[A/N]:

-Reader here lives in a country outside Japan and Australia

- whatever is inside ' ' (single quotes) means these are thoughts; " " (double quotes) means it is being verbally said

- "Insert stuff here" (words italicized inside a double quote) means it is spoken in English

- Reader is fluent in Japanese

Reader POV

The number of people keep asking me what I feel is increasing while I reply by saying "everything's mixed". They would nod, as if they understood what I meant.

I make my way to my garden's fountain. That places holds my memories, the one that want to cherish forever and bury to the ground.

Each step seemed heavier and heavier as I pass by lilacs, roses, and other fragrant flowers who are in full bloom, showing off their beauty to all those who are worthy. As I reached my destination, I sighed and sat on the edge, running my hands through the fountain water.

"Nyaaa~" My cat, (insert cat name here—[c/n]), jumped on my lap. I smiled and started petting her.

"Oh [c/n], this week, no, month have been stressful, boring, annoying, and... and... tiring." I continued to pet her as I kept one of my hand submerged in the water. My cat must have noticed that I wasn't using both of my hands and started to look at me with those big eyes.

"I'm quite fond of water. Everyone knows that, but no one knows why." I stated as I stare sadly at my hand in the water.

"Since [c/n] is my best friend, I'm going to tell you, but don't tell anyone, okay?" I asked while my cat just "nyaa" in response.

"Let's see. I was about 12 years old then. I was studying in Australia back then. It was sometime during the school year and that a Japanese boy transferred. My first love."

Flashback ( 12 year old Reader )

"Hi! My name is Rin Matsuoka. Name sounds like girl, but I am boy. Nice to meet you." A maroon haired pretty boy named Rin said.

I looked around and everyone seemed to be dumbfounded. I mean seriously, it isn't every day you meet someone who introduced themselves that way. He must have noticed the weird atmosphere and started laughing awkwardly.

I started with a soft giggle which eventually turned into laughter. Everyone was looking at me weirdly, but I couldn't care less. I started laughing along him until our teacher made us stop.

"Rin, sit beside either (random student) or Ms. _____." She said as she pushed him lightly.

I abruptly stood up with a wide grin plastered on my face and points at the empty seat next to me.

His hesitant look changed when he saw me and ran towards the empty seat next to mine.

"I'm _________. Nice to meet you, Rin." I introduced as I extended my arm for a shake which he immediately took.

End of Flashback

"He was the sweetest dorky thing ever!" I squealed happily as I splashed some water.

"Being a weird girl to begin with, we became close friends immediately. But between his swimming classes and my dance classes, we barely had time after classes." I continued to talk to my cat who continued to listen, snuggling me when she hears the sadness in my voice.

"That's why whenever my dance classes finished early or is canceled, I would rush to go to his practice and watch him swim. He was so beautiful and free. I loved seeing him smile." I looked up the scenery as I recall the childish face he wore back then.

"And the funny thing is...." I looked at my cat who tilts her head.

"It was when I saw him swim that I realized that I was in love with him from the moment we first met."

Flashback ( 15 year old Reader and Rin )

It was one of those rare days when the two of us didn't have afternoon activities. We would buy some food in a store and race to the beach. Setting up a beach picnic with our jackets as our mats as I watch him play in the ocean.

We just started our 3rd year in middle school and been friends for about two years. My feelings for him grew more and more each day. Every look he gave me, every smile, and every touch, my heartaches at the fact that we were just friends.

I got lost in my bitter thoughts that I didn't notice Rin coming up to me until he rubbed his wet hands on my cheeks.

"What the—Rin!" I squealed while he just laughed.

It was at this point my Japanese skills was already good. I learned it all to understand what he was trying to say more. It was fun. We tutored each other, I was learning Japanese while he learns English. Which eventually turned into a game. We made a bet. The first one to speak their native tongue loses and the winner has a one rule free "wish" from the loser.

"You were spacing out." He replied as he grabbed a soda.

 "That doesn't mean you're allowed to make me wet." I replied as I wiped the salt water from my cheeks.

I noticed Rin became awfully quiet so I decided to check what he was doing. He was bright red and looking confused.

I grinned at the look he was giving me so I decided to take advantage of the situation and snapped a photo of him.

