A Father's Love

Chapter 2

The Fractured Timeline

A feeling of serene calm washed over us, like all felt right with the world, walking beneath the lit streetlights and bright full moon's brilliant radiance bathing us in a pearlescent light. My arm, hooked over Yuzu's shoulder, offering her a sense of security and affection she readily accepted, snuggling into my side with her own arms wrapped over the adorable plushie I still couldn't believe I grabbed first time at the notoriously difficult claw machine at Club Sega.

Even as our first date neared its end, approaching her family clinic, I cherished the memories we had already created, content in knowing we would be building many more in the coming years of our relationship. I sincerely hoped it lasted forever. Girls like Yuzu came around once in a generation, especially in the era of feminists that was to come in eighteen years.

'Don't think about the crappy future, Wei.' I reminded myself, telling myself to focus on the present 2005 day. Being transmigrated back in the 90s was a blessing. No activists running agenda-driven political garbage, no Woke trash invading our games to make them 'politically correct', no absurd pronouns or kids undergoing life-changing operations just because being a tomboy or tomgirl wasn't enough anymore. No, the poor things had to transition fully without understanding the severe implications that came with transitioning and de-transitioning if they grew out of their tomboy and tomgirl phases.

Disgusting.

The 2020s were dark times and I wasn't looking forward to returning to that time in fifteen years, but If I still had Yuzu by my side maybe I could navigate its chaotic parodied mess.

The warm nostalgic sight of Yuzu's family home filled my heart with emotion, resembling its manga and anime counterpart in real life. The walls were painted a cosy beige, with glass double doors and a blue sign with the words Kurosaki clinic written across it. Memories of reading the manga sprung to life, reminding me the rectangular window above the sign led to Ichigo's bedroom. To the left of the entrance was a four-lane parking lot watched over by a small field of tall pine trees tucked behind a silver fence built between brick walls, resting beneath a balcony and a green roof.

We cut through to the parking lanes and down the walkway, stopping by the brown door of the living home of the Kurosaki clinic. The door light flared, bathing Yuzu's melancholic expression in a golden sheen. Warmth reached my eyes.

Don't worry, girl. We'll hang out again tomorrow.

"I had a wonderful time today, Wei-kun." My princess stated sweetly, arms wrapped around her plushie as she stepped onto her doorstep, resignation dimming her gaze that our date had come to a close. "This has been the best day I've ever had."

"Best day so far," I corrected gently, wagging my finger. "This ain't the peak of our romance. We'll go to all kinds of places and do all kinds of stuff together, making tons more memories in the process."

"You're right," She giggled quietly. "There's so much I want to do with you."

"And we can do it all, Yuzu," I confirmed, brushing a strand of her pretty hair.

"Wei-kun…" She cooed, pressing her head into my chest. My smile softened and I took my adorable wifey in my arms, creating a bubbly atmosphere for a moment.

The much larger light of her home's hallway blasted over us when the door swung open, immediately breaking our embrace. My expression changed from one of warmth to bewilderment with the appearance of Seireitel's runaway captain and Yuzu's pops standing in the doorway decked out in a purple kimono, white undershirt, hakama pants, and geta sandals, all topped off with a wooden sword slung over his shoulder.

"What the fuck?" I said blankly.

"So you've come at last, boy," Isshin intoned, the bangs of his spiky raven hair shadowing his eyes affording him a serious expression that really didn't match the absurdity of the situation.

"Dad, please!" Yuzu pleaded.

"Your Dad's ripped, Yuzu," I observed, acknowledging Isshin's impressive physique. His build mirrored that of Kaito Masaharu, boasting broad, sturdy shoulders, visibly muscular arms discernible even beneath the confines of his kimono's long sleeves, and a substantial chest that seemed more fitting for a gorilla than a human. 'Nice to see him maintaining his fitness without relying on his powers.' Despite his spiritual essence being bound to his son's, sealing away his Hollow/Shinigami abilities, he evidently found no excuse to neglect his physical well-being, and it showed.

Man looked like he was in his mid-forties and still looked fitter than most early 20-year-olds. #Respect.

Yuzu turned to me with apologetic eyes, "Sorry, Wei-kun. Dad wants to challenge you to a duel to see if 'you're worthy for my hand'."

"If you're here to court my daughter, you'll have to prove yourself." He declared, absolutely mortifying his daughter.

"I'm game." A smirk curled my lips, "Let's see what you got, pops."

Yuzu blinked, "Wait, you are?"

