ROSE: DISCARDED

For Valentine's Day 2003; For Hana, the AkaMitKo no Miko and Kimi-an-chan, the Ko-seme no Miko


He stood up tall and straight, a stiff figure among the many students milling about in Shohoku High. He scanned the crowds eagerly, hoping to catch sight of the person he was waiting for. However, the loud atmosphere only distracted him and he angrily stormed off away. He held the flower tightly in his hand. His anxiety was waning him. Today was so important. At last, he had the guts to confess.

This was so unlike his usual confident self. Always striving hard for his goals and never letting go of his dreams. He had waited long enough for this special yearly affair. He had racked his brains, willing himself to think up something romantic. Yet the sheer fear of being rejected still lingered in his mind.

Reprimanding his own cowardice, he resumed his desperate search for his love. Now, all he wanted was to get it over and done with. Weigh his chances he dare not. "I'll see how it goes." He muttered to himself as he walked towards the school backyard.

A couple of familiar voices made him falter in his steps. Standing concealed behind the wall, he could still hear and watch the conversation clearly.

"So, thanks for meeting me here." a low uneasy laugh was emitted from the taller and slightly scruffy guy. "No, it's perfectly fine. Do you want to tell me something?" A calm and pleasant voice ringed in the atmosphere. "Er, yeah. I - I just wanted to say - Happy Valentine's Day!" Mitsui grinned sheepishly and handed Kogure a shiny wrapped box.

"What in the world …" Kogure opened the box and laughed to see a beautiful translucent glass bottle filled with tiny and painstakingly folded red and pink paper hearts. Mitsui flushed, grumbling in protest, "Stop laughing."

The touched expression on Kogure spoke the words in his mind. He soon found himself pressed up urgently against a brick wall as Mitsui's arms closed around Kogure tightly, "I love you."

The person standing frozen behind the wall felt his senses shutting down. Stumbling away from the scene, his sorrow was unmatched by none other. The loss of any opportunity and the hurting feeling of it rendered him speechless. He knew he had lost. Maybe he was lucky he did not get the chance to confess. The blow of rejection would hit harder. He sighed in resignation, understanding that nothing was left. Perhaps, he could find another as valuable.

The rose in his hand ended in a pitiful state as he carelessly threw it onto the ground. He consoled himself with a bitter laugh, "At least you know that he has someone, someone who is probably much more romantic and equally loving. Someone you can never match, Takenori Akagi."

Wilting flowers have the chance to spring alive again. A withered flower is dead.

Closed and embittered, just like a lonely heart is.