Many people in this topsy-turvy world, has met someone who are… let’s say, unique in their lives. Like people who suffer Claustrophobia, a person who suffered a trauma in their young age and people who just love to stick a dagger on their chest but just can’t.

My name is Satoshi Kurogane, I'm 20 and I'm a college graduate in Bachelor of Science in Psychology. And I'm one of those 'many people' who met that 'someone unique' in my life. I'm going to tell a story about someone I met with a sickness that I leave to you to figure out as I tell the story…

It all started about two years ago. While I was still in my third year level, classes were dissolved because instructors were called for an emergency meeting with the owner of the school, so I decided to throw my books at the locker and take a break at the cafeteria. Walking down the hall, holding only a notebook and a pen on my arm, I walked silently through the over-decorated hallways of the campus.

I'm a quiet type of person. I didn’t have many friends and I always keep my nose on the books where no one could ever see me. I wear glasses, but I don’t look like a nerd and I always kept my hair swept to the right of my face, so it kinda gives me that emo-nerd-like display. But I'm not an emo person, mind you; it's just that, there are many girls around saying otherwise. Haha, let them say all they like, but the truth always stays with me.

Walking down the hall, I took a glance on my watch.

"Hmph. already past 11:30… guess I'll just grab a sandwich and scram…I still have to go grocery… the fridge at the apartment is bone dry."

As I entered the cafeteria, the usual everyday bedlam appears in front of me. Faculty busy eating their lunches, students ordering noodles, and other odds and ends, and the lunchroom cooks dumping the usual C.N.S. into the student's bowls, the hot air circulating in the place because of students' loud and noisy conversations with others. I decided to make this fast, or I might be included in the situation here. I always avoided unnecessary situations that will just disturb my patience.

So I just walked across the room, and then stood in line at the snack bar. After a few minutes of waiting, I walked over to the counter and ordered the usual ham and melted cheese sandwich. Yum. Not less than thirty seconds, I already made way for the exit, and rushed out to avoid traffic. When I was out, I took a large bite out of my sandwich and enjoyed the moment, then went out at the University courtyard.

The courtyard was one of the favorite places where I like hanging out during free time or break periods. It was a large park in the heart of the University, and it's mostly used as the 'studying area' for the nerds, and 'a place to hang out' for the groupies and gangs.

So I looked around the park, seeing if there are any vacancies I can occupy on the benches. Spotted one, walked over to it, sat down and let my mind wander for relaxation…

"Ahh, this is the life. At least I get to avoid Experimental Psychology today… counseling those tourism students make me dizzy…"

I like studying, but laziness keeps grabbing me out from the open and taking me in. but my grades have been satisfactory, even my parents were surprised about it, since they kept saying that Psychology was a more difficult course than Nursing. I just nodded and said, 'if you're motivated to learn, Psychology is waaay more easier than Nursing'. I laughed at the thought. I've always been a family guy, since I'm the only-child of the family. No, I'm not spoiled. I only listen to my parents and do what they tell me to do, so in the end, I get rewarded nicely. Heck, I even hang out with my parents more than my friends. And I give all my thanks to them because they provided me with everything I needed in my life. That’s how much I love my family. So if they told me to study, I do what I'm told, and in the end, I get more love from them because I listen to what they do…

While my thoughts were in the sky, I hadn’t noticed I actually finished my sandwich.

"Damn it…"

I took off my eyeglasses and fogged them, then wiped them with my shirt. It was another hot weekend I had to withstand, and it’s a good thing I survived it. A few more months and I'm soon going to enter my senior years, which I've been waiting for since the start of first semester, so no more 5 hours of boring lectures, its more on application, group dynamics and practicum.

I took my notebook, stood and took another glance on my watch. It read 11:55. Well, time always flies when you make the most out of your boredom… oh well. I started walking out of the courtyard and made way for the main gate, avoiding any unnecessary collisions with other people passing my way.

It was a final turn to the right, and then I'm home free. But suddenly, a strange sight caught my eyes, and caused my brisk walk into a complete halt. A raven-haired girl, a few inches shorter than me, wearing the uniform for Accountancy students, their trademark yellow suit, a black vest and a checkered skirt, was lifelessly staring up at the massive painting on the wall, standing still, holding her books and folders in her arms, mouth slightly open, hehe, weird that the other students passing that way didn’t notice her.

Curiosity decided it was time to kill the cat so I took a few steps and took a gander at what she was looking at, it was a large amber wood-framed painting, probably 3x5 meters big, and at the bottom of the painting was a small silver plate with the words ‘The Goddess of Colors’ carved on it. Well I'm not really that interested in arts but, wow, I’ve got to say the painting is great, filled with almost about 130 plus colors and an almost invisible woman in colorful clothing, and its beautiful effect of chiaroscuro at the bottom fading out to grayish-black. I actually can’t believe I finally noticed this painting; I ignored it ever since I was enrolled in this university. After a few minutes of more ‘analyzing’, my attention turned to the girl.

