hi everyone, hope this chapter answers all your questions...
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When the Time Stops
Chapter 5Our school play is a success and everyone in the drama club are rejoicing, especially Mariko-senpai. I know she's really happy with the outcome of her last performance in highschool.
"Aachan, we'll all celebrate after this. Are you coming?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, Senpai. I got a little tired, maybe next time?" I answered and she just let me.
The truth is, I'm not in the mood to celebrate. I went to my classroom, hoping that she'll come again. I want to wait for her and explain what happened. But it seems that she's not coming.
Minami.
We already met even before highschool started. She doesn't remember me, but I always do ever since that day I saw her. The day of the highschool entrance examination.
-
It took me a long time to find my examination room. Luckily, eventhough I was the last one to arrive, I was able to enter the room before the exam started. When the proctor told us to get our pencils out, I tried to look for it in my bag but it's not there. Oh my God. Of all the things I will forget, I forgot the pencil! I don't know what to do, the exam is about to start so I panicked. Then a girl sitting right next to me reached out her hand and offered her pencil to me. I noticed she's wearing a bow tie hair clip.
"Here." She smiled and said.
"Are you sure it's okay? Do you have a spare?" I asked and she just nodded.
So I received it and thanked her. Yatta! Safe! I looked at the pencil, it has a name on it. Takahashi Minami.
The exam is good for two hours and I'm glad I finished it on time. There's still 15 minutes left, I passed my paper then went back to the girl to return her pencil. I thanked her again. Before I turn away, I noticed her answer sheet. It's clean and still unanswered! Her name is not yet even written on it. Is she going to start answering just now? But it's less than 15 minutes already! I went out the examination room bothered with what happened. That girl, why did she lend me her pencil if she doesn't have a spare? Now, I'm worried about her. I feel so guilty if she won't pass the exam.
The exam results finally came out and I passed. I immediately looked for that girl's name on the list of students who got in posted at school. I started searching from the bottom. I can't see her name but I still continue. I'm losing hope, it's my fault if she didn't get in. I didn't stop looking until I reached the top names. Then I was surprised. Takahashi Minami. Top 1. And she got a perfect score?! How did she do that? I clearly remember that she only took it for less than 15 minutes and yet she got a perfect score! I believe that besides her, it's only me who knew what really happened. I felt so happy she got in, in this way I'll have a chance to meet her again. I really hope we can be classmates.
But unfortunately, when the class started we ended up in different classes. She's in class 1-A and I'm in class 1-B. Not so bad I think, since our classrooms were just next to each other, I can still see her everyday. I heard she was appointed to be the first year representative of the student council, I'm not surprised. She's the smartest freshman after all. But it means I can't reach her more, I'm just here watching her from afar. I want her to notice me, but how?
"Hey, freshman." Someone called.
"Me?" I turned to the person. Wow, she's beautiful.
"Yes, who else? I think you have a lovely face. Do you act?"
"Act? You mean in plays?" I asked.
"Yes. I'm Shinoda Mariko from the drama club. We have an audition for new members. I hope you try it out." She handed me a piece of paper then left.
I've tried acting in school plays during middleschool so this is not new to me. I went to their audition and found out that the person who recruited me is actually their club president.
"So why do you want to be part of our plays?" They interviewed me.
"Because... I want to be noticed by the person I like." They were surprised with my answer but I can't think of any other reason, and besides it's really true.
I got in the drama club and started to act in their plays. Since then, I started receiving love letters everyday. I read every single of it, hoping that one of them is from Takahashi-san, but it seems that theater plays is not one of her interests.
Until the summer festival came, we had a school play and it's the first time I star as the main actress. After our performance, I head to my classroom to re-read the script alone. I'm checking the mistakes I had, then suddenly someone went inside. Takahashi Minami. She's just checking out the rooms. She told me she watched our play earlier. I was very happy that she finally noticed me eventhough she doesn't remember me at all. Upon confirming that she usually check the rooms before she goes home, from that day on I always wait for her in my classroom every after classes. I know this is the beginning of our friendship, we even started to call each other by our first names.
Mariko-senpai announced to the drama club that we will request the school to give our senior members their last performance this year. Then one morning, she personally talked to me.
