Three

It's chilly when we leave the restaurant. We're standing at the corner, waiting for Jasmine's ride to pick her up. The clouds are thickening above us, casting shadows along the sidewalk. Jasmine tilts her head at the sky. "Looks like it's gonna rain," she says. "You should probably get going, too."

"You really can't stay longer?" I ask.

"My friend is waiting for me," she says. "We have to get back to Ann Arbor soon." She looks at my hand. "What's in the bag, anyway?"

I glance down, remembering I brought it with me. "Nothing." I move the paper bag behind me. Jasmine gives me a suspicious look. I think she's about to ask again when the car pulls up beside us. Jasmine checks her phone. "I have to go," she says. Then she turns to me, hugging me tight. "I'm glad I got to see you."

"Glad I got to see you, too."

"Did you get my letters?" Jasmine has been writing to me since she left for college. I think it's to make up for the fact that she doesn't come home too often. Which is the reason I haven't read them. "I've sent a few of them now."

"Yeah. I did."

"Have you read them?"

"I've been busy."

Jasmine frowns. "Promise you will, okay? I wrote them for you."

"Yeah, I promise."

She hugs me one last time. Part of me doesn't want to let go of her. What am I going to do without you here?

Jasmine opens the car door and says, "Text me when you get home, okay?" Then she climbs inside and smiles at me through the window. I wave goodbye as the car heads down the road. I almost wish I could go with her, leave this boring life behind, too. Instead, I just watch her disappear down the corner. A breeze blows in from behind me, bringing the first sprinkle of rain. The train stop is only a few blocks from here. But I don't feel like going back to an empty house. I turn around, heading in the other direction.

Rain continues to fall as I cross the road. I hold the bag to my chest to keep it dry. It's been a while since I've walked through this part of the Loop. Every window display I pass reminds me of Daniel. I wish I could just call him up, ask him to hang out like old times. I thought about visiting his grave today and bringing him some flowers for his birthday. But I didn't want to go by myself. I'm sure he'll understand, though. Sometimes I have conversations with him inside my head. " Don't worry about it, " he would say. " I don't even like flowers. "

The wind picks up, sending a chill through me. I clench the bag tighter as I turn the corner and keep walking. The blue café sign blinks through the mist. I was hoping the place was still open. I cross the street and make my way inside. A bell rings as I push open the door. I don't order anything right away. I find a table in the corner and set my things down.

It's been a long time since I've been to this café. Daniel's dad lives a few blocks from here. He used to spend the weekends with him. This was always our meeting spot when he snuck out of the house. Maybe if I wait around long enough, he'll show up and tell me everything's been a dream. I close my eyes and imagine Daniel sitting across the table.

His voice fills my head. " Took you long enough. So what did you get me? "

I place the bag on the table. The one I've been carrying around all day. It's Daniel's birthday present. I bought it for him a few weeks ago. I couldn't stop myself. Inside is the shirt from the Crying Fish tour. Daniel and I went to their concert last spring. It's one of his favorite bands of all time. We waited in line for hours and once we got to the front, it was sold out.

"We missed half the concert for this," he sighed.

"You could still get the keychain."

"For twenty dollars? Am I Bill Gates?"

I spent weeks searching for it online. The band is a little obscure, making it difficult to find. I open the bag and place the shirt on the table. Daniel would have loved it. As I imagine the look on his face, it hits me all over again. I'll never be able to give this to you . There's nothing but an empty chair where he should be sitting. I run my hand over the shirt, wondering why I'm still doing this to myself. As if it's supposed to make me feel better.

There's a pain in my chest, making me feel sick. When the room starts to spin, I squeeze my eyes shut. I don't know why I came in here. I lower my head to the table as this wave of loneliness crashes over me. I wish someone would come to make everything okay again. But Jasmine is on her way back to Ann Arbor. It feels like everyone is disappearing from my life.

The door chimes as someone enters the café. The bell sounds different this time, like a ring from a bicycle. The sound echoes through me as footsteps approach my table. Someone leans their umbrella against the wall, taking the empty seat in front of me. I don't look up immediately. I need a second to pull myself together.

Maybe Jasmine came back to find me. But how would she know where I am?

As I lift my head slowly, I realize it's not her. Someone else stares back at me, making me think I'm dreaming or something. It takes my brain a few seconds to process his face, the shoulders, the waves of black hair. But it couldn't be…

"Haru?"

He smiles at me from across the table, evoking a sky of petals in my head as the memories come flooding back. A paper card flying through the air, the doors closing between us, the train pulling away . His dark hair falls gently along the side of his face, and he wears a black shirt. His tanned skin is dewy from the rain.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" he says, sitting back in his chair.

I can't think straight. "Where did you come from?"

He smirks. "So you remember? Thought you might have forgotten me."

"Of course I remember." I'm trying not to stammer. "What are you doing here?"

Haru glances out the window and says, "I was walking by and thought I saw you. So I came in to make sure."

