Classroom Heartbeats

Chapter 4. Incident Before The Clash!

It's Saturday, but Kibin is preparing to head to the Okinawa University campus. He's attending a tutorial program for Japanese language, specifically designed for non-Japanese students, transfer students, and scholars of the university. This tutorial takes place every Saturday, with each session lasting two hours. The program spans three months and aims to help Okinawa University students learn basic conversational Japanese.

Kibin's outfit is simple yet stylish—black Converse shoes, faded blue jeans, and a gray t-shirt tucked in with a black belt. The ensemble complements his complexion, highlighting his natural good looks. Ready for the day, Kibin set off for the university, eager to immerse himself in the language and culture of his new home. The anticipation of learning something new and meeting other international students made his steps lighter as he walked towards the campus.

The tutorial was scheduled to begin at 9 AM, but Kibin left his room at 8:30 to make sure he arrived on time. The session was held in Building 5, within the Social Sciences department, specifically in room number 2, conveniently next to the classroom where his regular classes took place. Familiar with the layout, Kibin had no trouble finding the room. Given the sunny yet breezy weather, he donned a black baseball cap to keep his hair in place.

Meanwhile, as Kentaro laced up his shoes at the bottom of the staircase, he called for their driver to take him on an important errand. As the car passed the intersection road, Kentaro glanced out the window and spotted Kibin walking towards the campus.

Kibin arrived at classroom #2. As he entered, he noticed that several students were already inside, preparing to study Japanese language just like him. The room was filled with diverse faces—mestizos and mestizas, Arabs, Indians, and many other nationalities. He made his way to the far-left corner seat by the window, from which he could see the large sakura tree beside the stairs in front of the administration building.

As Kibin walked towards his seat, some students smiled at him, seemingly eager to make friends. Kibin smiled back and greeted them, "Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you." His friendly and kind demeanor was evident to everyone. Once seated, he overheard a conversation between two students sitting in front of him, discussing the program and their soon-to-be tutor.

"You know, when I went to the Office of International Affairs last Friday, I heard Mr. Sato say that our tutor is also a student here in the Social Sciences department. This class is exclusive for non-Japanese students under the social sciences department. They chose this student to teach us because he's smart and fluent in English, so he can translate the lessons well," one student said.

"Really?" the other student responded, surprised. "I hope that's true. It would be much easier for us to learn if the tutor is someone close to our age. It might make the sessions less intimidating."

Kibin was so engrossed in listening to the conversation of the students in front of him that he didn't notice someone approaching him. He didn't quite catch what the person was saying either. A gentle tap on his shoulder snapped him out of his reverie. Startled, Kibin turned to his left and found himself facing a smiling girl. She was beautiful, with fair and smooth skin. Her nose wasn't very prominent, but it was small and suited her well. Her hair was short, reaching just to her neck, straight, shiny, and evidently well-cared-for. For a moment, Kibin just stared at her, as if he were looking at an angel.

The girl tapped him again and asked if anyone was sitting next to him. The tap brought Kibin back to his senses, and he quickly broke his gaze. He answered that no one was sitting there and simultaneously bowed his head in embarrassment. He felt a bit shy for staring at her so intently. Any man would have found it hard not to, given her striking beauty.

The girl then asked if it was okay for her to sit next to him.Kibin, still a bit flustered, nodded and told her she could, keeping his head bowed in shyness. As she sat down, she cheerfully introduced herself.

"Hi, I’m Song Na Eun, but you can call me Jennie, that’s my English name," she said, extending her hand for a handshake.

Kibin, despite his shyness, looked at her and shook her hand. "Hi, Jennie, I’m Kibin. Nice meeting you!" he replied softly.

"I’m actually a transfer student from Korea. We have a family business here, and my parents currently live here, so I transferred," Jennie explained. "Where are you from?" she asked.

"Ahh, me? I’m from the Philippines. That’s why I’m studying here because I received a scholarship from the University itself," said Kibin with some hesitation. "My family is just in the Philippines, so I’m the only one here. I’m currently staying at a boarding house owned by the University, near the intersection road beside the restaurant," he added.

