It was a cold morning. As autumn came, leaves have started to fall, earthier colors are evident everywhere. I am at my apartment enjoying my toast and sipping to my freshly brewed coffee while looking at my apartment window. Suddenly, I recieved  message notification from a friend. 

"Hanaaa~ I need you laterrr. Please just do me this one favor. We have a group date this noon and one of my friends had an emergency. I need you badly as a back up. Please. Pretty please. I'll do whatever you want as an exchange. Pleassseee~"

I paused for a while to think if I had any schedule for the day. Luckily, I don't but I have to pick up a parcel from an art shop in the late afternoon. I am quite close to Suzuna, we owe each other several favors. It won't hurt to go, as I have spare time so I replied.

"Sure, just send me the details. Also, I might leave early in the afternoon. I have something already planned."

She replied instantly and sounded glad in her message. She doesn't mind if I have to leave early because all she was concerned about is to save face as she promised to bring four people in the meet-up. I just finished up my coffee and toast leisurely and head to the shower. I am no stranger in set-up dates. It is actually a quite common event especially as you enter college. And, I don't participate because I am desperate and needy of love. I just have learned that it is one way of socializing and meeting people. You don't need the objective of romance in doing so. Sometimes meeting new people and listening to their stories is more than enough. Though I won't say that there were no few attempts in that area, it's just that I am fine without romantic love at the moment.

I dressed up accordingly to the weather. I just wore a white tee, a dark denim pants and few accessories. I grabbed my black leather jacket and red scarf and wore my slightly heeled black boots. I felt warm enough and headed to the bus station. I was a few minutes early for the meeting time si I decided to stroll around instead of heading directly to the cafe. A bookshop caught my attention so I just scanned a few books or so. I wasn't aware that I am spending my minutes greatly that time passed by quickly. I am now a few minutes late at the meeting, I was still not in a hurry and decided to buy the book that caught my muse later. I pulled the slighlty heavy glass door of the cafe and saw my friend waving enthustiastically at me. She was sending me gestures to come over, I grinned at the sight and headed over to the table. As I was getting closer, I can see the other girls my friend brought as they were facing toward my side. I tought she overexerted herself as she brought her best looking gals. Heck, even some of them are not that acquaintd to her . She might have scored a deal to a popular department or the most sought out guys in the campus. I think that it is a sad reality that people should be paired up according to their status and specifications. I gave her a glare as she knows that I don't agree at this kind of meet-ups. She just looked back at me apologetically.  I still don't have the clear view of the lads we are fatingly to meet as they were seating the opposite of my friend. But someone's back view snatched my attention. His blond hair and wide shoulders while wearing a white cotton knitted long sleeve with a dark blue collared polo inside flashed a seemed familiarity to me. But I brushed off the idea, thinking that I might be just getting ahead of me. Yet, chances were ready to prove me wong. As I was about to sit after introducing and excusing myself of my tardiness, I had a pristine clear image of him. He was sitting in the other end of the table. My hunches were right it was him. With the same amber eyes, pale skin and his blond hair was let down but groomed neatly. I can see a hint of stun in his eyes also. Probably, caught off guard upon seeing me as I was to him. But overall I didn't mind and flashed a warm smile. People around us seemed to notice the amity towards each other. And, as expected asked the question.

"Did you knew each other?"

We can't help but be flustered. But, I answered in a heart beat.

"Yes, we attended the same high school."

He just nodded in agreement adding the words.

"Yes, we did."

The group added follow-up questions if we were close but both of us are in-sync. We denied and said that we just knew each other as mere acquaintances. No more, no less. The meet-up proceeded accordingly. I tried my best to act non-chalantly as possible but I can't help to steal a few glances over him every now and then. Never in my wildest imagination that the probability of this meeting to happen. I am relieved and grateful to see him doing well. Yet, I am anxious at the same time. I could sense that the feelings were mutual. Of course we lied about being mere acquaintances. It's a lot easier to say than explaining the twisted past between us. But, it was partially true. Right now we are just good as strangers. We ended up things clearly between us in that autumn noon during the second year of high school. Amusingly, the weather was similar to this day. I can still clearly remember our last conversation.

"You did well" I stuttered.

"You too" he warmly replied.

"I'm so glad I met you Mugi." I sincerely told him as tears were forming into my eyes.

Then we held into each other for a quite a while. Not wanting to let go but knowing it was the right thing to do so.

Heaven knows that memory haunted me for the longest of time. My mind flooded by endless what if's and regrets. As I was moving forward with my life, I can't help to think of him, of that time every once in a while. Now seeing him in flesh and hearing his voice once again, I guess that there is still a part of me not accepting this reality. And those thoughts of the distant past rushed back to me in an instant. 

Still with everything that's happening, I am wholeheartedly in euphoria after all.