Chapter 8

A Day in the Park

It was late afternoon, and the house where the annoying bunch of foreign exchange students stayed was surprisingly quiet. Deafeningly quiet. It took some time for their neighbours to adjust to this rapid change; some believing that they actually left the country, much to their happiness. Unfortunately for them, the girls had left to celebrate the Shohoku's victory after defeating Ryonan in the basketball match yesterday. However, to be more precise, not all of them went. There was one girl who stayed behind in the house because her foot ached too much to walk, so she had to excuse herself from the rowdy crowd to rest her foot, and hopefully, to complete her neglected homework that had been piling up the past few days.

It was a golden afternoon, and the house bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun. Samantha leaned against her bedroom window, which was open to let in the fresh air into the bedroom. Her homework was neglected once again; abandoned for the more appealing view of the neighborhood and the shadowy forms of mountains that formed the backdrop. In Samantha's right hand, she held a piece of paper that looked as though it had seen better days, if it were lucky enough. The edges were curled and dog-eared, occasionally fluttering with the breeze that escaped into the room.

Loud barkings of a happy dog playing with its owner, a small boy, woke Samantha out from her reverie, and she remembered why she was standing next to the window. Lifting her right hand, she read the contents of the paper again despite knowing them by heart.

The candle burns and shadows dance on the wall,

Slowly they dance, and then to flicker and fall.

The wind whispers your name like a constant reminder

Of a broken soul who is torn asunder.

1 Your body wrecked with sobs, heavily and deeply

1.1 Unseeing tears start flowing constantly and freely

Wishing to help but you turned and smiled,

Wiping traces of pain, you left me confused for a while,

You keep your grief to yourself, only letting me watch you

And pick up the broken pieces that fell through.



She remembered the time when she wrote this poem. It was a long time ago. She had another one of those nights, which she couldn't sleep and stayed awake watching the lazy flickers of her bedroom candlelight in the soothing darkeness. She smiled as she remembered her mother's constant worry that she might suffocate in her bedroom whenever the candle was lit. It was only a small tea candle, but then Samantha's mother has always been the one who worries over anything.

This poem had been written specially for a friend whom Samantha worries constantly over but dares not let the person know. Being the type that worries a lot (A/N: Guess where she picked that from?), she could not help but feel troubled over her friend's problems. However, there was nothing she could do because her friend just pretends as though there was nothing wrong, hence leaving Samantha wanting to help but helpless in everyway.

With a sigh, she limped towards her books and slipped the paper into her organizer. She then sat onto her chair and resumed her homework, while devising plans to con Trishna, Preeti or Sunny into making them lend her their homework for her to copy.

~*~

(A few days later…)

"Yes Ma…No Ma…I know Ma. I have been good here," Samantha looked at Preeti who merely rolled her eyes heavenwards, "Yes, I have not been putting too much pressure on my foot. It is going to be better Ma, don't worry…Huh? Yes, yes…I have been eating a lot," Preeti snorted, earning a deadly glare from Samantha, "Huh? Oh classes have been fun, and I have been doing my work regularly." Before Preeti could react, Samantha clamped her fingers over Preeti's mouth. "Yes Ma," Samantha resumed, "Okay…I love you too. Tell Dad and my sister that, wherever she could be now…ok, bye!"

Samantha hung up the phone and took a long sip at her fast melting extreme mocha. She closed her eyes in pleasure, letting the seductive waves of coffee and vanilla work their orgasmic power over her taste buds, magnifying the electric impulses traveling to her brain. The tingling sensation made her feel relaxed, and not so harried as she was before after having succumbed to her mother's intense interrogation of her well-being.

"Really Sammy. Anyone can think that you are addicted to extreme mocha. Maybe they should make it illegal, after what you did to Sakuragi," said the malicious Preeti, happily eating her candyfloss, unconsciously making a mess of her face and hands.

Remembering that embarrassing situation, which Samantha desperately wanted to forget but never could, thanks to Preeti. Samantha could not think of a suitable retort and continued slurping her mocha, loudly, just to annoy Preeti.

*click* Samantha turned to find Preeti taking a picture of her sprawled carelessly on the grass with a straw, which was bent so she could drink her mocha while lying on the grassy ground, in her mouth. But Samantha was too relaxed and lazy to get up to perform any violent moves towards Preeti. Instead she felt extremely indulgent, and placed one hand behind her head and lifted her injured ankle in the air, posing for Preeti's other shot. With several loud clicks and laughter, Preeti soon finished the remainder of her film and joined Samantha in lying back on the grass. Both were engrossed in watching the clouds that they didn't hear footsteps approaching them.

