Chapter 5

As we got out from the bus, we went inside the mall and strolled around

He would be amazed of toys and action figures, there's a stall of items that most magician used

"Kei! Look! You know Gundam right? Look!" he exclaimed and ran to the Toys R Us and went inside

I smiled a little and saw him staring at the action figures, "Do you like them all?" I asked and he nodded

"I wanted to have a collection" he said in awe

An idea popped into mind, but I just smiled it off, "You want us to buy it?" I asked

"But it's expensive" he said and pouted

"Then we'll buy what we can" I convinced him as he looked at me with puppy eyes

"You're the best Keiri" he said and sniffed

"So?" I asked

"But let's buy it the next time we hang out again" he said and pulled me

"You sure?" I asked him

He nodded, "I'll make sure to come back for them"

I looked at him and he looked at me, "What?" he asked

I shook my head and laughed, "You're cute" I said and chuckled

"I know, this is inborn" he said and flipped his hair, so I laughed

We continued to talk while strolling around, his hand holding mine

We'll make fun of couples and we'll even take pictures

We came across kids who are playing so we played with them, especially Kennoh

I took a video of him and a picture

He looks so nice with a kid

"Kei! Look! You look like him!" Kennoh exclaimed as he picked up a kid and walked near me

I looked at him and smile, "Hey, kid. What's your name?" I asked

He was shy, "I'm Keisuke" he said and smiled a bit

Kennoh giggled, "Keiri, Kennoh and Keisuke" he said and smiled proudly

He's like our kid

Wait, what?

Stop with that thought now, Akaashi!

"Here, carry him" Kennoh said and gave me Keisuke

I carried him into my arms and smile, "You good, kid?" I asked him and he nodded

"Don't you want to play with them?" I asked again

"I'm shy" he answered and fidgeted with his fingers

I hummed in response, "You see that big guy over there? He was the one who approached me before. I was shy too just like you" I started to tell him how he and Kennoh met

"You're not childhood friends with him? You two look so big" he said in his cute voice and I giggled

"No, but I met him when I was a kid. I don't know if he remembers me well" I said to him

"Really, where?" he curiously asked

"Here, I met him here" I said and looked at Kennoh with a smile

"Really? That's amazing!" Keisuke exclaimed

"This mall has been on for years. My mother and father would take me here to play and this is where I met him. Every time I'm here, he would be here" I said remembering our past as innocent kids

"How come he doesn't remember?" he asked

"Maybe because we didn't get to ask each other's name? You see, school started and even though I want to come back, I have no one with me, but I tried to come back here, but I couldn't see him again. So, when I saw a game and he's there, I did not hesitate to go to his school when I entered 1st year in high school" I told him and he was at awe

"That's like, so many years right?" he asked

"Yeah, and if you'll ask how I remember him, who could forget those amber eyes?" I asked him as I pointed at Kennoh who's having fun playing with other kids

"You love him" Keisuke asked again

I was caught off guard, "Love?" I asked him

"Yes, your smile looks like my mother every time she tells me stories of dad" he said and looked at me

I hummed and looked at him, "Maybe?" I asked as I put him down and kneeled in front of him

"Why maybe?" he asked again

"I'm not so sure" I trailed off as I stare at Kennoh

"Make sure you comeback here with him, with a ring" Keisuke said and ran to the other kids

As I saw him ran off, thoughts came gushing in my mind

Do I love him?

Do I smile differently when I'm with him?

Do I really?

"Did you have fun talking to him?" I heard Kennoh beside me

He pulled me up and we stared at them, "Yeah, he's cute" I said

"I remember playing here back then" Kennoh said

My eyes widened a bit and my heart started beating fast

Why is he so successful in making me caught off guard?

"Oh.." I trailed off

"I wonder, how's that kid doing?" he asked as we started walking again

I hummed for him to continue talking

I want to hear him say things about me

"He's very, very, very cute" he said and chuckled

"Uh huh" I agreed

"And he's calm, timid I think?" he asked himself and held his chin

"Hmmm" I trailed off

"He's still calm until now" what he said completely knock me out so I froze in my spot and he stopped walking a few steps from me

He turned to face me, "Am I right? Keiri?" he asked

I was getting teary eyed

He remembers..

