Fall and Spring

Chapter 5

AUTUMN's POV

"Haru-Chan!" I called out to her energetically. She glanced back before quickly walking into the classroom. "Good morning," I greeted her as I sat down beside her.

"Stop it, it's too early," she grumbled.

"Why are you so grumpy today? You were so nice to me yesterday."

"Because I don’t want to play with you."

"I'm not playing with you," I said, placing three packs of Chocolate in front of her.

"What’s this?"

"Bailey said it's your favorite chocolate."

She tugged at her hair and muttered something like 'traitor friend.'

When I got home last night, I immediately called Bailey and told him that I was going to court Harumi, and he was happy about it.

I know I'm moving too fast, especially since we’ve only known each other for a few days, but I can’t let go of the only person who has 'mined' me and accepted me as a friend without knowing my background. I also always feel at ease when I’m with her... even though she always physically hurts me. But I know myself, and I wonder if I’m just seeking comfort. I also told myself it’s okay if we stay friends, but I want something more. It all started in the library. Since I returned to school, only Bailey and her spoke to me. Others would look at me and whisper, which I never liked. I also became close to Bailey, but what I feel for Harumi is different. It’s something magical that I’ve never felt before.

"Your next activity will be tree planting," our NSTP instructor said. This is the subject I enrolled in Harumi’s department. "And we will do it next Saturday. But before that, we need to learn first, what is first aid," we had a brief discussion about the topic and were paired to perform CPR.

"You’re my partner. Maybe this is destiny," I said while we waite for everyone to be paired up before we started.

"Stop with the destiny bullshit," she replied irritably.

"Now, choose who will be the responder and who will act as the victim."

"You'll be the victim," she said, forcing me to lie down on the floor before I could even say anything.

"Tap both shoulders and ask the victim's condition. Take note of the appropriateness of verbal response," our teacher instructed.

"Now, ask me," I said, smiling at her.

She closed her eyes in frustration before speaking, "Are you okay, miss?"

"Yes, baby," I replied, and she pinched me in the side.

Ouch. Is that her love language?

"Check for the patency of nostrils and mouth."

She held my chin and tilted it slightly.

"Check for breath sounds as well as the rise and fall of the chest." She placed her head over my chest.

"Can you hear my heartbeat?" I teased her, knowing that it was beating loudly because she's so close to me

"You’re supposed to be unconscious," she said that made me laugh.

"Check for the pulse," I handed her my right hand even though she was on my left side.

"My watch is important, don’t touch it," I said, and she frowned before moving to my right side.

"Now, I think you know the next step already."

We exchanged glances before she placed her hands on my chest.

"Ahh," I moaned softly the moment she started the compressions. She immediately flushed and looked around. Luckily, everyone was busy.

"Do it again and I'll kill you," she threatened, so I shut my mouth. She continued with the compressions until she needed to do the mouth-to-mouth. I smiled widely as she brought her face closer to mine. But sadly, she didn’t do it. She resumed the compressions and again brought her face close to mine.

I stared at her lips.

We heard a commotion and everyone looked out of the room.

I took the chance to pull Harumi towards me and kissed her. It was a brief moment but that made me so happy.

Our classmates returned to their positions, and I received a strong headbutt from Harumi.

"Ahh!" I closed my eyes and held my head because it really hurts.

"The two ladies at the back, are you both okay?" our instructor asked, when she heard my groan.

"Yes, miss," replied the other, and she pinched me in the side again.

After class, I chased after Harumi because she quickly left the room.

"Wait up. Why are you walking so fast?"

"Miss Ortega, stop following me!" I stopped in my tracks at her words. She walked again, this time slowly, but I still followed her. When she felt I was still behind her, she turned to face me.

"Didn't you hear me?! I don’t want to see you right now!" I saw the anger on her face, and I stepped back and smiled sadly.

"Sorry," I said and walked away.

