Memento Vivere
by layniebleargh
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To touch you...
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It seems like ages ago when she last stepped on the plain cement floors of her old high school building. It seems like forever since she last ran across the corridor's length, playing with the boys. Yet in reality, it was just ten years ago when she last smelled the woody scent of the benches lining the entrance hall. It has been a decade since she graduated.
Taking a deep breath, she let her feet lead her to the gymnasium, where the batch reunion is being held. Click click click. The sound of her heels hitting the floor echoed across the hallway. She shivered and rubbed her naked arms. She used to wear boy shoes and loose jackets. She could not remember the sound and feel of her high school character anymore. She has changed.
She could not even remember half of her batch. The boy - man - at the doors smiled at her and called her name affectionately, but she could not even remember his face. Were they friends? Perhaps. She had a lot of friends.
"Tenten-san!"
A tall, muscular man approached her enthusiastically. Who is he? The pouty lips, straight nose, large eyes, thick eyebrows, bowl-cut... Thick Eyebrows!
"Lee!"
She could've given him a bear hug, but she hasn't given one for years. Instead, she kissed his cheeks and held his hands, taking her time to survey him with narrowed eyes.
"You look good. How have you been?"
If the sense of humor had remained in her, she would've cracked a joke at this point.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Gai-sensei and I are now running a fitness gym near..."
The tide of time had also affected Lee. As she half-listens to his rant that sounds suspiciously like he is advertising, she surveys the buffet table and her eyes linger on the wine glasses. Not strong enough, but wine still has alcohol. Just seeing the crimson liquid swirl as the drink is being poured, she could already feel desire kick in.
"Can you please excuse me for a moment, Lee?"
Licking her lips in anticipation, she raised the glass, the wine tilting with the solid crystal towards her orifice...
"Isn't it too early for drinking?"
Tenten hesitatingly parted her lips from the glass rim. Moist, bright red lips curled up in a well-practiced smile.
"Really?"
The man looks distinguished. Dressed in a black, velvet tuxedo, he has the air of a recognized businessman. For the moment, however, he seems to be in a relaxed state. The corners of his lips are twitching, as if tempted to smile.
"Tenten, the program has not even started."
The smile dropped from her face in an instant. Something about the way he said her name pulled the strings of her heart, and a numbness started to spread all over her body, like a fever breaking. A falling feeling. A wrenching pain.
"Who are you?"
The man tossed his long brown hair in exasperation, licked his lips, and finally let out a smirk. Now she remembers. The carefree afternoons. The crazy sleepovers. The long phone calls. The unanswered letters.
"Hyuuga..."
Her best friend of many years. The boy who took her heart along with his sudden departure.
"...Neji."
She wanted to shout at him, hit him, strangle him... all those empty hours, listless days, solitary years - he just left, without a word - and everyday, she could not do anything but to hope and yearn. A single tear escaped the box of memories she had long shunned in a corner of her mind, and along with that tear the grief of her heart poured; the anxiety of ten years finally relieved. She felt both stupid and sad; and she knew that she would berate herself later for doing what she is currently doing; but nevertheless she let her emotions reign - and finally hugged her best friend.