Puzzles

She folds her legs on the sofa. Hiding her face in her arm placing them on window shelf.

She didn't raise her head from that time. While he was lost in thought

he suddenly choked himself.

'wait! She didn't say she wants to breakup. she said "I won't see you anymore". He frowned while agreeing with his own thoughts,

'She went to Australia after that.Isn't it the same as breaking up?'

Tania smirked, 'Your habit of walking alone at night didn't change ha?'

Aki paused his thinking. She takes a sip of tea and keeps trembling because of the cold. Aki sits a seat away from where she was sitting. Holds the coffee with both of his hands. Tania waited silently for the response.

'Your tolerance to the cold is still as low as ever. So why are you waiting in the cold?'

Tania didn't say anything after Aki asked that.

She just kept drinking the tea. Tania and Aki met each other when he was 23 years old. Tania is 3 years younger than Aki. At first his affection towards her was due to his junior-senior relationship but later her spontaneous nature and her unique pattern of seeing the world in her own way was what caught his affection more than that. Maybe that is also the reason that she has become a famous photographer.

Aki was always affectionate towards her because she grew up alone,in the orphanage.Yet she was a cheerful person.

Where Aki was brought up in his grandparents home because his parents were divorced. He had to live sometime with his parents separately. He grew tired of that. So he moved on to live alone when his grandma died. He was 20 back then. He is successful in his own business and loves it moreover than that.

He doesn't show his possessiveness towards her because both of them work in the same profession and have the same friend circles.

He was still infatuated with her. But showing that would hurt his pride. She didn't cry,didn't show anger while leaving that time. It is those little things that she ignores is what is hard on him. And he is the type who wouldn't complain even if he goes crazy. After 3 months he realizes that they didn't break up. How much stupid he can be! And he did everything to keep himself busy in these past months to ignore every time he thought about her. Yet he followed her every activity. He didn't know what to say now. She peeked to look at him with the corner her eyes staying like that.

'You just realize it after seeing me now isn't' it?' Tanya read his mind. Aki didn't say anything. He doesn't know what she wants. She was still looking outside the window placing her head on the sofa. The Sun is about to rise.

'Hey, Aki!'A friend sits beside Aki while tapping on his shoulder.

'You okey?' Aki doesn't know how he should answer that question his friend asked. His classmates had been asking the same question all these years,had been consoling him with the same words.

'You know it's not your fault. We all know you could never let go of Mei. Don't blame yourself. It was an accident.' Even after hearing that, Aki didn't say anything. Aki just kept looking at him.

Every year since Mei had died, every one of her friend would come to visit her on her death anniversary. They would mourn for her on this day, then when it's over, they'll all go back to their own life. That's how it's been for 15 years.

'I'm fine. Thanks for coming this year too.' Aki tried to act polite.

'Of course, I'll come! She is our friend after all. Wherever she is now, she must be having a lot of fun, I'm sure. You know how she is right!?' Aki nodded to his friend's thoughts.

Yes,he knows. Because she is still the only one person that he kept close in his heart.

The clock ticks 11 pm on dot.

It was already past two days when Aki got out of the office. He didn't contact Tania nor did she. He was shocked because of his own foolishness. Suddenly that cat appeared before him like it was waiting for him to come. He looks around.

Train station.

He found himself at the train station. He didn't realize when he got here. It's his habit to walk to the station to take the train home then walk to his building. Otherwise, he doesn't have the time to walk during working days.

'Oh! it's you! Mr Azusa.'

Aki didn't tell him his name.

He frowns. it's happening again. Those uncomfortable feelings. He thinks to himself he should avoid coming here for the time being.

Joshua smiles and says, 'You are on time today. The train is on time.'

11 minutes is left till the train arrives. Aki hesitates before entering the waiting room yet he entered. The same as it was that day. The stationmaster poured a second cup and offered that to Aki.

'Thanks but i can't have it today. I already had too many. I won't be able to sleep if i have more.' Though Aki sleeps less than normal even if he doesn't drink.

He looked at the cup. Aki doubts that that tea was mixed with something weird that made him sleep that day. Stationmaster smiled and offered it again.

