Good night

"I like you, Natsu-senpai. Please date me", I overheard a girl confessing to Natsuki beneath the cherry blossom tree. I thought of leaving but I wanted to hear Natsu-kun's reply so I stayed.

               "I'm sorry but I am not interested in girls", replied Natsuki politely. Deep down I was happy Natsuki rejected the girl.

               "Thank you for rejecting me politely", the girl said,"but please go on a date with me. It'll only be a one-time thing".

             "Okay. If that makes you happy", he said respectfully. Natsuki is such a good guy, I thought.

             Mr. Eavesdropper, what are you doing here?", he said out of nowhere.

                 "I got caught", I said jokingly, "Anyways you are such a heartbreaker".

                 "I didn't not break anyone's heart, Mr. Rude"

               "What did I do to be called 'Rude'?"

               "I waved at you in the morning but you didn't wave back at me. I'm sad"

                   "What can I do to make you happy again?"

                "You can drop that act. Something is bothering you"

                "Ehh?"

                  "You said you want to make me happy. Then tell me what's wrong?"

                   "Nothing is wrong. It's just that I'm going to be an older brother. Mom is 8 weeks pregnant. I'm overwhelmed", I said nervously.

                         "Is it because you're old?", Natsuki asked curtly.

                          "That hurt, you know", I laughed, "how old do you think I am?"

          "Twenty five to twenty seven.", he said after thinking for a minute. "Am I right?And yeah congratulations to your parents"

         "Twenty", I informed.

        "What the…?", He blurted out.

            "I'm gonna guess you're seventeen", I said although deep down I wished he was at least eighteen. I wouldn't feel guilty liking him.

             "Yes, I am seventeen. But...I'm turning eighteen soon", he said, sounding like a ten year old. I was glad for some reason.

               "So now back to telling me what's wrong with you", he shifted the topic back to the start.

              "Okay. I admit something is wrong with me", I gave in to Natsuki. I'm not someone who shared my problems with anyone but Natsuki's puppy eyes made me trust him.

             "So basically", I started, "I remembered some things from the past which I thought I had locked away in the past. I had forgotten about it or maybe I convinced myself that it never happened. It–has not been easy for me". Natsu-kun was listening intently. He was waiting for more but I stopped.

               "Okay. I don't know what you are talking about but by listening to you I'd say you're going through a denial stage. Let me tell you this. Problems or sadness… or depression is like a house with many doors. You close one. Another one opens. Some closed doors open again too. That's because the rooms have a lot of trash and garbage. So in order to close a door 'for good', you need to clean the trash first. Only then you can close, it might not be forever but you know, just so, it doesn't hurt you anymore"

               I mulled over his words. I noticed how the sky was getting darker and the orange hue vanished. "Thank you", I said, "Surprisingly you are so mature".

              "Yeah, I guess so", he said haughtily.

             "So now, my turn to ask you questions", I said. Sure, he said.

            "Why did you agree to go on a date with her?"

            "I don't know. I just can't say no to anyone"

            "Really?", I smirked.

          "Yes. It's hard for me to say no"

         "When are you going on a date with her?", I asked curiously.

            "This Saturday ", he replied in a boring voice.

            "Saturday, huh? Then go on a date with me on Sunday. You can't say 'No', right?", I said bluntly.

             "Huh?", Natsu-kun's face turned a hundred shades redder. He blushed.

           "Sunday is in four days", he shouted and looked at me.

"Hmm-hn", I nodded, "And, just so you won't misunderstand my intentions. We're going on a date as friends"

"Yes. Obvi—obviously, Haruki-san". I had a good laugh looking at his flustered face.

"I should get going", I said, You should go too, kiddo"

"Before going I wanted to ask you something", he said in a serious tone.

"Ask away", I said.

"Are we friends?", he asked innocently.

"Really, Natsu-kun!", I smiled and went away.

I slept comfortably after so many years. I smiled. Goodnight to me.