Crossroads
Tsukushi arrived hospital letting the doctor out of the car.
"Are you sure you don't want to visit some old places" the doctor asked.
Tsukushi just waved her head in denial, and the doctor just nodded his head and left. Tsukushi was about to leave the parking lot, when something hit her, and she decided to stay. For only a second she gazed to a place behind the hospital as if she could see it right now. The doctor stood there for a second, he understood her without even gazing once at her. Tsukushi started slowly amble towards the secret hiding place only known to Rui and her.
¿A dónde fue el pasado que no volverá? (Where is the past going that will not return?)
Rui was deep in thought as he drove on an old path to an old hospital, leading him to drown in the deep sea of old memories. Even though it was years ago Rui remembered every detail about his fondest memories. The pictures in his memory were engraved in deep colors that stayed clear for a lifetime. The paint sang, smelled and felt. In Rui's head was repainting the picture once again, and Rui remembered better than ever the magical encounter that he could never forget. He smiled at himself as he remembered his stupid ambition to win a swimming competition by himself. And he did. However, he had to pay a price – a broken leg from those who thought he cheated. But it was his broken leg that brought him the best days of his life. Soon the past pictures of Tsukushi turned into imagination, and various questions started to dance inside Rui's head:
"How does she look like now? What does her voice sound like? Is she married? Does she still remember me? "
¿A dónde fue tu risa que me hacia volar? (Where did your smile go, that I fly to?)
There was another question in his head that he did not want to acknowledge he had. He feared to hear the answer and wanted to hear it the most.
"Does she remember our promise? Did she ever care about me like I care about her?"
¿Dónde quedo la llave de nuestra ilusión? (Where did I leave the key to our dreams?)
But that question just lingered in his mind and every single time he remembered it he tried to forget it and push it out completely out of his mind. Rui felt if he could visit that magical place once again he could put all of his past behind him and finally move on. Forget all those pointless childhood memories and finally grow up.
¿A dónde la alegria de tu corazón? (Where is the happiness of your heart?)
Rui didn't even notice that he was once again at the parking lot by the hospital. He slowly stepped out of his car, and smelled the air. He could have sworn that it was the same smell as it was twelve years ago, when he was thirteen. He slowly looked around and a smile took over his face, as he slowly walked the entrance of the hospital. When inside he observed the hospital, and it seemed to him that nothing has changed over the years. Rui was filled with nostalgia, as another sound so similar spoke near to him:
Y se va como todo se va (And they pass as everything passes)
"Can I help you find something?"
"No, it's ok" Rui turned back and saw the doctor "Doctor Kin-san!"
"Hanazawa Rui, right?"
"I see you still remember me."
"I wouldn't have if I wouldn't have met her."
"Who's her?" Rui asked confusedly.
"Your little girlfriend she's at the back of the hospital."
Como el agua del rio hacia el mar (Like the river water flows to the sea)
But Rui didn't hear the doctor finish he didn't need to. Before he could even think, his own feet started running towards the hide out, as fast as they could. His hear beat so fast, he thought it's going to pop out of his chest. However, meanwhile Tsukushi was slowly reminiscing about the note that she wrote on that piece of paper, while inside the hide out. She turned around and left. She always comes here to cheer herself up, and then she started skipping down back to the hospital through a trail through the trees. And as fate would have it, Tsukushi and Rui passed each other, while gazing in opposite directions.
Y se va como todo se va... (And they pass like everything passes)
Rui reached the vault but he found nothing, but as he came back to the hospital, he saw a young woman leave. And again the intense feeling overtook him and he was running towards his car, trying to chase the mystery girl and catch her no matter what. However, as he did a fast turn, his car rode off into the ditch, and unable to follow her, he tried to run. He ran as fast as he could, as though he was running for his life, for the last breath of air. Soon his legs gave out and he collapsed on the ground. Rui felt so helpless, hopeless, hollow. He forgot these feelings and so many others in the past years.
