It's not goodbye

Jiro wanted to scream. And when Jiro wanted to scream, it meant he wanted all three to scream. So, the three screamed.

"Yeah!"

They were on the roof of the fourth building. The building had a name, but since it was entirely fourth years in the building, they called it the fourth building. The fourth years could be categorized into one of three: those who were serious about their careers who made up for about seventy percent, those who were too rich to worry who made up about twenty five percent, and the lazy who were there every year despite the college's best efforts. The roof belonged almost exclusively to the lazy.

Jiro, Cici and Miki were friends who seemed like they had been friends long before college where they met on the first day. Jiro was rich, and unabashed about it. Cici knew she was pretty and smart, and proudly showed off. Miki was the odd one out. He didn't seem very rich, wasn't very smart, his grades were average and he never seemed worried about anything. Jiro and Cici could belong to whichever category they chose. But Miki, he didn't fit into any. And because of him, the three seemed to be nowhere. It was most evident in the latter half of the fourth and final year of college, when companies visited the campus to hire. Jiro had three offers, Cici five. Miki got none. And still, he wasn't worried. Stranger still, Jiro and Cici didn't worry either.

Today was the last exam. The last day of college. None of the three ever failed, so it truly was the last day. Around six weeks later, the results would be out, and college would then have a proper graduation party for all of them. The three friends went up to the roof for a private celebration.

"Would that do?" Miki asked doubtfully.

Cici grinned, hugging Miki's thin arm. "Do you really think that?" She asked.

"Of course not," Jiro said loudly. "It was a warmup. The practice run before the actual thing. You two are ready as well, aren't you? Let's scream, goodbye suckery."

"Seriously?" Cici was never impressed with the word. College was nothing like a nunnery. None of them were anything like nuns. And suckery sounded more retarded than a funny rhyme. "When will you drop that?"

"Never," Jiro said stiffly. "It's perfect even if you don't agree. Don't you agree Miki?"

Miki brushed the top of Cici's head with his cheek and answered. "I do. I do agree. But I must also agree that this be the last time. You must drop it. It's just not funny, if it can't even impress Cici."

Jiro pouted as if defeated. Cici beamed, hugged Miki's arm tighter. Miki sighed. Jiro raised three fingers, dropping them one by one. As the last finger fell, the three screamed out their loudest.

"Goodbye suckery."

And burst out laughing. It was their last time up on the roof, where they had been the most among all of the fourth years. Cici was holding Miki's hand, as the three walked out together, saying goodbyes to other friends and familiar collegemates along the way.

They were having a farewell dinner at their favourite stall on the food street a five minute walk from the first gate. The old woman who owned the stall recognized them as her best customers. She could see the sorrow underneath their bright smiles. And so, she said nothing as she gave them their favourite table, and served them their favourites, three bowls of spicy garlic noodles along with an extra large serving of chicken pakora and three bottles of cola.

"Do you have to return tonight?" Cici asked.

The table was round, but she sat the tiniest bit closer to Miki. It was noticeable only to the three and the old woman.

"I must," Miki answered. "I miss mother."

"And are you sure we cannot come along?" Cici pressed, reaching for his hand.

"You must go home too," Miki answered. "Uncle misses you a lot. And who asked you to agree when the parents wanted to meet as soon as college ended?"

Cici swore soundlessly. Jiro smiled guiltily.

"You're turning against me already?" Jiro asked, kicking Miki lightly under the table. "You know she's going to make me pay for that."

"And you think you don't deserve it?" Miki spat. "Think you'll ever be able to fool anyone at all that it wasn't your idea?"

"Oh yeah?" Jiro spat back furiously. He wasn't one to back away from a fight. "It was supposed to be all three of us at the meeting."

"That makes no sense," Miki calmly argued. "The groom." He pointed at Jiro. "The bride." He looked at Cici. "The families. That's all that's needed. Where do I fit in?"

That was Cici's cue. "It would be you, if only you were ever interested in me romantically."

"You're breaking his heart," Miki said.

"Like you care," Jiro teased, sounding more miffed though. "The two of you should just get together and run away. Make it so much easier for all of us. But no. You don't want her. She doesn't want me. I can't not want either of you."

And they had a good, long laugh.

"I'm sorry," Miki apologized most seriously. "I am, really. I promise you. I will be there for the engagement ceremony. And the wedding. I'll be there a week before. No, a month before. Even more, if needed. I'll be with you every step of the way, including shopping."

Jiro wouldn't let him finish so easy. "That of course means you'll be with her."

"Obviously," Cici shot back. "He's mine more than yours. Deal with it."

"I'll be with the both of you," Miki conceded. "Cross my heart."

Jiro and Cici were pleased.

"When are you joining your uncle's?" Jiro asked.

Miki was a quiet person who liked his privacy. So others didn't really know a lot about him. But that didn't apply to Jiro and Cici. They knew pretty much everything. They knew, along with a few of the professors who were particularly fond of Miki, that Miki was actually a lot smarter than he showed. He was in fact a lot smarter than Cici, who was acclaimed as one of the smartest in all of the university. To the rest, who didn't know, the professors' love for the most average Miki was a mystery impossible to solve. Also, the reason Miki didn't get an offer from any of the companies was because he didn't want it. Even though Miki never said it himself, Jiro and Cici were convinced this was the case. They couldn't think of another explanation. And it was fine, because Miki was already clear about joining his uncle who ran a small internet news portal.

"Not immediately. I'm thinking of enjoying a few days off, before growing up."

It was what Jiro and Cici's parents called them going to work after college. Growing up. The three laughed.

"Know what," Cici suddenly announced. "Push it for after the wedding. Spend time with mother, and once we've got the dates fixed, rush over. Bring along mother as well. You'll truly be there every step of the way."

Jiro too loved the idea, but he stayed silent, because he saw something in the depths of Miki's eyes. Something he'd never seen. Something that told him there was still something he didn't know about Miki. But most importantly, something that left him discomfited. It was fleeting though. But even after it was gone, Jiro remembered. He had recorded it in his memory. His gut told him this was important, and he always trusted his gut. He wore the usual smile, and smacked Miki's shoulder.

"That's what you should do. Let's drive you over to the station then."

Miki shook his head. "You two should head home. This is not goodbye. If you come to the station, Cici will start crying, and it will feel like goodbye. I want to see my darling smiling joyfully. And Jiro, don't think too much."

Cici nodded. Jiro froze for a moment, before shaking himself free and nodding. Miki smiled at his friends, and left first.