It started in the early spring morning, when Sakura blossomed it delicate petals, and I could touch them. There is a tradition in our family: if you catch a Cherry blossom petal, make a wish and it will come true. But don't let it go, otherwise the dream will be waiting a long time for its fulfillment. I didn't know how true this was, but Mom always said that the moment she caught a petal, her and dad's hearts beat in unison, as if they had become one. Since then, she has kept this petal as a symbol of their love.
I was standing on the bridge, where my parents met, and I was looking at the cherry blossom petal in my hand. That petal was as lonely as I was. After my parents divorced, I lost faith in love. The hope that I would meet her faded away: not a single guy confessed his feelings to me. They didn't seem to notice me, as if I were invisible. Their eyes have always turned to beautiful girls, and I... am a goofball like me worthy of a handsome man's attention? I even have a bit of a bulge in my tummy. What kind of male attention can we talk about if I can't take care of myself and spend my days drowning in manga about love?
I squeezed the petal in my hands and threw it into the water. So be it! Anyway, none of my wishes have come true yet — for example, to find a handsome guy who will protect me from adversity and always lend a shoulder. It looks like fiction!
Looking at my reflection in the water, I noticed the sun's rays, which covered part of my face. I realized that I am still far from the moment when I will find my soulmate or become a full-fledged person.
Passing by the schoolyard, I saw a crowd of students around something interesting. As I got closer, I realized a fight was coming. It's Tora Isegawa! The main bully of the school and my childhood friend. Tora is a tiger from the feline family; his behavior has always remained a mystery to me. Since elementary school, he loved to pick fights and often went to preventive conversations with the principal. But it seems they didn't help — he remained the same idiot.
"Come on, Tora! Show him!"
"You're great!" came the supportive shouts from the crowd.
Tora was beating his opponent; he was curled up and begging for mercy.
"You're not stealing underwear from the girls' locker room anymore!"
"Of course! I promise!"
But Tora was ruthless—he needed to impress everyone around him.
Despite his hooligan image, Tora was popular among the students; I don't even know why... Was he charming to them? At least he was able to win people over and was often in the company of others.
We were complete opposites of each other, like different universes of the same world. Not to say that we were friends; rather, we were good acquaintances. But his childishness infuriated me.
As if sensing my gaze, Tora turned to me with a big smile.
"Hey, Ahri-chan! What a surprise! It's good to see you. Will you join me?"
I hurried away; I don't want any trouble with the teacher because of him.
"Hey! Wait a minute! We need to talk!"
"Don't chase me!"
"And don't you run away from me! You know that predators have a hunting instinct."
"Of course I do; I'm one of them!"
Suddenly, he pinned me against the wall and turned me around to face him. I felt his touch—his hands left traces of affection on my body. His muscles bulged out of his shirt; he looked at me with predatory eyes and greedily licked his lips. I looked away from embarrassment.
"How can wolves sneak up so stealthily, than tigers?"
"I do not know..."
He gently lifted my chin and forced me to look into his eyes.
"The correct answer is no. You know biology, right? Or do you want to pull up this subject with me?"
I could feel his hand on my chin; he was looking at it so intently... Touching his arm, I felt every muscle in his stomach and a strange rush of warmth underneath.
This moment was special for me; maybe it's a chance to act! At least it was Tora—maybe my only chance to kiss a guy!
I reached for his lips; excitement covered my entire body from head to toe. Here it is — the moment of my first kiss! Yes, yes... with a guy I hate... but still the first kiss!
Closing my eyes, I felt us reaching out to each other... This moment will stay with me forever.
But when our lips met... I realized that his lips tasted strange, rough and hard... This is not the expectation of the first time at all!
Even cocky guys usually have soft lips... Does his lips smell like earth? Did he eat the ground before kissing me?
When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was kissing a ball in Tora-kun's hands! He laughed softly at the situation.
"How did you like your first kiss? Is it like cotton candy? You didn't expect such a turn of events!"
How rude of him! I kicked his knee so hard that he grunted in pain. Feeling humiliated, she hurried away from this comedy.
I hate you, Tora-kun! Damn you and your jokes!
But something new flared up inside me—a spark of desire or hatred? I didn't know myself.… But one thing was clear: this guy would torment my thoughts for a long time.…