She was on the way to the college. It was windy and the sky was gray. It seemed that it is about to rain. She wished she could stay at home today, but she didn't want to disappoint her mother. She really hated the college, everybody there liked to gossip. She knew they were gossiping about her, too and she really hated it. She entered the college and everybody immediately started whispering and laughing, but she ignored them and went to sit on a bench outside the college building. Then she saw him, he was chatting with his stupid friends about something they thought to be funny (even she was sure that it is not), she looked at him and she could swear he was looking back. It has been five years and so many things have changed, why couldn't everything stay just like before?
She saw her friend, Jeri walking with a third-year guy, and then the guy kissed Jeri and walked away. Jeri started walking towards her. She was shocked to see Jeri with that guy.
"Hello, Rika, how are you doing?" Jeri asked.
"I'm fine, but Jeri isn't it…?" Rika said.
"What?" Jeri asked.
"Why didn't you tell me that you are dating Shinchiro Ito?" Rika asked.
"Oh, that. We started dating just yesterday" Jeri said. Rika was impressed by Jeri, she somehow managed to get all the hot guys in the college and break their hearts. Jeri changed boyfriends like she changed clothes. Sometimes she was even jealous of her.
"But it's Shinchiro Ito, he rarely allows girls even to get close to him and all our-year girls have a crush on him" Rika said shocked.
"He is all yours if you want him, I plan to dump him the next week" Jeri said.
"Why?" Rika asked.
"Well, he is smart and handsome, but he is just not the guy for me" Jeri said.
"It is strange to hear that. Every girl in this college is dying to be a fly on his wall just to be close to him" Rika said.
"All of them like him just because he is handsome after they get him they wouldn't want him anymore. They just having fun dreaming about someone they can't get" Jeri said.
"So what are you going to tell him? Your usual phrase? 'I love you but only as a friend'"? Rika asked.
"No, I'll tell him the truth 'Sorry, but we can't be together since I don't love you'" Jeri said.
"Poor thing, he is going to get hurt, why do you have to be so cruel to him?" Rika asked.
"Rika you've changed so much" Jeri said with a smile "Once you didn't care about those boys"
"It's just Shinchiro, he is so sweet and I feel bad for him that those girls don't give him a break" Rika said.
"Then why don't you talk to him? I can even talk to him for you if you want" Jeri said.
"No, Jeri, it's really not that I like him, I just feel sorry for him" Rika said "Jeri, how is everything at home?"
Rika knew that Jeri's father ill-treated her. He always shouted at her when she came home late and made her work very hard at their restaurant and if she doesn't do on time what he asks her, he shouts at her, too. Jeri sometimes even cried because of him.
Jeri's face fell down "Things are only getting worse" She said sadly.
"Jeri, I don't understand why are you staying in your home, you can come to my place, I'll help you" Rika said.
"Rika, please let's not talk about that" Jeri said she always avoided the subject "Let's go to the class it's seems that it's about to rain"
Sitting in the class, Rika felt very bored, the lesson wasn't interesting at all and she felt as she is going to fall asleep, she looked at the whole classroom and saw him. He seemed to be very tired, too. Probably he was at a party again with his stupid friends. However, he could allow this to himself since he was an excellent student. That goggle head is just wonderful. She wondered why she just couldn't get him out of her head.
He was sitting bored in the class and waited for the lesson to end. He wanted to see his girlfriend. He hadn't a girlfriend for a while after he and Jeri broke up, but then he found Miki and she was everything he wanted; beautiful, smart and funny. He remembered the first day she came to him like it was yesterday.
FLASHBACK
"Are you Takato Matsuki?" The girl asked.
"Yes" He answered.
"I heard you are very good in math, I don't understand anything in that subject.
Can you help me, please?" The girl asked.
"Alright, let's go" He said.
"No, not now, let's meet today and go to your place" She said.
"Okay, when do you want us to meet?" Takato said.
"I think 17:00 will be fine, I really need a lot of time to understand this so difficult material" She said.
"Alright, I guess I'll see you" Takato said.
"Yeah, see you later" She said and turned to walk.
"Hey, wait" Takato called after her "What's your name?"
"Oh, sorry, how silly of me" She said smiling "I'm Miki Ogata"
"Nice to meet you, Miki" He said "See you today"
END FLASHBACK
They started meeting constantly. Once in his place and once in her place. They talked and got to know each other more and then their meetings turn to something more than just meetings for study. He enjoyed spending time with her and then she confessed that she liked him.
Takato felt now that he is the happiest person in the world; he is excellent student, everybody respects him, he has great friends and he has an amazing girlfriend that loves him and he loves her, too. The lesson ended and Takato headed to his girlfriend's class to meet her.
"Hello, Miki" Takato said and kissed her when he saw her.
"Hello, my baby" Miki said.
"So how was your lesson?" Takato asked.
"So boring, you just can't imagine I just waited for it to end just to see you, sweetheart" Miki said.
"Me, too, why can't we be in the same class?" Takato said.
"I actually like it" Miki said.