I didn’t leave because I was hurt. Yes, it was painful. But it was also my fault. If I didn't kiss her, this wouldn’t have happened. It’s okay if she’s angry and hurts me physically, but I don’t like what she said about not wanting to see me. I left because I didn’t want her to get more angry with me, and I especially didn’t want to lose her. Others might think I’m too shallow, but for me, hearing those words was painful.

All the people in my life have always been like that. They like me at first, but when they meet someone better, they forget about me or discard me from their lives, and in the end, I’m always left alone.

I don’t want that to happen with us. I don’t want her to be kind to me at first and then push me away later.

I had already convinced myself that I don’t need anyone in my life since they will always leave me. But with Harumi, it’s different. After our encounter at the bar, I thought she was the same as everyone else, even though we did something unexpected. After that night, I even greeted her in class, and I thought that would be our last conversation, but it wasn’t. In the few days I’ve spent with her, my perspective on everything has changed. My life has become more vibrant. It may seem impossible to others, but I can say that she's important to me.

In the afternoon, I went straight to their convenience store.

When I walked in, I saw her at the counter. I didn’t greet or smile at her.

She might still be angry. During my entire shift, we didn’t talk, but I felt that sometimes she's looking at me.

The next day was the same. We didn’t see each other on campus and didn’t talk at work. Even Gusion noticed our silence but he didn’t say anything.

On Saturday, I arrived at the university early. We had tree planting, and I knew we would be together all day. I took the university bus, and since the trip will take a long time, I decided to sleep.

I woke up only because I felt someone leaning on my shoulder. It was Harumi. I also noticed a jacket draped over me. I immediately felt giddy and smiled.

She's not angry anymore?

I didn’t wake her up even though my shoulder is getting numb. I just waited for us to reach our destination.

"Haru-chan," I whispered as I woke her up gently. She woke up and looked at me. Our faces were so close to each other. "We’re here," she took her bag and got off the bus without saying a word.

We started planting without talking. I didn’t know anyone else, so I focused on planting without taking a rest. Even though we crossed paths sometimes, we didn’t speak to each other. I thought we were okay since she sat next to me on the bus and lent me her jacket.

"Uhmm Autumn," one of our female classmates called me.

"What?"

"Here, water. You’ve been working for a while, take a break," she handed me a bottle of water and I accepted it.

"Thank you," I said and joined her. We sat under a big tree.

"You’re sweating a lot," I was surprised when she suddenly wiped my face.

"I-I’ll do it," I said and took the towel from her.

"By the way, I’m Kristine Jade Alice Grace Ann Garcia," she said. I gaped before laughing.

"Seriously, is that really your name?"

"Yeah, my mom couldn’t decide."

"HAHAHA... do you have any siblings?"

"No, I’m an only child. Why?"

"Nothing. Just wondering if they would have a long name too."

She’s nice.

"You’re actually nice," she said and I looked at her. "I thought you were cranky. I sometimes see you alone in the library, and I thought you didn’t like company. I was told you don’t talk to anyone."

"Don’t talk to anyone? Who said that?" Well, I didn’t notice anyone before, but now, now it’s me who’s not being talked to.

"My friend from your department."

"You think I would talk to you if I didn’t want to?"

Actually, right now I’m fine talking to anyone even if they leave me in the future as long as it’s not Harumi. I don’t want her to leave me.

"Well, anyway, I want to ask something," she lowered her voice and leaned closer to me so no one else would hear.

"What is it?"

"Is there something going on with you and Harumi?" I never expected that question.

"W-what do you mean?"

"I saw what happened on Thursday during our first aid activity." I didn’t know how to answer her question. Someone saw what happened.

"Umm, can you please keep it a secret? Just between us."

"Yeah, sure. So, what’s going on between you two?"

"Well, we’re friends."

"Friends don’t kiss like that."

"Some people do."

"So, if I ask you to be my friend, would you agree?"

"Yeah, sure." She stared at me for a moment.

"Then can you kiss me?" I was surprised by her question.

Ah, so that’s what she meant. Not all friends kiss, but Harumi and I... what are we?

"Well, yeah, you’re right—" 'friends don’t kiss.' Before I could finish my sentence, someone dragged me away.