Memories in the Past: Red and Elizabeth

"You are already a high school student.", my mother proudly said.

"It's nothing different from-"

"It is.", my father said.

*Going to school and going back home after that. That's how it is always, right?*

"New place, new people, new teachers, and new friends. That's the difference.", my father added.

"Haaa...", I sighed.

"Now, now. You can get friends this time."

"But getting friends is not my goal for going to school."

My father and mother look at each other.

"Yeah, but still, it's fun when you have one."

I never got any friends at all on any days of my school life.

If I have, maybe I didn't notice it at all.

"I'm going out.", I said.

After just a few minutes of walking, I reach my new school.

"Junior high... huh."

I went immediately to my room and sit at the backside.

I went to the very corner because the noise there is lesser.

Just a few minutes after I sit down, a girl who's sitting in my front turn her face to me.

"Hey, what's your name?", she asked.

I didn't expect someone gonna talk to me just on the first day of school.

*Such courage.*

"Elizabeth."

"I see, I'm Jennifer but you can call me Jenny if you want to."

"I see..."

She's being friendly all of the sudden.

Very opposite of me.

*We won't get along for sure.*

"Hey, hey. Some people here are talking about their future."

"Hm?"

"What you gotta do after finishing school?", she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, your job. What job do you want to get when you grow up."

"Well..."

To be honest, I don't have a plan about that yet.

"Maybe a police officer like my father?"

I lied.

"Woooo. That's amazing."

My father is actually one of the leaders who protect our city, it's more likely a higher position than a police officer while my mother is a former Commander of A-1 HQ.

"That's means--"

Before she finished what she saying, the teacher already arrived.

"Haaa..."

A sigh of relief.

"Woah! I made it!"

Someone just arrived before the teacher speak.

A tall woman with red hair and sharp red-orange eyes.

"Go on.", the teacher said.

She sits beside me.

After a few announced, the teacher start writing something on the board.

"Yikes! Hey, can I borrow an extra pen for you?", she said to me.

"Here."

I lend her one.

I usually bring two extra pens in just in case situation.

"Thank you."

After a few lessons, the recess starts.

I immediately went outside to find a place where I can eat alone.

I prefer eating inside the room but it's so noisy there.

Thankfully I find a spot immediately.

But before I can even sit, an arm wrapped up my neck.

I was so surprised that my body froze for a second.

"Woah! I knew it you."

It's the woman who's sitting beside me.

"Hey, thanks for the pen. I'll give it back to you tomorrow.", she said.

"Keep it, I don't mind."

"Ehh... so kind. What are you doing here by the way?"

"I was planning to eat here."

"Alone?"

"Yeah."

"That's boring. Let's eat together.", she said.

She pulls me towards the place where I'm going to eat and forces me to sit.

I have no choice but to eat with her.

While eating, she saying some stories of hers.

*So noisy.*

I was so pissed at her at that time.

"Woo! That was good.", she said.

She look at me and tilted her head.

"What is it?"

"Well... what's your name again?", she asked.

*Yeah, she was just being clingy the whole time without knowing my name first.*

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth Meyer."

"Wooo... what a cool name. I'm Cherry. Cherry Fayer."

"..."

*It's not...*

"It's not fit for my personality isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Boo! You're so honest!"

"Well... it's true, right?"

"Yeah, then how about this. You can call me whatever you wanted."

"Whatever I wanted?"

"Yeah!"

"Hmmm..."

I look at her and observe.

*Wait! Why I'm doing this in the first place?*

"Come on, hurry!"

"Haaaa... how about Red?"

"Red? I see... that's good! I like it!"

"That's good then."

"Then I'll call Blue from now on!"

"Eh?"

"I mean, you give me a nickname, then I give you too!"

"Haaa... do whatever you want."

"Yey!"

She jumps and suddenly hugs me.

"Oi!"

After some other lessons, it's finally finished.

I stand up and walk towards the door immediately.

Red also does the same thing.

I walk faster and reach the gate.

Turned to the left and walk faster than the others.

*Don't follow me. Don't follow me. Don't follow me.*

"Hey!"

An arm wrapped up to mine.

"What a coincidence."

It's Red.

"Don't tell me..."

"Yeah!"

*I need to change school immediately.*

_________________________________________________

I finally get home after experiencing things that I don't want to experience again.

"Oh, you're already here.", my mother said.

"How's school?", my father asked.

"It's ok-... mother."

"Yes?"

"I can change school?"

"Eh? Why?"

"I just want to, I mean tomorrow, I wanted to be in a different school."

Two of them look at each other and start laughing.

"Why are you two laughing?"

"You already find a friend aren't you?", my mother asked.

"Well... not actually..."

"Get change, the dinner is ready."

"Wait how about my..."

*This is bad.*

_______________________________________________

After that day, I always sneakily went inside the school.

I take a peek at the room and she's not there yet.

I immediately sit down and lean my head on the table while covering it with my arms.

There are still a few minutes before the teacher arrives.

If I do this, she won't bother me until recess.

After a few minutes, I feel someone rubbing my head.

I took a glance to look who is it.

"Oh my. Did I wake you up?"

*Her face is so close.*

"No."

She's staring at me while rubbing my head.

"Stop that already."

"Oh, my bad. Your hair is smooth and smells good."

*Creepy.*

When the teacher arrives and starts teaching. I thought I was safe from her but I was wrong.

She moves her chair closer to me and starts random things.

She grabs my hair and smells it.

Talk about random things.

She even lean on my shoulders while I was taking notes.

"You..."

"What is it?"

"You keep bothering me in the middle of the class."

"... Do I?"

"Ha..."

"What with that face?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, tell me. After all... we will be seatmates and be together for a whole year."

*Shi-*

"Also, if we're lucky enough, we might become classmates again in the second and third years."

