Not A Big Deal

People forget… Way too easily I’d say.

In the end, is it really worth it to get involved with people you know you have no power to make them stay with you and be part of your life? You’ll just do something for them because you like that person, but deep down you’d like them to make them notice you or even to start liking you back.

But if this action is not enough? You’ll start to push your feelings onto them? Isn’t that kind of selfish? Or you’ll leave things as is, let time pass and eventually be forgotten?

Now that I think about it it’s better to be forgotten. That way your mistakes will also be erased just like that.

“COME ON! COME ON! Breakfast time!”

“Dad! Don’t barge in like that! Also, you don’t need to be so loud first thing in the morning!”

“Right, right Son! Get dressed and come downstairs to eat breakfast. I have it ready for you.”

◆

“So, Son. Do you have decided already what you want to do as a job?”

“Wow, wow! Isn’t it kinda early for this kind of situation? I mean, I’m only a second-year. I have plenty of time to be sure of which career path I want to choose.”

“Well, I know that but I believe it’s about time to start having a future plan.”

“Yeah, okay. You’re right.”

“So, what about being a computer programmer? If I remember correctly that’s what you wanted to do when you’re younger. Plus, you’re an expert with computers, so that’s a nice fit for you, right?”

“Yeah, that’s what I have mainly in mind as well, but lately it doesn’t make me complete. I feel something’s missing…”

… Also, when I was younger I was that lazy of a person that I thought that if I had a job that didn’t require waking up early in the morning and be at an office would have a lot of advantages in my life… But there’s no need to mention that to him…

“Okay, how about this: what do you like to do in your spare time?”

“I just pass my time watching anime. That’s it.”

“And there isn’t a way to make a job out of this hobby of yours?”

“Like what? Buying rare merchandise and selling them online much more?”

“I’m trying to make a serious talk here.”

“Well, I’m sorry but there is no time for a serious talk right now because… Oh, crap! There’s no time! Sorry Dad, gotta go! Talk about it tomorrow!”

◆

“Hey Bill, let me ask you something”

“What’s the matter, Alex? Want to hear my advice on how to get a girl?”

“You’re single too, aren’t you?”

“In my case, it’s just that I enjoy the moment. You should try that too. On the other hand, you still can’t move on-”

“ANYWAY, I just wanted to ask you if you have already chosen your future career plan.”

“Well, yeah? Dude, we’re already second-years…”

“…”

“Okay, I get it. If you still don’t know what you want to do for a living, I advise you to think about things you like to do. I think that’s the most helpful tip I can give you.”

“Good morning everyone”

“Good morning Yamada-sensei”

Things I like to do, huh? Well alright, being a computer programmer seems like a very nice job, having in mind that technology is evolving all the time and stuff. But, honestly, that doesn’t make me complete. I’ve always been into more artistic things. Specifically, I like making stories and stuff. But, in reality, being a writer has much more hardships than anyone would imagine. It’s not something anyone could live easily just from writing novels. Hmm… Maybe being an actor is actually the best~

“Sakita Alex-kun!!!”

“Yes!... Right!... I’m here!”

“You know, just being in class when your mind is running elsewhere, doesn’t necessarily mean that you're here.”

“Yes, sorry Yamada-sensei.”

◆

“I guess we’ll start our lunch break just ourselves.”

“That seems so, Bill. Sok-kun will take a long time until-”

“Hey guys!”, someone said to us from afar…

“Sok-kun?! Is that really you?”, I asked confused.

“You’re an impostor! Sok-kun is always late at least 20 minutes. Who the hell are you?!”, said Bill.

“Shut up guys and listen? Where is Ayame-chan?”

“What’s going on? Ayame is eating lunch with her friend today.”, I replied. “Did anything serious happen?”

“I just learned something and I thought you three would be interested to hear it.”

“What’s the matter?”, Bill asked.

“Do you remember that transfer student conversation we had yesterday?”

“Yes.”, we replied.

“I learned from my girlfriend that the new student is female...”

“Yes!”, said an ecstatic Bill.

“… and it’s from the same middle school we went.”

“Noooo!” That’s what I wanted to scream but I managed to hold myself. I literally decided to choose to go to a high school near this town, not just because it’s close to my home, but because I didn’t want to remember anyone from my middle school days. I talked about going to a high school near our houses to Bill and Sok-kun and that’s how we ended up here. I guess Ayame had a similar progress of thought and she enrolled with us here.

“Earth to Alex. Earth to Alex. Do you copy?”

“Yes, Sok-kun… No, it’s not a big deal. It’s just some girl who happened to go to the same middle school as us four.”

I said that but I couldn’t help but think about it. When I returned back home I rushed up to my room. I wanted to stop thinking, I wanted to stop remembering. My dad saw me as I rushed up the stairs. That day he made a decision I’d learn the next day… But that day, that evening it was all mine. All mine to just sit in my room and distract myself.

However, the next day would turn my peace upside down… again.

“COME ON! COME ON! Breakfast time!”

“Dad! Don’t barge in like that! Also, you don’t need to be so loud first thing in the morning!”

“Right, right Son! Get dressed and come downstairs to eat breakfast. I have it ready for you.”

I feel like we had this conversation before... Déjà vu!

◆

“Okay, Son. We’ve left a conversation in the middle yesterday.”

“Yeah, yeah, I remember. About deciding my future plan… Give me a few days and I’ll inform you of my decision”.

“I’m afraid that won’t do…”

“What do you mean?”

“I saw you yesterday returning home only to rush into your room and seeing anime. I know you like to watch them and I can’t stop you from doing so…”

“Yes…?”

“But I also can’t see you spending the most precious years of your life in front of a TV screen all the time.”

“And what else you want me to do~”

“That’s why from today onwards I’ll have you join a club!”

“Huh?”

“The choice about which club you’ll join is entirely yours. However, I want you until the end of this week to have joined a club.”

Join a club? Which club? Bill has joined the football club and Sok-kun the basketball club because both of them like the sport they play and they’re good at it. On the other hand, I am not so good neither at basketball nor football. Does that mean that I’ll have to join a club with a bunch of people I don’t know? Damn it…

“Mornin’ Alex. How is it going?”

“Hey, Bill. I’ll tell you later”

“Alright, alright. For the time being, make sure you’ll respond when Yamada-sensei calls your name. Don’t make a fool of yourself again, right?”

“Shut it, idiot”

“Good morning everyone”

“Good morning Yamada-sensei”

“Before we start today, we have a new student I’d like to introduce to you…”

Oh, right! I totally forgot! The student from my middle school is enrolling here today… Oh crap! I really hope she's not someone from that group or knew anything. Or even worse… Please God, don’t be her… Don’t be…

“Nice to meet you all! I’m Akisa Anna.”

...HER?