El
tiempo que paso y no supe ver (Time passed and i couldn't see)
On the ground, the tears chocked him in his throat. He felt. Rui felt like he awakened, he felt. Rui for the first time felt happy, hopeful and despair and that horrible sense of loss. All of these emotions were awakened so quickly. Rui couldn't recall the last time he genuinely laughed, the last time he smiled because he wanted to, hoped, believed, dreamed, grieved, cried and felt lost. It was as if his emotions were being put in small boxes and locked away. Rui was a little child watching his toys being put away for the night, and getting ready to sleep and dream. Except to Rui this dream was a nightmare, filled with no emotions or feeling. It was all meaningless. Everything that he did day to day had no meaning. He did it because he had to. He lived because he had to. He worked because he had to. He slept because he had to. But someone else, according to their dreams and their feelings. They made every decision. Rui was a toy, placed wherever it had to be, played when and however somebody wanted to play with it.
Las horas que ya no quieren volver (The hours that already don't want to return)
Rui slowly began rising of his feet. Questioning his motives, he was at a loss at what to do. Instead of resolving his problem, he just made it worse. He started walking towards the main road.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where
is the heart?)
"That's right the engagement party. It's today" Rui's mind was slowly working towards a resolution. He was looking down to the ground and just thought "marriage. My marriage."
Rui felt emotionless once more. The thought of marriage didn't bring him any joy, or excitement. It seemed to be just another to do list he had to do to survive. But his thoughts were interrupted by a honking sound next to him.
What are you doing here the almighty CEO?
Tsukushi left the hospital and slowly observed everything that surrounded her. She stopped in places just to smell the air.
"It's wonderful to be alive!" she thought "world is so beautiful and amazing!"
Tsukushi looked up to the sky and thought the words in her head, which she wanted to say so badly.
"You'll see Mum and Dad! I'll remain strong! I'll meet cast leg soon!"
She got into her van, put on her music, and slowly started driving towards the highway. But suddenly she noticed someone walking, his shaped was familiar to her, and as she passed him, she saw that it was the CEO of the company. She looked through the rearview mirror and saw the expensive car in a ditch. Tsukushi felt a temptation to drive away, but she couldn't – she wasn't as cold as him.
Los dias que
sabiamos amar (The days that we knew love)
She honked at him and he saw her stare. For a moment, they just stared at each other, as trying to figure out a reason why another one was here at this secluded place in the country. A place, which each held so dear.
"Can you give me a ride my car broke down there" Rui pointed in the back "my engagement is tonight."
Tsukushi took out her cell phone and typed in the words "Sure. Where to?"
Rui told her the place, and as he sat in the car, he didn't know how to act. He never expected this to happen. He was almost sure that she would leave him there. But she didn't.
La brisa que llegaba desde el mar (The breeze was coming from the sea)
But both of them rejected even the slightest idea that they were here for each other. In search of one another. Because as they knew it, they were better, than whom they were to each other.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where
is the heart?)
Tsukushi couldn't be a Martian.
¿A dónde fue tu cara de felicidad? (Where is the happiness of your face?)
She wasn't as kind or as shy as the Martian.
¿A dónde estan los besos que supimos dar? (Where are the kisses that we learned how to give?)
Rui couldn't be a Martian.
¿Dónde quedo el pasado que no volverá? (Where did I leave the past that will not return?)
The Martian was kind and caring.
¿Los dias que vivimos en cualquier lugar?(The days that we lived what we lived anywhere? )
Rui spoke first
"Why did you come here?"
Y se va como todo se va... (And they pass like everything passes)
Tsukushi turned to him, but instead of anger in her face, there was an obvious expression of surprise. Rui's voice wasn't cold or biting. It was different. It was calm, and relaxed. There was even a hint of kindness in it.
Como el agua del rio hacia el mar (Like the river water flows to the sea)
Tsukushi took out her phone, and almost fell like saying the truth. However, something inside her head screamed no – as it would spoil the secret that was so dear to her. So she just typed carefully on her phone, while paying attention the rode:
To visit some old memories. You probably wouldn't understand. You?
Y se va como todo se va... (And they pass like everything passes)
"Probably not" he agreed. He was thinking of what to say next. If he said he was there because he made some stupid childhood promise, she would probably just laugh at him. And his image would be completely ruined. But he didn't understand why he felt like that. This woman meant nothing to him so he just said "just some business trip."
El tiempo que paso y no supe ver (The time that passed and I couldn't see)
Silence took over again. Tsukushi couldn't speak and was afraid for some reason to turn on the music. Rui didn't bother speaking, he didn't like to socialize. And this silence was quite comforting to him.
Las horas que
ya no quieren volver,, (The hours that already don't want to come
back )
He reached into his pocket and took out his mp3 player. He put on the headphones and started listening to the song he listened with the girl years ago. That song always soothed him, no matter how many times he listened to it. It worked like magic.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón?
