17 and 20

Mom and Dad were back after what felt like ages. They were gone only for four days. I hugged them like a child when they came back. "Everyone misses you, Haru-chan", mom said. I don't know if she was lying to make me feel better or if it was true but I didn't like my relatives at all. "What did they say about you?", I shifted the topic.        

         They were happy for me, she said. I was happy for her. Dad asked me what I did alone for the past four days and if I skipped the morning walk. I informed him that I was home playing games and I didn't skip the morning walk even for a day. 

          We watched 'The Shawshank Redemption' after dinner and I decided it was my favorite movie. After the movie, my dad told me that I had to be the one responsible for hospital visits with my mom weekly. I agreed without any further discussion.        

             In the mornings I never spoke to Natsuki. There were way too many girls to even approach him. It sucked to be popular but it was worse to be hated. 

         I went to meet him before dinner. Do you always sit here? I asked. He did not reply. We sat in silence for a few minutes.         

               "My mom hates me", he started, "she only leaves money on the table for me. When I need extra money for school fees or something I write it in a note. We haven't spoken to each other for more than a decade. Maybe ever since I was three or four. So I sit here every day till it's dinner time. So that mom can have her dinner alone happily. I get home by 10 every day". I was selfish thinking only about myself. 

         "What about your dad?", I asked. "He left when I was born", he replied. His eyes looked sad. I had never thought that the Natsuki who I had thought to be someone who enjoyed life to the fullest was filled with sadness and misery.      

              "She spoke to me on the night we went on that date. Apparently, she saw me with you. She called me some dirty names when I reached home. At least she spoke to me. I'm happy ", He was going to say something else but I hugged him, "Say no more for now, Natsu-kun". Parents like that existed. Tears welled up in my eyes. I felt so lucky listening to him. That's why he thought my parents were adorable. I'm blessed by the Gods in terms of parents. 

            He hugged me back. We stayed that way for a long time. When I let go of him, he looked intently at me and asked me the sweetest words I have ever heard: Can I kiss you, Haruki-san? He asked for my consent. It warmed my heart. Never had anyone said that to me. I felt something in my gut. Nervousness. I answered: No. We were going too fast.        

              "You shouldn't offer yourself like this to me, you're just a kid", I told him.

       "But…but we went on a date. Shouldn't we start dating now?", he said.           

                "We are going too fast. Ahhh… and I had already mentioned that we went on a date as friends", I told him.

          "But I like you, Haruki-san. I know these feelings will soon turn into love", Natsuki confessed, "I have liked you since the first time I saw you. I don't know why but you made me feel like I shouldn't give up on my life". I was flabbergasted. I made Natsuki feel that way. What part of me made him feel that way I daren't ask.           

              "Look Natsu-kun", I said, "You are seventeen and I am almost twenty-one. We have to wait for at least a year"

           

            "If you are worried about me turning eighteen. I'm turning eighteen this summer. My aunt named me Natsuki because I was born in the summer, you get it?", he said. 

        I didn't say anything more. Was there anything left to say? He wouldn't listen anyways. "You should go home", I said in the end. He looked at me with his puppy eyes. He stood up. He was almost as tall as me.             

             "Can I kiss you before I go?", he asked again, "It'll make me feel better or I won't want to go home". I gave in but I told him that this was a special edition since he was depressed and that the next time I kissed him will be when he turns eighteen. 

            Natsuki brought his face closer to mine and planted a soft kiss on my lips. I burst into tears. What was I feeling? It was indescribable. I had never been treated so gently. He looked at me in confusion. Was it that bad?, he asked.           No. No. It wasn't. I'll count it as my first kiss. The other kisses don't matter anymore , I told him.   

 "Then I'll do the same", he said with a big smile and ran home. I went home running too.