'One more cup won't harm much if you already have too many. It's boring to drink alone when there is company.' Joshua insisted. Aki hesitated again. But took the cup and pretended to take a sip.

The sun shines on his eyes. He closes his eyes with his arm. The water tank on the rooftop of the school building is Aki's favorite spot. He is Skipping the literature class again.

'Hey! stop!' Aki opens his eyes hearing someone yelling. Aki saw a boy was running towards the railing. It was trespassing to enter the roof. Aki will be in trouble too.

'Hey !wait up you...' The guard was screaming.

That boy wasn't stopping. Aki didn't know what's going on so he hid by the side. The boy came again and locked the door then broke the lock so that the other side cannot open.

'Crazy!' Aki couldn't but exclaim. He didn't bother because as long as he can sleep it's okey.

'Hey open up!' the guard was knocking constantly. Aki frowned at what was happening and it was unbelievable. Closing the door lock, that boy was going on full speed towards the railing. Without thinking anything Aki ran to him and shoved him aside.

'Aw! That hurts! Are you f* crazy?' The boy shouted. But his voice sounded like a girl. Aki was shocked but said with a threatening tone, 'That's my line! What were you doing?suicide!?'

'Well....I was going on an adventure..' his answer seemed confused. Aki could not comprehend what he was saying.

'Well,I.. I want to see what's beyond this life. I want to experience it.'he blinked. Aki finally understood. He is a nutcase. Aki laughed.

' And.. who and how are you gonna tell about your adventure?' The boy looked confused at Aki's question and then looked at him. He grabbed Aki's hand.

'Come with me then!' when the boy proposed that idea, Aki unhanded himself from that boy's grip

'I'm not crazy!' Aki said.

'Sure! Ok..then don't stop me.okey?!' That boy was going to jump again.Aki grabbed his collar and pulled him back. The boy kept struggling.

Aki was irritated, 'Enough of this shit!'

'Hey let go, let go my collar!' the boy didn't stop struggling. The door got opened and there was the homeroom teacher and vice principal. That boy whispered

, 'Oh fish! I'm doomed!'

The boy looked down from the roof.

Aki too got stuck.

In the principal's room.

The principal was looking at Aki. Aki could not understand if the principal was angry or upset, irritated or frustrated...

'Who are you?'the principal asked.

'Akio.. Azusa' Aki answers.

'Why are you here? Only this person was supposed to be here. Go shoo!shoo!' The principal let him go.

'Yes sir! Thank you. Have a good day sir.' Aki was really thankful.

'So Mei! Would mind sharing what you were thinking?'

That was all Aki could hear the principal saying. Two teachers were standing in the building corridor and were probably talking about that girl as he could easily guess.

"She has always been weird. Always floating in her own world."

The bell rang. He wakes up. Hearing the bell ringing, he got up. He found himself at home,on bed.

'Did I dream about school again?'he thought.

Calling bell rang again. As it kept ringing again and again he got up from the bed quickly and opened the door after seeing that it was Tania.

She seemed worried' 'Why weren't you opening the door! Where were you?'

Aki didn't understand,'What's wrong! I was sleeping! Just was in deep sleep that's all'

'Where were you.?' Tania was seriously irritated.

'I told you,I was sleeping!' Aki responded with a irritated voice as well.

'No! Where were you for the past last week?' Tania clearly asked.

Aki thought Tania asked wrong,'I was working for two days and lost track of time...'

'You're not at the office! nowhere,we could not find you for 1 week and you suddenly came back last night and behaved like nothing happened!' Aki could not understand a single word of what Tania was saying. She was calm but tensed.

He brushed her off and went inside closing the door. He sat on the sofa covering his face. He was feeling tired.

'You were last seen at station getting on the train.' Tanya said. Aki still was confused.

'You didn't get off at your station.' Aki sat straight when he heard that.

''One week?'' Aki thought to himself.

'Senpai.Did u get off somewhere else?' Aki doesn't know what he should answer her. He thought he was getting better. Suddenly he yelled at Tania, 'I don't know, okay?! And for God's sake Tania, please stop! You don't have to follow me and think I am going to be crazy again.'

'How can you say so that you aren't gonna be? It's clear from your expression that you don't remember anything. But why couldn't I see where you got off ?'

