CHAPTER FOUR: "I can't stop my Love For You!"
[RAN MOURI'S POV]
It had been a year since Kaito and Shinichi ran out of school together, hand in hand, completely happy with each other......
Yeah, they think no one saw them skipping school together. They almost got it right. As Jodie-sensei rambled on about how sentences could be diagrammed, I happened to be looking out the window and saw them. That moment I knew......that something was different.
Anyway, today is our graduation day. Sayonara, high school. Sayonara, Jodie-sensei. Damn, I still don't have a course. But, hey, maybe it'll work out. After all Mom says she doesn't have the money to send me to college, and she has no intention to beg my ultra rich friend Sonoko Suzuki for money, even though Sonoko talked to her about it and made it clear that her parents are willing to provide me a college education. Mom says it'll ruin our pride. For heaven's sake, Mother, it's not an issue of pride. It's Sonoko's parents and their kindness, that is the issue. Kind people do not expect something in return for their good deeds......right?
Anyway......(not another "anyway"....!) I should be happy I even graduated. I barely scraped through high school.....low grades in English, History, Mathematics.....but anyway, I really should've been like Shinichi.....he jokes around a lot, yes.....but his grades are pretty high.....and about that Kaito, he gets average grades, no failures. I failed in Science once, because I lost my model of the solar system which I was supposed to pass.....(I left the box in the gym storage room and it disappeared the next day)
Okay, let's get to it! Onward to graduation......and good luck to the relationship of Shinichi and Kaito.
Shinichi and Kaito. Sounds weird, doesn't it? It's a secret I had been keeping for the past few , that's what you call it. They act like regular guys in front of classmates, but when our backs are turned, they act more like lovers.
Sometimes I can't believe how someone as smart as Shinichi accepted that kind of relationship.
I wonder at times, how is it like to fall in love with another woman.....? Strange. The very thought gives me the shivers. Anyway, there are times when the relationship is really cute......boy to boy.....
Sayonara High school. Sayonara, Shinichi.......
[Still Ran's POVGraduation, 3:36 p.m.]
"Mouri Ran!"
Wow. That was my name being called. I will go up that stage and grab my diploma. Then I will shake hands with the principal....and get down from the stage......
" Goodbye, closing ceremony has just ended. But to the new chapter of your lives, it is only the beginning. Good luck, students! You will now be members of society from tomorrow onwards. Good luck, and once again.....goodbye."
I almost cried, after hearing Principal Akase's words. After I got down from the stage, there was an outburst of cheering and whooping. I went straight into my classmates Kazuha and Sonoko's arms, crying hysterically for no apparent reason......
"Ran-chan, cheer up, will you? It's graduation! It's not like we'll never see each other again....." Kazuha said, trying to comfort me. I flashed her my tear-streaked face and tried to smile......which made more tears fall.
"Maa....well, Ran, you'll see Kazuha, but maybe it's impossible for me. Mom wants me to take an exam for Harvard University, in America, of course. Boy will that be tough! I could sure use Jodie-sensei's help...." Sonoko piped up. She really was always choosing the wrong timing......I cried even louder and more girls came to comfort me. But no one could make me stop. I was crying and crying and crying......
"Hey, Ran, how long will you be like that?"
I raised my head to look up at Shinichi, whose voice immediately made me calmer. No, don't fall for his eyes.....I said to myself as he stared at me with an innocent childlike stare which always charms anyone who approaches him. He already has Kaito.....
Wait a sec.....he called me by my name?
"S-Shinichi....? Why'd you call me by my name....?" I replied, stunned. Everyone immediately left us alone. Sonoko relucantly did so, and she gave me a mischievous wink, and went off with Kazuha.
"Just felt like it. Hey, do you mind if I talked with you for awhile?" Shinichi replied, giving me a smile. I smiled back and immediately followed him to the school's backyard, where no one would be around-
NO ONE AROUND????????
WHAT AM I THINKING....?
Oh yeah.....Shinichi loves a guy. Why would he think of harassing me?
As soon as we reached the backyard, Shinichi stared at me for a long time. Then all of a sudden, he said, "Do you think I'm disgusting?"
"Eh?" I was stunned yet again. Why would I.....? "Ahhh....n-no way! Why would I?" I continued, completely stupefied.
"Why? What do you mean? I love a guy and all....."
"You can't help who you fall in love with. That's what I believe in. Do what you want or feel is right, for heaven's sake."
"You sure?"
"Yeah...."
"Um, Ran.....do you hate me?"
Another shocking question. "What? For what reason.......?"
"Because I left you for Kaito..."
What are you talking about? "No way. I really love you. That's why I'm letting you go. Do what you want. It doesn't matter as long as you're happy, Shinichi. I hope Kaito will be true......oh well....."
Shinichi was tomato red after I finished talking. He looked so innocent....all of a sudden I was giving him a really passionate kiss. I don't know what got into me. Apparently he didn't either, for when I let him go, he had a look of shock etched on his face.
"R-Ran.....what was that.....?" Shinichi said, stunned.
"Ah....that is a graduation gift. Happy trails, Shinichi...." I replied, as my cellphone vibrated.
TEXT MESSAGE FROM ERI KISAKI: "HEY RAN WE'RE CELEBRATING YOUR GRADUATION HEAD OVER TO BLUE MOON RESTAURANT RIGHT NOW. IT'S MY TREAT.....OMEDETO . FROM: OKASAN"
"G-going already....but I haven't said anything yet....." Shinichi piped up weakly.
I decided to stay a little longer. "What is it, Shinichi?"
"If Kaito gets tired of this......will you take me, Ran?" Shinichi asked. I felt myself blushing....
I then replied confidently, "Yes, Shinichi. I will. I'll never forget about you......."
And then we both went our separate ways...
....I had a very eerie feeling.....
The feeling......
....that I could or would never see Shinichi again.....
...and it broke me apart. I cried silently as I went to the restaurant, being very careful to hide my tears from mother.
Sayonara.....