My head is spinning. The last time we saw each other was more than a year ago. Across the ocean, thousands of miles away. "But what are you doing in Chicago ?"

"Visiting," he says, so casually. "I remember all the good things you had to say. Had to see it for myself."

"But what are the chances that— I don't— How did you—" I try to speak but can't get my thoughts straight. It's as if he walked out of a dream. I take a deep breath and try to compose myself. "I'm sorry I can't speak right now. I'm just so surprised… I can't believe it's really you." Then I remember what I must look like. I wipe my face and straighten the buttons of my shirt. "And I don't usually look like this. I just got caught in the rain and forgot my umbrella—"

"You look great." He winks at me. "Just like I remember."

My cheeks go warm. "I know you're lying, but thank you."

Haru chuckles, running a hand through his silky hair. Then he leans forward, crossing his arms on the table. "I was hoping we'd run into each other again someday."

His words hang between us, sending a flutter to my stomach. "I thought I'd never see you again," I say. "And now you're right here."

Haru smiles. "We have a lot to catch up on, don't we?"

"Yeah, we really do," I say with a laugh. There are a hundred questions running through my mind. I don't even know where to begin. "How are things in Tokyo? What have you been up to?"

Haru places an arm over the back of the chair. "I'm taking some time off to travel. I was working at my family's store in Osaka for the past few months. I might have mentioned it before."

"The paper store." I recall our last conversation. "You said you worked there every summer. When we were at that hidden tea place." We both smile at the memory of this. I still can't believe it's him. Haru. Sitting right in front of me. "I'm taking time off, too. Applying to jobs and stuff." Then I glance at the menu on the table. "Did you want to order something? I don't know if you have anywhere to go, but there's food here."

"You read my mind," Haru says.

I hand him the menu. "Order whatever you like, okay? The sandwiches are really good. And this one's on me, since you got it last time."

Haru shakes his head. "I can't let you…"

"I want to," I say, remembering all the food he made me try last summer. "You paid last time. And you're in my city now. So just let me get this one, okay?"

"Well, if you're insisting, " he says.

"I'm insisting."

I can't stop smiling as we look over the menu. It's too late for coffee, so I recommend the strawberry iced tea. Since Haru came in, everything feels lighter. A minute ago, I felt like the world was caving in. Suddenly I'm back in Tokyo, reliving the best summer of my life. "I still can't believe you're here," I say again. "When did you get into Chicago?"

"It hasn't been long."

"How are you liking it so far?"

"I like it a lot more now." He adds a smirk.

"That's good to hear," I say, trying hard not to blush. "Chicago's a lot bigger than people think. I can give you a tour."

"I don't want to impose, " he says playfully.

"You're not imposing. I'd love to show you around."

"You don't have a train to catch?"

"I…"

My voice trails off, unsure what to say. I swallow some guilt, remembering how I left him standing on the platform. Thankfully Haru cracks a smile, running a hand through his hair again. He glances at my arm, noticing something. "You're still wearing the bracelet," he says. He reaches for my hand, making me go still. "I'm surprised you still have it. After all this time."

"Yeah… I do."

Then Haru pulls back his sleeve, revealing the other bracelet. The one we switched at the festival. It's as if they've been reunited again, two pieces from an unfinished puzzle. "I have mine as well."

"And we're both wearing them," I say.

"Maybe we knew we'd meet again."

As I look at him, I feel paper wishes fluttering around us. Maybe it's the rain tapping against the glass that gives the room a dreamlike quality. But if this is a dream, I don't want to wake up yet. "Maybe you're right," I tell him.

We go over the menu together, ordering things we can share. Eventually I head to the counter, grabbing our food and iced tea. Outside, the rain has calmed a little. We talk for a while, catching up on each other's lives, as people come in and out of the café. Somehow, it feels like no time has passed since we last saw each other. I ask him about the places he wants to visit, the food he wants to try while he's visiting. At some point, the woman from the counter appears at our table, letting us know they're about to close. I hadn't realized how much time had passed. As we head out the door, Haru opens his umbrella for both of us. But I stop short as we step outside.

"Wait, I forgot something."

The paper bag with Daniel's shirt inside. It's on the floor beside the table. I scold myself a little as I turn back inside to grab it. The moment I come out again, I realize Haru is gone. The street is completely empty. I glance around, wondering where he went.

"Haru? Where'd you go?"

But there's no one out here but me. As I turn back to the café, the door is locked. So he couldn't be inside. I keep glancing around the street, but there's no sign of Haru anywhere. How could he leave without saying goodbye?

I didn't even get your number.

How are we supposed to find each other?

It's like the train doors are closing again. The pain returns to my chest, as if waking me up from a dream. I wait outside the café for a long time, hoping he might return. But Haru never comes back. Eventually the rain picks up. When I realize no one is coming, I make my way to the train station, wondering how I let him slip away again.