Beyond The Table Thus The Boundary

Chapter 14: Avoidance

The mildly blown wind penetrated through the window and brushed against their respective hair, skin, and clothes. The swaying fringe did attract Tsubasa to look at Takato while the latter was closing his eyes, calming his own pace of breath. Tsubasa did not really look directly into Takato’s eyes, or facing towards his direction – She was literally peeking him by corner of her eyes. She had the urge to ask him what has happened during his absence, including the Monday truancy routine, yet she refrained herself because she had the idea that it would make him edgy.

            She was not his stalker, yet she disliked letting herself get drowned into unknown inquisitiveness. She preferred to decipher every mysteries appeared in her mind. Who knew when it would be solved later if she took no action?

            “Are you all right?”

            Tsubasa handed to him another bottle of mineral water as to her, Takato did not seem too fine compared to how he was all these while. She sat right beside him, peeping him again and again while he grasped on the mineral bottle, squeezing it hard possibly to resist the pain he endured in the chest. She waited for him to speak his mind out.

            “Much better,” Takato replied while ducking his head, still breathing quite heavily but the complexion was great. “I’m sorry that I’ve troubled you.”

            “No, you aren’t,” Tsubasa ogled at Takato. “I can’t ignore when I, myself, saw you catching your breath like that. But, I don’t know how to handle chest pain. I’m sorry that I don’t help much.”

            Even though Tsubasa did not face towards Takato, she could say he was blushing. Probably he was not used to be in someone else’s observation, he was abashed as she said so. It was not something to brag about – It was more to a common sense. Who would have the heart to leave someone in pain? Unless you were a total rascal or sadist.

            “It’s okay,” Takato fidgeted with his fingers, “It’s more than enough to be like this.”

            Like this? Tsubasa raised an eyebrow. By sitting side by side, it could help Takato? But she then faced towards the empty corridor, plotting on next question she should be giving to avoid their chat become drier. “So, what are you doing here? It’s Saturday, as how you’ve said.”

            Takato unexpectedly turned towards Tsubasa, causing her to startle and flush almost instantly. She was flustered as he was basically staring at her for a few seconds before proceeding, “I thought I’ve told you earlier. I need to make up for my credit hour.”

            “Oh,” was her response. Yes, he did. But, she almost neglected it as a fact. She was too surprised to be able to find him of all people in Amethyst College.

            Thinking twice, it might be better to bump into him of all people in Amethyst College. At least, he was one of her closest classmates.

            “So,” Tsubasa tried acting all composed, “Did you read our finalized script for the drama?”

            Takato blinked in confusion. “Oh, I haven’t read it yet.”

            “Didn’t you come yesterday? So I wasn’t the only absentee?”

            “I was absent for the remaining days of the week starting from Wednesday.”

            Counting with her fingers, Tsubasa later gaped in disbelief, “It was unusual of you to be absent that long.”

            Takato raised his brows. “So you do notice whether I’m present or not.”

            Spontaneously, Tsubasa blushed and turned away. The longer she sat with Takato, the more she divulged herself to him. Sooner or later, Takato might figure out that Tsubasa was watching him secretly from her own revelation. She scolded herself for freely spoke her mind out.

            “You’re basically sitting across the table,” Tsubasa pulled a pout, crossing her arms and lowering her gaze as if she was sulking. “That’s why I know your attendance.”

            The man beside her smiled a little, “You really hold a grudge over me being your neighbour but never talking to you.”

            “Eh, no!” Tsubasa instantaneously negated it, hands waving in the air, “I don’t hold a grudge against you over things like that.”

            “I could say,” Takato chuckled at Tsubasa’s fluster, “But I like it.”

            Badum!

            He likes what? Tsubasa could feel a slight tremble in her limbs. She was utterly shocked at Takato’s “But I like it” even though she did not really know what it meant. It was believably about the friendship they have nurtured – having someone who could be able to be called as friend was enough to make each of them smile in unbounded happiness.

