The Spring I Met You

by Tanya Mindo

  On the first day of the week, Zoe does her laundry and shops for groceries. There are a lot of people outside their homes, and for the first time, people fill the sidewalks of Mitaka. She notices heavy traffic on the road. Families are returning to their rural homes.

  Zoe misses her parents. They seem to be preoccupied with their jobs lately. Her Papa is a corporate lawyer, while her Mama recently opened a coffee shop. She makes it a point to talk to them every day, though she limits the conversation to school events. However, she struggles to avoid talking about Seth, especially when Ma always asks about him.

  Seth gained her parents’ favor because he wanted to become a lawyer. Zoe wonders how her parents would take it if they ended things with each other.

  Zoe shakes her head.

  I’ll cross the bridge when I get there.

  Seth hasn’t contacted her. The bridge won’t be crossed anytime soon... Or so she hopes.

  The cherry blossom tree’s leaves have completely turned green, and the temperature has started to increase. It is still chilly at night, though it is more bearable than before. She is back to just regular jeans and T-shirts.

  Zoe just finished her dinner when her phone beeps. Kaito is inviting her to the common hall, saying he wants to show her something. She washes the dishes, grabs her sweater, and climbs down the stairs.

  The hall is dark when she arrives. Nobody seems to be there and only a single light bulb is switched on. She shudders, creeped out.

  Why would Kaito want to meet here?

  “Hello?”

  “I’m here.”

  She sees Kaito’s silhouette at the corner of the room, near the piano. He is sitting on a wooden chair, a guitar on his lap. Zoe knows what is coming.

  Her heart pounds.

  “Hi,” he says, smiling. Even in the darkness, Kaito’s eyes glimmer in anticipation.

  “I guess everyone has left for the Golden Week,” she murmurs. She inches forward.

  “Grab a chair.”

  She pulls a folding chair and sits in front of Kaito. He strums randomly. The vibrations of the strings resonate in the hall.

  “Yeah. Even Zhi Ming went to Hokkaido.”

  “Wow. That’s great. Have you been there?” Zoe asks, hooking her feet around the chair legs.

  “Yeah. We went there last winter.”

  Zoe can’t prevent herself from being jealous. She wishes she were there. Kaito notices her pout. He plucks a string.

  “Zoe, it’s okay. You’re here now.”

  She blushes. How could he read her so easily?

  “I-I know! I just… Well…” she stammers. “A-Anyway, what did you want to show me?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” He points to the guitar. “You promised to let me listen to you, remember?”

  She purses her lips. “I can’t think of any songs…”

  “What’s your favorite?”

  She stiffens. “I don’t really have a favorite.”

  “Then what do you sing in the shower?”

  Zoe scratches her forehead. “You put me on the spot. I’m nervous now.”

  Kaito smirks then leers at her. “It’s just me, Zoe. Relax.”

  He runs his fingers through his hair. “Do you know Fast Car by Tracy Chapman?”

  She nods shyly. Kaito smiles and begins playing.

  Zoe only sits there, her legs shaking. Her palms begin sweating, so she rubs them on her jeans.

  “Kaito, don’t expect too much, okay?”

  “I won’t.”

  Her pulse quickens. She exhales.

  They are the only ones in the room. She can make a mistake. She can sound funny.

  It’s okay. It’s Kaito.

  Zoe opens her mouth and starts singing softly. Kaito looks up at her and smiles encouragingly. She raises her voice a little.

  She forgets the lyrics of a certain stanza before the chorus. Her cheeks flame in embarrassment, but Kaito covers for her. He throws alternating glances at her as he plays, a gentle grin on his face, trying to put her back on track.

  And she does. She recalls the lyrics, and Kaito stops singing.

  Kaito has always been like this. The way he looks at her has constantly boosted her confidence. As if he believes in her.

  And truthfully, it is starting to get under Zoe’s skin.

  When they reach the second chorus, she finds herself lost in the song. She is having fun. Her legs stop shaking. Kaito sings along at certain parts, his voice deep and raw, and Zoe is impressed. Everything feels easy, and she knows it is because Kaito is there with her.

  At the beginning of the second chorus, their gazes interlock with each other. Zoe’s belly flutters. She is the first to look away.

  Kaito stops playing after that chorus, then he gives her a kind-hearted smile. Zoe’s chin quivers. She feels nausea crawling back to her stomach. What just happened?

  Her legs start shaking again. She places her palms on her knees to hold them down, but they won’t stop.

  Out of nowhere, Kaito reaches out and touches her hands.

  She freezes.

  “You’re good, Zoe. Give yourself some credit.”

  She narrows her eyes, lifting her head slowly. “You’re not just saying that, right? Don’t spare my feelings, Kaito. You can tell me if I suck.”

