Beginning The Process

-CHAPTER 10-

Two days passed and I finally got better.

I stood up from the bed and got ready for school after taking my medicine. I still felt a bit dizzy but I can now go out.

"Good morning Yoruko." Grandma greeted while preparing the table for breakfast. I helped her with the plates and food before we could eat.

"Are you feeling better now?" I nodded, continuing to eat my breakfast.

I left the house and arrived at the school in my usual time. I went inside the room and found only myself. It was still early for others to come and I always prefer to show up earlier than normal. It lessen the risks of getting late. Plus, you can just sleep right in your chair you feel sleepy for waiting.

Classes started not long and even now, I still didn't have the will to listen. Although we had discussed this before I got sick, there was other topics I wasn't familiar with. I guess these were what they tackled in the last two days.

And then it was time for lunch.

Since the cafeteria is too crowded and I don't really include myself in groups and stuff, the best place for me to head to was none other than the rooftop.

There were no students here during lunch time because they're too busy hanging out with others so this is were I always go. I can eat here peacefully without getting bothered by anyone else. I'm barely close to my classmates so why bother hang with me?

*Ring* *Ring* *Ring*

My pocket buzzed and opened my phone to see someone calling me. Just looking at this number I already knew who was the caller.

"Yo! You free?" Yuki's loud voice echoed through the speaker that I almost threw my phone. Can't he speak quieter? I'm not favor of noisy things just to clear up.

"No."

"Stop lying. Your background is quiet." Apart from his loud voice, his hearing can be creepy sometimes. "Since, I can't go there today, I had no choice but to call you."

"Don't bother." If ever I see you here during this hour, I might jump off the building just to avoid you.

"You know, I was glad you were talking but your attitude still sucks."

I quickly ended the call and proceeded to eat my lunch. Moments after, he tried calling again but I rejected. This repeated for a while before I had enough and just answered it.

"Stop rejecting it! I'm sorry okay? But it's still true that your attitude needs practice. Don't you realize that people might misunderstood you for th—"

"I know." I knew that for a very long time...There's no need to remind me.

His voice let out a deep sigh before going back to me. "Typical Yoru. By the way, how's school? I heard they finally had that vending machine fixed. Gosh I miss going to school. I remember one of my friends got scolded for eating during lectures and I laughed so hard when he was being punished, the teacher starts scolding me as well."

I remember the way he looked at the school back then. It was like he wanted to go inside but can't. Come to think of it, he always waits for me outside the gates. There was no rule in our school that forbids visitors from entering but to him, it was like distancing himself.

Perhaps, he went here before?

"Did you know, there was this old picture hidden i—EH?! Right now? But I'm still talking t—No I'm not!—I'm serious here!—Ugh, Sorry Yoru, Sayuki's dragging me to the chemo room—I know! I'll be right there!—See you later Yoru!"

The call ended shortly after that chaotic audio. I finished my lunch before heading back since there is at least 20 minutes till the bell rang. I had nothing else to do so I guess I'll just sleep in my seat.

.

It was a good thing that the library wasn't so crowded when I went in. I said I was taking a nap in the room but what happened was I ended up here in the library. I got to the medical sections and search for something to read.

I actually don't know what a 'chemo room' is so it will be good to find out what does that mean. As my hand touched every books in the shelf, I notice an old book placed in between the new ones. Of course I took it and a piece of paper dropped on the floor. I looked at it and took the paper who which felt like a photo.

There was a writing on the paper which was hard to read because the person who wrote this has very bad handwriting. No really, this is the worst handwriting I've ever seen. I flipped the picture and saw four people on the photo. The photo seemed like it was taken not long ago. It looked very modern. This is...

.

It was finally time to go home and I got so tired. We had P.E. today and we were tasked to run 5 loops in the field. When I tell you I seriously drop in just one loop, I wasn't kidding. I got a bruise on me knee but thank goodness it wasn't a major one.

As expected, there was him waiting by the gates. But before I could continue, someone called me from behind.

"Asahina-san!" I turned around and saw a girl running towards my direction. It looked like our class president. But why is she heading to me?

She stopped when we were about a meter close to each other. He slowly catch her breath before she was finally okay. "I've been looking for you for a while. I just can't seem to catch a good timing. Good thing I finally saw you."

"S-Sorry..." It's rude to not answer right? I mean, she is my class president, even if were not that close.

"That's alright. I was kinda busy too with my friends." Friends...right.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. You were absent for two days so you didn't get to catch up to any of the notes a while. So here," He gave me a paper bag and I took them. I opened it and saw about several textbooks that I assume were hers. "You can copy my notes. The teacher said we have a quiz next week and I figured you'll fail it since you didn't have any notes."

I stared at the bag and almost didn't hear what she said. She's joking, right? Why bother handing her notes? She has to study for them too, am I right? "Asahina-san?"