"What's with you?" I asked as he tries to recover from whatever made him that way.

"Don't... uhhh... nevermind" I looked at him weirdly but decided to shrug it off.

"It's been two years huh?" I started as I looked at the blue ocean.

"Yeah. Time really flies." He replied as he lay back on the sand.

"AH! YOU SPOKE IN JAPANESE!" I squealed excitedly.

"Ah! Damn!" He said as he hit the sand in frustration.

"So what do you want?" He asked me, looking at me straight with those beautiful sparkling gem-like red eyes.

"Let me think about it for a while." I replied as I grabbed a Popsicle and started sucking on it.

"Are you sure you're a lady?" He looked at me with a weird smug face.

"What are you implying?" I squinted my eyes as I continued sucking my treat while he sighed.

"At least tell me you don't eat those things in public."

"Well... I do but not that often." I looked at him innocently while continuing my actions.

I saw his eye twitched in frustration before swiping my treat quickly and devouring it.

"It's too sweet... and cold." He commented while I looked at him shocked.

"WAH!!!!! MY ICEEY!!!!" I yelled as I tackled him to the ground and started pounding his still naked chest.

"You're no longer allowed to eat those when I'm not around."

"WHY NOT?!"

I'm pretty sure I saw his vein popped that time and he turned to glare at me. That was the first time Rin seriously glared at me, and I was scared.

"Do you enjoy seducing other men?" He spatted bitterly.

"Wha—what?! I do not seduce men!" I retaliated and sat up.

He sat up as he face palmed.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I puffed my cheeks out.

"It means you're oblivious and needs a lot of taking care of." He replied as he flicked my forehead.

"Oww." I quickly rub the sore spot on my forehead as I pouted at him.

Then I noticed our position. I was sitting on his lap with our faces extremely close to one another.

I blushed. My heart seem to want to jump out of my rib cage to him, but what made me feel like doing so is the fact that he was blushing like I was.

It sounds cheesy, but like the novels I have read, time moved slowly and I thanked the gods for it.

My hands eventually found themselves on his well-toned chest while his was gently wrapping around my waist, pulling us closer. I couldn't care less about the scenery anymore. I was staring at his eyes as he did so with mine. Those eyes that always makes my heart surrender.

I unconsciously placed my right hand on his left cheek, trying to define his eyes that looked sad, happy, lost, and... in love.

"Rin, I..."

"I love you." He said as I felt his grip tighten a little and he, himself, tensing up.

"As a friend?" I asked slowly which replied by shaking his head enough.

I was happy. I didn't think such happiness exist then, but there I was, in the arms of the man I fell in love at first sight, my best friend. Tears eventually falls from my eyes, the amount of happiness was a little too much for me to handle.

"I love you, too, as a lover." I replied smiling like a fool, but I didn't care. He wiped the tears away before slowly, but surely, inching towards me, and for a short breathtaking moment, we kissed with the sunset and the beach as our witness.

End of Flashback

I smiled as I narrated to my cat the first kissed we shared and how happy I was with him. My cat purred happily as I finished my story.

"That's why I'm fond of water. It reminds me of Rin, and the best place to stare at the water is on this fountain. That's why I like it here." I said as I took out my hand from the fountain.

"I wonder how is he now."

"Stop talking to your cat, _____." My mother said as she approached me with her sister.

"Oh, let the dear speak with her dear pet, sister" My aunt said while my mom just sighed.

"Haven't I told you a number of times to stop talking in a different language?" My mom added.

"I was only polishing my Japanese, mother. It is my only remembrance of my dear friend whom I met in Australia." I said politely.

"Speaking of that friend of yours, have you sent him an —" An idea immediately sparked in my head.

"Actually mother, I missed him so and I would rather meet him in person instead of sending him a letter. It already had been two years." I looked at my mother hopefully.

"But the pre—"

"I shan't be silenced or happy if I don't meet him. Just for 2 days. Give me at least that." I begged.

My mother looked at me with her stern expression soften. She sighed and caressed my cheek.

"Two days." She said, trying to act tough but I knew she was a softie, which I inherited from her.

"Thank you!!" I hugged her and immediately ran to my house or rather, mansion, and started packing.