            “You like our friendship? Although you didn’t talk much?”

            “I am talking, much more than how I am in the library.”

            Tsubasa squinted at no one, “Yeah, you’re right.”

            The breeze blew gently against their face. They were indoor, hence it should not be that strong. Tsubasa lifted up her face, skimming the whole space when she realized the ceiling was higher than she has presumed. There were gaps between the ceiling and the walls, therefore it aided in the air ventilation. Tsubasa nodded, understanding the reason why they could feel the blowing wind outside. Nevertheless, it was not the matter. She was finding other topics to chat with Takato so that their conversation would not cease miserably. It was her golden chance to be able to sit right beside him, and to see him being talkative was another bonus she should grasp.

            “Do you want to follow me?”

            A voice sipped into her eardrums. Tsubasa startled a little, blinking in bewilderment towards the perplexed Takato. He saw her daydreaming.

            Fidgeting while blushing, Tsubasa frowned due to embarrassment, “Where to?”

            Takato grinned ear to ear. His thumb gestured to a direction. “To the library, where we met.”

            It was not a bad idea after all. Tsubasa could have spent her time there instead of wandering aimlessly, especially when she has mistaken the timing of her own class. She accidentally came to Amethyst College, unaware of the day. They never had a Saturday class. Tsubasa rushed for nothing.

            “I never knew the library opens during weekend.”

            They both arrived at the big door of the library. There was no sign of students, yet the door was not locked. Takato naturally pushed the door and entered into the world of books. Tsubasa greeted the unknown librarians at the entrance and quietly followed Takato from behind.

            Obviously there were plenty of empty tables in the library, however Takato chose their usual one and settled down at his usual spot. Tsubasa tilted her head, wondering why Takato still selected the table despite the availability of other places.

            “I like this spot,” Judging from Tsubasa’s expression, Takato somehow could estimate that she was intrigued by curiosity, “I receive enough lighting and air here. It’s quite isolated than other tables despite located in between sections and shelves where students may come in and out, plus I don’t really get disturbed by unnecessary noise.”

            Then he smirked at the restive Tsubasa. Takato intentionally jeered at her, teasing as she was flushed. Tsubasa knew he was talking about her. “But I’m not an unnecessary noise. I don’t plan to even accost you in the first place.”

            “So, it will be you that refuses to talk to me,” Takato crossed his arms to his chest, constantly smirking at the fidgety Tsubasa.

            Tsubasa clenched her fists, teeth gritting in dissatisfaction. Since when this Takato knew how to make fun of people? The Takato that she has been knowing and eyeing was not this straightforward. The Takato before her eyes was entirely a different person. “Are you having fever? Infected from me?”

            “Why so sudden?” Takato let out a half-hearted laugh. “Am I weird?”

            “In some ways,” Tsubasa rolled her eyes.

            If there were Setoka, Mitsuko and Asahi, they would, too, get puzzled by Takato’s contrasting behaviour. He really looked like someone else who was employing Takato’s face. Comparing with those she has befriended with, Takato’s current self was most resembling Takuya.

            “Don’t you want to read any books here?”

            Takato’s hasty oral interruption startled Tsubasa. She literally stared at him, processing their current situation before recalling the reason they went there. She just decided to follow Takato since she has already arrived at Amethyst College, nothing more than that. She rose from her seat, “Guess I’m going now.”

            That Takato man did not comment much. He watched Tsubasa walking to the shelves under Young Adult Fiction section. While propping his chin, he concentrated on the blank papers he just took out of his folder. He was about to begin writing as Tsubasa returned with a few books in her hands.

            “You are collecting books, I must say,” Takato glanced at the pile of books Tsubasa put on the table. “Such a short time for choosing books.”

            “You could say so,” She settled down on her seat and shoved the pile in front of her.

