I was an early riser and before the sun could rise from the horizons to spread its warmth to everything it touches, I was already dressed and slowly parted the curtains. With the window thrown wide open and the early breeze rustling the drapery, I sniffed the floral scent or spring and stared at the beautiful scene that unfolded before me.
Still a hint of darkness lingered, preserved in shadows in the lining of the dark leaves. The grass rustled and the flowers opened their petals wide, ready to welcome the sun. A picture perfect, almost undisturbed peace reigned over what I saw and myself. Like the rest of nature, I awaited eagerly for the first hint of sunrays to shine out from the horizon.
Leaning out and unnaturally serene, I saw the golden orb floated clear off the ground and into the sky, immediately turning the greyish sky a blue of the most purest blue and the dank clouds to look like hovering cotton. The shadows imbedded into the leaves vanished and a stronger gust of wind rejoiced, causing the sapling grass and flora to dance and rejoice with it.
Somehow, I just knew that this was the perfect time, the perfect place to make a wish. Nothing extraordinary, nothing new, just simply something that meant a lot to me. Of course, if I mentioned it – it wouldn't come true and that would be a great shame. So, I treasured the little secret and the tranquillity was broken as my mother ordered me downstairs.
"Yuri! Come downstairs, breakfast's ready."
My mother's usually mellow voice sounded a little screechy compared to the soft silence that I had observed and little reluctantly, I closed the windows and ran downstairs. My mother was dressed in a tight, crop top covered with leopard spots and black leggings that stuck to her skin like glue. As always, her hair was a different colour today; it was no surprise that she decided to have stiff, orange curls that was pinned onto her hair for spring.
Looking breezy and bright, my mum gestured at the table that was ladled with plates of chocolate-chip pancakes, toast, eggs, (sunny-side up) and sausages altogether with fresh garden salad and orange juice. First, I was uneasy as I saw the pile of food that was meant to be my breakfast but my mum's dazzling smile encouraged me to at least eat as much as a could.
I picked up a well-polished fork and started in surprise. To usual teenagers a polished fork isn't much to be startled about - but my mum, being an over-enthusiastic artist never did anything normal unless she could somehow make it into her style. Her 'creative' style that said was a fire to her unlimited imagination. Apparently, it gave her inspiration for her works of art that she needed to provide.
Usually, my mum's work of art took a lot of attention and time so something so trivial as a fork was often just dumped in a dishwasher and randomly wiped so that someone can use it. So a sparkling utensil did make me realise how my mum really wanted my birthday to be special and how she wanted me to know that she did care although her work was effort and time-consuming.
I gave her a weak smile and started with the pancakes. Her cooking was all right so I nibbled at it slowly but I really wasn't hungry. "So, what are you doing today?" My mum asked me cheerfully as I turned half-heartedly towards the salad. I shrugged, trying to appear neutral "I'm going out today," I replied casually before sipping some orange juice, as an afterthought I added, "well…unless he forgets."
My mother, who had just been examining her rainbow-coloured fingernails glanced at me sharply, "He?" she asked shrewdly.
I smiled, "It's just Syuusuke,"
My mother looked assured, "Oh, Fuji-kun?" she asked whilst she started luring Pom-Pom out of her hiding place. Pom-Pom was an ugly oddball of a cat, all streaky and her face pushed in like someone punched it. I wouldn't blame whomever it is, if they had - she was really annoying, always ripping up something and basking in the sun.
"Yup, he's going to pick me up."
"Alright, okay." My mum said distractedly as Pom-Pom nearly swiped at her face since she was crouching down to her level. I rolled my eyes, exasperated and nearly jumped when my cell-phone rang. Peering at the screen, I could see it was Syuusuke calling. I flipped the swivel open and pressed the phone against my ear, "Hey," I greeted first before I saw my mum getting bitten by Pom-Pom.
"Hi Yuri,"
"Syuusuke, you haven't forgotten have you?"
"Forgot what?"
"Hmmm…you sound suspicious,"
"Saa…why don't you find out for yourself?"
"What?"
"You could open the door for me,"
I smirked, although Syuusuke couldn't see me,
"Say please and ring the doorbell like everyone else," I ordered as I raced across to our front red door.
"Please," he said gently and I heard the doorbell ring.
I was practically beaming as I wrenched the door open and flew into his arms. Syuusuke, who had had his arms full with a bouquet of blood-red roses and a box of chocolates started in surprise but he smiled more brightly as he saw it was me.
"For you," he said with a slight sardonic tone beneath his sweet manner.
