I am happy.

WAKE YOUR DREAMS

I am happy.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Kiyoko was slowly walking towards the staircase of the second floor of her school building. She was carrying her school bag.

It was their last working day before the school closes for the long summer vacation.

The classrooms were being decorated by the in-charge students for the upcoming school festival. Kiyoko was returning home as she not given any work to do by the class president.

Who would even want her to stay? She was boring. She will only ruin the festive mood. But Kiyoko was happy. She had already planned to spend a long evening at the city library writing her web novel.

While she was walking through the corridor, she saw some boys were carrying a huge banner. It was the school banner which Zehan was painting the other day. Zehan was also present among the boys.

Kiyoko felt her heart racing the moment she saw Zehan's face.

Zehan glanced at Kiyoko but turned his face quickly.

Zehan passed by her.

"He is ignoring me."

Kiyoko mumbled to herself. She turned to look back. She could see Zehan's back. He smiled and spoke with the boy next to him.

'Why is he ignoring me?'

'Why?'

'Did I do something wrong?'

After that eventful day when Zehan kissed her, Kiyoko thought Zehan had some feelings for her.

But Zehan started ignoring her the next morning. They would hardly have dinner together.

'Zehan is busy because of the school festival.' Kiyoko told herself.

They do not travel to school together anymore.

They do not talk much. Every time they met, he seemed kind of restless.

It was kind of awkward. There was a silence.

'Didn't he have feelings for me?' 'Or is it me imagining things again?'

'Is he regretting?'

It was like two years ago.

She had no one to talk to, no one to share meals with. Her parents were always busy taking care of her younger brother. Her parents moved to the Kyoto school district claiming that it would be better for her brother to stay there and focus on studying. They returned home during the summer and spring holidays. But they rarely came now.

It was alright for Kiyoko. 'She loved to be alone.'

She could do anything she wanted. She spent most of her free time in the libraries. It was also during this time she started writing web novels.

But when, Zehan came down to Kyoto to stay with her. She realized that she did not like to be alone. It was because she was too used to being alone since a long time that she did not know how it felt to be 'not alone'.

She learnt how it was good to have someone she could have a meal with. She could greet someone 'Good morning'. She could talk with someone. She wanted to spend more time with the certain someone.

Over the time, she realized she started to have feelings for him.

Kiyoko was walking by the lakeside.

The lake was tranquil as Kiyoko sat beside it trying to gather her chaotic thoughts.

The evening sun cast a long shadow of the old sakura tree.

"Will he never talk to me?"

Kiyoko whispered and hugged herself.

'Will he also abandon me?'

'I do not want to be alone again.'

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The school premise was decorated with colorful banners. The classrooms were decorated and set up as different stalls. The school gymnasium hall was turned into a temporary restaurant and a stage was set up on the school ground.

The festival would continue for two days. The campus was packed with students, alumni and the people who came to visit the festival.

After the class photo shoot got over, Kiyoko quickly left her classroom. She made through the jostling crowd. It was lively and noisy around her.

She was passing by the school ground when she noticed a very familiar figure among the crowd. She halted.

Zehan was dressed up as a vampire. He wore a red cape and a black suit. He was serving drinks to the customers.

The 12th grade had set up a horror café. The students were dressed up as creepy characters and were serving the customers.

A girl wearing a witch hat came over towards Zehan. It was Sakura. She said something to Zehan and smiled gleefully. Zehan smiled back and rushed inside the café.

"Student, can you move from here? You are blocking the path." A teacher said rigidly.

Kiyoko quickly rushed out towards the school gate.

The teacher glanced at the running girl and said to himself. "Did I say something terrifying?"

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It has been two weeks since the school closed for the summer holidays.

The bright sun poured through the window. Kiyoko walked across her bedroom towards the calendar which hung on the wall.

She put a cross on a certain number on the calendar. It was 14th August.

She put up a radiant smile upon her face. She was going to celebrate her birthday in her own way. She has planned a lot since it would be her special day. She had become an eighteen year old.

Zehan was away on his class trip and he would be returning after two days. During the two years of his stay, they always had celebrated their birthdays together.

Zehan was the only one who wished her a happy birthday. He did it this year also. He sent her a message and a gif wishing her a birthday.

Kiyoko put on her best dress. She was going to the museum.

............................................................…..

After her tour to the museum, she spent time at her favorite library. She also brought her favorite dumplings from the famous snack shop in Kyoto.

She returned home rather late in the evening. She hastily freshened up and sat at the kitchen table while savoring the dumplings she bought.

It was 8 pm. A few hours to go before her eighteenth birthday would be over.

She smiled a bit. The dumplings were warm and tasty. But she felt lost.

''I am happy.''

''I enjoyed so much today.''

She told to herself.

RING-RING~

Kiyoko's phone was ringing. She picked up the phone to see the caller ID. It was her mother.

'She never calls her this late?'

'Does she remember my birthday?'

'She is calling me to wish me.'

Kiyoko hastily picked up the call.

"Hello mom."

"A letter might be sent there by tomorrow. Your father has mistakenly given that house address. Kiyoko, can you send to this apartment address?"

Kiyoko smiled and said," Yes I will do that."

"Thanks Kiyoko. Are you fine?"

"Yes."

"Oh your brother is calling me. I have to hang up. Good night."

"Yes. Good night Mom."

The caller from the other end put down the call.

"What was I even expecting? I am such a naïve idiot."

A smile lingered on her face.

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END OF CHAPTER 5