99 Paper Cranes - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Finding Her


Calvin walked over his locker, and as expected, he found another paper crane on his locker. He looked around, hoping to find the one who's been leaving this to his locker. He smiled to himself. Lately, this paper crane girl have been making him smile. It's like she knows how to make him smile, how to make his day right. He have a lot of worries, but when he reads her words of encouragement, he felt like he's gaining back his confidence. He immediately opened his locker, and as he expected, he saw the yellow note lying on top of his books. He took it, and read it's contents. “Butterflies don't know the color of their wings, but human eyes know how nice they are. Likewise, you don't know how good you are, but the people around you do... I do...” he read silently. He sighed, then his lips curved into another smile. He took his planner from his bag and kept the note in it.

He felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned around, and saw Kit standing beside him. “What's up?” she asked. He just smiled at her, and with that smile, she understood. Calvin got another paper crane from his secret admirer. She looked at his open locker, and saw the paper crane lying on top of his things. She took it, and carefully looked at it. “Wow, your secret admirer is really something...” she said. Then, she looked at him. “This is the 5th paper crane for this week, right?” she asked. Calvin nodded his head. “I really don't mind getting the paper cranes and her notes... but I want to find out who this girl is...” he said. Kit gave him a suspicious look. “Cal, don't tell me you're falling for this paper crane girl, or gay?” she asked. Calvin gave her a bewildered look, and then laughed. “Of course not! I want to see her so that I could thank her... for encouraging me.” he said. Kit just nodded her head. “OK. Don't worry, as your best friend, I'll help you find this girl.”
“Are you sure?”
“I promise. Cross my heart, hope to die.”
Calvin immediately grabbed her and hugged her tight. “Thanks, Kit! You're the best best fried in the whole wide world!” he said. Kit struggled to get free from him. “Aiyo! Stop hugging me, I can't breathe!”

--

Hannah walked through the empty hall. As always, she would stop by at Calvin's locker, and stare at it for a long time. Whenever she pass the hall, she would wish she could have a glimpse of him. She liked Calvin since she met him way back in high school, but she was to shy to approach him. Whenever Calvin pass by her, she felt and looked like a statue that could not move. She felt that whenever she's around him, she becomes clumsy, so she decided to just watch him from a far.

As she was about to make a move, she bumped into someone. She looked up, and saw Calvin and his best friend, Kit. “Sorry...” he said, smiling at him. She was surprised to see him up close. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words seems to get stuck at her throat. “Uh... yeah... it's... it's OK...” she finally stuttered. She decided to move quickly, but then, she bumped into him again, her books fell on the floor. Calvin and Kit helped her pick up her things. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry...” she kept on saying. Kit looked at her, and smiled. “It's OK. It's my friends fault that he bumped into you again.” she said. She and Calvin then handed her her books. “Thank you.” she said in a low voice. She looked up at Calvin and smiled faintly. As she took the book from Calvin, she was able to touch his warm hand. She was surprised at this, so she immediately took her hand away from him. “I'm sorry, thank you for helping me pick up the books...” she said. Then, she walked as fast as she could away from Calvin.

Calvin watched Hannah as she leaves. He was a little confused with her reaction when she held his hand. “She sure is weird...” he said. Kit shook her head. “She's a little shy, that's all.” she said.

--

“So, who do you think this paper crane girl is?” Kit asked in between bites. They were hanging out that afternoon at their favorite cafe. “Honestly, I have no idea....” he said. “Do you think it's Rainie, the cheerleader?” Kit asked again. Calvin shook his head. “All that girl knows is cheering and fashion. I don't think she could write those notes...” he said. Kit took another bite from her sandwich before speaking again. “Maki from that punk band?” she asked again. “She writes great lyrics but I don't think she have a crush on me. Plus, she's too outspoken, she would never do such things...”
“Genie?”
“Too obvious if it's her.”
“Angela?”
“She's sweet, but I don't think she could do that.”
“Trixie?”

Calvin almost spat out the drink in his mouth upon hearing Trixie's name. “She's too forward, and I don't think she would resort to this kind of gimick...” he said. Kit nodded her head. “I forgot... she already announce in the whole campus that she's determined to make you her boyfriend...” she said. “Yeah, so it can't be possibly her.” he said. Kit leaned back to her seat, and sighed. “This is harder than I thought. Whoever she is, she must be really shy to admit her feelings for you... or she's someone who doesn't want to be found and would rather love you from afar...”