"Of course," I confirmed, unfazed. My glint clashed with Isshin's, creating a surge of respectful rivalry I read in the warmth reaching his eyes. "I get why he's doing this. He wants to test my resolve, to see if I'm worthy of dating his little girl and what better way to do that than through our fists."

Tears streamed down Isshin's cheeks, "You understand completely, Wei-kun!" He held up a trembling fist. "As men, we have to be willing to fight for what we believe in! If you can't even fight for your own beliefs, how else am I supposed to believe you protect my little Yuzu-chan?"

"Damn straight." I agreed and we bumped forearms, leaving Yuzu bewildered by the masculinity of it all as she watched us venturing off to the parking lines to begin our bout of manly pride.

"At last, the future husband makes his appearance, huh?" I caught Karin's playful tone from behind me, the sound of a rustling akin to a bucket of popcorn accompanying her words.

"Karin-chan?"

"Just roll with it, Yuzu. It's just boys being boys."

"Ugh. I don't get boys sometimes."

"Me neither, but they make for a good show. Popcorn?"

"Okay."

Isshin and I stood across from one another, separated by two lanes. A gentle whistle blew between us, a stark contest to the ensuing noise that was soon to follow. We sized each other up, my arms folded and his still holding that wooden sword on his shoulder. A scowl of annoyance so similar to his son's it was almost uncanny crinkled his bearded face.

"Where's your weapon, boy?" He asked.

I unfolded my arms, flexing, "In these guns, bro."

"Foolish boy!" He berated, finally lifting his sword off his shoulder and putting another hand on the hilt as he rose it horizontally, knees bent. "Underestimating your opponent is a rookie mistake to make."

"We'll see about that, then." My blunt reply acted as the gunshot that sprung Isshin into a sprint toward me with a fierce war cry. Within moments he had closed the distance between us, sword flowing down in a frontal thrust. "Slow." I front-flipped above his weapon, slamming my foot on its hilt, trapping it in place.

The sides of my palms flew into his stomach and chest succeeding the two flowing bicycle kicks I delivered unto his chin that lifted him into the air, juggling territory. And I made no mistake. Flesh on flesh echoed loudly through the otherwise quiet suburban neighbourhood whilst I buried left and right hooks harshly into Isshin's kidneys, quick-stepping every time.

"Argh! Argh! Argh!" He screamed like every Like a Dragon/Judgement boss Kiryu and Yagami juggled, forced to endure punishing blows crashing into his body on both sides. He stopped yelling and fought through the agony to right himself mid-air, landing back on his feet with a large wheeze.

"Okay, so you're stronger than I thought you were." He wiped his mouth dirtied by his saliva and rose fully, the moon's glow casting a shadow over his form. "But you'll need more than that to keep Kurosaki Isshin down!" He roared, charging at me again.

I waited until the very second, when his fist was inches from ploughing into my nostrils, before stepping my foot behind his heel and pirouetting into his blind spot, using his own momentum to send him tumbling forward.

"Huh?" He gaped, expression blank. I ignited it again by egging him on with the Rock's signature Just Bring It motion. "Damn it!" He sailed through the air leg first like Maito Gai and I even parried the resulting flying kick he attempted to bury into my face. "Stay still and-. Oh." Words trailed when I lightened the night.

Concealing my dominant left hand at my side and stretching my right arm ahead, my feet adhered together like glue, enveloped in a golden-orange aura. Isshin stared in astonishment, utterly defenseless. Without much leniency, I unleashed a powerful inch punch reminiscent of Jin Kazama, driving it into his stomach with such intensity that it hurled him towards the fence containing the pine trees. He collided with it, leaving a noticeable dent upon impact.

"Dad!" Yuzu cried, concerned.

"Oh, fuck." I recoiled, jogging over to my thoroughly beaten opponent.

The aftermath of our intense duel found Yuzu and Karin hovering over the dented fence where Isshin had crash-landed. Yuzu, with a mix of concern and complaint, turned to me. "Ooh, Wei-kun! You hit too hard! You should've held back more! Dad's not as strong as you!" She exclaimed.

I chuckled, scratching the back of my head sheepishly. "Sorry, Yuzu. I didn't think he'd fly off like that. Guess I underestimated my strength."

"Or overestimated Dad's," Karin injected, snacking on another handful of popcorn. "Dad's in shape, sure, but he's still an old man in his 40s."

"Yeah, I guess," I replied, offering a dry smile, hoping Yuzu's pout didn't indicate trouble in paradise. "Well, let's get him in and patched up," I suggested, taking charge of the situation. I grabbed Isshin's arm and slung him over my shoulder as the older man muttered barely coherent mumblings.

