It all happened so fast.
First it was the constant headaches and the collapsing episodes which occurred way too many times. The doctors told her she had only a few months left to live but she beat their expectations and stayed strong for a whole year before she finally died.
But even before her death, she tried her best to be there for me like she promised and she helped me to at least see my own value.
After she passed, I didn't think there was any point in trying anymore.
Not until that day in high school.
*****
It was after class, and I was the last one in the classroom, finishing up my notes. Then I overheard a conversation outside the window. I was curious and when I went to take a peek, I saw Kato, Takimo, and two other boys having a conversation.
They didn't notice me because they were deep in their conversation which seemed to be about which videogames and anime they had watched over the weekend.
Mira: (to herself) Such a boy thing to do.
But then, the conversation shifted into something else.
Takimo: Man, that new game update was fire. I didn't sleep till like 2 am.
Boy 1: Same. Between that and binge-watching anime, my weekend just vanished.
Boy 2: Worth it though. Way better than studying.
Takimo: Facts. School's already stressful enough.
Boy 1: Speaking of stress… you guys notice how tense class gets whenever the girls start whispering?
Boy 2: (laughs) Yeah. Half the time it's about who likes who.
Takimo: Don't pretend you don't care. Everyone's got someone in mind.
Boy 1: True. So, let's be honest, if you had to pick someone in our class to date… who would it be?
Boy 2: Yeah, Takimo, who's your choice?
Takimo: Me? Easy. I'm not saying. I don't wanna start rumors.
Boy 1: Coward.
Boy 2: Alright then… What about you, Kato?
Kato looked up, caught off guard.
Kato: Huh?
Boy 2: If you had to date someone in our class… who would you pick?
Kato: (scratches his head) If I had to pick, I'd choose Mira Smith.
Takimo: Mira?
Boy 2: HMMMMMMM...????
Boy 1: (pats Kato's back) She's way out of your league, bro. Give up.
Boy 2: Out of his league?
Takimo: I mean, she is the prettiest girl in our class.
Boy 2: But she doesn't have any friends! And most girls think she's a snub.
Kato: What does that have to do with anything?
Boy 2: (laughs)
Boy 1: Why would you want to go out with her, anyway? What do you see in her?
Kato scratched his head nervously.
Kato: Well, I admire the way she always tries her best, even when things don't go as planned. It's not perfect, but it's better than doing nothing at all.
Boy 2: Huh?
Boy 1: I'm lost right now man.
Kato: My point is that I admire the way she tries to show her worth. And… Her red hair is kinda cute too.
Takimo: (to himself) That's Kato for you. Always seeing the good in people.
Boy 2: If you ask me, you're looking at things too deep. Just say you like her because she's pretty.
Kato: Huh? A girl being pretty doesn't have to be only about looks, you know.
*****
I left before they could see me. But for the first time, I smiled.
I don't why but I always felt that because of the roles people play in your lives, they won't ever tell you the truth all the time and they'd sometimes lie to you to spare you the pain that the truth brings with it.
But this was different.
Kato and I weren't even friends at the time, and his role in my life then was nothing more than that of a background character.
Yet, he saw the value in me. The same value I couldn't see in myself and he had no significant role in my life at the time.
So he couldn't have been lying, right?
Right?
If what Kato said about me was true, then that means everything my mother and father had said to me was true as well.
"I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. It's okay to feel like you mess up sometimes. We all do. But those mistakes don't define your value or who you are. You did good. I promise you that my words and that of your fathers aren't meant to hide anything; they're meant to show you that you are good but you can do better"
The words my mother, my father, and everyone close to me had said weren't lies. And it took hearing those same truths from someone outside my family for me to finally believe them.
I was such a fool.
After that realization, I decided that the cruel words others like the Imperial Guard said about me didn't define who I was.
******
Mira continued leading Kato through the garden, her steps light while his steps dragged behind her. At one point, she stopped and turned to look at him. He didn't notice as his eyes were unfocused, trapped somewhere far away in his own thoughts.
Mira: (to herself) This is just like back then… Only now our roles are reversed. Your words unknowingly changed how I saw myself, she told herself. And for that, I'll always be grateful. That's why I chose to be your friend. To chase after you. To become the person you always believed I was. To see the value in people the way you saw it in me. To stay close to you. You think me being second best in class right behind you is a coincidence?
The wild blew as she continued to look at Kato, still oblivious of this and the thoughts going on in her mind at the moment.
Mira: (to herself( You changed me, Kato. Your words saved me. Just like you helped me, I'll do whatever it takes to bring you back from this. I'll do anything just to see your smile again. Because I…