The Lost

CHAPTER 30 The Lost

April 11, 2018 (New Present)

Six years had passed in my new life, and I didn't even notice how swiftly time had flown. Each day had been a vibrant tapestry of joy and excitement. My days were filled with an abundance of happy memories, to the point where I almost forgot I used to be a 35-year-old man.

After immersing myself in the reminiscence of those six years through my photo album, and then on top of my desk, there is a photo and that is the picture during my birthday 6 years ago and it is me and my new friends, the beautiful girl, smart boy, energetic girl, silent girl, and the delinquent boy in one frame. I already have a copy of it inside of my photo album, but this one seems to be a mystery. I found it in the library of our house. I don't know how it ended up there but there's more mystery I discovered inside that library and It includes something about Harry. And today, I can ask him about that despite knowing that he probably doesn't know about it. I have many questions to ask him. 

As I made my way to the kitchen, a heavenly aroma enveloped the air. The smell of freshly baked bread mingled with the tantalizing scent of warm chocolate and invigorating coffee, creating a symphony of flavors. It was the fragrance that greeted me every morning for the past few years, a familiar and comforting welcome.

As always, my mom's cooking proved to be nothing short of perfection. The love and care she poured into each dish were evident in every bite, a testament to her culinary prowess.

With breakfast nearly finished, the sound of the doorbell resonated through the house. It must be her.

Ever since her family moved to our neighborhood and became our neighbors, our parents decided it was best for us to attend school together. After all, we were just classmates. The arrangement fostered a closeness between us, a bond that only grew stronger over time.

I must hurry now. I grabbed my backpack and bid farewell to my parents. 

"I'm leaving, mom and dad. Thank you again for the delicious breakfast."

"Yeah, be careful going to school and enjoy okay?" My dad said while waving his hands. 

"Okay Dad!" 

Stepping outside, I caught sight of her patiently waiting for me. Her beauty remained a constant marvel, accentuated by the neatly donned high school uniform. The navy blue blazer perfectly complemented her silky brownish blonde hair, which was adorned with a small red rose hairpin, a delicate touch of elegance. The white collared shirt underneath emphasized her grace, and the plaid skirt she wore fell just above her knees, exuding youthful charm. Completing the ensemble were her knee-high socks, crisply folded and impeccably aligned. The high school uniform, combined with her signature small red rose hairpin. 

"Goodmorning Justin!" She greeted me with a wonderful smile. 

"You're way more beautiful than morning." That's what I always wanted to tell her but… I can't. 

Instead, I just replied with my usual response. "Yeah, goodmorning, Arian. Sorry for waiting for me."

"Not at all, I just got here." 

That basic conversation is straight up from some movies and shows but It's fun as long as I can see her bright smile every morning. 

We started walking me and my crush to school.Peaceful at it is, we were walking on the side of the road, on the side of it is running river, and while the cherry blossoms falling from the tree. The feeling of Spring is really peaceful. 

I always started my school year with this. Compared to my past life, this is thousands way more better. 

While walking, I can't help but to take a glance with her, I don't know whether she noticed it, but I don't want to get caught so I always do it swiftly as I can. She's beautiful as ever. The way her face was lighten by calm sun light, the spring wind blows her hair, its all elegant. But… I feel, she's quite silent today. How can I notice that? Were been together for 6 years and I already quite knowed her. I already used of her, its not shes always talkative but today, she just quietly walking along side me and I'm confident that she also taking glance at me. 

Am I just imagining things? Probably. 

To break the silent looming us, I started a simple conversation with her. "It's spring again isn't it? Were going to start a new year of school. Time just flew past by and now we are highschooler. It's cool isn't?" 

"Yeah, time is truly fast." She replied while looking ahead, then she turned her head to me and said, "But it's been fun, truly." 

My heart skips a beat when she says that I but quickly suppress it. 

"But you know what, I feel today would be a different day than our previous schooling opening." 

"What do you mean by that?" She asked, a little bit confused. 

"Well, you see, our school is implementing a block section system and every year, we've only seen the same faces but different classrooms and teachers." She is still looking at me puzzled about what I am saying. 

"Now today, I have a feeling that it will change, not in the way that it completely changed but a new face will arrive in our class which will make it more interesting and fun. But you know I just have a feeling that from today our class will be more fun." 

I speak of this in hypothetical terms, but I know it will undoubtedly happen. Everything is about to change because of him, and it's all for the better. Arian, too, will inevitably fall in love with Harry once again.

I've known this for a while, which is why for the past six years, I've been battling against myself. I cannot... I must not fall in love with her. One reason being that I am a 35-year-old man trapped in the body of a 14-year-old boy. It feels inherently wrong to develop romantic feelings for an innocent girl of 14. Yet, despite this understanding, why does it still ache so deeply?

Every memory shared with her, every experience we've had together floods my mind. The night we gazed at the starry sky, the moment she fell into my arms during her play, our visit to the panda theme park, the meals we've shared... And every morning, there she is, as we grow together. I've become more attached than I intended. It is my fault that it hurts this much. Should 

I confess my love to her? No, perhaps not... That's what I've told myself. But if I were to listen to my heart, it tells me that I must express my love to her... though I wonder if it would change anything.

Today, she will reunite with the one she loves most. They will cross paths again, and she will fall in love with Harry once more. She may finally find the courage to express her love for him, something she hasn't done before.

I vividly remember the day we discovered that Harry had passed away, and her inconsolable weeping. She often wondered why he had to leave before she could confess her true feelings for him.

Her cries resonated loudly, and I felt my heart constrict, making it difficult to breathe. She truly loves Harry, and today, she will love him again. On this day, their paths will cross once more. 

