Fall and Spring

Chapter 8

HARUMI'S POV

Days passed, and Autumn and I always hang out. Why did I even agree? I don’t know either. My plan was to completely turn her down, but I ended up saying something else when I saw her on the rooftop.

There are also things I do sometimes that I don’t really understand. Just recently, I realized that I’m usually the one initiating physical contact. Because when she wants a hug or kiss, she always asks first, and if I say no, she won’t push more. So, I’m always the one making the first move. Sometimes I lean on her, sometimes I hook my hand around her arm.

As time goes by, my room is slowly filling up with all the things she gives me. I’ve had suitors since high school and even had a few exes, but I can honestly say Autumn is different.

Very different. She’s an absolute weirdo.

Normal suitors give chocolates, flowers, and stuffed toys. But her? No.

At first, I didn’t say anything about the Barnuts she gave me. It is an ordinary brand of chocolate and not the expensive one that I used to receive. And recently, I don’t know what’s going through her head.

One time, she gave me a book. Sounds normal, but the title was “Pooping Poop” — I never even read it.

Next, she gave me a mug I thought was normal, but it turned out to be a magic mug that revealed a smiling photo of her when I poured hot water in it. She said it was to make me fall in love with her faster.

And that wasn’t the end of it. Just recently, she brought a small box to the university — that was the reason I avoided her for two weeks. Girls went crazy in the canteen over it. Because what was inside the box?

It's not a ring that most people expect.

It's a tarantula.

She had to win me over again for two whole weeks. But even after that, she kept giving me all sorts of things.

I sighed. I was standing in front of the campus gate waiting for her. I don’t even know why I'm the one waiting. We go to school together every day, but today she told me to wait at the gate because she had to go by somewhere first.

She waved when she saw me. She was carrying a glass box. What is it now?

“What’s that again?” I asked, peeking inside.

“Shhh... they’re sleeping,” she whispered. There were tiny little houses, but I didn’t see any creature inside. There was a little round thing and other stuff attached to the box.

“What is that?”

“Hamsters.” I immediately moved away from her. “You don’t like them?” she asked sadly, glancing at what she was holding.

“I don’t.” I walked quickly toward our classroom. We were classmates in the first subject. I was close to the room, but I didn’t see her following. After a few minutes, I saw her walking slowly, carefully holding the hamster box, smiling as she looked at it.

“You really don’t like this?” I rolled my eyes and went inside, sitting at the far end so she wouldn’t sit beside me.

I really don’t like that hamster.

She sat a few seats away from me. She didn’t sit next to me because someone was already there, and I knew she wouldn’t ask our classmate to move just to be beside me. She’s not the type to ask people for favors. It’s like she’s used to accepting whatever’s available.

“What’s that?” Kristine approached her, and I raised an eyebrow. Everyone in our class and even from her department knows she’s pursuing me. I would’ve denied it at first, but Bailey exposed our relationship. He really wants Autumn and I to end up together.

“Ah, hamster,” she answered, still looking at the box.

Tss.

“For Harumi again?”

Obviously. Who else would it be for?

I wanted to say that but stayed seated.

“Supposed to. But she doesn’t want it.” And there it was again — her sad voice.

“That’s a shame.”

“I waited a long time for this.” They went quiet, just staring into the container. “Do you want it instead?” I stood up irritably and moved to the empty seat next to her.

“Who said I didn’t want it? I said you hold it for now,” I said, annoyed. Autumn looked confused — I never actually said that. I slowly pulled the container toward me. I saw how carefully she handled it earlier so I did the same.

“Ah... okay?” I saw a smile start forming on her lips. “You sure?”

“Of course.” Our instructor arrived, and throughout the class, Autumn was smiling. I, on the other hand, was staring at the container. But I really couldn’t see anything.

“Is there really something in this?” I asked as we left the room. I was holding the box now and we were heading to the library.

“There is, they’re just tucked into the bedding.” I lifted the box to check the bottom. That’s when I saw one, sleeping.

“What kind of rat is this?” It’s cute.

“Hamster, Haru-chan. That’s a hamster. A hamster.”

“But it’s still a rodent.”

“Uhmm, yes. But not a rat, okay? They’re different.”

We sat at the most hidden part of the library. I started hanging out here too. Sometimes we even eat here even though it’s not allowed. When we entered earlier, the library staff kept eyeing the box I was holding, but they didn’t say anything. I placed the box on the table.

“Are you really sure you want to take them?”

“Yes, why do you keep asking?”

“I just want to be sure. What if you get tired and throw them away?” I frowned.

“I’m not that heartless.” I let go of the container when one suddenly came out and ran around inside. It looked like it disturbed the other one, which also came out. “Are they okay?” They were just running in circles inside. Autumn laughed and picked one up. “What are you doing?” She placed it on the table. “Put it back, it might bite you!” I panicked as she played with it in her hands. “Come on! Put it back!” I whispered loudly.

“They’re nice. Try holding it.” I calmed down a bit. I reached out but shrieked when I saw it bite Autumn’s finger. I quickly grabbed her hand.

