Part: I didn't know what she meant
Note: This story is based on the Point Of View Of Male Character.
Today's wind reminds me of you. This was supposed to be your favourite weather. I can imagine you laughing and smiling in the rain. You were the reason of my smile. You were the only colour in my black and white life. I've always hated rainy season because of the day my house caught fire. It was raining that day and still the fire did not extinguish. And now I love rainy days. Because it reminds me of you... Yuzuki.
FLASHBACK:
It was windy outside. Rain droplets were falling down on the ground slowly yet heavily. I hated this kind of weather. The world outside looks full of sorrow and darkness during this time.
The rain started pouring heavily. Today I forgot to check the forecast. I was in a hurry to buy band-aids. As a result, I forgot to bring my umbrella.
A girl my age came and stood under the shed I was standing. My eyes guided me towards her hands. She was holding an umbrella.
"Excuse Me," I said. She confusingly looked at me, tilting her head towards the right.
"You're holding an umbrella. Still standing under the shed?" I asked.
She glanced at the umbrella she was holding and said, "Oh! This! I don't carry an umbrella for myself. It's for those who want to be rescued from the rain." She smiled.
"I don't leave my house unless it rains or snows. But I like windy and rainy days," she continued.
"She talks a lot. I do not like rainy days. I forgot to check today's forecast and that's how I ended up here," I spoke.
"I see..." she paused. "Is someone hurt? You bought band-aids," she asked.
"Yeah... My nephew. He collided with a man on the street and hurted his leg," I told.
"Here," she offered me her umbrella. "Take it. I keep it for people like you," she smiled again.
"How will you go home if the rain continues?"
"No worries. The rain will stop within minutes. And even if it doesn't, I keep a raincoat with me," she answered, feeling the raindrops on her palm.
"Thank you. How will I return it to you?"
"I have tons of them. Keep it. If we met again by chance, I'll collect it back," she laughed.
I nodded, I opened the umbrella and started off. That girl was odd. So talkative. Who talks with a stranger this much?
I went home and took care of my nephew. The next day is my college's first day of the new semester.
I woke up at 5 am, got freshened up, did household chores, cooked breakfast for my nephew and drove him to his house.
It's almost nine and I need to go to college. I went through my texts quickly. I'll have to pick up Lucas and Noah.
At the college, I parked my car and went straight to the lecture room. Lucas is meeting the juniors while Noah is gathering students interested into the basketball club.
The same girl I met yesterday entered the classroom. She spotted me instantly. She smiled at me, but I didn't. I pretended as if I don't know her.
The lecturer entered. We all greeted him and he proceeded with the lecture. He told us the rules of his physics lecture. Then he wrote four questions on the board and asked us to answer them.
I always like to answer first in the class. I was solving as fast as I can. I got it! The answer!
"Sir! It's 47N!" I answered. But it was not only me who answered. Someone answered it with me.
In each and every question, that girl and I were answering at the same time. As the questions ended, sir called me and that girl upfront.
"Today, most of the questions were answered by them. And now, time for a final trivia. I'll write down a question on the board, and both of them have to solve the same question. The one who answers first will be the winner," he announced. The whole class cheered.
The teacher wrote down the question and the time started ticking. I was completely focused on solving the question.
"Done!" we both said at the same time. The whole class laughed again.
"Well well... Let's check the answers," he paused. "Both are correct. It's ironic that both of you completed the question at the same time with correct answers, but methods are completely opposite." The teacher chuckled.
The class ended. We had three free slots before the second lecture, so I decided to have a long study session at the library. I entered the place and saw that same girl sitting at the table where I used to...
"Excuse me. That's my place," I sternly spoke.
"Oh! My bad, I'll sit somewhere else. It's empty anyways," with that, she stood up with the books.
"Never mind. If you're settled already, sit down. I won't mind," I told her.
"Thank you. By the way, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yuzuki Amone," she smiled.
"Daizen Vale."
With that, we both dug into our studies. I should have found this girl annoying but I like her smile. Every time she smiles, my heart skips a beat. She reminds me more of my mother. Okay! Stop distracting yourself and study.
"Are you okay? You seem lost. If you're getting disturbed by me, I can shift," she spoke softly.
"No, no. It's just some stupid matters."
"Oh! Okay."
She was too focused on her studies. Should I talk with her? But I don't know how to start a conversation... let it be. Control yourself, Daizen.
Finally, today's lectures are at the end. It will be raining today so I better get going. Yuzuki would be staying as it's her favourite weather.
As soon as I reached home, it started raining heavily. I'm just too good at predicting the rain. That girl is distracting me. Her smile. I can't say anything about it.
