Chapter 2 – The person that I don't-know-what-to-feel-for
The bathwater was warmer than the pool's. Not to mention that the bath was way too small for a pool. But I like it anyway. It's better than to not be in water at all. I looked down at my reflection. Jet-black hair, a toned body and aqua eyes. 'Eyes the colour of water' someone once told me. I shook my head. No. I will not think about it. But all I could see was his face on the surface of the water, not mine. His messed-up yet silky cerise hair, his thin lips, his abnormally sharp teeth, his pale skin, his muscles, and most of all, his eyes. His beaming red eyes so full of passion. The smile that had always grazed his lips when we were younger.
I splashed my reflection away and got out of the tub, grabbing the sky blue towel draped over a hanger and began to dry myself. I shook off all the excess water from my hair and dried that first, closing my eyes. But I couldn't close them for long, because his image would just haunt me again.
The fish was frying on the pan. It sizzled loudly when I added a little oil onto it, splattering oils onto my apron. I didn't want to get my clothing dirtied. I flipped the fish over, letting it fry on the other side as well. I took a bite of the already fried squid that I made not long ago. Mm, crunchy. I grabbed another piece of squid and popped it in my mouth while waiting for the oil on the pan to do its work. 'Haru makes the best seafood!' I stopped short and almost dropped the spatula in my hand. Why was he in my head now? 'Haha! No one can beat Haru in cooking!' I clutched my head with my free hand. We were younger then, that was the past. I am living in the present. I am living in the present. But it seems, that the past has come back to haunt me. Smoke was emitting from the fish.
"Hey Haru, want to race?" A small boy came walking up, a grin on his face, revealing his sharp teeth. Against the blue of the water and the pool, he seemed so out of place with his cerise hair and bright red eyes. But he was wearing swimming trunks and had a pair of goggles around his head.
Before I could say anything though, he was already in the water. "I only swim freestyle" I sated bluntly. I didn't want to have anything to do with this kid.
"Alrighty then! Let's swim freestyle from here and back!" he declared and pointed to the end of the pool. "Just one lap!"
I gave in at last, seeing that I was itching to go into the water again. Besides, the cerise haired kid sounded very convincing.
A lap became two and two laps became three. Before any of us realised it, the cerise haired boy, Rin, was already a part of our group that consisted of Makoto, Nagisa and I. Rin and I raced almost every chance we got. But as time passed, it no longer felt like a race. More like two friends just swimming for the heck of it. Rin was passionate and bright, in contrast to my own calm and cool attitude. Hey, I know what people talk about me behind my back. Rin was like a flaming hot fireball, and I was like the cool water we swam in every day. And yet,... and yet we both got along better than anyone ever would.
But the Rin I've been seeing for these past few days is different. He's changed a lot. Until the point where my voice can no longer reach out to him. I tossed in my bed.
Rin, where have you gone?