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This was the first time in a while she had ever roamed around the streets, of course she would be lost in the moment just feeling all her surroundings up.
Until such a moment upon walking down the street, she came across a mini shop that sells all different kinds of flowers, but only one captivated her attention. Just like these yellow flowers behind the transparent glass in front of her, reminded her of someone with these very same golden yellow petals.
(These golden petals remind me of those pairs of golden orbs of the eyes of that man...)
She thought as she gave a small chuckle at a mere thought of the man with the same golden hue orbs such as the flowers.
"Excuse me, miss? Do you like these daffodils?" The elderly looking woman, stood outside that caught your attention towards her flowers. She gave a sweet and sincere smile.
(Daffodil, huh?)
"I'll buy one bouquet." She replied and even showed a quick smile towards the woman.
Surprisingly there is a hint of scent to it. The scent emits this delicate yet cool spring aroma to it, and can be considered as sweetly captivating and unique. But the color really struck her the most because of how it reminds her of that day in spring when she met him.
(Now that I think about it, our first meeting was in the hospital...when I slipped on the staircase...)
Lost in the train of thought, she gathered some memories which led to what she is thinking about.
"You should be careful, not everything in this world goes round as you please." The man with a pair of golden orbs shining due to the sun, offers his hand towards the woman who happens to have fallen down the staircase.
"You have such, pretty eyes..." She uttered out of nowhere, the woman immediately placed her palm to cover her mouth as the man offered his hand in assistance of her in getting up the man then gave a hand and pulled her up.
"I often get that compliment, but it's the first time that someone was mesmerized by it. To the point that they would slip." The man replied as he released a chuckle and gave such a blinding smile.
She was distracted by how warm the man's palms are and how big they are in comparison to her. Realizing a little late she immediately let go of the hand of the man and thank him.
The woman kept off walking at the side of the street, she didn't even know that she walked past the flower shop a few blocks now due to the loss in thought.
She was filled with him not even knowing anything from that man, only that he possesses two golden orbs for an eye and has a weird combination of white and gray hair.
(I wonder, will I ever meet that man again...)
Out of the blue her phone rings, it was a call from her cousin. Her cousin is working for a shounen manga magazine company, it was a rare call for this cousin of hers so she immediately answered.
"Keiji, what's up?"
[ Are you going to watch the match? ]
"Oh yeah, one of my friends can't attend it. So I'm going instead. Doing them a favor by watching a lame volleyball game."
[ You are in for a treat though, Bokuto-san is playing. I told him that my niece is coming be sure to give him my regards. ]
After that minute call, Akaashi ended it. She let out a long and annoyed sigh, scratching the back of her neck is one way for her to show how irritating is the situation she is in right now.
And to be honest, she isn't liking it at all.
(...I should've gone home and sleep)
Upon walking a few more blocks, she finally reached the stadium, entering inside, the benches are filled with people. Just seeing how packed the seats are means they game is somehow the most awaited ones yet.
(But this type of atmosphere is what I hate the most, too many people...)
"(Y/N)...?"
Turning her head to the side, she sees a familiar figure. Only now he is much different from what she can remember. The man with gray hair then walked towards her.
(Ah, he is taller and bigger now.)
"Bokuto-san. Keiji, told me to send his regards for your match. And I bought these flowers for you."
"I am actually shocked that you are here standing in front of me, I thought that Akaashi was playing with me." He says as he begins to rub the back of his neck while looking at the other way.
The look he has indicated with those golden orbs of him clearly emits sadness somehow her chest clenches at the sight of it.
"Ah! I'll guide you to your seat!" He says with a cheerful tone as he walks as if guiding her to her seat.
Following behind this man, made her remember memories just a few months ago in the hospital. That broad back of his, gave such protective and a safety secure.
"(Y/N)!" Says Akaashi, who looked pale and worried at the sight of his cousin laying in a hospital bed.
"Keiji..."
"WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU DONE?!"
