hospital, wearing a patient's clothes.
" Eh! Isn't he Minamoto kun? What's he doing there? Oh my God! Is he sick? " , I worriedly wondered.
I start feeling weird sensations again. My stomach also starts to ache. I've a very unpleasant expression on my face. I tightly hug my stomach with my both hands, " I want to go there. But I got something else to be taken care of first. Oh no! First I've to go to the washroom ".
After solving my problem, I quickly run for the hospital. My eyes are just searching up for him. I searched him everywhere, but he's nowhere to be found.
" Haa.... Haa.... Where's he gone? He's just standing here a few minutes ago. "
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
As I couldn't find him at the hospital, I headed back towards my house. After arriving at house, I open the door and greet.
" I'm home. "
" Oh! You're back. It took you long today. ", my mom with an energetically voice asked me.
" O-oh! It's just- ", but my mom interrupts me.
" It's okay! Masuyo chan. Sometimes we like to enjoy sometime alone. ", she gives out a smile, but I know there's sadness lay behind that smile. I also feel very sad about her. But I decide to tell her. I purse my lips, and finally talk with her.
" Oh! It's not like that I'm not happy with you, and wants to be alone. I really get caught into an important work. I'm sorry, mom. "
My mom eyes get big in shock like she's seeing a ghost, and she's looking at me in daze. Her eyes slowly start getting watery with tears. She comes near me, and ruffles my hair. She looks at me with a happy face, and smiles at me.
" Masuyo chan , do you realize something? "
" Huh? ", I look at her in confusion.
" Fufu... You just talked with me without stammering. ", she's smiling like she finds a treasure.
" Re-really? ", I also get excited by listening that good news. She nods her head heavily like a proud mama otter.
" Mo-mom, I couldn't believe th-that I talked like that. I'm so happy, mom. Hehehe.... ", I and she laugh with happiness on my new achievement of my life.
I think, it's worthwhile to change the way of my life. I'm slowly starting to remove my anxieties around my dear people. But it's a long way till then it's completely remove, and I don't want to stop my metamorphosis now. I'll also fly like that butterfly into my sky of freedom.
" Mama! Big sister! What're guys laughing at? What's so funny?", little Akira is looking at us with her two big crystals like eyes, which are very curious to know the matter. I smile at her, and pick her up with my both arms.
I pinch her tiny nose with my hand. As I start to tell her, my mom grabs Akira from my embrace, and puts her onto the floor. Her face which was earlier blooming with happiness, is now raging with anger.
My mom looks at me, and says with a serious tone, " You don't have to spoil her. Do you know what had she did? "
" I already told you, mama. I didn't steal it. " She pauses, and looks at me with unwavering eyes.
" Big sister, Akira chan is innocent. ", Akira's face looks like a balloon filled with anger which is making her to look like a cute angry puppy. I can't ignore his innocent pleading.
" B-but what happened? At least te-tell me. " I asked my mom, anxiously.
" She took my 'expensive' compact face powder without telling me, and now she's lying to me. "
My body gets stiff by listening this. Cold sweats start flowing from my forehead, and my entire body.
" But how are you sure that I'm that culprit? ", little Ayaka raised his voice from behind me to defend her. My mom looks at her with angry eyes.
" Because a few days ago, you yourself had confirmed it that you wanted to try makeup like me, and despite you who else could took it. Papa doesn't use it. Masuyo chan has her own. And besides four of us who else live in our house. If you took it then tell me honestly. I'll forgive you. If not, then yours this year's summer vacation camp will be cancelled. Stay at home, all this entire summer. "
I look at my mom, and a chill runs through my spine to not involve into this matter. But I also can't ignore the fact to punish her for what she never did.
"[ I've to stand with my sister. She's innocent, and it's all my fault. ]"
" Mo- ", but her words again interrupts me before saying anything.
" You better not to say anything on her behalf. She gets more spoiled after you came here. And now she starts lying also. "
" B-but at least listen to me. Wh-what do I want to say? "
" NO!!!!! No means no. Understood! " I get startle by her bitter words, and my mouth gets shut because I've no courage to say anything.
" Why're you scolding big sister? She didn't do anything wrong. ", and they continue to arguing with each other. While I'm standing there, holding my head lower.
By listening them arguing, my heart starts aching. It's feeling like there's a black hole inside my heart which is slowly-slowly eating me alive. I blame myself to not support my sister while knowing the whole truth. I'm angry at myself. I clench my fist, and give out a sarcastic smirk at myself.
"[ What a big sister I am! Huh.... My little sister is defending me while I could not gather enough courage to stands with her. Because I'm scared of my mother's disappointment in me. Cause I'm the one who stole it, not her. What a shame! ]"
After arguing for a while, both seemed to calm down, and went to their rooms. I still felt guilty to not took a stand for Akira. So, I sneak at her room at midnight after everyone fell into deep sleep. I enter her room, and walk towards her bed. I sit down on the floor beside her bed.
