Chasing You
Epilogue
Every ending is another beginning.
Closing Ceremony started at exactly three in the afternoon. It was the biggest event that marked the end of the school year. It was the day when outstanding students finally received their most-awaited awards for all the extra hard work they put on the past year. Trees were memorable to look at because of their beauty and uniqueness. The way trees complement the entirety of Alice Academy's buildings was remarkable today. Every corner of Alice Academy looked intensified, like it had been polished and beautified. The classrooms' looked empty, with no noisy and running students in the hallways and the picture made Mikan sad. She never liked Closing Ceremonies. It's like ending a very wonderful thing just because it was required to. She carefully studied Alice Academy like she had been studying for her final exams. It saddened her that she had to grow up and move on.
Everyone was asked to stand up. The sun was setting and time was running out. A few words from the principal and they would be all clapping and hugging each other. Mikan compared this year's Opening and Closing ceremonies and they were completely different specifically in the feelings part. One day, you had so much to look forward to and now it was about to end. She looked up and saw the stage packed with faculty and staff. She would miss her two favorite teachers Narumi and Serina and even Jinno who had been cruel to her. She would miss every late night study session, outing with classmates, those random days when you just wanted to sleep at class, the cafeteria food, every laugh, every fight, every memory.
The crowd applauded and Mikan involuntarily followed. Suddenly, everyone was hugging and this was it. Congratulatory greetings were most of the conversations she heard. Mikan started walking toward her classmates and started hugging each one of them. Her tears were slowly flowing but she could not help it since she hated being separated with them. After hugging them farewell, she went to her closest friends. Anna's make-up was smudged because she had been crying also. Mikan smiled at the fact that she was not the only one taking this graduation emotionally. Yuu came after Anna and gave her a handshake. Somehow, Mikan wanted everything to be stored in her memory. From her point of view, everything moved slowly but time was fast.
Ruka came in full view and they hugged each other shortly. High school was such an adventure. Mikan was more than lucky to experience every side of it and lived it to the fullest. A few moments passed and Hotaru called her from behind. Mikan's immediate reaction was run to her and engulfed her with a massive hug. That's when Mikan's tears exploded.
"What a crybaby," Hotaru mumbled and caressed Mikan's hair.
Mikan's hug tightened. "So sad," she whispered.
Hotaru broke the contact. "Everyone is happy, Mikan. Cheer up. Don't be too sad. This is not the last."
Mikan sniffed, feeling ashamed of her actions for once. "I'm not." Still, she defended her emotion in the end.
Thirty minutes had passed and still the academy was very much alive. Mikan made her way to her classroom and just stared at it. She was trying to recover from all the crying she did. Two months to go and she really had to go. She needed to stop acting like a child and just accept the facts. Looking from the window, she could see almost everyone on the school ground. Lights were working on the hallways but not inside the rooms. She just sat from one of the desks, silent and thinking.
"You are still crying," a voice coming from the door said which frightened her a bit.
Mikan shrugged and followed Koko'as pace as he walked towards her. "I just hate goodbyes, Koko."
Koko smiled as if he felt the same. He observed from the window also and suddenly the smile faded. He hated goodbyes, too. "Same here. High school is my life."
"It's just so funny to think that we are now either hunting for a job or going to a good college. It was also sad at the same time. Gosh, I will miss this place."
Koko faced Mikan again. "Me too. More than anything."
"High school will always be the best," Mikan said, looking so determined.
"Yes, always."
The brunette shifted position, enabling her to see Koko closer. "I hate this part of growing up. It doesn't feel right. There so many things I want to do and I want to do it here. In Alice Academy, with you guys."
Hearing Mikan's feelings was not new to Koko. But he could only appreciate it, on how she never wanted to part from everyone. She was so attached that made it hard to let go. Koko crossed his arms, thinking hard on how he would say it to Mikan. "That's not really feasible right now, to tell you the truth. But, hey, we never know. Maybe tomorrow is such a good place to be."
If time travel was possible, they would be willing to go back again and again. Imagine if you could correct or redo something that happened in the past. The consequences were hazy but the adventure would always make it worthwhile. Mikan looked outside, thinking that it was improper for her to say goodbye to high school in this way. For her to be so emotional was normal but for her to hate what could happen tomorrow or the next month and the coming years was certainly not good. Her lips curved up. She was thinking so hard about this when today was supposed to be full of happy memories.
There was silence and contemplation until Anna came and invited them out. "Hey! What are you two doing here? Come on outside and let's take gazillion of photos."
"Just a second," Koko replied, standing up. He felt that Mikan remained in her place so he took the liberty to give her hope.
"Mikan," he called out.
She was pre-occupied for a moment but still answered Koko. "Yes?"
