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Chapter 5 - 5. Shadow

Aki woke up feeling utterly refreshed. The lingering effects of a long shower and a deep sleep making him practically bounce out of bed. He made a steaming cup of coffee. He retrieved the milk from the fridge, warmed it gently, and poured it into his favorite mug.

But as he scanned the room, a small detail nagged at him—the cat, nowhere to be found. A faint meow led him to the dimly lit darkroom. The moment he opened the door, a pair of green eyes met his eyes. Perched atop the chest freezer, his cat looked like a furry, guilty statue.

Aki's smile was replaced by a blank stare as he gazed at the feline for what felt like an eternity. The cat, in turn, seemed to return his gaze. Then, a sigh escaped Aki, and he reached out to pet the cat, 'You really shouldn't be in here, you know,' Aki murmured, his fingers gently stroking its fur. 'This door is always kept shut for a reason. If you got trapped in here, you could be stuck for days. I barely ever come in here. So please, be careful.'

The cat jumps down and walks away. Aki observed the cat till it got out. Aki closes the door while staring at the freezer. The cat drinks the whole milk without stopping. Aki feels a bit bad thinking why he scolded this cutie. Aki has always been fond of animals. He loves them so much. But for Tanya and other reasons he couldn't adopt one. Majorly was for Tanya's well being as she has a medical condition. But now Aki has decided,he will do what he feels. And he has a feeling that he won't be able to be back with Tanya. 

Aki takes the cat to the vet to make sure the cat is in good health. There he found out the cat's health had some complications so he had to leave him there for treatment. Paying the bill, he got out bidding goodbye to Blackie.

Aki reached the office building but he remembered that he had to go somewhere because of the work. He messed up his schedule for the day. He looked at the wristwatch and sighs,'and here I was thinking to have a good day!'

By the time everything was finished it was evening. He got out of the teachers' office. He has taken a project on a photoshoot of a school magazine. And it was his school. His friend Noah is now a teacher there. So he was there with him. Noah insisted on having dinner with him as he rarely gets the chance to spend time with Aki. Aki felt a bit guilty,so he stayed with him.

The teachers' quarter was just next to the school field. This field was the biggest school field around his time in school. Now he doesn't know which one is the biggest. He stayed on the balcony as Noah was cooking dinner. He saw Mei playing there in the field. Alone. 

Aki was sure it was Mei. There is no doubt it was him. Aki smiled watching Mei play.

'Noah! I am going down. When you are done, call me.' Aki opens the door.

'Ok. It will rain soon I guess,so take the umbrella with you.' Noah told him from the kitchen without looking at Aki. 

Aki agreed but went down without an umbrella thinking that he would be back soon. 

Mei saw him when Aki was almost there.

'You are here today as well. Do you come here everyday?'Aki asked Mei.

'Yeah,why are you here today?' Mei answered.

'Do you know Noah? Your teacher from the math department? I'm his friend.' Aki tried to be friendly.

'oh! I don't know.' Mei didn't seem to know.

'Then who takes your math class? As far as I know, he takes the classes for grade 8 too.'Aki was trying to understand.

'No! Jacob does.' Mei said while playing.

'Jacob sensei? He hasn't retired yet?!' Aki was astonished.

Mei couldn't understand why Jacob would retire. He was Aki's math teacher as well. He was supposed to retire by this time.

'I guess he didn't. Which section are you in?' Aki asked.

'class B.' Mei was answering everything today so Aki smiled, 'What happened? You are not hesitating today to answer me?'

'Well! you are a friend of one of the teachers here so…' Mei keeps playing as Aki keeps watching him. 

"How much one can resemble Mei like that!" Aki's mind was not convinced.

Aki was curious as this Mei always seems to keep playing alone.

'Do you live in the dorms, or out?' Aki asked, trying to sound casual, but a part of him was genuinely curious. Mei seemed to be around the school an awful lot.

' live on 00 street,'Mei replied without a beat, his eyes still focused on the football.

Mei was still playing when Mei suddenly froze, the ball was perfectly still at the goal line. 

Aki squinted.

It was getting hard to see, the only light coming from the distant school lampposts.

