'Tempus Fugit a phrase meaning "Time flees" in the roman poem Georgics by Virgil. I've always thought about this phrase more often than not, sigh but today I'm really feeling its weight, this windy Friday everything seemed to appear in the blink of an eye. It felt like time was really running from me. Uh this sounds important I should focus now, speaking of now'
The cafeteria bustling with people, upon all the almost endless rush of noise coming from each table the cafeteria seemed almost quiet.
"Hey you guys we're going to karaoke today are you listening" Saki announced with a serious expression to get everyone's attention.
Taro tried to say something attempting to raise up his hand, but Saki interrupted him looking at him with a cold stare, "And you're coming too, not like you have any choice" her intimidating tone made Taro shrink,
"Yes mam" Taro replied as that was all he could say.
Kenji laughed a little voicing out "Why are you so harsh on him" he asked Saki after taking a bite of his lunch, as he smirked.
"I mean he doesn't really like outings, so forcing him would be the most reasonable solution, don't you agree?" Renn replied to Kenji. Placing his hand on his mouth to prevent the water that he drank from gushing out Kenji laughed as he replied "I know right like the time we were meant to go to cinema to watch this new movie, we nocked at his door so many times but he didn't answer just to find out that he was sleeping",
"Yes yes, can we leave myself alone." Taro said reluctantly making no effort to hide his annoyance as his eyes rolled.
"So that's it I guess" a light voice spread across the table, Mei a short girl with blonde hair and hazel eyes had made the comment.
"Yeah I guess" Saki replied scanning through her head for any other thing she might want to say, not coming up with anything she gave a nod.
"Okay, then I will finish up early today" Mei replied as her eyes went back down to the novel she was reading.
"By the way Mei, which novel is that" Taro asked turning his head to Mei who was beside him, as his eyes focused on the pages in the book.
"It's White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyvesky"
"Oh, ive read one of his works he wrote The brothers Karamazov"
"Yeah, I really loved that one, I am also planning on reading crime and punishment after Metamorphosis"
"You have metamorphosis? Can I borrow it, you know there's a feeling you get reading the physical copies."
The glimmer in Taro's eyes could be seen through its hazy curtain as he asked.
"Sure, no problem, you can come get it when you're free"
"thanks"
The sudden silence on the table got Taro and Mei confused, with Akari and Saki being the only ones talking, they suddenly stopped upon the silence.
"You guys seem close, aren't you?" Saki said with a smirk on her face.
"Yeah of course we are it's only natural since we both have a thing for books",
"That's cute, maybe I should also start reading book don't you think." Lila giggled as she responded to him. her hands were on her face as she leaned towards Taro staring at him.
Taro gave her a plain look not giving in to her teasing.
"Huh," Akari exclaims with astonishment mixed with a bit of anger as she drags away Lila.
"Well I guess things like this happen, don't you think" Kenji spoke as he faced Renn
"mmhmm" Renn replies with a warm smile on his face.
RING!! The bell had signaled the end of lunch break.
"Claaaass" Kenji exclaimed with a saddened expression.
"Its not like we have a choice so we better get going" Taro stared at Kenji.
Everyone finished packing their thing about leaving the dining hall "Don't forget after school" Saki announces to them as she then glared at Taro, she paused for a moment, her hand on her lips as if trying to remember something "Oh, and Takeru is coming", Saki added.
*
The empty hallways echoed the sound of the few footsteps and the light beamed through the windows; school had ended for the day.
"When are we gonna reach there" Taro let out with an exhausted voice.
"Don't worry we're almost there" Akari patted his back comforting him.
"Taro I'm actually surprised that you came I thought that you would escape to your house" Kenji asked Taro.
"No way I could've done that I fell like she would rip me apart" Taro looked at Saki, he then continued "but beyond that Saki said that it was important to her so why not",
"Hmm, I guess even you can be like that" Lila told Taro as she walked beside him.
"What do you mean I've always been like this" Taro replied confused.
"Then I guess its nothing" Lila said as she faced forward.
"But then Takeru I'm surprised that you decided to come with us is there any special reason" Kenji asks him with a little smile on his face, although he tried to stop himself.
