Mixed Series: The Life and Times of Gray [7]

I was the only one who didn't see her off at the airport. I knew that I would regret it but then I didn't want to hurt more inside. I thought that probably she was only pressured by my decision. My own selfish decision, she probably never even wanted to be a chef in the first place. Maybe I was just like my father, I was too stubborn to listen, I was selfish but I guess my father had a good reason. He knew that our rash decision would not last long as I'd expected and just wanted me to have a more stable future. I made up with him, I apologized and promise to live up to his expectations not because I am forced to, because I want him to be proud of me. I want him to think that he has a responsible son. After graduation, I was able to have the consent of both my parents to bring Haki along with me to Tokyo. I was able to get into the university as a medicine student with a full scholarship and worked part time as a cook in a restaurant to pay off Haki's tuition fee, I did this until after I graduated. And now, since I'm a pediatrician, the principal allowed Haki to study for free in the same school I work for. My brother's really doing well in highschool now, he even made new friends who, according to him, always encourage him to sing.  Right now, Nami might already have her own family or maybe not but I'm hopeful that I will be able to see her again and maybe by being a successful doctor, that would help me get closer to her.


"MITSURU-SENSEI! SHINJU-SAN FAINTED IN THE FIELD AGAIN!"


Well, duty calls. 






[THE END!]

Mixed Series: The Life and Times of Gray [6]

"I'm leaving" I greeted as I stepped out our home. I can't wait to arrive at school, I want to see my friends who I know will always comfort me in these times of my life.


As I arrive, a variety of students and batchmates greeted me, I guess they don't dare ask what happened and why I have a bandage on my face. I take a step inside our classroom, lay my bag on the side and take my seat. I thought it would be a quiet start but then I thought to early.


"OHAYO GRAAAAY!" a loud voice came up to me from behind. Iku may be kind of annoying sometimes but I guess I'm kind of happy to see him all lively. "What the hell happened to you face?" he asked.


"Stop poking it" I insisted, "It's nothing I just got into a fight"
"Oooh~ Gray-kun's turnin' into a bad boy now huh? That wouldn't be a great impression on Nami-chan~" Iku teased as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"Shut up"
"Weeeell~ Speaking of the love your life, here she is~!"
"IKU!" I exclaimed as I hit him with my english literature book
Well he wasn't entirely wrong, oh wait. He wasn't wrong at all. Nami IS the love of my life. We've already made a promise that after graduation we would take up a culinary course in Tokyo. 
"Good morn---" she attempted to greet but then paused as she stared at my injury
"What happened to you?!" she blurted out in such a worried tone
"He got into a fight with some gangstas yesterday" Iku added
"Hey! That's a lie! I didn't! I just...fell down the stairs!" That was so pathetic, I thought.
"What?"
"Nami-chan, don't believe him. He just told me! He got into a fight!"
"With whom?"
"Yeah, with whom, Gray?"
I was kind of hesitant to tell the truth, I didn't want anyone to think that I have a family who uses brawn to solve everything
"My dad" I said softly
"What happened?! Why did you get into a fight with your dad?!" Nami started to worry, her eyes were starting to teary
"There's nothing to worry about, really. It's just a normal fight really"
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes, Nami. I'm sure" I smiled and held her hand
"Aaaw~ I'm jealous. You're all so sweet~"
"Shut up, Iku"


"Oh um... Gray, let's have lunch together okay?  I need to tell you something" 
"Alright" I smiled and watched Nami take her seat
I was kind of curious about what she wanted to tell me...probably a marriage proposal? Nah, that's such a stupid idea. 


The morning class ended and the bell started to ring, it's lunch time and as promised, I would have lunch together with Nami. She immediately grabbed my hand, and we ran to the rooftop.
"Why here? I asked
"Nothing really" she smiled as she faced me. She looked rather worried, as if she was hiding something from me, something she couldn't tell me.
"Um Gray. Next month will be our graduation"
"Yeah, I'm kind of excited to be with you in college"
"About that..." she looked away, her eyes were starting to be tear-filled
"Nami? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"I can't go with you Gray..."


