UNREQUITED LOVE...


It was like the whole world had gone completely whacko.

Like everyone changed.

Like they're their own opposites now rather than their own self.

Well, not everyone.

Just this girl.

Because, before I reach Hilary, I halted few feet away from her.

Her face looked out of this world, like she was thinking of something else that isn't in this world...

Rather than thinking what she's facing in front of her.

Her face was tilted up high, as if she was gazing at the school building's rooftop.

For me, it looked as if she's thinking hard.

By that look on her face, it's awkward not to miss it.

They were pale.

Well, actually

I think her face has always been pale except when we fight that's when her face turns purple, blue, green, pink, or red.

I always thought it was funny when both of our faces turn different colors.

Laughs

But her face almost tells us all what she is thinking about.

It was as if her eyes and face tells me that she's...

Hurt...

It's strange because of all the times I've seen her get sad, this is obviously the strangest of all.

She was clutching the handle that diagonally lined to her left shoulder towards her right waist where her small white bag was held.

I see her hand gripping it tight.

I kinda flinch a bit because she pursed her lips tightly that it looked as if she was trying to press the bottom lip hard with her teeth.

Her eyes narrowed, trying not to cry in pain.

She surrendered to take any other step passed that gate entrance.

To my bewilderment, she closes her eyes.

It was like she never saw me there, standing only five feet away from her.

Like she had never seen anything, even the leaves that fell from the trees behind her or the kids that passed us by.

Like she didn't care whether who or what was in front of her.

I scratch my head and just stared at her.

Her head was still pacing high up the sky, eyes closed.

So, I decided to intrude her quiet moment.

I walked up to her and said, "Hey, Hilary."

It was as if she never heard me.

She just kept looking up at the sky with sealed closed eyes.

I turn to look at Kenny.

He was still typing away.

I turn back to look at her.

"Wussup, Hilary."

Still, she didn't answer me.

I guess she's still ignoring me because of whatever happened between us.

But it still didn't stop me from trying to get that girl's attention.

So I tried again.

"HEY, Hilary," I said, more forceful this time.

Damn, what's wrong with this girl?

I've still been trying to make out what happened last time.

It's weird 'cause I forgot what Hilary and I were fighting about last time.

All I remember is:

FLASHBACK

—"FOR ONCE, I WANT SOME DAY OFF, FOR GOD'S SAKE!"

"YOU'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT FOR DAYS NOW! FOR ONCE, LISTEN TO ME!"

"NO! WHY WOULD I, QUEEN OF BIG MOUTH!"

"BECAUSE!"

"BECAUSE?"—

END OF FLASHBACK

Basically, that's all the damn arguments I remember coming out of Hilary's mouth and mine.

Sometimes I worry for this girl.

But not THAT way!

I swear to god I don't like her.

HONEST!

But sometimes it's weird saying this, 'I don't like her'...

What's also weird and freaky is how Hilary was just standing there.

Why?

Because where she stood and where I stood basically makes it quite ironic.

She's just standing there at the edge of the oak tree's shadow.

And the specks of light that shoots through the gaps of the trees' leaves reflected all around her.

And here I am, standing in the sunshine, staring at the girl in the shades, unable to do or say anything else.

Now that's scary.

What's freaky is how the trees' shade reflected her face.

They were still... sad... in a way.

Today, a good and sunny beautiful day, she, Hilary, stands there, preferring the home of the shadow rather than the light.

And I, Tyson, is better off talking to Kenny and Dizzi about beyblading than standing here in the sunny ground right in front of the shaded face of Hilary.

The shade also showed what she felt.

Still, I tried not to mind at all.

All I need is to know what's going on around here, especially Hilary.

Once more, I tried again.

"I said HEY HILARY!"

Finally, she opened her eyes.

Slowly.

Like she just woke up in a trance or a really good nap or something.

But her head still didn't move to look at me.

God, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GIRL!

But still, I waited until she looked at me.

And she did.

I was a bit apprehensive by that face of hers.

They were almost the same face she gave me right after I remember yelling something at her.

Expressionless, but, hurt.

I backed away a bit.

It was like this Hilary I know—or I think I do until now— was a zombie.

Because as soon as she saw me, she tried a smile.

A smile that showed nothing.

"Oh, ohayou gozaimasu, Tyson," she said lowly and slowly.