"Oh, I see now. That’s why your face looks familiar. Do you remember the other night? The one where you were carrying grocery bags? When you passed by the elevator area, I was inside, and just as you passed by, the elevator door was about to close, and I saw you," Jennie happily recounted.

In the quiet atmosphere of the classroom, the sound of the entrance door creaking open caught Kibin's attention. He turned his gaze toward the door and saw Kentaro stepping in. For a brief, intense moment, their eyes met.

Kibin's heart raced as he noticed the emotionless expression on Kentaro's face. Kentaro, too, stared back at Kibin, observing the sudden shift to seriousness that clouded Kibin's features. A flicker of annoyance crossed Kibin's face.

Without a word, Kibin broke the eye contact and turned to look out the window, trying to focus on the cherry blossoms swaying gently outside. As the pink petals fluttered in the breeze, Kibin’s mind drifted to thoughts of how intimidating Kentaro's presence was, which only fueled his irritation further.

The classroom, filled with the soft hum of students' conversations and the occasional rustle of papers, contrasted sharply with the silent, internal turmoil Kibin felt. He couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling that Kentaro’s stoic demeanor brought out in him. It wasn’t just the lack of emotion; it was the way Kentaro seemed to command attention without uttering a single word.

Kibin’s thoughts swirled as he wondered why someone so seemingly cold and detached could provoke such strong feelings in him. Was it intimidation, frustration, or something deeper that he didn’t want to acknowledge?

Kentaro, on the other hand, noticed the change in Kibin’s expression but remained impassive. As he took his seat, he couldn't help but think about the brief interaction. There was something about Kibin’s reaction that intrigued him, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

The day carried on, but the tension between them lingered, unspoken yet palpable, like an undercurrent waiting to surface. The cherry blossoms continued to dance outside, unaware of the silent clash of emotions unfolding within the classroom.

Kentaro took his place at the teacher's table in front of the classroom. The room was filled with a buzz of anticipation. One of the students asked if he was their tutor, breaking the silent curiosity that hung in the air. Kentaro confirmed with a nod, explaining that he was indeed the tutor for the Japanese Language program. Mr. Sato had approached him to be a part-time tutor for this program. Since it was the first class, Kentaro decided to keep the lesson light and enjoyable. Their first activity was to introduce themselves in Japanese, or if they couldn't, they could use English. His goal was to assess their prior knowledge of the Japanese language.

Kentaro's smile reached the entire class as he introduced himself.

"Konnichiwa, watashi wa Kentaro desu, 19-sai desu. Watashi wa daigaku no kyanpasu no chikaku ni sundeimasu. Watashi wa seijigaku o senkou shiteiru ichinensei no gakusei desu. Kono nihongo purguramu no chūtā toshite, minasan ga nihongo o hanaseru yō ni shimasu. Shitsumon ga areba, itsudemo watashi ni kiite kudasai."

(Hello, I'm Kentaro, 19 years old. I live near the university campus. I am a freshman student taking up political science. No worries, as your tutor for this Japanese language program, I will make sure you all learn how to speak Japanese. You can approach me anytime if you have questions.)

Almost all the students had introduced themselves, and many admitted to knowing very little Japanese, not even the basics. Jennie had finished her introduction and, like many others, she also had no prior knowledge of the Japanese language. Now it was Kibin's turn to introduce himself.

"Okay guys, last but not the least," Kentaro said, looking at Kibin. There was no trace of emotion on Kentaro's face. Similarly, Kibin stood up and introduced himself without showing any emotion as they looked at each other.

"Konnichiwa, watashi no namae wa Keven Longcop desu, Firipin kara kimashita. Sensei to onaji you ni, watashi wa 19-sai desu. Koko de benkyou shiteimasu no wa, daigaku kara shōgaku-kin o itadakatta kara desu. Sensei to onaji kurasu no seijigaku no jugyou o uketeimasu."

(Hi, my name is Keven Longcop, and I’m from the Philippines. Like our tutor, I am 19 years old. I am studying here because the university awarded me a scholarship. Like him, I am also taking up a course in political science,) Kibin said, his voice steady but devoid of warmth.

Kibin quickly sat down, still staring at Kentaro. The tension in the air was palpable. Kentaro smiled in Kibin's direction. "Great, we have someone here who knows Japanese," Kentaro said.