"It seems that we meet again," said a male voice that held a trace of a smile in it.

Samantha turned her head towards the stranger, squinting as she looked, due to the strong glare of the sun. //He looks familiar…//

"Hey…" she said with a smile, "You look familiar" was her response. Then when the tall man pointed to his face, his smile grew wider when he realized that she remembered who he was.

"You…you are the guy whom I hit" Samantha mentally slapped herself in the forehead in exasperation, and also for her bad luck. " With the basketball," she continued, "I am so sorry about that…you see…"

"I understand. It's all right. It was just an accident. I don't think we have been properly introduced yet. My name is Sendoh Akira."

"I'm Sa…" but before Samantha could finish, he cut in. "Yes I know your name. Samantha right?"

"Right…I forgot. Trish told you that didn't she? When we met. Erm…but don't call me Samantha. Sounds like a mouthful. Call Sam or Sammy. That's what my friends call me."

"Or little pink piglet," came a voice next to Samantha. "That's our private name for her," explained Preeti.

"And this little girl over here is Preeti, who by some reason wants to be called Preet, but seriously I think that it's a horrible nickname. And for that reason," Samantha turned to Preeti with a devilish smile lightening up in her face, "I shall call you Tea! Hahaha…" after which she reached over to Preeti, or otherwise known now as Tea, and ruffled her hair.

"My hair…stop! I'll get you for this!" cried Preeti as she immediately tried to comb her tresses with her hand. Sendoh smiled at this light hearted action that took place in front of him. //They are so carefree, I almost envy them//

"Oh…wanna join us? We were watching the clouds," Samantha smiled in invitation to Sendoh, who felt he would be doing himself a great dishonour if he didn't take up on the offer.

"Sure." And soon enough, he joined the girls in discussing the shapes of the clouds and what they resembled after.

"And that…looks like a piglet. Sammy, I didn't know you are up there," said Sendoh amusedly, and was entertained by a look of fake annoyance from Samantha.

"You catch on pretty fast don't you? Hmmph…maybe it's a mistake to introduce you to my friends. Soon you will know everything about me, dark secrets and all." Sendoh made a mental note to himself to talk to Trishna and Preeti more often, while the latter was smiling evilly at the realization that she had just converted another devotee to bully Samantha. Wouldn't Trish be proud of her!

"Hello" came another deep male voice. Samantha turned her head towards the source. //Oh no! Not another person whom I hit. What's wrong with today?// The person was no other than Akagi.

Preeti smiled happily inwardly. //This is getting boring and now, I can finally escape!// A big, glowing light bulb was flashing above her head. //This is a perfect excuse to know Akagi better!// she thought, not realizing that her words had a double meaning to them. Preeti liked Akagi because she felt that both of them bond well together, and could talk continuously the same topics without feeling bored later.

"Are you jogging? Mind if I join you? I think I need to move around a bit," earning a nod from Akagi. "Sam, you don't mind do you? You know how to get home right?" said a concerned Preeti.

"Yes, yes. Good god…you are beginning to sound like my mother. Even if I don't know my way, I think Sendoh here can help me, won't you?" she smiled brilliantly at Sendoh, who merely nodded his head, unable to utter a reply.

After exchanging their goodbyes, which Akagi couldn't help noticing that it sounded as though they were going to be departed for a considerable length of time. //They must be really close// he thought, as he continued jogging with Preeti by his side, noticing the really significant difference in height between them.

"So…we are finally alone," to which she added a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Noticing that she was just only teasing, Sendoh asked, "Well…if you have nothing to do, would you like to go fishing with me?"

"Oh, that's what it's for," she pointed at his fishing gear. "Yeah sure, sounds fun! But you need to help me up," she lifted her right arm towards Sendoh.

Helping her up, Sendoh made sure that she leaned on him for support, being the caring person that he was, and together they walked towards the lake. He guided her towards his favourite fishing spot, which Samantha thought was a very nice spot indeed. It was shady, due to a big tree growing next to the edge of the lake, and had some bushes around giving it an air of privacy. At the moment it was deserted, which Samantha was extremely thankful for because she doesn't like crowds, especially on days when she was extremely relaxed and at peace.

"Aah…this is nice," as she watched Sendoh fix up his fishing gear. She didn't know much about fishing and so she leaned back on her elbows and watched the gentle ripples on the surface of the lake due to a gentle breeze blowing at the moment.