“Um… excuse me…?” I said, standing next to her.

No response, she just kept on staring blankly at the painting in front of her, as if she was in a very deep trance.

“Excuse me… miss?” I said again, this time, putting my hand on her shoulder, to at least be aware that someone is calling her.

Blank… Still no response…

Well, the heat was starting to get to me, and other people seeing her looking at the painting with her mouth half-open is starting to annoy the norms in my proximity. So I placed both hands on her shoulders then…

“Miss!” I said, louder this time, and gave her a slight... what shall we say… ‘Shake’ to warp her back to reality.

She finally snapped out of it and suddenly she let out an astonished and genuine “Gasp!” almost dropping her belongings, and shot me with a some kind of ‘Whoa-that-was-scary!-look’

After that awkward moment, she blushed heavily, then suddenly bowed repeatedly violently and kept muttering “Gomen, Gomen, Gomen…”; then propped herself up and started to walk away quickly. Well, all of these happened in a sudden instant, I even was surprised. But as she began to walk away, I grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“Whoa! Wait a minute!” I said, stopping her on her tracks.

She turned to me, face bright red. “H-Hai?” she said in reply, anxiously.

“What are you doing there, standing in the middle of the hallway, and staring with your mouth open?” I asked, pulling her closer gently.

“U-um… I'm only a-admiring the painting…” She replied, glanced at the painting, then at me. “Um… can you please let go of my hand?”

I did. “Why, do you have an interest in painting?” I asked her, I mean, besides she’s an accountancy student, right? They only teach deep statistics and complicated math, not humanities. But it’s astonishing to see an accountancy student appreciating a near-abstract painting.

I noticed her calm down. She looked at me, her mouth turning into a small smile. “Um… yes. I do. I mean, the name of the painting is nice, so perhaps the painting is too…” she said, scratching her head shyly. But, I didn’t understand the last sentence she said, though.

“Well…” before I could start, she suddenly became frantic again.

“Oh! Will you look at the time… I have to attend my next class… um… it was nice talking to you…err…” she took a quick look at my ID, her face turning red again. “Kurogane-Senpai, um… see you!” she started running towards the Accountancy department buildings, and then disappeared out of eyesight in a minute.

Well, I also managed to steal a peek at her ID. Her name was Hikari Ayako, a second year Accountancy student, and one of the strangest people I’ve met. She looked cute, but her bangs just kept half of her face hidden, and she looks like she needed help, and I believe she has a low self-esteem level. Probably suffering anxiety or something worse... what the heck? I'm talking like a real Psychotherapist…

So I decided to drop that small… ‘Moment’ and continue on my own business… where was I? Oh yeah… have to go to the grocery store, gotta go grocery to fill the fridge at the apartment. I cleared the thoughts then looked at the direction where Ayako ran off to.

“Till we meet again, I guess”

I put down the shopping bags on the floor and took out the keys to the door, got it and then opened the door. The cool and calm feeling gushed outwards, giving that ‘relaxed’ feeling, guess the ventilator must be on. Then I suddenly realized that my board mate came earlier than me.

“Komiko-Chan, you in there?” I called out, as I dumped the shopping bags on the small couch beside me.

“Kuro-kun! I'm in the kitchen!!” a cheery bell toned voice came out from inside. “Hold on, I'm just gonna finish frying this fish, okay? Just a sec.”

“Take your time, I'm in no hurry” I said back, unbuttoning my shirt. “Classes were dissolved today. Professors been called to a board meeting.”

“Oh really?” then some silence, then I saw her emerge from the kitchen, her trademark smile on her face. “Haha, lucky you…” she said, as she wiped sweat from her forehead “I still have classes later afternoon…” her smile turning into a slight frown.

Meet Takara Komiko. My board mate, a freshman Hotel and Restaurant Management student. She has long bright brown hair, perfect cheekbones and that smile on her face. She has a bright personality, always on the good mood, and rarely gets mad. She’s a bit weird but she’s a very nice person and always cheers up the depressed. We’ve been board mates since the start of the first semester, and no, we don’t have a relationship, she’s only a good friend. Honest.

Then that frown turned into a big smile. “Anyways… you hungry? I made fried salmon patties and chicken salad.” She said.

“Well, I am hungry…”

“Okie Dokie! I’ll set up the table and…” she walked towards the kitchen again.

