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I've always thought this, "Life is pretty interesting you know? I mean I feel like this day should last forever. Every day before and after this day will be normal yet interesting and fufilling. That's how I feel."
I know I said this out of nowhere while I'm riding the train to school but when I looked at the scenery behind where Karen is sitting, it gave me this feeling of bliss. It told me that this should last. Yet I feel like... *fufufufu*
"What the heck Shin? Are you this era's Socrates? Where did this come from? You know I'm a bit worried when you have a monologue out of nowhere." (Karen)
"Well," I see her laughing at me yet I feel it's nice. Huh. This has happened before where I speak aloud to myself about the value of things, but today I feel that it's an especially nice day. Everything seems vivid. Her well structured asian face seems to project blissful emotions to my mind, relaxing me even further. The surrounding scenery of the airplane-like inside of the train and the large windows showing a beautiful lake surrounded by trees in front of me and the city behind me seem to scream the feeling of being blessed with an interesting life. "I honestly don't know why. Everything now makes me feel like I'm blessed. I don't know. I just feel glad."
I can see Karen thinking about what she should say seriously. For some reason she's especially serious now, more than she ever did before. Maybe it's just me, but I see it that way. She seems to be glowing with an air of awkwardness. Hmm... can't tell why though. Maybe this is my imagination, but I feel I should move on to a different topic.
"Karen before we go to your soccer practice want to get an extra snack to save for lunch at Charly's*?"
*That is a store.
"Hmm... Yeah sure, but of course we're going to race there." Ah. I can see a cheerful mood return to Karen. That's good.
"Do we always have to race there? We're in our second year of highschool you know? I believe we can be more sophisticated young adults." But of course I joke. I actually want to race.
"Yeah of course! Also please. We're just grown-up looking children and you know it." (Karen)
"Yes yes I'm a grown-up looking child and you're an alarm clock. Hahah!" (Shin)
"Is that an acceptance of challenge I hear? Bring it on! Loser buys the snacks!" (Karen)
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(POV change.) (Not telling you Tongue [https://forum.royalroadl.com/images/smilies/tongue.png])
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Sometimes Shin wears a weary face. I know that he lost his father about seven years ago, but when I see that face, I feel like I'm looking at a person who feels they should value every single bit of their life, but doesn't know why they should. Shin seems like he's pushing himself, and he is, but he doesn't know the weight that he drags along with him. That's what I see. I'm glad he's able to push himself, but I want something better than that for him. I want him to be free of the weight that he drags along. If he could be free of it, if he could find true freedom, I could see him soaring beyond whatever I could do myself. I want to see that, but all I can do for now is guide him. He may not seem lazy, but he could be doing so much more than the average he's pushing himself to do now. All I need is a way to change him. That's why, I'll stick by his side making his life as interesting as possible in an effort to free him of his weight. Ah... we're at the store now. I beat him! Hahahaha!
"Too slow Shin! You need to buy snacks for me!"
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(POV change. Shin)
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I lost. All of today's pocket money is gone. Nooooooooooooooo! Today was the day I was going to buy the lunch special. Oh well. I'll just haggle Karen at lunch saying I was generous by purposefully losing the race. Still. It pisses me off I lost to her. I mean... I know I'm not in any sports clubs right now even though I'm somewhat lean, but it was a setup from the start! Karen must have been secretly training for these races. I mean it was about 70/30 me about a month ago even though she was in a club and I wasn't. She must have been holding back during the last month as a strategic move. What a foxy alarm clock. Yeah that's right. Her name for the day is foxy alarm clock.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
"Oi! Foxy alarm clock! Oi!" I called as I was walking down the hall of the school to third period. By the way we're in different homerooms but we meet up during third, fifth, lunch, seventh, and ninth.
*Growl*
Oi oi what's that wolf-like growl I heard there. I feel like I'm a rabbit now.
*Bam*
Ugh..... that hurt... I just got harassed, mainly in the stomach. Does she secretly take boxing? Her punches seem to be getting harder lately. Well let's not show pain and say it in a straight face and voice.
"Oi Foxy Alarm Clock. Harassing people is illegal. Especially without good reason. Don't deny it either. I have your friends as witnesses."
