He got up and walked across the wooden floor to the bar. He ordered his drink and waited patiently for the result. However, something caught his eye or more precisely, he heard something interesting. He leaned back looked across the room. There.
With his drink in hand he raced back to Ren, “She’s called Kaori dammit!”
“What?” Ren cringed.
“Her name is Kaori!” Maves noted.
“Who?”
“The girl!”
“How do you know that?” Ren leaned forward.
“Because she’s here with her friends, I heard them say Kaori.” Maves smiled with a gleam in his eye.
“So you don’t actually know if her name is Kaori…” Ren let out a heavy sigh and leaned back.
“We’re going,” Maves demanded.
“No we’re not,” Ren countered.
“We’re going!”
“C’mon, don’t be weird…”
Before he knew it, Maves had dragged him to the table, where she was. Maves stopped in front of the three of girls with Ren in tow.
“You’re the pianist from the music show, right?” Maves said, acting surprised. “See, I told you it was her!” He nudged Ren. “Your piece was absolutely amazing!”
“Thank you,” she looked up and smiled. She met Ren’s eyes. In that second, they couldn’t look away. They were completely locked on each other. However, as the moment passed they both turned.
Mei grinned deeply. “Why don’t you sit down?” she said, making room.
“That’s a great a idea,” Nora added, knowing what she was thinking.
“Really? We don’t want to intrude,” Maves said, fronting a facade.
“No no, don’t worry about it, the more the merrier!” Mei insisted.
Ren and Maves took a seat at the table next to Mei.
“Hey, I’m Mei,” she began, introducing herself. “This is Nora and this is Kaori.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Maves gently tilted his head. “I’m Maves, this here is Ren.”
Kaori. Her name is actually Kaori! Ren thought, trying his best to suppress his emotions.
“Do you two know each other?” Nora asked, fully aware of the answer.
“Oh, yeah, we’re in the same TOI class,” Ren explained.
“TOI?” Maves lifted an eyebrow. “What does that even stand for?”
“Theory of Interest,” Ren said. “It’s a joined course for all the arts majors—” he trailed off when he saw Mei’s glistening eyes.
“Wait! So you’re the guy!” she chanted.
“The guy?” Maves frowned.
Oh god… Kaori thought, hiding her face.
“Then she must be the girl!” Maves smirked, glancing at Ren for a moment.
Maves… you’re an ass. Ren thought, gulping down his drink.
The conversation caught wind at the expense of Ren and Kaori. They sat trying their best to not be awkward. Which in turn meant there was a lot of drinking involved.
The night was filled with jokes and deep conversations where there was no right answers and no wrong ones either. Soon, however, Ren said, “I’m going to call it a night.”
“What?” Maves eyed him.
“Really?” Mei muttered.
“C’mon, don’t leave us,” Nora added.
“I… think… I’m… going to… go too,” Kaori said, trying to stand up straight, but she was far too drunk to succeed in her attempt. Luckily, Ren was there to catch her.
“That’s a great idea!” Mei began. “Can you please take her home?”
“Yeah, that would really help us out,” Nora begged.
“Sure, I’ll take her home,” Ren sighed, dropping his shoulders. “Are you really fine leaving her with me though?”
“You guys are in the same class, so its fine!” Mei smiled.
“Run along now!” Maves gestured for them to leave.
I thought… you didn’t want me to leave. Ren looked Maves in his eyes for moment. “Anyway, it was nice to meet you two,” he said and left, with Kaori in tow.
“He’s stringless, isn’t he?” Mei whispered in a somber tone.
“So is she,” Maves leaned back.
“It took them awhile… but they finally met,” Nora smiled.
“So, where exactly do you live?” Ren asked, while they walked.
“Just… around… the corner,” Kaori said as she slowly leaned to one side, until it was impossible to go back.
“Wow, wow, easy!” Ren caught her before she could fall. “C’mon,” he said as he picked her up and carried her on his back. “Lead the way,” he whispered.
“I wish… I could tell him,” Kaori murmured, leaning against Ren.
“Tell him what?”
“But then he had to go off and leave me behind!” She screamed and squirmed in her intoxicated rage. “Your name’s Ren too… I thought maybe you were him… but what are the odds, right—I’m so mad! He’s so mean,” she muttered. Her eyes grew teary and her voice, shaky. “Why did he have to leave me?” Her tears slowly dripped from her eyes and ran down her face. “He promised to find me… but he never came!” Her grip tightened on Ren’s clothes.
