F x Another and Again

Chapter IV: F x Another and Again

March 20XX, 1st week.

"Here's your gift, Ryu."

Maki gladly hands over his gift to Ryu. Ryu wanted to keep his composure and well, his horrible at doing it.

"Didn't I tell you that you didn't have to? Geez! Anyway… Thank you."

A big smile appeared on Ryu's face.

Earlier last weekend, Student Council Office, February 28.

"Happy Birthday!! Ryu!!"

As Ryu opened the door and entered the room, the student council members along with Maki greeted him with a big surprise. And yes, he was surprised.

"Guys, what a surprise.… Thank you."

"I told you that he will be surprised! Ahahah!"

The president responded. Maki knew that if it was the president who organized such a surprise he wouldn't get off that easily that's why he just gave in and enjoyed the moment.

"Here, Ryu. Open it!"

One by one they gave him their gifts. Kuki was first to give him their gifts followed by the other Student Council members.

Ryu opened them one by one and the look on his face while opening them all was priceless. Maki got close to Ryu.

"Sorry… the gift… it's not ready yet."

Maki's eyes were filled with regret and burning passion. Ryu understood Maki's appeal so he quickly responded.

"Okay. Make sure to surprise me!"

"Of course."

March 20XX, 1st week.

"Open it."

Maki's face was filled with joy as his eyes sparkled in great triumph.

Ryu opened the gift. Tears fell from his eyes. It was tears of joy. The gift was wrapped in a thin paper wrapper. As Ryu opened it, he saw the gift that was inside. It was a picture that Maki drew. It consists of all the Student Council members as well as both of them. The moment he saw the picture he felt really happy and emotional.

"Hehehe. I knew that it was all worth it."

Maki said as Ryu was taking his moment.

As things were slowly mending themselves, Ryu…

*Afternoon bell rings*

Afternoon classes ended.

"I better go to Maki's classroom."

Ryu headed to Maki's classroom. When he arrived he saw Maki talking with a girl. He knew that it was not the vice-pres. because her hair is styled differently. He waited for them to finish talking so he just peeked through the corner to see them.

Maki's Side. Hallway of the classroom.

"What did you need from me, Kana?"

"Uhm you see, prince… I want to have another duet performance with you this Friday at my concert. Will you do it?"

"Why? I see no benefit in having another duet with you."

"You see… my… and uhm… well you know if they see me and you on stage, wouldn't that be a very good performance? I mean you're very talented and all and you have a really nice voice. So I said, why not invite you again to perform with me… that's why…"

As Maki was about to turn down the invitation Kana spoke again.

"Please consider it! I'll meet you on backstage in the gym tomorrow after your class so we can practice, well then… bye…."

Kana run off at lightning speed while Maki was left hanging without him even being given the chance to approve of it.

Ryu saw it all and rushed to go to Maki.

"Maki, who was the one you were talking to."

"Oh, it's Kana. She said she wanted me to sing a duet with her during her concert on Friday. I declined her offer though."

The name of the girl was quite familiar to him. It's like he heard it from somewhere just weeks ago. He rubbed his head and finally remembered.

"Kana… the idol?"

"Yeah."

"I didn't know that you two were acquaintances."

"Well, something came up during the festival last month and I ended up having a duet with her during one of her concerts."

Ryu imagined both of them singing. He already knew that Maki had a very good voice when singing so he'd imagined that it was so pleasurable hearing both of them together.

Tuesday, March, 1st week

Ryu, having been given a task by the president to find an old book in the old shed on the side of the school, saw a girl reading the school newspaper. As he went closer, he saw his face on the very front page of the newspaper. He suddenly remembered that the media club president would be putting his picture as the highlight of the newspaper.

"Let me see that!"

Ryu, feeling embarrassed, suddenly grabbed the newspaper and looked at it intently.

"If it was a nice pic I would have been okay but what the heck is this! It's even kind of blurry!"

"Hey, would you mind giving that back! I was readi… hey! You're the guy in the newspaper!"

