Entry Writchal #2
Tema: Highschool Romance
The sky sparkles with stars. Sitting next to a void, I retrace my memory.
It was summer, I was moving to another city with my family.
I sit in the car, looking through the car’s window. Flowers blooming along the road, as I wonder where this journey will lead me to.
The car stopped, I stepped out and see a huge field full of blooming flowers.
“We will take a short rest here, you father needs some rest. Don’t play too far, the flowers are tall, be careful not to get lost okay?” Said my mother.
“Okay.”
I run through the small path, grabbing a dandelion in my hand, feeling the wind touches my body. Then I see a girl next to a tree in the middle of the field. Sitting on a swing, waist-length brown hair, round eyes, dressed in a white one piece. She smiles and waves to me, her other hand holds the sun hat on her head as the wind breezes gently.
“My name is-“ she tips my mouth before I finished talking.
“Sshhh, the monsters will hear you.” She whispered.
“What monsters?” I whispered to her.
“Look over there, can’t you see it?” She pointed to the flower bushes behind me.
I look toward the bushes, something shakes the bushes. I feel tense, my legs shake, I want to run but I just can’t. The thing gets closer and closer.
“BAAAAA!” She shouts behind me as a dog comes out from the bushes.
I lose balance and fall. She is laughing at me, mocking me with her laugh. The dog barks to me, as if falling to the ground isn’t enough. I try to hold my tears, but I end up wiping my eyes anyway. She comes closer to me, lowering her body. She lends me her hand, still laughing.
“I’m just kidding, there are no monsters. I’m sorry okay, you can stop crying now.” She said.
I lift my head, she picks the dandelion in my hand and put it on my right ear.
“Will you forgive me now?” She asked.
“Sniff… sniff… yes.” What a good boy, just like my dog.
She mocks me again. Her dog snuggles to her, wagging it’s tail.
“His name is Puffy. I found him sitting on the side if the road 2 years ago on a trip with my family. His condition was miserable when I found him, so I adopted him.” She said.
“So what brings you here?” She asked.
“I… I am moving with my family. What about you?”
“I often come to this field, it’s beautiful here. Whenever I feel lonely, or when I miss my father, I always come here.” She answered.
“I used to play with my father here, but now it’s just me and my mother.” She said with a low voice.
I think her father died, but I don’t have enough courage to ask her, so I stay silent.
“Enough of that. Do you really believe there are monsters here? Your reaction was hilarious. Hahahaha.” She mocks me.
“Yes, my parents told me not to listen to strangers, but I think you are not bad person, so I trusted you.”
“Hahahaha. Sorry for that.” She said.
After that, we play together, running through the field, playing the swing, catching bugs.
Time passes, I made a flower head band and put it on her head.
“What do you think? Is it good?”
“Yes, I like it. Thank you.” She said, smiling at me.
I smiled back to her. I hear my mother calling for me.
“Ah, I think I should go back now. My mother is already calling for me.” I said.
“See you later! Promise me we will meet again okay! I appoint you as my friend, and friend keeps their promise!” She said.
“I- I promise…”
I run back to the car. The dandelion still on my ear.
I think of what I said before, why did I say that… I don’t even know if I will meet her again. I brush it off and continue living my life.
Years passed, I am now a highschooler, final year, edgy phase.
“Hey, what are you contemplating? Are you thinking about your grades? Don’t worry, my grades are bad too.” My friend approached me.
His name is Blaire. I met him on my first year and he befriended me.
“Nahh, get off me. You are depleting the oxygen around, I’m starting to feel dizzy.”
“Hey, you want to go to karaoke tonight? The girls are all coming, as your friend, I don’t want you to miss this opportunity. If you are lucky, you might be able to preserve your bloodline tonight.” He said.
“No, thank you. I prefer watching random primitive building videos till 3 AM tonight.”
“C’mon… stop with those videos, I have better videos for you to watch. It involves the girls that will come to the karaoke tonight. How about that?” He replied.
“No, thank you.”
“Ah, you’re such a rockhead. Anyway, just hit me up if you change your mind.” He said.
Finally, peace and solitude.
It’s spring, my favorite season because the weather just perfect. Flowers are blooming, birds singing, wind breezes gently.
As I walk out from the school gate, a girl suddenly approached me.
“HELLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Do you remember me?” She said.
A beautiful girl, long brown hair, beautiful eyes, in an elite looking high school uniform. Her face is familiar, but I can’t remember who.
“Uhh… pardun?”
“Ah, you can’t recognize me. You believed when I said there are monsters at the flower field.” She said.
“Hey, I was a kid back then.”
“Well, I didn’t expect to meet you here. Did you study here?” She said.
“Yes, isn’t it obvious?”
“Anyway, we haven’t met for a loooooooooooong time. How about a drink? It’s on me.” She asked.