"…Uh, he's strong enough to hold his own and protect Yuzu-chan."

With Isshin in tow, we made our way inside, making sure to remove our shoes and replace them with slippers before proceeding to the treatment area of the Kurosaki clinic. The dented fence outside stood as a testament to the unexpected intensity of the duel, and the night had turned into a memorable and somewhat humorous adventure for the Kurosaki family.

"Ouch!" Isshin yelped from having his wounds cleaned by his daughter, legs crossed on one of his hospital beds in the bright medical room we had taken him into, "Go easy on Daddy, Yuzu. Your boyfriend already hit me with everything he had." Well, not everything because I literally would've buried him six feet under if I had used my full strength without his, but he didn't need to know that.

"Serves you right!" Yuzu scolded, tightening his bandages with a little more force than necessary, "Honestly, what were you thinking challenging Wei-kun to a fight at your age?"

"But I had to see for myself if he would do right about you!" He protested.

"And you had to do that by fighting!"

"Exactly!"

Yuzu sighed in exasperation.

"Anyway," Isshin continued, brushing aside his daughter's grievances at the way men handled their business and crossing his feet up on his bed. "A guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do." He abruptly dropped his head, fisting the bed's rough mattress with an enthusiastic apology, "I'm so sorry!"

I blinked, bewildered, "…Okay?"

He wasted no time keeping me in suspense, raising his head and expanding on his thoughts with the same fervour, "I misjudged you, Wei-kun. I thought you were just another reckless kid looking to take my precious Yuzu-chan for a joyride, ready to break her heart when you grew tired."

My cheeks reddened intensely, mirroring Yuzu's and contrasting Karin completely who was cracking up at her Dad's wording. "Hey, phrasing!" I insisted.

"Dad!" Yuzu protested.

Disregarding our protests, he continued to bestow his unconventional blessing upon me, "But I see now, that's not who you are! You faced my silly duel head-on, even without a weapon. You're a finer man than I initially gave you credit for." He inclined his head once again, crossing his arms. "No more complaints from me. If Yuzu-chan has chosen someone like you, then Daddy knows she's in capable hands."

I craned a hand behind my neck, "I mean, it's no big deal. You just wanted to test if I was man enough to date your daughter and I get it. I'm in full agreement. A girl like Yuzu should have a traditional manly man to protect her."

"And besides, if you and Yuzu-chan get married, I'll get a granddaughter to dote over!" He smiled in euphoria, cradling an imaginary baby in his arms that coloured my and Yuzu's faces an atomic red. "Ah, it's been too long. You don't know the pain of hearing your daughters tell you they're too old to be cuddled and doted on."

"Dad, quit it! You're embarrassing me!"

Karin, ever the opportunist apparently, chose that moment to grill her sister on the sly, "That reminds me. Yuzu, didn't you write in your diary that you wanted to bear Wei's kids?

"Karin-chan!" My princess whined, frantically glancing between my stunned expression and her sister's smug look. "You said you wouldn't tell Wei-kun that!"

The bitch's response was a shrug, no resemblance of shame anywhere to be found within her posture, "It's the truth, isn't it?" Yuzu's cheeks ballooned in annoyance.

"Wait, she did!?" Isshin asked, eyes glowing in recognition.

Yuzu spun back to him hastily, "Dad, no!"

"Then I'm all for it!" It was too late. Isshin's carried-away train had already long since taken off. "Wei-kun's already earned the Isshin seal of approval!" He shot me a beaming smile that I wanted to slap off his stupid face. "You hear that, boy! I expect many adorable grandchildren to dote over!" He added after a moment's consideration. "Oh, after you two graduate high school, of course! Be responsible first!"

I shook my head, chuckling at the sheer absurdity of it all. 'Bro's on another level, I swear.' I wouldn't mind being friends with him, to be fair. I can imagine every day with him around would bring some sort of levity, injecting life into every waking second. With his lively, Goku-like personality, he had the potential to be the life of the party wherever he walked.

The padded footsteps of slipper-clad feet resonating off of the clean floor lifted my head.

"What's all the commotion in here?" I sat up when I heard the pensive voice of Bleach's protagonist. The uniformed figure of Yuzu's older brother stepped through the door, beneath the bright lights of Isshin's medical room under his iconic short crop of spiky orange hair. He glanced in my direction with eyes clearing in recognition, "Ah, that's why the fence's busted. You're Wei, right? Take it you already had that duel or whatever with Dad from the state of things out there?"