Takeru was about to say something before he paused for a moment looking forward "It's nothing I just felt like coming" Takeru replied.
Almost immediately Renn faced Kenji "Kenji you see awfully energetic, he probably just wanted to come", "mmmhmmm".
Taro who was a bit lost in thought suddenly realized something "Oh, I see… well I'm probably happy that I decided to come" he thought to himself
Saki and Akari who were leading the way had suddenly stopped. They were in front of a three-story building with a huge 'karaoke' sign in front. Everyone enterd the building waiting at the reception while Akari and Saki move to the counter. "This place looks crazy" Takeru exclaimed looking around.
"I know right" Kenji agreed with him. Akari and Saki soon returned with a staff behind them, "Right this way the male staff dressed like a butler led them down the hallway on the second floor to the third room on the left side. Everyone entered and settled down, the staff then took their orders.
"Wow this place is crazy" Kenji exclaimed in excitement.
"I agree but isn't this place expensive" Mei asks Saki with an indifferent expression as she was reading her novel.
Renn tried to hide his astonishment when he heard her voice, because not noticed Mei till that moment. Regaining his composure, he murmured to himself, "I guess Taro was right",
Mei turned to Renn "what was that" she asked him
Although there was no hostility in her voice Renn couldn't help but shiver "nothing" Renn replied with a hint of fear.
"It's alright my uncle own's this place so he said that it was free for us" Saki said as she sat down.
"That's cool" Kenji replied in excitement.
"I know right, when he told my parents they were like what" she continued as she giggled.
The blue, red and white lights swirled across the room as the smell of drinks and snacks on the table filled the air, and energetic vibe filled the room although it was a bit calm. Everyone sat quietly as it was Saki and Takeru's turn to sing.
COUGH COUGH Saki clears her throat in preparation to make an announcement "I'm guessing you guys still don't know why I called us here, actually…" she looked at Akari with a nervous face, Akari nods urging her to keep going, "So actually…" Saki continued still trying to arrange her words, "Saki and I are dating" Takeru blurted out before Saki could say anything.
For a moment the was silence to take in what had just happened.
"Really, I'm happy for you" Taro who was at the back closet to the door said.
"I know right it did come as a shock but we're happy if you are" Renn joined Taro. Soon the atmosphere became busy as Saki wore a happy expression, Her and Takeru singing the song they chose. In the busy atmosphere Taro had left the room to get a cola.
Down the hallway at the left turn was a drink dispenser, on the opposite wall there were chairs.
after getting a drink Taro sat on one of the chairs, "hahh" he sighed as he looked to the ceiling, his head rested on the wall as his body relaxed.
"Taking a rest?" Akari popped out of nowhere in front of Taro, her two hands clasped each other at her back, she wore a perpetual smile that lit up her face. "Well I guess you deserve one since you don't normally do this" she said as she sat beside him.
"It's fun but I just needed some time to rest my head"
Akari's smile become softened, relaxed but warmer as she listened to Taro.
"You knew, didn't you?" She asks Taro.
He turned his head to face Akari, he could see her light brown eyes beaming through the glasses with curiosity, their faces were just a few inches away from reach other.
Her pupils constricted as she jerked back a little, her face showed a bit of surprise as she was a little shocked by Taro's action.
At that moment Taro was a little confused, on what Akari meant, but a sudden thought came to his mind
"If you mean Saki and Takeru, then yeah I didn't actually know till on our way here"
"I see…nothing gets past you, I won't ask you how you know cuz you probably won't have the energy to explain" Akari let out a sigh looking down on her lap.
"Actually, I would have" He replied to Akari.
"Really, then tell me" Akari seemed to regain her energy with looking at Taro with her eyes gleaming.
"Ok, umm Saki and Takeru were already close actually too close, and Saki isn't the kind of person to start dating without telling us" Taro pauses to take a sip of his drink
"So, I figured if they start dating, she would tell us and this was already suspicious enough, but when they asked Takeru why he decided to come with us he looked at Saki before saying that he just felt like, so I guess it was quite obvious for anyone" He looked at Akari as if asking whether she was satisfied with his answer.
