That was a couple of hours ago. As they drank, the two women talked about the old times and laughed, even more as the time went on. At one point, Shimoto dropped her phone on the floor and that made them both to roar with laughter. Kaori had barely drunk two beers but she was a bit affected for that; on the other hand, Shimoto drank a whole set of five and was just “a bit tipsy”.

-Wow, didn’t know you could drink that much- said Kaori sluring her speech.

-Nah, this ‘s nothing- answered Shimoto while shaking an almost-empty can. -I could drink way more when younger, but I gotta hold a bit at my age, ha! You surely think I’m a granny.

-No way, you’re still my wonderful Shimocchi- said Kaori while hugging her friend.

-Ha, and you’re still my lovely Kaochan- answered Shimoto hugging Kaori back.

When they stopped, Shimoto saw Kaori getting sadder as she rested her head on the back of the sofa.

-Wow, didn’t know you were the “sad-type” when drinking. Cheer up!- exclaimed Shimoto.

-It’s not that, just…- began saying Kaori. -I remembered tomorrow and… I don’t wanna go back. Don’t get me wrong, I wanna see my daughter but… I don’t wanna go back to that home with… Katsu-don.

Shimoto could glimpse a deep sadness in Kaori’s eyes.

-Yeah, it’s normal- said Shimoto. -They way things are now, nobody in your place would want to go back. Maybe you had great moments before, but…

-No way- interrupted Kaori firmly.

A brief silence. Kaori inclined a bit towards Shimoto with sad face.

-I didn’t tell you the whole truth yesterday, Shimocchi- explained Kaori. -Things didn’t get worse after Natsume came back. More like, when she returned, I realized a lot of things. I suspected Katsu-don got more selfish over the years but… I remembered the past, I looked at pictures and I realized something: I never loved him, not at all. I wasted half of my life lying to myself and using a fake face.

-Why did you marry that guy then? You always ignored that clown- asked Shimoto.

Kaori looked at Shimoto’s eyes. She couldn’t hold it anymore.

-I did it because… you were not there- murmured Kaori.

Shimoto turned wide-eyed, which made Kaori react:

-I… I don’t pretend to blame you! Just… when you left, I felt so… empty and lost. I suddenly felt nothing made sense. My biggest wish was staying by your side. I wished I had ridden that taxi and left with you, but I felt I had no control over my life, it looked like everybody else controlled it. That nasty kid insisting on dating, my parents insisting in him being a “nice guy”, everybody looking at me like “Why doesn’t she have a boyfriend yet?”. At that moment I thought, if I couldn’t control my life, I should let others control it for me.

That’s when Shimoto got sadder.

-I… I’m sorry- apologized Shimoto. -I’m so sorry, I… didn’t know… If I had, I… I’d have done something… I… I’d have looked for you, I…

-No, it’s not your fault- answered Kaori as she put a finger on Shimoto’s lips. -It’s just like you said back then, you were right: a small town like that… devours you. You can’t do anything different than what everybody expects. You needed to get out and spread your wings. If you didn’t well… you’d have ended up like me. That would have destroyed you. I don’t know how I got this far. I had to repress all my feelings and wishes and that was horrible. My daughter was the only glimpse of light in my dark life but… I wished I’d have had the courage to leave.

-No… It’s my fault too- insisted Shimoto. -Remember what I said? “If you ever need help, look for me”. I wished that you called me. I wished to help you, but my life was so busy for the first two years with my classes and my job. When I realized, too much time passed and I understood you didn’t need me. Truth is, I wanted to see you and bring you here, but I convinced myself that you already had your own life and you forgot about me. And without you, I didn’t have any reason to go back to that town.

-Well, guess you have visited your family now and then, right?- asked Kaori.

Shimoto smiled with irony.

-I don’t have any family there- said Shimoto. -More like that people are no longer my family.

Kaori looked at her friend confused. Still smiling, Shimoto laid back on the couch.

-I left without any notice, against my parents’ will- explained Shimoto- College gave me the contact for a support group for people in my situation, it was the only way for leaving. I got here, I got my place and began my new life. But two months later, my parents appeared at my door, quite angry. They tried to force me to go back, but I refused. One thing led to the other and… let’s say all neighbors in the block heard the screams and swears. My neighbor, a nice old lady who took care of me, called the police. As the police took my parents out of the building, my dad turned around and screamed: “I have no daughter anymore!”. I shouted back: “Great, I never wanted such horrible parents!”. That’s the last time we talked. You were kinda right when you said “they will hunt me down if I dare to put even one foot outside this town”, that’s what happened to me.

After she finished her story, Shimoto looked at her friend as Kaori couldn’t hide her shocked face, which slowly turned into a sad look and hugged her friend.

-See? You made the right choice. Now you’re a wonderful woman who lived a lot of incredible experiences. I’m so happy for you- said Kaori.

-And I’m happy you remembered and looked for me- said Shimoto.

-Well, that’s thanks for you using your nickname in Facelook. Wouldn’t have found you if not- explained Kaori smiling.

Shimoto released her friend and, while smiling, put her index finger in her mouth.

