CHAPTER 1 - Us

"No way.." Herwin calmly replied immediately. No sign of hesitation sounded from his answer.

When he know Rou wouldn't get satisfied that easily by a simple word like that, he then continued

"I saw her as my sister. It doesn't matter if she is a girl or boy, I will still see her as my sibling. So, no.."

A little explanation from Herwin made Rou slightly understand and ease himself a bit. That was quite strong evidence. Still, they're not siblings. They're best friends.

"That's a good thing, I guess.." Rou muttered. Enough to heard by Herwin.

"Are you in that kind of feeling towards her?" Herwin guessed.

"Pardon me?" Asked Rou pretending to sound shocked

"This is the second time you come and see me, you never find me other than to talk about her." He does not need to know, just wants to prove him right.

"Because that's the only link between us. Like you have another business with me, no?" He sounds very dodging

"Nothing. But, anything regarding her would concern me. It's fine, anyway. I just take it as yes and I don't bother to know about whatever deep connection between you two." He replied as he pushed himself against the wall he leaned on.

"Remember to keep it for us."

He just got an okay sign from Herwin told him there's nothing to worry about.

"And I didn't like her, I am not gay!"

This time he doesn't get any response.

"Damn.." He muttered.

It still on his mind as he walks to his class and sits on his desk with a grumpy expression.

'I thought we never let anyone knows our connection. Especially someone who knows us.' He thinks.

But as Herwin said, he saw him twice and he always asked about her. There's no way nothing happened between them. She wasn't his classmate nor his good friend anyway. At first, he just introduces himself as her old friend. Nothing like he was liking her or something like a crush, isn't he?

Did she tell Herwin? Or it just too obvious and a guy like Herwin can catch it immediately. What if he was in Herwin's place right now when suddenly some random senior just come and talk about his girl bestfriend, wouldn't he curious and think that senior was in love with the girl?

But, shouldn't a man need to be more creative than that? Why always think straight to that typical thing like 'liking' or 'crushing'? Plus, she wasn't someone suitable to have a crush on. She was Maeve. Wren Maeve.

Back to 8 years ago, Rou was only 10 years old when one fine day, a new student entered his class. The kid was petite, with messy dark brown hair. His gaze always looks empty, on top of his hooded eyes with long straight lashes. Wearing a straight face, he probably shy or scared. That's how usually a new kid acts, isn't it?

That was what Rou thinks on that day. Months passed and the kid still didn't show any changes nor opening up to her classmates. Yes, the kid is a she. Good thing no one knows what was Rou thought of her from the first impression. With her short hair, gloomy and dark style, probably he wasn't the only one who thinks that way. Most primary schools in Greendale don't include school uniforms to the student, even wearing skirts wasn't compulsory for the female student. How could he tell between girl and boy when everyone can wear pants, everyone can have short hair and everyone with the same babyfaces.

It's been several months too since watching her became Rou's everyday habit. He just grows interested to know her. She didn't just look like a typically shy and quiet type of kid but something weirder than that. Their classmate said she just being arrogant since she was a smart kid. Rumor said she transferred from a big city to this small town as a test. Her real age was 8. During her first-grader, she showed a splendid performance without a single flaw throughout the year. Educational Board intends to do more observation on her and placed her in the fourth-grader, at a smaller town to see any relation from her surrounding. It wasn't necessary to transfer her this far, any small town in her region - Avesvalley, would do but since she had a grandfather here in Everhills so they agreed to send her here. Like she had any chances to object. What she could do is following without understanding anything.

He heard some stories like these before but an encounter with one was the first time for him. Is every genius kid acts like her? That's what makes him wonder.

From one year of observation, she still shows a great performance but it's not perfect and flawless like she did during her first-grader. They then just conclude her as a normal kid, just a bit faster than her actual age. It's completely normal so they send her back to her actual grader.

He heard she still in that school, in the third grade but he didn't entirely sure since he never sees her around. He will start not to care any less about her.

That's what he decided but ironically, he slightly feels empty and losing something. No, not because he grew a crush on her. The reason is without realizing it, besides watching her throughout the year, he tries to surpass her, probably took her as his rival? Or it just merely so she could realize his existence? He never thought of the answer for that since no one asked. Now, without her, Rou continued to place his spot in the first place. No surprise until today.

'But to think back, she didn't look like a smart student now? Not to mention she sit in class 3-C? What's with her?' He speaks to himself like just remembered something. Indeed, it was something he can wonder about. Something probably happened by the time they won't see each other.

It was about few months in the same year before Rou completely forget about her, one day she showed up at his home. She wasn't alone, she's with her grandfather. That's how he begins to become childhood friend with her. Her grandfather asked Rou's dad to look after her sometimes when he going outstation for his work. Her grandfather was Senior Deputy Commissioner of Police. Rou's dad happened to be a retired police officer, that linked them. Plus, they had a very good term so her grandfather trusts his granddaughter under his care. Of course, big brother Rou was the one who asked to play with her. That girl isn't a baby anymore.

Let's called her Maeve from this point.

At first, Rou will show a cold reaction. He's not playing with a little girl. So, instead of playing or having fun, they usually quarreling and fighting a lot. Rou's dad, Mr. Edward, does not really bother to settle them down since he always trusts his son. So, he will just be lazing around, laying on the sofa watching his favorite Disney movie. Such charisma from a retired police officer.

