Sunflower Canvas

by; Deandra Lily

-

Another Day

Today's a half day. After classes, I make my way to the art room as usual. It's usually empty. But recently, it's been lively and I don't particularly mind. Ran's already there. She smiles at me and I nod as I greeting before sitting down in front of her.

"Where's Hitoshi?" She asks with a bright grin on her face.

I turn towards the window.

"Practice? Ah phooey."

I ignore her and open my lunch.

"So, any progress? Come on, tell me what's happening!"

Since Hitoshi confessed and kissed me some weeks ago, he's been visiting my art room often. Sometimes, he'd bring me home. Everytime I invited him in, he'd turn red and decline politely. What do you call this kind of relationship I wonder? Aside Ran, I've never had any friends. Is this a form of friendship too?

As for the whole basketball match affair, it looks like it all worked out. It's been made public that the reason Hitoshi left mid-match was to go help his girlfriend who was being harassed by his fanclub. Hitoshi's groupies preferred this rumor over the one concerning me and didn't deny it. Naoto heard about it and immediately started praising Hitoshi saying it was very 'manly' of him. It seems like all animosity towards Hitoshi has vanished from his core.

As for my canvas ... well ...

"Progress?" I repeated.

"Y'know! I mean, you two are dating now right?"

"Dating?"

"That's how it is isn't it?"

I think about it for a second. But ... me and Hitoshi are just friends, right? "It is?"

"Well, what else can it be?" Ran looks like she's getting frustrated.

"Like it is with you. Hitoshi's a friend." This time, I answer with certainty.

"HA?! FRIENDS?!" Ran exclaims, outraged.

I nodded.

"B-but, he confessed to you! He even kissed you didn't he? How do you explain that? You can't possibly call that friendship!"

I think about it for another second.

"When we were kids, you would always come kiss me on the cheek."

Ran melted. "THAT'S DIFFERENT!" Then she added. "And what the hell are you doing bringing up such embarrassing memories!"

"But you started it ..."

She sighed. "Natsu, listen to me carefully. You are aware that Hitoshi's got not-so-platonic feelings for you, correct?"

I nodded.

"Are you still sustaining that you two are just normal friends, being aware of this previous fact?"

I think about it for yet another second.

And I nod again.

It looks like there's a lot of things I still don't understand about human emotion. But there's plenty of time ahead of me. I'll learn.

Right ... Mother ... Father?

end