xShine: I decided to rewrite Chapter 1! I find it poorly done, but just too lazy to fix it until now. Here you go~!

Chapter 1: I should've known

"Ne, Yumi-chan, your birthday's coming up, isn't it~?" Eiji had asked, while you both were walking to class.

"Oh, haha, yeah." Yumi had muttered. Though she was happy that time of the year has come again, she couldn't help but be depressed as I see my two best friends, Fuji Shusuke and Matsuo Rika get closer. I mean, they used to always bring me. But now, it's as if...they don't need me anymore. Something tells me they're going out, and every time it does, I feel like I die inside. As you would have guessed by now, I like the tennis genius, Fuji Shusuke. I mean, who wouldn't? He's perfect. I guess I couldn't blame her for being attracted to him, either. Snapping out of my thoughts, I realized we were close to the classroom. I entered, and approached him.

"Shu-kun?" I called out to him.

"Oh Yumi," he said, looking up from his book, "what are you doing for your birthday?"

Hm, were they perhaps, making plans for my birthday?

"Oh nothing much, maybe just watch a movie or something, why?"

"Oh, nothing really. Just curious with what the birthday girl's plans were. Saa, you better sit down now. Class is starting."

And that was probably the highlight of my whole morning. The rest of the day dragged on, and finally, what everyone was waiting for, the end of the last class of the day.

RIIIIIING.

There goes the school's bell. I gather all my stuff as I hear the teacher saying, "Okay class, that's it for today. Don't forget to do page 147 and 148 in your English Workbook." As I get ready to leave, I remembered that Shusuke had no practice for today. And so, I decided to ask him if he wanted to hang out. At least, for old time's sake.

"Hey, Shusuke. Wanna hang out today?" I asked.

"Oh, I can't. Gomen, Yumi-chan, but well, I promised I'd meet Rika somewhere." He said, with an apologetic smile on his face.

"O-oh, it's alright..." I had mumbled, as I left the classroom. For some reason, I was disappointed. I didn't mean to be selfish. I know it wasn't like Shusuke was mine but some part of me just wished he'd hang out with me rather than her...I just can't help but wonder why they would fa—, I got cut off as I felt myself bump into someone roughly as I crashed to the ground.

"Ite..." A smooth, velvety voice said, as he offered a hang to help me up.

"Tezuka-kun? Gomenasai!" I had exclaimed, as I grabbed his hand.

For a second there, it looked as if he smiled.

"It's okay, but, why were you so distracted?" he asked.

"Oh, well, uh, it's..." I stuttered. I was honestly too embarrassed to tell him.

He silently chuckled to himself, "its okay. You don't have to answer."

The next thing I realized was that I was staring at Tezuka's yellow, breathtaking eyes. (AN: I searched up his eyes color and it said yellow. If I'm wrong, you can PM or leave a review and I'll change it ASAP!)

"Sasaki-san...?" Tezuka asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Oh, sorry."

"That's the second time...," he noted, "is anything wrong Sasaki-san?" Tezuka asked rather... concerned?

"Uh, Ye-, No. Everything's fine. I-I got to go. Gomenasai, Tezuka-kun." I apologized, as I walked away before he could say anything else.

"Oh, uh...okay."

I walked home, thinking how no one understands me. It just, hurts me when I can't even talk to both of my best friends about it. Was I always this lonely?

The next day went fast, it felt like it was all a blur to me.

"YUMI!" Shusuke had shouted from a distance. I had the sudden urge to pretend like I never heard it. As much as I wanted to look back at him, smiling, taking in his angelic face, I just, couldn't. Instead of turning around, I decided to slow down, as if I was saying, "Come on. Hurry and catch up to me!"

"Are you doing anything? Well, meet me at the park when you're done, okay? I'll be waiting!" He said as he ran off right after he had said it.

Truthfully, I was scared. I didn't wanna go. You must be wondering, what was I scared of? I'm scared that by the time I leave that park, I'll be hurt, chest aching with lust. Lust for someone I can never have... In the end, after all of the countless thinking I did, I came. And there he was, waiting, like he said he would. He was there... with Rika.

"Yumi-chan..." Rika had said, softly.

From the look in their faces and Rika's soft tone, I knew. They had just left the friendship stage. They had left me behind, in the friendship stage. They...they were dating. I looked away from them, tears threatening to fall. Oh GOD. Why am I so pathetic?

"Si..Since when?"

"Today."

"Co..congratulations." I had said, turning away. I did not want to see any more of the beautiful couple in front of me. It hurt me to see how they were very compatible. The angelic, tennis prodigy and the beautiful honour student. Of course, a plain girl like me never stood a chance form the very start.

"Yumi, wait." Shusuke had said, as he grabbed my arm.

I shook away from his grasp, "No, I have to go, now," as he nodded, understanding my feelings, as I left slowly.

NEXT DAY.

"Well someone woke on the wrong side of the bed." My classmate, Masahiro had teased, chuckled.

"Ha ha." I laughed sarcastically, rolling my eyes. I didn't get any sleep from last night, for, every time I closed my eyes, I would hear:

"Si..Since when?"

"Today."

As if it was on repeat. I was brought back to reality when Masahiro had poked me.

"Yumi-san?" he had said.

"Um, yeah?"

He pointed to the door, as it revealed Shusuke and Rika.

I nodded and stood up to go meet them.

"Yumi...," Shusuke started, "Do you hate us...?"

He stared at me with the same beautiful blue eyes I fell in love with, "No," I whispered, "Even if I am a bit sad right now, I could never hate you guys. I—...I love you both too much." I looked up at him with tears in my eyes.

Rika came up to me and embraced me tightly. "Thank You Yumi..." she whispered.

"Alright..." giving them the best smile I could make.

Shusuke knows my smile's fake, Rika knows my smile's fake, I know my smile's fake, but nobody else needs to know that.