“Whoa, hold it! You take a break! I’ll handle the setting up things.” I called out, she turned to face me “You’ve been cooking all this morning, so it’s my turn to do my share.” I said, picking up the groceries again. That’s what's weird about her, she keeps insisting on going to do more things, and I won’t allow that.

“Naaaa…….. Kuro-kun is being mean again…” she whined.

“No, I'm not mean, I’m just smart…” I joked.

She gave a friendly jab on my arm. “You boasting idiot! Doesn't mean you’re a Psych student mean you are smart!” she countered.

“Ow! Haha! Okay, okay, just take it easy, alright? I’ll handle the rest…” I said patting her head, then headed into the kitchen.

It was a quiet afternoon after Komiko left for her bakery class at two. It was a quarter to three, and I'm just sitting on the study table with my Psychology books scattered around taking a drink of brewed coffee. I loved having these ‘alone’ moments in the dorm, things seem settled, faint sounds of combustion from vehicles outside and the silent sound of the ventilator being played in the background. I just read on my books then took another swig of coffee.

Things sound quiet for a moment till a loud ‘Thud!’ outside echoed the whole room. I stood, and wondered what it was, went to the door and worked its locks.

And when I took a look outside, I saw a Hikari Ayako sitting on the floor, still on her uniform looking distressed, and in front of her are a lot of sheet of papers scattered on the floor, test papers actually.

Then I heard her mutter. “Darn it… how clumsy of me…” she said, fixing her hair, and then started gathering the papers on her arm.

That’s where I decided to chime in and help the damsel. “Hello, again, Miss” I said, as I bent down in front of her. “Mind if I help?” I said, as I also took some of the papers.

“Um… thank yo…” She paused as she looked at me, then her expression suddenly turned into that surprised look. “You again?!” she gasped.

“Well, yes, nice seeing you again.” I said, still picking up the papers.

“Err… thanks anyway!” She said suddenly, and then grabbed the papers from my grasp, swiftly picking up the rest then stood. “I got to go now… bye!” she said hastily, and then started walking away from me.

“Hey! Watch it, there’s a…” I called out suddenly, warning about the crack on the floor a few inches ahead of her.

“What do you want now….whoooaaaaa!!” too late. She tripped from the crack and fell then papers came flying up again. “Ouch…”

I walked over to her. “Why is it that you like running away from me, huh?” I asked, as I bent down to her. “And see? Your ankle is bleeding.” I pointed out.

“Well, thanks to you I'm hurt!” she said.

“Hey, I didn’t do anything. I just wanted to help then you rushed off.” I countered, and then looked at her wound on her ankle; it was starting to bleed badly. “Come, let me treat that wound.”

“No thanks, I can manage… I live nearby anyway…” she stood shakily. “Outch… darn it…” she said, placing a hand on her injured spot, and the other on the wall for support. Live nearby, eh?? Probably on the next floor, but I insisted, next floor or not, someone can die from a simple wound which keeps bleeding, you know?

“Come on, I won’t take no for an answer.” I quickly grabbed all the papers on one hand then took her hand with the other. “You might get hemorrhage”

We entered the kitchen, she sat down on a chair next to the counter, and then I took a small rounded bandage, scissors, and a small bottle of Betadine. A few minutes later, I applied the medicine to remove any dirt on the wound, and then began cutting a small piece of bandage then wrapped it on her ankle.

“There, that should do it.” I said, as I finished wrapping the bandage on her injured ankle.

“Can I go home now?” She said, impatiently.

“See? There you go again, running away from me.” I said, as I kept the scissors back in its cupboard. “What did I do wrong to you?” honestly, it was her second time now to run away from me. Okay, I understand at first she was shy, but for the second time? I'm not gonna let that pass through.

“You just… ruined my day…” she said, then like an arrow hitting the bulls eye, that struck me silent. Well I say that was mean, what did I do wrong anyway? I just wanted to help… but what the heck, applying Psychology, anger and irritation causes unrelated reasons and blaming, or in this case, let’s say displacement that is being poured on to you.

Pause, then:

“What did I do to ruin your day? I only wanted to help.” I said, putting more emphasis on the ‘I’.

She started to blush heavily. “Can I just… go home now, please?” she growled softly.

Well, fine, if that’s the way she likes it. “Okay…” I said, giving myself in to avoid any more verbal arguments, but I say, what did I do wrong to the person? I only wanted to help, and then she gave a painful ‘You ruined my day’ reply. What the heck?

From the kitchen, I lead her to the door, opened it, and then lead her outside. “Ja ne, Ayako-Chan.” I said, waving.

Her reply: a flat-toned “Thanks.”

I just walked back into the room and shook my head.

Then my mind suddenly shot me with a probable answer to the ‘Ruined my day’ sentence she gave: “Is it because I disturbed her while she was looking at the painting back at the campus?”

To be Continued…