  “You didn’t suck, alright? If you did, I would have stopped playing right away.” He pulls away, stands up, and returns the guitar to its case. Zoe also gets up and puts the folding chair back to where it used to be.

  “You sounded amazing.”

  And he means it.

  Zoe is soft-spoken, her voice gentle and feminine—so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that she also sings well. She can hit the right notes.

  Kaito was captivated the entire time. His heart thumped when they stared at each other, but he immediately dismissed his thoughts and focused on playing. He couldn’t—shouldn’t cross the line.

  Besides, he doesn’t believe that things would ever work out. She likes somebody else and he isn’t exactly interested in getting into a relationship. It is, however, getting tougher for him to hold himself back.

  Zoe puts her hair behind her ear, her cheeks turning light pink. She is thankful that the hall is dim.

  “If that’s the case… Then thanks.”

  Kaito looms closer to her. “So, you’re gonna join the club then?”

  She lowers her gaze coyly. “Yes, I guess I am.”

  Kaito thrusts his fists in the air. Zoe chuckles. The two of them walk out and descend the stairs of the common hall.

  “You just asked me down here to sing?” Zoe asks, crossing her arms.

  “Yeah. There was nobody here, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity. We only need to build your confidence now.”

  “That would take some time.”

  “Won’t be a problem. We have time.”

  “Not so much. The university festival is a month from now,” Zoe rebuts.

  Kaito smirks. “That’s good enough.”

  Zoe raises her eyebrows at him. “You make things sound so easy.”

  Kaito jams his hands into his front pockets. He gazes up at the sky.

  “It’s the only way.”

  “Hm?”

  Kaito meets her eyes again.

  “Is there anything you’re even afraid of?” asks Zoe.

  Kaito shrugs his shoulders. “I try not to dwell on fears.”

  Zoe clicks her tongue. “Sometimes, I think you’re arrogant.”

  “Nobody said I’m not.”

  They walk back to their dorms quietly. Her left arm brushes against Kaito’s accidentally, and it zaps her. She gulps and widens the distance between them, Seth instantly sliding into her mind. She wonders whether she should tell Kaito about what transpired between them.

  Maybe not.

  Why will she bother him again about Seth?

  “Good night, Kaito,” she says as she turns her back and ascends the stairs to building B.

  “Good night,”
Kaito replies.

  She stops climbing the stairs, then she spins to look back at him. Kaito is standing in front of building C. “Are you not going up yet?”

  “I am. But you can go up first,” he answers, jerking his head up. “Go, Zoe.”

  “O-Okay, then.”

  Kaito waits for her to disappear from his line of sight before he returns to his dormitory.

  On May 1st, Kaito and Zoe arrive at the Shibuya station earlier than expected. Zoe was enthusiastic, and both agreed to take the bus so they would have all their energy reserved for their trip to Kamakura. Surprisingly, the train was not cramped even though many were still out on the streets.

  The two stand next to Hachiko. Zoe shuffles her feet, her lips twitching into a smile every second. Kaito can’t help but chuckle to himself.

  “What’s funny?” asks Zoe, her eyes glistening.

  “Nothing. It’s just that your vibe is contagious.”

  She blushes. “My vibe?”

  “Yeah, your face shows how much you want to go on this trip. It’s like elementary school all over again.”

  She winces. “Is it weird?”

  Kaito shakes his head. “If anything, you make things seem… Brand new. Like how you were a baby and you just got this toy and you can’t stop being so thrilled about it. With you, it’s like everything’s that toy.”

  With a smirk, he adds, “In a good way.”

  “You just want to say that I’m a baby!” she yells, laughing.

  Kaito places his left palm on top of her head, giving her a tender pat. Zoe stops laughing, her pulse racing at his touch.

  “Are you not?” he asks.

  Zoe clenches her fists. She takes a step back, worried that Kaito will notice her quivering.

  “You’re going into an Onii-chan mode on me,” she whispers, averting her gaze.

  Kaito just casually touched her, yet somehow, chills ran down her spine.

  Her heart bangs against her chest. She blows out of her cheeks.

  Calm down, Zoe.

  He shoves his hands to his jeans’ pockets. “That wasn’t what I hoped for, but I guess it comes naturally.”

  “Guys!”

  They turn their heads. It’s Marie and the rest of the gang. Zoe feels relief washing over her body.

  They meet them halfway. Taylor puts his arm over Kaito’s shoulders.

  “Sorry, we’re late,” Taylor utters.

  “No, we were fifteen minutes early,” Zoe responds.

  “Everyone’s ready?” Marie asks.

  They all nod. Zoe takes a quick glimpse of Kaito as they head to the train station.

  Kamakura is in the Kanagawa prefecture. Inside the train, Zoe silently looks out the window, her mind drifting aimlessly. She glimpses at her friends. Naoki is dozing off. Jesse and Marie are listening to music. Kaito is chatting with Taylor.