Okay, enough. I need to buy some groceries urgently. Let's go. I headed down to the same convenience store, hoping that Yuzuki might still be there. And there she was.
"Hey! I thought you hated rainy days!" she spoke.
"Yes, I do. But I needed to buy groceries. I came for you. I see now," she murmured.
"You're not carrying an umbrella today?" I asked.
"I- I gave it to a child who was trapped under a tree," she hesitated.
"But it's raining heavily today and it won't stop for an hour."
"I have a raincoat. And I can always buy an umbrella," she said.
"I can drop you off... If you want."
"Really? That's so sweet of you. Thank you," she flushed.
I never ask people to let me drive them off. That too on a rainy day. Should I ask her to be my friend? Ah! There's an awkward silence between us.
"So... should I consider us friends?" she asked, looking at me.
"I guess you can..." I paused. "How to start a conversation?" I asked.
"Starting a conversation can be as easy as saying hello," she continues.
She was talking regarding it till we reached her home. She said, "Sorry... I was talking a lot."
"It was fun... Hearing you talk."
She blushed. My heart skipped a beat again. It started beating fast.
"Can you pick me up tomorrow?" she asked.
"I can," I quickly replied.
I wasn't able to sleep that night, due to which I woke up feeling sleepy. But I need to get freshened up and pick Yuzuki.
As soon as I reached home, it started raining heavily. I'm just too good at predicting the rain. That girl is distracting me. Her smile. I can't say anything about it.
Okay, enough. I need to buy some groceries urgently. Let's go. I headed down to the same convenience store, hoping that Yuzuki might still be there. And there she was.
"Hey! I thought you hated rainy days!" she spoke.
"Yes, I do. But I needed to buy groceries. I came for you. I see now," she murmured.
"You're not carrying an umbrella today?" I asked.
"I- I gave it to a child who was trapped under a tree," she hesitated.
"But it's raining heavily today and it won't stop for an hour."
"I have a raincoat. And I can always buy an umbrella," she said.
"I can drop you off... If you want."
"Really? That's so sweet of you. Thank you," she flushed.
I never ask people to let me drive them off. That too on a rainy day. Should I ask her to be my friend? Ah! There's an awkward silence between us.
"So... should I consider us friends?" she asked, looking at me.
"I guess you can..." I paused. "How to start a conversation?" I asked.
"Starting a conversation can be as easy as saying hello," she continues.
She was talking regarding it till we reached her home. She said, "Sorry... I was talking a lot."
"It was fun... Hearing you talk."
She blushed. My heart skipped a beat again. It started beating fast.
"Can you pick me up tomorrow?" she asked.
"I can," I quickly replied.
I wasn't able to sleep that night, due to which I woke up feeling sleepy. But I need to get freshened up and pick Yuzuki.
It was a sunny day. I picked her up.
She handed me breakfast. "Here, my sister cooked you breakfast."
"Thank you."
As we reached college, everyone was looking at us and gossiping. Yuzuki was looking at me.
"Don't mind them. It's just a super rare sight for them to witness."
Days, weeks and months passed away. And we started to hang out more. We used to go and come from college together, spent time in bookshops and shopping saree (stores).
Time went by quickly. Yuzuki and me were getting to know more about each other. We were almost inseparable.
The day of the field trip arrived. She was sitting right beside me in the bus. She was enjoying the sight outside the window and I was enjoying looking at her mesmerized.
After half an hour, she fell asleep. Her head was dancing right to left. In order to save her from neck stiffness, I placed her head on my shoulder.
Seeing her sleeping peacefully with her head placed on my shoulders made my heart melt.
We reached the campsite on a full moon night. She adored the moon and I adored the one looking at the moon. That was when I realised that I LOVE HER.
"You there, Daizen? Why are you zoned out on a trip?" she threw a tantrum.
"I'm tired, after all you were sleeping at my shoulder during the whole journey."
"Oh! Was I?" she embarrassingly asked.
"Good Night."
"Good Night," she smiled.
I closed my eyes and slept. I suddenly woke up feeling panicked. My blood pressure increasing. I need to get out of the tent.
I went outside and sat near the river.
"What are you doing here, Daizen? In the middle of the night? It's past midnight. You should have slept, especially when you feel sleepy if not slept for 8 hrs straight," I heard Yuzuki's voice.
I burst out crying... Not too loudly... But too softly, just audible enough to reach her.
"Why are you crying? I didn't mean to..." she paused.
I continued sobbing. "Something's wrong. Come on. Spill it out," she said.
She settled down beside me looking at the moon. "When I was a kid my father murdered my mother and he was sent to prison. After that, it had always been me and my sister. Being young, she was not able to earn bread enough for the both of us. So instead of studying like most of the people her age did, she started earning money and worked in order to complete my education. As my father was sent to prison, we were often called 'Criminal's Daughters' and then we left the town. After shifting here, my sister got a good job and enough money for both of us to live," she told me with watery eyes.
