Synesthesia Petals
The Past Part III
Soon Christmas Eve will come, our relationship has been getting closer until I have visited her parents who told me to take good care of their children. As a man I take care of him.
On the road to the supermarket district, I carried Kamine on my back. Using a wheelchair is quite difficult to go to various places in this very cold season, since the start of winter Kamine is almost always with me.
“Ibusaki, before entering High School you better dyed your blonde hair. Your delinquent nature has weakened even more since I met you, and by the way ... lately your eye bags have become blackened.”
“I stay up too much to practice and study at night. About this hair .. it looks like I should indeed paint it.”
“Really too! As long as your eyes are marsupial like that, what about a nickname in the form of Panda? Cute panda loh.”
“Yah .. You want to call me Panda, Semvak Fir'aun and others ok. The important thing is not to be ashamed when calling him.”
“Eh? Then you're not ashamed when called?”
“Then why? Because just this time I got a nickname.”
After saying it, Kamine kept quiet without saying a word. Because it was enough to worry me, I looked back and saw Kamine holding back her embarrassment with blushing cheeks.
* * * * *
Walk towards the place where Uncle Macho's fruit shop is located. Kamine was seen having conversations on interesting topics, the two of them occasionally smiled and laughed. I called the two of them as they walked towards them, their gazes looking quite surprised.
“You ...your hair is ... ”
Said Uncle Macho while pointing at my hair, yes .. I dyed my hair black a little brownish if exposed to sunlight because this is the color of my previous hair. Kamine smiled at me, praising me for my better performance than before.
“Uncle Macho we go first, take care of this supermarket district during christmas eve.”
“Yes! Enjoy your two dates!”
Uncle Macho always said that and several times, Kamine was disturbed by it. For me not too, let what important people say I myself know what is going on.
“Kamine, are you strong walking? Isn't it too burdening for you?”
“Just calm down, I'll hold your left hand like this. All right, today we go to the library!”
“Library? For what?”
“Later it will snow and coincide with Christmas Eve. As long as there is free time, you better study for the entrance test later.”
“From the way you talk like that, it seems like you are very confident to be able to enter that school Kamine.”
“Take it easy! I'll help you!”
Kamine encouraged me, it is true that there is free time better to use for something important. Because of the encouragement from him, I was able to become like this.
* * * * *
The library we were going to was quiet, after all, soon Christmas and of course people were busy preparing it. Free time in this quiet library, I spent time studying together with Kamine.
To my right was a girl who was working on a math problem that she hated. I'm the same, we're both not very good at math.
If only looking for answers on multiple choice, but the answers found do not exist. The only thing I thought at the time was an approaching, short, dense, and vague answer. Kamine was completely uprooted in the face of math lessons.
“Fight on Kamine, lately your health is starting to improve and there is no need to go to the hospital again. If it happens again, I will accompany you.”
“Thank you Panda, I really appreciate it.”
Kamine called me Panda all of a sudden, which surprised me and immediately looked away. I don't know if being called by a nickname is so embarrassing.
“What's Panda? Why are you turning your face away? Is there something you're hiding from me?”
Kamine asked why, getting closer and pushing the index finger of his left hand against my right cheek. Her fingers were cold, I was really worried about her current condition.
“Kamine, put your hand in my jacket pocket.”
“Why?”
“Already, just do it.”
I pulled his left arm to put in my jacket pocket. It seemed like she was aware that her cold hand could be felt, Kamine wanted to lie about her current condition so that I wouldn't worry.
“Better we go home anyway it's afternoon, I will prepare kotatsu later.”
“Panda, actually lately I learned to cook and make cakes. This is the best result I've ever made.”
Said Kamine while showing me a package. He got up from his seat, as did I because he walked to the window from which the color of the sky had turned reddish orange.
“Ma-will you eat it for me!?”
Kamine endured her embarrassment to give her the cake she made. Her cheeks were blushing and she was seen waiting for an answer from me, of course I would be very happy to receive a handmade from Kamine whom she had been looking indifferent even when she first met.
I took the package, Kamine opened his eyes and saw me opening the package. There was some cake in it, took some and ate it.
It tastes quite sweet and crunchy in the mouth, for people who don't really like cakes like me, this kind of taste is quite fitting. Kamine smiled at me as I said it was good with the cake made by her, I finally realized something.
“Kamine .. lest you take me to this place just to give this to me?”
My question made Kamine startled and her body shuddered, now her smile was forced and slowly turned away. Already I guess, since long ago he was not good at lying even from his attitude and his face was clearly visible.
* * * * *
In the end, we instead spent time in the library just to study together. Even though we were on our way home, a few more days of snowy nights were about to start and we decided to take shelter in a roadside cafe.
On the previous street, Kamine warmed his two cold hands by putting his hands in my thick jacket pocket. For that reason I prefer to warm myself in this cafe that has a heater, enjoying it with a cup of coffee is an essential pleasure.
But ...
“Panda, does coffee taste good? I've never tried it because it's always been banned.”
“Can't, you better drink warm milk. It's not that I consider you a little boy, aren't you the one who asked him to enjoy himself tonight? Health number one.”
“Baiklah ... ”
Kamine looked disappointed and ordered warm milk to the waiter walking near us. Because that face bothered me so much, I offered him this black coffee I was enjoying.
“One sip only, remember one sip and do not exceed it.”
The cup of coffee I pushed towards her, Kamine nodded her head then showed her little smile to me. Lately, I wanted to understand with the little smile that he showed me.
Kamine raised the coffee cup served by me. Slowly bring it closer to the mouth and drink it a sip, he lowers the cup back to the place.
“Pahit ... what kind of drink is this.”
“You complain a lot, the coffee philosophy is one of the many pleasures of a bitter life.”
My reply was to take back the coffee cup that was in front of Kamine. The warm milk he ordered had arrived, he drank it little by little to remove the bitter taste of the black coffee he drank one gulp.
“Panda, soon the show will start in the city square."
Kamine said while looking to the right side of the upper wall, a wall clock was installed that showed eleven more hours. Soon it might snow, the reason Kamine took me out was because he had never enjoyed Christmas Eve outside because he had always been hospitalized.
Since the time was soon, we both went towards the town square and I carried Kamine on my back. Even though it was night, there were many people on the streets especially near the town square where there was a large Christmas tree decorated.
Sure enough, the snow actually fell when we reached the town square. Kamine asked me to turn his position into the lap of the Princess. His body was very light, he curled his hands around my neck and brought his face closer.
“It's cold, I'm almost numb. There's one thing I want to tell you ... Mr Panda.”
“Master Panda? Well whatever it is just say.”
“Can I stay by your side?”
When I was anxious to answer her feelings, suddenly my gaze turned black and white and around Kamine were several black petals. I was so confused, I never understood the ability to see other people's feelings like this.
“Kamine .. I ... ”
As I said, his hand that was embracing my neck suddenly weakened and slowly his eyes closed. Such a weak hand just fell, sure enough .. suddenly Kamine was unconscious and she was completely lying about her health.
To Be Continue ....