Chapter 1

Mayleia's Point of View

"Leia, can you please focus? We'll present this tomorrow!" I snapped back to myself after hearing my co-leader's,Arcelli, voice right infront my face. She, together with my other team mates are looking at me like I just did a fool of myself. 

I gave them a sweet smile and apologize for being out on focus. "What's wrong with you today?" Vannesa, one of our team mates, asked me while rolling her eyes. She has been like that to me ever since she found out that I like Kaede, she's one of that typical girl who gets mad when you also like the guy she wants that as if she owns him.

That's absurd but I prefer not to mind her, cause it's not really worth it to fight with another girl just because of a thing that's common between us.

"Vannesa, stop trying to pick a fight with Mayleia, will you?" Morrigan scolded her but the latter clearly don't give a damn. 

We just continued what we are doing and I got myself engaged with them. The whole period, I tried not to stare at Kaede, the guy both Vannesa and I like. 

Kaede is the type of guy that isn't really interested in girls, he is that rare guy in highschool that would prefer to sit on the corner of the library and read those boring books, he's unflamboyant, he rarely smiles and even his captivating eyes are always devoid of any emotions. Normies would call him boring, however, I prefer to call him mysterious.

That every little thing about him is the reason why i fell deeply inlove with him, and yes, i can shamelessly said that now because everybody know it already so there's no point of denying.

I shook off my head and keep my focus on our topic. We are finalizing our report to present to the whole class tomorrow. If there's something I really don't like in high school, that are the paper works and group presentations. I hate it cause I'm lazy.

With the remaining time we have, Morrigan and Arcelli gathered all the ideas we presented and decide on how we're going to present our topic, while me, finally giving my whole attention to Kaede who looks really handsome in his uniform, with that eyeglasses and with his somewhat messy hair, he actually looks like an anime.

He is the leader of the group three and by now, their group is probably finished in their plan presantation because he is reading another book already. No wonder, he's our rank 1 in the academic records.

I can't stop myself to stare at him and smile, even thou I already know that he won't give me a damn, when suddenly our professor clapped his hands a few times getting the class' attention. "Okay, settle down now." he said and checked his wrist watch. 

While we all settle down and go back to our designated seats. "Please be reminded that this one will be your last presentation because next week, we'll be reviewing for your last quarter exam and the last month will be your time to practice for your moving up ceremony so make your last presentation the best." sir Justin said.

"Yes sir!" the class responded, the others feel happy because finally they'll moving up while the others is still stuck to their fourth year high school life while me, I'm here feeling sad because of the thought that I'd may not see Kaede again if we finish junior high school.

"Are there any clarification before I dismiss you?" sir Justin asked again but the class responed him with silence so he dismiss us already. 

Everyone is fixing their stuffs already so am I. "Leia, you seem not be on yourself today, are you okay?" my seatmate, Morrigan, asked me while fixing his things. "I'm not fine Morri, how can I see Kaede again if we ever finish junior high school?" I cried out but he clearly is not interested in my repeated grievances about Kaede.

"Mayleia Veda Anfisa, can you please stop talking about that guy even just for a day? We are so tired of your issues with him. Just move on, and flirt with whoever you want, Kaede is not into such things!" he said and flick my forehead.

I glared at him and rolled my eyes at him, "How can you be so terrible?" I asked. "Tch. Leia, you know what, in a month and half, you'll be graduating and soon to leave high school so just leave your feelings for Kaede as your most terrible memory in junior high." he said and finally closed his back pack.

"Whoa, seems like you two are arguing again. Let me guess, it's about your stupid love for Kaede again?" said Arcelli as she approached us. I stomped my feet like a kid and pouted. "You two are the most terrible friends. Just go and date with each other!" I complained and is about to walk out when Zariko, our class president blocked my way.

"What do you want?!" I rudely asked and crossed my arms in my chest. Zariko let out a sigh and handed me a paper. "Check that out. That's the list our representatives for the national academic battle." he said that confused me. 

"Why do I have to do that?" I peevishly asked. "Well, uh...uhm, j-just review it and h-help them for...uhm-for...preparation! Yeah, help them for preparing what they need." he stuttered and scratched his nape. If that's Kaede, it would be cute. I thought of.