"Yeah, and you are…"

Ryu looked at her.

"Ka… Kana?! What is someone like you doing here in an old shed? It's lunchtime. Shouldn't you be with your friends or something?"

Again, Ryu talked to a girl like it was so easy. Well, normally, when he thinks about talking to a girl whom he still doesn't know he isn't this confident. It's just that, in certain instances when he is preoccupied with something, he can pull such feats.

"I… I don't have many friends. Hehehe."

Kana replied as if it was meant to be a joke and be treated as something that's not serious. Although she grinned and laughed right after, she wasn't looking as happy from her expression.

"You said you don't have many friends. It feels like you really don't… do you?"

Kana lowered her head as if she is saying that it was the truth.

There are people here in this world who excel in a certain aspect. May it be in sports, music, academics, and other stuff that draws attention. In a school-based situation, having such a record for yourself will deem you to have a positive and negative party on your tow. The positive side will be your reason while the negative one will be your foundation.

Normal people will see you as someone whom they want to be and in some cases, whom they hate the most. Even a genius will have a rough ride. That's why I can say this, "dealing with other people is really stupid".

Kana is an idol of the school. If she doesn't have friends then I can pretty much narrow it down to two reasons. First is, she doesn't really keep in touch with people so she wouldn't have to deal with unnecessary drama (eg. Betrayal, misunderstandings, human nature) which is kind of unlikely because she is quite easy to talk to, even right now, and it seems that she would like to converse a lot with people. Second, she had friends, really close friends. The more they become closer to Kana, the more that they can see that they can't really reach where she is. Jealousy, it's pretty common in friendship if I may say. They can easily betray her with such a strong emotion. Now that I put it up, it seems that it's the latter.

Ryu just kept his assumption to himself. He continued the conversation with a different topic.

"So, why the heck are you here? I need to go to this shed so please move aside."

"AH, so... sorry…"

Ryu went inside the shed and after a couple of minutes, he came out with the book that he needed to get. Kana waited for him to come out and so when he did, he asked him something.

"Here in this newspaper. You are close to Maki, right?"

"Yeah… and? I'm pretty sure you will request me of something that I don't like…"

"Can you please convince him to have another duet with me at my concert this Friday?"

"I… I don't think that possible…"

"Please. I'll pay you and give you anything that you want!"

Kana pulled out tons of money in her wallet.

No wonder her friends would leave her. She's the school idol having not just good looks and voice but also… she's rich. The type of life that any girl would want to have. Ryu thought to himself.

"Okay, I'll help you. But don't pay me."

"Then what do you want? "

"Nothing. I guess I just want to observe. Yah. I just want to see what happens."

"You're pretty weird. I didn't know that someone like you would be close friends with the prince."The two talked for a while about Kana's favor to Ryu. After they were done talking, Ryu agreed to help her. Since the start of their practice was supposed to be this afternoon, Ryu, right after the afternoon classes were over, went over to Maki.

"Maki! Please… please have a duet with Kana."

"Why… I don't want to. If I do it then it'll just go on and become a routine until I end up doing it every time."

"I… I see. So it's not that you don't want to do it but you don't want to push a continuous notion that you'll do it every time, right?"

"Yeah. And well, if I do so, I wouldn't have the time to spend with you guys, right? Hahaha."

Maki smiled right after saying those words.

"But… I'd really wish to hear both of you sing…"

"Well I'd love to but I really can't. I'm sorry."

Although disappointed, Ryu went to Kana to tell her what Maki said.

"So… uhm… that's what he said."

"Is that so? I guess I'll just practice by myself then. Can you accompany me while I practice singing?"

"I guess. I don't have anything to do right now anyway."

The two were alone on the backstage of the gym. It was a very calm afternoon. Around past 5:00 pm. Ryu was sitting on a chair while Kana stood up and went on a small platform. Kana inhaled and exhaled. She started performing in front of Ryu. As kana was performing, Ryu was speechless and can't take his eyes off of her. Yes, that's how good and mesmerizing her performance was. Ryu couldn't believe it.

