Many days passed after I met Ritou. We talked in class. Sometimes we walked together after school. We also stuided together.
I liked those movements very much.
But there was one problem.
I wanted to tell Ritou how I felt. Yet every time I tried, I became nervous. My heart would beat very fast. My mouth would not open.
So the words stayed inside my heart.
Weeks passed. Then months passed.
Still, I couldn't say anything.
One night, I was standing in front of the mirror in my room. I took a deep breath.
"I....I like you, Ritou" said quietly.
Then, I tried again.
"Ritou, I want to tell you something..."
Suddenly, someone started laughing behind me.
I quickly turned around.
Purmodo was standing at the door. He was laughing a lot.
My face became red.
"Why are you laughing?" I said.
At that moment, our father voice came from the living room.
"Why are you laughing, Purmodo?"
Purmodo quickly answered, "Nothing, dad!"
After our father became quiet again, Purmodo looked at me and smiled.
I felt very embarassed.
"I want to die... " I said.
Then I quickly lay down on my bed and covered my face.
A few minutes later, Purmodo walked into the room and sat beside me.
"Hey", he said softly.
"Don't worry so much!"
I slowly looked at him.
Purmodo continued, "Be a man, bro. If you tell her your feeling, you will feel better."
I stayed quiet.
"What if she say no?", I asked.
Purmodo shrugged.
"Then at least you tried. You will feel free after that."
He paused for a movement.
"But may be..... she will accept your proposal."
I looked at him with surpise.
Purmodo smiled.
"I have a tip", he said.
"What?" I asked.
"Propose her under the cherry tree."
I blinked.
"The same tree where you first time saw her", Purmodo said.
"And this time, be confident."
I thought about it for a long time that night.
The next day after school. I asked Ritou to meet me.
She came to cherry tree.
The wind was soft. The pink petals moved gently in the air.
My heart was beating very fast, but I rembered Purmodo's words.
I took a deep breath, then I told Ritou my true feelings.
That day changed my life.
A few months later, our first year of high school came to the end.
But our story was only beginning.