Day27

Everyone stood there, all lined up, waiting for their names to be called. The event took place in our gymnasium. The usually loud bustling place emitted a quiet formal atmosphere. The chatters from the students were easily drowned out by the voice of our school principal, the speaker.

After her name was called, she proudly approached the stage. Everyone’s eyes were glued to her as she stepped into the stage, accepted the diploma and medal from the principal, bowed to him, and bowed to the audience. A large round of applause filled the room. It didn’t seem like I was looking at the same person I hanged around on the school roof with. The girl I was watching held herself proudly. She seemed so mature at the moment.

I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to catch up with her on her way home. Our class was taking pictures with each other and Miya left early. It didn't even occur to me that she was already missing until Ria asked me where she was.

I ran as fast as I could. I didn’t want her to leave just like that. Her words from our conversation this morning, before the ceremony, echoed in my head as I ran. She was ready to accept everything. I saw it from the way she looked earlier. I, on the other hand, wasn’t ready to let her go yet. I loved her so much, and I know she also loved me. As always, she was willing to sacrifice her own happiness for my own. She was ready to keep all the pain to herself.

“What do you think of Yumi?” she asked me.

“She’s a great friend,” was my answer.

“Cute?”

“Very,” I smiled. “What’s this about?”

“You do know that she likes you a lot, right?”

“That’s just because of the necklace,” I shrugged. “There’s no way she would otherwise.”

“Really?” she asked. “I happen to believe her situation’s the same as mine though.”

I couldn’t believe I didn’t realize what she was trying to do earlier. She probably thought pairing me up with Yumi would make me happy even after she’s gone.

“MIIIYAAAAA!!!!” I cried as loud as I could, upon reaching her house.

I heard a door open from behind their gate, soon followed by the opening of the door in front of me.

“Izaki-sama?” a lady in a maid outfit asked.

“Is Miya here?” I asked, not taking the time to care about formality at the moment.

“Rinei-sama has already left for the airport with her father. She asked me to give this to you if you ever come by,” she said as she handed out a few folded pieces of stationery.

As quickly as I could, I unfolded the letters and read the contents. After reading the letter, I knew what I had to do. Noticing a bicycle behind the woman in front of me, I asked to borrow it. She looked behind her and asked me what I plan to do with it.

“I have to go after Miya. I have to at least see her off!” I answered.

“You won’t make it in time. The airplane will depart ten minutes from now and it’ll take at least twenty minutes to go there by bike,” she warned.

“I have to try!” I insisted and forced myself into the gates and to the bike. From what she said, I already knew which airport Miya was in. I rode the bicycle and was ready to go with it.

“Wait here!” she called and went around the house.

I waited impatiently, wondering what it might be she was doing. Soon, she arrived holding a bunny beanie around her arms.

“Here,” she said. “The master told me to get rid of it after you left the last time. I secretly gave it to Rinei-sama, but she asked me to keep it instead as she knows I will get in trouble with her father if he finds this in her room.”

I accepted the beanie and stuffed it into my bag. Nodding to her and thanking her, I sped off to the direction of the airport. Despite going as fast as I could, it felt like I was going so slowly. I felt a few drops from the drizzle before I noticed the dark sky above me. I knew it was going to rain, but I wasn’t about to let anything stop me.

It took me fifteen minutes before I could see the airport, it seemed so far away. I was drenched from the rain and it was getting hard to maneuver the bicycle. Whether it was because of the rain or my fatigue, I didn’t know.

Leaving the bicycle near the guards, I ran inside the building. Looking at the flight schedule, I found out the flight was delayed by a little, but was to depart in three minutes. I knew then that I couldn’t see her anymore as she would already be inside the plane.

I went back outside and took the bike. Not feeling like riding the bike, I just walked with it. The rain spattered on my whole body as I blankly walked to a nearby bus stop. Taking a seat on a chair, I watched a plane depart from the airport.

“Goodbye, Miya…”