“Uhhh, I-“
She pulled my arm before I could finish my sentence. Annoying… just like back then.
We arrived at a coffee shop.
“Table for two please.” She said to the worker.
“This way please.” Said the worker.
Well, since I’m already here, it will be impolite to just leave. Good thing my parents teach me manner.
We take a seat and she finally let go of my arm.
“One orange juice please! What do you want to drink?” She asked.
“Plain water please.”
The waiter nods and leaves.
“Tell me about your story. What happened during all these times.” She said.
“I inhale, I exhale.”
She laughed.
“Well, for me. I don’t have much story to be told too. But I am happy I could meet an old friend.” She said.
“I just live a very normal life. Move into this city, go to school, aim for good university, get bad grades, pretty normal.”
The waiter brings the drinks to our table.
“What about friend? You must have a lot of friends don’t you?” She asked.
“No.”
“What about girlfriend? Ehehehe.” She asked.
“Is that an insult?”
“You are in high school, surely you have something interesting right?” She said.
“You see this water? This represents my life.”
She laughed.
“My life is also pretty much normal I think.” She said.
“I don’t ask.”
She laughed.
“Looks like someone in their edgy phase.” She said.
Her alarm suddenly rings.
“Ah, looks like I need to go now. I’ll see you later!” She said.
“Wait, you haven’t drink your order.”
“Ah, sorry. You can drink it if you want. I need to leave now.”
She paid the drinks and rushes out, not even touching the drink she ordered. So I drink it and leave. At least better than throwing the drink away.
The next day, she greets me as I leave the school entrance, waving her hand and smiling to me.
“Ehmm… looks like someone has a girlfriend already.” Blaire said.
“Nahh, it’s just an old friend.”
“I can get you hotel if you want. I’ll pay.” He said.
“Get lost.”
I approached her.
“Why are you here?”
“Hey, do you have spare time? Let’s go on a walk.” She said.
She doesn’t answer my question.
“Well, actually I do have some free time-“
“Then let’s go!” She said.
She pulled my arm before I can finish my sentence.
We arrived at a theme park. She finally let go of my arm.
“Tickets for two please.” She said to the worker.
“Here is the money, Sir.”
“You two are such a cute couple. Oh the bliss of youth.” Said the worker.
“Ah- No, we aren’t couple. Just old friends.”
We entered the park, she is looking down.
“Thank you for the ticket.” She whispered.
“It’s just fair, you paid for the drinks yesterday.”
She suddenly pulls my arm again.
“Let’s go there!” She said.
We tried a lot of ride in the park. We also bought some cotton candy. She pulls my arm everywhere we go. No wonder people mistakes us as couple.
“The Ferris Wheel. Must have scene in every theme park chapter in romance anime.” She said.
She is quite cultured I might say.
It’s finally our turn.
“Please watch your steps.” Said the worker.
We sit face to face. The door closes and the wheel slowly rises.
“Hey, I haven’t get any of your contact. What’s your phone number?” She asked.
We exchanged contact. Phone numbers, LINE, Facebook, Instagram, Discord, WeChat, NicoNicoDouga, Bilibili, Youtube channels, and much more.
The wheel reaching it’s peak.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” She asked while looking outside the window.
“The city, bathed in golden sun light, wind blows gently, truly a work of art. I wish time could freeze. I want this moment to stay.” She smiled. But I can somehow see a bit of sadness in that smile.
I smiled a bit.
“If this makes you happy. Maybe we can do it again sometime?”
“Wow, such a generous offer from Mr. Edgy.” She laughed.
We get off from the wheel. It’s almost dark.
“Thank you for today.” She said while looking down.
“Actually, I kinda enjoyed this. So… thank you.”
We walk in awkward silence for a while, she still looks down.
“Uhmm… do you live near here? It’s almost dark, I can accompany you back to your house if you want.”
She lifts her head.
“No need to. My house is a bit far, I can take care of myself too. Don’t worry.” She smiled.
“Okay then. See you!”
“See you!” She said.
We part way. I walk back to my house.
“Hey, are you already at home?” I texted her while entering my house.
I cleaned myself and hop on the bed. The best place in the world where the gravity fluctuates depending on the day, time, and my mood.
No answer yet. Maybe she is not home yet.
“Today was fun.” I said to myself.
“When was the last time I feel this kind of happiness? I can’t remember.”
“Why would she approach me… and why is she so outgoing to me? We have only met once, and that was years ago. Yeah sure she appointed me as her friend. We promised to meet again. But we were kids back then. Kids break their promises.”
“Well… as long as I am happy I think.”
Ding! My phone rings.
“Sorry, I just came home. There was a traffic jam.” She said.
“Understandable, have a nice day.”
“Hahahaha” She said.