I nodded, "Yeah." Words momentarily eluded me. It felt surreal, engaging in a conversation with Kurosaki Ichigo himself. Dating his beautiful little sister was one thing, but meeting the man, the myth, the legend himself in person was another. And, you know, no homo, but Ichigo, dayum, he was a good-looking brother. I could see why Orihime loved him so deeply. His face had an angular, slightly weathered charm, reminiscent of a young 22-year-old male model. Beneath his crop of bright tangerine hair, often mistaken for a dye job, there was an undercurrent of hidden and suppressed trauma that cast a shadow over his demeanour, dampening my spirits a bit knowing the reason why. Karakura High School's uniform clung to his skinny physique, featuring a white collared shirt beneath a silvery-grey blazer and matching pants. A shoulder schoolbag hung casually behind him.

"Oniichan!" Yuzu's spirited voice broke the moment as she excitedly grabbed her monkey plushie, dashing over to her brother. "Look what Wei-kun won me at the arcade in Kamurocho." She hugged her light-brown furred monkey teddy lovingly. "Isn't it cute?"

"Yeah, It's great." He acknowledged, ruffling her hair with an affectionate smile. Warmth reached my eyes. Ichigo always was a kind big brother to his sisters, beating the snot of other kids with a baseball bat that dared try ramping with them.

Ichigo faced me with the same warmth he showered his little sister with, "It's nice to meet you, Wei. I'm Ichigo, Yuzu's older brother."

I rose off my seat and gave Tite Kubo's main man the proper greeting a badass like him deserved, bowing deeply, "You too, bro. I'm barely worthy of being aside a queen like your sister, but I'll do my best to become the king she deserves."

He tittered, shattering the ice I had already punctured, "Well, If you can survive one of Dad's episodes I'm sure you'll do fine." He extended a handshake. "Welcome to the family, Wei."

Despite the outward appearance of a friendly gesture between an older brother and his sister's boyfriend, I recognized the cultural context of being in Japan – a land known for its conservative values. In this society, people generally refrain from initiating physical contact unless they share a personal connection or harboured underlying intentions. As this marked my initial encounter with Ichigo, the former could be dismissed, leaving the latter as the default conclusion through the process of elimination.

It seemed he aimed to assess my level of masculinity

I accepted the unspoken challenge with enthusiasm, gripping his hand firmly using my weaker right hand. "Thanks, bro," I said.

Careful not to exert too much force and respect the handshake, I aimed for a strong but controlled grip. I didn't want to risk hurting him; I intended to convey my strength and assure him that I was capable of protecting his sister.

Ichigo acknowledged my gesture with a nod, indicating his satisfaction with my demonstration of strength.

"Hey, how come Ichigo gets a proper greeting and I can a trip to my own infirmary?" Their Dad whined.

"Because you rolled up on me trying to fight me for your daughter's hand, dumbass." I chortled.

"Oh, right."

Laughter filled the room like the warmth of shared camaraderie around a forest bonfire under the starry night sky. 'Sweet. I'm in Isshin and Ichigo's good graces,' I mused silently, retrieving a bright red Samsung flip phone. 'Just gotta make sure I keep it that way.'

As I glanced over at my girlfriend, our eyes met. She smiled ever so sweetly, casting a dreamlike sheen over my vision. It still felt unreal that I was with her, that I could proudly declare Kurosaki Yuzu as my girl.

I don't know what I did in this life to deserve such an angel, but I wasn't gonna take her for granted.

"Alright, I better get going now," I announced, flipping up my phone and noting the time – already 7:45 pm. It felt like the right moment to conclude a wonderful day.

"Aw, leaving so soon?" Isshin queried, a pout forming on his bearded face. "Stay and join us for dinner. You can try Dad's curry!" He held a thumbs-up, beaming.

"I would love too, really," I smiled sympathetically, "But it's getting late. I gotta be in by 8 otherwise Grandad's gonna beat my ass."

The good doctor exhaled, "Say no more. Boys should be in by 7 if you ask me. I usually end up knocking Ichigo flat on his ass when he comes home late."

"That's because you attack me when I least expect it!"

"Don't be stupid, boy! You should always expect to be attacked at any given moment! Haven't you learned that from my teachings by now!"

"You call kicking me awake teachings!"

"Of course!"

"Why, you!"

I smiled affectionately as I watched Ichigo and his pops squaring off, a scene reminiscent of their manga encounters. Yuzu approached me with a resigned smile, saying, "I'll walk you to the door."

