Chapter 2

'Hey son?'

I turned around and saw my Mom preparing for dinner

I stood in silent as I drink the water I took out from the refrigerator

'Where do you want to study High school?' She asked

I sat down and held my chin, 'Mom, should we go back to Japan?' I asked her

She looked at me with a questioning look, 'I haven't been in Japan since I was born, aren't you scared that I might forgot to speak Japanese?' I asked again

'Son, you know, your father can't leave here yet' She softly said and sat across the seat of mine

I nodded and smiled, 'How about Geffen Academy?' I asked

She gasped, 'You've thought of this for a while?'

I nodded, 'I actually was thinking of studying in Japan, but I change my mind, I wanted to go there, I wanted to enter the volleyball team' I said

She smiled proudly, 'You're really into volleyball?' she asked

I nodded, 'Is it alright?' I asked her and she nodded aggressively

'Yes, yes! Of course!' She said and laughed

'I actually saw someone there, so I wanted to join' I said

'Oh, who could it be?' she wondered

I shrugged, 'I don't know his name, but I'll get to see him soon' I excitedly said and smiled widely

'Who could be this someone who got my son so fired up about volleyball? I should thank him soon enough' I heard my father from behind me so we both turned around and he greeted me with a smile

'Geffen it is?' He asked as he removed his tie and gave Mom a kiss on the forehead

'Yes' I said

'Do your best, we will be supporting you always' Dad said and I smiled at them

Geffen Academy..

I'll be there soon, wait for me!

"Kei? Kei!"

I snapped out of my thoughts as I stared into his beautiful amber eyes as he intently stares at me

I flicked his forehead as he whined again

"You were thinking?" he asked as he kneeled in front of me

"I just remembered the reason why I'm here at Geffen" I said and shrugged

"Oh, really?! You never really told me what's your reason for studying here!" he exclaimed as I looked at him with plain look on my face

"I just saw this school on my way home" I lied and messed my hair

"Lies, Keiri, lies" he said and clicked his tongue

"I'm not" I defended

"Yes, you are, tell me the truth" he pleaded and proceeded with the puppy eyes

I shook my head and answered no

"Please, Kei? We've been together for like, 2 years and we still have 2 more years together" he said and pleaded again

I looked away as I'm starting to get embarrassed

"This is the school that came across my mind so.." I trailed off and he stared at me for long

"Lies" he said and walked into the corner of the court and sulked

I sighed

It's embarrassing to just bluntly state the reason why I'm here is because of him

I shook my head and stared at him being sulky in the corner while the others comfort him

"Why does he sulk whenever I talk?" I asked myself

"Because that's what he is" I heard someone said as I turned around and saw Mary Rae

I waved at her and she stood beside me

"You're done with your class?" I asked her and she nodded

"Kennoh!" I shouted

He didn't bulge so I went near him and sat beside him

"Mary Rae is here, you want her to see your childish side?" I asked and he looked at me with a pout on his face

"I don't care" he grumpily said and looked away

"Come on, we still have one round of practice before going home, Mary Rae must be tired" I said again and he shook his head

I sighed and stood up, "Okay then, I won't be tossing to y—

"Okay! I'm up!" He exclaimed and ran to the bench to hug his sister and ran inside the court

Our teammates gave me a thumbs up and Mary Rae only smiled

I went near her and said, "Sit down, you must be tired" I said and walked inside the court getting ready again for another round

I remember when I first met Kennoh, he was with her and they seem to be having a fight

I'm planning on meeting him when I'm officially a member of the team but unexpectedly they looked over me and they both asked, "Who's taller?! Me or Him?!" they both exclaimed

That question left my mouth hanging open

I can't believe they're fighting over that question

Mary Rae's tall for her age but I'm still taller

Well, the answer was obvious, it was Kennoh who was taller

He was shocked that he saw me the first day that they were going to meet us, the new players, but I'm more shocked because he chose me as his setter

"I trust you on this one" I remember those words and will never forget those lines

From then on, he trusted me with everything

When I said everything, I meant 'everything' in his life

He entrusted me with everything, and maybe I spoiled him too much that he's using his sulking every time I'm against his wishes