I look at her with gentle and warm eyes. She's sleeping soundly on her bed with her soft bunny toy. She's wearing a baby blue colored sleep suit with cute little hamsters printed on them. Beads of saliva are dripping from her little mouth. I unconsciously give out a smile by looking at her cuteness.
"[ She looks more cute when she's sleeping. ]"
But the next moment, I start feeling sad for her, as what had happened today. I move my hand over her head, and pat it gently. I kiss her forehead, and apologize to her with a heavy heart, " I'm sorry, Akira. I'm sorry...sob....sob.... ", but at the last I couldn't hold my tears, and start sobbing quietly. Tears are running down over my cheeks, making them wet. But I continue to apologize silently.
" Sob.... I'm sorry, A-Akira! It's all your sister's fault. I to-took it from mom's dressing table without asking her. B-but instead of me, you get insulted and scolded. I sincerely-sincerely from my heart apo-apologizing to you now, because I don't have guts to te-tell you this when you're awake. I'm really a bad sis-sister. I'm really sorry...sob....sob...."
After crying quietly from my heart's bottom, I return back to my room from Akira's room. With the feelings of guilt deep inside my heart, I were lying on my bed motionlessly. I'm looking at the ceilings of my room in daze, and eventually fall asleep.
I were sleeping soundly until the rays of sun in the morning starts sneaking through my window into my room. I yawn, and look at the table clock on the table beside my bed. It's thirty minutes past six. I get up from my bed, and go for freshing up.
After freshing up, I got ready for my school. I look at myself into the mirror once again to check everything up. Then, I take my school bag from my study table, and leave the room by closing the door. While I'm going downstairs for having breakfast, I have a very determined look, and only one thought is ringing into my mind.
I'm sitting on the dining chair. I glance at my mom who's making breaking breakfast for me. I gulp my saliva into throat, and finally opens my mouth to tell my mom.
" Mom, I-I want to tell you some-something. ", I hesitantly told her.
" Yes? Tell me. " , she said with a very gentle and cheerful voice.
" I wa-want to work as a part timer. So-so could you ask Daiki papa to t-take me in his shop? "
She stops making breakfast, and focuses all her attention at me. She looks at me with a curious face and asks," Eh? But why do you need to do it? "
" Oh it's just I want to be more independent and sociable. "
"[ But the real reason is I want to make money to buy that compact powder for my mom. ]"
Her face instantly gets bright up, and says excitedly, " Wow! It's so amazing that finally you're coming out from your closet. Don't worry, Masuyo chan. Mama will definitely ask papa for you. Leave the rest to me. " I nod my head, and thank her, " Thank you, mom. "
And she's still smiling at me.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Today, the weather is more quiet than rest of the days. There's no wind flowing. Just dark clouds are covering the whole sky. Frogs and toads are croaking in our school's garden. It seems like there's gonna be raining soon. I'm sitting inside my class on my chair. All students are chattering before the class starts. I'm sitting alone with only my book is accompanying me. But my eyes are engaged in stealing glances of Minamoto kun who's also chatting with Takahashi kun. By mere sight of him is enough for me to make me blush.
"[ Ah! Minamoto kun is looking very handsome as usual. He's our class president, and yet manages to do all other extracurricular activities also. Ahhh! How can someone be so perfect? Why doesn't God made me like him? ", As I'm stealing glances of him, he suddenly looks at me. Our eyes meet, and it makes me flustered. My heart starts thumping very loud. I look at him again quietly, and he's still staring at me. I quickly divert my eyes from him, and shoves it into my book.
"[ Oh my God! Oh my God! Our eyes met. Argh! It's so embarrassing to get caught by him for stealing glances of him. ]" My face and ears are red due to shame. But I look at him again to find is he still staring at me.
And 'YES', he's still staring. But this time he's also coming towards me. I again quickly shove my eyes into my book.
" [ Huh? Why's he coming towards me? Is he going to scold me for staring at him? ]"
My heart is racing fast as close as he's coming near me. He comes, and stands beside my table. I can't even lift my eyes to look at him.
" Excuse me, Aizawa san? ", his voice is gentle as usual. By hearing his melodious voice my heart become a blooming garden, and numerous birds are singing love songs for him. I finally lift up my head, and look at him with a blushing face.
" Ye-yes? ", my voice is trembling with anxiousness. He approaches me with a serious expression on his face.
" Could you meet me at the rooftop during our recess time? "
" Eh? " My eyes get big and my mouth get opened in surprise. I am just shocked and speechless. Don't know what to say anymore.