Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

Youko sprinted from the train station to her classroom. Once again, she overslept and was late to her writing class. Sensei will kill me again.

He hates me enough already and I had to be late today of all days.

The night before, Makiko asked her to go over their house and do a general cleaning because the family will be coming home from their trip to Paris the next day. Makiko and Naoki finally had that honeymoon in Paris that Makiko dreamed about ever since before she and Naoki became an item. Their son, Jun, was left in her care and she had to babysit him while they were gone. Despite already being a 4-year old boy, he was spoiled and "evil", just like his mother. While Youko was doing her best to keep the place spotless, Jun was doing the opposite. After Youko swept the floor, Jun purposely spilled orange juice on the floor so she had to bring out the mop all over again. After she tidied the toys, Jun started throwing them one by one. She got too frustrated that she had to call her boyfriend, Hiroshi, over. Hiroshi and Youko grew close over the years since both of them were the proxy parents when the Yoshikawas were away. Naoki often goes on business trips and he takes Makiko and his parents with him every time. Hiroshi had a crush on Youko ever since he first saw her but he knew that Youko's heart was with someone else so he kept quiet. During Okamoto Riku's absence, he took the chance to gain her friendship and trust which eventually lead him to her heart.

"Nakata Youko." Koyama-sensei called while Youko sneaked inside the classroom, hoping that sensei wouldn't notice her. "NAKATA YOUKO." he called out louder this time.

"Hai!" Youko managed to get into a seat before the professor finished scanning the whole classroom for her.

"You dodged a bullet this time, Nakata. Next time won't be so easy." Koyama-sensei threatened.

Youko sunk into her seat and let out her breath. She was safe.

"Yokatta ne, Yokou-chan." Nishi, one of her classmates said.

"Sou desu ne. I thought I would be late again and get an F."

"Today, you will write about your first love." Koyama-sensei instructed.

"EEEH?" The whole class reacted to this. Koyama-sensei was the type of professor who never touches the subject of romance.

"Surprised? Let's just say that my love life has been going great these days." he laughed.

First love, huh? My first love was.. No no no, I don't want to write about him. I don't want to remember how I fell in love with him and how he just left after I finally sorted out my feelings.

Youko's bitter feelings about her first love came rushing. Why was it that every time she thinks about this person, her fragile heart cracks a little. Yes, she was happy with Hiroshi but that person still had a special place in her heart even though she no longer loves him.

"Your first love must be Hiroshi right, Yokou-chan?" Nishi asked.

"Of course it is! Those two lovebirds can't be separated." Aki, their classmate said.

"Well.."

"I really envy you two. I wish I had a boyfriend." Nishi said.

"What about Nakamura?" Aki gave Nishi a nudge on the shoulder.

"I told you, Nakamura's just a childhood friend!"

"But he's your first love, isn't he?"

"Well, yeah but.."

"It's always the first love you end up with." Aki concluded.

It's always the first love you end up with.

Aki's words echoed in Youko's head.

Could this really be true? Nah, it couldn't be.

Youko knew it couldn't be true. If it were then Okamoto Riku would still be here.

Okamoto Riku..