When We Crossed Paths

Chapter Five: Not Really How I Planned To Spend My Weekend

"How...much...further...are...we going?" I asked with absolutely no breath.

"We're not even at the end of the street yet!" He laughed. He said that without breaking a sweat or gasping for air. How the hell was he able to do that!? I actually felt a bit embarrassed by that. I suppose I had to take that answer to mean that it would be a while. I just had to press on.

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I couldn't even tell you how long that jog was. All I can say is that it took forever and a day. I was completely out of breath. I was drenched in sweat. I was unable to take a deep breath. I was keeled over, leaning against the wall. I was actually in physical pain. I was pretty sure I was dying.

"So how you feeling?" He asked with a sly smile. I hated him at that very moment. He wasn't in pain like me. He was out of breath but not in the same extent as me. He was still standing.

"Gr~...t!" I blurted. I was completely incapable of saying the word properly. It was just a sound of exhaustion.

He just laughed.

"Oh dear!" He said. "We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to get you in top form!"

I didn't respond. I physically couldn't. I couldn't even stand up straight.

"Here..." Nishimura said while he handed me a bottle of water.

"When did you get this?" I enquired. He didn't have a bag with him so, where did he have the water?

"I literally just walked across the road to Family Mart. Did you not notice?" He chuckled.

I seriously had no idea he left. I must've been so busy trying not to die. I accepted the water and very shakily opened the bottle and took a sip. Now, I'm not a big water fan but at that moment, it was the most delicious thing I ever had. Water never tasted so good other than at that moment. It revived me. I eventually managed to stand up straight. I looked over at Nishimura as he drank his water. He looked so poised while doing it. Like a model in an advert for bottled water.

"What?" He asked with a confused look before I realised that I was staring at him.

"Nn...nothing...nothing!" I jittered.

"Right well...our day isn't over. We need to head to the gym now for our weight training session and then Volleyball practice." He declared with a smile. It almost looked like he was excited about it.

"I hate you, Nishimura!" I yelled. His response was just laughter.

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At weight training...............

No! I've changed my mind. I'm not even talking about that! You can imagine for yourselves how it went. He laughed...a lot. Not that I couldn't lift much but because of the faces I was making while doing it. What made it worse was that he kept coming in close to show me where my hands should be and he kept placing his hand on my back to ensure I was standing straight and not curving my back (which is important to avoid injury, by the way). For him it was innocent, trying to help. For me, however, it sent chills down my back. The warmth of his hands. Feeling his breath against my neck. It was almost as if he was doing it on purpose.

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Finally, it was Volleyball practice. I was absolutely dead. I was a mere empty shell. Despite being able to go home to have something to eat and have a little rest, I still had nothing more to give. Still, I was back at the gym, ready for more punishment. We went into a squash court room since it was small and would have it to ourselves.

Nishimura was actually pretty gentle. Nothing difficult. It was simple drills. Learning to serve and to receive. We didn't have a net, we just stood at opposite ends of the room. My receives weren't actually terrible. Just had to learn not to lift my arms at the receive, just let the ball bounce off of them essentially. My serves, of course, needed improvement. I couldn't quite hit the ball straight enough or with enough power to reach Nishimura at the other end. Again, he giggled a lot. Not in a mocking way. It was funny. Although I was getting a bit frustrated that I couldn't get it right away.

"Look! Don't worry about it. It takes practice." He says reassuringly as he walks over to me. "Stand still. I'll go through the motions with you."

I start to panic internally. He was standing right close to me again. He cupped my right fist in his hand and placed his left hand under mine, which was holding the ball. His body was completely against mine. His body heat was passing through me. I could feel his breath against my neck again as he explained what I should be doing, but... I wasn't listening. All I was thinking about was his entire body against mine. I felt tingly, slightly numb. However, despite how strange it felt. I liked it. In fact, I really liked it. It felt...nice. It felt right. Like...it should always be that way. I could feel my breathing starting to stagger at that moment. I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying. I know I should've been but I was too busy...enjoying that particular moment. I honestly couldn't explain it. I didn't see it coming.

"Ready to try?" Nishimura asked.

"Huh?" I blurted.

"To try another serve? I'll guide you." He said with a smile.

Together, with his hands guiding me, held the ball in front of my right fist, which then pulled back and slammed into the ball sending it in a straight trajectory down the room.

It was perfect!

"See? You did it! Hold the ball at 5 o'clock and swing your arm in a pendulum motion and you'll be fine!" He explained.

I smiled at him. He smiled back. His face was close to mine. It was weird. It was like he was thinking the same thing. I honestly felt that I could've kissed him. That's how close our faces were. It was as though I wanted to kiss him. It would've been so easy and I think I would've liked it.

"OK!" Nishimura suddenly said taking an immediate step back from me. "I think we should stop for today. I've put you through quite a lot. You did really well for your first try!"

"Really? I wouldn't say I did!" I chuckled nervously.

"No no! Don't be silly. You did your best. We just need to keep at it and you'll get better. I promise!" He said to reassure me. "So, we're still meeting tomorrow afternoon for more training, right?"

"Yes!" I exclaimed. "Absolutely! I really appreciate everything that you're doing for me!"

"It's fine. It's what friends do!" He responded with a smile.

"Friends?" I quizzed.

"Well, yeah! I know we haven't known each other for long but...I don't know. I feel a connection with you already." He explained looking a little embarrassed.

"Yeah! Absolutely! I like that!" I smiled with my response.

He just smiled back at me. That beautiful smile.

"Well, I need to go. I'll see you tomorrow!" He said...maybe a little abruptly, I thought. I just said goodbye as he left.

I stood there. Thinking about the last 5 minutes. Everything that I was thinking. Everything that I was feeling. I wanted to kiss him. That's what I concluded. I liked how close he was to me. I liked that his body was against mine. I liked how I felt.

I then remembered the Google searches in my head and what my "research" came up with and I thought about everything else that I felt and every moment with Nishimura.

And the sudden realisation that what I actually feared had come to fruition...

I was in love...

And the person I was in love with wasn't a pretty girl...

It was a boy. A lovely, friendly, handsome boy...

And his name was...

Nishimura Asahi.