I immediately looked at her and she gave a slight chuckle. "You must be thinking about what will happen to me. Don't worry, I actually have a copy of that since someone in our class also forgot to write down. You know Osamu, that guy hardly writes anything on his textbooks. I didn't get to print another copy because last night my brother accidentally spill juice on the last copy. I already reviewed them so you have no problem." She explains.

I kept biting my lower lip, unsure on what should I say. Should I thank her? Or maybe I should just give it back and say I don't care if I fail? I don't know, I feel guilty about this.

"Asahina-san, you seemed so da—"

"T-T-Thank...." Why do I keep stuttering in front of everyone I have a conversation? "...y-you."

I looked at the president and saw her eyes in hints of surprise. But then she started laughing out of nowhere which made me anxious. Did I say it wrong? "Hahaha, well that was a surprise."

She went closer to me and smiled. "You're welcome."

.

"What do you think we should get? I was thinking of some ice cream or maybe some of those gold chocolates on TV. I heard they're really popular nowa—Yoru?"

Out of a sudden, a finger poked my sides which made me flinched in surprise. What the hell?!

"You were dozing off..." I stared at Yuki in surprise. Why would he suddenly do that? Can't he get permission first?! "Are you thinking about that girl earlier?"

He must be talking about the president. "You two seem pretty close. Is she a close friend of yours?"

Friend? Was she a friend of mine? I know for sure in just a single conversation doesn't make you friends automatically. "No."

"Really?" He said, waiting for the car to pass by. "You seem pretty close. By the way, what did she give you?" He simply looked at the content of the bag and went back. "Right...you were absent for a while."

We went on a quick stop to the convenience store because this guy said he wanted to buy some food for everyone.

"Thank you for coming." The lady said when we both exited the store. We continued walking until Yuki once again grabbed me all the way to the park. We both sat on the swing, him swinging like a little kid.

"Look, Yoru, the moon's so bright today. I read that today is a full moon!" Yuki pointed to the sky, where the sole moon stands beautifully. It indeed was the full moon. I'm no Selenophile, but it sure is beautiful.

"My mom said I was born in a full moon." He suddenly said. "She said she fell in love with it that's why she gave me my name which means moon. I really find it very memorable till this day...

"I suddenly missed my mother." He said that made me looked at him. His expression says it all. He is badly honest with it. The air around us turned cold, and none of us even dared to say anything. I kinda feel uneasy in our position. I badly want to leave but I can't just leave, they might question me where he is. But he does follow me right? So I don't think it wont be a worry,

"H-hey..." I gathered all my inner courage to finally say something. I know he was looking at me and this made me nervous even more. I'm forgetting what I'm about to say...

"I-I—" I can do this. Just a take a deep breath, and speak slowly. Just like grandma says. "F-F-Friends..."

He was staring at me when I caught his eyes. I don't have a chance to back out now. And I really gotta know something, so I have to do this. "H-How does....i-it work?"

Yuki's eyes immediately widen and was unable to speak. I quickly looked away and gripped tightly on the swing. That was a bad idea. I should have never say that. I was so wrong to say that. I shouldn't have, I shouldn't have. I shouldn't. I shouldn't. I shouldn't I shouldn't I shoul—

"Hahahahahahahahaha!!" I looked beside me and saw Yuki laughing his guts out. He almost fell on the ground for laughing too hard. Seriously, why do people always laugh whenever I talk to them? Is my voice that funny to be heard? Is it because I stutter that they find it funny?

"I-I'm so sorry," He said between his laughter. "I couldn't contain it." I knew it. It was my stuttering. I should never spoke if I knew he was gonna like this. They were the same. All the sam—

"It was my first time hearing you ask something from me. I got too surprised. I think that was the longest sentence I heard you spoke of." he said after finally stopped laughing. So, it isn't my stuttering?

"W-why?" I asked. "W-what's funny?" In a cold tone, I managed to keep my cool on. I didn't want to stab this guy over a misunderstood action with no yet explanation.

"Oh that." He said before smiling at me like a kid. "It's because you were too cute saying that."

His answer quickly hit me, and I ended up turning away from him. I heard him giggle before coughing faintly. "So what you meant was, You want to know how friends work. So you never had any friends?"

I shook my head to which he understood. "And you're curious of that because of what I said between you and that girl earlier." I slowly nod after that. I can't look at him in embarrassment. It's weird to be at this age and have no friends, right? This must be what's in his head.

"I can't say I'm an expert at this to be honest. It's been a long time since I last saw my friends, and kinda forgot how I even got to be friends with them, so I guess we'll just have to figure it out. Alright!" He said, raising his hand up then pointing down. "We'll start right now."

I raised my eyebrow in confusion. I don't get it. What does he mean by that? He went closer to me with the swing coming into my direction. He held on my swing and looked at me straight in the eye.

"Starting from today, I'll be your first friend."

-AR PHANTOM