“Did it hurt?” I didn’t see a wound. She laughed like nothing happened. “Be serious!”

“I’m fine and there's no wound.” She put the hamster back inside. “It just means it got scared of me,” she said, looking at the hamster which is now eating.

Wow, it’s such a glutton. It was stuffing so much into its cheeks. It looks like it hasn't eaten for years.

“Sorry, lil’ hamster,” she whispered to it.

“You're the one who got bitten and you’re saying sorry?”

“I scared it, so let’s give it time to adjust.”

“Adjust to what?”

“To us. If you feed it often and it gets used to your scent, it’ll warm up to you.” I looked at her.

“Why do you know so much about taking care of them?”

“Lucas used to have a hamster, so I knew it.” I sensed some sadness in her words. She’s always like this when it comes to her family.

Are they not okay?

I wanted to ask about her them, but I remembered how she trembled when I said I wanted to meet her brother. I know there’s something wrong between them based on her reactions back then. What confused me was the flower she wouldn’t throw away. That just means her brother still matters to her.

“Hello, gays!” I almost jumped when Bailey popped up. Good thing we were far from other students.

“Don’t be so loud. This is a library,” I scolded.

“Library, huh? Looks more like a dating site.” He sat next to Autumn. I’m his best friend, but he sat next to her. “Wow, hamsters!” He picked one up and watched it play. “Is this for me again?”

“Who said that?” I asked, irritated.

“You didn’t like the spider Autumn gave you before, so I figured, you won’t like this either.” Autumn gave him the tarantula since he also loves pets.

“Tss. That’s mine.”

“What? If you’re not gonna take care of it, don’t bother. You’ll just hurt them.”

“I will take care of it properly. I can even treat them like my own children.”

“Will you take care of the one who gave it too?” I fell silent and looked at Autumn, who was also staring at me.

"D-depends."

“Hahaha... I was just joking! You guys are too serious.” I picked up a small book and threw it at him.

“You’re such a sadist. How do you even put up with her, Autumn?” She just smiled.

Why is she so quiet now? She was fine earlier. This is Bailey’s fault. Why’d he have to show up?

“Can you leave us?” I asked him.

“No. You're the one who needs to leave.”

“And why should I?”

“You have a class, sis.” I checked my phone and stood up quickly. He's right, I still have a class to attend.

“Autumn, I’ll go ahead. Wait for me here.” She nodded. She had no more classes, so she always waited for me until lunch and we’d go home together. I looked at Bailey.

“You, sit somewhere else.”

“Wow, sis, you're also jealous of me?” he said as he moved but he just sat on where I sat. I waved to Autumn before leaving.

When I arrived in the room, only Kristine was there.

“Where’s everyone?” I asked.

“There was a sudden faculty meeting, so they just left an activity. Copies are in front, you can get one.” I grabbed one and put it in my bag.

“When will you say yes to Autumn?” I got irritated by her question.

“Why? You don’t need to know that, do you?”

“It’s just cute, the way she’s pursuing you.”

“It’s up to me.”

“But if you don’t plan to make it official, then stop her, so she won’t waste her efforts and can find someone else.” My blood boiled at what she said. But when I turned, she had already left the room.

I went back to the library and found Autumn and Bailey happily holding the hamsters.

“Autumn! What if it bites you again this time for real?” She quickly put it back. I grabbed her hand and checked each finger. What if she was bitten?

“Wow, sis. What about me, huh? Won’t you worry about me?” Bailey pouted.

“Hope you get bitten.” I sat beside Autumn instead of him.

“I thought you had class?” Autumn asked.

“Nope, they just left an activity for us to do that needs to be submitted next meeting.”

“So, are we going home now?”

“Why? You still have something to do?” I asked while helping her with things that were placed on the table.

“I was thinking of buying a bigger cage.”

“Isn’t this one okay?” I said as I lift the container.

“See, I told you you know nothing about hamsters!” Bailey chimed in.

“I’ll do research, okay?”

“Whatever. If they die, I’ll bury you alive. Those cuties would be wasted.” He stood up and grabbed his stuff. “I’m leaving. Bye!”

After Bailey left, we also headed out. We stopped by home to leave the hamsters with Gus and Guin.

“Do we have everything?” I asked, eyeing the paper bags she was carrying. She wouldn’t let me carry anything. She also paid for all of it because she said I’m the one who’ll be taking care of them.

“Everything’s good. Do you want to go anywhere else?”

“We haven’t had lunch, so let’s eat here.” We went into a restaurant, and I ordered for us. She’ll eat anything, and whenever I ask, it’s always “anything’s fine.”

When our food arrived, we started eating.

“What should we name the hamsters?” she suddenly asked.

“I haven’t thought of anything. You?”

“Fall and Spring.” I looked at her. “Another term for my name is Fall, and your name is Harumi. Haru means Spring, right?” I couldn’t help but smile.

“How’d you know that?” My dad is Japanese and he gave me that name.

“Of course, I did my research.” I didn’t expect that she even looked up the meaning of my name. Looks like she’ll learn everything there is to know about me.