She finally finished practicing a round of her performance. Ryu, on the other hand, was still caught up in how beautiful the performance was. It was like everything beautiful was in front of her. Paradise, I guess that's what you call it in a sense. That's the place where Ryu was taken when Kana was performing.

"WOW."

Ryu suddenly blurted that out of his mouth after a few seconds when the performance ended.

"I… I didn't know that you were this good. I haven't been in one of your performances and now that I've actually seen you perform, I know now why people in the classroom were always hyped to see you perform every week."

"Thank you. Heheheh."

This girl really is surprising.

"So uhm… actually… I… I've loved Maki for a long time now."

"Huh, I knew it. SIGH. I should've known better. Ahahah."

Ryu thought for a second about this. Maki loves the vice president but they are both okay with being friends.

The girl in front of me right now loves Maki. If I were to weigh both of these feelings then I think I can clearly choose who I should side on.

"Okay. Let's do this."

OPERATION: Kana's Wish

"So… since when. Since when did you have such a feeling for Maki?"

"2 years ago. On Christmas Eve."

Kana began to tell her story.

"It was a very cold night. I just finished doing my concert on a makeshift stage outside the mall. It was my debut concert. After the concert, I went to a hotel near the mall with my manager and my family to celebrate Christmas Eve. As my family and manager were eating and talking about some stuff, I got bored and so, I went to the balcony to gaze at the big Christmas tree in the middle of the town. It was so beautiful. While I was looking at the big Christmas tree, I heard someone singing on the left part of the balcony. I didn't know who he was back then but it was Maki. He was singing in a very funny and cheerful way. It wasn't good singing and if I may add, it was actually pretty bad but it had a very special ring to it that made me want to continue hearing it. I listened for a while before he noticed me."

As Kana was telling the story, she noticed that Ryu was listening to her intently. She paused for a while and chuckled. She then continued with her story. She didn't know that Ryu was interested in it.

"He then called out to me and I asked for his name. He told me his and I told him mine. We then talked a lot that evening. And I realized that we had a lot more in common than just being stuck in that hotel. After a couple of minutes of talking, I said goodbye and went back inside the main hall to where my parents were. But before I left he asked me something. "Are you sure about your decision?" I didn't know what he meant back then, my decision of being an idol? My decision on what I plan to do in the future? I didn't know but I still answered him. I told him, "Yes, I guess I'll continue with what I plan to do." I know it was a vague and very generic answer but he smiled as if he understood what I meant. Since then, I began to always question myself on whether I am sure about my decisions and I always imagine that scenery when I question myself. I always see him in my mind and I don't know, I just kind of fell for him, I guess. And then I transfer to Se't Creads University for my senior year and saw him. That's why now that I can actually be with him, I want your help."

"Okay, I understand. Let's do this. Plan, Kana's Wish. Commence."

Wednesday, March, 1st week

"The first thing you need to do is make a good impression. Something that will truly make him want to see you more."

"Well we've already met a lot of times and I think he doesn't see me as someone whom he wants to spend time with, Heheheh."

"Don't worry, people say that first impressions last but to be honest, I'm pretty sure that's not the case. The things that actually last are things that have a big impact and would be remembered. Like how you always remember what Maki said when you first met him."

"Okay."

Wednesday, March, 1st week (lunchtime)

Maki rushed to go to Ryu who was waiting in the cafeteria. While running he passed through Kana who was holding something. Kana called out to him.

She pulled out the cloth that was covering the thing that she was holding. It was a cake.

"Uhm Maki, here… I baked this cake for you… please enjoy eating it."

"I'm sorry but I can' take…"

"Take it! I'll be leaving now. Bye."

Kana hastily handed over the cake and run away as fast as she could. Obviously, Maki couldn't just leave the cake so he took it to the cafeteria.

To fill a man's heart you first need to fill his belly.

"Wow, is it someone's birthday? What's the cake for?"

Ryu said as if he didn't know what was happening.

"Well, someone left it in the corridor and ran off. I guess it would be a waste to not eat it. I wouldn't be able to finish all this so would you mind eating it with me?"

