Staring blankly at my crammed closet, I try to find a suitable clothing to wear, now wishing I had been able to arrange it properly earlier.
There was only an hour and a half left before I was supposed to meet up with the rest. Normally, I wasn't so picky but I just had this urge to dress up more presentable today and wear something other than my usual shirt and jeans.
My eyes growing tired of scanning the pile of clothes numerous times, I look once again, going deeper into the closet to retrieve a plain white turtleneck and lantern sleeved jumper.
Judging by the rustling of trees outside, it looked pretty breezy and it would only get colder later on so I decide to go with the tender jumper. Scavenging for something fitting to wear it with, I soon lose hope of finding anything well matched other than some simple black jeans.
These will do.
Laying the chosen clothes gently on the bed, I sit back down and look into my phone, trying to distract myself from wandering about the thousands of scenarios that might play out tonight which only filled my stomach with a weird sensation some might call 'butterflies'.
638 New Messages From Everyone Loves Chicken Soup
I click onto the group chat, immediately.
(Friend 2): What the...who changed the group name to Everyone Loves Chicken soup.
(Friend 4): I did.
(Friend 2): why?
(Friend 4): because i was bored.
(Friend 2): ? That's your excuse...
(Friend 4): why are u always in such a bad mood?
(Friend 2): Oh so Im the one who's moody?
(Friend 5) Changed The Group's Title To 'Will You Both Shut Up'
Scrolling past the countless texts from days ago, I land myself at yesterday's messages.
Why are there so many?
(Friend 4): Awww thank you so much guys.
(Friend 4): you didn't have get me so many chocolates and gifts.
(Friend 2): Its your birthday, duh
(Fiend 2): ^O^
(Friend 3): You better be having a great birthday! This is your day!
The way the conversation had taken a U-turn, I did not know.
The day I had gotten a call from Haruka, my friends and I had face timed earlier the same day since it was my friend's birthday. I couldn't be there for they had planned the whole trip before hand and because of the situation I was in, I couldn't go due to how far away it was. If the venue had been close by, I could still have gone but not wanting to ruin their plans, I insisted on them going ahead with their idea and instead just face-timed them.
I scroll down further to the most latest texts.
(Friend 6): Yesterday was so fun :-D
(Friend 5): yh but it was also really tiring,
(Friend 5): I feel as if all my limbs are gonna fall off
(Friend 6): lol you and your manyyy 'medical' problems
(Friend 5): hey! all you did yesterday was sit around, I was the one
getting everything r3ady
(Friend 6): -. -
(Friend 2): oh (Y/N)'s here
(Friend 2) spots my name tag reading the text as seen.
(Friend 3): Hellooooo, (Y/N), why are you hiding...
Me: hey
Me: I wasn't hiding...
Me: It was just taking a long time to get past all your messages.
Me: do you know how much you guys text?
(Friend 2): (friend 3) stop acting like a creep.
(Friend 3) yh we know ?
(Friend 3): I'm not a creep...
(Friend 5): so is anyone doing anything interesting today cause all
I'm doing is just laying around after all the madness from yesterday.
Me: I'm actually just about to go out.
(Friend 2): what about ur leg?
Me: I'm just going down to town.
(Friend 5): anything important happening?
Me: Just going out to celebrate someone learning
to swim with the swim club.
(Friend 3): wait...didn't they already know how to swim?
(Friend 2): that must have been what that blonde-haired boy in the corridor was cheering about when he was shrieking loudly.
(Friend 3): was his name Rei?
Me: yh, but how did you know?
(Friend 2): yh, how exactly did you know...huh? ?
(friend 3): oh, shut up! Its nothing like that, the blonde guy was screaming his name out for everyone to hear.
(Friend 2): sure...
I burst out a stifled laugh, imaging Rei with (friend 3). Though, I have to agree...I SHIP IT.
Deciding I should get ready now, I say my byes and turn to go but I'm stopped abruptly as I see some new messages.