"We still have one summer vacation left. Let's all spend that together."
Mikan nodded at the idea with the feeling that this year's going to be different. "I'm sure, Koko."
Koko smiled at her but she did not see it anymore. Before he could completely leave the room, he turned around and said, "And there's someone who wants to talk to you."
"Who?" asked Mikan with curiosity and then behind Koko appeared him. "Natsume," she whispered.
Koko patted twice Natsume's shoulders before completely leaving. The silent communication they had was oblivious to Mikan even though it was all about her. Natsume still looked fresh and handsome. He dragged a desk and placed it parallel to Mikan's. He was waiting for the perfect time to be alone with her since he had been busy receiving the awards he got this year which he never wanted. He even insisted not to include it to the ceremony but teachers were more persistent than he was.
"Happy graduation, Miss Sakura."
Natsume noticed the stain of tears in her face so he immediately wiped it. Mikan felt touched at the action.
"I'm not exactly happy about this, you know. This day is dreadful and sad and not my type of ending."
Natsume knew she would say something like that. Mikan always thought she was not ready for a bigger picture even if she had the capabilities of succeeding.
"This also means that there is a larger world waiting for us," he explained, wanting her to see beyond what she was seeing.
Mikan nudged him in the shoulder. "Easy for you to say. You're smart and can do anything. Tokyo U should be ready for you."
He took the opportunity to hold her hand and ask her, "You still want to become a doctor?"
"Yes, I want to. But since I still have a pre-med course to take, I have enough time to think about it."
Her doubts, he wanted to erase it. "You should do it."
Mikan made a mischievous smile. "I can't exactly promise anything since my mind can change anytime."
"Ruka will become a vet," Natsume stated the possibility but when he was the one saying it, it's like it will really happen.
Mikan's eyes squinted, figuring out where the talk will lead to. "Hotaru will be a researcher," she said in a proud tone, proud for Hotaru.
Natsume did not look amaze. He was still on the stage of getting used to Hotaru Imai's way of thinking and capabilities that could level his. "That's not really surprising. But Koko is our future engineer."
Suddenly, their future looked so ideal. Like it it was really going to happen, no doubt it would be amazing. Mikan was having fun reciting the futures of her friends. "Anna, the future chef. Nonoko, the future chemist."
"Yuu will be an accountant."
Mikan thought hard and pinched Natsume's cheeks, much to his dismay. "Natsume Hyuuga will become richer than ever. He would be amazing. He will reach his dreams."
Of course she would think like that. Mikan always believed in him, that he was capable of doing the impossible. For her, he was the greatest one. But Natsume only thought of himself as a normal guy with a great Mikan Sakura who was always there for him. Mikan was her best friend for life and she made it possible for him to love for forever. For him, Mikan was the amazing one.
"Doctor Mikan Sakura," he said and added, "Not bad, Polka."
Mikan could not think of a good reaction for that. "The future looks cool and scary at the same time."
"It will always be," Natsume said.
"But it looks brighter with you there," Mikan said confidently.
Natsume smirked, trying his best not to show that his feelings for her were overwhelming him but Mikan knew better based on her extra happy look. In the end, they worked out their friendship and love for each other. They were best friends and at the same time the love of their respective lives. Soon, they would be separated and time would always be limited but they could do it. Nothing was impossible now.
"For me, it looks the brightest with you here."
End of Chasing You
I have so many things to say.
First. I hope you enjoyed reading CY from the very first chapter up to here. It's been such a rollercoaster ride. I didn't know that the idea inside my head will actually become a story. I know that the idea of one-sided love between best friends is cliché but still you guys read it and gave positive feedbacks regarding the plot.
Second. Thank you for sharing your stories. Your own stories proved me right that this story is the closest thing to reality that I have written so far. Thank you for taking the time to type them down and entrust me with those personal experiences.
Third. I know that not everyone will like the ending but I have to thank you guys for reading and somehow giving your time to review and tell me that you don't like it. It's entirely fine. Also, for the criticisms I've faced throughout this process, I would like to say thank you. If it weren't for those, I won't be realizing my faults.
Fourth. Words are not enough to express how much I want to thank all of you who supported CY all the way. For those who are very enthusiastic every update, thank you. For those who reviewed every chapter, thank you. For those who didn't let go, thank you. Everyone had done such a good job putting a smile on my face. I look forward to every reviews and PMs.
Fifth. Somehow, I hope you learned a lesson while reading this story. Love can be simple and complicated. It all depends on how you will handle things. Love doesn't destroy things. Thank you for the love you made me feel for more than a year now.
It was such an amazing experience. Thank you for reading Chasing You.
-keaRy ance