It's like he let me be the one commanding him

The practice went on and for Kennoh to not be sad, we went to McDonald's

"Ohh!��� Kennoh exclaimed

"I'll pay for him" Mary Rae whispered and I shook my head

"It's alright, I'll treat you two, it's been a routine for me" I said and followed them to our usual table and settled my bag beside Kennoh and went to the counter to order

"Hello, sir! What is your order?" The waitress asked

I looked at her name, Allison

"Oh, you must be new?" I asked

"Well, sir, I've been shifted onto this time so, are you a regular customer?" She asked politely and I nodded

"I would like to get 3 crispy chicken sandwich, together with 6 sundaes and 6 mcflurry oreo" I said

She typed it all on the monitor, "What would be your drinks?" she said

I held my chin, "Can we have sprite and monster float?" I ask and she nodded

"Is this your usual order?" She asked me as she's beginning to punch my order

"No, it's usually 2 and 4" I said and smiled slightly

She nodded in response and I moved to the left to wait for my order

��Oh, Kei!" someone called my name

I turned around and saw Kenji together with Aji

I nodded at him and he went near me, "Oh, a new one" he said and pointed at Allison

"Yeah" I said to him and nodded at Aji

"Where's Jim?" he asked as he approached the counter

Allison was surprised but answered him, "Oh, he said he would take a leave for today" she said and proceeded on getting their order

"That's weird" I uttered and Aji turned to me

"I know, right?" Aji said in response to me

"What's weirder is that you respond to Akashi, not to me" Kenji said and approached us

I chuckled and as soon as I got my order I waited for them and went to our table

"Oh! KenjI! Aji!" Kennoh exclaimed and waved at us

I placed the food on the table and sat beside Mary Rae

Kenji sat beside Kennoh and Aji sat beside Kenji

"So, what's with eating here? You sulked in the corner again?" Kenji started annoying Kennoh and he nudged him

"No" Kennoh said and smiled

"Oh, sure, deny all you want" Kenji said and laughed while Kennoh pouted

We started eating with Kenji and Kennoh bickering while me, Mary Rae and Aji talking about school

"So, you have 3 years left to play" Mary Rae said to me and I nodded

"Kennoh only has 2 years left, I mean, shouldn't he stop at 11th grade?" Mary Rae asked

"He should be but he said his body won't allow him" I said and laughed

"Kenji said he'll play with Kennoh in UCLA" Aji said

"Will you come?" I asked him and he shrugged

"I want to take a rest but you know how Kenji is, he will never stop pestering me until I come with him" Aji said and frustratedly took a big bite on his burger

Mary Rae chuckled, "Your friend and my brother really has the same personality" she said and we laughed

"No, we don't have the same personality" Kenji said and rolled his eyes

"How could you, Mary Rae, I'm your brother, how could you say I'm at the same level with this annoying guy right here" he said and pointed at Kenji

They started bickering and we just stared at each other and shrugged

Them bickering at each other is nothing new

After eating, we separated ways since Kenji and Aji must take the train home while the three of us walked to a near bus stop

I stared up and saw the lights of L.A

"It must be nice to be in a mountain and look at these lights from above" Kennoh stated as I look at him and slowly

Slowly

Everything came in slow motion

Just him and the lights

I froze in my place as he slowly blinked and turn his face to me

We stared at each other in the process

No words said

No noise coming in between

Just me and..

Him

"Here's our ride" Mary Rae spoke loudly causing us to break each other's stares and went to walk behind her

Kennoh put his arms around my shoulders, "Thanks for today" he whispered

I looked at him and saw his side-profile

It was nothing new seeing him upclose but there's something very peculiar about what I'm feeling right at this moment

"It's no big deal" I said and smiled at him

We went to seat the back and I sat at the window seat

I let my elbow rest at the windowpane, and stared at the buildings we passed by

My left shoulder felt heavy, so I looked to my left and saw Kennoh's head resting at mine and Mary Rae's resting at her brother's shoulder

I combed Kennoh's hair and stared again at the window

What would I do without this two?