-Can I tell you a secret?- asked Shimoto and Kaori nodded. -You’re the only one in the world who can call me “Shimocchi”. I tell everybody: they call me Shimochan, Shimotan or even Shimichan, dunno why, but you are the only one I want to call me Shimocchi. Maybe that’s why I used it in my profile, as some kind of… warranty. Like a minimal possibility, like saying “I’m here if you need me”. Truth is, I longed for having you back in my life but you know, for important things, I think a lot and freeze. Sometimes I wonder how I gathered the courage for leaving, but that was way too important for freezing. Besides, you encouraged me to follow my path. I owe you my life.

Kaori looked again at Shimoto’s eyes. They had that special sparkle as when they were alone together as teens. Both of them wished to be together but, was it the same way as Kaori longed for? Her wish was strong, but the fear was as strong. She couldn’t hold it anymore and she rested her head on Shimoto’s shoulder, who hugged her friend.

-Shimocchi, I… there’s something I wanna say… for a long time- began saying Kaori. -Something really… important… and I think, if I don’t say this, I’ll regret it my whole life. But I’m scared, scared of ruining everything. I’m scared of you thinking bad of me and not wanting to see me anymore. If I lose you again, that would break my heart.

Both women looked at each other’s eyes. This time, it was Shimoto who saw something special in Kaori’s: a look she had never seen, but that wanted to see for a long time. She understood Kaori’s fear, and so, she said:

-Let’s do this. What if I tell you another secret first?- asked Shimoto. -This way, maybe you’ll be comfortable to tell me what you want, got it?

Kaori didn’t say anything, just nodded. Her friend made a sign for Kaori to get closer, Shimoto approached her ear, removed the hair and whispered:

-I like women.

Kaori felt a big amazement and warmth throughout her body, without her friend noticing. Still shocked, and while a tear fell down on her cheek, she looked at Shimoto.

-Really, you really like women?- asked Kaori excited.

Shimoto smiled sweetly and nodded.

-That’s why I had to leave that town- explained Shimoto. -I could have never lived the life I wanted there. I could have never been with someone I truly loved. And that’s why my family rejected me: I told them everything and that’s when the screams and swears began. You’re right: coming here was the best decision ever. Here I met a lot of wonderful people who had the same feelings I did. I met people of all kinds and sure, I’ve been in some relationships, but we always looked for different things, so they didn’t last, but still… I could be my true self here and be with someone I loved. And still, during all this time, the only one I missed most… was you.

Shimoto’s words moved Kaori even more as she could only smile. That remote possibility she longed for was real. Shimoto could see it too: deep inside, Kaori was as special as she was always told before.

-So… that thing you wanted to tell me… is somehow related with what I just shared?- asked Shimoto smiling.

Kaori nodded with energy and excitement as she cried. She was so nervous no words could come out of her mouth.

-Well, I’m all ears, unless you want me to say it- murmured Shimoto.

Kaori cleaned her tears and refused with the head, but she couldn’t stop crying. She took some deep breaths to calm down and then:

-I… I lo… I love you.

Three words. Three simple words, but those mere three words triggered a huge happiness that engulfed Kaori’s body. She was scared of saying them before, but she couldn’t stop now.

-I love you!- repeated Kaori. -I love you, I love you, I love you, always did! I loved you at highschool, even if I couldn’t say it. And all these years, without knowing, I missed you so much and… and now… I want to be with you! I want to be by your side and never get away from you! I want to be with you forever!

Her eyes clouded as a stream of tears came out from them. She felt liberated. For the first time in her life, she could say she really loved someone. Then, Shimoto put her hands on Kaori’s face and, just like in the old times, used her thumbs to remove all the tears and look at her beautiful eyes.

-I love you too, Kaochan- answered Shimoto. -I love you with all my heart. I always did, no matter how many years passed.

Shimoto slowly approached Kaori’s face. The other woman was nervous, but her body moved by itself. She knew what was going to happen and how much she wanted that. Kaori closed her eyes and waited for the moment in which their lips met. She felt a special warmth that she never felt before. Nothing else mattered. Each woman could feel that kiss and the intensity of their love through it. Kaori was the first one getting away, looking at Shimoto with affection, but she didn’t want it to stop. It was now her turn to put her hands on Shimoto’s face and approached her for a second kiss. Both of them wished to stay like that forever.

When they finished, both looked at each other satisfied. They knew this was what their hearts wanted and that made them immensely happy. After so many years, Kaori felt she got a big burden out of her shoulders and felt tired.

-I… love you… Shimocchi...- murmured Kaori.

Shimoto looked at the other women, noticing how tired she was, and caressed her hair.

-Too many emotions for one day- murmured Shimoto. -We should go to sleep. I’ll clean tomorrow.

Kaori could barely nod. The two women went to their respective rooms, but before that, Kaori stopped her friend before going into her room.

-Let’s talk tomorrow, OK?- murmured Kaori smiling.

-Of course- answered Shimoto happily.

Once in their beds, each woman was overwhelmed with happiness as they couldn’t stop thinking of that kiss, their first kiss, which they would remember for their whole lives.