What if this girl really is… Ren thought, looking up at the night sky. The stars were so close that if he reached for them, they’d fall.
“I just miss him so much,” Kaori cried. He held her steadily as she wept and wept in the arms of her soulmate.
They arrived at her apartment, but she was fast asleep by then. He unlocked the door and let himself in. He lay her down on her bed, but before he could leave, she tugged on his sleeve.
“Please don’t go.”
He looked back and saw her eyes. They were so red. Even in the dark, he could tell.
“You can sleep on the floor.” She rose to her feet shakily and made her way to the cupboard. Before he knew it, he was given a pillow and a blanket.
Kaori threw herself back on the bed.
What the hell is going on? What am I doing here? Ren lay down on the floor next to her.
“Ugh… It’s so uncomfortable…” Kaori squirmed.
Soon her skirt was thrown across the room. She’s taking off her clothes. Ren froze. I should probably go...
“Stay with me,” Kaori peeked from the edge of the bed. “Okay?”
“I can do that,” he smiled.
I wonder… what if she’s the one I’m looking for? He thought. But even if she is…I can’t remember. He closed his eyes. Damn… why did I have to get into that traffic accident? He sighed. I wonder if she remembers me?
“Good night, Ren.”
“Good night, Kaori.”
ChapteR 37
I want you to know that I… I love you. Kaori’s eyes shot open. His faint voice lingered. But something was different. Something about it wasn’t the same. It was the usual distant memory that she’d grown to cherish and hold. Somehow it seemed more… direct, even real. It was like it wasn’t a memory anymore, it was more fresh than that.
Her eyes closed as she felt her chest cave with the painful thought of being alone. However, before the pain and sorrow was able to surface, something inside her chest tingled. Her eyes shot open. The huge glassy towers stood tall all around her, on the well-paved roads, with signs here and there.
In the silence, under the closing day, among the whispers of the wind whistling across the deserted streets, came a faint tug. It was so gentle and delicate, foreign yet familiar. She’d felt this before. The feeling of getting her heartstrings pulled. She perked up, glancing at the glassy buildings, noticing the reflection of the huge comet tearing through the sky.
In hindsight, she wasn’t sure why, but before she knew it, her legs had already began and her feet jittered against the untouched road. She followed the shooting star on its glowing trail across the sky, hoping that it’d take her to where she wanted to go.
She gasped for air, straining her muscles as she ran. Her arms and legs moved vigorously across the road. What if… For the
first time in so long, she’d felt it. She passed building after building. Road sign after road sign in the city where only she was. With towering mirrors patiently watching the glimmering comet, under the blanket of unimpeded night.
What if he’s… Her short raven hair swung from left to right as she ran with everything she had. Her chest ached and her throat restricted every breath. Her vision blurred with the tears in her eyes, but for some reason only the glistening reflections and the comet itself were unaffected. It was almost as if it demanded her to witness it as she followed its glittering trail.
She gasped and gasped, until she finally reached a stop or rather a destination that seemed right. A lonely bridge. She looked up seeing the comet, but for some reason it seemed like it had stopped. At the time, she didn’t notice, but there was something else in the sky that night.
She lowered her head, feeling the faint tug in her chest melting away until only a painful aching remained. She knew it. Her arms and legs grew numb. Her lungs squeezed so tightly as to stop her. Stop her from crying. But it was already too late. The tears glistened almost in the same way as that comet above.
She took a few pained steps to the centre of the bridge, looking from one side to another, before she clutched the fence. But she saw no one. She was still… alone.
Her knees gave out and without much to keep her up, she collapsed.
Why? She thought, letting her tears fall. Why do I keep coming here? She held herself, yet she was freezing. Why does this keep happening to me? She bent forward, letting her hair form a dark curtain around her face. Little by little, her heart broke, one tear at a time.
The mirror towers stood so silently, paying no attention to her, instead hopefully capturing the comet in the sky, while her sobs were the only thing that could be heard for miles.
You won’t forget me, right? Ren looked up and saw it. The comet. Kaori? He thought, his chest growing warm and his fingertips tickling. His eyes widened and his brows followed, watching the comet’s tail stretch across the dome sky. “Kaori… I,” he smiled, feeling his shoulders slump and his legs growing weak. Before he knew it, his blinking increased and everything but the comet and its reflections blurred against the layer of joy.
