Someday.
Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But someday.
Someday soon.
Death waits for nobody.
Hayden stood motionless before the entrance gates, staring into space once again. Raindrops fall in a soothing haze. The refreshing sensation helps drive the chaos from his mind. Spring showers were a blessing amidst the heat of May. His senses attuned to static until the commotion of passing university students no longer reached his ears. Lifeless eyes deprived of sleep reflected the canvas of grey clouds that loomed overhead. Time itself ground to a halt.
Then...
Elegant footsteps.
Growing louder.
“Found you~”
The voice of a girl slaps my brain awake. A distracted mumble escapes from my mouth as the world reforms around me. Colour returns, followed by sound. My consciousness boots and I return to reality, though I can't say for sure that I look so alive.
“...hmm? What's the matter? Anyone there?” the girl leans forward on her toes and jerks a hand before my face with snide attitude. I blink on reflex.
“Tch... I told you to quit daydreaming. Jeez, you look like a corpse.” she turns away with a flick of her straw coloured twin-tails and folds her arms with a little too much emphasis.
Harsh.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Despite her apparent frustration she musters a warm smile beneath the shade of her umbrella. A smile which quickly turns sour when she notices the state of my clothes.
“Eh!? Why are your clothes so wet?” with force unbefitting for a lady she grabs my sweater vest and throttles my shoulder, beads of water seep from the seams, “If your going to dawdle in the rain at least wear an overcoat.”
She sighs once more, “Honestly... idiot...”
There's no denying that my clothes were sopping wet, but I had more important things to worry about right now.
“Well... at least you remembered to pick me up today.” Try as she might to hide it, her gratitude inevitably slips out.
“So...”
“Thank you~”
What is this? I can't describe this feeling. I feel sick. Why can't I bring myself to speak? A sudden hot flush of anxiety courses from my head to my stomach. Don't get any strange ideas, I don't care for romance. This overwhelming sensation was undoubtedly, fear.
The smile of this girl was so kind. A reassuring smile that glared with resolve toward the future. She seemed pitifully stubborn at the best of times, yet somehow in a positive way. How could anyone ever smile like that, while knowing they were terminally ill? Living with the knowledge that every day might really be their last, that their plans for the future were nothing more than fantasy. I didn't understand, I would never understand. We were living alongside an ambiguous time bomb, and every single smile was a reminder of that fact.
Her smile was so cruel.
Fwap!
An umbrella is forced over my head. I flinch, which no doubt makes me look rather pathetic.
I hear her chuckle in light of my skittish behaviour (which makes me feel a little ridiculous) but I wasn't going to protest. I've never been good at making comebacks, or any jokes for that matter. Instead of arguing in a flirtatious manner like regular freshmen, we continue down the side-walk without a word. The ambient patter of rain fills the silence.
“Chisaki.”
“Hm?” she gave me an inquisitive glare, “Oh, you finally decided to speak.”
But in truth I had no idea what I wanted to say. Maybe I just felt reassured to hear her respond.
A haze of fatigue washes over my muscles. I can feel the disarray returning to my head. But I can't give up. Yesterday's prototype ended in failure. Never mind. I'll try again tonight.