She mumbles the last line and Aki couldn't hear properly.

'So what are you implying now?' Aki was angry.

'Well it's true, you have the habit of forgetting and disappearing but it was the first time I couldn't get any hold of you and you are back by yourself. Do you seriously....' A sound of glass breaking interrupted Tania. Aki ended their conversation. Aki went into the kitchen. The glass pieces were on the floor. Tania went there when she noticed Aki wasn't getting back. He was clearing the place,' Don't come in here.'

After that when Aki was setting out another set of glass he found a cup on the dining table. Aki steps back as he sees the cup.

'What are you....' Tania too saw the cup and understood why Aki was frozen. It was Mei's cup. Tania says nothing. She thinks that Aki has kept it there. She knows that Aki is traumatized by the accident.

Not just traumatized, there was a time he used to think Mei was around him. It was so many years after that he got normal. Sometimes he would show some symptoms but other than that everything got okay.

Aki was looking to his side by the corner of his eye. He could see a vague shadow clearly. It was like that in the station. Aki hurried Tania to go away because he doesn't want anything to talk.

He closed the door and went into the dining room. But there was nothing. The cup was there. He didn't set the cup there, so it was kept there by someone.

'Mei! Is that you? Are you here?' Aki asked.

''Mei!' Aki called out again.

Nothing..there was nothing.

Aki kneels down on both of his knees holding his head. Tears keep falling. The curtain of the window suddenly stops moving where the other One is still moving with the wind.

The phone rings loudly. Aki gets up to get it in his room. The wind now moves the curtains fully as if it was free to flow.

After work...

On the way back home from a sight, Aki stopped.

His school was a few blocks away. He turned back. It's nighttime so there were only three guards there. They greeted Aki and let him enter inside.

Stairs, walls, the scent is still the same as before. He steps inside the classroom. He has been in all the classrooms. He sits on the chair he used to sit. He touched the table and nostalgia made him smile.

Just beside him, Mei used to sit. His heart tightened and he was unable to breathe. He looked outside the window for a while. Suddenly he saw something moving in the field. He looks closely and sees a boy playing with a football.

He went to the field.

The boy was absorbed in playing so he didn't notice that someone was there. He was moving the ball towards Aki and finally, then he noticed. He was startled but surely he pulled himself back and asked

'Buddy,if you are here at least please make some sound.'

'Sorry for that!' Aki apologies. The boy starts playing again.

'May I ?' Aki wanted to play with him.

'Sure!' the boy nodded. He plays with the boy.

'What are you doing here?' the boy asks while playing.

'I am an alumnus.'Aki smiles while answering.

' Oh!' He didn't ask any more questions. just kept playing The boy wins. Both of them sit down on the ground. Aki could not so he lays down,' You are good. Are you in football club or something?'

' No, I just don't like to lose to someone whom I don't know' the boy seemed serious.

'What's with that reason?'Aki asked but the boy didn't say anything.

' Why were you playing at this time?'Aki changed the topic.

'No particular reason...what are you doing here?'the boy answers.

' I had some work to do.' Aki was feeling good while talking with the boy. When Aki told him that he was a Photographer, the boy frowned and commented,

'Oh! So you collect souls.'

Aki was surprised, 'What ?'

'Aw! you don't know that!' the boy asked. It's not like he didn't hear this saying. But it's not necessarily important to believe in it. The thought made him sit up and he stared to the ground for a while.

Aki asked to avoid the question,'Which grade are you in!? You talk so interestingly .'

He smiles but the boy doesn't. The boy gets up. Brushes dirt from his pant then says, 'I don't know you so why the hell should I tell you that.'

Aki was shocked, 'Hey! I'm your senior so not a stranger.'

'What if you are lying! I don't know you and don't talk to me anymore.' the boy smiled. Aki was stunned. But he does not stop the boy. But as soon as he sees the name on his jersey, he freezes.

The name is 'Mei'. This Mei turns back and Aki sees the resemblance in him. But he didn't look like that before. Mei didn't understand why Aki's expression was like that but he didn't stop. He went his way.Aki was left speechless. He keeps staring at the back of that Mei.