HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
I have been sitting here for almost two hours. I already know that the trees on my right give a whistling sound to the slightest blow of the wind and that the gate of the park creaks when it is being moved to and fro by the force of the strong wind. I gave a huge sigh. What am I going to miss about this place when I'll leave? A lot, a whole lot. I have been born and raised in this place but coming back to this park is like bidding farewell to the memories I have treasured and buried since childhood.
I could still remember that time when I was playing here on the exact spot feeling a pair of eyes watching me. The next minute the owner of those eyes became a friend.
"I am Tadaka Kenji, sorry for watching you play. We actually just moved here from Tokyo. I have no one to play with."
"I could be your playmate Takada-kun! I am Sato Maki. I live nearby."
Our friendship grew stronger and stronger until that tragic incident when were twelve years old. Tadaka was running across the street to buy my favorite takoyaki when a speeding car hit him. He was gone forever. After that I have been miserable. I did not visit the park where Takada and I first met. Now here I am, acting like a brave girl, trying to say good bye of the painful memories.
If only I could.
I closed my eyes. The wind seemed to change, it became warmer… and that's when I realized someone is enveloping me in his arms. Tears started to fall as I mumbled his name. "K… Kenji-chan"
-FOUR YEARS AFTER-
TOKYO, JAPAN
"Kise-san! You're taking it too seriously!" I yelled at my co-model when he put his arms around my waist romantically and having his lips close to mine like we are some real life couple. We have to shoot for the summer collection of You X Me. Kise have been a co-model of mine for almost four years and I hate it when he gets too comfortable with me and I can't keep my privacy any longer. "Kise-san stop meddling with my phone!" "Kise-san who filled my iPad with all these apps?" "Kise-san that is my sandwhich don't even dare take a bite!" "Kise-san stop putting ribbons on my dog! He's male!" It has always been like that. I actually like Kise as a friend but I'm afraid to get close with the opposite sex. The trauma of losing Kenji was too much.
"Sorry Satocchi but I just love teasing you. I love it when your ears turn red and when your veins appear." He said tracing the vein on my neck as he gave me his im-not-going-to-apologize-just-for-that-cause-i-lo ve-it look. Then he ran his fingers to his yellow colored hair. I could see how well formed his biceps are. Well, it really should be formed since he's a basketball player.
"Oh you always are forgiven Kise-san!" I said with a sarcastic look as I went to the dressing room to change.
I was on my way to my favorite toy store to buy another stuffed panda to add into my collection. I have been collecting pandas after my Mom gave me one during the death of Kenji. Pandas seem to be Kenji's replacement. I've been buying a lot of them to have enough Kenji to last me a lifetime.
"Good morning Maki-chan!" greeted the store owner. I've been known in that place for my habit. "We already have the panda you ordered. We also have a limited edition porcelain panda figurine today. There are only few left though." She said with a smile wrinkles showing.
"I am sorry Ojosan but I guess I got the last one." said a guy in glasses with green hair. As he lifted his glasses I saw that his fingers are full of bandages. He must have gotten into a fist fight or maybe he's into boxing. From all the assumptions, one thing is for sure: he's got a nice body build.
"I guess I'll take the stuffed panda then." I said smiling not really affected that the porcelain pandas ran out.
"The stuffed panda won't work. The horoscope clearly said that the lucky item is a porcelain panda." said the green haired guy as-a-matter-of- factly.
"I'm not buying a panda because of the horoscope, I don't even believe in luck." I said and left the store owner and the guy. I wasn't even waiting for his reply. I took the stuffed panda and paid at the cashier.