"Someone, huh? Okay. Hehehe."

"I'll also call in the others so they can eat some of it."

The two ate the cake and left some for the student council members to later taste it."Wow, this tastes really good. If the one who made this was a girl then I think she'd be a really good wife. It's almost comparable to Atchee's sweets."

Ryu said as if strengthening Kana's impression of being a good wife to Maki."Yeah, I guess so. It actually tastes great."

"Nice."

Ryu whispered to himself.

Thursday, March, 1st week

Ryu and Kana moved on to phase 2 of their plan.

"Now that we've covered a strong quality for you to be someone she can like, let's also make you appealing in his eyes."

"What do you mean?"

"As you are right now, you are already beautiful and have a strong appearance that can be remembered. I want to highlight your physical aspect in this phase 2."

"Okay. I'll do as you wish, teacher!"

"Heheheh. Don't call me that, it's embarrassing."

Thursday, March, 1st week (afternoon)

"Want to go to a café before we go home, Maki?"

"Sure, let's go."

As they were both walking toward the café, Ryu saw Kana in a distance and told Maki about it. Of course, it was all staged and Kana was already waiting near the café.

"Maki, isn't that Kana?"

"Yeah, I guess so. It looks like she is waiting for someone though. Let's go to a different café."Ryu didn't expect that Maki will choose a different café that's why he had to improvise."No, let's go to this café. I like to order the usual. Heheheh."

"SIGH. Okay."

The two went close to the café and as they were getting closer, Kana noticed them and went to them."Can I join you two?"

"Yeah, sure."

Ryu instantly agreed to Kana's request.

"Hey, Ryu. I…"

"It's okay. I don't mind her going with us."

Ryu smiled.

The 3 of them went inside the café. Ryu orders his usual espresso while Maki ordered a cappuccino. Kana, on the other hand, ordered the same as Maki.

"So uhm, wha… why are you two here?"

Kana started the conversation. Although tense, she mustered up her courage to do so.

"How about you. Aren't you supposed to meet with someone?"

Maki was really stingy. It's like she is annoyed being with Kana.

Although he seemed fine talking to her, Ryu knew that Kana didn't take that in smoothly. Ryu spoke to melt the cold conversation.

"Uhm, nice dress, Kana. You look beautiful in that look. Don't you think so too, Maki?"

"Yeah…"

Maki said as if he was not interested in it.

Kana has a different schedule than Maki and Ryu. She is free the whole afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays which she uses to practice in the gym. That's why she used this time to dress up and prepare."Uhm, I'll just go to the bathroom for a while."

Ryu headed to the bathroom to clear his mind and find a good solution to break the ice between the two.

After a couple of minutes, he went back to them. It took him a while but he still can't figure something out so he just followed and see what will happen next.

"The drinks are here."

"Thanks, Kana."

Time passed by but only the smooth vibe music of in the café was being heard. The 3 of them didn't speak of anything and it forced Ryu to start a conversation.

"I heard from my classmates that you are going to have another concert in the gym tomorrow afternoon."

"Ah, yes. You two can come if you like. Since Maki here doesn't want to have a duet, I will be singing alone."

"Maki why not sing with her again. I know it will be great."

"Don't worry. It's fine if he doesn't want to."

"Okay. Don't worry. Both of us will surely come to your concert."

Ryu said while smiling in the direction of Maki's face.

They finished drinking and decided to go home. Kana didn't make much progress but she still enjoyed the time being with Maki.

Kana said goodbye to the two of them and headed in the other direction.

Maki and Ryu walked back home.

As they were walking, Maki spoke to Ryu.

"Ryu, you shouldn't be helping Kana. It'll just make things worse."

"What do you mean by helping? I just knew her right now."

"I know. I know that you are planning something to get me and Kana together. It's quite obvious."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes. Yes, you are!"

Maki knows his best friend really well. From the very start of going to the coffee shop, he already knew what was going on.

