If it means forgetting the good times, then I’m okay with time erasing the bad memories. It’s not a hard choice to make when you can’t think of a simple good time. For as long as I could remember, my parents would fight about money and pretend it didn’t happen and my girlfriends would dump because of someone else. The only regret I would have would be to the memories of my friends I’d lose but there are times where I can’t help myself and think, come on time, do your magic.

Asher woke up and found three of his friends in his kitchen enjoying their breakfast. He scratched his head at the usual scene and walked over to the free seat, helping himself to some of the breakfast Rei made.

“Where’s Delancy?” Asher asked.

“Went to school early. Festival starts tomorrow and she has to make sure everything is right.”

“Ah, at least you guys get to leave school early today. Lucky.”

“But without you here, it’s so lonely,” Isaac said dramatically.

“Isa,” Asher said, joining in on their usual skit.

“Ash.”

“I love you man.”

“Same.” And the two tackled each other into a hug.

“What’s your class doing for the festival?” Rei asked, ignoring the soap opera unfolding in front of her.

“But I can’t for I am engaged,” Asher shouted.

“Oh! My heart.” Isaac clutched his heart and fell onto the ground.

“A costume café thing. Everyone picked something randomly and the sewing club made it. We’re trying them on today,” said Diego, he too ignoring the show taking place beside him.

“What did you get?”

“I’m not saying.”

“Aw, why not.”

“It’s embarrassing,” he said, stuffing his mouth with toast.

“Let’s make a bet. I say got a princess,” said Ash. He and Isaac finally finished their latest installment of The Breakfast Drama.

“Gorilla,” said Isaac.

“Mmh,” Rei was thinking, “a fairy. What? You said princess and you said gorilla. Don’t judge me.”

“Oh, by the way,” said Asher, “Nancy’s coming to the festival.”

“Who’s Nancy?” asked Isaac.

“Nancy with the beautiful personality,” Rei explained.

“What happened to Kathy?”

“They broke up. Turns out she’s not a fan of guys.”

“Oh, oh.”

“Yup.”

Asher mumbled something under his breath and left before his friends could finish. At least he could look forward to meeting Nancy at school.

*

With a free period and not wanting to go home, Diego headed to Rei’s school when his last class ended. He arrived just before classes ended for the day so he decided to wait outside of the massive school gates. Eventually girls came out of the school. Some eyed him while others ignored him. He waited and waited but he couldn’t find Rei.

“Excuse me,” he asked a nearby group of girls. “Do you know where I can find Rei? Rei Mizuhara?”

“No sorry.”

The following few girls he asked had the same answer. He wondered if he confused the gate until he heard a group of girls at the side whispering to each other.

“Why’s he looking for the Ghost?”

“She probably owes him money. Heard her family was poor.”

“He’s cute.”

“Ooh, maybe that’s how she got the new shoes. Shame they’re only going to end up in the trash in a few days.”

“Shush, he’ll hear you.”

“He’s looking this way, act natural. I said natural Cassidy.”

“This is natural.”

“Sure and the Ghost is friends with that.”

Diego was about to walk over to him and ask what they were talking about when he locked eyes with a terrified Rei. She ducked her head down and ran only to have Diego catch her at the bus stop.

“Rei, what’s going on?”

“It’s nothing. Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be preparing for the school festival?” Rei asked but she was more invested in looking around for students of her school.

“Rei, I asked you what’s going on. Don’t change the subject. Are you being-”

“Not the time Diego.” Rei’s face scrunched up as she continued to look around.

Unable to tolerate it anymore, Diego grabbed Rei’s hand and pulled her onto the bus. He made sure she sat on the inside and waited until they reached Saponaria before he asked again.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle. You’ll only make it worse.”

“Rei,” Diego said. He noticed that she was wearing her gym jacket instead of her uniform’s top. He eyed her bag and saw the dirt stains on her once white jacket.

Noticing that her jacket stuck out, Rei stuffed it deeper in her bag and started to walk only for Diego to grab her by the wrist stopping her. He led her to the nearest ice cream stand and bought the two of them something sweet.

Rei took it without a word and the two sat on the swings in a nearby park. They were silently swinging and eating their ice cream before Rei broke the silence.

“You know, if this happened five years ago, I would have fainted,” she said, looking forward.

“Why?”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it but,” she said with a smile, laughing at the embarrassing memories, “I had a crush on you back then. Pretty big. It’s embarrassing to hear myself say that after all these years.”

Diego dropped his ice cream when he heard those words and turned to face Rei with wide eyes. “What?”

“Is it that shocking? Del said it was really obvious.” Rei squirmed a bit in the swing.

Still in shock, Diego breathlessly whispered, “So, it was mutual?”

This time it was Rei who turned around in shock. She broke out into a giggle at the thought of it all.

“Life is mean isn’t it? If we had just been a bit more vocal about it. Who knew what would have happened.” She jumped off of the swing and dusted off her skirt. She fixed her hair after the wind blew it all over her face and turned back to Diego and said with her arm out to him, “Come on, let’s get you another ice cream. My treat this time.”

Falling in love isn't like how it was in the movies. It didn't involve locking eyes in the middle of a crowded street. Nor did we reach for the last book at the same time. For me, I fell in love for the first time that autumn day when I saw her smile as she fixed her hair after that gust of wind. Now, five years later, I'm falling all over again.