Matched Up With My Tomboy Childhood Friend

A Fight

The streets of Tokyo are buzzing even though it's evening and the snow is falling. It's so cold here... *Shiver* Better stick my side against her. I hold her hand and stick my shoulder against her. I feel warmer.

“There's gonna be a lot of fireworks,” she says as we walk on the sidewalk. “I wanted to watch it with them.” I can feel the sadness in her voice.

“I'm sorry that what you wanted to happen won't come true but I'm here for you even if I can't replace the feeling you feel for your parents. I want you to be happy. I want you to be happy at the start of the new year.”

She looks ahead, still has sadness lingering on her face. “Well, thank you,” she says.

“What do you wanna do for fun?” I ask her and doing my best to put on the smile that will encourage her to smile too. I lean forward and look at her so she can see my face. She looks to the side.

“I don't know. I don't feel like having fun.”

“I know what will make you feel better.”

She scoffs, “Huh... As if you know.”

“I'll let you flirt with girls,” I whisper and she narrows her eyes at me, half-smiling.

“You really want me to cheat on you, don't you?” she asks.

“You flirting with girls is not cheating to me. And plus,” Putting my arm around her shoulder, I tell her, “I know you love me so I'll never lose to them.”

“Tch, how can you be so sure?”

“Then, tell me if I'm wrong.” I grin at her and she bites her lip as she giggles.

“Okay!” she admits. “And stop putting your arms around me because this is rude to do in public in Japan.”

I did what she said and she just holds my arm. We had a nice dinner at a yakiniku restaurant and I paid for my food after she gave up arguing with me. We argued in a good way, of course. Then we choose to sit at a table, surrounded by partitions that look like a cell of an office. We could hide ourselves if we kiss here. And that's what I'm planning. Nothing beats the thrill of trying to not get caught kissing in public. I got the guts to do this from drinking a little bit of liquor, of course.

“You're getting brave now are ya,” she whispers as I kiss her neck.

“You're the one who taught me,” I tell her before kissing her lips.

“Wait, someone might see us!”

We stop as a group of friends pass by. Oh, the meat I put on the grill is burnt. Anyways, back to kissing her. She wraps her arms around me and pulls me in close.

“Someone saw us!” she whispers.

“So what?” I ask.

“Let's cut it down or we'll get called out.”

“Okay...,” I sigh, satisfied. I just put my arm around her shoulder as I'm at her right. I can feel her pulse on her neck.

She uses chopsticks with her hands trembling a little bit. I'm shaking too because it was exciting that I felt like I could almost undress her here. But I'm not gonna do that, of course. I'm just describing what I'm feeling. Being drunk really makes me a different person.

With her chopsticks, she turns the meat on the grill that's on the table in front of us. I help her put ingredients on it but my left hand is holding hers. She feeds me with meat and I feed her too. Then I feel my bladder could burst at any moment.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” I tell her.

“You wanna take a sh*t?”

“No, to per.”

She chuckles. “Then go.”

“Watch the meat I put on the grill.”

“Okay.”

So, I leave the table and went to the bathroom of this restaurant. I'm being careful not to trip or bump into anyone I come across. Then there are these three Japanese guys with slick back hairstyles and leather jackets. They look like those thug characters from the animes I've watched. Well, this is Japan and this is the home of anime. But, I'm not intimidated by them. I'm taller and more muscular than any of them. They look like they're just trying to act tough.

In the restroom, I can't pee properly because of my b*ner. I should've taken a pee at the wall urinal instead of the toilet. To aim my pee, I press it down and bend my legs a little. It works but takes time to fully empty my bladder. Time to return to my girlfriend.

And when I got back, there are those three guys I passed by earlier, right where Eli and I are eating. I walk closer and they are quite enthusiastic talking with her. Then one of them notices me and tries to block my way with his arm when I got close. Who does this guy think he is?

He says something in Japanese that I couldn't understand but it's clear in his tone that he's threatening me. I look at Eli and she's smiling but I can sense the worry she's hiding. They're trying to hit on her and leave me out of it. Am I gonna let them do what they want? I don't think so.

“Get out of my way,” I tell them and shove them away. I get a punch in my stomach and a knee against my face. My back slams against the wall behind me.

“Kevin!” my girlfriend screams.

They're thugs alright, wanting to get laid tonight. They can ask other girls but not my girl. She's mine and I'm gonna protect her.

A quick punch I sent to the guy who blocked my way and I charge against the one at my left, slamming his back against the table. The other one pulls me and throws me back. I get a punch on my face. I'm drunk so I feel a little bit numb. I can feel my lips bleeding but didn't stop me from returning the favor by punching his face too.

Then the three of them charge at me at the same time. I'm outnumbered so clearly, I'm gonna lose. And this is my first fight, I don't know what more I could do. They beat me up until I fall on the floor. They kick me and spit on me.

Ugh... sh*t... I feel pain all over my body. My vision is getting darker. I think I'll faint. Then I hear someone shouting in Japanese. They stop beating me.

“Kevin!” screams a girl. Is that... Oh... it's Eli. “Hang on!” she cries, her voice echoing in my head. The ceiling and the light are above her. Her tears are falling—the last thing... I... saw...

Field of pink flowers contrasted with green grass under them. They sway as the wind gives them a visit, greeting them one by one. Waves, they almost look like. The sun shines its bright smile upon the landscape. And the reason why this pretty girl in front of me wears her hat. She doesn't want her flawless face to darken. The way her smooth hair flies in the air with the wind and some of it is covering her face, makes me focus on looking at her eyes. They're unbelievably beautiful. How could God make wonderful eyes such as this? I almost feel like I must look away to preserve her beauty. My gaze is not worthy. I'm nothing before her.

Her lips as she smiles are hard not to look at. I keep looking at the sun then back to her smile. I'm comparing which one of them shines brighter. My answer? Hers. Is this even possible? I don't know how or why. Out of my shyness, I look down and notice the flowers are dying around us. They continue dying until the whole field is nothing but crunchy shells of what once were lively flowers and blades of grasses. Her smile turns into a frown and suddenly, her stare looks pale as the dead petals. The wind halts without reason. The sun is still shining but its rays are unwelcoming, trying to scrape the skin on my shoulders.

She turns around and goes away, her feet floating inches away from the ground, and gliding to the top of the hill. She turns for one last glance. I see a tear falling from her eye before she goes further, climbing down to disappear behind the hill. I can't shout to beg her to come back.