Upon hearing what she heard, Calvin gave her a suspicious look. Kit noticed this. “What?” she asked. “Could it be you?” he asked. She was shocked by his question. “Of course not! Why would I do that. Besides, didn't we promise before that -”
“That we will not fall in love with each other because we're like brothers and sisters. Yeah I know that...”
“Yeah, you know that but why are you suspecting me?”
“I'm just guessing. What if your feelings towards me have already changed. You know I could never accept that. You're like my sister.”
“I could never fall for you! I know everything about you. Everything! There are things about you that I hate, and even if you're the last man on earth, I won't ever fall in love you.”
“Well, at least it's clear...”

Calvin smirked at her. He just like seeing his best friend flare up every time he tells her that she might have a crush on him. “But how would you know that this girl could be shy and a martyr?” he asked. “Calvin Chen, I've read to much romance novels to know about the whole secret admirer thing....” she said proudly. He just sighed. He decided to leave it to Kit, since it seems that knows more about this thing. After all, she was the hopeless romantic type between the two of them.

Just then, Trixie came inside the cafe, and Kit saw her. She knows that Calvin was avoiding her, as he couldn't put up with her. “Speaking of the devil, Trixie is here.” she said. Calvin looked back, and he saw Trixie looking at her, smiling. “Oh great, what a day...” he said. “And you thought you could get away from her for a day? Think again.” Kit said. Before they knew it, Trixie was already standing by their table. “Hey Calvin! I never thought you would be here...” Trixie said in a flirty tone. Kit just raised an eyebrow at her. “Yeah, right. As if you never knew we'd be here.” she said in low voice, but nevertheless, Calvin and Trixie heard her. Trixie glared at her, while Calvin was trying to suppress his laughter. “What?” she asked Trixie in an irritated tone. “Nothing. Just be thankful you're Calvin's best friend.” she said, as if threatening her. Kit just smirked at her.

Then, Trixie sat beside Calvin. “So Calvin, would you like to go to the movies with me this Saturday?” she asked. Calvin shook his head. “Sorry, I already made plans with Kit. I promised to help her with her report this weekend...” he said. Then, Trixie glared at her. “Don't you have other friends who could help you with that?” she asked in a snotty tone. “Yes, I do, but Calvin volunteered to helped me out. Best friend bonding, haven't you heard that?” she snapped back. Trixie rolled her eyes at her, then she turned to Calvin. “Uh... maybe next time, if I'm free.” he said. She smiled sweetly at him. “I'll take your word for that.” After that, she stood up and left the two. “Cal, don't tell me you're really planning to go out with her?” Kit asked with disbelief. Calvin shook his head. “Of course not! I just told her that so that she would leave us alone.” he said. After a while, somebody sat beside Calvin and held his arm. It was Chun. They were both surprised to find him. “Hey Callie!” he said in a gayish and flirtatious tone. Calvin's eyes widened to see him, while Kit was laughing so hard.

--

Jiro took the shell necklace and stared at it for a long time. “I wonder where you are right now?” he thought. He closed his eyes, and he imagined her smiling face again. He could still remember her words when she gave him the necklace. “Whenever you're sad, just look at this necklace and think of me...” she said before. He wanted to find her, but he doesn't know where to start. So, he decided to leave it up to fate. If he would see her again, then he would be happy.

Suddenly, someone walked past him. He glanced at her. At one look, she thought it was her. He then decided to follow the girl. As soon as he reached her, he tapped her shoulder. The girl looked back, giving him a confused look. Jiro was surprised to see her. He was wrong. It was just Kit, Calvin's best friend. “Yes?” she asked him. Jiro smiled and shook his head. “Nothing. I thought you were someone I knew...” he said. Kit nodded her head. “I'm sorry if I disturbed you...” he said. “It's OK.” she said. Then, she smiled at him before going on her way. As she smiled, Jiro suddenly remembered the girl he knew before. She had the same smile as her. “Could it be... could it be Kit?” he thought. He could feel his heart beating faster upon seeing her smile. He felt this way when the girl smiled his way. He shook his head. It's very impossible that it's Kit. As he observed, she never left Calvin's side. He have to erase that thought for now.