I found my phone buried under all of my pillows. I still had about half an hour till my alarm clock comes on. I tucked myself into quilt even more than earlier. My heart was still bumping hard. Drops of sweat rolled down my forehead. It wasn't actually a bad scene from my memory. I truly enjoyed it, at least that's how I try to convince myself. Anyway, why does this dream keep on repeating? My father always said that dreams are affected by our desires. 'So what am I missing?' this question popped into my head. Or should I rather question: Who?
Knocking on the door brought my mind from travelling back to Teikou days. Marianna was waiting outside, ready for my commands. Oh how I loved this woman! She's always been with me. Even here, in Japan. My father had to move here for some longer business purposes and decided to take me with himself, so I could recover my knee-injury. I was thrown into this weird, eastern country without even knowing the language. How bad does it sound? Well, I managed to achieve success, as I always did. My parents have raised me well. I have those three governesses around me, always ready to teach me the savoir-vivre.
"Miss Attaviano, any wishes for your breakfast? You need any help?"
"I'm fine, Marianna. Be there in five minutes. As long as you prepare me tea, I'll eat anything, thank you." right after that I left my bed and went straight to the bathroom. Short and cold shower should help me focus on today's classes. I looked in the mirror. There was my still sleepy, but not that bad face. Somehow I avoided getting bags under my eyes. Taking one of the brushes in my hand I applied some make up. My school's uniform has already been prepared. It's one of many things I like about Rakuzan High School. They really care about the presence of their students. I checked the time - damn, those preparations shouldn't last so long! I tied my hair in some kind of a messy bun and run down the stairs.
"Scusi, Marianna!" was all I could say. I caught my lunch and put it into the bag. My maid just silently pushed the steaming mug. I smiled gratefully. She really is irreplaceable!
***
Walking through the Rakuzan in the morning is this pleasure I don't like sharing with anyone. I'm the Student's Council President, just as in Teikou, and my usual checking routine belongs only to me. Before classes, when I still have the taste of fresh tea at the tip of my tongue and my neck doesn't hurt from uncomfortable sitting position... Yeah, that's how heaven should sound like. I greeted some acquaintances on my way to the Student's Council room.
"Alright, my people, give me those papers! Let's see what our lovely clubs have for us to offer this year!" I smiled as cheerfully as I could. Not that I hate my work. I love it. But Rakuzan provides lots of talented students. My co-workers just showed me my desk. I noticed enormous mountains of notifications, requests and applications. Small sigh left my mouth unnoticed. Okay, Chiara, let's do it. The more you do now, the more time you'll have for your football team. Oh yes, the team. Today we were supposed to see new recruits. Guess my boys won't be really happy seeing those amateurs. How did we end up playing football here, in Japan? We were the best back then in Italy.Scanning through upcoming papers I was lost in my own thoughts, not really paying attention to what actually I was signing. I never really understood why they decided to follow me. I was the captain since the beginning, but still... I love my boys, I really do. It's like having ten older brothers. I feel responsible for them. If anything goes wrong I'll never forgive myself. We've never lost, and it will never happen. Not at my guard.
"Attaviano-san?" I heard. One of the boys from Library Committee was waiting outside. I skipped this whole -san part. It's my second year here, can't you all just stop?!
"I beg your pardon?" I answered, not paying too much attention to him. There was something wrong with the draft of budget for Baseball Club and I still couldn't figure out what it was.
"You have a guest, President." he said, watching me carefully. I'm not an impulsive person, but sometimes... my Italian blood takes over control. Guess everyone remembered me throwing curses in my native language when I ran down the corridors. He just knew that disturbing me wasn't exactly a good idea.
"Let him in" I agreed, putting read papers in the correct box. My vice-president took them with herself. Oh God, this day is going to last so long, how am I supposed to survive? Well, I'll need another cup of tea after this hour. I cannot fall asleep at Maths. Where the hell is this guest?! I left the classroom just to see the empty corridor. At least that's what I thought. My eyes suddenly noticed the movement behind me. I have this wide field of vision, so I immediately saw the silhouette waiting paciently. I even got to see the certain red strand of hair.Don't tell me that this stupid dream tried to prepare me for that?!
I turned around just to face the person I've been trying to avoid since the end of junior high school.