122 Platforms (2/2)

”It's nothing to serious,” she said as she brought her hand away from her face and clasped them behind her back. ”It's just something girl's do.”

”Right...” I lowered my head as I struggled to think of a way to rid the atmosphere of this awkwardness.

”What about you?” She then asked, leaning in slightly so as to see my face. ”What did you do yesterday?”

”Well...” I felt my heart rate increasing as I thought back on yesterday and debated whether or not I should tell her. It was a tough decision, but I think I shouldn't lie to her and say I did nothing. ”I was walking around the city and I met Ms. Edel, my literature teacher.”

I looked at her face to see her reaction to my story. To my surprise, she was looking at me attentively as she smiled, signalling to me that she was, indeed, paying close attention to what I was saying.

”Well,” I continued. ”Since she was bored, she dragged me to the mall with her.”

”Did you buy her lingerie?” Luna then asked in a playful manner as she leaned closer to me so as to see from a closer view my nervousness and flustered mental state.

Well, I was flustered by this question she jokingly asked, but this blush on my face was mostly from how close her face got to mine. I could even smell the familiar scent of her shampoo from her hair.

”Of course not!” I quickly responded.

”Then I don't need to worry,” she smiled as she retreated back to where she originally was. ”I thought you betrayed me and bought lingerie for other girls.”

”I mean I don't have anyone to buy it for...” I sighed and awkwardly laughed.

”You do.” Her voice drew my attention, causing me to look over and focus on her pretty face and that cute and mischievous smile on her face. ”Only me, that is.”

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew by, moving her hair in the air. It was as if the world around us had disappeared, leaving only the two of us present. Her figure dominated my vision, making her the only thing that I could see as all my attention was drawn to this beautiful girl.

”Now what if I get a girlfriend in the future?” I smiled and jokingly responded.

”It won't matter,” Luna responded with also a smile on her face. ”That restriction will end when I die, and I don't think you'll be able to find a girlfriend in the near future, so I think you'll be safe.”

”When you die, huh...?” I could feel that joyful atmosphere slowly slip away from me.

”Don't worry,” she then continued to say with a smile, but this time with a softer and more serious voice. ”It won't be long.”

”...” I remained silent as another gentle breeze blew by, causing my blazer to flutter in the air behind me. The gentle breeze also bestowed my face with its love, caressing my skin as well as moving my hair gently about in the wind.

”Alevian?” She leaned forward and closer to my face while smiling as she looked playfully into my eyes.

I didn't respond. I was still recovering from what she had said. It was... rather painful to hear it from her. Even though I know her death is in the near future, hearing her say it'll be soon still wasn't easy to accept. She's just so lively and energetic, almost as if she could live until her hundreds. Yet... this was all simply a facade created by the medical advancements of our time. This lively girl before me that seemed as if she's filled with vitality and vigor, is simply an illusion created by medicine. Rather, that pale and weak girl laying helplessly on her bed in my memories was the real Luna.

”Alevian?”

I felt myself snapping out of my melancholic trance due to her hand that she waved rapidly before my face. I then looked over at her, feeling the same sense of bitterness rising in my heart. However, a simple gesture from her once again cleansed me of that feeling.

”I'm kidding,” she said laughing. ”I'm not gonna die that quickly. I still want to make it until next summer.”

”Next summer...” I lowered my head and sadly smiled.

”You know,” she continued to say. In those amber eyes of her's, I saw a gleaming shine of anticipation and enthusiasm. ”I always wanted to graduate high school, just finish it. And from the time that I've spent with you guys this week, I feel like I'm not ready to be done yet.” She then turned towards me and smiled. ”I want to go to the beach next time with everybody.”

”The beach...” I thought about what she said and a soft chuckle escaped from me as I couldn't help it but smile as I imagined how fun it would be to go to the beach together with her. ”Let's do that. When summer comes, we'll all take a beach trip together.”

”I'm excited,” she said, smiling happily at my promise. ”I'll have to make sure I live until then.”

”You better,” I laughed, feeling moisture forming in my eyes. However, it stopped before any could climb out of my eyes.

”It's a promise then.” Luna smiled as she gazed into my eyes. Then, she held out both of her arms in my direction.

”N-now?” I asked her in surprise.

She nodded.

”B-but there's people around,” I whispered to her as I looked around the crowded platforms. ”People will see.”

In fact, there were plenty of people looking over in our direction already since Luna was pretty well known at my school since she's the student council president. I could even hear people having a quiet debate about what was occurring.

I then redirected my gaze back to her, hoping to see her response. She didn't answer me. Instead, she continued to keep her arms out before her with a happy smile on her face. Seeing this charming smile... it's near impossible for me to try and deny her.

With a happy sigh, I stepped forward and brought my arms around her slender body. I took her into my embrace and felt her arms close in around me as well. Then, we just held our embrace, not caring if other people were present. I heard gasps from the crowd as well as the sound of photography. However, that didn't matter to me. What mattered at the moment was the softness and warmth of her body as well as her fragrance.