  Kaito catches her looking at him. She turns her head away.

  After a long train ride, they disembark at Hase station. Throngs of people welcome them as they depart the station. Kamakura Daibutsu is a popular destination to go to during the Golden Week.

  “Wow, this is like the typical Tokyo rush hour,” Jesse mutters.

  “Let’s stick together. I don’t think there’ll be reception here with all these people,” Kaito instructs.

  Taylor scoffs. “I hate to say I told you so.”

  Marie and Jesse glare at Taylor.

  “Shut up,” Marie hisses. Taylor sticks his tongue out.

  They start walking together with the waves of people. It is sunny, so despite the cold breeze, the heat slightly burns their faces.

  Souvenir stores and small restaurants settle next to each other. A lot of Caucasian tourists are in the area. Zoe stays next to Jesse and Marie, and they take a lot of photos using Jesse’s camera.

  The walk to the Great Buddha takes them almost thirty minutes because of the slow moving crowd. Taylor’s face is beet red out of exhaustion and sunburn, and everyone is sweating.

  They queue, purchase tickets, then enter the gate of the Great Buddha. The area is small for the number of people going in, but the structure itself is enormous. They take some group photos before walking up the stairs. Taylor complains. Marie hushes him.

  The line to enter the Great Buddha itself is too long for their patience, so they decide not to go. The guys find seats underneath the trees near the steps. Meanwhile, Jesse, Zoe, and Marie take more photos of themselves even though visitors block the view every time. It is the price to pay for visiting the Great Buddha during the Golden Week.

  Kaito silently watches Zoe from the sidelines, his lips breaking into smiles. Taylor drinks from his bottled water, glancing at him.

  “Who are you looking at?”

  Kaito clears his throat then shoots him daggers.

  “What? Is it Marie? Jesse?”Taylor teases. “Or... Zoe?”

  “I’m not looking at anyone.”

  “Then why were you smiling?”

  “I was exercising my mouth,” he hisses.

  Taylor scowls. “Come on, Kaito. I know you had the hots for Marie before. But I guess it’s Zoe now.”

  He elbows Taylor. Taylor winces in pain.

  “Ow!”

  “Shut up, Taylor. I didn’t have the hots for Marie.”

  “Oh really…”

  “The girls sure have a lot of energy,” Naoki interjects as he finishes drinking his water. “I’m exhausted and famished.”

  Kaito secretly thanks Naoki for changing the topic. He looks at his watch.

  “It’s already 12:30 PM. We should go grab lunch,” Kaito says.

  “Hey!” Taylor yells at the girls. They walk toward Kaito, Taylor, and Naoki.

  “Are you done?” Taylor asks, clutching his stomach. “It’s lunchtime. We’re hungry.”

  “We just got here,” Marie mumbls.

  “It’s too crowded here. And we’ve seen the Great Buddha already. There’s nothing else to see,” Taylor groans.

  “Let’s stay for ten minutes more,” Jesse pleads. “We’d like to rest for a bit.”

  Kaito glances at Zoe. She doesn’t seem to care and is just happy to be there. Kaito smiles to himself.

  The girls sit next to them, relieved that they found a good spot. The trees block the sunlight. Zoe sits between Jesse and Marie, while Kaito is next to Marie and Taylor.

  “I’m drenched in sweat,” Jesse says, wiping her face with a white handkerchief.

  “Yeah, the season’s changing,” Marie replies. “It’s going to be summer soon. I heard it can get very hot here.”

  “Yes. We get 30 degrees and above,” Naoki confirms. Taylor and Marie gasp.

  “Oh man, that’s gonna suck. Look at my face. I already look like a tomato,” Taylor grumbles.

  “I guess it’s finally going to be normal for us,” Zoe says. “I miss wearing my everyday clothes.”

  “That’s true,” Jesse concurs.

  “Now that I think about it, haven’t you guys met before in the Philippines? You come from similar universities, right?” Taylor asks Kaito, but he is referring to both Kaito and Zoe.

  “Well, yes. But we’re from different campuses,” Kaito says.

  “I’m jealous. You can still meet up after this exchange program,” Marie says, hooking her arm around Kaito’s.

  Zoe’s stomach hardens, then she turns her gaze away.

  What was that?

  She is being weird today. First, she was flustered because of Kaito’s touch, and now this?

  “Are you okay?” Jesse asks.

  She raises her chin and looks over Jesse’s shoulder. Kaito and Marie are laughing. And she feels it again. The burning sensation in her chest that makes it harder to breathe.

  “Yeah, I’m just a little tired and hungry,” she lies.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kamakura is filled with people, both tourists and locals, and is twice as busy as a regular Tokyo rush hour. They grab their lunch at the nearest Katsudon restaurant afte
r waiting in line for at least 30 minutes.