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"Nice to meetcha! I'm Yaeko, Tsunabe Yaeko!" The overly enthusiastic girl exclaimed seemingly introducing herself.
Umi sat confused, she was too shy to say anything but at the same time she didn't want to seem rude so she mustered up the courage for a small "h-hi.."
The girl was grinning from ear to ear although Umi didn't know why, "you're Hamana Umi isn't that right? We're going to become great friends, I just know it!"
And she was right. They did become great friends.
But that was over a decade ago. Umi laid on her bed, it was another long day of work but at least she had gotten her salary. She gazed at the untouched dinner on her table, too tired to even eat. She just wanted some rest but her brain kept her awake.
It was Yaeko's birthday today, she somehow still remembered after all this time.
Yaeko was her best friend, she had practically brought Umi out her shell and helped her get to the point she was at now. She missed Yaeko, it wasn't that Yaeko was dead or anything now but they had simply grown apart from eachother as the years went on... it was just one of the many aspects of life. Their paths were simply destined to cross once and then seperate. Yet Umi found herself wishing they could cross again.
She remembered Yaeko fondly.
She remembered the way she would scold the rowdy boys in their class.
She remembered the way they would talk with eachother for hours upon hours.
She remembered her wide smile, the way just the sound of her laughter would brighten her day.
Umi loved Yaeko. That was that. She loved Yaeko as friend and as more. As so much more.
There were so many times where she knew she loved Yaeko yet she forced herself to ignore the feelings. So many times where she knew how she felt yet bottled up her feelings on shame. So many times she had the chance to confess but just let moment slip away in fear of losing her.
Once again she felt the burnt of the regrets flaring up in her chest... how could let her wonderful friend slip away like that?
Oh, how she longed to just see Yaeko and tell her everything. How she longed to hear Yaeko's voice again. To have Yaeko back in her life, that was all she truly needed.
Umi still loved Yaeko, she had never stopped. No matter how many years went by she knew that her feelings would never change. That she would continue to pine after someone who had moved on long back. Someone who had probably forgotten her this time. She hated the feelings yet they wouldn't stop.
Umi stared at the phone beside her... even though Yaeko and her hadn't spoken in years, she could still wish her a happy birthday right? The thought circled in her head over and over again, she could finally take her chance or let another moment slip away.
She shakily typed Yaeko's number on the keypad, how she still remembered it was a mystery even to herself, and wait for the phone to ring...
"the number you are calling is now out of service."
Umi cried herself to sleep yet again.