Postcards and Polaroids

Postcards and Polaroids

At the airport...

[The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area. Please try your call later....] It was the nth time that he dialed the same number for that day, he had no clue if the messages he had sent were read or not.

"I only have a few minutes before the flight." and he let out a deep sigh of disappointment.

"Tezuka" a familiar voice called out to him, it seems like it's been ages since he last heard her voice, and he turned and responds at her

"Yuuki" a weak smile is painted on her face, she became thinner from the last time they met, when was it again? Ah, before he entered the U-17 camp, her complexion was much paler and her eyes somehow looked dim.

"I just called you... Why haven't you been answering my emails?" it was a random question as he walk near her

Then she chuckles,

"Why are you laughing?" he showed his same stoic face

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way... It's just, I can't answer your entire question at once..." she gave a warm smile that melted him

"I just missed you so much..." he embraced her in his arms and she does the same

"Me too..."

It was a moment of silence; they just felt each other's warmth...

"Tezuka, I will miss you, but please always remember... No matter what happens from now on, you will be the only man that I love."

"I'll be leaving only to study and continue my rehabilitation in Germany, I'll call you every time. So don't speak as if it's the end." After those words he rains her with small kisses from her forehead to her cheeks.

"I'm sorry... but it all ends here..." she said in an emotionless tone

His body becomes stiff for a moment, then he touches her face with a vote of his palm touching it.

"What are you saying?" he's still shocked

A tear falls from her eyes, if it's regret, tenderness or melancholy... the feeling is unknown to both of them, not until this moment.

[All passengers of flight No. A0316 is requesting to go onboard.]

"This is goodbye Kunimitsu... Maybe, we'll not meet each other again..."

And she frees herself from his touch and he watches her as she fades away from his sight...

10 years later....

[The elimination round for the European Open is leading by last year's Deutsch Championship, Kunimitsu Tezuka, who won the game in a snap with the score of six games to zero. ]

(TV Commercial ends)

"Chi-san! Chi-san! That guy on TV is so great!" said the little boy to the woman who is working with her laptop.

"I see, Yukitsu, are you interested in playing tennis? Lately I've been hearing and seeing stuff in your room." She asked the young boy who on the other hand climbs the chair beside her and gives her a tight hug

"Yes! Yes! I like to play tennis just like To-san!" he replied in a childish manner

"You're so cute as always!" she gave the same tight hug in return and tickles his sides

They were in this situation when the door opens and a guy in his late 20's or almost 30's wearing a gray suit, his serious face is making him look so intimidating as he enters and walks towards the woman and the child.

"The two of you don't look like mother and child at all." He said that caught the attention of the two

"To-san!" screamed the little child and runs to him, he bent on his knees and catch the kid in his arms and raises him up in the air that makes the little boy giggle as he feels like flying

"You got bigger now Yukitsu, you're heavier than the last time we've met!" he said as he carried the boy in his masculine arms.

"Ah, Kazuya-kun, what a surprise." She walked towards the guy and gave him a peck on his cheeks. (Kazuya Tokugawa is his full name, he is one of the highschoolers in U-17 camp)

"How have you been Yuuki?" His intimidating and serious expression softened to her as he caressed the side of her face.

"Just the usual, lucky that I have this little angel by my side, he relieves my stress at the company."

Their image is like a happy family together.

A father

A mother

And son ...

They were having lunch when the butler came in and gave a letter to Yuuki.

A glimpse of fret is written on her face as she reads what's inside the letter.

"Something is wrong?" Tokugawa asked when he noticed her reaction

"Ah... it's nothing..." she tried to hide and escape the question

"Yuuki..." in a firm and worried tone, Yuuki stared at him; she knows that Tokugawa is just concerned about her. He has always been like this ever since they met ten years ago.

Flashback

"Who are you?" She was shocked when a man entered the room. As far as she can remember, this guy is wearing the uniform of the U-17 participants. She just can't determine whether the guy is a high school or middle school student.

" I-..." she doesn't know but she wipes the tears that start flowing on her eyes, it's intolerable anymore that she just lets out a cry and falls on her knees.

"Hey! I'm just asking who you are, why are you crying?!" he panics not because she was crying or that she is afraid of him, the problem is when another participant sees her in such a situation it will be such trouble.

In reflexes he strips his jersey and covers her with it, Yuuki is surprised with the guy's action.

"Ugh.. I- I'm sorry.. It's just i..." she tried to explain between her sobs

"Sssh... In this way, just calm down... I just think that girls don't want guys to see them cry right?" he said in a monotone

"Ah...t-thank you..." a moment of silence envelopes them

"My name is Tokugawa Kazuya, I'm one of the participants in this camp. Based on your attire you're one the guests who came in with the coaches, right?"

"Yes, I am... it's just I am caught in such unexpected circumstances and before I knew it, I'm already in this room." She is much calmer now and was able to talk even though she's sniffing.

"I guess, I'll contact them right away so you can go back with them."

"Thanks..." she replied, as Tokugawa dialed the local of the directors, when he was done calling, he stared at the sad expression in the young lad's eyes... it's a deep dark blue color enveloping in sadness...

"If you need someone to talk to, you can tell me." It's just one sentence that makes her turn her head to the person in front of her trying to confide her feelings.

Flashback ends

"We'll have a high school reunion next month and everyone is encouraged to attend" she explains plainly

"You'll be coming?"

"I think I won't..." there is the confused look in her

"Chi-san, is that a party? Yukitsu is coming too!" the young child pleads to her

"I think you should go, or is it that you're worried you might see that person again?" it's a look with jealousy

"I've told you before, I already moved on and besides I'm the one who broke up with him so there's no need for me to worry about any lingering feelings anymore." She answers confident

"Then go attend the event, Yukitsu and I are coming with you." His words are in a firm tone

"Eh!?" she was surprised

"Yey! We're going to the party! To-san! To-san let's play a lot there okay?" the boy who seems so cheerful melte Yuuki's heart and agreed with them to attend

Meanwhile...

"Do you think she's coming?" asked by Fuji who is now an editor in an international sports magazine

"Of course she will, it's been a long time she even cut our communication after graduation, we will do anything to make her attend" it was Megumi Atobe, she's been assisting her husband in running their family business

"Ah, Yuuki-chan is so sly, I'm gonna make her spill the beans once I see her, wonder what she's doing now" said Aoi who is a pediatric doctor

"Maybe it'll be quite interesting, I know that there's something between those two during high school, I wonder what will be their reaction once they meet again" Then it was Oishi who is also in the same medical field, his profession is more of Orthopedic for Sportsmen who got injured.

"Really? You mean Tezuka and have been keeping a secret about their relationship?" Aoi was quite surprised, on the other hand, Fuji and Megumi remained silent.

"What is it about me?" a man with the stoic face that has matured came in the room and join their circles

"eh, Tezuka I heard that you kept a secret from us way back in high school. Would you mind telling us the details?" it was Aoi who is teasing him a little

"I don't know what you are talking about." He said in a firm tone

"C'mon! Tell me something, what's with you and Yuuki? I know that you're the reason why she entered the tennis club" upon hearing the name "Yuuki" his face reaction changes, it became more serious and there's a sudden sharp look in his eyes

The atmosphere is quite tense...

"I don't remember anyone with the said name, well then I'll see you at the event because I'll be busy for the coming week for my training."

It was cold and emotionless

The four were left dumbfounded thinking all the same thing

What is the cause to shatter the relationship of those two?