"Okay. Okay. I was helping her. It's not like me to pick sides but I just want you also to be happy. Especially since the incident that happened."

"SIGH. Don't worry. I'm okay."

"Still, even if you're okay. I think you're being a bit harsh to Kana. Why… do you hate her? It's not normal for you to be that way in front of other people."

"Do you really want to know why?"

"What do you mean by that?"

The two made a detour towards the park and sat on a bench.

Maki started to say something.

"Kana really is a wonderful girl. She is kind to people, beautiful, adored by a lot of people, and some even say that if you heard her sing it's like you are hit by a euphoric bolt."

"Yeah, that's why I cannot see the reason why you hate her."

"I don't hate her."

"Then why?"

Maki began to tell him the truth about why is he avoiding Kana.

"I… I love the vice president. Even though she already rejected me, she's still the one that I like, from the very beginning until now."

"But still, I can't see that as a reason for you to brush off Kana's presence. She loves you very…"

"Kana is my fiancée."

"What!? Then why…"

Maki took a deep breath and explained his side of the story.

"2 years ago. I met Kana in a hotel near the big Christmas tree in the center of the city. My parents told me when we were inside the hotel that the reason that we were there was we had to meet another family. Supposedly, I was tasked to meet their daughter for she will be my future wife, they said. I didn't like the idea and so I just went outside the balcony and spent my time there. While spending my time there, I met a girl, that girl was Kana. At that time I didn't know it was her. I asked the girl's name. Then I knew that it was her. Well I thought, it's fine. We talked a lot about some stuff at that time. After talking for a while, I knew her more. And then right about when she was about to leave, I asked her something. I asked, "Are you sure about your decision?" That question was supposed to be for me but she answered it."

Ryu responded after hearing Maki's story. He understood it quickly. He felt kind of angry after understanding what was going on.

"Ditching her off. Acting insensitive towards her. Making her look like a fool. Not explaining things clearly to her. Acting like you're the only one who's in pain. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL HER THE TRUTH!?"

"It'll just be harder on her part… it will just make it more complicated and worse."

"Worse? The heck with that Maki! If something is becoming worse it's what you've decided to put yourself into!"

"I can't help it! Do you think it's easy to solve the problem!? I plan to marry the vice president and when we do get together, I was supposed to introduce her to my parents and with that, I can avoid getting married to Kana. It's best if she doesn't know it!"

Ryu got pissed off. He knew that Maki was just doing it for his self-interest without seeing the bigger picture.

"You're not fixing your problem! Instead of making things clear to everybody, you're just focusing on yourself as the one who wants to have it easy. Explain it to her! To solve a problem you need a step-by-step process. You're scared of facing the truth. YOU'RE JUST RUNNING AWAY instead of facing it."

People often find themselves in a tough situations. In a better sense, a problematic one. Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's hard. When it does get hard, we often just find the easiest answer and take shortcuts. We let our generic understanding come into play instead of critically analyzing what is going on. It's not that we are lazy to do so but our human brains are just wired to value themselves first and then root everything right after. We see ourselves in a better place and after that, any solution that seems to be good only on the outside is just as good as the truth.

We care for ourselves more than any other. The priority of self-interest always overcomes the priority of self-awareness. That's why people's actions change based on what they desire.

Maki couldn't speak. Silence filled the conversation. Both calmed down as the sun goes down.

"Maki, you know… I get it. You like the vice, pres. and that caused you to follow your desire even though you haven't cleared out your true problem."

"Ahahahah. I really am an idiot. Why did I even conceal the truth… I… I was afraid of it…"

"That's okay. No one in this world is perfect. Being afraid, making mistakes, doing something bad, not understanding everything, making things worse, and looking like a fool, it's all necessary for a person to grow better. Although it's quite ironic since you're nicknamed THE PERFECT PRINCE. Ahahahah."

"Ahahaha."

Both were back to normal. They laughed at each other as they were both talking.

"Maki, let's go to Kana's concert tomorrow. I want you to hear her sing. Alone, on that stage. I want you to see how much emotion she is putting into her concerts every week. And I want you to tell her the truth after her performance is over."

