Sayuri couldn't stop thinking about Jun. She was worried about his injury; the image of blood running down his hand left her uneasy.
"Hey, are you okay?"
She sighed.
"Yeah, just a little tired… and you, how's your head?"
He hugged her and gently stroked her hair.
"It's better, but I don't blame him… he's always been like that, impulsive. Come here, it was a long day, right? I think I should take you home. Let's just wait for Yume to come back."
A light drizzle began to fall over them, and soon Yume came running.
"Come on, come on! I can't get my hair wet!" she shouted, running toward the car.
Already warm inside the car, Yume asked where Jun was. She hadn't seen the scene, and Sayuri chose to hide what happened from her friend.
"He left…"
"Wow, that boy…" Yume grumbled. "He probably went after some girl…"
Kenji stayed silent. Despite everything, he was worried about his friend and maybe felt he had gone too far with his words.
"We're here, Say," he said, parking.
"Thank you, I had a great time," she said, opening the car door.
"Are we going again tomorrow?" Yume asked, excited.
Kenji looked at her and laughed.
"We just got back and you already want to go again?"
"What? I haven't eaten all the food there yet."
"Unbelievable," Kenji said, laughing.
"I won't be able to go…" Sayuri said. "I need to do something with my mom."
"Me neither," Kenji added. "I'm traveling with my parents. It's my grandma's birthday."
"Boring," Yume grumbled.
"Love you too, friend," Sayuri replied, laughing.
Kenji opened the car door.
"Let me walk you to the door."
"No need… you'll get wet. Take Yume before she gets hungry again," Sayuri said, laughing.
"Alright. Sleep well, Say. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Good night."
Sayuri watched the car drive away, and her gaze went straight to Jun's house.
"I wonder if he's okay…" she murmured. "I really wish I knew…"
After her shower, she dried her hair while looking out the window: the wet street and Jun's silent house. Her heart urged her to go there and, without thinking much, she grabbed a coat and some bandages and slipped out quickly, but quietly.
When she was about to knock on the door, she heard a voice:
"It's late to be knocking on people's doors."
It was Jun, sitting on the porch, his hand still bleeding.
"Jun…"
Her eyes went straight to the wound, making her heart ache.
"I came to see how you are."
He gave a small smirk.
"I'll survive."
She stepped closer, sat beside him, and took his hand.
"What are you doing?" he asked softly.
"You should be more careful… this could get infected."
Jun, without reacting, just watched her clean the wound gently.
"Sorry…" he whispered. "Sometimes I lose control…"
"You don't need to apologize to me, but to your friend."
"I didn't mean to hurt him, it was an accident… ow!"
"Stop being dramatic," she said, pulling him closer.
The more he felt her touch, the more he lowered his guard, and a feeling of fear took over him — fear of ruining that moment.
"Sayuri…" he said, lifting her face. "My world doesn't make sense anymore… nothing makes sense…"
"Jun…"
He interrupted her.
"This foolish heart beats so fast every time it sees you," he let out a weak laugh. "I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you. You're the girl I've been searching for all this time..."
The drizzle fell around them in slow motion, almost like in a romance movie.
He leaned in and kissed her — a sincere but passionate kiss.
She closed her eyes, giving in, but soon pulled away slowly, because if her parents saw, it wouldn't be good at all.
"I… I need to go, Jun…"
He held her waist.
"Stay… stay with me…"
"Jun…" she whispered "I really need to go, I need to sleep to wake up early."
She leaned a little closer.
"But promise me you'll take care of that wound?"
"If I don't, will you come back here?" he teased.
She didn't even have time to answer. He pulled her again, kissing her once more, intensely.
It felt too good to be true, like a dream — and she didn't want to wake up.
"Hey, what is it?" he asked, noticing her expression.
"I'm afraid this is just a dream… and when I wake up, you won't want me anymore…"
Jun hugged her tightly, like he never had before, and whispered in her ear:
"I'll never leave you again. I want you… and no one else."
He pulled back a little, looking into her eyes.
"Meet me tomorrow at 6 PM, at the festival… and I'll prove it."
She smiled and replied, with a gentle voice, that she would be there.
They said goodbye with one more passionate kiss.
Jun woke up smiling. His grandmother found it strange to see him so happy.
"Wow… you're so cheerful today," she commented, curious. "Can I know why?"
Smiling, he walked up to her and gave her a good morning kiss.
"I think that, for the first time, I feel good… life feels lighter and I want to enjoy it to the fullest."
Mrs. Midori looked at him with affection.
"It's so good to see you like this…" she said, emotional. "I hope whatever is making you happy lasts for a long time."
"Me too, grandma… me too."
Sayuri also woke up feeling different. There was a new sparkle in her eyes. She was happy, but her heart was uneasy, worried about what she would say to Kenji.
"Sayuri! Come on, we have to leave!" her mother called.
She widened her eyes.
"Damn… the meeting with the suppliers…"
She got up and started getting ready quickly. When she picked up her phone, she saw a message:
"Good morning, I can't wait to see you today."— Jun
That simple message made her smile like never before.
"It wasn't a dream…" she whispered, holding the phone to her chest "it was real… very real."
But another notification appeared:
"Good morning, Say. I already miss you."— Kenji
Her smile faded.
So, to avoid thinking about it, she decided to leave her phone at home.
"Let's go, Sayuri!!!" her mother shouted.
"I'm coming…"
The day went by fast, and every tick of the clock made Jun more anxious.
"What do I do? How should I act? Grandma!!"
"What is it?"
"I need to ask you something…"
"Go ahead."
"If a guy, a friend, is going out with a girl for the first time… how should he act?"
His grandmother smiled, finding it interesting.
"First, treat her well… like she's the most precious jewel. Show how much you care."
"Got it."
"And don't worry so much… just be yourself."
"But the advice isn't for me, grandma."
She laughed.
"Alright… then tell your friend he'll do just fine."
At exactly six o'clock, he was already at the park. His hands were sweating, he was restless.
7:00… 7:30… and she still hadn't shown up.
He lowered his head.
"So… this is it…"
He adjusted his clothes and turned around, but before he could take the first step to leave, someone grabbed his arm.
"Sorry for being late…" Sayuri said, out of breath.
He sighed… and hugged her, relieved.