The face that Akaashi made to her that day still terrifies her. But with Bokuto, she feels at ease.
"Here is your seat! I reserved it last minute! Just in case you would come...like Akaashi said."
(Ah, I didn't tell him I already have a seat...)
The man smiles brightly, but she doesn't feel anything but still she gave her regards to him. But she felt something aching within her every time she saw the man grinning.
"Bokuto! Was that your girlfriend?! She is such a beauty!" His teammate said, as he nudges Bokuto.
"...was my girlfriend."
Bokuto was surprised when Akaashi called him out before the match even began. This was unexpected for Bokuto since it was even rare for Akaashi to call.
"She'll come and watch the game, act normal. Don't be stupid."
"She? You mean..."
"Yeah, I actually planned this and her friend was cooperative. I hope you'll do better this time."
Of course he was hyper only to hear such news, he immediately reserved a spot for her and even prepared himself a hundred times before she came.
At the entrance, there was no doubt Bokuto saw her immediately. Who wouldn't when she radiates such aura across the room. Hesitating to even go near her, she then makes eye contact. Then that was he's cue.
(Keiji wasn't kidding when he said he is a pro volleyball player...)
Upon watching the match she couldn't help but reminded of that time in the hospital. These kinds of sudden memories really hit differently.
(Those eyes of him, weren't as pitiful as before.)
"I am actually a friend of Akaashi!"
"Yes, I am aware. But who are you to me?"
She pinches her brows, as if in pain. She hated how she felt with these sudden headaches.
(I need some air.)
She then made her way out, and roamed around the streets to come across a vast sea. In the other hand Bokuto concentrating on the game, gazes where she was sitting only to see the spot empty. He immediately lost focus on the game, and switched out.
He ran out the stadium to look for her. Bokuto felt his heart sank the moment he saw the seat empty. And ran immediately without any second thoughts.
(Not again...)
"I never even liked you in the first place."
(No...not this again...)
"You are annoying, just go away."
(Don't go!)
He immediately asked permission to sit out from the game and head outside, looking around for her. He wasn't thinking straight, just focusing on finding her. As he runs across the pavements he remembers memories from the past.
"I like you, Bokuto-san!"
"Then shall we date?" Bokuto said with such a cold tone.
Bokuto remembered how he took all the attention from her as a past time, he actually never liked her in the first place. Because he also thought the she never liked him as well knowing that in the end she really did like him genuinely.
"I hate you." She was in the verge of tears, as she said those words with such a strong feeling.
"If you hate me that much, will you forget about me?"
After that argument, Bokuto didn't pay attention to the road and was nearly killed by a speeding truck only to be pushed aside by her, making her head deal damage. Making her to what she is now, as if an empty shell, emotionless and numb, even forget about certain things.
"Why...did you save me...?" He said with his voice shaking, holding her in his arms.
"I lied, I don't hate you..."
After running and running Bokuto saw her standing and staring at the sunset in the vast sea. Lost in thought deeply taking the air in. Bokuto felt the sink of relief overwhelm him.
[ I lied, I don't hate you. I love you.]
"(Y/N)...!" He yelled in the distance.
Turning around she saw the man, catching his breath. Bent and both hands touching his knees.
(Again with those eyes...)
Bokuto them made his way towards her as fast as he can, he didn't want to waste another second.
"Did you think that I'll leave? I haven't even given you your flowers, I just needed to catch some—"
"I thought you left me again...I can't...just thinking of you leaving me, I hate it. Leaving all of a sudden...what if?!"
"What are you so afraid of that even drove you to tears?"
"I am afraid of losing you again..."
"Please, just stay with me."
(Ah, I heard this as well in the hospital...)
That very day of an accident was just pure shock to Akaashi, he was at school at that time then he was suddenly called out by the teacher letting him know that her cousin was just hospitalized due to the accident that occurred that very same morning.
Akaashi didn't have any second thoughts at all, bursting in and out of the school campus, he immediately head down to the hospital they told him.