(Friend 4): Do you guys thinks it a date...since that black-haired is also tagging along.
(Friend 2): think? IK it is!
(Friend 3): First time I actually saw her taking interest in a guy like that, otherwise she refuses straight away.
(Friend 5): what was the guy's name...Hanako...hakuna...Harika...
Frustrated and flustered as the same time, I put an end to their curiosity.
Me: It's haruka and no its nothing like that...
me: I can also see these messages you know...
Me: Anyway, bye again.
I finally put my phone down as my friends move onto another topic to discuss as I take my clothes and get changed.
That word still lingering at the back of my mind.
Date?
(TIME SKIP)
Grabbing my crutches and adjusting it to align with my arm, I close the front door behind me as I start making my way towards the one place I despised oh so much!
The Bus Station.
But the 'things' that came there...BUSES...My arch nemesis.
Just the thought of riding in them sent a cold shiver down my back. The compact space as people inhaled and exhaled the same breath as others, the windows being the only way fresh air that can enter.
What's worse?
The place you sit, the seats!
Half are covered with mud and other substances you aren't even aware of, the backsides burnt from all the cigarettes that have been pressed against them. But nothing beats the fact you don't even know who sat there before you. Maybe in a way it gives you comfort and strength to actually take a seat.
Sometimes ignorance really is bliss!
As you can tell by now, I'm not a big fan of going anywhere on a bus. However, due to the unfortunate reason we're all aware of by now, I had no other choice.
Walking down the narrow road, I cross the street to the other side where the station was located. As usual, there were people giving me looks. It didn't come much as a surprise but today they were staring a bit too much, probably because of my crutches.
I guess everyone just had this curiosity to stare at someone who was different to them, be it crutches or wheelchairs or absolutely anything.
As I look down the road, I can make out a large two-story vehicle make their way around the corner.
When for once the universe was actually doing something for me on time for me, it was this...
Awaiting for my transport to stop in front of me, I take a long breath and get ready to board my nightmare. The seconds went by fast and before I know it, I'm waiting in line. There was an elderly couple in front of me who got on and I stepped up to pay my money. After I was done, I quickly examined the inside, scavenging for a place to sit.
Sitting upstairs was an obvious no and I didn't want to be around too many people as well so I took a seat second to the back, placing my crutches on the seat beside me(blocking access to anyone wanting to seat next me) and gazed out the window.
Eventually, all the other people got on and the bus started on its course.
Trying to take my mind away from all the unhygienic things around me, I look around for something to distract myself.
Instead of looking at the scenery outside, I look further down the bus as something catches my eye. Sitting not to far away was a little girl eating ice-cream, it used to be my favourite as a child but I hadn't seen it in years.
I thought they had stopped making them.
Just as more memories related to the ice-scream start coming into remembrance, my expression changes from deja-va to disgust as the ice-cream falls onto the girl's lap, somewhat dripping onto the bus seat.
See what I was talking about.
Not even daring to look at the ice cream dripping out the little girl's mouth, I turn to face the beautiful scenery outside as the girl complains to her mum, loud enough for everyone to hear. Blocking out all the whining, my mind wanders to the upcoming meet up.
I hadn't gone to this place before even though it always comes around this time of year because I was just not bothered to go. But here I am finally about see what all the hype is about.
Soon more people started appearing on the other side of the window and so do more buildings while the bus travels further into the centre of the city before coming to a halt.
Finally being able to get off, I breath a relieved gasp and make my way to the most busy part of area, where all the stalls were set up.
"How am I supposed to find anyone here?", I say slightly louder than a whisper, my eyes shifting to from stall to stall trying to spot a similar blue head, brown head, blonde haired and a black haired male in particular.
From behind me a cheery voice booms out, ending my hunt.
"You don't need to, we're already here"
Turning my head around to face Nagisa, I give him a glad smile and shift my gaze to the others who were tailing behind.
They all have warm smiles brushed upon their faces and a twinkle in their eyes.
