Four petals

"Yo Namoko, how's it hanging man?"

The blonde-haired boy turned his head in a cool manner, his piercings reflecting off the rays of the yellow sun, "Yo, I've been doing alright." Rashirana Namoko, hated by his teachers, and beloved by his classmates. His friendly and cheerful personality always puts a smile on everyone's faces.

"Namoko!" But one person absolutely despises him, "Your piercings and dyed hair are not allowed in school grounds." This person was the Student-council-president, Kanna Kinryuu, "I've already warned you eight times ever since the school started."

"Don't worry, I've already taken out my lip piercing."

"BUT NOT YOUR OTHER PIERCINGS!!" Kanna shouted as Rashirana sprinted away.

"Oof, that was close," Rashirana exclaimed, his heart beating fast, "Damn, that was really close," he repeated, but his cheeks were now blushing, "Why did I fall for her?" he asked himself.

Six years later…

"Oh, did I oversleep?" the older Rashirana said to himself. He still had his blonde hair, but reduced the number of piercings, "Thank god I still have an hour," he was living at his late grandparent's house, and working at an office job that pays him enough to live a normal life, "Hrm~ what food should I make?" suddenly, he blushed, "What would Kanna want?" he asked himself, "She always comes to work with an empty stomach."

An hour later…

"I'm so full," Kanna said to herself, her hand caressing her stomach, "Nicholas made too much food. Who knew he was such a good cook."

With a full stomach, Kanna was at full work mode, "Kanna?" she had expected Rashirana to appear behind her.

"Morning Rashirana," she greeted the blonde man with a smile.

Rashirana was a little taken back, "Happy today eh?" he mentioned Kanna's smile and positive energy. Kanna herself then realized.

"Ah, I see, I guess eating after leaving the house really changes your mood," she replied, Rashirana's eyebrow lifted.

"You had breakfast?" he asked, Kanna was about to monologue about some exotic food Nicholas made for her. But she then realized the food that Rashirana made for her. Her mind was contemplating, either to refuse the food of the man she liked, or destroy her stomach.

"Yo, you got more food? Nice," she chose the latter, she took the container of the food, and began to eat it, "BEAR WITH IT!!" she encouraged herself, her eyes were full of determination.

Rashirana looked at her, he thought, "You're so cute."

Six years ago…

The young Rashirana Namoko was just walking down the hallway, "Sometimes, I hate my club. Like geez, an announcement had to happen when my friends and I had plans to go out." It was the end of the school day. Rashirana turned one corner, suddenly, he bumped into somebody, "Oh, sorry."

"Namoko." The girl Rashirana bumped into, was the student council president, Kanna Kinryuu, "Tsk, you're lucky it's the end of school," she said while passing Rashirana, "If you still have those piercings tomorrow, I'll have t-" Suddenly, Rashirana grabbed the hand of Kanna.

"You've been crying haven't you?" Kanna's soft and gentle voice had changed. His voice was serious and commanding, "Don't you dare try to hide it from me Kinryuu. I know a crying person when I see one," he stated, Kanna was just standing there, but then, she opened her mouth.

"What if I did? What? You, mister prince charming will help me? Don't be naive Namoko," she bluntly exclaimed, but there was something that triggered something inside Rashirana.

"It hurts right?" this question made Kanna's eyebrow lift, "You just wanna scream and tear everything into pieces right?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked, but Rashirana continued.

"You're probably saying that I don't understand at all." While Rashirana was talking, Kanna started shaking, "Even if we don't have the same experience, I've also felt what you've been going through. The expectations of your peers and the expectations of your parents, I know it all," Rashirana himself was shaking as well, "You know how I coped with it? I did what I wanted to do. Who cares what people thought of me, this story is mine and mine alone." This is when Rashirana saw the real Kanna. A scared and pressured individual, her tears flowing from her face, and her sobs echoing down the hallway.

Kanna was trying to wipe the tears away, "I don't know what to do anymore," she exclaimed.

Rashirana saw Kanna as a soft person trying to act like a strong and independent person, "Kinryuu… I'm no prince charming, the best I could do for you now is to tell you, there will be better days." Suddenly, Kanna embraced Rashirana, he was initially surprised, but then he put a hand on Kanna's head, "There will be better days."

Present…

After work, Kanna went back home, "Welcome, uhh... back home," greeted Nicholas, he was wearing an apron and was cooking something, "How's... work?"

"Ah, it's okay." Even though Nicholas' food looked good, Kanna had to resist herself, "I won't be able to eat tonight Nicholas," she explained to the slightly sad out Nicholas, "I ate too much food today, my school friends fed me too much," Nicholas didn't respond for a few seconds, Kanna thought she might've triggered something, "Do you have any school friends Nicholas?"

Nicholas was contemplating something for a few seconds, "I… didn't graduate, high school," Kanna was surprised at his confession.

"What! Why?" she asked. In her mind, Nicholas was smart and hardworking.

Nicholas bowed his head, he then spoke something in his own language, "We didn't have enough money."

6 years later…

Nicholas woke up, a wet feeling was on top of his head, he touched it with his bruised fingers, it was a wet towel. He looked around the room, "Gogo?"

He saw a young boy sitting on a chair, "Big brother Nico, take a rest will you? we've got enough money to buy us rice for a week."

Nicholas looked at his brother with tired eyes, "Yeah, but that's only rice. I still need to buy grandpa's coughing syrup, uncle needs to buy your guy's school foods, and of course baby Lili's milk, toys, and essentials. Not to mention our house repairs from the typhoon. If I add all of that, that'll be… four-thousand, six-hundred, and ninety pesos," Nicholas explained as he got up, initially failing due to tired legs.

"You better stay down," a voice called out, it was the voice of Nicholas' mother, "Rest Nico, you're only eighteen but you already have three jobs… your father would've wanted you to stay at school."

At his mother's words, Nicholas sighed, "You know that we don't have enough money to have eight students, we barely have enough for seven," Nicholas tried to exit the room, but the little boy tried to stop him by holding his legs.

"Brother," Nicholas could see the tears about to come out of his brother's eyes. Nicholas took a knee, his eyes were now parallel to that of his brother.

"Gogo, you're eight years old, right? And I got the news that you were the best of your class again," Nicholas talked in a calm manner, his bruised fingers wiping the tears off his brother, "Gogo, I'm the firstborn, it's my responsibility to take care of the family. When all of you grow up, you can help me. But now, just learn and enjoy your childhood," he exclaimed, his smile comforting the young boy.

The young boy looked at his big brother, "But… what if you die like papa?" Nicholas went quiet for a few seconds.

"...I won't, don't worry," Nicholas put his hand on his brother's head, "There will be better days."