"Yes yes, but calling people names hurts. You know the saying don't you? 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but words hurt too.' See?" says Karen in a tone and face that screams, "Isn't it obvious this whole thing would happen? What are you? Masochist?"
"Hey Karen, don't worry. We won't rat you out." (Friend of Karen A)
"Yeah we got your back." (Friend of Karen B)
I seem to be feeling that I'm being viewed as a masochist by this group. Well let's resolve that.
"But I feel that saying applies to me. Especially this morning when you came to wake me up by punching my arm, putting me in a headlock, and when I attempted to retaliate non-violently by calling you alarm clock, you kicked me in the shin, hurting both my name and my body."
Hmm? Karen's face is turning red. ? Oh. I see. This could be easily misconstrued as a boyfriend getting an unruly wake-up call by his girlfriend. Both of us know that we don't feel about each other that way at all.
"Ah. Well. Umm.. She lives next door to me and sometimes my mom invites her over for meals and because her practice was delayed she had time to eat at my house and wake me up."
"Ah!!! Yes! That's it! Shin don't say such misleading things." (Karen)
Well her friends seem to believe the story. That's good. Rumors are scary things you know?!
"Karen," I say after a couple of seconds of slight awkwardness. "For lunch could you get me the special? You made me spend all my money on our bet."
I think she'll get me the lunch special without my excuse. She seems to be in a hidden melancholy today, almost like a person pitying a stray dog and feeding them. Oi! What am I doing berating myself?!
"Well since I'm a generous person, I'll generously pay for your lunch." (Karen)
She definitely said generous twice on purpose. What hubris.
"Thanks" (Shin)
But I forgive her.
"Karen, we have to get to our next class. See you next period!" (Friend of Karen A)
"Bye!" (Friend of Karen B)
"Well let's get to Algebra II, Karen." (Shin)
"Kay." (Karen)
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[LUNCH TIME]
Lunch time! Lunch time! LUNCH TIME SPECIAL!!! WOO!!! I'm feeling elated about today's lunch special, my personal favorite. Let's see... gotta find Karen for that lunch... Ah! There she is!
"Karen!"
"Shin, help me wait in line for the lunch special! I'll hand you the money while I find us seats."
"Okay."
What a smug face she has. It's like she's giving money to a child. Though I do have to admit that my child-like half-asian face showcases me as a tall twelve or thirteen year old. She really knows how to hit my soft spots.
"Here you go, young boy." Wow. What a deep and masculine voice that is suprisingly smooth. What an impression that man must leave on any person. He almost seems like a priest from a certain anime that says, "Yorokobe shounen" alot. Well time to eat mapo tofu! Ah, but first I have to find Karen.
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Weird. I'm coughing up blood.
"Oi Shin are you okay?!" says Karen with a worried expression. She seems really anxious. I wonder why? I wonder...
Everything went black for a moment. My legs are on the ground with my torso on someone's lap and my head wrapped by someone's arm. Her face is in front of mine, crying and asking for help from the other students around, while I continuously cough up blood. I feel... glad. Well yes I am in pain but... why? Why do I feel glad? It feels like everything I have experienced today is an irreplaceable, special holiday. I should be glad that I got to know all that is around me. Karen's beaming face, mom's amazing cooking, and the students and faculty provide an amazing environment that should never be forgotten. It's weird. I've never felt this before. I've never felt this wave of surging emotions. But why? Why do I suddenly have this severe obsession with the value of an everyday life? Ah.... I remember. The world was burning, my father was dying and chanting something, and I lost all hope. I was scared, but I felt regret that I was so helpless. It was all my fault. I felt overwhelmed. I should have broke at that time but why didn't I? Ah..... now I truly remember. It wasn't just burning. EVERYTHING went to hell.
"SHIN! Please! Stay with me! Somebody get an ambulance! HELP!"
Karen's sad, anxious face snaps me out of that line of thought, but I feel I can't stay awake for much longer. I gotta say something, anything!
"Karen, please tell mother, 'The key is Teras.'" I try to say feebly.
Everything fades into black.
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