The Encounter at the Tea Stall
The rain had turned the world grey, but Heena's focus was fixed on only one thing. Standing under the shelter of the tea stall, she found herself staring at Yuto. She had been noticing him since the morning, her expression calm but her eyes curious.
Yuto felt the weight of her gaze. He had noticed her watching him all day, and a wave of nervousness washed over him. 'Why is this girl staring at me like this...?' he wondered, his heart racing slightly.
He looked away, his mind racing. 'Should I talk to this girl?' He hesitated for a moment before shaking the thought away. 'No, I shouldn't do that.
Nearby, Heena was lost in her own thoughts as she watched him. 'Will that boy talk to me?' she mused. 'Who is he, anyway?'
The Rainbow and the Night
Suddenly, the heavy clouds began to part. The rain stopped, and the sky began to clear. Both Yuto and Heena looked up at the same time, witnessing a vibrant rainbow stretching across the horizon. Without saying a word, Yuto turned and walked away into the distance.
Heena stayed behind, watching his retreating figure. A shadow of sadness crossed her face as he disappeared from sight.
That night, Heena lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. 'Today was such a strange day... what a strange boy,' she thought. 'Why didn't he talk to me? Why didn't he talk to such a beautiful girl?'
In another part of town, Yuto was sitting at his desk, trying to study. But his mind kept drifting back to the tea stall. 'I don't know who that girl was or why she was staring at me,' he muttered to himself. Then, his eyes widened as a realization hit him. 'Wait, I just noticed one thing... her clothes. They were just like a school uniform.'
A New Morning
The next morning, the sun rose into a perfectly clear sky. The shrill ring of the alarm filled Heena's room. She reached out, silenced it, and stood before her mirror. As she brushed her hair, she felt a strange flutter in her chest.
I don't know why I am so excited today,' she whispered to her reflection. 'And what are these feelings, after all?'
With a curious heart, she left her house for school. At the same time, Yuto stepped out of his door, heading toward the same destination.
The Discovery
Heena reached the school gate where her friends, Mika and Hikari, were already waiting.
Good morning, Heena!" they chirped in unison.
"Good morning," Heena replied with a smile. The three of them laughed and began walking toward their classroom.
As Heena stepped inside, her breath caught. There, sitting quietly on the very last bench, was Yuto.
That boy... he is in this class!' her mind screamed. 'The tea stall boy is actually in my class!'
Hikari leaned in, noticing Heena's frozen stance. "What happened, Heena? Why are you staring at that boy? Do you know him?"
No, no, Hikari..." Heena stammered, her face turning red. "I don't know that boy. I am seeing him for the first time."
Mika chuckled, shaking her head. "Oh, him? That's Yuto. He is the topper of our class."
Heena looked at Mika, confused. "Do you know that boy, Mika?"
Who doesn't know him?" Mika replied with a grin. "All the girls in the class know who he is."
The Near Miss
As the lessons began, Heena tried to focus on her studies, but her eyes kept drifting toward the back of the room. Finally, she tried to snap herself out of it. 'Forget about that stranger boy whose name is Yuto,' she told herself.
When the bell rang for lunch, Heena walked through the hallways with her friends. Suddenly, she spotted him again. She couldn't help it; she stared at him intensely. This time, Yuto's eyes met hers.
I knew that girl was in this school,' Yuto thought, feeling the heat in his cheeks. 'But why is she staring at me again?'
Heena stood her ground, her heart pounding. 'Oh, he finally looked at me. Should I talk to him? I must talk to him once.'
Taking a deep breath, Heena began to walk toward him. Yuto watched her approach, his body tensing up. 'Where is this girl going? Is she coming to me?'
Just as she was a few steps away, the school bell shrieked, signaling the end of the break. Before she could utter a word, Mika and Hikari grabbed her arms.
Hey! Mika! What are you doing? Why are you dragging me like this?" Heena protested
Are you crazy?" Mika replied, pulling her away. "Lunch break is over. Don't you remember our test is about to start?"
Heena sighed, looking back one last time. "Yes, Mika, you are right. Let's go."
Yuto stood there, silent, watching them disappear into the crowd of students.
The Rain Returns
The school day finally ended. Outside the gates, Mika and Hikari waved goodbye. "Bye Heena, see you tomorrow!"
Bye friends, we will meet tomorrow," Heena called back.
She began her walk home, but the weather had other plans. In an instant, heavy black clouds swallowed the sun and a fierce wind began to howl.
Oh no, it started raining again," Heena complained, shielding her head. She ran for cover, reaching the familiar shelter of the tea stall.
A moment later, she saw a figure running through the downpour. A boy drenched from the rain reached the stall and stood right beside her. Heena looked up, her heart skipping a beat. It was Yuto.
Gathering every bit of courage she had, Heena spoke through her nervousness. "Hey... your name is Yuto, right...?"
[Chapter 2 end]