There was a moment of silence as Sendoh positioned himself and his fishing rod. A moment, which Samantha restlessly thought was almost stretching to an eternity. Desperately she thought of a subject to talk about, but her brain was dulled due to the heat of the afternoon.

"So…how long have you known Trish and Tea?" Samantha was surprised by this question. "You seem to be very close to them, almost like their sister," came the explanation.

"Yeah, we are like sisters. Let's see…Trish, I have known her for nine years, while Tea for two to three years. We weren't that close in the beginning, in fact, we didn't like each other." Sendoh turned to look at Sammy in surprise. "We didn't like each other then because we didn't know each other that well. Thankfully, we did in the end. You could say that we are fated to be friends, very close friends. In fact they are like sisters I never had, with the exclusion of my sister." Sendoh smiled at this. //She doesn't seem to like her sister that much// were his thoughts. "Oh no…it is not as if I don't like my sister," came Samantha's next words, as though accurately reading Sendoh's mind. "I mean, she is my sister after all, but with Trish and Tea, we don't have the usual sibling rivalry. I guess, that's what makes it special for me." She was busy fraying the ends of her short jeans as she spoke.

Sendoh was watching Sammy as she was saying this. As she talked about she and her friends' escapades together, he noticed that there was tenderness and affection in her eyes and tone. //She seems very different now. I think it must be the heat that is making her serious// Sendoh thought as Sammy rambled on saying what she told Preeti's boyfriend what she would do if he dared to hurt Preeti. //Well, the violence is still there// as he noticed a particular mad glint in her eyes.

"Oh, I almost forgot! Want to see the pictures of the fight?"

"Fight? What fight? Oh that fight…" Sendoh pointed to Samantha's ankle.

"Yes, that one." //She seems to be proud of it// he thought amusedly, as he watched Samantha dig inside her large bag.

No wonder the bag was large. In it contained a battered pencil box, a 1.5 litre water bottle, a thick book entitled 'Me and My Violent Side'- //how very apt// Sendoh thought-, a purse and then finally, a black organizer.

"You don't mind me watching?" to which Samantha tossed her hair over her shoulder, replying frankly, "Of course not! Besides, I like talking to you and well… I want to show you these photographs. My best side is in there," she added with a smug smile on her face.

She carelessly threw her bag behind her as she grabbed her organizer and from its pocket, she took out a handful of photographs. She showed Sendoh the pictures that Preeti took of the fight, which weren't many since Preeti and Trish wanted for their own memories and possible blackmailing in the future. There were only three pictures; the first showing Samantha leaping on to Sakuragi, the second her beating his head with her water bottle- Sendoh looked nervously at the bottle but relaxed a bit when he realized Samantha was not feeling that violent now- and the third of Samantha in mid air with her foot poised at making contact with Akagi's groin. What he really noticed was the ludicrous expression on Samantha's face; a comical cross between fanatical enjoyment and puzzlement. //Akagi…this is a first. I bet no girl has ever thought of beating an Akagi// Sendoh looked at Samantha and viewed her in a different light. //She really is different// and with a smile, resumed inspecting the other photographs.

The other photographs were of Samantha and her other friends, her family, her dogs and one particularly dazed cat. After looking at the photographs, he felt a jerking on his fishing rod and instantly went to it, thinking there was a fish caught. But to his disappointment, there wasn't. He turned his attention to Samantha and saw she had fallen asleep, with her head supported by her bag whose contents were taken out so that it wouldn't seem uncomfortable to sleep. He looked at her water bottle and sweatdropped when he remembered its purpose during the fight.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed a piece of paper fluttering next to Samantha. He went and caught it before it got blown away by the breeze, and giving in to his curiousity, he opened it and read its contents. //It's a poem// he realised, and he turned to see what was written in the back. It just read 'Samantha, 2:15 a.m.'. He read the poem again but since it was in English and he didn't understand English that well - as it is, it was quite difficult for him to understand most of Samantha's ramblings - but he got a general feel of sadness. He looked at the sleeping girl and wondered whether the highly impulsive and blithe girl could be possible of sadness.

He carefully leaned over her sleeping form to get her organizer, which was lying on her other side furthest from Sendoh, trying his best not to disturb her. As he leaned over, he stopped in mid-attempt and held his breath as Samantha rolled to her side in her sleep. He slowly exhaled when she stopped, and resumed his mission.

Then he froze again. This time it was from something else.

"What the hell do you think you are doing to her? Hentai!!!" a loud voice boomed from beyond the bushes. A voice belonging to no other person but Sakuragi Hanamichi.

Sendoh was doomed.

~*~