I can't believe what I was hearing, we made a promise together. We would pursue our dreams together but now...why this?
"Why?" I asked, I was aware that my voice was rather shaky, I wanted to cry as well, that problems have been arriving I don't know if I could handle them anymore
"My father's job demanded for a relocation, he'll be transferred to New York this week, and my mom and I have plans to follow him after graduation and my parents have decided that we would live there" she explained as tears rolled down her face
"W-what...? Th-then, that shouldn't be really a problem right? We can pursue a culinary degree together even though we're miles apart, right?"
"I-I'm sorry...I won't be taking up a culinary course anymore... my father told me to take up a medical course...he wants me to be a doctor, I just can't disobey him" even more tears went rolling down her face. I know that she feels bad as I am, I  felt my heart and soul crush just now. "But...we promised..." I said as I held her hand tightly, "Didn't it mean anything to you?
"It did! It did mean alot to me Gray! but under these circumstances I don't think I will be able to fulfill that promise"
"But..."
"I'm so sorry, Gray! I never intended for things to be like this. I'm so sorry if I hurt you and I don't want to hurt you any longer"
Wait, what does she mean by "any longer"? Is she...
"What do you mean? Are you...breaking up with me?" I asked as my voice started to tremble
She looked down, crying, and nodded. "I-I'm sorry. Not being able to fulfill that promise with you hurts me so much already, I don't want to hurt you anymore! Especially not when we're far apart from each other!"
"Nami! We can always contact each other. It's not impossible! I promise that we would always mail each other!"
"I..I don't want to cling onto promises I know I wouldn't be able to fulfill. I've hurt you once already, I don't think I could take it if I did that again. I love you too much, Gray. I'm doing this because I want you to be happy---"
"How the hell am I going to be happy?! I don't want to be happy alone! I want you to be with me!"
"I-I'm sorry!" she ran out the rooftop with tear-stained face. I don't understand why she would do this to me... my heart's starting to ache. I want to shout all my problems out.


[to be continued]

Mixed Series: The Life and Times of Gray [5]

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of my room as I contemplate on what my little brother's decision to go to Tokyo with me. I know that he may be too young to fully understand the consequences of his decisions but then I guess it will be good for him in a way somehow.

"Dinner's ready! Get out of your rooms now!" my mother calls out from downstairs. I'm kind of worried, I don't want to see my father right now not after what happened last night but then this might even be a good time to tell them that I'll be going away for college. 

"Nii-chan! Let's go!" my little brother calls me out as he rushes out his room, "I'm coming" I reply, getting up from bed. "Sigh"

I continue downstairs and into the kitchen, my eyes met with my father's but then he looked away into his newspaper. I bowed in respect and greeted him, "Kombanwa, Oto-san" 

"Good evening" he replies in a cold voice, hurry up and sit down, the food is getting cold.

"Yes father" as I pulled out my chair.

The atmosphere around the dinner table was a bit tensed. My dad still has hard feelings considering that I shouted back at him, he might not even expected that coming from his eldest son who always obeyed every word he said but I guess this time is different, I'm considered an adult now I can very much take care of myself, and make decisions for myself as well.

"I'm going away for college" I said in a cold tone. My father slammed his utensils onto the table, "You start disobeying me, and now you're leaving us?!" 

 I already expected that kind of reply from him. My mother was very understanding though

"Are you sure, Hairo? Is this what you want?"

"Yes mother"

"I can't believe you are tolerating this disgraceful attitude of your son! No wonder he is so stubborn!" my dad's voice started to flair up

"This is what he wants, our son is an adult now" my mom took defense of me

"Adult?!" my dad's voice raised, "He couldn't even make a living for himself!  He has no right to call himself an adult!"

I clenched my fist but held my voice back, "Father, I've already decided. After graduation, I'll be leaving...and I'm taking my little brother with me"

My parents eyes fanned out, I guess they never expected that from me.

"Why are you taking Haki with you?"

"He wants to go to Tokyo with me, mother"

"What are you saying?! You're brother is not going anywhere!" my dad once again slammed the table and stood from his chair, "If you want to ruin your life then fine but don't involve your brother!"

Ruin? Did he just say "ruin"? How in the hell am I going to ruin my life? And that's where I draw the line, I stand up and face my father, "Father, I don't see how I'm going to ruin my life! I have a dream and Haki as well. We're going to pursue our dreams, and by being confined here I don't think we will be able to achieve that!"

"What in the world makes you think that you're 8 year old brother knows what HE wants?!"

"I'm not surprised you wouldn't know father."
"Onii-san!" Haki exclaimed with worry and hesitation in his tone

"He's been telling you about his passion for singing, how he would want to meet and be one of the singers he sees on television, but you're too busy to listen. In fact, you wouldn't want to listen because you plan to ignore him and force what YOU want!" 

I saw my father's teeth grit, he grabbed my collar and right then and there, he punched me in the face. I fell on the floor as my lower lip started bleeding. My brother started crying, my mom pushed my dad and away in an attempt to try not to hurt me any further

"YOU ARE A DISGRACE! I NEVER THOUGHT YOU WOULD GROW UP THIS WAY! IF THAT'S WHAT YOU INSIST ON. FINE, BUT NEVER EVER COME BACK HERE IF YOU NEED HELP BECAUSE I WILL NOT ACCEPT YOU!" my father left the dinner table in rage. 

"Hairo, are you okay?" 

"I-I am mother..."

"Let me treat your wound"

Haki looked at me from his chair with his tear-filled eyes, I guess he never expected to see that kind of scene. I think I'm too blame too. I wasn't able to control my words, I do regret saying those words but it doesn't mean I'm giving up my dream.

[to be continued]