Kibin looked away, whispering to himself that Kentaro's smile was fake. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that Kentaro's presence brought.

After two hours, the class ended. Since it was their first meeting, the students decided to eat out together. They planned to eat at the canteen in front of the gate. Kentaro agreed to join them. As Kentaro and the other students left the classroom, Kibin stayed behind, looking out the window, lost in thought. Jennie called out to him as she was leaving.

"Kibin, aren't you coming? Come on, they’re already outside," Jennie said, her voice full of warmth and invitation.

"You go ahead, Jennie. I'll catch up," Kibin replied, trying to sound casual.

"Okay, just hurry up so you don't get left behind," Jennie added with a smile as she left the classroom.

Kibin soon followed. As he walked towards the gate, he saw some of his classmates lagging behind, while others were already at the gate waiting for the rest. Kentaro was leaning against the wall near the gate, waiting for the others, his expression unreadable.

When Kibin reached the gate, he quickly told his classmates that he couldn't join them because he had an important errand. Jennie tried to persuade him to come along, offering to treat him, but Kibin declined, insisting he had something important to do and promising to join them next time.

"Come on, Kibin, it'll be fun! I'll treat you," Jennie urged, her eyes pleading.

"Thanks, Jennie, but I really can't. I promise I'll join you guys next time," Kibin said, his voice firm but grateful.

After saying his goodbyes, Kibin walked away. As he passed by Kentaro, who was leaning against the wall, he knew Kentaro was watching him. But Kibin ignored him, knowing that Kentaro's gaze was intimidating and that he didn't want to see Kentaro's face, as it irritated him. The silent clash of emotions continued to brew beneath the surface, unnoticed by the others.

Kibin didn't actually have an important errand to run; he just really didn't want to be around or see Kentaro. In reality, he and Jennie had originally planned to eat at the canteen in front of the campus gate. But Kibin would rather go home, have lunch there, and rest. He couldn't shake off the irritation that Kentaro's presence seemed to provoke in him.

As Kibin walked away, he could feel Kentaro's eyes on his back. Kentaro was trying to process Kibin's cold demeanor towards him. It felt like there was an unspoken conflict between them, an unexplained shift in mood whenever they crossed paths. Kentaro wondered if he had somehow wronged Kibin, causing this apparent hostility. They had never really spoken to each other, yet there was a palpable tension. Because of Kibin's behavior, Kentaro had no intention of initiating any conversation. At this point, Kentaro was starting to feel irritated as well.

Kentaro, leaning against the gate, watched Kibin's retreating figure. He couldn't understand why Kibin's presence stirred such strong emotions within him. A part of him wanted to confront Kibin, to demand an explanation, but he knew that wouldn't help. The silent clash of emotions continued to simmer beneath the surface, unnoticed by the others.

The students entered the canteen to have lunch. They were all in high spirits, chatting and laughing together. The lively atmosphere contrasted sharply with the undercurrent of tension that Kibin felt.

Amidst the lively conversation, one of the students asked why Kibin didn't join them. Jennie mentioned that he had an important errand, though she found it strange how Kibin's plans had changed so suddenly. "It's odd. Kibin seemed really keen earlier. I wonder what came up," a student remarked.

Jennie sighed, "Yeah, we had planned to eat together. I hope everything's okay."

Another student nodded, "Maybe something urgent happened. He did say it was important."

The students shrugged and continued their conversation, but there was an undercurrent of curiosity and mild confusion about Kibin's absence. The enjoyable atmosphere and the new friendships forming over lunch continued, yet Kibin's sudden change of plans lingered in their minds.

The students continued their lunch, oblivious to the tension between Kibin and Kentaro. The sound of clinking utensils and cheerful voices filled the air, masking the unresolved conflict that lingered just outside their view.

Kibin finally reached home, the familiar surroundings offering a sense of solace. He sat down at the dining table, his mind replaying the events of the day. He couldn't shake off the feeling of irritation that Kentaro's gaze had left him with. As he ate his lunch, he wondered if things would ever change between them or if they were destined to remain at odds.