“I remember,” his smile deepened. “I remember!” he screamed at the top of his lungs. The beads of liquid relief splashed against his lids.
Through all of his returning memories, came a nostalgic tug that pulled him into a dash. He was so weightless, his arms and legs moved without effort. He looked up at the heart of the comet following it as though it would take him to her. “I remember!” he screamed, still not fully believing that his memories had returned.
“Kaori, I remember!” His feet carried him underneath the night sky, among the mirroring towers as they whispered his words to each other while watching the shooting star.
Soon, however, he reached a stop at the base of a bridge. No one was there. After catching his breath and believing the truth his eyes had told him, he glanced up at the comet. But this time, it wasn’t just the one he saw, but a second was there too. Across the glassy towers behind him, the first comet gleamed and across the mirrors ahead, the second glittered.
Before he could think, before he could appreciate or even imagine, before he released his withheld breath, they collided. The stars clashed, silently exploding in the night like a massive firework. Thin glowing trails shot off in every direction, falling from the sky.
Like snowflakes, the stardust dripped from above, glittering as they fell. The mirrors that bore witness didn’t just capture them, they saw something more. Each one glimmering against the reflective glassy edges, captured a memory. Sweet giggles, beaming smiles, worried glances and flustered expressions, all painted the mirrors with their golden memories.
“Kaori…” She perked up at the sound of his voice. “I remember.” As he looked down from the glittering dreams painting the skies as the stardust fell, settling against his held out hand, he noticed a head peeking out from the shadows.
With a single glistening flake of glowing dust falling next to her face, he knew immediately who it was.
She looked at him and he at her. Her eyes wide with disbelief, his with gentle relief. She unconsciously held her breath and his heart almost completely stopped, but after the longest seconds, his lips bent into a smile and hers stayed the same.
“I finally found you,” he whispered, taking a step closer.
She wanted to speak but her words wouldn’t come. She wiped away her tears as she stood. Soon her wondering eyes met his again, she froze, but only for a second until, she leaned in. After a few cautious steps with one hand clutching her chest, the other reached out to touch him. In that moment, the solid surface that stood behind the thin fabric of clothing, confirmed his existence.
She flinched, withdrawing her hand and staggering a few steps back. The sensation that still lingered on her fingertips seemed so unreal, but she couldn’t look away from the truth. They had poked his fleshy body, they’d felt the resistance of his skin and muscle. They’d recalled the familiarity of his warmth.
He watched her inspect her fingers as though she’d touched a radioactive substance. He watched her shock and wonder. But before he knew it, he burst out laughing. He held his stomach, breaking the silence. However, when he looked up, his giggling ceased almost immediately and his face grew concerned.
“What’s wrong?” he whispered, noticing the liquid beads ready to fall from Kaori’s eyes.
She said nothing and instead, marched forward with quick determined steps, and after a brief pause just ahead of him, she shot her arm out and poked him. Her fingers quickly retreated the moment they felt his body against their tips.
“Kaori?” he asked.
But she still gave no answer, instead, she moved her hand, slowly this time, placing more than just a quick fingertip on his chest but rather her entire palm. He’s real… She pulled back and her knees gave out. She was on the ground the very next second.
“What happened to you?” she said, looking up at him.
“Oh, I had a traffic accident.” He scratched the back of his neck. “But don’t worry, I’m fine now,” he quickly added, noticing her expression as he sat down in front of her.
She leaned closer, with her brows quaking.
“You don’t need to make that face, I’m fine, really,” he smiled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to leave you,” his smile soon deepened. “But I’m glad, I got to see you again… oh and I heard you play by the way, you were amazing.”
“Ren,” she whispered.
“Yes?” he leaned closer and smiled. “Oh, you are going to tell me that important thing you mentioned.”
She flushed, quickly leaning back, covering her face with one hand and creating distance with the other. She hadn’t mentioned anything, her thoughts simply said a little too much.
Although her ears were unbelievably hot and what she wanted to say was already known, she mustered up the courage and said, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Ren’s eyes shot open with the morning glitter raining through the window in Kaori’s apartment. He sat up quickly looking up at her, while she did the same. Their lips didn’t move, but their words were exchanged.
Will you…
Will you…
Stay…
Stay…
With me?
String Theory Page 18