"Thanks, Yuzu," I replied, turning towards Karin, "See ya tomorrow, Karin-chan. Give my regards to your bro and pops when they're done."

"Sure thing, Wei. Goodnight," she shot back, seemingly oblivious to the ongoing commotion between Ichigo and Isshin.

I flicked up a hand in bidding and followed Yuzu out of the door whilst Isshin and Ichigo fell in a tangle of arms and legs on the medical floor, tumble dust style. I tittered as their commotion echoed behind me, "Your family's real funny, Yuzu."

"They can be rowdy most days," she admitted with a sheepish smile. "But I wouldn't trade them for the world." That same embarrassed smile became a radiant beam of sincere purity.

"Yeah," I murmured, smiling softly. "Here-here."

We ventured between the Kurosaki's living room and kitchen, walls painted a cosy golden yellow complementing honey-brown tiled flooring that subtly creaked with each step we took to the hallway. Our surroundings blended into the narrow corridor separating Yuzu's front door and the living room. Relaxed, I slipped off my comfortable guest footwear and parked my butt on the upraised step, stuffing my feet inside my sneakers.

"Thank you for everything today, Wei-kun." Yuzu sang softly, settling on her knees behind me. "For becoming my boyfriend and giving me the best day I've ever had, so far." She looped her soft arms over my shoulders, dangling her hands above my chest as she pressed her nose into the nape of my neck. "And I know we'll have more days better than this one.

"Thank you for choosing me, Yuzu." I meant every word, lacing a hand around hers. "I dunno what a scumbag like me did to deserve an amazing girl like you, but I'll do my best to make sure you're happy, at least."

"Please don't talk about yourself like that." She tightened her hug. "It makes me sad when I hear the boy I love so much say such mean untrue things about himself."

"I'll try."

"Don't try. Do it."

"Yes, madam."

I tittered and Yuzu rubbed her cheek against my shoulder.

In stillness, we savoured the intimacy that enveloped us. The universe around us dissipated, morphing into a dazzling expanse of starlight as if we had effortlessly transcended to the cosmos. Within the silence, an orchestrated soundtrack, reminiscent of Nintendo's iconic Super Mario Galaxy, echoed in my mind, foreshadowing its release four years from now. This harmonious melody seamlessly complemented the tranquil moment we shared, a wordless exploration of each other's presence, a celebration of warmth, and an imprinting of one another's unique scent into the canvas of our memories.

That fleeting moment truly felt magical.

Reluctantly, we separated, and I could feel Yuzu's dejected sigh brushing through my ear-length dried hair. I pulled the door open, inviting in a shrill nightly breeze, before turning to face Yuzu, who was now on her feet.

"Thanks for having me." My gratitude rang true and she pulled me in for another hug.

"You're welcome," she snuggled against my cheek. "Have a safe trip home."

"I will," I assured, hands wrapped around her curvy waist.

Reluctantly, we bid adieu to the tender embrace, our smiles carrying a sense of acceptance as our fingertips delicately parted ways. Crossing the threshold, I transitioned through the doorway, offering a final gesture – a two-fingered salute pressed against my temple, a silent tribute to the love of my life.

"Goodnight, Yuzu."

"Goodnight, Wei-kun."

With a hushed closure, I gently shut the door, confining Yuzu's warm radiance to the captive glow peeking through the boundary of the window.

"…Damn it. I wanted more Yuzu time."

Tomorrow couldn't come fast enough.

Yuzu's Resolve Part 2

"Really, Karin-chan?" I sighed with incredulity, strolling beneath the dazzling sun on the sidewalk toward our chosen train station that would take us to the following district. "Did you have to suggest a duel of all things? That's so old-fashioned!"

Karin shrugged, swinging her arms and her briefcase-like schoolbag over her ponytail in carefree insouciance. "It'll work for Dad. I mean, do you want him to accept Wei, right?"

"I do, but," I glanced down at the bag I held in my palms maidenly, "A duel? It just seems a bit much."

"What's the big deal?" Karin continued to brush off my concerns. "It's not like Dad has any chance of beating Wei. We've seen first-hand what he can do over the years."

The reminder of Wei-kun's achievements and strength filled my heart with emotion. The boy I had fallen head over heels for really was incredible, pushing past his limits to improve his body. Many times I had seen him sprinting and exercising like there was no tomorrow for that singular purpose.

"Yeah," I confirmed dreamily.

Karin grinned, "Exactly." She patted me supportively on the shoulder, "So worry about it later. You just focus on telling Wei how you feel. He can prove himself to Dad no problem."

