Mako, the grown good looking and selectively dimwitted girl, has made her debut as a second-year high schooler!
Yeehaw!
But.
This time, I am still alone. I pout openly at Sakura, Yusuke, and Shuya, who share a classroom.
"Sakura, Sakura, you should just kick this guy out," I do not whisper as I pull on Sakura's arm and point at Shuya
Sakura shakes her head, "Shuya is also my valuable friend, Mako. I will not do that,"
Heaving a sigh, I look at Yusuke for help. He says, "Shuya is helpful. I like him,"
I turn to look at Shuya then, suspiciously. Helpful?
"You may have grown a little taller," I am now reaching his collarbone, "But your attitude is as terrible as ever,"
I cross my arms and casually, happily, tell him, "You are a sight for sore eyes,"
Shuya blinks, pleasantly surprised. He is confused when Sakura and Yusuke laugh at his reaction. Gaining a little suspicion, Shuya asks me to explain myself.
I explain to him, "Looking at you, my eyes feel sore,"
Exhaling for a long time, Shuya asks me, "Do you even know what that phrase actually means?"
"Sure I know," I nod confidently, "It applies to you, after all,"
Closing his eyes, Shuya turns away from me. Hmph, this fool. Giving up so easily?
2.
Someone calls me out to meet him after school behind the school building. It's a confession! A confession, I tell you!
I don't know him, but he asks me to be his girlfriend. He doesn't say he likes me. Hmm...
I take a second or two to think and reply, "Thank you, but nah,"
"Nah?" he doesn't catch on my meaning
"No," I explain slowly, gravely, "It is a rejection,"
After blinking in confusion, he finally realises he is rejected. Narrowing his eyes at me, who is watching him casually, he nods and leaves me alone.
Ooh, isn't he a nice guy?
The window located behind the school building cracks open. A body drops out, hanging lazily over the windowsill.
I look up to see someone looking down at me. He has to climb something to reach that height, that Shuya.
"Eavesdropping is your hobby?" I ask him, honestly curious
"Only when I am in the right place, at the right time," Shuya unashamedly agrees with my deduction
Place before time, which means he has been in there from the start. Closing my eyes, I try to create a layout within my mind to reach his location.
"Are you regretting your impulse?" Shuya's voice disturbs my concentration
"What impulse?" I do not open my eyes, wondering if there is a hidden door to that room and what is Shuya doing in there? Reaching that thought, I open my eyes and examine him.
"What?" Shuya looks at me suspiciously
"Can you, lift yourself a little?" I request politely
Slowly, Shuya lifts his body from the windowsill. His uniform is all in place. His appearance is not unkempt either. He is not playing with girls in there.
Good to know Sakura and Yusuke's friend is not that despicable.
Satisfied, I walk away, leaving him alone.
2.
School excursion is fun and all. What comes after is not fun at all.
A trip which needs us to stay the nights with school friends, I am not looking forward to it. I don't have Sakura in my class!
"Don't be like that,"
"Come on, introduce us to him,"
"You are friends with him, aren't you?"
And I have these girls as my roommates. Letting out a long sigh, I agree to introduce them to Shuya.
Sakura, Yusuke, and Shuya are together as usual. When I unenergetically meet up with them, Sakura is openly worried.
I pat her arm to soothe her worry and look at Shuya. Gravely, I tell him, "My roommates want to be one with you,"
Yusuke chokes.
"Go meet them," I point at the lobby, where the girls are waiting in anticipation
Shuya looks at me, glances at the lobby I point, swipes his gaze at this corridor which we use as the meeting point, and settles with me, "No,"
I nod my head solemnly and excuse myself to report his answer to my roommates.
I can hear Sakura asks him, "Why don't you go with Mako?"
"It's not my business," Shuya replies, disinterestedly
I click my tongue when he uses this exact moment to stay out of what is clearly his business. Just so he can stay with Sakura, isn't it?
2.
In the same excursion, I am invited to play with a group of boys. I accept.
Sakura shakes her head repeatedly, telling me not to go. Yusuke stays by her side, frowning at something beside him.
What has them in such turmoil? It's just a jump diving game. We are at the hotel's swimming pool the school rents, wearing swimsuits.
I, do not fear height. I, love selective extreme games. That's why I accept their invitation, after all.
"It's dangerous!" Sakura insists
"The teachers are watching over us," I point out, softly and gently
"Half of them don't know how to swim," Yusuke tells me something I don't know
I pause, recalling the fact that I also can't swim. Sakura and Yusuke look at me suspiciously for pausing.
I let out a sigh, "I am sure I will manage,"
With that, I go to call the person drifting at the pool, "Shuya!"
He glances at me, then swims to us, "What?"
"Catch me later," I tell him, without explaining, and run off to climb the ladder
Sakura shouts, "Mako, can you swim?!"
I shake my head as I laugh, bypassing my schoolmates who are encouraging someone who is preparing to jump.
"Me next!" I tell the one managing the queue excitedly
He eyes me, up and down, and murmurs, "I saw you shake your head. You can't swim,"
"So?" I question him, seeing no problem with that matter, "I might be able to swim once I have jumped,"
"Nothing like that will ever happen," he says, but still getting out of the way for me to climb
Good thing that the crowds hold Sakura and Yusuke back from stopping me. The boys who invited me all cheer when they see me climbing.
Once I reach the top, I peek down. There are several dots in the pool, like faces looking up at me. This, is it.
Preparing my heart, with a grin on my face, I skip on the jumping board and then, with all my little might, squat....jump!!
Twirling in mid-air, I love it! Diving straight to the swimming pool, I hold in my breath and go down feet first. I am amazed that my feet reach the bottom of the pool. With that, I squat again and push myself up.
I closed my eyes when I splashed in, but I open my eyes inside the water. It's just ceramics all over the place. Inside the water, it's hard to move. My little jump to the surface is not enough. Well.
I doom myself.
Even though I want to go to university and get myself a boyfriend...
I see Shuya diving to me, so I reach out my hand to him. He grasps me and pulls me up, without trouble. The difference between people who can swim and who can't swim is so contrasting.
Reaching the surfaces, I celebrate.
"Stay still. I will take you to Sakura and Yusuke," Shuya's cool voice stops me from celebrating more
I docilely stay as still as a floaty to let Shuya has an easy time do his job. When I reach the shore, Sakura is ready to suffocate me.
I let out an internal sigh. It's nothing dangerous and it's fun. What are they worried about?
"Everything about it, from you going there to being saved by Shuya, is wrong," Yusuke tells me strictly
That's right. It's wrong for me to rely on Shuya. He is the enemy! But, neither Sakura or Yusuke want to go into the water...
"Here," Shuya comes with a towel, "Teacher asks if you need CPR,"
I stop breathing, waiting to see if I am clogged with water. Slowly releasing my breath, I reply, "I'm good. I didn't swallow the water,"
"Wrong," Shuya says, shaking his head helplessly, "The way you check it is wrong. Sakura, why don't you take her to the School Doctor?"
I know myself, my body, well. I know I am fine. Sakura listens to Shuya instead of me and drags me away. I relent.
2.
Sakura, by someone's advice, tattles to Mama and Papa about the risk I took once we are back home.
Papa is sad. Mama stays silent. Sakura excuses herself, to let me face the consequence alone.
"From now on," Mama gravely tells me, "You will take swimming lessons,"
I nod solemnly, "I start to think I am lacking a lot to face the world,"
Papa pats my back, "We will support you,"