Even Haruka...
On call there were many moments I could sense his smile but seeing it person was a totally different thing.
It was mesmerising.
Dazing at him, I eyed him from his jet black hair to his blue sneakers. If you looked hard enough, you could make out his muscular abs pressing against his pure white shirt as the wind blew past, ruffling his hair in such an attractive way.
Wait, did I just check him out?
A crimson shade sets on my face and I quickly flick my head towards the others, still observing haruka from the corner of my eye.
Did he notice?
Way to go (Y/N), it's not even been a minute and you've started drooling over that boy.
Keeping my thoughts to my self and making sure they stay there, I greet them all brightly.
They return my greeting and we start making our way towards some of the stalls as I try to not to glance at Haruka to much. This odd, unusual sentiment had overcome me where I just wanted to keep looking over to him, watching his face light up with the few emotions he showed nowadays unlike before.
The first stall is the 'Gun Ball' where you have to aim with a plastic gun and knock down as many cans you can. Nagisa goes first as the others follow in his footstep. Gou stepped this one out as she watched us all take the aim.
After everyone had a try we all looked for another stall to attack. Only makoto had won a bear, the rest of us failed miserably.
We decide to split into two groups and meet up after half-an hour since half of us want to try out the east side of the festival, while some want to go see the west.
And guess who I've ended up with?
Nagisa and Haruka.
Steadily, we make our way to the west. Nagisa starts jumping in excitement over with activity to take part in.
Half expecting him to keep talking and half expecting him to wander off, I look at some of the stalls and the huge stage in front, nothing in particular catching my eyes.
Feeling a sudden gush of wind on my right, I turn to seen not nagisa but an empty space where he should have been walking and a distant haruka mirroring my expression.
We both abruptly stop.
Turning our bodies a whole 180 degrees, we see him rooted to a spot.
Slowly walking back to him, we give him questioning looks which are only returned with a shimmering grin.
After a moment of silence, he finally explains, "CANDY FLOSS! I HAVEN'T HAD IT IN AGES! WE HAVE TO GET SOME!", Nagisa exclaims, pulling both Haruka and me by the arm as he leads the way.
When he finally stops, a small frown dawns on him.
"What?", I ask to try be of any help.
He only tilts his head and looks at the crowd around. For a second, I stand there dumb-founded until I get a nudge at my side.
It was haruka.
He motions me to look towards a certain way and once I did I knew why nagisa's face had fallen. The line for candy floss was so long it was cutting into another line and causing a disruption.
WTH? All this for candy floss?
Getting slightly uncomfortable with the rowdiness, I suggest nagisa to sneak past since no one will see him anyway. Without giving it a second, he does exactly that. As I see him wander past, I turn to face haruka whose face held a expression I haven't seen before.
Pure horror.
Turning to where he was staring, my eyes grew wide almost resembling haruka's only mine were larger.
A couple of meters away our faces flashed on a huge screen along with a few other people as some words above it on the stage I remember from before.
THE CHOSEN NOMINEES FOR THIS YEAR'S COUPLE CHALLENGE
Couple?
Challenge?
That's when I realised while we were standing in line waiting for candy floss, we had accidentally shuffled into the line to the stage which stood beside it. It must have been a random selection.
Glancing at Haruka, I see him gawking back at me.
Both of our faces expressing only one sentence.
What had we gotten ourselves into?
Why does this feel like instant karma for telling nagisa(who was no where to be found) to skip ahead in line...
Before either of us has time to escape or come up with an excuse, we're both being pulled by the arm(again) towards the stage by this women holding a mike.
What is it with everyone dragging me around today?
As we draw nearer to the stage, I try to reason with her but she's not listening, too busy saying some useless information into the mic.
"Wait, We're not a coup-", My sentence gets cut short as I'm heaved onto the stage, haruka beside me as dozens of eyes fix their pupils on us.
I hope you enjoyed reading!
Next Chapter will be out soon!
Bye, take care! ^_^