Post
by Razoredge » Thu Jan 10, 2019 8:06 pm
Playing in puddles
We have science class early in the morning. Science is not my favorite subject, but sometimes, some lessons are really interesting. Especially when the topic is the human body.
When the teacher talks about the heart, I pay close attention to every word. I'm early, as usual. I hate to being late, so I try to come ten or fifteen minutes before class starts.
Finally, the teacher comes. He seems to be wearier than most of us. However, he starts the lesson quickly. It seems that today, we'll talk about plants. I'm not really that enthusiastic about plants, but never mind.
I take out my notebook and take some notes. When he draws a plant, I try to do the same thing. But the result is a shame. I will never be a good drawer.
When I begin to get bored in class, I doodle. It keeps me busy when I don't know what to do. But that's hopeless. I'm not good with a pencil in hand. At least, I manage to focus, and like that, I can take the course.
Outside, it starts to rain. I planned to go into town with Saki. If the rain goes on, that plan will have to be thrown out. Nevertheless, spending time with my best friend is always a good thing.
Then, this lesson is over. Our English teacher comes. It must be our English teacher because she's speaking in English. I love this language because it helps me to understand some of my favorites movies without subtitles.
However, my oral skills are dreadful. I can totally understand English when I read it, but my accent is very unpleasant to hear.
Today's lesson is about vocabulary. Great, I don't have to speak. This is a good thing. I write every single word, with its meaning in Japanese. I know some of these, but I still write them. The list contains around 25 words. Not too much.
When the teacher asks us to work in groups, everyone is moving to work with someone. Even my neighbor. I look around, and I see a girl who's alone.
A girl with dark purple hair, with burns on the right side of her body. She will be my teammate for today because we need to work in groups. I head for her desk, slowly.
Her attitude is clear. She's very shy. I need to be gentle with her. Her sheet is empty, and she's shaking when she sees me. Okay Kaori, you have to handle her with kid gloves.
" Hi, I think we must work together. " I say, with a friendly voice.
" We.... we must? " She seems to be lost.
I will take my time with her. It seems that a single word can break her. This work is simple, but working with her won't be an easy job. The first two questions are easy. Answering them will take two or three minutes.
I start to answer these questions, and she mimics me. I'm quiet to appease her. But, when she reaches the fourth question, she has something to ask me.
" How... how do you write this... In English?"
She doesn't know how to translate ‘Hanabi’ to English. I can't judge her, some people have difficulties with foreign languages.
" Fireworks. It's called a fireworks. " I answer.
I write this word for her, and she writes it in a little notebook, with a smile. After that, she's quiet. We focus on the work and manage to finish on time. But, right after the lesson, she vanishes. I can't blame her.
Saki must be waiting in the hall, as usual. Most students are rushing to the cafeteria, but today I will not follow the crowd.
However, there is nobody in the hall. It seems I'm alone. It doesn't matter, I can be very patient. Suddenly, somebody pinches my ribs - lightly, but enough to surprise me. When I see who did this to me, this person hugs me frankly. Obviously, it's Saki. She's mischievous, sometimes.
" Ready for a wonderful afternoon? " she says. She must be joking because it's raining outside.
" For sure. You'll be my umbrella, right? "
She knows that I'm joking. Occasionally, she taunts me about my height, so it's only fair. Outside, we walk as fast as we can. We don't want to look like drowned rats. But, if we want to reach the Shanghai, we have to walk for a long time.
.............................................
Finally, we're inside the restaurant. We're soaked to the skin and very hungry. Saki finds a free table, and we sit down. I already know what I want to eat - some miso ramen - and Saki also chooses what she wants to eat.
Then, she orders for us. A few minutes later our meal is ready. I recognize Yuuko by her voice and thank her.
When I eat ramen, I eat very fast, as if I was afraid it might mysteriously disappear. I try to eat slowly, but I just can’t manage to do so. However, it's delicious. If I love a dish, I eat very fast, it's a bad habit.
Suddenly, a question appears in my mind.
" Saki, I worked with a girl this morning. A shy girl, with burns on the right side of her body. She was pretty, though. Do you know her?"
She thinks for a little bit, then she has the answer.
" You must be talking about Hanako. Yeah, she's shy, you have to be very gentle with her. " She answers me.
" Does she have any friends? " I wonder.
" Lilly is her best friend. She helps her a lot. "
I try to connect some memories to this name, but nothing happens. Saki notices it and helps me.
" The tall blind girl with blonde hair. " She answers me with a smile.
" That's right! I tried to remember her name, but I couldn't. I met her a few days ago, she was pretty and kind. "
Saki giggles. She knows I'm not innocent when I talk like that. I finish my dish quickly. This place is one of my favorite restaurants. I was never disappointed with the food here.
Saki eats slower than me, but that's okay. I'm patient. When Yuuko asks us if we want a dessert, we decline. We pay our bills and leave.
Luckily, the rain has stopped. The weather still isn't great, but at least we won’t get wet again. There are puddles everywhere, and it makes me smile. I can remember a lot of things thanks to puddles.
" You see this big puddle? We used to jump into this kind of puddle with Dad when I was a child. Mom wasn't happy of course, but that was fun. We did a lot of simple but funny things. Now... "
" He doesn't have the time, right? " She answers me, interested in my past.
" Not anymore. But... I miss this kind of stuff. "
She gives me a little tap on the shoulder, and we walk around. Suddenly, I have an idea. I take her by the arm, without saying anything, and go towards a little jewelry shop. I want to buy something for her and for me too.
In a few minutes, I see what I want. Two little necklaces. Nothing fancy, but it's lovely. There is a part of a heart on each one. I buy them instantly. I'm sure it will make Saki happy. And when she sees it, she's more than happy. She hugs me like she never did before. It seems it means something to her.
She's my best friend, and nothing is too much when I want to make her happy. It's pretty cute on her, though. She wants to go to the little library near the jewelry shop. It looks as if she noticed a book a few days ago. Why not?
Inside, there are a lot of books. The shop seemed to be small, but it's actually huge. Saki leaves me alone to search for her book. I don't know what she wants to do, but she wants to be alone to do it. In a few minutes I find a lot of interesting books.
Nevertheless, as I am reading a summary, she pokes me in the rib, innocently. We leave the shop, and when we're outside she offers a big book to me.
" I know you like this kind of stuff, so, I had to buy it for you. " Saki says to me with a great smile.
It's a book about Japanese mythology. A really big one. I really respect the author of this book, so, it's a wonderful gift for me.
" Thanks.. It means a lot to me. " I strongly hug her.
During our return trip, we don't say anything. Sometimes, words are not needed for us. We can communicate without saying anything. Saki knows I love her, and I know she loves me. She will always be there for me, and I will be there for her too.
That's what best friends do. I was lucky to meet her. At the dorm, we separate but not for a long time. Never for a long time.