Akai (Chapter Two: Shadow)

JunJun

Oh my god, she is the girl in my dream...this is a very awkward situation. She is a very pretty girl, I have to call her later. I found myself in the swarm of people in the crowded streets. "I need to get out of here," I quickened my pace, realizing I was going way too slow. As I walked for what seemed to be a while, the swarm decreased.

"Eh? Ai-chan?" I heard footsteps running towards me. I then turned around, and I was face to face with a certain bean. "Yes Risa?" I grunted, holding tightly to the book I was reading earlier. "Oh, you dropped something." Risa picked up the piece of paper, my eyes expanded in size. "Oooh, what'st this?" She teased, waving the paper.

"Give it to me Risa.” I held out my hand, giving her a glare. “Nope.” she replied, holding the paper higher. There was no way I could reach that high. “Tell me, what's on this paper?” “Nothing.” “You’re not being specific.” Risa shook her head. “Where are you going?” I decided to change the subject. She brought her arms down, and I took the paper from her hands. “Well, I’m going to-” She looked down at her hands, but continued talking. “Anyway, I’m going over to Tanakacchi’s house.” “And how many times have you said that?” I started counting in my head. Risa has mentioned Reina a lot. Are they-no, that can’t be right. “Um, a lot?” Risa replied, shrugging her shoulders.

“So, are you coming with me?” Risa asked, giving me a mega-watt smile. “No, I’m going to go home and finish reading this book, it’s very interesting.” “Whatever Ai-chan, I’m going now.” She waved goodbye, and headed the opposite direction. Well that was random, I must keep track of this information. I finally made it to my house, and I unlocked the door.

“Hello home.” I greeted, closing my eyes. I like being in the comfort of my home. Even though I was out for an hour, I still liked to be at home relaxing. That is, until I recieved a text message from a certain yankii:

Why aren’t you here?!?

I squeaked, covering my mouth. I finally thought of something to reply back to the text:

I want to be at home.

That should be better. I put my phone down, but it dinged again. I huffed in annyonance and picked it up.

It’s some girl, isn’t it?

I immediately thought of JunJun when she text that. My cheeks were red from the thought. I didn’t text her back. Instead, I went to my room with the book. The entire house was silent, which has always been like that. Sometimes I like it, other times I don’t. This is one of those times where I don’t want it to be silent.

The ringing of my cellphone broke the silence. I jumped up, slammed my book, and ran to the table in the living room. I picked up the phone, and I saw an unknown number. My heart increased rapidly while I pressed the send button.

“Hello?” I hesitantly answered, my hand shaking badly. I’ve never been this nervous before. “Um, is this Takahashi-san?” the voice calmly asked on the other line. “J-JunJun?” I stammered a little. “Oh, so it is Takahashi-san! Yes, this is JunJun.” My heart started thumping. "Please, call me Ai-chan." "S-Sorry." JunJun stuttered. I could tell that she was feeling the same way, wait could she?

But she said I look familar too, even while stuttering. Wow, I really didn't expect this to happen. I didn't think dreams could come true, especially in an strange way!

"Um, Ai-chan? I've been calling you for how many times?" I shook my head and I was out of my thought bubble. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't stop-" "Thinking about me?" I could feel my cheeks heat up when she said that. I didn't know what to say then. "Well, yeah, but in a different way..." Crap, that didn't sound right.

All I could hear was JunJun laughing on the other line. "Yeah, me too...but there was something about you that I need to know..." "..Um...okay." I hesitantly answered. My hand was shaking, and my cheeks were probably crimson by now.

"I had a dream, the background was red." JunJun's voice was wobbly explaining the dream. "There was a shadow, and a girl walked up to me and repeated my name. She looked like you though."

I didn't say anything. I couldn't say anything. That's exactly how it happened. It's creepy that I just met this girl, and she's the girl in my dream.

"This is creepy, but..." I took a deep breath before continuing. "I had the same dream." We didn't say anything until JunJun suggested something. "Where do you live?" Confused, I told her my address. "Oh, I've seen that place before..I'll see you in a few minutes!" She hung up before I said anything.

My phone dinged. I had 3 missed text messages: All of them from Reina:

Ai-chan! Who is she?

If you don't tell me who she is, I'm going to call you Saru-chan from now on!

SARU-CHAN! SARU-CHAN! SARU-CHAN!

I cringed at the "Monkey-chan" reference. I don't think I look like a monkey at all. Someone knocked on the door, and I opened it. "Hello JunJun." I greeted, bowing. "Hi Ai-chan." JunJun greeted, bowing also.

"Um, JunJun can I ask you something?" My eyes darted to the floor. "Sure." she replied, giving me an odd stare. "Do I look like a monkey?" She then giggled, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks. "No silly, you look gorgeous." she replied, taking my hands.

I'm starting to like her, a lot.