“Do you have any plan tomorrow? It’s Christmas. Maybe we can go to the aquarium?”
“Eh? Mr. Edgy asking me out now??? AWOKAOWKAOWKAOWK.” She replied.
I didn’t expect that.
“Okay, let’s meet up at the park tomorrow, 10 AM sharp.” She said.
“Sure.”
The next day, I come to the park just like we talked before. Time shows 9:55, 5 minutes earlier because I’ve got bad experiences of getting late. The park is not so crowded, only few people hanging around, talking to each other, walking their pets, some even dare to do lewd thing such as holding hands. Birds chirping is really calming. Time shows 9:59. She isn’t here yet.
“Where are you?” I texted her.
“Look to your right.” She replied.
Blue cold-shoulder outfit and a dark blue skirt. Side braids tied to a small, frayed ponytail behind her head. Holding a handbag that the author can’t describe.
“Hi.” I waved at her.
Her face approaches mine. She put her hand on my head.
“Are you ill? Did you hit your head?” She said.
“My old friend won’t greet me first, let alone wave at me.” She continued.
“Wha-“
“ANYWAY. WHERE WILL BE GOING TODAY?” She said cheerfully.
“Aquarium.”
“Oh, right.” She said.
We walked to the Aquarium, it’s not far from the park.
“Tickets for two please” She said to the worker.
“Romantic zone or normal zone?” The worker asked.
“Ro-“ She said.
“Normal zone please.”
“Eh, what did you say?”
“Nevermind.” She said.
We go inside the Aquarium. The first zone is the deep sea zone, most oceans worldwide consist of deep sea at a depth of 200 meters and more, and they have re-created the mysterious world of the deep sea here with approximately 100 species of deep-sea marine creatures that are rarely seen.
“Look, giant octopuses!” She said.
“That’s a squid.”
“Really?” She said.
“Yes, octopuses have round spherical head. Squids have triangular head.”
“Woah, they have lots of animals here.” She said.
“Look over there.” I said as I point my finger.
“A fish.”
“Ahahaha, you dummy.” She said.
We approached a peculiar showcase in the zone. On the panel written “Melanocetus johnsonii”. It looks like an anglerfish.
“When a male finds a female, which can be up to 60 times his size, he clamps onto her underside with tiny translucent fangs. The comparatively minuscule male’s love nip then turns into a permanent attachment: his mouth, and eventually even his blood vessels, fuse to the female to provide her eggs with on demand fertilization.”
“Love really leaves you defenseless, huh. Sacrificing yourself for the one you love.” She said with a low voice, putting her hand on the showcase glass.
“That’s true, but not true. Yes it’s true, the fish sacrificed itself. But we are human. We have intelligence.”
“Even humans are animal.” She said.
“ANYWAY, LET’S SEE THE OTHER SHOWCASES.” She replied suddenly.
We walked through the zone and we are at the 4D theater. The theater is almost empty, so we sit at the middle area. No other people in the radius of 5 units in taxicab geometry from each of our seat. The theater will be about deep sea creatures as seen on the poster outside.
“Uhm, are you okay with horror movies?”
“Y-yes.” She said.
“Well… this might not be a good idea to watch the theater.”
“No… what could possibly go wrong? I said I’m okay. It’s about fishes anyway.” She said.
The lights turn off. The movie begins.
“The vast ocean covers about 70% of earth’s surface. From the shallow waters, to the deep waters. Where the sun can reach, and where darkness reigns. In the deep, dark water lives many bizzare creatures. Many are rarely seen. The ice cold temperature filters only the most suitable creatures can survive. Those creatures exist in a place where light can’t reach, with pressures as strong as your deadlines. We will take you through a journey you will never forget. The Sunless Sea.”
“Cool.” I said.
I looked at her. She doesn’t say a thing, very unusual. Her pupils dilated.
“Hey, can you hear me?”
“A- sorry, I’m just thinking about something.” She said.
“Hehehe… are you sure? Your hands are trembling a bit.”
“N-no, what do you mean?” She replied.
Actually, her hands are not trembling. Teasing her is fun. She is cute when scared.
Suddenly a shark jumps into the audience. It looks like coming out from the screen.
“AAAAHH-“ She screamed, hiding in my arm.
“I remember someone said it’s about fishes anyway. But I forgot who said that. Hmmm.”
“U-uh… yes. It’s about fishes anyway.”
The movie lasted for 30 minutes. She hides on my arm almost all the time.
“Hey, are you okay? You doesn’t look well.”
“I’m fine.” She said, still hugging my arm.
“If you stay like this, people might think we are a couple.”
“Sorry if this disturbs you.” She said, releasing my arm.
I can’t, she is too cute.
“Actually, it’s okay… I think.”
She grabs my arm. I think… I fall in love.