Chapter 2

A year ago….

Hana

One day at the park, we were having so much fun, we didn’t even notice the sun setting. The only sound in the air was the creaking of the swings, slowing to a stop. The wind grew thicker like my fear of being found out. 

“I should probably go.” Misako looked confused. Probably because she thought I was actually listening to her list of the side effects of poisonous dandelions. She was so boring sometimes. I had no idea why I wanted to be her friend and make her smile so badly. picked up my bag full of notes. My parents thought I was studying at the library for school. 

They were nice to me, let me do whatever I wanted, as long as I got perfect grades. I understood they wanted me to have a nice life. They didn’t want me to have to go through what they did. Or at least have enough money to face it. 

“Oh. Okay.” She followed me off the swing. 

“Can you come to the window today?” Misako looked so sad here, it broke my heart. Better my heart than her’s, I thought. 

“I’m not sure. My parent’s will probably be mad at me for staying out.

“Umm see you tomorrow then?”

“Definitely.”

…

I’m greeted by the smell of spice as soon as I close the door. I try to close the door as quiet as I can but my mom catches me. My dad is sitting in a chair in the corner and his eyes don’t leave his newspaper.

“Hana? Is that you?”

“Yes, ma.” 

“Where have you been! You are 10 minutes late for dinner.”

“Sorry ma, I just came back from the park.”

“The park! I thought you were studying.” she shakes her head

“I’m sorry ma-” 

“Wash up for dinner. We will talk about this later.” she interrupted. My sorrow only grew. With nothing to distract them, how would they react?

I ate quietly and quickly. Whatever they said, I wanted to get it over with. My dad finally folded the newspaper and sat down at the table. My mom quickly joined him.

“Hana, why were you at the park?” My dad says sturdily. 

“I was done with studying.” I try to speak without crying. My parents did not care for crying. Since I could remember, they never thought there was a reason for it. It weakens your argument, Hana. And you do not need any more disadvantages.

“That is no excuse. You were meant to come home.”

“I did after-” 

“And you didn’t even tell us.” My heart- or whatever was left of it- shattered, when I saw my mothers face. It was getting harder to hold in the tears. I always seemed to want to cry during fights like this. Whenever I was angry all I could do was cry. I hated crying. It made me feel weak, and embarrassed. 

My mom interjected, “Hana, I think you should stop being friends with that neighbor girl. She has been a bad influence on you.”

My world froze. Misako was the only thing keeping me sane. I hated studying, but I knew I could see her after. I knew she would always be there with her silly violin case and crooked glasses.

“I don’t understand, she didn’t do anything wrong.”

My dad finally says, “Before her, you would always study and be home on time. I thought it was good that you were making friends, but she has been a bad influence on you the past few weeks.

My mom agrees “Mmm. Before you ran around with her, you would always help me with the greens, now I wonder, “Where has my sweet Hana gone?”

I broke. One tear came down and I became silly little Hana again. Silly, obedient, Hana. 

“I have done everything you asked me too. I don’t even want to become a doctor or study. I want to make art. But I do this because it makes you happy!” I say, almost fully to tears.

Then, my father slapped me. It was a small, sturdy slap. I couldn’t even say anything.

“Hana, you know that isn’t an option for us. It’s silly. You need a stable life. And passion is not stable.” His words were sad, and I knew they came from a place of logic. I had tried to slickly input my liking for art before, but it had been brushed off again and again.

But I couldn’t think logically anymore. I ran up to my bedroom and locked the door. 

“Hana, HANA COME HERE.” My mother, I would miss her.

“Just wait, she’ll be down soon. She needs to accept this.” my dad returns to his stupid beloved armchair, and I hear the shuffle of the newspaper being reopened. God, was the news more important than my dreams? 

The truth is, I probably would’ve accepted it. I would’ve cried my eyes out and then pretended I was alright the next morning. I was done pretending. I had to be with the person who I knew wasn’t fake. 

I threw a couple pebbles at her window. 

“Hey, I thought you said you couldn’t make it.” Misako said, opening her window. She saw my face, and her face changed. 

“Come in.” With no words, I climbed into her arms. 

We stayed there for a couple of minutes, and she finally asked. 

“What’s going on?”

“I want to leave.” I childishly say, tears still burning my eyes.

“Leave this place, the town?”  Misako said, confused.

“Yes.” 

“How?”

I sat for a while, thinking. Where would we be happy? Where would we be happy? “You know the art school that you go too?”

“Milan Academy? Yeah. I’m going there again for a few weeks for sophomore year.”

“I got a scholarship there.”

Misako pulls away from my body to look at me. “Hana. what?”

“Yeah..” I nodded. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” 

“It was just a fluke, or I thought, a scam.”

“Do you have your phone with you?”

I nodded and handed it to her. “Let me see the email.”

She reads through it with furrowed eyebrows, and gives me the phone back. “This is most definitely not a scam. I remember that letter. And the way this art school works, they don’t do mistakes.”

A slight glimmer of hope shines through me. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Misako looks into my glimmering eyes. “Most definitely not.” I smile. “You better pack your bags Mrs. Airi. We’re going to art school.”