'Yummy…'
Taking a bite out of my bagel filled with cream cheese, I was met with a delightful taste.
I would've eaten breakfast at home, but I was in the mood for a treat that day.
Fortunately, the bakery I went to didn't disappoint.
'I miss spring break…'
I sat in the cafeteria at around 8 am on a Monday morning, waiting for school to start.
If you couldn't tell already, spring break has ended.
Which was truly an harrowing event.
"Elliot," Tristan called out.
Turning my head to Tristan, who sat next to me, I responded.
"What?"
"What was the name of our fifth grade teacher?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"I randomly thought of her."
'Hm? That's weird. Tristan usually isn't into random questions.'
I quickly shrugged off my confusion and spoke.
"Nishimoya, do you remember our fifth grade teacher's name?"
Nishimoya, who sat across from me, nodded.
"Yes I do. Her name was Ms. Medata," she answered.
"Oh yeah. I remember now," I said in realization.
'Now that I think of it, Medata is a pretty weird name.'
Perhaps I should've been thankful my last name was Elandrin.
"Hmm…maybe Tristan is a… thief?" I muttered absentmindedly.
"Huh? I'm not a thief. Wait, how is that even related to the conversation?" Tristan retorted.
"I dunno."
"Idiot."
**
"69?" I called out with my hand raised.
I was in the middle of math class and was just called on to answer the question on the board.
"That's right. The answer's 69," Mrs. Rivers replied.
A smile unintentionally spread across my face.
Along with that smile, my body warmed just a tiny bit.
'Nice.'
As Mrs. Rivers continued to explain the logic behind my answer, my eyes began to glance around the room.
I didn't plan on glancing for long, only for a moment.
But when I did, my eyes happened to fall on someone instinctively.
'Shin…'
He was sitting calmly, his eyes focused on the wall, seemingly admiring it.
'He hasn't bothered me since that day. What happened to him?'
Ever since the day I apologized, Shin hadn't acknowledged my existence directly.
It sort of confused me.
But honestly, I didn't have a problem with it.
My goal was no longer set on him anyway.
It was set much higher.
Much grander.
Much greater.
**
'Ugh. What a pain.'
Pencil in hand, I read the packet my class was assigned for today.
I was in my second period science class with Nishimoya.
And my heart was crushed at the thought of doing more work.
"Are you okay, Elliot?" Nishimoya whispered.
"Yeah I'm fine. You?"
"Mhm. My shoulder stings a tiny bit though," she blurted out.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
Nishimoya didn't respond and an embarrassed look appeared on her face.
For a few moments, I was left in confusion.
And then a thought came up.
"Don't tell me…did you get hit by a bus again?!"
Nishimoya scratched the back of her head.
"Not a bus this time…just a bike."
I sighed.
"You still got hit…"
If you asked me, life on the line, to name the most likely person to get hurt in a day, I'd say Nishimoya without a doubt.
Still, she was right. A bike was better than a bus.
Something had improved.
"Hey, Elliot," Nishimoya suddenly said.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think my parents will ever get less strict?"
I paused.
Nishimoya had never experienced the things I had. She had been restricted from that.
That's how it always was.
Yet, even so…
There was a chance for that to change.
"I think they definitely could. I mean you got them to let you go to the beach, right? If you keep trying, keep doing better, maybe they'll let loose a bit," I answered.
I took a silent breath.
"Just keep being you. And you'll be alright."
Nishimoya nodded.
"Will do."
**
My day went by pretty smoothly after my second period class.
It was a lot of work, but there were some fun parts too.
But more than all that, I was looking forward to the end of school.
So I could finally be with her again.
'She's playing really well today…'
Sitting on the floor, I stared at Soriel as she played.
The melody was calm that day. No sudden shifts or change in build up.
It continued, without struggle. However, it was still played beautifully.
And just like the song, Soriel's amethyst eyes sparkled.
"I don't like this one," Soriel said, abruptly lifting her hands off the piano.
"Really? I love it," I replied.
Soriel shrugged.
"I guess we have different tastes," she concluded.
"Your taste is specific. No…it's small. Like you," I mocked.
"Hey!"
Soriel gave me an annoyed look.
"Anyway, what did you do over the break?"
I stretched my neck.
"Nothing much. Visited family, played a bunch of games, and of course the beach thing we did. You?"
Soriel nodded in understanding.
"I played a few video games. But I played a lot more piano," she answered.
Her face took on a sudden look of realization, as if a lightbulb went off in her head.
"For summer break, we should all go to the beach again!"
"Sounds good to me," I replied.
After our last meet up, my opinion on beaches had drastically changed.
Now, I have a pretty positive opinion of them.
'I wonder why little me hated them so much?'
Perhaps, I'd never know.
"Hey Soriel," I called out.
"Yes?"
"I have a surprise for you."
"Really? What is it?"
I got up from the floor, seemingly about to pick up my backpack.
But instead, I swiftly slipped behind Soriel.
I put my hand at her waist and…
"Eh?! Haha…hahahahaa….wait…haha!"
I began to tickle her relentlessly.
"Hahahaha! Wait…haha! Stop!"
At her exclamation, I tore my hands away.
Soriel took a few moments to gather her wits.
Then, she glared at me.
'Uh oh.'
She got up from the piano stool and slowly approached me.
"Never. Ever. Do that again."
Soriel's face was now mere centimeters away from mine.
I could've swore I felt her breath caress my skin.
"Uh…um…" I mumbled.
Soriel, realizing how close she was, quickly pulled away.
Her face was flushed, her cheeks slightly red.
"Um sorry. I overreacted a little," She apologized.
"No, no, it's my fault. Sorry for tickling you," I responded.
The two of us stood in silence for a few moments.
And then, we both began to giggle.
Right at that very moment, I felt my feeling for Soriel grow even stronger.