"Alright alright I understand" Akari stood up "We should be going back shouldn't we" her face lit up with a smile.
"I guess so" Taro lazily stood up to join her as they walked to the karaoke room.
"You know we should go out sometime" Akari pushes at Taro
"I guess so" Taro replies
"Uh, for real"
"Yeah, why not"
"Ok that's a promise you better not forget"
*
CLANK, the door opened as Taro walked in "I'm home" his exhausted voice spreading across the hallway as he walked into the living room.
"Welcome back" Hanae lousily laying down on the couch greeted Taro, "how was karaoke" she added
"I guess it was nice" A faint smile played on his lips as he gazed downward, his eyes warm with the memory of a joyful moment. The corners of his mouth curved upward ever so slightly, betraying a hint of wistful delight.
Having snaped back to the present Taro continued to his room "I'm going to sleep early tonight" Taro told Hanae as he disappeared up the stairs, his shadow crawling higher and higher on the stairs till it couldn't be seen.
"I guess today was a lot of fun for him" Hanae whispered to herself as she watched her brother go upstairs.
Taro was in the lost in thought as he gazed absently at his reflection in the bath water, cleaning up he retreated to his bedroom. He changed into his comfortable sleepwear, the soft fabric a gentle reminder of the evening's relaxation ahead. As he slipped into bed, his eyes wandered to the clothes he'd worn earlier, now discarded on the floor, a fleeting memory of the day's events. With a quiet sigh, he settled under the covers, letting the softness envelop him, and soon drifted off to sleep.
In the midst of the starry night sky, cherry blossoms fall like pink diamonds as the smile of a young girl is as warm as the sun in spring a hand reaches out to her as she crumbles to pieces fading never to be seen again, suddenly panic, Badunp!! Badump!! Badump!!, the heavy and fast heartbeat I his chest, the feeling of cold sweat running down his back, the soft embrace of the couch and something else hugging him up and down and the thin, elegant feminine hand reaching out to devour him.
Taros eyes snapped open, calm and alert, as the remnants of the dream dissipated like mist. He lay still for a moment before sitting up, his breathing steady, his gaze drifting into the darkness, already letting go of the unease.
"It's midnight" He said as he placed his hand on his forehead brushing his hair back, after a moment he took a look at his phone, his fingers dancing across the screen as he dialed Renn's number, moments later Renn picks, "Hey what's up" He asks Taro in a bit of and energetic tone.
"Nothing much, just can't sleep" Taro replied his eyes duller than usual.
"uhhww, bad dream?" Renn says in a teasing manner. There was a short silence at Taro's end which confirmed that he was correct. "Seriously! well there is no problem I'm your best friend aren't I" They talked for a while in the ark night. Taro stood up walking towards his balcony as he slides open the glass door,
"Renn the stars are nice aren't they" He leans forward to rest on the balcony while gazing at the sky like he was in a trance.
"I know right" Renn replies as he too was looking at the sky through his window.
"Hey Renn, do you think I would ever see her again"
"Well, I don't know, do you want to keep looking for her"
"I don't know, well I guess I had already moved on a while ago but still it would be nice to see her again"
"Then it's all up to you, you shouldn't do what others tell you then regret it, at least it would be better to regret your own choice, but I guess things are going quite well for you here maybe you should give it more thought on what you really want"
"okay then what do you think about me" Taro asked gazing down at the railings"
"Huh, is this like a confession" Renn said laughing
"pftt…What the hell are you saying" Taro replied giggling.
"Well what really is there to say, you're a cool person, your quiet not as much as me though. Your always listening, your also kind despite your default expression being blank and you always know a lot about people sometimes its like you can read minds, but I like that about you cuz you always say what we need to hear, in the end you're a great person and my best friend to say"
A smile ran across Taro's face but for some reason it looked sad "Renn thanks, what would I do without you"
"Anytime, also you'd better go to bed."
"Alright, some goes to you too"
"Sure, see you on Monday"
"Mmhmm you too"
CLICK, Taro ended the call the call, leaning back he felt the calmness spread through him as he gazed at the starry night sky with his black lightless eyes.