Jasmine

"I wonder what it feels like to fall in love."

At Sakura's mused, my mouth left agape. The pen that was being embraced by my hand earlier ago was now rolling on the floor. My mind turned hazy and I felt as though the words on the book drifting away from the pages.

The class had ended and I was now reading books with Sakura in the library, though I couldn't confidently say that since my gaze kept wandering over the edge of the book at Sakura. Just when I decided to focus on studying, I heard her mutter.

"Wh-what do you mean by that, Sakura?"

I could feel my lower lip trembling as I forced myself to calm down. She looked at me as though she didn't notice that I was right in front of her all along. *Was she too absorbed in her own world again?* I'd just assume that was it since it was better than knowing Sakura was ignoring me.

Letting an awkward laugh as she gave me a dismissive hand, she answered, "Oh, I didn't mean anything about it."

I squinted my eyes and looked at her suspiciously. Sakura was never lost in her thoughts unless something made her think about it. Did something happen without me noticing it today? She looked like her usual self in the class though. Keeping these words in my head, I pretended to get back to studying and continued watching her over the book. Strange as it was, I started to see myself as a stalker. Still, I never met one before so I had no idea what a stalker was like. Not that I wanted to be one, of course.

Once I stopped thinking about surreal things, I saw a familiar stature in a distance. A girl you would have thought a middle schooler because of her height...or was I too harsh? Sakura always said that I should be polite to her since she was a year above us but I still couldn't bring myself to. Especially now that I noticed them gradually getting close to each other.

I remembered Sakura saying that she was not quite fond of Senior Sasaki since there was no hint of maturity in her. But lately, it seemed that words were now just in the past. I suppose she found something in Senior that made her quite like her. Of course, that *something* was unknown to my mind hence I unconsciously put my guards up whenever I saw Senior tottering toward us.

"Goo' day!" Senior greeted in an unfamiliar accent. We greeted her back too, though in a normal one. Then, she sat next to Sakura as if that was the most natural thing to do. Sakura, on the other hand, didn't say anything. No opposing. No protesting. Somehow, it made me feel jea...agitated.

*And here I hesitated to seat next to her earlier,* I sighed as I realized how coward I was.

After a minute of spying on them, I gave up. I could feel something would brew inside me if I'd continued watching them so I relaxed my stiffened shoulder and tried to focus on the textbook. Actually, I have no reason to study since the exam season was still far away, but since Sakura was here I decided to tag along. I had to look after her, after all. No one told me to but I decided it myself.

After realizing my mind couldn't focus on every word in the textbook, I put it down. I wondered how come Sakura could read these textbooks for an hour or so. I could barely focus for 20 to 30 minutes, though. Or was it because Sakura was here near me. Honestly, I couldn't tell. Scratching these thoughts, I glanced at the library instead.

Bookshelves stood perfectly like a domino, in front of the were students browsing for their desired books. Fortunately, no one seemed to play around so the shelves wouldn't fall like the actual domino.

The cold breeze from the AC kept grazing my cheeks and neck. Privately, I wondered why they had an Aircon inside the library. It would be nice if they just opened the window since it was what a classic library looked like. But then again, I knew that books wouldn't survive in that condition. That was why Sakura kept hers as though she was keeping a child. It was important for her, that was what she always said.

"How about you, Eimi?" My senses back as though it was slapped to me when Sakura called my name. My mind was wandering around so I really couldn't tell what they were talking about.

"Oh...ummm... yes?" My voice cracked hence I tried to laugh it off like Sakura always did as she called my name.

*I didn't look stupid, right?* I contemplated anxiously. But knowing me, I didn't have to ask that since I already know the answer.

"Senior was asked by the teacher to get the new book in the storage room, so I thought of helping her."

"Yep. And oh...I forgot I'm also here to fetch you two. To be honest, the clubroom was now quite lonely after the third year's retirement. So I want you two to accompany me there," she confessed, grinning at us.

Now that she mentioned it, I didn't have any idea what was normally done in the literature club. Did they just sit there and read some books? I doubted it was.

"Then, if Sakura's going...I suppose I'll help too." I wavered midsentence as I realized I was technically a member of the club too.

"Thought so."

I glance at Senior as I heard her mutter, not sure why though.

Her eyes held meaning as she glanced at me yet instead of thinking what it was, I chose to turn my eyes away and started stuffing my notes inside my book bag.