Before the sun sets (pt 3)

Step by step, the friends carefully ascended the stairs leading to the shrine. Most of them were overgrown with weeds, others had started to crumble. At the top of the stairs, they passed through a gate that had once been painted red. A gush of cool wind blew over them, making Haru’s back shiver as he approached the abandoned building. He wasn’t usually the superstitious type, but couldn’t help that something felt a bit off, it was like someone or something was watching them. Even though he knew everything they’d encounter tonight would be fake,

Mia moved closer and grabbed the boy's hand. “This is creepy…” she whispered, “so cool!” Her eyes connected with his. She was so close that her warmth overwrote the creepy calm. Her enthusiasm motivated him to organize all this, after all.

The group stopped on the little square sitting before the abandoned building. Haru stood still and started his calm speech. “This shrine was abandoned decades ago after a fire destroyed the main building. The townspeople say it once enshrined a guardian spirit, but after the fire, strange things started happening. It is said that during the full moon, you can hear footsteps resounding through the hallways. The wind whispers unintelligible words… and strange, mysterious colors would be emitted from long extinguished candles.”

Renji scoffed. “Sounds like a bad horror movie.”

Mia smirked, filming the speech with her phone. “Or the perfect setup for a ghost encounter.”

Ayaka shivered, folding her hands around her body. “Why did I let you drag me here?”

Daichi chuckled. “Relax, it’s just a story.”

Haru took out his wallet and gave all his friends a coin. “Since we are at a shrine, we’ll have to show our respect to the gods,” he explained. He bowed before the weathered-looking coinbox and slipped his coin inside. He clapped his hands twice and held his hands together in prayer.

Please give me the courage to ask Mia out tonight.

He bowed one final time before turning his gaze to his friends. One by one, they repeated the ritual. Mia was last. Having witnessed the Japanese friends all do it, she did her best to copy the ritual and put in her coin.

After the friends were done with their offers, they stared at the entrance door to the big, spooky building. Then, by a gust of wind the door magically flew open, revealing the dark interior.

Ayaka looked shocked. “Promise you guys aren’t messing with me!”

Haru shook his head. “It’s just a coincidence.”

“I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t filmed it,” Mia whispered.

“Well, hurry up before I change my mind,” Ayaka said, while she passed by Haru, ready to enter.

Haru blocked her from entering. “Let me go first, I will give you a tour.”

Having been here before during daytime with his friends, Haru knew exactly where to go. Where the left-wing had become unstable because of the fire, the right-wing had remained mostly intact. Just before dark, Renji had taken a jog to the shrine and hid his led-lanterns and speaker inside. From his phone, he could secretly control them, adding to the already spooky atmosphere.

As Haru led the group inside, the wooden planks creaked under their careful steps. The air felt thick, the scent of aged wood entering their nostrils. Shadows cast from Haru’s lantern danced over the walls as the group left the entrance behind.

“This place is seriously creepy,” Mia whispered, holding her arm close to her body. “It’s truly like something else is present here beside us.”

Just then, a deep, resonant sound echoed through the shrine. A low, vibrating hum - like something trying to push them out. The friends froze, this was not part of their plan.

Ayaka grabbed Renji’s sleeve and whispered in his ear. “Tell me that is the speaker you guys planted.”

Renji took his phone out of his pocket and showed it to Ayaka. “I didn’t do that!”

The group exchanged nervous glances. Haru took another step, and Renji put on the hidden electric lantern… illuminating the dragon statue standing on the other side of the hall.

“Eeeh!” Mia shrieked, jumping into Haru’s arms. “I think I’ve seen enough for tonight!”

Haru took a deep breath. “Right, we’ve paid our respects. Let’s not overstay our welcome.”

Without argument, they turned back. As they reached the entrance, they passed through the door. Mia looked over her shoulder and saw the door that had flown open on its own earlier now slowly creaked shut behind them, without a single touch.

Renji smiled. “So maybe it isn’t just a coincidence…”

Ayaka nudged him. “Shut up and walk.”

Outside, the air felt lighter, almost peaceful, the full moon giving clear visibility. As they descended the shrine steps, Haru turned back and gave one final bow.

The wind whispered through the branches, as if it bowed back at the boy.

X

After their thrilling exploration of the shrine, Mia and Haru as well and their other friends started their walk back home. Haru’s friends walked about fifty meters before the couple, giving them some needed alone time. The star-dotted sky and ample moonlight provided the perfect atmosphere for what must happen.

This is my moment to tell her how much I like her.

Haru turned to the girl, admiring her blue-sparkly eyes. She seemed like she was having the time of her life, all excited from the ghost encounter she just had. However fake it might have seemed to Haru, the girl loved it. Unconsciously, he moved closer, holding her hand. The girl didn’t respond… no shriek… no blush… they just continued walking in this serene setting. Their being together felt nothing but natural.

He almost felt bad, having to break this beautiful moment with his confession. But what words was he going to speak? Would he use a quote from one of his favorite poems? A confession was the kind of thing one would remember for their entire lives, so he couldn’t botch it. His head scrolled through a metaphorical list of poems, trying to fit the exact one

The boy was so consumed by his thoughts that he didn’t notice that the girl was no longer walking beside him. In confusion, he turned around and saw Mia standing slightly behind him. She laughed at him, her lips soft.

While combing her hand through her hair, Mia addressed him. “Hey Haru, you like me, right?” she spoke rather casually, catching Haru completely off guard.

The startled boy looked at Mia. Did she just confess to me? Haru had always been convinced the guy had to confess to the girl, not the other way around. But Mia was different… she couldn’t be compared to a regular, normal, Japanese girl. She did things her own way… and that was exactly why she intrigued Haru so much. He nodded and answered. “Yes, I do.”

She tilted her head, her eyes questioning. “You really do? I mean like lovers… kissing and stuff… not that we have to kiss right away. We can take our time… totally! ”

A slight blush formed on Haru’s face as he reaffirmed his statement. “I love you, Mia.”

Mia let out a sigh of relief. “I am so glad!” she said, giving the boy a hug.

While the girl embraced Haru, she softly whispered in his ear. “I am sorry for being impatient, but you see, I can’t wait forever for you to make a move. I’ll only be here for a month, so I don’t want to waste my time.”

Mia let loose and stared Haru right in the eyes, she was so close he could feel her warm breath. “I want to spend as much time with you as possible!”

A soft smile appeared on Haru’s face as he nodded. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you out of sight.”

X

Later that night, Haru lies in bed, trying to read a book. Although his eyes read the words, his brain fails to register them, his mind consumed by the girl. By his new girlfriend, Mia. He reflected on how he failed to confess to her in time, and how it didn’t matter in the end, because Mia had his back. On how little time they had to spend together.

Only one month, a period of time that would usually fly down in a blink, precious days already spent.

If only I could freeze time.

His eyes, still reading, landed on a line that seemed applicable.

“Though we cannot make our sun stand still, yet we will make him run.”

Inspired by the poem, Haru put down the book and grabbed his phone. He checked his notifications and saw Mia had sent him a message.

Sleep tight xxx Mia (ghost emoji)

He lifted the corners of his mouth, reading his girlfriend’s goodnight message over and over again. With his eyes sparkling, he put his thumbs on the screen and typed out his question.

Do you have time on Saturday? I want to take you somewhere out of town.

Three animated dots appeared next to her name, and Haru patiently waited for her response.

Can’t wait! Oh gosh… so excited… how am I going to sleep now?