Avoiding Fate
The only person I don't feel trustworthy anymore (after my dream) is Ayumi! I saw her in my dream with my 'future husband'. She was the reason I would be left heartbroken. To avoid such a fate is to avoid it. If I'm correct this 'future husband' of mine is supposed to confess to me in two months from now. Meaning, even if I'm attractive to him at the moment I might be able to change it. Wait...Perhaps he was already interested in Ayumi since she is my friend, but that sounds like my love story wasn't even a happy one, to begin with!... No! I can't take it anymore!
*Fssh* *Ping* An eraser sailed my way,
"Oww..." I touched my forehead.
"Yuni, snap out of it!" the teacher yelled.
"Sorry!?" I retorted to her, picking up the eraser. Everyone was laughing at me. I was red from frustration. My 'future husband'... his name?... Oh, right! Kimura Jiro! He was giving me glances. What's his deal? Then, a jolt—Ayumi, at the corner desk, her gaze fixed on Kimura (desk at the lower right), eyes both innocent and envious. I feigned disinterest, focusing on my book.
Lunchtime arrived in a flash, and as soon as the bell chimed, my other two best friends came dashed over to me. Ayumi is nowhere to be seen. She probably headed to the cafeteria, a rare occurrence indeed. Kimura has disappeared as well.
"Yunsies~ I need you!" Yamazaki Haruhi called. Her short, wavy black hair and striking red eyes matched with her pink uniform mesmerized the boys around her.
What's with the weird names today?
*Bam!* Sato Ayano, a tomboyish girl donning the red version of our uniform, stormed up to my desk. With her green boy-cut curly hair and dark green eyes, she slammed a diary onto the surface. "Your dream, your dream! I need juicy info!"
"It's horrible, it's not juicy at all... And how may I help you today, Haruhi-sama?" I shifted my expression from disappointment to a courteous, ladylike smile.
"Why? What happened?!" Haruhi's brows furrowed. Thus I reported to them my dream. It didn't last five minutes long.
Once I wrapped up the tale, Ayano exclaimed, "That-that's great! Now I don't have to make them rewrite your stories to make them more delicious!" *Ptkp* Haruhi smacked Ayano's head, "How can you be so dense! Her sister was right! Her dream came true, and soon, probably in a few years, that tragedy of her cheating husband will become true too!" Right then and there, it dawned on me that the bond between Ayumi, Haruhi, and Ayano had weakened. It was Ayumi who had originally brought Haruhi and Ayano into my circle of friends, but now, it's different. Their interactions had become distant, reduced to the occasional exchanged smiles.
Usually, those two come for either love advice or just to listen to my dream love stories. (Those dreams occur once a month and till today, I have never seen one about me.) They hang out with me when Ayumi doesn't. It's quite peculiar, and yet no one ever addresses this situation with me.
After school, I was on my way to club practice when out of the blue, Kimura intercepted me by the classroom door, "Can we talk?" He said casually.
"Why...why...Uh..." I need to avoid this! Avoid! "Sorry...but I uh... I have an urgency! I need to go!" URGENCY?! WHAT URGENCY? I MEANT EMERGENCY! Oh well, at least he let me go. The first day and he's already on to me? I don't remember this scene though.
. . .
The clock struck five in the afternoon, school bell marked the end of club practice. The soccer field is bathed in the warm, golden hues of the setting sun. As we walked out of the Basketball court, Ayano and I draped the towels around our necks, sweating under our silky shorts and sleeveless shirt. I had this sudden desire to play sports during the end of middle school. I won three practice matches with the team last year. "You could've played Badminton or Tennis, you're good at that. Starting from the beginning is a bit annoying don't you think so?" Ayumi used to comment.
While changing from our sports outfit, I felt awkward from the silence and retorted to the only question I could ask, "Why did you quit swimming again?"
"God!" She looked up and rolled her eyes, "you've been asking that for the last twenty minutes! I didn't quit! I never will! I'm practicing on my own, there's nothing much for me to learn anymore."
"Sorry, I felt awkward..."
"That's not a reason. You've got something to say? Say it!" She shut her locker and turned toward me.
I sighed, "Ayumi was the one who cheated with him on me. And he tried to speak to me about something today."
She glared at me in shock, "On the first day? Ayumi? I knew it! I knew something was off!"
"What do you mean?"
"It's most likely the reason why we distance ourselves from her. A fact we'll have to tell you later." And she patted my back giving me the 'you can do it' look. I returned the 'I don't know' look.
The harsh reality hit home when Kimura appeared at the front gates. A girl is with him, but the moment she saw me coming, she left. Kimura smiled at me and he lifted his hand to wave. I pretend I didn't see him and turned around to where I came from. I thought he'd give up when he suddenly started chasing after me! I took a swift glance behind me and saw him closing in, his outstretched hand almost touching me. I had to avoid our fate at all costs. Thanks to my Basketball practices my agility is higher. I circled the entire school premises, completing a lap before dashing back toward the gates. Bursting out of the school, I zigzagged my way between streets and open backyards of houses. I stopped in front of a bus stop to catch my breath when I caught a glimpse of a figure across the road. A boy in our school's distinctive attire – the black and blue checked pants, sky-blue tucked shirt, and identical design tie. It was Kimura! He managed to chase me all the way here!? How!? Does he live nearby?! Ohhh...I wish a bus stopped in front of me... The sound of an approaching engine, the sight of a bus pulling up – that was all I needed now. I clasped my hands together, closing my eyes in a silent plea.