When She Smiles

Slowly, he re-opens her heart.

            We returned to my house, where my mother greeted us with frantic shouts of worry.

            “Daisuke! You didn’t really run out in the street did you? What did you think you were doing?” she shouted, running out of the shop to meet us. Once she caught sight of Shia standing timidly next to me, she turned her verbal attacks on her. “Was it you? Are you the one who gave him the idea to run out into the street?”

            “Mom! Are you serious?” I reacted in surprise, pulling her back as she attempted to grab Shia’s shoulder. “Hey, I’m not hurt at all,” I said, trying to calm her.

            “Don’t give me that,” she barked. Then, turning to Shia again, she asked, “Where are your parents?”

            “Ah, um…I live alone,” she stated. “My parents stopped contacting me so…”

            Living alone? There must be a reason behind that…

            “Living alone? Aren’t you only sixteen?” my mother asked, her tone more sentimental.

            “I have a relative nearby, so it’s ok,” Shia explained.

            The women from before diffidently walked into the shop, clutching her baby to her chest. “Excuse me. It’s my fault. Your son was injured saving my baby,” she explained, bowing.

            “Ah, well that’s ok then.” My mother calmed down immediately, directing her attention to the infant in the woman’s arms.

            “It’s dark already, so I’ll walk you home,” I offered. Shia stared me in horror as though I said some sort of profanity. “You don’t have to be afraid…” I muttered.

            “What? I’m not…” she burst out in surprise, blushing. “I mean, is that how it seems?” she asked, her tone quieting down.

            “Hey, I’ll just be at your side in case another carriage runs you down,” I stated lightheartedly. Shia said nothing, but let me walk by her side as she headed home. Strangely, she still seemed nervous, only looking down. Whenever I made a sound, such as a grunt, or a cough, she looked back at me in shock. I decided to remain silent for the rest of the walk.

            But will she warm up to me if I just remain silent?

            Will she always live with this fear of men? I thought, watching her back as she walked ahead of me. But will she be able to change if she finds a guy she likes?

            I began singing a song, the first one that came to mind. Love in the Ice, by DBSK. I didn’t remember all the lyrics, but I started from the beginning, and kept singing. I wasn’t really sure if my voice would soothe her, or just agitate her even more.

`           Besides, what kind of guy would she fall for anyway? I considered, still singing.

            “Daremo ga dare ka ni aisareru tameni…” I hummed, then stopped. It was hard for me to remember the rest of the lyrics.

            “I know that song!” she exclaimed, turning back to look at me. Her eyes, instead of being wary and frightened, they were soft, and welcoming. “I like it!” she added cheerfully.

            “Oh….oh,” I stuttered. She…she surprised me. “Is…is that so?”

            “Well, it’s not that much further from my place,” she put forth, pointing down the street we were walking on. “Thank you for seeing me home.”

            “No…no problem,” I replied.

            “Also, thank you for saving the baby,” she added, before turning her back on me and walking down the street.

            “Huh?” I uttered. “Oh, it wasn’t the baby I was trying to help…”

            Oh well, I rubbed the back of my neck as I watched her disappear through the streets.

           

            “Daisuke, you’ve been singing the same song over and over,” my mother commented. She was sitting at her over cluttered desk, filling out forms and recording the sales.

            “Have I…?” I mumbled. White froth dripped from my mouth onto the floor as I spoke. Huh. I didn’t even notice.

            “Daisuke, go brush your teeth in the bathroom,” my mother admonished, glancing at the tooth paste in disgust.

            “Listen, Daisuke. You stay away from that girl,” my mother asserted.

            “Huh?” I uttered, spitting in the sink. “Why?”

            “No reason,” she replied, sipping a cup of tea. “Good night,” she said, before retiring to her bedroom down the hall.

            I did the same, lying on my bed, just the like night before. She said she had liked the song I was singing, Love in the Ice.

            Springing up from the bed, I dug through an old drawer, sifting through old photo albums, books, and CD’s until I finally found the one I wanted.

            “Got it!” I said to myself. “It’s track five on this album.” In my hand I held the album, Mirotic. I hadn’t listened to this since the summer.

            Up until now, I hadn’t really cared whether Shia got pregnant or not. If she can, she should get herself a boyfriend. I lay on my bed, thinking carefully. But what kind of guy?

            What kind of guy would Shia come to like?

            I found myself thinking of the good qualities I heard girls always talking about, imagining Shia’s boyfriend. The subject, however, soon lulled me to sleep.

 

            Sitting with my hand propping up my head, I scanned the classroom for her. Seulgi appeared in front of me, leaning down so she could study my face carefully.

            “What’s with that face, Suwa-kun?” she asked in a griping tone.

            “Hm? Ah, it’s nothing,” I replied, turning away. She was wearing full makeup, going all out with her eyeliner and lip gloss.

            “Who are you looking for?” she asked again, trying to pinpoint my gaze.

            “No, no,” I denied, “I’m not really looking for anyone.” I blushed a little. It was frustrating that she was nowhere to be found.

            “Good morning, Suwa-kun,” a quiet voice said behind me. I turned around expectantly. “How’s your head?” Shia asked.

            I was embarrassed to have Shia ask me such a question, and right when Seulgi was behind me as well. “It’s…it’s alright,” I stuttered in shock.

            “That’s good,” she replied, smiling. She walked past me, towards her seat towards the other end of the room.  As she strode past me, I felt a piercing throb inside me. Multiple times, a sharp pain inside my chest kept stabbing. As I collapsed into my seat, the piercing continued, pricking the center of my chest.

            What is this sudden piercing pain in my heart? 

Reviews

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cute how he started singing :)
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[Edalene Connell]

Wonderfully written, keep up the good work!