One Day In The Train

“Kouta!”

“What is it, Shinji?”

“What is your plan for this year’s Christmas?”

“I am busy.”

“Right! You will spend your time with Ishida-san! I almost forgot about it!”

“Why you even ask if you know my plan?”

“Come on! Can you just tell me what is your plan with her? Do you finally go to the hot-“

“Idiot! I am not like you!”

“But how about Yamauchi? Didn’t you have like her before?”

“There is nothing between us anymore.”

“You always trying to run from that question. Did something happen that night? Also, I heard she got herself new boyfriend.”

“Before that, can you send me to the train station tomorrow?”

“Why?”

“My mom missing me so much that she asks me to meet her quickly.”

“Okay!”

It has been one year since that night. The night when Yamauchi-san asking me to stop meet with her. I always reject Shinji’s invitation whenever he asks me to meet with Yamauchi-san. I also heard that Yamauchi-san always rejected Nami’s invitation. I guess she doesn’t really want to see me again.

See him in me? How funny is that joke? I don’t even have the same face as that jerk. In return, I also feel that I am the one at fault too. If only that time, I stopped her from blaming herself so much in the car. That memory still hurts me every time I remember back. Why I am so cowardly?

“Hello Kouta!”

“Hello Aika-san!”

“Are you in the train right now?”

“Yes!”

“Really? Sorry for not coming to see you at the train station earlier.”

“It’s okay. You still busy with that new project, right?”

“Yes! After the project that we did before become successful, John-san suddenly asking me to lead this new project. I really hope he give me bonus after this.”

“Don’t worry. John-san is generous person!”

“I think we can talk back later. I still need to brief my project member after this. Take care of yourself and send my regard to your parent!”

“Okay! Aika-san too!”

Right. The person who is calling me through the phone earlier is Ishida-san. Ishida Aika. We started dating each other two months ago. At first, I really thought she is like Amaki-san but one day, after the project we work on together were end, she is asking me to meet her after office hour. That time, she confessed to me that she is like me. That’s how our relationship began. It’s a simple story. Now, I need to find my seat. I don’t know why the train was so packed with people today. Luckily, I found my seat.

“Hello, miss? Can I sit in front of you?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly, I can feel that I stop breathing. Time flows between us look like stop by themselves. My eyes met with hers. Why she is here? Did Shinji planning weird again?

“Y-yamauchi-san?”

“Homura-kun? what are you doing here?”

“S-same to you too! Did Shinji asking you to do this?”

“No! I am on my way to meet my friend at Kyoto. How about you?”

“To see my parents. It has been long time I don’t go back to Kyoto.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Now it’s become quiet between us. Should I talk with her?

“If you are thinking of talking to me, you better stop it. Did you forget our promise?”

“We are strangers?”

“Yes. So, we should not talking again with each other.”

“If that what you want.”

I decided to stop talking with her anymore. Feeling bored, I take my mp3 player and start listening to music by myself. After fifteen minutes, I can’t hold anymore. I will try to start the conversation.

“At least, can I ask your name?”

I’m trying to talk with her in a different way.

“What do you mean?”

“We are strangers, right? We don’t even know each other’s name. So, this is not wrong right?”

“If you put it like that, it seems normal for this kind of conversation.”

“Then, can I know what your name is?”

“Yamauchi Marina. How about you?”

“Homura Kouta. Nice meet you.”

“Homura-san, right? Can I create new nickname for you?”

“Whatever do you want.”

Why does she want to create a new nickname for me now?

“Can I call you a loser?” she said while smirking at me.

“What is your deal with me? When did I become a loser?”

“It just fits with your looks. And fit with your funny behavior!” she said while laughing.

“If that what you want, I will accept it. In exchange, can I call you a clingy?”

“What do you mean with that?”

“Do you want me to tell you? Will you promise that you not cry?” I said to her while showing her my big smile.

“I feel like I will lose if I lose my anger with this.”

“Let’s end this with a peace, clingy-san.”

“I will accept it if you stop calling me clingy, loser-san.”

“You are the one who started it first!”

“But you are so mean to call me with that name!”

“Why I am so mean? You should accept that you are so clingy!” I’m saying while pointing my finger toward her.

“How dare you point finger toward me? I don’t think that you will be this different right now!”

“We just met as strangers. How can you know what my behavior is before?”

“You really know how to play with this situation, huh? I wonder who the reason for your sudden change is.”

“Y-you,” I hesitantly answer her.

“M-me?” She seemed so surprised with my answer.

“Sorry, but can you stop bickering? My son needs to sleep right now. I hope that you settle your relationship problem. At least do it after arriving at Kyoto,” suddenly we were approached by a woman whose seat is behind me.

“We are sorry for disturbing you. But I and this woman don’t even have any relation with each other,” I’m trying to explain to her our situation.

“Yes! He was so annoying that me lose my anger earlier. I will apologize for this man too.”

“Why you apologize for me, clingy-san?”

“Can we stop with all of this, loser-san?”

We started to quarrel with each other again although we had been advised to keep quiet.

“Whatever reason, both of you need to discuss this problem thoroughly. You know, small problems can lead to divorce. Its so frightening for some people,” the woman trying to give her advice.

“We are not even a couple, aunty! He and me just a mere stranger!” Yamauchi-san explain to the woman.

“Okay. But please keep quiet and I will not interrupt you guys.”

After that, she left us and we became quiet again until we arrived at Kyoto.

“Mom, I have arrive at Kyoto.”

“Really? Can you wait for your sister to come to get you? I ask her to get you since she already at town now.”

“Okay.”

I’m calling mom as she said that she will pick me up at the station. Now, I need to wait for my sister. I have message my sister to inform her about my arrival and she said she is already on her way here.

“Do you have someone to come to get you?” I ask Yamauchi-san.

“Yes. My friend is already on her way here. How about you?”

“My sister will come to pick me up.”

“I guess this will be last time we meet with each other.”

“Yes, and I hope you happy with your life right now.”

“Same to you too! My heart feel so light to know that I will not meet you again after this!”

“Me too.”

After a while, I can see my sister from a far. Luckily, she is on time, not like what she did to me before. Last time, she made me wait at this station for two hours and the reason for the lateness is she is busy shopping with her friend that cause her too about me. As I thought, the person will change.

“Keiko!” I’m trying to call my sister’s name to tell her my whereabout.

“Marina-neesan!”

At that time, Yamauchi-san’s eyes and my eyes met with each other. Its so confusing right now. Why?

“Why my sister calls your name?”