I looked at the paper Zariko gave me and nodded so he just immediately left, and that's when Morrigan and Arcelli came near me, "Look how Zariko stammer when he talks to you? He likes you, date him." Morrigan teased but I dropped the topic immediately because of Arcelli, I know she likes Zariko, and Morrigan knows that too but pretends that he dont because he likes Arcelli. Well, that's complicated and I have no plans to be a part of their complicated affair.

"Let's just go home." I said and walk away already. The two just followed me while I continued to walk without even glancing at where I was going through because I was busy checking the paper Zariko gave me that I didn't even saw someone is infront causing me to bumped with him. 

I lost my balance and my butt touched the ground causing Arcelli and Morrigan to immediately come to me and help me stand up but my attention was not on them but on the guy who is standing right infront me now, Kaede.

He is looking at me with that eyes devoid of any emotion, and his stares is making me feel like I weigh something heavy on my chest. It makes me barely breathe, literally.

I pressed my hand against my chest when I feel so hard to breathe. My legs is also getting weak but thanks to Morrigan, I can still stand up straight.

"What's happening to you Leia?" it was Morrigan

"Are you okay?" it was Arcelli

My attention didn't still vary to them because Kaede had it all. He didn't react, he's just looking at me, and later on he just put his hands inside his pocket and left as Zariko run towards us and people started approaching us because I totally fell on the ground because of my weak legs.

My chest tightened more as I helplessly grasp for air, people around are asking if I am okay but hell I am not! They can clearly see it!

I gripped Zariko's wrist as I feel pain in my lungs, like something is growing inside it and blocks the air. 

I let go of Zariko's hand when I suddenly coughed a few times making almost everyone around me scream and the others are also disgusted.

"What the hell was that Leia?" 

"That's unbelievable!"

"Are you exercrated Anfisa?"

Those are only few of the questions that they're asking me but I don't know what to say and I can't say anything too. If they're shocked, I am even more so.

Zariko lifted me up when I constantly coughed making the students to pave way for us. Morrigan and Arcelli followed as Zariko brought me to the hospital.

We arrived quickly at the hospital, and the doctor is executing a test for my blood now and here I am still coughing, while my friends are watching me. Disgust, worry and fear are visible in their eyes.

"How can a rose's petals kept coming out from your godd*mn mouth Mayleia?" Arcelli asked but I didn't answer, I don't know what to say. With teary eyes, I looked down as I stop coughing and the door opened as doctor Allerick Zevida, Kaede's older brother, step inside the room I'm in.

He had my friends out and he look at me intently. I honestly see him as Kaede's older version because of their strong resemblace.

He placed his hands on his pocket, making him look more alluring. "Ms. Anfisa, have you ever heard of hanahaki disease?" he asked still looking at me directly in the eyes.

I gazed away and shook my head off. "Hmm, that disease is very rare and is born from unrequited love. The patient's lung will fill up with flowers and cough up the petals," he paused and looked at me, like he is trying to insinuate that to me.

"and if the flowers grows, it'll caused the patient's suffocation which will eventually cause their death." my eyes widened because of what he just said, my mind couldn't absorb it and every point he said started to make sense to me, even thou it really sounds unrealistic.

"Doc, are you trying to tell me that..."

"No, I didn't say you'll die, but yes, you are diagnosed with the said disease so you need to move on and forget that guy who can't reciprocate your feelings, or let him fall for you or be healed through surgery, whatever the choice is, your life depends on it."

We fell on silence. I can't think right, how am I suppose to forget about Kaede, I've tried it already but everytime I do, I just fell deeper to him and how am I suppose to let him fall for me when he's not even interested to me?

There's only one choice left, surgery. I dont think I'll ever choose that, it sounds unjust for me. If I will ever love someone in this lifetime and to my another lifetime, it'll always be him. It will always be Kaede.

"Leia, I want to know your decision." Dr. Zevida asked.

I smiled at him, "You know what doc, for me, flowers also symbolize ladies for it was beautiful." I started that seem to confused him because his forehead twitched.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" he asked.

With a smile on my face, I sighed and look at him directly in the eyes. "Doctor Zevida, Every flower was a seed, they gradually grow, but like all the others, they wither and will eventually die." I said and lied down.

"But Leia, what flower are you referring? Is it you or the growing flowers inside your lungs?" he asked with a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Doctor, the flowers inside me will grow and if that happens, both the flowers will die." I said.