Only, my eyes on you
Resentment drives people to do reckless, unforgiving and unloving acts to unsignificant others, little did they know that this emotion would be the catalyst of a new life, together.
- … Oh crap! I completely forgot.
As he grumbled under his breath, Syan made his way to the front door of his apartment. He looked anxious as he put on a brown cloth coat and a pair of dark mitten gloves then reaching for the door aluminum handle, it felt cold to the touch, sending him into a nervous shaking. Trying to reach his destination quickly he jogs out on the streets, his complex turns to a pale white due to the autumn breeze that caresses his cheekbones but his raspy exhalations reveal the tender wisp of warm lungs. Tomorrow he has to attend a family meeting in Ouchi-juku, Fukushima prefecture since his great grandfather has died, a week ago. He heard from his father, on a long-range phone call, that on Saturday many on their close relatives will attend the funeral and his tone implied his obliged presence. Soo, he has to made it there no matter what.
Asuteru Syan, a third year undergraduate currently living in a rented residence, far away from his hometown. Thankfully the transportation methods in 21st century are as fast as communication goes. If he takes the train from Tokyo to Utsunomiya and aboard another to Kuroiso, he would only need to take a car ride of at least an hour to make it to that backwater place. Syan didn't really miss too much Ouchi-juku since early in his infancy he got trap on the highly contagious youth fever that is so problematic nowadays: wishing to live in a big metropolis. He took his chances, trying to reach a future where he will have a better position socially and financially. Syan at the end was tempted by the bright neon lights.
If you ask around about him you won't really get any kind of big impressions from any who knew him, he just was taller than the average, with slender long limbs, straight 'n glossy dark hair. If it wasn't for his space-out actions and aloof overall presence, he will surely be a looker. The thing is, as time went on living in Tokyo he became a stranger in a strange place. His infancy was full of ancient views and the worst thing of all, had to admit, he himself admired the Bushidō teachings that the numerous generations of the Asuteru family parrots, like megaphones go on over a student march. When the moment came for deciding what job would bring food onto his table he behaved like such a sore thumb on every waking moment, his parents couldn't withstand any longer seeing his childish dubitation. So, as the only child of the parents' love, they gave him more choices than his country cousins couldn't have in their teenage years.
He had forgot the way of handling such formal matters. While contemplating that in the wardrobe there wasn't an appropriate set of clothes for giving the last farewell to his ancestor, as the last time he wore a suit was in his graduation ceremony (not the best nor the worst moment of his life) and late-puberty should add, he isn't in any way or shape to wear his high school clothes.
As he descends an elongate sidewalk full of autumn leaves and stops for a minute to catch his breath, he fancies how cold climates weren't mean for him, he glimpses both ways of the road just to find a desert street, unusual for a friday afternoon. He hadn't notice a presence looking his way with a sick grin that would send shivers to anyone that had the misfortune to see such unveiled wicked intentions. While recovering some of his lost heat due to the harsh climate he intended to continue but some intense urge to leave the place came to him, as a panic attack. He suddenly is unable to think clearly as he wants to scream at the top of his lungs, but this impulse wore off as sudden as it came. The ragged breathing and heavy transpiration came like the unexpected rain that followed. By then he, lightheartedly, didn't want to become the wet dog that nobody cares for so he looks for shelter in the neighbour park bus stop…
- What's gotten to the weather? The day looked like any other JEEZ. He babbles swiftly.
Dumbfound and humid from the drizzle droplets, he's first reaction was to sulk on the problematic weather. He IS running time here, in this morning he decided against doesn't want to take the night train for just barely be on time for the reception and the last parting, his family wouldn't forgive! Mattaku. The hard rain was falling, his wet garments become a burden for his cold sensitivity. As he quickly considers waiting for a bus or checking out a taxi, he heard background footsteps slowly approach… slowly inside his field of view comes a figure. Not too tall or small but surely two inches smaller than him, at a first glance, that holds a cheap plastic umbrella; the long hair made it hard to distinguish her facial features but "it wasn't by definition an ugly one". Meanwhile, the chestnut-haired woman swidles over his attention, making he ultimately forget about his freezing palms or his wet coat or any related family issue that sours his state of affairs, as he likes to call his lazy days. She, at last, came to a stop at the resting place, and with no words she made her way onto the cold bench.
- Really unexpected weather, neh? The boy announces.
- Not really. The girl retorts.
As this short exchange made him feel the world's sarcasm punching him in the gut, he quickly lost interest in any kind of further interaction as his cold numbed senses rushed to the clear again (he really needs to find a warmer place to live on!) the girl continued:
- If you had pay any attention to today's weather report you would have known better.
- Today was kind of rushed, no tv time on schedule you see.
- Is there any joy on going places without any leisure? but the truth is… I didn't see it either, I knew.
The girl says she didn't watch the weather program but knew it was going to rain anyways, as the hidden meaning of her words slaps the boy's thought process, drifting to reconsider with who he was talking to. As he tries to steal a glance at her general direction, he reaches a pronunciation loss of all words.
End of chapter one