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Sara was excited… and excitement was a feeling you don’t really get much, when you’re Sara Chidouin. She was a regular highschool girl, not very popular, not very hated, she was just… there. And now, she was going to do something.
Something about the boy who sat next to her, with his fluffy brown hair, and his lightning yellow hair clip. He seemed lonely, like he was a firework constantly waiting to burst, and she was going to let him into the sky.
Her heart was beating against her chest. The boy who sat next to her, with the oversized blue blazer that he kept will rolled up sleeves. The boy who sat next to her, with his shiny bracelets, almost as shiny as his perfect eyes.
She was going to help him, help him let go.
Sara had just left the shop. It was a charm shop, located near her house. The shop had been run by a kind old lady, the archetype of the grandma you’d wish you had in cartoons, the ones who made cookies and let you play with her multiple cats.
She remembered going to the shop at a young age, with her mother and father, holding onto their hands and running around aimlessly. She was excited to buy the fabled puppy charm, the charm she’d wanted for years.
And now, she was going to give the boy the charm. She had collected money, spent her time doing chores, talking to her housekeeper about it. Now here she was, finally entering the shop.
“Sara, sweetie. Good morning.”
The old shopkeeper’s calming voice was heard, echoing around the cosy shop. Sara smiled, walking towards the aisle where she remembered the dog charm first was.
“Good morning auntie.”
Her quickly reply came out, as she picked up the dog keychain. It was small, small enough to fit in your pocket, but it was adorable. Brown in color with a spot on the back. She remembered her own dog charm, sitting on her bedside table.
Sara couldn’t help but skip over to the counter, placing the dog charm down for the shopkeeper to look at.
“Ohh…! The dog charm. I remember you coming to me as a little baby… so excited, you were.”
The old lady laughed, as she placed down the money onto the counter.
“He’s all yours, sweetie. Go on now, go along.”
Sara gave her one last smile before running out of the shop. It was still early, she could still make it to school while she waited for the boy.
There was one thing about the boy she remembered that wasn’t his distasteredly gorgeous looks. The boy’s birthday… it was today. It’d be the perfect present. The same keychain she’d loved for years, now something she and him had in common.
Sara pushed the keychain against her chest, keeping it close to her heart. She closed her eyes, mentally preparing herself, before trotting into the school she’d gone to for years.
“Good morning, Ryoko!” Sara cheerfully called out to her best friend forever, running over to the black haired girl. She was still holding the keychain in her hands, keeping a tight grip on it, excitement coursing through her fingertips.
“What’s up, Sara?” Ryoko’s head turned as she looked at her, her hands moving to her hips. “And what’re you doin’ with that keychain? Ain’t that the same one you got?”
“It’s for the boy who sits next to me.” She awkwardly explained, smiling. “I heard it’s his birthday today, so I got him a present…!”
The boy who sat next to her.
The boy who was beautiful.
The boy who she, Sara Chidouin…
Loved.
She didn’t even know his name, but the way he fidgeted with the edges of his notebook papers in class, the way he twirled his pen around, the way he smiled every time the teacher messed up…
He was adorable.
“Really? Well, you go girl! Good luck!” Ryoko grinned, giving Sara a fist bump.
She smiled. “Thanks, Ryoko.” Sara quickly spoke before turning around and skipping away to the classroom she remembered he always sat in before first period.
Opening the door, Sara’s heart was pounding against her chest. She saw him, the boy, sitting on his table, using his phone, callously typing away.
“Excuse me.” She initiated the conversation, walking over to him, the hands that carefully held the keychain behind her back.
The boy turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow and shutting his phone off. “Hmm…?”
“I have a question for you… um. What’s your name?”
Sara felt her fingertips tighten against the glossy surface of the dog charm.
“My name…! I’ve never told you, my bad, haha. It’s Joe! Jou Tazuna.”
She took a deep breath.
“Happy birthday, Joe!”
Pulling out the keychain, Sara shoved it against Joe’s chest, blood rushing up to her cheeks as she smiled gently.
“H-Happy birthday…?”
Joe was…
Crying.
“Yeah, you dummy. Happy birthday.” Sara guided the dog keychain into Joe’s hand, letting him form a loose grip around it.
“I- I-“ Joe started off, before keeping the key chain in his breast pocket and wrapping his arms around Sara, hugging her tightly. “THANK YOU!!!!” He cried out, voice giddy from excitement and joy.
“Y-You’re welcome.” Sara smiled, patting his back as she let him cry into her shoulder. The tears of happiness might stain her uniform, but he was happy. She finally saw him happy.
The boy, who she loved so much.
The boy, who she couldn’t help but sigh when thinking about.
The boy who sat next to her.
He was finally happy… and so was she.