Chapter 3: Chapter 2: cherry blossoms
For as long as Shaianah could remember, she had always wanted to go to Japan and see actual cherry blossom trees. Perhaps it started when she was little, when she began watching anime while her sister sneaks out to play with friends. Sure… Italy, Germany and Greece would be some of the places on her list but Japan would always be on top.
At 4th grade, when Shaianah got lost on the streets, she discovered this two-storey and freshly-painted building with a huge sign saying "Sakura" in it. It was a Japanese restaurant with a theme that really caught her attention. On the inside, the walls were painted with cherry blossoms and a cream white background. This was enough to entice Shaianah, and to make her convince her parents that they should eat there next time.
Shaianah was elated when her parents finally granted her wish. She couldn't keep from taking pictures of the place. She even took pictures of herself with the cherry blossom background. What made it even better was how the food tasted. It was "a million times delicious", young Shaianah would describe.
"So you're saying that we're going to the Cherry Blossom Park? Like a park with actual cherry blossom trees? You're kidding!"
A warm smile flashed on Mammy's lips when she saw how excited Shaianah was. The young lady looked like a kid, which she still was, really. All Mammy wanted was for these kids to enjoy their youth as it seemed like it was robbed away from them when they had to face the reality of losing their parents at a young age.
"What's a cherry blossom tree?" Jillian asked, tugging at her older sister's shirt while looking all cute with her overalls. Shaianah began to explain in detail which Christine rolled her eyes to.
"Nerd." Christine teased.
Shaianah was so pumped when she finally got to see the cherry blossoms. It took her back to her 4th grade years, when their dad was still alive and when they went to that Japanese cuisine. She could almost feel her heart thumping as she holds out her hand to reach the lovely flowers that hung from it. She took pictures, a lot of them, and was about to ask her sister to take a picture of her when she noticed no one was with her anymore.
Her excitement suddenly stops upon one realization. She was too busy strolling around that she had forgotten about her companions. She was a genius as a child and all, but she couldn't be good at directions. She often got lost even in Manila, the city where she grew up.
Shaianah tried to look for her phone but got even more irritated with herself when she realized she's only brought her camera with her. How is she supposed to contact her family now?
"Christine? Mammy? Pops?" She called out even though she knew it was futile. People began staring at her and it made her feel uncomfortable, so she decides to continue walking until she sights a familiar man. Hope rushes back through her entirety as he began to approach him.
It seemed as though he was discussing something important to two other men, but stops midsentence when he noticed Shaianah standing right beside them. The two did the same.
"It's you again." Asrial said. He was expressionless while the other two looked so confused.
"I need your help." Shaianah says rather strongly, even when her insides were actually burning with embarrassment. She didn't mean to sound so authoritative. It seemed as though Asrial was obliged to do her a favor—it came out wrong! Fortunately, Asrial doesn't seem to be bothered.
"What do you want?" Asrial asks as soon as the two men had already excused themselves and left. Shaianah awkwardly smiles at both who thankfully didn't seem to mind her sudden interruption of their conversation with Asrial.
"I'm Shaianah Fuentes, by the way—"
"I don't remember asking. What do you want?" He cuts off. Shaianah wanted so bad to roll her eyes at him but she needed to keep in mind that she needs to be polite.
"I'm kinda lost…" Shaianah says softly. She was a still embarrassed that even at her age, she still easily gets lost. Luckily for her, she could easily use "being new to town" as an excuse for it. But she won't bring it up unless Asrial starts to make fun of her, which she thinks was less likely to happen.
Without saying anything, Asrial took out something from his pocket. It was a piece of slightly crumpled paper who seemed 'ancient' to Shaianah with the stain marks and all. "Here. It's a complete map of Cassiopeia. Find your way to your home by yourself. I'm busy."
"Wait! Don't go." Before Asrial could even turn his back, Shaianah had already grabbed him by the arm.
"What? You said you're lost and I gave you a map."
"Can't you go with me instead?" It took Shaianah so much bravery to say those words out loud. If she had said this to those kids who used to pick on her, she'd be laughed at right now. But it was different with a 'half-stranger' like Asrial. The guy didn't knew him and didn't know she was 'weird'.
"Look, miss Shaina—"
"It's Shaianah." She almost rolled her eyes again.
"Whatever, Shaianah. I have no time for this. You're already old enough, yeah? You can handle yourself." Asrial slowly removed Shaianah's hand which was still clinging onto his arm.
"Look, I'd do anything you'd ask for. Just stay and help me with this. I can't handle this on my own."
"Anything?"
Shaianah pauses at the sudden realization of the words she just used. It made her cringe a little, imagining what kind of 'dirty' things this man could be thinking. But there was no trace of malice in his face nor voice, he was still void of any emotions.
"Then do me a favor and leave me alone."
Shaianah's jaw drops. This man was almost impossible, and yet there was nothing else she could do. She finally lets him walk away before studying the map that was given to her.
"This should be easy," she tries to convince herself. But after a few seconds of staring at the map, she couldn't get anything. The words were too small and her eyes were already hurting from squinting too much.
She knew she'd get nowhere if she just stands there and do nothing but stare at the useless map, so she tries to walk further while roaming her eyes around. Perhaps she'd be able to find Mammy somewhere or perhaps a miracle would fall out of the cherry blossom trees. It doesn't help that the park was literally huge.
"How could they forget about me?" Shaianah asks herself as she sat on a park bench. She was already exhausted and all she wanted was to go home. "How could you be so stupid, Shaianah. You knew you weren't familiar with the place and yet... and yet...Ugh!"
"Done talking to yourself?"
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