After over a year of hanging out together at Rou's place, Rou learned much more about her. His wish to know her back when they sit in the same class came to reality now, but instead of feeling great, he wishes he can take back his thought of interest in her, something's weird about her, and so on. The girl named Maeve that he knows was completely the one he annoyed the most. Spoiled, arrogant, and cold-hearted person. Such a brat attitude.

One thing he hated the most was when she cried a lot, at first he would comfort her but later it annoys him so he just gave her a harsh and cold reaction whenever she cries. There's nothing really sweet childhood memory with her for Rou. But one day, Maeve stopped crying, whatever he did she didn't cry. Wasn't just yesterday she acts like a spoiled brat who cries over a spilled milk, except it was real milk that spilled enough to make her cry. Even Rou repeatedly says it was okay, it will clean again after they wipe them up. But today, she completely changed. No matter how hard Rou pinched her cheek or teased her. No matter how freezing attitude he gave, she didn't cry. One thing he remembers she commented;

"Honestly, I couldn't believe how spoiled I act previously. Such childish things like this could make me cry. That's cute, Rou."

He also remembered that was the first and last smile he saw coming from Maeve's face. After that, Maeve's grandfather never sends her to their home again.

His dad told him Maeve returned to her region, Avesvalley, and lives with her parents. Everything was too sudden but Rou doesn't want to hear anything about that girl anymore. He just turned 13 and a big boy like him will never babysit a spoiled little girl like that. He's entering Middle School soon.

To say Maeve he knew today was the same Maeve he used to know, it kinda difficult acceptance. Not only her brain, attitude but also her appearance also completely opposite from before they separated 4 years ago.

14 years old Maeve turns into a teenage girl, with dark brown straight hair about shoulder level, with a slender standard teenage girl body, and a pair of long legs. She didn't wear any accessories except for 3 black piercings on her left ear and a wristwatch on her right wrist. Nothing really changes about her compares to her age, it's normal for a girl like her to change her appearance for the past 4 years. The same goes with him, the 16 years old him with a taller, slim, and build body. Of course, he also changed with the age. As a boy, no need to change his hairstyle, so he still with the same raven shaggy hairstyle. But what's important now is, she completely remembers him. Everything about him, that's why he can't deny that Maeve is the same Maeve.

Maeve registered at Everhills Public Middle School in the second-year class. That's how Rou gets the idea of her return to Everhills. From what he knows, Maeve's grandfather still lives here so probably she come back to live with her grandfather. Nothing to surprise.

Seeing her in school uniform with a miniskirt other than her typical overall outfit back then, sure makes him feels awkward. Not because she seems sexy or attractive with it but of course because the word sexy or attractive aren't suitable at all for the kind of her. In other words, it's awkward to see her in such a girly appearance such as a middle school uniform.

To say he was glad to meet her again, he's not entirely sure. It just probably the same feeling again grows on him from the first moment he knows she's back. Curious. Why did she come back to Everhills? What happened to her parents at Avesvalley? Did she still remember him? Why did she stop crying at that time? What is the meaning of the smile? All of his questions from 4 years ago mixed with new questions. He's still interested in her.

They never say hi at school but it surprised Rou when one day, she visited Rou's home. Luckily, his dad was home so it didn't turn out to be an awkward reunion between them. They didn't talk much, Mr. Edward was the one who living the moment so she talks more to him. She promised to come again another time later.

At school, they never talk to each other. Acts like they were strangers. Nothing so different from when they were in the same primary school. Except, this time she wasn't alone. She's noisy, light-hearted, and hanging out with many friends from her same batch. She does not seem like a shy, quiet, or arrogant girl anymore. Completely opposite. maybe people changed with time.

One of her guy friends, named Wisteria Herwin was mistaken as her boyfriend by Rou when he comes to see him and talk for the first time. When he thought Maeve now changed into a full-fledged girl with appearance, boyfriend, and stuff. That's when he learned he was wrong. Herwin is not her boyfriend and she is instead dating a girl from All-Girls Middle school in a neighboring town - Wellsprings. He's kidding, right?

One day, 2 years later from their reunion, Maeve visited his home while his dad wasn't home, there's where the problem started. Long story short, he ended up had his first kiss with Maeve. Of course, Maeve was shocked and immediately declare that she was into girls. Enough to make Rou feels like a gay even though he was the straight one there. He didn't say anything about that kiss, not to explain what was it means. He just feels so irritated that he kissed someone else's girlfriend. What's more irritating is when he realizes it may be his first kiss but not hers. Somehow, he feels unfair so that's why he won't say anything about that kiss.

With all unanswered questions about her plus her gay self, it grows anxious in him to confirm any feelings toward her. He's not sure whether that kiss means love or something else. He knows nothing about her, it wasn't he doesn't want to know but he just couldn't bring himself to ask anything. Besides he doesn't want to look busybody, he just scares to know. For him, all the curiosities in him grow interested towards her so he afraid if he ended up knows everything about her, the feeling of interest fade away, and he's ready to let her go. The correct meaning for that kiss probably, a seal.

That seal was made not a long time ago. Just about a month ago and neither of them talk again about it. Both just kept it between them only. Aren't they?

He knows he should start doubting her when Herwin figured out about them.

"Damn!" He mumbled.

-CHAPTER 1 ENDS-