The Unknown Forest

The Return of Tofu

The next day, like before, she started her daily routine, singing under the moving trees, picking up flowers, but actually it was not like before, her day has been changed since after meeting that little boy, her daily life was being filled with joy, wherever she went, it was so bright, everything she saw , it was so magnificent. Even though he was not there for her, she did not feel like she was lonely, but instead she had a feeling of longing for someone precious returning to her...

She looked up at the blue azure sky, and what she saw on the clouds was the face, of the one she had feelings for, Tofu, while admiring at the lovely sky, she only had one wish in her head, and that was for the return of Tofu.

Days and nights have passed by, the green friendly spring has passed, the kind hot summer has passed, then following by the orange warm fall has passed, finally the cold lonely winter has come...

The little girl has turned eleven, but there was no sign of the return of Tofu, but she was still willing to wait for his return, even if she did not know how long it would take, even if many years had pass, she would wait for him.

Looking out of the window, what she only saw, was the pure falling white snow pilling up, but why was it so white ? They were nor orange, nor blue, nor green, nor flowers or leaves, would she have to pass this lonely cold season again alone ? If so, then this would be her eleventh times that she had to pass this cold winter again with only her parents...

Suddenly, the girl saw a shadow of someone but she did not know who it was, because the fog was too thick and it was not very clear... After the fog was cleared, the tears from nowhere came out from her kind eyes, and a big smile had been appeared on her face, she ran out of her house without any hesitation, and that shadow was Tofu's.

She ran into him, with lots of tears and with a big smile on her face, and told him

" Tofu ? Tofu ? Is that really you ? You really did come back to me " - said by Shoyu while having a lot of tears in her eyes, her tears were dripping everywhere

She had waited for him for so long and now, she got to meet him again, we would not know how she really felt, but for her is true happiness...

" Yes it's me, but first look at you, when you greet someone, you don't cry ha ha... " - He was teasing her and at the same time, he put that kind smile to made her feel relaxed

" But first, you don't even put on winter clothes, you will catch a cold... " - he got worried, and took out a set of light blue winter clothes for her

He started by putting on her head a winter hat, gloves over her hands then slid a warm coat around her shoulders and he finally took out his scarf to wrap it around her neck. Before saying other things...

" Don't cry okay ? I'm here... " - He wiped her eyes

But the girl was still crying and he told her again...

" I'm back, Shoyu " - he put that that kind smile, that he always had on his face

" Since I have gone for so long, I didn't bring just clothes, here take this as my apologies " - He took out her hands and then gave her a heart necklace which contained a photo of him. After he gave that to her, he patted her head then gave her a little kiss on her forehead before putting her into his arms.

The girl blushed and did not know what to do afterwards, that kiss it was warm, but it was different from her parents, it was specially warm that even her, could not explain it clearly...

Even if it was winter, but for her this winter would be the first time it would bloom, and the first happiest winter she would ever had.

The boy piggybacked the girl all the way long, until they got to her house, and he told her about his adventures. After arriving, he knocked the door, her parents got out and welcomed him into their house, her father started to talk

" Oh, young boy, isn't this Tofu ? Come in, come in, you have finally returned "- He said it with a welcoming tone and a kind look

After they got in, her parents did not want to talk much to him because, they wanted them to be alone, and not to disturb them... Later the boy and the girl to the table, Shoyu was very curious and had lots of questions in mind so she started to ask him

" Tofu, may I know what do you do as living ? " - asked the girl with curiosity

" I'm a map writer, that's why I have to travel everywhere, I'm still not good at it, but one day I might become like my parents, that's my dream " - said it with all his pride

When he was younger, his parents taught him about it, but they died before he could learn much things

" Um mm, I have something else to say, did you really come back for me ? "- she was hesitated in saying or not

" How should I put this ? I came back for you, but that's not the only reason, do you remember our promise, I promised you that I will return, and I'm scared of not being able to return anymore, I don't want to break our promise, and tomorrow noon, I will have to leave again " - he was saying it with not really thinking about her feelings

She stood up immediately, there were some tears dripping from her eyes, and suddenly she ran out from her home, the boy said to wait but she did not pay attention to his words...