I watched one snowflake after another fall from the sky like it was the first time I saw snow. The sky was dark with what seemed like diamonds pierced onto it as I sat in front of our dormitory building with 90 percent of the school population fast asleep. I held out a hand and watched the same snowflake fall on my mitten-covered hands, I smiled, somehow, I felt delighted.

I had a ritual. Every night, at no particular time, I'd close my eyes and allow myself to think about him. It has been six years since the time he showed (very) subtle signs that he has feelings for me. Strangely, here I am, waiting for him, even if I lose faith in him sometimes, I'm here, waiting for him to come around.

"What are you doing, sleeping outside?"

My heart jumped in response to the voice. It's my source of affection, Natsume Hyuuga. He pretty much had the same personality. He's not interested in anything, he's aloof, he hardly smiles, he's mean, he keeps pushing my self-esteem to the lowest level, he says all the mean things, he ruins my day sometimes but despite that all, I think he's lovely.

"I should ask you the same question," I told him as I watched him sit inches next to me. I liked the scene.

It was the perfect time. I have been waiting for something, for three years. I've been waiting for words, those words to come out of his mouth. It's the perfect time.

"I asked you first," he returned.

"You're like a ten-year-old," I laughed. "I'm not sleepy yet."

"You're just delighting yourself, " he told me. He was staring straight off towards the trees. The tone of his voice, his blank expression, his dark eyes were just how they were the first time I saw him but now felt different.

I haven't been delighting myself but I am delighted now.

"So? I don't think there's anything wrong with that," I returned instead. "Besides, you didn't answer my question."

He closed his eyes and leaned on the post behind him. "Technically, you didn't ask anything."

I realized just now that when you love someone, you love everything he says no matter how sarcastic or silly it is.

I smiled inside. "Never mind."

Then silence came between us just like any conversation we've had. The silence was never awkward, it was just right. We could only hear the slight ruffling of the trees and the wind passing by us. I wish the trees would think we're together. I laughed inside at the thought. What I feel at the moment was just bliss. Sometimes, it's hard to keep inside but I can manage.
"You're not sleeping, are you?" I broke in the silence.

He opened his eyes with the reflection of the school lights illuminating in it. "I'm not."
I smiled at him. "Open your hands."

"Why should I?"

"Just do it."

He stared at me for a moment when I could feel my heart bursting already. Finally, he gave me both his hands. I took the snow that fell from my hands and placed it on his hands. He looked at the snow. "What's this?" he asked me.

"That's my…" heart. "Snow." I smiled at him.

"You're being silly again," he said, standing up and making a ball out of the snow I gave him.

He left me there. I didn't care, because he carried the snow with him. That meant, he kept my heart.

"I love you," I whispered.

Even if the words I waited for didn't come, he delighted me just like he did a million time.

Two weeks later, everybody was fussing over prom. I still don't have a date and I don't mind. Although, I have been counting how many boys have asked me, four, I turned them down because I've been waiting for someone to ask me. Anna and Nonoko have been busying themselves with their dresses and their dates. Sumire's just happy she gets one dance with Ruka. Hotaru, well, still could care less.

"You still don't have a date, Mikan," Anna asked through lunch.

"I think I can tell," I told her as I took a bite on my potato pie.

"It's two days before prom, I think it's time to give up on Natsume," Sumire told me.

I looked at Hotaru, hoping she'd tell me if Sumire was right but she was too busy making her dog robot that can talk.

The day before prom, I've convinced myself that I'll be going to the dance alone. I couldn't tell if I was sad that the one thing I wished for for three years didn't come.

I sat on the same spot where I sat two weeks ago. Maybe, I was just disappointed. I kept telling myself Natsume still had feelings for me but I'm probably just beating myself up for the wrong reasons.

I started to cry even before I knew it. Six years and nothing came out of it except pain. I remember Nonoko asking me what happened between us after all this time. She said we used to know exactly how we both felt. I never answered her because I didn't know either. Time set us apart. I shouldnt've kept my faith in him for so long.

"You're here again?" I heard his voice behind me and everything I thought seemed to have left my mind.

"Hi," I greeted him with a smile.

"Wipe your tears, you look ugly," he told me, sitting next to me.

"If you don't have anything good to say, don't talk at all."

He really didn't talk but I didn't mind either.

I sighed. Maybe God's giving me my last time with him before I let go of my hopes and wishes.

"What's wrong now?" he asked me with a hint of exasperation in his voice. I don't even know why he asked when I could easily tell it's against his will. Is it weird that he always knew there was something wrong with me?

"Nothing. What makes you think there's something wrong?" I asked him back.

He looked at me, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"Whatever'" he said, standing up.

"Where are you going?" I asked him, I wasn't ready for him to leave/ this was my last moment.

"You didn't stop me two weeks ago." He said, taking a small paper from his pocket. It felt like he slapped my forehead nut what he did was stuck a pos-tit on my forehead before he left.

I read the note, slowly. It said: Prom. You and Me. In front of the gym at 8.

My heart was racing in excitement as I looked at myself in the mirror in my short pink dress. This night would be p[perfect

I ran towards the gym in my flat ballet shoes, ecstatic of the moment to come. Should I really tell him I love him? This was the perfect time.

It has been an hour, I was till alone. Maybe he was nervous.

I watched couples leave the gym at 12 midnight, the prom has ended.

I sat on the gym stairs, no longer waiting for him. I should've expected this to come.

He never came