A Knight’s Tale

By~ S.M.K


You have always believe...

One day..  your  prince will wake you up from your deep slumber...


I wish...

That person who wake you up one day....

Would be me...


Do I....  stand a chance...?


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Junno Sempai!”  A series of running footsteps came into my ears.

I turned around and saw the flustered girl running straight to me.

“I’m sorry I’m late!”  Haneki apologized, and at the same time, trying to catch her breath back.

“Hey, it’s okay.” Giving  an reassuring smile, I fluffed her hair, drinking in the sight of her flushed cheeks.  “I bet it’s Ohno sensei who kept you back again.”  I grinned knowingly.

“Hai!  Ohno sensei wanted to discuss about the stall our class will be setting up duing the festival.” Haneki laughed, recalling the excited look on Ohno sensei when he talked about the food.  “Can we drop by the ice-cream stall on our way back?” She asked, turning her puppy eyes on me.

“Ok.”

“Your treat?”  Her puppy eyes turned even bigger.

I gave a little sigh, clearly knowing that I would promise anything when she got that look on.

“Yeah~”  She happily cheered, linking her arms together with me.  “LET’S GO!!!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~




Since when.... did we start walking home together...?

Everyday... without fail...  we would meet at the school gate.


Sometimes...

I’ll be waiting... watching the crowds walked past...

Of friends... and couples hands in hands....


Other times....

You’ll be waiting... playing with your long hair... or watching the clouds floating past.....


Did you know...

I looked forward to this time everyday..?

When the bell rang...  I’ll be the first to rush out of class...

Just to..

See you approaching towards me with a wave and a smile.


H O P E L E S S . .

My classmates shook their heads and laughed.


Who cares what they said...

For I...   am in love with you...



~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Remember how we met the first time?”

As we were slurping our ice-creams, she asked suddenly.

“Of course I did.  I made a completely fool out of myself then.”

We laughed together, as the scene replayed in both our minds.

“Not really.  I thought it’s kinda cute.”  She smiled.

“It just amazed me how quickly we became so close?  How long we have known each other? Four months?”  She scooted closer to me, linking arms.

“ Actually it’s just two more weeks to five months.”  I said gently, my heart thumping faster at her closeness.

“Sometimes, I’m just thankful to God that I met you.”

“Just sometimes only?”  I teased, my heart soaring at her words.

“Sempai wa baka desu!  You know what I meant, don’t twist my words.”



~*~*~*~*~*~*~



The first time I saw you...

I couldn’t...look into your eyes...

Your eyes...  were so bright and innocent....

I could just see my world in it.


I didn’t know what to say then...

Just awkwardly staring at my watch.

I think you knew it...

Because you gave the brightest smile I ever seen...


It hit me then...

That I’m...


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In love... with you.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Sempai, I have something to tell you.”

As we were nearing her house, she blurted out.

“Huh?”  I looked over to her in curiousment, it is not like her to be so hesitating.


“There’s a guy in my class...  JIN?!”

In the middle of her sentence, she suddenly broke off, running rapidly towards a guy in standing in front of her gate.


As I watched her stopped in front of him with the biggest smile I never seen, I couldn’t help the bad feeling that rose in my heart.

And the first taste of jealousy...

She have never smiled to me in that way...

Like she did... to this guy called Jin...

Like he’s everything to her...


It seems then...

The distance that’s only a stone throw between us...

Seem so long...  Separating us  far away...


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


As I laid on the bed, I couldn’t sleep.

The same scenes kept replaying in my mind...


Of you... and Jin...


Then..

Though I very much like to ask about your relationship with him..

I suppressed my feelings.

Returning home...to stare at my ceiling board.

And think of you... and him.


If you have feelings for him...

What am I to you..?

Just this afternoon... You gave me hopes...

And only minutes later, you took it away..


Haneki...


My vision blurred.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Sempai, ohayo~”    The next morning, on the way to school.  Haneki fell in step with me.

“Ohayo.”  I managed to put up a smile for her, hoping that my expression would not betray me.

“I’m sorry I’m just left you behind yesterday.”  She smiled embarassly.

“It’s okay.  The guy is more important right?”  I barely managed to fake the teasing tone.  Within myself, my heart actually felt torn apart.

“Sempai!”  She stamped her feet, her cheeks reddening.

“I spoke the truth only.”  I almost applauded myself, what splendid acting.

How pathetic.  I could almost cry.

“I’m not going to talk to you...”  She blushed, sticking her tongue out at me before running away.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~



It’s him.. right...?


The guy I saw yesterday..


He was the one...

The one to put that light into your eyes...


Never have I seen you so happy.

A certain air of gladness hung over you..


Could he.. be the one..?  As you always mention.

The prince... to wake you up from your deep slumber.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Ring....


Ring.....



Ring ring.....


“Moshi moshi?”

“Junno Sempai! Haneki desu.”  Her voice came unexpectedly through the phone.

“Haneki? Do you know it’s almost one o’clock in the morning now?”  I groaned, hardly barely opening my eyes.  I didn’t sleep a wink last night.

“Gomen ne, but I really have some news to share with you.  Oh, Sempai.. I’m so happy ne!”

“Nani?”  I sat upright, it’s really unusual for Haneki to call me at this hour.

“Sempai...” I could hear her taking in a deep breath.  “Jin told me he had always liked me.. and he asked me to be his girlfriend.”

“and...?”  My heart shattered.  Unknowingly, I gripped the receiver tighter, afraid of her answer.


“I agreed!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How...

I finished the conversation with her.. I didn’t know...

The only thing I remembered... was that she asked me to congratulate her...


I did.

My heart broke.


I had dreamt of spending the future with her...

Now..  It’s impossible.


The night went.  And morning came.

I laid in the same position after hanging Haneki’s call.

I didn’t want to do any thing.. even thinking..

Afraid that the pain she gave me would appear again..


But somehow... I knew..  I could not remain like this forever...

Love is not like this...

When the one you loved gained happiness...

You should feel happy... even the one who gave happiness her was not you..

Somehow... you would feel satisfied just to see the smile on her face.


I decided then...

I love her..

That’s why I’m giving her up... to a person in better position to give her happiness.

Haneki...



I wish you all the best.... with him.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~


When the princess was awaken by the prince... by a kiss of life...

She smiled... into his eyes..

The love between them grew since...

There ended the duty..  of the knight...


The knight... who have never left her side...

Along the years..   Protecting her faithfully...


His love for her...

Could never be confessed..


He was fated to remain in a dark corner of her life...

For..
This was the destiny of a knight...





~ END ~