Chapter II: Lessons
Today I got off late from work. There was this funny incident actually. See, I was walking
home and I was about to turn to the street corner when our neighbor next door bumped into me and started
screaming! I looked at her oddly before pulling myself up.
"Here! Take my bag! Take my money! Just... please don't hurt me!" She said in a very
frantic voice. She was an old, old lady. I mean, no offense but she really is! She had this
pair of thick glasses and I'm pretty sure that even though the streets are a bit dim now, she was able to recognize
me. I mean, the moonlight is shining pretty brightly today. I think... I think she said that on purpose.
"Yoshioka-san, it's me, Hiro." I said with a puzzled look on my face.
"O-oh... yes, I... noticed." I offered my hand to help her stand up but she just motioned
it away, insisting that she can do it herself. Then she hurriedly scampered off. For an old lady, she sure can
move fast. I wonder... did she really thought that I was going to mug her? I mean, I'm not
THAT bad... is that what the people around my neighborhood really think of me? I'd
understand if I'm one of those buff guys with tattered clothes or those gangster looking people
but I looked pretty normal looking. Well, to me at least. I was wearing my decent school uniform and all.
That thought stayed with me throughout my walk home.
I pushed our huge wooden gates open. It looks heavy from the outside but, it's not
really that heavy. I stopped there for a bit, examining our front yard. See, we have this
sakura tree by the gate. I remember when I was little, it was only this thin trunk with very
little leaves and no flowers at all. My grandpa used to always tell me that our sakura tree
grows with me. He told me that it first sprouted in our yard a few months after I was
born. It was amazing really. My grandpa never misses
anything. He notices everything around him. His philosophy is to never take anything for granted
whether it be people or the little things around you. He always tells me that. I try to- but
sometimes, life just gets so busy like today. I stood there for a while and looked around me. I realized,
I like our home. I like the way it's old fashioned and I like the trees surrounding it. I liked my
grandpa's little garden. I like our huge front gates. At first, things appeared to be so normal to
me. The usual boring things I've seen for the past 16 years, you know? But today...
today I guess... I finally was able to take the time to appreciate everything around me.
I took off my shoes before sliding open our front door. "Ojisan, tadaima!" I called out.
"Oh, Hiro, is that you?" I heard a frail response from the kitchen.
"Hai, Ojisan." I responded back, loud enough for him to hear. I entered the house and
slid the door closed behind be lightly. I leaned my back against it softly for a while, looking
around. Our walls were made of fine furnished wood. It seemed as though they haven't
aged even though many years have gone by.
"Welcome home, Hiro. Dinner is ready." Grandpa's small voice cut through my thoughts.
"H-hai, Ojisan! I'm coming." I hurried to our kitchen where I found grandpa kneeling on
his cushion by the coffee table, where our feast awaits. My grandpa is a very good cook and I always looked forward to our daily meals. I quickly
kneeled across from him on my cushion and laid my backpack beside me. Both of us closed
our eyes and put our hands together as we said a small prayer of thanks to Kami-sama for the
food on our table today. After our prayer, I started to dig in. The food was very delicious just
like how it is everyday. Grandpa just sat there, smiling as he watched me eat.
"How was school and work today, Hiro?" he asked in a kind voice.
"Hm?" I stopped eating and looked up, blinking then followed a small smile. "Well, school
is the same today. We had a test in math but I think I did well."
"Very good! That's good to hear, Hiro." he smiled back at me but, grandpa's smile is
different. It was soft and warm and has a gentle feel to it. Maybe it's because he looks frail
but... I think it's because he is naturally kind inside.
"Oh, on my way home," I went on while grandpa listened with a nod. "I bumped into
Yoshioka-san."
"Our neighbor?" he asked then I nodded quickly in response.
"Yeah, and she thought I was gonna mug her or something like that. She started
screaming frantically. She was like 'Here! Take my money just don't hurt me!'" I imitated the
old woman's voice and her reaction to the incident. Grandpa gave a warm, hearty laugh and I
joined him. We then continued eating in silence for a while then I could not help but ask,
"Ojii-san, how come people think bad of me because I'm different?" The question stopped
grandpa from his meal. He looked at me with those sad-looking eyes of his. They always
appeared watery like he's about to cry. Almost as if he was suffering.
"Why would you say that, Hiro?"
"Well, it is true though, ojii-san. Since I was little... why else would I get the nickname
'little devil'?" I looked down at the bowl of food in front of me.
"Now Hiro, everyone have different views on things." That statement of his made me
look up and to my surprise, he was smiling at me. "Some people may think others are bad and
some other people may see that there is good in those people. Everyone has different mentally
and judgement on one another. People who see the good in others may be rare but they are out there." he explained.
"Everyone has good qualities in them and everyone have goodness within themselves.
For instance, to me, I see you as a great person... no, a
great son, Hiro." Those words were enough to erase all my doubts in
mind. After all, it's not so bad. I have grandpa and he has me, that's all that matters. At least
I have one person who would be there for me and love as... well, me. Throughout the dinner,
I had no more worries. Grandpa is really amazing, don't you think? He always has the
answers for everything and he is very wise. Everything he taught me since I was little stays
with me till today. I guess, those lessons shaped me up into a person I've become.
That night, I laid on my futon while staring up the ceiling. Today, I bumped into that girl.
Miyako. I was anxiously waiting to see the new freshmen in hopes that she was able to make it to my school. Well, I remember when she
promised that she'll make it no problem because her grades were so much better than mine - which was true.
'Man, was it nice to see her,' I thought to myself as a smile cross my lips.
When I was little, her and her little friend used to always try to join me and Tatsuya on our
games and such. Haha, it's funny when I think of it now. Dumb girls would follow whatever we
tell them to do just to be able to play with us. I used to always mess with her and make fun of her.
But today is different. She's not Miyako-chan anymore from my childhood. Suddenly, she's
this really pretty girl. I mean, I've seen a lot of beauties and not to brag or anything... well,
alright, I'm going to brag a little but see, I'm popular among the girls. I guess some girls just like
that 'rebellious' type, something I've always been defined as.
But you know, she really caught my eye. She have these big, bright eyes and this soft
features. Hm... maybe I'll see her tommorrow in school or something. I closed my eyes as
listened to the noisy cicadas outside. The noises they made were somewhat relaxing... slowly,
I drifted to a deep slumber from an exhausting day.