A Secret Line

It was still ten minutes before the designated time. knew she was early but she can’t afford to be late for a special meeting, can she? Silently, she sat down on a quiet corner of the pastry shop. The vibrant ambience of the shop seemed too much for her but she didn’t mind the people around her one bit. She was busy herself, nervous and excited at the same time to finally meet him after three months. She really didn’t know what to expect from their first meeting. Especially if she only has one tangible clue in her mind.

[Let’s meet at the pastry shop I’ve been talking about five blocks from the school. You said you’ve been there yourself, right?  Come on, it will be nice. ü

Though you say so, what would your girlfriend-to-be say?

Don’t worry; she isn’t such a horrible person. She’s very kind and gentle. Who knows, you may become friends after I introduce you to each other.  ü

Are you sure it’s right to meet someone who knows your secrets before knowing each other?

Aah, don’t mind simple things like that. It will be more fun to talk to person you know in person. Besides, I like how you handle things and how you give advices to me. ü

Thank you very much for the compliment.

So, let’s meet tomorrow. I’ll bring you a white fluffy stuffed toy. ü How can I distinguish you from the other women in the pastry shop?

Hmm… A feather choker, would that be fine? Hey, how can I be sure that you’re the only one with a white stuffed toy?

A feather choker, then! Alright! Let’s meet at 5 in the afternoon tomorrow. ü See you!」

~~~

As the doors of the pastry shop open and sound bell after bell, could not help but look who has gone inside and out the little alcove. She has witnessed every face and package inside the place but none seem to be the one she’s looking for. He was already late. A white fluffy stuffed toy, eh? He must be a loving person. Surprised at what she had just thought, she shook her head vigorously in embarrassment. Is it possible to fall for someone you haven’t met yet? Her eyes widened in amazement at the flow of her notions. She didn’t know what could have been triggering this bizarre feeling inside her. After letting out a big sigh, she sipped her English tea and began breathing deeply to soothe her nerves.

“Ah, -chan!”

Her eyes focused on the happy, bouncy person in his Regular’s jersey approaching her table. “Jirou-kun.”

Without hesitation, he sat beside her, put his club bag on another chair and opened the menu card placed on the table top. “What are you doing here, all by yourself?” he asked curiously while scanning what he was holding.

“I’m waiting for someone,” replied shortly, not giving him enough hints to know what the affair was.

He closed the menu card after deciding on his meal and telling the waitress his order. Unknowingly, he noticed the small, red box on her lap. “Hee~, you’re having a date, -chan?” he teased. “That must his gift!”

blushed at the sound of a date. Surely, she wasn’t up for a date. It was to meet a virtual friend she had known while using the mobile phone technology. But it bothered her. This will technically become a date because she will get to know him better as a person, not another unseen presence.

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I should have sat in another table,” he added.

“I guess it’s alright. He hasn’t arrived yet,” she replied calmly as she can. “To tell you the truth, I haven’t met the person yet.”

“I may have scared the poor guy away.”

shrugged her shoulders. If he was scared of a cheery spirit like Jirou, then he must have been a crazy lunatic for fearing someone so harmless. The two of them ate quietly. Bite after bite, she squinted, hoping to find him. She tried her best not to be impatient. But what a prick he can be for letting a girl wait for him!

A little while has passed since the door chimes last rang. In a moment, the door swiftly sang its rhythm. Her eyes found their way to someone with above average height and long silky black tresses. His glasses, flecked with the afternoon sun, seemed to glint in the ambient nook. And there on his arms was something she could not believe. Her sight converged into that thing tucked between his arms and his torso.

“Oshitari-san, over here!” Jirou called out and waved his hand.

Hearing him walking his way on their table, she continued eating and sipping her tea. She let her hair cover her face a bit because she knew she was blushing madly. It’s Oshitari Yuushi? Her heart pounded harder as he stopped in front of Jirou.

“Atobe called and he told me you were here,” Oshitari dryly told him. “You shouldn’t leave things on the club room like that, you know.” He turned to and smiled, “Hello, -chan! I hope Jirou isn’t annoying you to hell. I’ll be leaving now.”

looked at him with surprise. He’s leaving already? So, he isn’t the one? In turn, she smiled back at Oshitari before bowing down to say goodbye.

“Thank you for bringing this, Oshitari-san,” Jirou waved goodbye. “I really need this.”

After seeing him give a small gesture before getting out the place, she was dumbfounded. Is it possible that…?

“What’s that fluffy lamb for?” she intriguingly asked. Fluffy… and white?

His eyes concentrated on the soft, immaculately white lamb now sitting on his lap. “I also have someone to meet here… a special friend, I must say.”

nodded in silence, finishing her English tea. Raising her arm, she reached for the end of her uniform sleeve and looked at her trusty Citizen. Twenty minutes have passed since the official time and still, no sign of him.

“Say, you told me you haven’t met the one you’re going to meet right?”

She looked at him in confusion.

“Funny, but we’re in the same situation.”

Her mind raced to one thought. A white fluffy stuffed toy? He was holding a lamb in his arms and it sat comfortably on his lap. Is it possible that… that…?

“Aah, you’ve got some nasty caramel custard on your cheek, -chan!” Jirou lightly wiped her cheek with his hankie. She froze, not knowing what to do. He reached up near her ears and beamed with pride for wiping some food bits from her face. Seeing that her hair covered a part of her face, he kindly put it away behind her ears. His face was painted with surprise when he saw a feather choker hanging on her right ear. “Jaded?”

She looked down in awkwardness and laughed softly. “So you’re Zero, then,” looked up to him shyly and tried to smile.