"I can't see you crying, Yuzuki... The smile you wear on your face is worth dying for..." I wiped her tears.
"Now tell me why you were sad," she demanded.
"I was around fifteen when my brother took a gunshot for me and died. He was my parent's favourite child. They kept blaming me for his death every now and then. I was used to it... It was obvious that they hated me. One day, our condo caught fire and someone locked the living room's door from outside. The fire was spreading quickly. Our only hope was the window on fifth floor. In order to save me, my parents threw me down through the window, and I was caught by a fire man. When I opened my eyes, I was at the hospital and my parents were dead," I started weeping.
She hugged me tightly. "My My... You have gone through so much, Daizen. You handled everything very well on your own. Your parents and brother might be feeling proud on you."
"I misunderstood them, Yuzuki... I lost my family because of me. Everyone was protecting me and I... I was just hating them. I wish that it should have been me who died."
"Daizen... Shut up! Your parents loved you. They made such a big sacrifice for you to blame yourself. They found your life worth saving. Live for them... Live for those who respected your life more than theirs. Live for ME, Daizen," she sobbed.
'Live for ME, Daizen,' echoed in my mind for a minute. Yuzuki... If the only reason why I am alive right now is you.
"Let me take you somewhere tomorrow!" I told her.
"Where?" she excitedly asked.
"It's a surprise!" I chuckled.
The next day I was planning to take her to a forbidden place which my brother took me once... I wanted to confess my feelings to her today.
"When will we get there?" she asked, out of boredom.
"Soon..."
"It has already been evening... You drove for five hours straight."
"Patience, Yuzuki. Trust me, the place is worth the time."
I speeded up! I can't suck out her excitement by the time. The speed was over 140. I need to apply brakes. Oh, Fuck! The brake is not being applied. The brakes fouled. I tried to maintain my composure as I don't want her to be worried. And started pretending as if everything's fine.
"Daizen, I want to tell you something."
"Yeah... Go on. I'm listening," I answered.
"I love my sister a lot. She literally sacrificed her education for mine. If in future... If anything happens to me... Promise me that you will take care of her just as you would have taken care of yours. You would never let her feel my emptiness and would never make her sacrifice. Feel nothing... I have written a letter for you if something happens. Do read it," she smiled at me.
"How can you speak about this topic smiling? Yuzuki... I'll never let anything happen to you. I'll protect you from the death if something's happens."
"That's good to hear."
Oh! No... There is a turning ahead. I can't turn at such a speed and can't go straight as there is no road ahead. I should tell her.
"Yuzuki... I - I... Li -"
"Forgive me, Daizen. Remember the promise and everything I've told you," she interrupted.
"Isn't the moon lovely today?" she smiled again and pushed me out of the car.
"No... Yuzuki... I love you," the car collided with the wall ahead and caught fire.
I... I promised her that I will protect her. But she protected me. Again! Someone who I was supposed to protect, protected me. I saw her dying in the fire infront of me. I fell, hurted my brain. Everything blacked out.
When I opened my eyes... I was at the hospital. "Where's Yuzuki? Maybe she was saved just as I was?"
"Doc... Where's..." I wasn't able to speak.
"She's dead. She died before we arrived," he replied.
"No - -" I screamed. "Can I see her one last time?"
The doctor took me near her body. "Yuzuki! You knew it didn't you? Why? Why do you had to sacrifice yourself? I love you, Yuzuki. Please come back to me. Please... I can't see you like this. I'm used to see you smiling. Please Yuzuki!" I cried.
A familiar person patted me on my shoulder. She was Yuzuki's sister. "I'm sorry... I promised to protect her. I failed."
"It's alright. Don't blame yourself, Daizen. You did what you can. No one can think the same way as she did," Mira consoled me.
The least I can do is protect Mira like I promised Yuzuki and I need to read the letter which Yuzuki left behind for me.
Few days later, I was recovered and visited Mira's home. I asked to shift at my house but she denied. I went to Yuzuki's room and found the letter.
> To Daizen
> If you're reading this letter then it means that I'm dead. I'm afraid whether I've told you how I feel. I love you, Daizen. Since we met I've always had a soft corner for you.
> Please remember to fulfill the promise you made.
> And don't have any regret or guilt. Respect my decision and Trust me it's going to be Fine.
> Yuzuki
>
"No... Yuzuki. It's not fine. I've never imagined my future without you. I love you too, Yuzuki. Sorry I've never been able to express it before."
AUTHOR STARLIGHT..