"Okay, I guess I can do that. I also want to make things clear. No more running away. I've faced a major problem once and I'm not backing down on this."

"Nice. I hope you will enjoy the concert. Your love for Kuki is not the only strong thing. I want you to feel the intensity of her emotions for you as well."

Both of us went home after our quarrel. No, not a quarrel but a misleading and overlapping understanding from both sides. Maybe we knew or maybe not but the fact that Maki was hiding the truth was clear.

Friday, March, 1st week (lunchtime)

Ryu and Kana were talking in the hallway.

"Your performance is this afternoon. Are you ready for your push?"

"Yes, I am. If this won't work, I guess I'll just see what happens after that."

"Good luck, we'll both be going to your concert. Show Maki your best performance!"

"YES!"

Friday, March, 1st week (Afternoon, 5:00 pm)

Kana was at the back of the stage. Her fans filled the gym like it was a bus in a rush hour. The tense atmosphere that enveloped the place chilled through her vines. She didn't feel this way before but knowing that Maki was going to listen to her performance, she felt it like a vibration that tickles its way around her body. Yes, the feeling of uneasiness, discomfort, and fright. It wasn't the best feeling for some but at that time it was necessary. Rather, it was perfect.

At that moment, she walked up the stage. In the front row, she saw Maki and Ryu sitting. This is it. It's my time to shine. Like always. In front of everybody. I…

***KANA'S WISH (SONG)***

Kana's performance shocked the whole audience. It was the first time that she sang this song. A song that she kept until the perfect time for everyone to hear. Although her past performances were all spectacular, this performance was different. It wasn't that all perfect like the others that she always shows in front of her audience but it was filled with all of her emotions and true intentions. A full mixture of her feelings for Maki.

Everybody was awed by her performance.

Maki realized Kana's feelings were not just for show. That it was something that inspired and lived through her. That she was indeed a person who loves her.

The performance ended. Everybody was cheering, screaming, clapping their hands, and smiling for her. That was the first time that Kana felt different while performing. It was like a huge weight was lifted from her chest.

After the performance, Ryu and Maki waited for Kana to finish changing in the gym's back room.

"This is taking a while, I'll go grab some drinks."

Ryu said as if he wanted them to have privacy later when they are talking. And yes he did, he went to buy some drinks and waited in from of the gym instead of the back so that Maki and Kana can have their time together.

After a couple of minutes, Kana stepped out of the gym's back door.

At the same time, Ryu was feeling impatient and so he went to spy on what was happening in the back. To his surprise, while he was walking to where they were, he saw Kana running away from the place. It was quite faint but she was crying while running away. Yes, at that time he knew that Maki told her the truth and he rejected her.

He then let Kana run away and he went to where Maki was.

"So, I guess, this is for the best?"

Ryu said while looking down.

"Kana didn't know that she was my fiancée but she already knew that I liked the vice-pres. The moment I told her that I love the vice president more than anything else, she… Well… In the end, there really is nothing that you can do to please everyone's emotions, huh…"

Ryu felt down as well as Maki. They both sat on a bench near the gym. Both looked at the sky and felt… WHAT A WONDERFUL SCENERY.

Humans are really stupid and amazing at the same time. Some people would do anything for themselves but there are a lot more people that would do anything for another. Yes, the feeling of love is quite the spectacle. May it be for oneself or another, we can easily reach high heights just to achieve recognition. We just want to be seen, to express, to dream, to realize, to feel, to make things come true! Make the things we want. Beautiful, Splendid, Spectacular, Amazing, Wonderful. I can say all these words but no words can amount to how much we can express our love to one another. Yet, no matter how much we try to love the other, DIFFERENT WORLDS AND IDEALS WILL NEVER COME TOGETHER. It's easy to say that you can do anything for the one you love or you should present yourself in a way that you could have more worth than the other just to gain recognition but… LOVE is only as strong as how it is PURELY USED. That's why the moment you force things, they will always become a ruin.