Chapter 3:
Finding Mariam
"Have you ever been in love?"
The question sounded in her mind from moment to moment…had she ever been in love? It seemed easy to answer, but now…she was wondering if she had answered wrong…why was she there, in that city? Was that the place where she belonged, was she right?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My God, where am I going to find her…I don't have an idea of where she is…
He walked to the train station, trying to guess where Mariam could have gone. When he arrived, he looked to the list of cities and he felt like he was trying to reach an impossible.
-I want a ticket for the next train
-Here you are, it leaves in twenty minutes
-Thanks
He got into the train quickly, like if he was running away from somebody. He was submerged in his thoughts when a girl sat next to him.
-Hi, what's your name?
-Ozuma – he answered in a low voice
-I'm Midori, where are you going?
-To be honest, I don't know
-What? You're on a train and you don't have a destination?
-You've just said it
-So, what are you going to do after you arrive to Iwaki? That, by the way, is the place where this train is going
-I don't know…I'm here because I have to find someone I lost and I don't have any idea of where she is…
-Oh…you're going to go through the whole country to find a girl…how sweet!
-It's not what you think…I'm not in love with her – he said, realizing that as more as he said that, it sounded falser
-I didn't say that…but your acts…they say more about you than your words
-Whatever
-So when did she left?
-I don't know, like two months ago
-And why are you looking for her now?
-It's just that…at first I didn't thought she was serious, I thought that she was going to come back in two or three days, but weeks passed and she never came back…
-And don't you think that if she hasn't come back is cause she found a better place?
-Maybe it's because of that…-Ozuma began to think about that possibility and he felt how his heart became colder every second- but…I need to know, I need to be sure of that, I just can't lose her this way…
-Hmmm…don't worry, you'll find her, if that's your fate
The train stopped and the girl got out. Ozuma, on the other hand, didn't reacted. He was thinking about what the girl had told him. What if Mariam had found her place there, in that city? What if she wasn't interested in going back with them, with him? But nothing was sure, he had to try, he couldn't just stay there.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Mariam, is everything alright?
-Yes, I was just a little nostalgic…
-Do you miss your home? Do not worry, that happens to everyone sometimes. This is going to feel like home soon.
-Thank you Jason
-It is true…I see you are adapting so fast and you know well this city…- he was going to say more, but Mariam stopped him:
-No Jason, I mean, thank you for helping me when I arrived. Thank you for showing me the city, for caring about me and for making me feel less alone and strange here…
-Well, it's easy to be nice with a girl like you…-he said smiling- so beautiful, so strong, so independent and so…-their faces where getting closer and closer- amazing…
-Hey what do you want for me boy? – Marian asked suddenly
-Why are you asking?
-I don't know, this is the fourth time you try to kiss me – she said, sounding angry
-Mmmm, maybe it's because I like you
-I know
-You know?
-Yeah! You're too obvious…but don't kiss me, don't try again please- she asked gently
-Oh my god you're weird
-I'm not, It's just that I don't want you to take advantage of my confusions
-Ok, I promise I won't try again…for now
-Better for you- she said with a smirk
--------
I guess I have to start with one city…but I don't think she is here. This place doesn't seem like somewhere she would stay. Besides, is relatively close to home. I think I'll have to take another train…but I won't make a too crazy decision. I gotta get a map. Well, Mariam didn't knew where was she going, I bet. So I assume she went to the first place that came to her mind, or chose one direction randomly…pick Ozuma, north or south…mhmmm…I think she would pick the north...Sendai is the biggest city on the north…surely she went to a big city so that we can't find her.
-Can you tell me when the next train to Sendai departs?- Ozuma asked to the woman on the ticket stand
-I'm sorry, there aren't more trains to Sendai for today
-What? Damn, I'll have to find somewhere to stay
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least I found this cheap hotel...it's not that bad. But…I can't sleep. SHE doesn't let me sleep.
Ozuma was getting more nervous every minute. The night was cold, but he was sweating. I can't wait till tomorrow, I just can't. No more trains…no more trains…no more trains...I don't care! I need to find her, I need to do something today, NOW!
He leaved the bed and ran to the hotel entrance, to find the way to the city frontier. He ran for till he couldn't more. To the distance, he saw a car coming.
-Hey!- he called – stop please!
-What are you doing so late here?
-It's a long story…are you going to Sendai?
-Yeah, do you want me to give you a ride?
-Please
-No problem, come on
In not too much time, they were in the city and Ozuma had the feeling that he was going to find her there. I guess I just have to wait till the sun comes out.
Next day, Ozuma began his search. I have to go to some place where everybody goes, maybe a mall in the center of the city…He asked where the center of the city was and he went to the biggest mall there. He went trough the whole mall. One hour, two, three, four hours passed and he was tired of searching, so he decided to check the neighborhood.
He was going outside when he saw a blue haired girl coming with a boy. Is that Mariam? Yes! There she is! And who's that boy?...All his hopes were fading slowly as he thought of who could he possibly be. Maybe it's too late for me…What I'm saying! I should go after her to know where she lives!
Ozuma followed Mariam on her way to her apartment. He waited for her to say goodbye to the boy and close the door. He waited some minutes so she didn't know that he was chasing her and knocked her door.
-Wait, I'm coming!
Mariam opened the door and stared paralyzed at the One in front of her.
-What? Why are you looking at me like that? – Ozuma asked
-And you ask why…what the hell are you doing here?
-I just…I'm not going to tell her that I miss her, just like that…wait, I DON'T miss her…I was worried cause you left months ago and I didn't know where you were...
-Well, now you know that I'm perfectly fine, so…you can leave
-In fact, I was going to ask you to come back, you know…
-Why? I don't see any reason, you didn't want me on the team anymore and I don't want to go…at least give me a reason, and I will see if it's a good one
-mmm, the guys miss you, the want you to come back
-And why they didn't come?
-They were busy- Ozuma lied
-Tell them they can visit me if they want
Ozuma sighed, it didn't seem easy to convince Mariam to go back with him, and he didn't want to tell her the real reason.
-I'll go then. I'm glad to see you're fine. Bye. – Ozuma said
-Bye - Mariam said before closing the door
"Ozuma, you're a coward, why can't you tell her that you miss her, why!" - A voice in his mind was pursuing him – "If you don't tell her now, you are going to regret it, don't be stupid" Shut up! I won't tell, she's not going to change her mind just because of that. Maybe it's not my fate to be with her… "You shut up, fate doesn't exist, you can always choose your fate"
Ozuma turned around and went again to Mariam's door.
-Oh no, you again! Tell me, Ozuma.
-Ehhh, I just wanted to tell you that the real reason I want you to come back it's because I…
-You what? Tell me, I don't have the whole day
-I miss you…so much…
-What? – Mariam looked really surprised, like she didn't believed what the boy was saying
-Yeah, I miss you and this days, since you left I've been thinking a lot about you…and I've realized that…I…I am in love with you, I just can't stop thinking about you and I was wondering if you wanted to come back…I'm so sorry for the way I've treated you, I promise everything will be different now...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will Mariam forgive Ozuma? Will she accept to go back with him? No one knows…(well, I do)…for now, just review please :-) !