I felt a firm determination sharpen my eyes, "Right!~ Today's the day I tell Wei-kun how I feel about him."

"That's the spirit!"

We exchanged a smile, savouring the moment. Karin's reassuring words had eased my mind, turning the train ride to school and the daunting prospect of confessing my love to Wei-kun into a much more relaxed experience. I believed in Wei-kun; he was a good guy who would surely win over Dad. That conviction resonated in my heart.

All I had to do was fulfil my part and express my feelings, just as I had promised myself back in grade school. Wei-kun's reaction to seeing me in a sailor fuku practically confirmed that he felt the same way.

"That looks so sexy." The memory of Wei-kun's words from yesterday filled me with euphoria, uttered with a slow drawl as if he had been captivated.

He saw me as a woman now. I really had no excuses.

I had to confess.

"Hey," Karin nudged me, a playful grin tugging at her lips, "Look who it is."

My eyes widened and I followed her head to a long slope of grass in front of the river, where the object of my affections rested with arms tucked behind his head and a knee crossed over the other raised one. "…Wei-kun," I murmured.

"Go get him, tigress." She quipped.

I nodded, multiple times. I breathed, doing my best to steady my frantic nerves and made my way over to Wei-kun. This was it. I approached him slowly, heart beating thunderously in my ears and despite my best efforts, my breathing quickened subtly, 'You can do this, Yuzu.' I reminded myself, stepping onto the grass and tiptoeing down the slope.

''Wei-kun.' Wei-kun didn't notice me since he had his eyes closed and I used that moment to admire every curve of him. He was so handsome, peach-cream skin radiant and sparky, without a single blemish in sight, indicating he did his skincare routine every night. I really liked his gingerly-brownish ear-length hair, slicked back with gel. It gave him a strong resemblance to a character from one of Karin's video games, the Korean boy in Tekken 3, I think.

The boy's black military school uniform looked really sexy on him with his athletic physique. He kept his blazer unbuttoned and the collar of his white shirt open, giving me a glimpse of his muscled chest. My knees felt weak all of a sudden.

My knees felt weak all of a sudden.

He noticed me, popping open his eyes and sitting up. I liked to think he smelt my presume since I wasn't making a sound, "Oh, Yuzu." He greeted shyly. So cute. "What's up?"

"Hi, Wei-kun." I couldn't keep the endearment out of my voice. I loved him so much. "Mind if I join you?"

He shook his head, gawking, "No, of course not."

"Thank you," I said appreciatively, smoothing my skirt and delicately sitting down on my knees.

A gentle whisper passing through the clear skies carrying a single Sakura petal audibly looped over us, a stark reminder of the silence mounting between us. Nervously, I kept my gaze pinned to my hands clenched on my lap, kicking myself. As much as I had tried to steady my resolve to confess to Wei-kun, sitting in front of him with the prospect of actually confessing feelings felt incredibly daunting, even with all the signals and the telling confirmation that he reciprocated my feelings; it was still so hard.

I stole a peek up, my heart becoming distressed when I noticed Wei-kun averting his gaze from my knees, 'No, Wei-kun, it's okay!' I anguished. I wanted to tell him that it was alright; that I wanted him to notice me, to ogle me and call me sexy- that I was a woman he loved just as deeply as I loved him.

'Nothing will ever change between us if I don't take that next step.' I reminded myself, 'I don't want to be one of those girls who bury her feelings inside a time capsule after high school. I've loved Wei-kun since grade school. I promised myself I would tell him how much he meant to me in Junior High.' I had to do this, because I knew, for as much as I adored Wei-kun, he wouldn't. He was terribly shy, and while that made him really cute, it crippled him from talking to girls he found attractive.

For once, I had to be the strong one and kick-start our would-be relationship. Even powerful boys like Wei-kun had their flaws.

"Wei-kun, listen!" I pushed forward on my knees, but the object of my affection hastily rose to his feet.

"Oh, damn! Would you look at the time!" He sputtered out quickly, checking the time on an imaginary watch, "Well, we best be off to class. Don't wanna be late on our 1st, I mean, 2nd day of Junior High school! See ya there!"

"Wei-kun, wait!" He sprinted off with an acceleration that defied the laws of human physics, leaving the wind blowing my pouting face. "Ooh! He always does this when I try and talk to him!" As I said, even strong boys like Wei-kun have their flaws, but it doesn't matter.

Wei-kun's shyness was just another barrier I was determined to overcome to be with him.