I accept that she will be able to convey her heartfelt emotions to Harry this time. It will undoubtedly hurt me, but it is their destined future.

What matters most to me is that in the four years we have spent together, she has been an integral part of my daily life, bringing immense happiness…

I'm just glad that compared to my past life, where before she hated me indirectly because of my father but now, we have become really good friends. I think it's already enough… is it really enough? 

Through the countless days by her side, I witnessed various facets of her personality, and I must admit, I fell in love with each and every one of them.

We have arrived at our school and entered our new classroom.

I opened the sliding door and there, same faces. 

Before we entered the room the energetic girl would also get in, "Oh you two, goodmorning!" She spoke in her signature energetic manner. 

"Goodmorning, Minari." The beautiful girl replied to her in a womanly manner. "Goodmorning, energetic as ever huh?" I also said, 

"Of course! It's a new school year after all and we should welcome it with pure positive energy."

After a smile, she finally entered the classroom and greeted the smartest kid who was engrossed in manga, he became an otaku. "Hey! Goodmorning Kurt! Good day for being an otaku again." The energetic girl said in a mocking manner and she didn't stop there, "What are you reading? Another unrealistic romance manga? Heh that's probably why until now you didn't get yourself a girl." 

I can see the eyebrows of the smartest kid flinching but he remained his composure and then he raised his eye glasses like a main protagonist then said, "Oh yeah, thanks for your compliment, maybe you can say it is unrealistic but did you experience something realistic in the first place? And let me tell you, girls in this manga are a hundred times better than you. So just shut up normie, I'm already tired of your face." He said in a superior manner. 

"What did you say?!" The energetic girl pulls her sleeve to her arms to show she's ready to brawl with the smartest kid. "I said I'm already tired of your face, just every year for 6 years and many more years with repetitive faces again and again. 

"You-!" 

Seeing that scene, me and the beautiful girl just laughed because it is hilarious. I don't know whether they get along pretty well or what because for the past years, they are always being like that, but it's better than before where they really fight in a serious manner because of the smartest kid father, that lawyer steal the farming land of family of the energetic girl, because of that energetic girl despised him and the smartest kid that time was unbothered but still dissing for her own stupidity knowing she ranks the lowest on our class. I'm just glad that they are still fighting until now but in a good way. I think of them as a good couple, but chaotic. 

We proceeded to enter the room and before we sat down, we greeted our other friend and that is the silent girl and the delinquent guy where sitting to each other and looking at their notes. Compared to the first pair, they are the opposite, it's quiet and peaceful.

"Goodmorning, Ralph, Shaena. What are you guys doing?" I asked. 

"Ralph is currently helping me with the lyrics of my new song." Shaena answered. 

Apparently Ralph is good at writing like his journalist father. He excels at any literature subject and he is very good at poem, novel or any writing. Shaena on the other hand turns out to have a beautiful voice. She's very good at singing and her vocal range is wide, not only that, she can also play any instrument very well. 

Both of them are usually together because Ralph is the lyrics maker and Shaena is the one who composes the melody and sings it. They are a very good pair and maybe a couple. Like the latter I observed them as a couple by the year. But maybe I'm wrong, but if that is, then it's good. I'm also glad that there's also changes in their lives like the delinquent guy not bullying me anymore and the silent girl who now has a beautiful voice. 

We sat in our own chairs and waited. In a few minutes, when our classroom door opens, we will meet Harry. 

While waiting, I can't help being nervous for whatever reason, and I don't know why I feel I'm not the only one who's nervous. People around me are just staring at the door, and they don't seem to be comfortable either. Why do I feel really tense around? 

The moment of truth, our classroom door finally opened, but our homeroom teacher was the only person who entered our classroom. 

What's going on? To my recollection, our homeroom teacher and Harry entered simultaneously. But why now only our teacher enters our classroom. 

Maybe Harry was just late. Hmm, hmm, that may be the case. I guess I'll just wait. 

Our class has started, and the teacher has started teaching. After a few minutes, no one was still opening the door.

 A few hours had passed, and Harry was still gone, and I already had uneasy feelings, and I felt I was not the only one. 

We had our lunch break in just a few minutes. When our teacher said we could have a lunch break, my crush quickly left the classroom, followed by my other friends. Of course, I also went out because I would look at the bulletin board with the list of all transferee students.

When I saw the hall where the bulletin board was, I also saw my crush and my friends; they were all looking closely at every page of the list and all of them. Their eyes are wide open. 

I approached them and asked them, "What are you looking at on the list?" 

I also looked at the list to find Harry's name.

I scrolled through every name on the list… 

It can't be… Harry was not on this list… What happened… He was supposed to be here, But now… his name was nowhere to be found. 

I immediately headed towards the Principal office, where my Grandma was. I rushed to the door, and my Grandma greeted me.

"Oh hello Justin! What do you need?"

"Uhm grandma, do you have a list of new students here at our school?"

My Grandma replied while opening her drawer. "Of course, the list is here. Why? Do you have a friend who has transferred here yet?"

I didn't answer Grandma's question, and I just took the list right away. I searched every page carefully for Harry's name. I still can't find his name.

I can't believe this. Why was his name nowhere to be found?

 What happened?

I thought today I could repay him for his kindness, but now… he was not here. How am I supposed to save him this time? How?! 

He's the first person who found me. He was the first person who became my friend. Where is he now?

No, I will not surrender yet. Maybe he was still here; everything had changed, and maybe this moment too. I can't expect everything to be the same as in my past. 

This time… I promised… I… am the one who will find him. 

He found me before, and this time… it's time for me to find him.

Where are you? Harry. 

VOLUME 1 -END-

To be continued.