*Three years of...*

"Woah! You look dead inside, come back to me!"

This continues every single day of school.

_______________________________________________________

After school, I went home straight but Red drag me somewhere.

"Just where are we going?"

"Just follow me."

She's holding my arm while we're walking in the middle of the forest.

"I just found this place earlier."

"Earlier?"

"Yeah, I always jogged early in the morning before school."

"I see..."

After another minute of walking, we reach the place she wanted to show me.

"We're here!"

"Woah!"

It's a huge tree that stands at the top of the mountain.

"See."

"How did you even get here if you're just doing jogging?"

"Hehe, I was spacing for a long time that I never notice where I am."

"That's very like you."

"Hehe... So... do you like it?"

"Not bad."

"Wow, you sure you have high standards."

"Not really."

"Do you think it's worth it to go here every day?"

"No."

"Ehh... why?"

"What do you mean 'why?' What are we gonna do here anyway?"

"Enjoy the view?"

"You're not even sure about your answer."

"Hehe. You're mad at me?"

"I'm absolutely mad at you. Not only this day but every day."

I walk to the tree and sit there. Red sit beside me.

"Oh my. You're so honest. But I think it's better than pretending that you like me, right?"

"What do you mean?", I asked.

"Nothing."

After that, she leans on my shoulder.

"Just tell me?"

"You sure?"

"Yes."

"Well, you're actually the very first person who's been honest to me. All of the people that I think of as my friend just pretending that they like me."

"How did you even know that they're just pretending?"

"I kinda overhear them talking about me..."

"So, what did they talk about you?"

"I'm annoying, loud,... something like that."

"Sorry, I shouldn't ask something like that."

"It's okay..."

I want to go home now but I couldn't.

I let her lean on my should for another few minutes.

"Hey, I think it's time for us to go home."

"..."

"Wait, are you sleeping."

"Zzzzzzz."

"Haaa..."

________________________________________________

"Hey, Elizabeth."

"Hm?"

It's Jennifer... or Jenny for short.

"You two are very close."

"Who?"

"Cherry. The girl sitting beside you."

"Do we really look close to you?"

"Not just me. But most of the students here."

"... seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Haaa..."

"Hey, wanna hang out later?"

"Huh?"

"I mean... you guys always hang out after school, right? So there's no problem about us, hanging out?"

"Well..."

*Why I can't say no to her? When did I become soft?*

"Hey, Goodmorning Blue."

It's Red.

"Morning."

"What's up. What are you guys talking about?", she asked immediately after she take a sit.

"Elizabeth and I planning to hang out after school."

"I see..."

Her expression suddenly change.

"What's going on to you?"

"Did she say yes to you?", she asked.

"Well..."

"The teacher is here."

The teacher arrived before Jenny answered Red's question.

After that, Red went silent for a whole day.

She never does things that she usually does.

"Hey, what's gotten to you?"

"Hm? Nothing."

"I don't think it's nothing."

"I'm just thinking of a solution."

"Solution to what?"

"It's a secret."

"I see..."

After the lesson, Jenny went to me.

I was walking outside the gate without Red.

I don't know where she went.

"So, are we going?"

"Ah well..."

*So... how should I refuse her?*

"Hey, are you waiting for me?"

Red appears out of nowhere.

"...I..."

"Okay then, let's go home... darling."

"Eh?*

*What did she say again?*

"Darl--! I see... sorry Elizabeth, I should ask first. Bye!", Jennifer walk away after that.

"What's with that?"

"What?"

"That nickname. Aren't those lovers using it?"

"... do they?"

*I don't know where she's pretending or she's just dumb.*

"Come on, let's go home now. Blue."

"I prefer that nickname."

"Hehe."

________________________________________________

As time passed.

Tomorrow will be the start of the vacation and after that, we will become second year.

"Do you think we can be classmates again?", Red asked.

"I don't know but..."

"But?"

"Even we're not, we can be still friends."

"What's with that? Of course, we are. By the way, what are you planning for the future? I mean job."

"It's too early to think of that. But I think it's better to think of important things for long before deciding, right?"

"Think of important things for long huh."

She suddenly stops.

"What is it?"

"I forgot, there are still things I need to do."

"I see..."

"Hey, good luck with your vacation."

*We're not going to meet each other on vacation?*

"Hey, Blue!"

"What is it?"

"If we meet again... can I..."

With those words, my eyes widen and my body froze.

*What did she say again?*

When I clearly process what she said, my body becomes hot.

"What's with that... question?..."

She turn around she starting running.

I turn around and cover my face.

Even though I don't see myself, I know I'm blushing.

"Huh."

I heard a loud sound behind me.

When I look behind, there's an explosion.

"What's going on..."

*No!*

"Red!"

I run towards the explosion to find Red but there's another explosion.

The explosion pushes me so hard and hit my head on the ground.

"Red..."

I reach out my hand in the direction where Red went.

________________________________________________

"Red..."

*So soft...*

"Oh my. I didn't know that you're longing for this."

It's Red.

"What are you..."

I was surprised when I saw my hands on her chest.

"I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. You can touch it more if you wanted."

"What are you doing here anyway?"

I just save Red yesterday.

"Well, I just going to wake you up since breakfast is ready but you're too cute when you're sleeping so I just ended up staring at you instead."

"Creepy."

"Hehe. Hey, Blue."

"Yes?"

"Let's go."

She extended her arm to me and I reach out her hand.

"Hey, do you remember what did I ask to you before got separated?"

"You still remember that?!"

"I see... you still remember it."

*can I... be your girlfriend?*

"Well..."

"What's your answer?"

"Let's go already."

I push her back towards the door.

"Hey, how about your answer."

"It will be rude if we make the others wait for us."

I lean my face to her back.

*So... how I'm going to say yes to her?*