“He is just so…” A squeal followed. My left ear started to hurt. But it was ok. “I know right?” It was ok because we were talking about my high school crush. I stood on top of my bed and started to jump. “Ne, Yui, how’s London?” “Well, it’s fine. Kinda cold. Anyways…MAKI! You need to at least get to be friends with him this year! Hello, we’re already in first year! Only two more years and we’ll graduate. What if…”

I heard a faint call coming from down stairs. I whispered into the phone. “Yui, I gotta go. Kaa-san’s calling me. Ja ne.” “Bye bye! Gambatte ne!” And the line went flat. I placed my phone under my pillow. I got off my bed and left the room. I went downstairs, only to see my mom talking to my step father. “Ah, Maki. Your father and I wanted to go out somewhere on Sunday. What do you think? The beach? Park? Zoo?” “Anywhere is fine Maki.” He added.

I played with my hair. “I’m…not in the mood to go anywhere right now. You two can go.”

Kaa-san frowned. “Maki, me and your father just—“

“I’m going to work on something upstairs. Call me if you need anything.” I went back to my room, leaving the both of them with obvious disappointment in their faces. “Seriously…”

I grabbed my teddy bear and started to talk to it. “Claire…Did I mention that I hate him? YUP. He’ll never replace my otou-san. EVER.” I placed Claire, my teddy bear beside me and grabbed my wallet. I pulled a picture out from its pocket. “…”

A stolen picture of my high school crush, Teppei. “Waah…why are you so…”

I grabbed my pillow and screamed my lungs into it. Shimatta…I really have to restrain myself or else I’ll get a sore throat. He’s so cute. He’s in second year. “Koike-senpai…”

I don’t know why but, I feel weird when I say senpai.

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door. Then it opened. “O-Oi…! Don’t open it so suddenly—“

A boy entered. Oh, it’s just Tegoshi, my best friend. “T-Tegoshi! What are you doing here? I didn’t say you could enter…What would you do if I was changing or anything like that?”

“Never mind that…” He closed his eyes and shrugged. He looks happy. “What’s gotten into you Tego-chan?” I mumbled. Then he opened them. “Baka! I told you not to call me that. A-Anyways…ahem.” “Nani?” He looked at me, eye to eye, then gave out a wry smile. “Ah, there’s no use hiding it I guess. Gomen.”

“What now? Why are you apologizing?”

“Well…” He cleared his throat as if he was going to say something clever. “I was eavesdropping. I know who your crush is now.”

I felt as if a huge weight was put on my shoulders. “R-Really…WHO?”

“Koike-senpai…”

My face felt hot. “Tegoshi…I’m seriously gonna…” He apologized once more. “But you wouldn’t tell me! Yui knows but…well I’m sorry okay? I ain’t gonna tell anyone. I swear.”

What could I do? I’ve been caught. “Fine, fine…”

He sat on my bed. We were both pretty quiet for some time. “Erm…” He mumbled. “What?” “Are you two close? Koike and YOU that is…” I felt an electric current shot up my spine. “…no…”

“That’s lame…” He lay down on my bed and grabbed Claire. “I know, ok?! But…I don’t know what I should do to get started. You know…I don’t have any experience.” Tegoshi looked at me in a surprised way, then frowned. “Baka.”

“Eh?”

He pulled my shirt and I fell beside him. “Ok, as your best friend…I’m going to offer you something…”

My eyes widened because his face was so close to mine. “Y-Yes?” I looked away.

“Want to gain experience? I mean, I had a girlfriend before, even if it didn’t end up so well… So, what do you say? Besides, what’s wrong with a best friend helping?” He smiled. Asking a guy’s help for experience…seriously Maki…

“Uh…ok…I guess…”

Seriously Maki. You idiot.