Then, out of nowhere, a jagged bolt of lightning ripped across the sky, silent and stark against the deepening gloom. Mei remained motionless, a statue silhouetted against the dim light. 

Aki watched, a prickle of unease creeping up his spine. Moments later, another flash illuminated the scene, this time followed by the sudden hiss of rain.

'Mei?'Aki called out, 'Are you ok?'

Mei didn't stir. With no umbrella, Aki made a dash for the nearby garage, but even from the relative shelter, he could still see Mei, unmoving, in front of the goal.

"Aki! Aki!" Noah's voice boomed from an upstairs window, startling him.

'Yes! Yes! I'm here! Why are you shouting?' Aki yelled back, wincing. He didn't want to get in trouble for making too much noise.

Noah's head popped out further. 'You dummy! You didn't even take an umbrella! And to my surprise,' he added, his voice laced with exasperation, 'you didn't even take your phone!'

Aki's hand slapped his empty pocket. 

No phone.

He looked at Mei, who remained a still silhouette against the gloom. The unwavering presence, even in the sudden downpour, was starting to grate on Aki's nerves.

'Noah! Drop down the umbrella!'Aki called up.

'Just come on up! Why would you need it?' Noah's voice drifted down, laced with confusion.

'There's a kid on the playground!' Aki explained, his voice strained.

'Really? But students aren't allowed around this time,' Noah replied, leaning out to scan the dark field. He squinted, searching. 'There's no one there, though. Only football.'

'What are you talking about? He's right…' Aki's voice trailed off.

Mei wasn't there. Aki's eyes darted towards the school's main entrance, but there was no sign of him.

'Maybe they left. Who'd be stupid enough to stand out there in the rain? Come on up,' Noah sighed, his voice echoing.

Aki was distracted, the sound of the rain and Noah's words blurring. "Aki!" Noah called again, sharper this time.

'Yeah! I'm... getting there!'As he started up the stairs, a chill ran down his spine.

So many things felt weird. Why did he look like Mei? Why was that kid playing alone? Why those eyes...

Reaching the top, Aki looked at Noah, who was standing on the doorstep. 'Aren't you supposed to be in charge of math for Class 8 this year?'

'I am, and I'm doing so,' Noah confirmed, a slight frown creasing his brow.

'Then how come Professor Jacob is taking them?'Aki asked, genuinely confused.

'Professor Jacob? What are you talking about?' Noah's expression turned serious.

'That kid told me that Jacob was…' Aki was cut off.

'Professor Jacob isn't even here. How could he be taking class? Don't you know he retired?' a hint of concern in Noah's voice.

'I guessed so, but has he come back for...?' Aki began, hoping for a simple explanation.

'No! Not even once. He is... well, I guess you didn't hear. Last year he had an accident. He lost one leg because of it,' Noah's voice wavered slightly with unspoken sadness.

Aki felt a surge of restlessness. A feeling he couldn't deny, a chilling suspicion he was trying to ignore, gnawed at him. Instead of stepping inside, he suddenly turned and bolted back down the stairs. Noah was left stunned.

'Ooy! Where do you think you're going?' Noah yelled, baffled by Aki's sudden sprint. He grabbed the umbrella and ran after him, but Aki was already far ahead, disappearing into the dark, rain-swept night.

The downpour was relentless. He stood before the goalpost,with tears and rain. 

His gaze was fixed on the mud-splattered ball. Just a step behind him, Noah remained silent.

That ball.

It belonged to Mei. 

Neither of them could ever forget. It was the centerpiece of their games, a gift from her, adorned with their group's initials and her name. Time, however, had been unkind, blurring the once vibrant markings.

A lump formed in Noah's throat as he watched Aki. Silent tears tracked paths through Aki's face. Noah had never witnessed Aki crying, not at Mei's funeral, not on her death anniversary. 

The sky roared, and lightning rented the air, each flash illuminating Aki's face.Thunder and lightning made Noah uncomfortable. Without a word, he reached out, his hand closing around Aki's arm. With a gentle but firm pull, Noah guided his friend away from the desolate goalpost, away from the weeping sky.

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