(So that's why I haven't seen her this morning! She didn't...make it to school!)
Even though he was losing a ton of his breath and energy he kept going, he was restless. He was desperate to see her cousin.
Upon arriving at the hospital a familiar figure surprised him, it was Bokuto Koutarou. Getting closer to him he didn't waste any time and directly asked where his cousin was. Akaashi didn't waste any time and rushed to where she was.
"(Y/N)!"
"Keiji..."
"WHAT ON EARTH HAVE YOU DONE?!"
"I— can't remember..."
Those words broke him, his cousin clueless as to why she was put in this situation is now in pain for the reason she can't remember. Akaashi was filled with anger and he burst it all out in Bokuto.
"Bokuto-san, I heard from the teacher what happened."
"Akaashi—"
"You said something to her that's the only reason I can think of Bokuto-san! I don't know what you said but what I know is that definitely drove her to this point."
After Akaashi vented all the things he wanted to say, he left to get some air. Bokuto stands now in front of her door, debating whether it is a good thing to even show his face in front of her.
(I'll just check up on her and leave....)
"Hi...I know this is weird but I am a friend of your cousin."
"I am aware, but who are you to me?"
(So straightforward!)
Bokuto explained and even told about how he knew her and shared some memories to patch up the ones missing.
"You, are a bad liar."
"Huh...?"
"Bokuto-san, I heard you and Akaashi talking. He said some pretty bad stuff. And you said you were fine, when you clearly aren't."
(Bokuto-san, huh?)
"Oh...that, it's because..."
Bokuto couldn't say a word he just sat there silently gazing upon the girl he realizes he holds dear. But now it is too late, she had forgotten about him. And he began thinking maybe this is for the better.
(Forgetting about the things I've done, maybe this is my punishment...I deserve every bit of this...)
"I'll leave you be, you should rest up."
Mustering up a fake smile was hard, but she saw right through him.
"Bokuto-san, did anyone tell you that you have such eyes?"
"But didn't you just tell me that a few hours ago...?"
Then in clicked, the doctor told him that she has short term memory loss. It aches him to see it happening.
"Oh, did I? I can't remember..."
Both hands gripping on her shoulders, she can clearly feel his feelings.
"I am afraid of losing you again..."
"Please, just stay with me."
Bokuto is now in tears hugging tightly the woman he now loves and holds dearly.
"Bokuto-san, I remembered why I was mesmerized by those eyes of yours."
"They are such a cruel color, despite having such vibrant colors. Those eyes just symbolize that nothing lasts in this world."
"I don't get it..."
"There will come a time that those eyes won't feel as empty as they are now, you'll be able to find their glow again."
"Are you saying..."
"I won't be able to fulfill that wish of your Bokuto-san."
The wind rushes between the both of them, Bokuto felt distant despite her in front of him. Tears just kept streaming down to his cheeks and down to his chin and now dripping on the sidewalk.
He didn't have the right words to say, he was in shock to see how she smiled and how he saw a reflection of himself upon those eyes in front of him.
"Having me here, won't make you go forward. I'm just holding you back. I gave it some time to think and I think it's best for me to accept the offer from another country."
"How can you say that it will make me go forward, when you are the very reason as to why I am standing. I want you here, by my side. I want to make things right— I want to do better..."
Cupping his face with both of her hands, she lifts to see that the corners of his eyes became reddish and his nose too. He was bawling his eyes out.
"I want to get better, and it turns out it's going to be effective in that country. This is just a farewell goodbye to a new beginning."
"I promise that I'll be good...just don't leave me..."
"Here, have these. The color really resembles those eyes of yours."
"You're cruel..."
Having to go in another country to get better and have to find some good help. Bokuto was left all alone, though despite of it all, he thought of it as a nice choice for her to get better. Years go by, he only hoped for the best for her.
"Maybe someday, you'll find your way back to me..."
"And maybe one of those days, you'd give me daffodils again..."