I took the flowers and the chocolate and kissed him gently on the cheek, "thanks,"
"No problem,"
I smelt the roses and immediately bustled to prepare a vase for them. Syuusuke waited patiently as I arranged the flowers prettily and snatched my handbag. I clung to his arm, "Let's go,"
He nodded and said his farewell to my mum, who was nursing her wounds from Pom-Pom. She was a vicious cat that should have been left at the pound but mum had been soft hearted with the ugly thing.
So we left the house casually with the warm sun shining down on us. Syuusuke had his usual smile on his face and we strode out of my street and down towards the busy part of town where there were cafes, shops and malls. "Where are you taking me?" I asked him as I fumbled with the chocolate box that I managed to slip in my handbag.
"Your favourite place," he said slyly,
"You mean, your favourite place," I replied dryly,
He shrugged, "It could be our favourite place,"
I gave him a smile that only hastened him a bit more to show me my surprise. I was really excited but merely just happy that he was here with me, talking about family, friends…tennis.
I loved tennis, since I was a regular at Seigaku tennis club…the girl's one I mean since Syuusuke is considered the tennis prodigy with the boys. I scoffed when he told me but he only smiled at me mildly like he always did.
Now that I peer at his soft, bright face silently, I've always wondered how Syuusuke could be so patient with people. Sure when he was angry, he was scary but the sheer calm and the sheer endurance he had was unbelievable.
Me, on the other hand cannot take an insult without returning it spiced up a bit. I always try to be honest with my feelings and to people and that had led to quite a few numbers of boys taking fancy into me but to people like Syuusuke, I would probably be just referred to as 'hot-headed'.
However, he was my boyfriend and a too-good-to-be-true kind of one that sort of made me feel uncomfortable about how he would meet another girl that would be just like him. Sweet, temperate, serene and he would leave her for me. Syuusuke had been the only person that really helped me get through the death of my dad and from then on, he had just been a significant person to me. Always there to support me and to help me. To think about it, I had given him so little in return.
As this thought crossed my mind, I grew red with guilt. Syuusuke, who had just led me in front of ice-cream stall peered at me, "What's wrong?" he asked as he saw me, looking downcast. I quickly smiled and looked up at him, Syuusuke always made me smile, I guess that smile he wears all the time rubs off onto other people. Really – I must be strong for him, no matter what.
"Wait, Syuusuke." I said as I got another bright idea.
"Hmmm?" he asked as the signal turned green.
"Here," as I tugged at him to keep walking again, I slipped a pretty, flowery letter into a pocket on his jacket.
"Can I read it now or is it some kind of surprise as well?" he asked curiously before I pulled out a small block of milk chocolate.
"Here," without waiting for him to answer, I gleefully placed it in his mouth.
With his mouth full of chocolate, he was silent as he gave me a bemused look before continuing to cross the road, the smell of burning tar getting stronger as the sun beat more forcefully onto us.
Only when we neared the other side of the road, I realised that the letter I had slipped was half out of his pocket since I had brushed across it to give Syuusuke a chocolate. Soon, only a paltry breeze was all it took for the pink paper to soar out of his pocket and land gracefully in the middle of the road where we had just passed. Syuusuke swallowed the chocolate, "Wait," was all he said as he went to retrieve it.
The envelope had been rustled open and the letter was half out of it. Curiously, Syuusuke took it out and his piercingly sharp, icy sky-blue eyes started skimming the paper in that crouched position. That was when I saw the green pedestrian light turn red and my heartbeat started to pound in my ear. Everything after that seemed to have run in slow motion as I saw a car round a bend and come straight for Syuusuke.
The car was tearing down the bend in monstrous speed and Syuusuke had just stood up with amusement as he had read the contents of my letter and when he pocketed it again - he turned his head to see the car. For once, I could clearly see the emotions scrolling on Syuusuke's face as first shock, realisation, horror and panic flickered on his face fleetingly. He stood there, transfixed, as the glinting blue metal front rapidly emerged bigger and bigger…
The sun was merciless as it blocked away everything else. All I could see was the bright, piercing light on Syuusuke and the car that was only a few feet away from hitting him. No, this couldn't really be happening, I thought with disbelief but as the picture didn't disappear and the slow motion grew faster and faster, real fear and terror seized me.
Instinctively I dashed across the road, not looking if other cars were coming, not caring about anything except Syuusuke standing right there, rooted to the spot. With great force and determination I shoved him clear out of the way just as I saw the car inches from my face – It was so close to me now that I could see the dust particles on the shining metal.
I heard a screeching of breaks, people shouting, the sun burning in my eyes and as I closed them an unknown sensation took hold of me…
The wind, my very breath was knocked out of me…
I felt like I was flying, I was thrown –
I felt my body freezing and growing stiff
I drowned in darkness…
It grew black.