“No, it’s okay,” I say, shrugging it off. “It’s just a friend of mine. From last summer. We talk here and there. But I haven’t seen him in a while.”
“Why don’t you just text him?”
I wish it could be that simple, sending Haru a message. It’s like he disappeared to another universe I can’t reach. But I can’t tell Simon any of this. “It’s complicated.” I sigh. “We didn’t exactly leave things on the best note.”
“Do you think you’ll see him again?”
I stare at the floor. “I don’t really know.”
Simon doesn’t ask more questions. He climbs off the counter, squeezing one of my shoulders. “I’m sorry you’re going through this. We all do. But you’ll find someone new.”
I don’t say anything else. Because I don’t want someone else. I want to find Haru again. A moment later, the phone rings. I let Simon answer it and take my seat at the counter. The rest of the shift is pretty quiet. I glance at the doors from time to time, hoping to see a glimpse of someone familiar.
The sun is going down as I leave thetheater. Simon invited me out with his friends, but I told him I had plans tonight. Truth is, I’m waiting outside for Haru again. What if he shows up this time and I’m not here? The sidewalk is glistening as the wind blows leaves everywhere. I stand under the marquee and stare at the blinking traffic. I know there are better uses of my time. But the thought of losing him makes me feel more alone.
The hours pass like seconds. Sometimes it feels like I’mstuck in this spot while the rest of the world is moving around me. It looks like the rain might start up again. Maybe he’s not coming back tonight either. As I finally turn to leave, the sound of a bell goes off, echoing through the air.Could that be…
I spin around as a bicycle zooms past me, splashing rain on my shoes. I look around for Haru, but he’s not there. Of course that wasn’t him. I should stop getting my hopes up. As I’m walking away, someone calls my name.
“Eric.”
I pause on the sidewalk. For a second, I think I’ve imagined the voice. It wouldn’t be my first time hearing things. As I turn around, my heart stops. Haru is standing on the other side of the street, one hand in his pocket.
We stare at each other as cars pass between us. The moment the light changes, I rush toward him immediately.
“Haru!” I throw my arms around him, nearly knocking us both over. I don’t even care if anyone is watching. “It’s really you.”
“Did you miss me?” Haru says, pulling me into him.
More than you know.“Of course I did,” I say breathlessly. Relief floods through me as I hold him tight. I can’t believe he came back to me. I close my eyes for a second, letting the rest of the world curve away from us. “I looked everywhere for you. Where on earth have you been?”
“You were looking for me?” he asks. “Thought you might not have noticed I was gone.”
“Why would you think that?”
“You told me to leave you alone, remember?”
I stare at him, wishing I could take it all back. “You know I didn’t mean that—”
“It’s alright,” he says, quickly tousling my hair. “I know you didn’t.”
“Thanks for coming back.”
Haru looks down, pressing his lips together. “Listen, Eric…”
“Wait—”
This is my chance to show how much I want to make it up to him. “I wrote a list of things we can do,” I say, feeling my back pockets. “I have it here somewhere. I was thinking we could go to this music festival that’s happening in the park. Oh, and there’s a paper exhibit at this museum that I know you would love to see.”Where did I put that list?
“We can’t do that.”
“Of course we can,” I tell him. This is going to be a new beginning for us. This time I’ll make sure to put him first. “I know it’s raining a little, but they might be playing a movie in the park soon. Let’s go—”
I take Haru’s hand, turning toward the park. But his fingers slip through mine. I look back at him. “Is something wrong?”
“I can’t go with you,” he says.
“Why not?”