He walked to me and messed my hair, "You thought I don't remember you, do you?" he asked and laughed

I only stared at him, getting speechless on what he had said

"Of course, I remember you. Who would forget those eyes and voice" he said and as a tear escaped my eyes he dried it with his finger

"Oh gosh" I trailed off

He laughed and hugged me, "This is the reason why I brought you here" he said and caressed my back

I hugged him back not minding the other people walking by

"I thought you won't remember" I murmured

"Who wouldn't? Well, at first, I didn't know it was you but hey" he said and pulled out from the hug and held my arms

"The feelings I had before, when I saw you, I felt it again, so I assumed it was you, besides that" he trailed off again

He got his wallet and showed me the picture of me when I was young, "My assumptions were right" he said and laughed

I pinched his nose, "Who said you can get my picture" I said and even flicked his forehead

He whined and rubbed his nose, "What, I've been keeping this for long, you dropped this when you were leaving from the mall" he whined

"Oh? Really?" I asked

He nodded, "I don't know why you had this, so I kept it, hoping to return it when I see you again" he said

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Oh, right! My parents wrote my name and address behind the picture, just in case I get lost" I said, and he nodded

I glared at him and he raised his hands up, "What?" he asked

I kicked his leg not too hard, "You knew me all along!" I exclaimed and he laughed

"I was waiting for you to at least tell me a story of you playing here" he said and laughed again

"That's unfair! I never knew your name!" I exclaimed again and he laughed hard

"I think I remember saying to you that my name was Rae" he answered in between his laughs

"No, you didn't say anything" I said and pouted

"Really?" he asked and flicked my lips softly because I was pouting

I glared at him and he laughed, "Come on, let's eat" he said again

I am so happy

I am so happy that finally

My feelings have been known, Keisuke

We walked inside McDonald's and ordered our food as we sat down across each other and talked again

"Why didn't you come back?" he asked me

"My parents were busy back then, I have no one to come with me" I said to him

"I would wait for you there" he said sadly

"I'm sorry" I apologized, and he smiled

"I saw you comeback, but I wasn't able to talk to you because we're going home" he said

I looked up at him, "Really?" I asked

He nodded, "You were all grown up by then" he said and laughed

"I was waiting there too, when I grew" I said and smiled a bit

"Well, I wasn't able to because I had to join the volleyball team then" he said

"Yeah, I saw your game, I cheered you on" I said

He was surprised, "You were there?" he asked not believing me

I nodded, "I was there" I said and decided to show him the picture I valued the most

And that was a shot of him spiking a ball

"That's you" I said as I show him my phone

He was at awe, "You really came" he said and smiled widely

I nodded and he also saw a picture of me smiling and him on the background

"Ohoh, Keiri's so proud" he said and pointed at me

I took my phone away and rolled my eyes

Those pictures were developed, and I scanned it just to be saved on my phone

"Is that why you came to Geffen?" he asked curiously as our food were served

I held my chin and said, "That's a secret" I said and laughed

He groaned, "No fair" he said and we started eating

"You'll sleep with me again?" I asked him and he shook his head, "I've spent my day with you today and I'm contented with it" he answered

"You sure?" I asked and he nodded, "Thank you" he said sincerely as those amber eyes stared right into my soul

I nodded, "Thank you for today" I said to him and we both smiled

We took a last picture, ending our hang out for today

We rode the bus and unfortunately, his stop goes first before mine

So, when his stop is nearing, he leaned to me and side hugged me

"Thank you, Kei" he whispered and caressed my hair

I was speechless and as he walked out of the bus, he waved at me and I waved back

Day well spent

I smiled at my seat and at the next stop, I got out of the bus and went inside our home

"I'm home!" I exclaimed and wore my shoes off and put it in the shoe rack

I saw my mom and dad watching tv, "Mary Rae went here to fetch his brother's things while you two were out" Mom said, and I nodded

"Did you have fun, Kei?" dad asked, and I nodded again

"So much fun" I said as I went to my room and lay down in my bed

I smiled and covered my face

What's this feeling?

Why am I so happy?