The day it all changed

I was starting to look forward to the future, no more hesitating.
No more letting others dictate what I do.
That was until...
The day started like any other day, Akio and I greeted eachother and headed for class.
That's when the rumors started.
"Hey, did you hear about what Fujisawa-san got?"
"How's she gonna tell the boyfriend?"
"I feel bad for him."
Things like that.
Something was definitely up, but I thought if it were something important, Akio would definitely tell me, I mean, we were always good at communicating.
Akio wouldn't even make eye contact with me...that was very unusual for her. Normally, she'd stare directly into my soul every time we talked. Not today.
She would look away every time I tried to talk to her. She was definitely hiding something, but what?
"Hey Akio-"
Akio's face seemed to be flushed.
"Tatsu-kun? Yes, I-Im fine, everything's fine."
Seriously, what was up with this girl?
"Akio, is everything ok? you dont seem like your normal self, what's up?"
Akio's voice quivered.
"Tatsumi - seriously, I'm fine...sort of."
"I just have a lot on my mind right now, y'know... with girl troubles, yeah girl troubles!"
Girl troubles, what girl troubles? Wait, she couldn't mean...p-
"Hey Ako, Kyoshiro, how's things going?"
Suzuku-san? Perfect timing. I think if I had spoken that next word... Akio would've chewed me out right there and then.
"Oh, Kyoshiro If it's cool with you, can I talk to Ako ALONE quickly?" Y'know, girl troubles and all that. You get how it is."
Why would I know, a guy like ME know about "girl troubles?" Seriously, everyone's acting weird today.
And why'd she have to emphasise the Alone part? Like I get it.

"So, Ako, you haven't told him yet?"
"No, but it seems like everyone else knows because of a certain SOMEONE here.
Akio shoots daggers towards Shuzune.
"Sorry - you guys know I'm bad with secrets like this."

By lunch, I started to feel like the whole school had its eyes on me. Wherever I went, those haunting looks followed.
I was walking past the faculty office when I saw her.
"Fujisawa-san, I hope you understand how much this offer will do for your future career. It's in your best interest to take it."
"Teach, I understand what you're saying, really, I do. I can't turn my back on Tatsu-kun. Not anymore."
"Fujisawa, what's more important to you, Kyoshiro-kun or your future?"
Akio's face started to turn red.
"Don't make me answer such a horrible question!"
Akio started to storm out of the faculty office.
Crap! I can't let her know I'm here. need to hide...hide ah, the trash can!
THUD.
Yeah, so I slipped.
"Tatsu-kun...you heard everything - didn't you?
She caught me.
"Yeah, you got me, ahaha."
The air was tense.
too tense.
"Do you want to know?"
My voice steadied.
Akio clearly wasn't in the mood for jokes.
"Sure, tell me when you're ready."
Akio started to twirl her fingers.
"So y'know when I went to America? I didn't exactly tell you everything..."
I was perplexed.
I just stayed silent.
"I auditioned for a role over there, thinking nothing of it... funnily enough, a principal for a performing arts school was there, and gave me an offer to go study over there."
My world started to crumble. Akio was leaving?
I force a smile.
"So you're going over there instead of studying with me next year?"
"Well, I don't want to leave you...like before."
Before I even knew what I had said, the words started flowing.
"Don't worry about me, go pursue your dreams, Akio, don't let my selfish self get in the way of it."
No... stop. Don't say another word, I don't want Akio to leave. Why me?
If I kept on talking, I'd ask her to stay.
Akio's face began to perk up.
"Really your ok with it?"
No, don't say it me... DO NOT say it!
"Yeah, of course I am, why wouldn't I be?"
These words, they just flowed. It was like my mouth had a mind of its own.
Akio's smile started to sparkle.
"Teach, actually tell them I accept."
What did I do? The one time when I felt like my life was finally starting to go my way, I had blown it, just like that.
Akio's voice softened.
"Tatsumi, you sure you're ok? We'll be far apart."
I wasn't ok.
Far from it.
But who was I to get in between a big opportunity like this?"
I forced that same horrible smile again.
"Yeah - I'm ok. It's not until next year... right?"
"Yeah, we still have lots of memories to make till then."
"We have your birthday to look forward to first, oh - and then Christmas."
I grabbed Akio's hands.
My voice sharpened.
"Akio, promise me one thing...that we won't drift apart."
Akio's face turned red.

"This is why I love you...Tatsumi."

My eyes avoided her gaze.
"I love you too. I guess..."
Akio's voice became playful.
"Aw, has someone gone shy again? I thought you were getting used to my teasing by now."
"Hey, cheap shot! y'know I get flustered when you say embarrassing things like that."
"I know - that's why I do it, idiot."
"Ugh, you're so blunt sometimes..."

So Akio was really going, huh? Here I thought we would live out our college days as a "perfect couple" or whatever. Who am I kidding...that's just wishful thinking on my part. I was happy for her, sure, but I couldn't help but feel a bit conflicted about it all. Which boyfriend wouldn't...right?
"Tatsu-ni, are you ok?"
Ryoko? When did she get here?
"I'm fine."
The truth that we both sought after so desperately clearly had different plans for Akio and me. Where was the road ahead heading to? We had no Idea.
A world without Akio...I've seriously forgotten what that's like.
The old me would've hated it, I'm sure. The me now? We'll just have to wait and see... what the world has in store.