Waiting for that Promise

23rd Chapter: No Longer Shared

To have his lazy antics go unnoticed, he peered down his open text book. His blinks were becoming heavy, a sign that sleep was finally going to take over him. But then, there was frantic movement on the vacant chair just beside him. Since everyone on their line of chairs shared the same long table, it was easy to tell whenever a seatmate arrives.

Due to the late arrival of a seatmate, Ryoma found his senses alert again. Sleep was starting to slip away from his loggish body. In his ears, the lecture was starting to make sense again. He peered on his side, a scowl painted on his face for the disturbance.

What he noticed first was his seatmate’s ridiculously long brown twin braids that swayed along with her movements as she clumsily rummaged through her own bag for what he presumed to be the textbook used for the class. Her face wasn’t all that visible from his point of view, not completely facing her direction.

When the girl turned to his way, flushed expression and breathing heavily as if she just ran a marathon, he recognized her.

“Ryoma-kun? What page are we on?” she whispered, not at all surprised at their meeting.

He was finally wide awake, and for some reason his pulse quickened. For the girl in front of him was none other than Ryuzaki Sakuno, his ex-house mate. It has been more than two weeks since he last saw her.

Were they always in the same class together? He wondered. He had this class twice a week and he only saw her now. Ryoma was tempted to ask, though he figured that it would be a better question after class.

“Page 241.” he mumbled at once, using his sharp eyes to glance at his other seatmate’s book.

Ryuzaki gratefully nodded as she flipped her book. She attentively listened for the rest of the lecture and the boy didn’t feel as sleepy as before. He wasn’t even sure why all of a sudden, her appearance shook him. At the corner of his eyes, he can’t help but stare at the girl. And it’s not like he hated it, seeing her after so long. He just felt uncomfortable with how he can almost feel his excited heartbeats as if he was looking forward to see her all along. He did his best to dismiss it all.

“Did you always have this class?” he asked her while he made himself busy stuffing his text book back in his bag.

“Not really,” she chuckled softly, slipping her arms on her back pack, “I missed Professor’s class yesterday, and so I had to attend his class today to catch up.”

He only gave her a confirming nod in reply. It just made sense why it was the first time he saw her in his class. And if it was just an ‘only’ today thing, then it might take a while before he sees her again. Considering that two weeks since she moved out, their paths only crossed that day.

“Ano, Ryoma-kun..? Did Kevin-kun hand my key?” it was her turn to ask.

“He did.” he replied, his bag finally slung on his shoulders.

Ryuzaki gave him a slight knowing smile before she said, “That’s great. I guess, I’ll see you sometime, Ryoma-kun.”

The way she spoke suddenly reminded him of the night she asked to forget about her feelings. Where his feet struggled to not follow her. It felt like an indefinite goodbye that bothered him so greatly.

But just like that night, Ryoma didn’t say anything as he saw her walk away... presumably to her next class.

“Ryoma? Are you done for today?” Kevin’s cheerful voice came from behind him.

He turned to look at his friend who was grinning, “That was Ryuzaki who just left, right?”

“And what of it?” Ryoma replied, his nonchalant look now plastered on his face even faster than usual.