(Where are, where is the heart?)
She saw him with a corner of her eye, travel to his own little place. Thus she turned on the radio quietly, and put in her favorite CD. There was only one song in it.
Los
dias que sabiamos amar (The days that we knew love)
The song that the Martian played.
La
brisa que llegaba desde el mar (The breeze came from the sea)
Purposely ignorant of each other they never realized they were listening to the same song, again.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where is the heart?)
The song that they listened to together years ago.
El tiempo que paso y no supe ver (The time that passed and I couldn't see)
The time went by slowly. But neither of them said a word, or made a move. Both Rui and Tsukushi were dozing off to their own lives.
Las
horas que ya no quieren volver, (The hours that already don't want
to come back )
Tsukushi stopped at the expensive hotel; there were expensive cars all around. And through the open door, it was clearly obvious to her that it is the right place. All the people of the high society wore designer gowns.
¿Dónde
estan,,dónde estan corazón? (Where are, where is the heart?)
Rui slowly looked at her and just quietly said thanks. But Tsukushi grabbed on to his sleeve.
Los
dias que sabiamos amar (The days that we knew love)
She just gestured towards her own face indicating that he had something on his face. He reached for his handkerchief and tried to wipe it down.
La
brisa que llegaba desde el mar (The breeze came from the sea)
However, Tsukushi would just shake her head if he would ask if he got it. So she just slowly reached for his handkerchief and started gently wiping down his face.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where is the heart?)
Rui felt unusual sensation. He couldn't remember when anybody touched him as gently as that. Not since he was a child and it was his mother. Umi never touched him so gently. He started staring at Tsukushi, but she just gave the handkerchief back to him, and gestured "Good Luck!".
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where is the heart?)
As soon as Rui got out of the car. Tsukushi sped off.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón?
(Where is, where is the heart?)
Her heart was pounding, and she didn't know why. It was so strange to her, yet she knew Tsukasa was waiting for her at home.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where is the heart?)
It was not fair for him to be waiting.
¿Dónde
estan, dónde estan corazón? (Where is, where is the heart?)
Rui turned back once again. But he only saw a glimpse of her leaving. Her endless spirit made him smile gently, and laugh quietly inside.
"Even though that woman was disabled she was probably the liveliest and happiest person in the world," Rui thought to himself "I wish I would be at least a quarter as happy as she is."
"Why are you so late" Umi's voice stopped Rui right in his tracks "Why are you late on our engagement night! And why did that woman drive you here!?"
Rui's face turned gray just like it usually was. And he just walked past Umi saying:
"My car broke down. She was just giving me a lift here. Or would you rather have me not here?"
Umi's eyes filled up with tears.
"No! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry I didn't mean it like that of course I want you to be here" Umi grabbed onto Rui's arm "it is our engagement after all."
"Don't' get stupid ideas in your head."
Tsukasa ran through the door as he heard a car pull up in the driveway. He ran towards Tsukushi and grabbed her by her arms looking intensely at her face.
"Are you okay! I was so worried about you!"
I'm okay. Remember I texted you before! You shouldn't be so worried about me all the time.
"Where were you?" Tsukasa asked gently, while his hands still held hers.
Sorry just had stuff to catch up with. And I met with the doctor in the country! I just got lost in time. Sorry!
"It's okay" Tsukasa said "as long as you're safe."
Tsukushi felt Tsukasa's warm hands on hers, and it made her feel happy. She noticed him move closer to her and his hands go around her back, his body press against, his face pressing against hers.
"His face is so much warmer than Hanazawa's" Tsukushi thought "Hanazawa is so called you could call him dead. What the hell are you thinking about Tsukushi! Don't' even remember that bastard!"
"Tsubaki has the dinner ready, she already went to bed. She was helping me out with looking for us to sell something new. She was so exhausted she just collapsed on the bed. But don't worry she's fine, just tired." Tsukasa started telling her as he grabbed her hand and dragged her inside. "Well here's dinner if you want anything to eat. You should rest, too. You had a long day! I'm heading off to bed goodnight!"
Tsukasa ran off to his room, closed the door and fell on his knees.
"Damn it."
Author's Note: Sorry for not updating. My life is chaos with school, work, relationships, and whatever else you can think off. I'm really sorry for not writing. Please review if possible!