I lifted my eyebrows, still apprehensive.

Woow...

That voice can never fool you because it sounded as if someone had hypnotized her into saying anything at anyone, at anything...

At me.

It was like she never meant any of those words she said.

Like she wanted to say, "Good morning? 'Good'? What's so goddamn good about this morning and any other else?"

But I just shrugged those thoughts.

"Wussup, Hilary," I said instead.

She just smiled at me.

"Fine, thanks," she answers.

Sarcastically, it seems to be years that passed until she hesitated to add another thing with her answer.

"Anata wa?" she just asks.

I don't answer.

I just looked at her.

I don't think she expects me to answer because as soon as she finished that remark, she walked off.

Slowly, she exited the shadow and brushed passed me, slowly as she can walk.

I could feel her shoulder brush against mine.

Soft yet it told me it should've hurt me.

Yet it didn't.

And I feel weird.

It was like that shoulder brush she gave against mine told me something.

Like it either said, 'sayounara' or... 'I'm still waiting...'

Uh...?

But waiting for what?

Seconds later when she passed me, I turned my head to look at her.

It's strange because I'm getting worried.

Chuckle

Yes, WORRIED.

Because even that slight brush against shoulder told me that Hilary isn't herself anymore.

Chuckle... Laugh

And I was right.

Science class started later after that.

I took my seat beside Kenny as he typed away in his computer thing.

Our teacher, Mr. Izaki, soon entered the room as the bell had rang.

I looked around.

Where was Hilary?

I know for sure I got the same class as her in Science.

"Konnichiwa, class," Mr. Izaki began.

And before he could say anything else, my mind shut off.

Chuckle

I guess I still have that auto-mind shut-off as soon as I hear a teacher's voice, huh.

The teacher talked for what seemed like six years but really only ten minutes until the door slid open.

I wasn't really surprised who or what came in.

Because I knew she'd come to class anyhows.

And in walked Hilary.

Looking like the same as ever.

Although she walked a little bit faster, which is good.

She was still clutching her shoulder bag handles tight.

Hilary took a seat right behind me as I heard her bag fall on the ground.

Mr. Izaki, who had not notice Hilary's entrance, looked up and smiled.

"Konnichiwa, Miss Tatibana," he asked.

"Konnichiwa, Mr. Izaki," Hilary answered, calmly.

Too calmly.

I try not to look back.

But I couldn't help it.

When I turn to look at her, I knew I should've expected this.

Her face is still the same and she was staring at her desk.

Why is she so sad?

Why is she so ticked off in the inside but expressionless on the outside?

Frowning, I turn my head back to look at the science teacher.

"You're back this time, hai?"

By that silence I heard, I'm guessing that she's nodding.

"Hai, Mr. Izaki," she replied, lowly this time.

"And not to miss out school for days again?"

"...Hai, Mr. Izaki."

Somehow I heard the same tone she had answered me minutes ago.

And I know what it means.

Hilary was not telling the truth.

(Everyone goes wide-eyed)

Mr. Izaki smiled.

"Now," he changed the subject. "On with science."

I was suppose to fall asleep but I can't.

My mind is thinking about Hilary.

Again.

Like the time I met up with her at the gate entrance minutes ago.

And how she had said something to me by one brush in the shoulder.

And how, I guess, she was hurt by something in the past.

Past?

What past was it?

Nothing in the past I remember ever involved with something as bad as making her so depressed all of a sudden.

But her shoulder brush tells us all...

Who is this girl?

What did she do to the Hilary I knew?

The Hilary that cheered me on when I Beybattle.

The Hilary that I always argue with every single day?

The Hilary that use to be a bossy loud mouth?

Somehow, it scares me.

Whatever made Hilary like this sure has got to talk to her.

But I doubt he or she will ever gonna do that.

Who ever that person is...

When I thought things over, I kinda enjoyed arguing with her.

It's the only thing that keeps me and her friends.

Arguing and fighting.

But I'm not really sure anymore.

Have I said something to her?

If I did, she should know that I never meant it.

I never meant any of those things I spit at her.

I just want to at least pounce back on her by words.

When she's too powerful or getting powerful, I usually say something that even I don't think I can tell her seriously.

Strange.

Real strange...

Hilary is...

A new Hilary.

And somehow I don't like.

Not at all..