~~~

[Hm? Shishido-san? Yes, I know him. We go to the same school... Hey, you wouldn’t happen to be finding a friend through mobile messaging?       

I am NOT finding a friend through SMS. I was just asking if you know my classmate Shishido-san and how your mobile phone number was written on my favorite book!

Don’t be so mad. I have no idea how my number was written in your book. ü But since we’ve come in contact with each other, why don’t we continue messaging each other and begin a new friendship, ne?

Hmm… That’s not a bad idea…

I’ll introduce myself as Zero since we do not know each other well yet. I’m male from Hyoutei. You’re…?

I’ll be Jaded, a female student from Hyoutei. Nice to meet you, Zero.」

~~~ 

“I’ll carry your bag,” Jirou grabbed the bag from the table and held it tightly in his right hand. “Here.” He gave her the white lamb which Oshitari delivered a little while ago.

“Thanks,” she softly murmured, feeling shy about the incidents that occurred during the past thirty minutes or so.

“Let’s take a walk to the park, would you mind?” he asked with his infamous cheery grin.

nodded. “Sure.”

The park wasn’t a very long walk from the pastry shop. But for her, the entire time seemed like eternity to her. She could not decipher what struck him for she felt a warm hand holding hers. Above all else whirling on her mind, she could not believe who her unknown best friend was. Fate is too cruel to play this kind of game. She had told him secrets that even her childhood friend Anko didn’t know. She told him things that she liked, things that pissed her off, things that made her cry and laugh. In turn, he did the same. The only difference between them is that she did not give out names. He gave out names on who treated him, gave him a hundred laps and so. The only thing that he kept a mystery was the girl he always talked about and asked for advice.

“… And do you remember when I told you about Mukahi-san stumbling over there?” he pointed to the sandbox near the slide. “It was really funny especially when the children…”

smiled by herself. Unintentionally witnessing her do that, Jirou found a chance to snatch the red box away from her tight grip. He did so and ran away to the swing, laughing by himself.

Frowning, she quickly followed him and tried grabbing it away. “Jirou-kun, give that back!” she cried.

“But you told me this is for him,” he reasoned out.

“I did not tell you that!”

“But you did not say no,” he smirked triumphantly.

Sighing in defeat, she sat on the swing adjacent to where he was sitting. He was right. I didn’t say no. Oh, foolish me! As she looked afar and thought of his reaction, he began to unwrap the box and to open the gift. His forever happy face sparkled more after seeing what was inside.

“Aah, it’s a plushy!!!” he exclaimed like a child who has received a new toy. “So cute!” He brought out his mobile phone and placed a small string across the hair of the plushy.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Tying Ochibi-chan to where I really knew who she was,” he smiled at her. “Aah, I’m done! Thank you for making this for me, -chan.”

She cuddled the fluffy lamb harder in shyness. She could not help but feel embarrassed in front of him. wasn’t used to this kind of conversations with the happy fellow. In fact, she felt like she was always being teased. “I’d like to rest under the trees, is that alright?”

Without any words, he took her hand and pulled her into the shady banyan tree. The gentle zephyr blew on its course and frolicked around the park, making the lively boy a little sleepy. Catching her leaning on the trunk, he took his chance to lie his head down on her lap.

“Jirou-kun!” she frowned.

“I’m tired from practice,” he replied with another of his big smiles, this time, his eyes getting droopy by the moment. “Please let me rest a bit.”

As she was about to respond, the breeze gently lulled the boy into a deep sleep. could not stop herself from smiling. The spirited boy who by chance was the secret best friend she had for three months looked adorable while lying down on her lap. She ran her fingers through his smooth blond hair while in deep thought. Why didn’t I like him before? Maybe because I was envious of him. Because he can openly express how he really feels. Because he is happy all the time.

“ -chan…,” he muttered in his slumber. “… Stay by my side always…”

Her face flushed into a pinkish tinge. As the sun slowly drowned into the horizon, she lowered her head to his forehead and gave him a quick peck.

Perhaps she should start learning to be honest with how she really feels… by his side.

~~~

Sushi