            Takato gaped in amazement. Apparently this girl opted out books to block her view from colliding mine, he thought. He chuckled as his prediction was exact. As for Tsubasa, she was too shy to even peep at Takato. She kept on revealing her habit regarding Takato, and that peaked her self-consciousness whenever he noticed Takato was looking. She objected it though, hence such method was selected.

            She never assumed it would work. As long as she had Takato off her sight, she could say her mind was at ease, her heart did not pound that hard, and her limbs did not shiver. Those were almost like signs of her fright towards Takato, however they were not. She was not afraid of Takato, let alone islanding him. She was more to being careful so that she would not disclose herself anymore. It was hurtful if Takato labelled her as a stalker, whereas she happened to know every of Takato’s habit and manner during their time in the library only.

            What was she doing while separating herself from Takato? She had her own agenda. After taking out a few full scape papers and ball pen, she set her own layout of table and calmed herself down. She wished to write an instant diary about her harsh journey to Amethyst College on that day.

            “So you’re writing as well?”

            The voice asked when Tsubasa was about to write her first letter.

            “Why don’t you type instead of write? Isn’t it more convenient?”

            “I didn’t bring my laptop,” Tsubasa uttered with teeth gritting. “I didn’t plan to bring it since I have class. But I miscalculated.”

            Tsubasa heard Takato was chuckling. She stared at him over the pile of books, squinting in annoyance. She chirped and continued her writing. Literally she wrote everything on what has occurred starting from having fever due to wet hair, disability to focus in the class until Setoka, Mitsuko, and Asahi forced her to rest in the infirmary, having a dream of Takato coming to confess to her but actually it was Takuya who visited her in real life, returning home around night and overslept, rushing to Amethyst College until she bumped into everyone on the way to find out she mistook the day, and finally, she (was) found (by) Takato and went to the library together since she have already been there while Takato has finished his replacement class.

            “You are a good writer,” Takato remarked from behind the pile of books. “I’m impressed.”

            Tsubasa frowned to herself. Should she take it as a compliment, or this Takato man was teasing her again? However, from the tone, he sounded genuine and she did not feel it as a scoffing. Probably Takato watched her. “Why did you say so?”

            “Just because,” Takato shrugged, flipping Tsubasa’s mood instantly.

            Tsubasa rolled her eyes – She meant it to Takato, yet the books blocked her from displaying her irritation transparently. As for Takato, he was writing most possibly his ongoing novel. Judging from the sound of pen scribbling on the paper, Tsubasa could guess he wrote much faster than his usual. There must be that whatever problem Takato has had was solved significantly to the point that he was able to write that diligently.

            She did not realize two hours have passed since they entered the library. Catching a glimpse at her watch, it was lunch time and her stomach growled in hunger. She wrote nonstop for the entire two hours, and Takato, too, wrote without being aware of the time. She heard his pen scribbled and halted, and then continued according to the plot he might have constructed earlier.

            It was not hurt to have lunch together. Tsubasa never acknowledged Takato having a girlfriend, so it must be all right to go out with him.

            “Takato, let’s-“

She rose to see Takato over the book pile when she just noticed there was no Takato across the table.

            How could be? She did not see Takato walking away from the table. She even heard him maintaining the pace in writing. She was the one back facing the entrance of the library, thus she could see whether Takato rose to leave. If Takato was not there in the first place, then who wrote while she did the same?

            “I must be too focused to my diary.”

            Nevertheless, there was a slight consternation moored in Tsubasa. She knew Takato has not left her alone there. She turned around to witness even the librarian disappeared, getting the idea immediately that she was alone. The fright in her enlarged, causing her to shiver.

            She hurriedly snatched her bag to get out of the library when it accidentally knocked over the books she used to block her view from Takato. The pile fell and scattered on the table. She was too scared, somehow she caught a sight of a white letter sticking out from one of the books.

            The book was entitled No Longer Human authored by Dazai Osamu.

            Tsubasa fished out the letter from the book, unfolding it to unmask what the content was.