"Why? Don't you want us to be together all the time?" Takato asked.
"Well, when we are not together we start missing each other and I like it because when we meet then, it is such a great feeling to see you" Miki said.
"You are so right, baby. I never thought about it" Takato said and hugged her "I love you so much"
"I love you, too, Takato" Miki said and then they kissed.
The day ended. Rika and Jeri went out the college building. It started raining and Rika looked at Takato who took out his car keys and unlocked his car his friends; Henry, Kazu and Kenta immediately rushed to his car. Rika felt sorry she didn't get a driving license.
"Hey, we have one place left if you want" Takato called them.
"Go with them, I'll go with Shinchiro" Jeri said and ran to Shinchiro's car.
"Jeri, wait!" Rika called after her, but Jeri didn't hear her, she entered Shinchiro's car and Rika saw they kissing.
"Is this my lucky day or what?" Kazu said when he saw Rika approaching Takato's car. Rika preferred to ignore him and sat in the back with Kazu and Kenta. Henry sat in the front.
A silent music was playing in Takato's car as they drove.
"Come on, man! Turn off this boring shit and turn on the Pussycat Dolls" Kazu said.
"Sorry, Kazu, no Pussycat Dolls today" Takato said.
"It's time for you to listen to more intelligent music" Henry said laughing.
"Yeah, Kazu, hip-hop is bad for you, because you start speaking just like in these stupid songs" Kenta said.
"Hey, Kenta, you supposed to be on my side" Kazu said.
"Sorry, man, I think the music you are listening to really sucks" Kenta said. (A/N: I apologize, no insults for the hip-hop music and Pussycat Dolls fans).
"Try to listen to some classical music, instead, Kazu" Takato said.
"Come on! Do I look like a nerd?" Kazu said.
"It's not nerdy, it's intelligent" Henry said.
"Hey, guys are you coming to the pub today?" Kazu asked.
"I'll come for sure, I heard there are going to be free drinks today" Kenta said.
"Kenta, drinks is all what you have on your mind" Takato said.
"Drinks give you a great feeling, but I agree with you that Kenta drinks too much" Kazu said.
"Hey, why are you against me now?" Kenta said. Rika looked at them with disgust. What a stupid guys.
"Takato, are you coming?" Kazu asked.
"I don't see a reason to come if I can't drink since I'm driving" Takato said.
"Man, it's your problem. I tell you nothing is going to happen if you drink a bit, but you still refuse to drink" Kazu said.
"Is this what you are telling me after I pick you up drunk from these parties? It is really mean of you" Takato said.
"Sorry, Takato, please come today, too. Don't you enjoy being with us?" Kazu said.
"Fine, Kazu" Takato said.
"Great!" Kazu said "We can reach home today safetely"
"I knew you'd say this" Takato said annoyed. It made Rika angry too the way KAzu and Kenta used Takato.
"What about you, Henry?" Kenta asked.
"I don't know. It depends when I finish today in the old age house" Henry said.
"Seriously, man. Do you really work in the old age house?" Kazu asked.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that?" Henry asked.
"I mean, are you bored so you go to work with old people?" Kazu said.
"Not bored, just unlike you I prefer to do something useful with my free time" Henry said.
"Hey, do you say that partying and flirting with girls is not useful?" Kazu asked and everybody started laughing.
"Face it, Kazu. The way you spend time gives you nothing but temporary fun" Takato said and everybody laughed again.
Rika was bored and she didn't notice that Kazu was staring at her.
"Hey, Rika" Kazu said but Rika didn't answer.
"Rika, earth to Rika" Kazu said.
"Leave her alone" Henry said, but Kazu didn't listen to him.
"Rika" Kazu said again.
"What do you want, Kazu?" Rika said finally.
"Rika, you look so pretty today" Kazu said.
"Get to the point, Kazu" Rika said.
"I thought to ask you to come with me the pub, we'll dance and just have fun, it is going to be unforgettable night" Kazu said and started touching Rika's arm.
"Kazu, stop!" Takato shouted when he saw what he was doing.
"In your dreams, jerk!" Rika shouted and slapped Kazu. The car was stopped and Rika rushed out the car still hearing Kenta laughing and saying "I told you to give up, your so called "charms" are not working on her"
Takato parked the car in the road side. Got out the car and immediately rushed after Rika.
"Rika!" He called after her while running "Rika, please wait" Rika stopped.
"Rika, I apologize for Kazu's behavior, I'll talk to him and I promise you he is never going to misbehave with you again" Takato said.
"You don't need to apologize, goggle head, it's not your fault that your friend is such a jerk" Rika said.
"Rika, get back into the car, it's raining and you'll catch a cold" Takato said.
"It's okay, my home is not so far away from here" Rika said.
"I'll tell Henry to seat in the back and you'll seat in the front with me" Takato said. Rika thought how could it be, but she didn't want to see Kazu's face now and did Takato really cared so much for her?
"I'm sorry, goggle head, I really have to go" Rika said and went away and Takato walked back to his car.