I turned my face down before she would notice my existence.
I pulled my bangs down to cover my face. But thanks to Mrs. Potts, it was useless.
"Ore wa daisuki. Demo..." (I love you. But...) Taro said. I almost wanted to slap him 'cause I know what the next words are. And I can't handle that so I interrupted his words.
"Yosh! Sayonara Taro-kun. Bye-bye!" (Alright! Farewell Taro. Bye-bye) I said almost in a whisper.
I was teary-eyed when I said those words. it was just hard for me when I thought everything was alright. He walked away from me towards to his friends who were laughing so much I wanted to burn their car and their lungs in hell. But I won't, 'cause I am an angel in disguise. Kidding. I forced my tears back, but when I turned away, I couldn't help but burst out. I went straight home getting my luggage and packing up so that...
"Sanyu, if you don't wake up to take a bath, you're in big trouble for the orientation"
"O, right. Thanks mom." I muttered. I should thank mom for always interrupting me, first my thoughts, now my dream. Well, not really a dream, a nightmare.
O yeah, today is the orientation for the new students just like me in Algona High School. Today is also the day of the 70% off discount in the coolest shops. And I have no choice but to go with option one. This is the very first time in my entire life that I hated school; it was just too much for me. I have to hurry to school now that I'm going there with my bicycle only. And I have to choose what clothes to wear because we are not yet obliged to wear our school uniform till tomorrow, the regular school day. I have no time to waste so I just placed the sandwich on my mouth and started paddling. My hunger was striking now, I had to stop and chew my sandwich properly. I got my bottle of water from my backpack and almost drank it all. I put it back in my backpack and started paddling again without turning my face upward. Bump. The next thing I know, I fell on the ground.
"Excuse me miss, I don't mean to be rude. But please always look on the way so that you won't bump to other people again," said a blond girl in full bangs and curls at the end of her hair. She was sweating. Maybe she was running too fast.
"Nani? Wakaranai,” (What? I don't understand) but I did. I was just afraid she will let me pay for any scratch. I was saving up for, well supposedly for today. More the reason to save ‘cause there won’t be any discount.
"Sorry miss, but I don't understand Japanese. Well, may God bless you 'cause I have to go" I didn't reply, scared I'd reply in English. Never mind, it isn't like we'll meet again. What does she need to go to hurry up and run like that? O, hurry up. I got to hurry up too! Five minutes and I'm late for the first time in my life! Paddle, Paddle, Paddle!
O my, just in time. wouh! Never thought I'd make it still.
"Are you new here young lady," asked by an old lady. Maybe she's the principal of this school.
"Yes I am, ma'am. Could you tell me please where the gymnasium where the orientation is," I asked politely. You never know, she might really be the principal.
"Then come along with me. I am also headed there. By the way, I am Mrs. Potts, the principal."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Potts. I am Sanyu Hyuuga, I just came back from Japan."
"Pleasure to meet you too. I believe you are the daughter of Mrs. Kaoru. I shall keep my eyes on you," it wasn't a question. she was sure I am my mother's daughter.
"Thank you, I guess, Mrs. Potts." How did she know I am my mother's daughter? Why does she seem to know a lot of things about my mother? Who the hell is she? My thoughts were interrupted again by the opening of two enormous doors. Wow, this gymnasium is just half of ours back in Japan. But what do you expect? In this little population, this is just big enough.
"Well then Ms. Hyuuga, please seat on the first row. They are specially reserved for new students like you. Usherette, please help her." said Mrs. Potts in a gentle way.
"I will ma'am." said the usherette who was a brunette. She was skinny and her cheekbones are brilliant. She's beautiful, really. Actually, I wanted to be a brunette, but I don't like to change my hair color, let it be in hue of coffee. Mrs. Potts walked away toward the stage. She'll have a speech, of course.
"Hi! I am Courtney Taylor. I am a sophomore starting tomorrow. And you are?" she asked cheerfully. Maybe she has everything she wants she doesn't need a discount that's why she's that happy. I don't really understand where her happiness is coming.
"Hello Courtney, I am a sophomore here starting today and my name is Sanyu Hyuuga" "Come with me, and I'll lead you to your seat." We walked a bit to my chair and she was grinning to me like she wants to ask an all-or-nothing, no, maybe even a life-and-death-mattering question. I was going to answer whatever she's going to bring up anyway. I don't know what's too interesting on me that she has to grin like that.
"Well, thank you Courtney for escorting me. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"My pleasure too, Sanyu. Hey, let's meet later after the orientation near the entrance, okay?"