"Have you read the latest script?" She asked.
"Yes, I did. And I didn't expect to be the main actress again." I answered.
"I have a little favor to ask of you. Since this will be my last performance in this school, I want our drama act to be more realistic. I want to let the audience feel the emotions in each scenes."
"What are you trying to say, Senpai?"
"The latter part, let's make the kissing scene real this time."
"W-What? B-But I can't do that!"
"There would be no other meaning on it. It's just an act to make the audience feel more love in the story." She explained.
"If you really want to do it then choose another actress for that role."
"For my past three years in highschool, I've been waiting for someone like you to come. You got the potential, Aachan!"
"I'm still not doing it! You only think of yourself!"
"Then tell me why you can't! Because of that Takahashi Minami? I saw you watching her the day I met you. I know she's the person you like, am I right?"
"That's none of your business!" I shouted.
"Now, who's being selfish? You're just wasting your talent!"
"I don't care!" Then I ranaway from her.
"Aachan, wait!"
"Senpai, I'm sorry!"
I was almost crying when I bumped onto Minami. Of all people, why her now? Then I continue to runaway. I'm torn. Mariko-senpai has been a good friend and mentor to me, how could I say those things to her? I stayed in our classroom after classes, I was hoping that Minami will come again. I know that lately she's not been coming, maybe she's just busy but I kept waiting for her.
I decided to review the latest script once more. What should I do? I want to make Mariko-senpai happy but... then Minami came inside. She asked if there's anything she can help. I want to say that just being here with me is already enough, but then I thought of an idea, I asked her to help me rehearse the script.
She's really kind and helpful. I never knew there's a person who has such genuine kindness in her heart, and here I am and my selfish decisions. I took advantage of her kindness. I asked her to kiss me. I know it's a desperate move but it's my only chance. All I wanted is to give my first kiss to the person I like before anyone else. She hesitated at first but she still did it. I know it only happened because she wanted to help and I feel a pierce in my heart whenever I think it's the only reason why. Even if I know that the kiss we shared meant nothing to her, I still want her to know that she's my first. I can't take the mixed emotions I was having, that's why I left her alone right after that.
The next day, Mariko-senpai announced that the play will push through and so we had our first practice. After it was finished, Senpai and I walked home together. Then the first pang of jealousy hits me when I saw Minami and my classmate Tomochin laughing together. Why is she so kind to everyone? Is she only being kind to me and that's all? When she mentioned Tomochin's nickname, I felt like I reached my limit I can take that day, so I immediately excused ourselves and left them.
"Aachan, I saw that." Mariko-senpai suddenly spoke.
"Eh? Nani?"
"I didn't know you're cute when you're jealous.." She giggled.
"Senpai! I'm not!" I denied eventhough I know I'm already blushing.
"By the way, Senpai.. about your request yesterday. I think I'm ready to do it."
"Hontou? Ureshii...!!"
"But I have conditions..."
"Anything!"
"First, we'll only do it once on the day of the performance. Second, I don't want Minami to see it.. so please find a way."
For one month, we've been too busy practicing our play, but I still manage to go back to my classroom right every after, hoping Minami might drop by. But I guess she already assumed that I'm pre-occupied by the drama club.
And now our awaited performance came, the members did all their best for this day. The play ran smoothly as planned upto the final scene. When Mariko-senpai kissed me, I felt nothing at all. It's far different from the kiss that Minami and I shared. The play has finished and the audience totally loved it. I gave my best smile to make them feel my appreciation. My smile ended when I saw Minami. I was not expecting her to watch, but why is she here? Then she left. She just misunderstood, I really hope she's not mad at me.
-
Days has passed, I waited but Minami didn't come back to my classroom. Until I decided to change my waiting place. And here I am now, waiting for her outside the student council room.
"Maeda-san? Are you... waiting for Takamina?"
It's Oshima-san. I think she's Minami's closest friend here. And so I just nodded to her question.
"Do you have a moment?" She asked.
"There's something I want us to talk about."
TBCaachan's pov sure brought me some headache
i admit.. i was really lazy to update hehe peace out!
thanks for reading!
Topic: ZENPEN: When the Time Stops [AtsuMina - COMPLETED] (Read 70598 times)