It was five in the afternoon when Kentaro decided to go for a jog. He wore his favorite gray hoodie with "Love, Japan" emblazoned on the back. As he stepped out of the gate, he started running, his feet pounding the pavement in rhythm with his thoughts, hoping to shake off the negativity that clung to his day like a shadow.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Kibin had decided to seek solace on the rooftop of his building. With a steaming cup of coffee in hand, he settled into his favorite spot, eyes fixed on the horizon. The perfectly round, orange sun resembled a ball placed deliberately in the clear, blue sky. This was one of the most beautiful shows nature offered, one that never grew old despite being witnessed daily. As Kibin watched the sunset, the sky slowly being consumed by darkness, he remained in awe of the beauty nature could provide.

Kibin took a deep breath, the aroma of his coffee mingling with the cool evening breeze. The tranquility of the moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a car horn. He looked towards the intersection road. Cars were temporarily halted in the middle of the street, the traffic light glowing green to signal a pause in vehicle flow while pedestrians crossed to the other side. Kibin's attention was caught by a man assisting an elderly couple across the street. The sight of someone willing to help others brought a smile to Kibin's face, warming his heart.

On his way home, Kentaro noticed the elderly couple attempting to cross the street to the other side. Without hesitation, he ran over to assist them. "Excuse me, let me help you," he said kindly, his voice steady and reassuring.

The elderly man looked up, gratitude evident in his eyes. "Thank you, young man," he said, his voice slightly trembling.

Kentaro carefully guided the couple across the lane, his presence a shield against the dangers of the busy street. He signaled to the temporarily parked cars to remain still, his hands raised in a gentle command.

"Take your time," Kentaro said softly as he helped the couple navigate the crossing. Each car that had momentarily stopped received a signal from Kentaro, ensuring they wouldn't move until the couple had safely crossed. The drivers waited patiently, watching the scene unfold with a sense of respect.

"Thank you so much," the elderly woman said as they reached the other side. "We don't know what we would have done without you."

"It's my pleasure," Kentaro replied with a genuine smile. His act of kindness was a small yet significant gesture that highlighted the goodness still present in people.

Back on the rooftop, Kibin's heart swelled with hope. Witnessing such an act of compassion reminded him that, despite the challenges and conflicts that arose, there was still kindness in the world. As the last rays of the sun disappeared and the sky turned to twilight, Kibin felt a renewed sense of peace.

As Kibin watched the scene unfold from his rooftop perch, his eyes followed the man helping the elderly couple across the street. The man's calm and assured movements caught Kibin's attention. Then, his gaze fell upon the words "Love, Japan" written on the back of the man's gray hoodie. The moment he read it, memories came rushing back—memories of the man who had helped him at the departure area when he had almost fallen. Although it had happened a while ago, the image of the man remained vivid in his mind. The moment when Kibin's head had rested against the man's chest for protection was a scene that would never fade.

A surge of excitement coursed through Kibin. He quickly set his coffee cup down and raced down the stairs of the boarding house, eager to catch up with the stranger. His heart pounded with joy, and it felt as if he were floating, carried by the wind toward the man. The sky was painted in hues of orange and pink, the evening air cool and refreshing against his skin.

As he reached the intersection road, his breath coming in quick bursts, Kibin scanned the area frantically. But the man was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished as quickly as he had appeared, leaving behind only the memory of his kindness.

Despite not seeing or speaking to the stranger, Kibin felt a sense of happiness and positivity. He clung to the hope that they would meet again, so he could formally express his gratitude. The memory of the man's kindness was a beacon of hope and warmth, something that Kibin cherished deeply.

As he walked back to the boarding house, a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The city lights began to flicker on, casting a gentle glow on the streets. The sounds of evening traffic and distant chatter filled the air, but Kibin's mind was focused on the stranger and the promise of a future encounter.

Kibin felt reassured that fate would eventually bring them together once more. Each step he took was lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He reached the rooftop again, picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip, the warmth of the drink mirroring the warmth in his heart.

As the night continued to envelop the city, Kibin sat quietly, watching the stars emerge one by one. He felt a sense of peace, knowing that moments of kindness, like the one he had witnessed, held the power to change lives and create connections that transcended time and distance. And so, with a hopeful heart, Kibin looked forward to the day when he would meet the man in the gray hoodie once more, ready to offer his heartfelt thanks.