"Sure, anything Courtney," I am now positive that after the orientation, she'll ask me definitely her question. The orientation was shorter than what I expected. It lasted for two hours only. My valedictorian speech when I was still in grade school was even longer than the Principal's speech. But thank God for that, I can still shop! O, right. I have to deal with Courtney first. I walked briskly towards Courtney so I could shop early, I might even invite her. Wow, orientation Day, I got my first friend already. I'm a genius! There, there's Courtney waving to me like we've been friends for years. Well, we're not, but we will be.
"Hi Courtney, thanks for waiting. So, what's up," I asked, waiting for her question.
"Well Sanyu, I know you're Japanese. So I would like to know if you are fa..."
"Well, hello ladies. Excuse me Ms. Taylor but can I borrow your friend, Ms. Hyuuga for a minute. It won't take that long, I promise you." Mrs. Potts interrupted.
Damn, when Courtney was jut about to ask her life-and-death question. What now? Is it about my mother again?
"Hello Sanyu. I would like you to meet my granddaughter. She was very pleased when she knew that a Japanese girl was going to study here. She was very happy when she knew about you. You know, she's kind of a fan of the live actions, that's what she calls it," Mrs. Potts said cheerfully. She look liked she loves her granddaughter a lot.
"Wow that was kind of... touching (and embarrassing). I will be delighted to see her Mrs. Potts," I said, picking up the right words so I can reply correctly.
"Well then, Audrey! Audrey! Come here." This time, Mrs. Potts was like ordering a private in a gentle way still. It would be bad for her reputation to act like a soldier.
"Sorry Gran, I mean Mrs. Potts. I was assisting the new students on their way exit. What is it?"
I can feel the blood running down my cheeks. I'm blushing! Of course I am. It's the same shiny blond hair, full bangs with curls at the end of her hair. It was the same girl I bumped on the street, on the way to this school! But there was something new I noticed about her. She has a healthy body unlike Courtney who looked like she was suffering from an unhealthy diet. O, she's sweating right now too. I turned my face down before she would notice my existence. I pulled my bangs down to cover my face. But thanks to Mrs. Potts, it was useless.
"Ms. Hyuuga, please show your face to my granddaughter, Audrey. She'd be pleased to see a full-blooded Japanese girl for the first time. And you can even speak English fluently." Mrs. Potts said emphasizing the word please. What can I do? She's the principal for Pete's sake.
"Actually Gran, I've seen a full-blooded Japanese girl on my way here and she can't even understand English, so it is not the first time." Audrey said to her Gran, "but I would be delighted to meet a Japanese girl for the second time."
"Hello, I am Audrey. I am a so... wait a minute! You're the Japanese girl on the street!" She exclaimed when she saw my face.
"Well, well. Looks like you've known each other before I introduced you to each other," said Mrs. Potts who gave me a confused face but managed to grin still. "I should take care of the other students. You go and get along." She finished and walked away with her grin.
"Then I thought you couldn't understand English..." "Sanyu" I helped, she doesn't know my name yet. "Thanks, Sanyu. I think you owe me an explanation. How about we go to the mall with the 70% off discount? It would be great with a lot of good clothing on sale." She offered.
"Fantastic! I have that plan on my mind too. But there's a problem. I owe my new friend, Courtney a coffee time too." I apologized sincerely 'cause I wanted to do the shopping too.
"Courtney Taylor? Silly! She loves shopping more than coffee you know. You should just drag her along. It won't be a bad idea; I and Courtney have been friends since grade school." She said, rolling her eyes when she said grade school. Maybe she had a embarrassing scene during those days. Well, all has, even I.
"Really? Wow, cool. I, I mean we should go to her. She might be worried 'cause she wants to ask something like she'd die if she won't ask me her question."
"What? I know what's she's thinking. Don't worry; it's an easy question for you. I'm sure." she said, confidently. Who said blonds are dull and mean? I guess he or she is dying right now.
We walked together to Courtney where she waved more cheerfully when she saw Audrey.
"Hey guys! I guess we're off to mall now, aren't we?" Courtney asked cheerfully.
"Well, you guessed it right Courtney! She's inviting us. She would treat us for coffee after shopping," Audrey said.
"What? I didn't," and Audrey pouted her thin lips and looked at me like I stole her favorite toy that she looked like she was going to cry. How did she know I can't refuse that face?
"Alright, alright. We're off to the mall. Yay." I sarcastically said. And that's how I got my first two friends, in one day. Aren’t I a genius?
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