Today is my first day of highschool in Japan . It's my last highschool year before college . I enter the school building and try to navigate through the hallway to the principal's office . As I navigate through the hallways , a voice comes from behind me .

" Are you lost ? " It says

" Kinda . I'm new here so I don't exactly know the way . "

" I'm Taro " He says , extending his hand for a hand shake .

" I'm Rosaline . You can call me Rose . " I say and shake his hand .

" So , guess you were going to the principal . Mind if I show you the way ? "

" Oh , I don't mind . Thank you . "

He nods and starts guiding me . When we arrive I thank him for his help .

" You're welcome … "

" It looks like you wanna say something . What is it ? "

" You caught me . Well … I have three things to tell you . May I ? "

" THREE ? OK , go ahead and ask . "

" First , Don't be late for class , it starts in less than half hour . Second , mind if I show you around later ? Third , since you are new here I guess you don't have friends so do you mind if I introduce you to my friends ? Last thing … Can we be friends ? "

" That's four . "

" Sorry . "

" Anyway , I will tell you my answers … One , I don't mind if you showed me around . Two , it would be nice to have you as a friend and three I don't mind meeting your friends . Meet at lunch time ? "

" Ok … So , I will leave you to the principal now . See you at lunch time ." He says walking away waving back at me then heading to class . I enter the office and talk to the principal for a while then head to class . My Japanese class didn't start yet but I love staying in class before the teacher is there . When I enter , I only find one empty place near the window . I sit and start organizing my things .

" Hi ! " Says a voice from the desk beside me . I turn to see another highschool student sitting next to me .

" I'm Kaito . You ? "

" Rosaline . You can call me Rose . "

" What a beautiful name . Nice to meet you , Rose ."

" Nice to meet you too , Kaito . "

Just then the teacher enters the class and my first lesson starts . After the second class , I go to meet Taro . He shows me around and then we head back to class . After few more classes , I head to the cafeteria to meet Taro and his friends .

Taro guides me to the table where his friends are . There are three other people . One of them is …

" Rose ? "

" Kaito , We met again "

Taro looks at me and then at Kaito and then at me again .

" You two know each other ? "

" I met Rose in my Japanese lesson this morning . "

" Since you two already know each other , I only need to introduce the other two . This is Akira and the other one is Kenji . "

I wave at them and say : " Nice to meet you , I'm Rosaline . You can call me Rose . "

" Kenji looks like he is really confident and talkative . I think his hobby is teasing people . But Akira seems from the shy type . I think he always watches from afar but doesn't really enjoy it " I say to myself

" Yeah , Kaito just did " Says Kenji

" As I thought he would be " I murmur

" Did you say something ? "

" No , Nothing "

" So , Lets sit and have some lunch now . " Says Taro

We sit and eat in silence .

" So , You don't seem from Jpan … Where are you from ? " Asks Taro

" I'm from New York "

" Wow , thats on the other side of the planet . "

" Yeah , Thats why I chose Japan . "

" So , you are a black page then . " Says Akira

We all look at him not understanding what he said .

" Akira never talks much , but every time he does we don't understand what he says " Says Kenji

" I will show you what I mean . Now , She is smiling , I will say few words … If her expression changes then I'm right . "

I turn to him , He is sitting across from me . He looks directly in my eyes and clears his throat .

" Escape , black past , bad times , fighting pain , wishing to forget " He says

" Hey , is this some kind of drama ? … " Says Kenji when Tarot inturupts him .

" He's right "

" What ? "

" Her expression changed . "

" She had bad times in New York and she came as far as she could to forget them . From her exprison , It was not very far from today , about a month or less than a month ago . "

They all look at me . I know this look … pain and feeling sorry .

" Come on guys , don't look at me like that . I'm ok "

" You're not " Says Akira

" If you really were your expression wouldn't change this quick , Rose " Says Kenji

" This is the first time I here you guys talk and say something that makes sense " Says Taro

" Wanna talk about it ? We will listen … That's what friends are for … That's what friends do , Am I right ? " Says Kaito

I don't answer . We all stay silent for a while then Taro breaks the silence .

" If we stay like that other students will notice . So , what about a group chat ? All we have left is your number. If we get it , it's sealed . "

" Come on Taro , your using the group chat as an excuse to get her number . " Says Kenji

Taro ignores him .

" If that what you think . I will give my number to the four of you then . "

Kenji looks at me shocked . We all laugh at his reaction .

" 私たちは却下され、その日の残りはキャンセルされました。 雨が降るかもしれないので、私たちは家に帰ります ( We are dismissed , The rest of the day has been canceled . It may rain so we will head home In Japanese ) "

Taro translates for me .

" Umuwi na tayo ( Let's go home in Filipino ) "

" Kita kita bukas ( See you tomorrow in Filipino ) " says Taro

" Maaari kang magsalita ng Pilipino ?! ( You can speak Filipino ?! )

" Mula sa apat sa amin, magagawa ko ito ( Out of four of us, I can do it in Filipino )

" What language is this ? " Asks Kenji

" Filipino " I and Taro answer at the same time

They all laugh . We exchange numbers and head to the classes to grab our things and head home .

At the gate , I saw the four of them waiting for me to join them . I aproche them .

" Rose , what are your plans since tomorrow is a weekend ? " Says Taro

" I think I will be unpacking my things , why ? "

" We thought we could come and help " Adds Kaito

" No , you don't need to . "

" So , can we walk you home today instead . " Says Kenji

I'm about to refuse but they already started moving . I walk with them to my house . When we arrived , They all look at each other and then Kenji moves towards me .

" I want you to know that we are here to listen whenever you want to talk " He says

I nod and head inside .

But I didn't know it was a prank .

The next morning , the final bunch of boxes arrived early . All the rooms are ready except for the small decorations for my room and the living room . I wake up early and take a shower . I have some pancakes pancakes for breakfast . I was about to grab the first box when the doorbell rang . My mother opens the door .

" Who are you ? " She says

" Good morning " Says the person outside

" Why do I hear Kenji's voice ? " I say to myself

" Good morning . Since I don't know you I guess you came to the wrong house " My mom says while closing the door .

When she almost closed the door a voice speaks : " Your Rosaline's mother , right ? "

My mother freezes at my name . She opens the door again to see what they want .

" Good morning , we are Rose's friends "

I freez at hearing this . I was right , the first one was Kenji and this is Taro .

" How do you know my daughter's nickname ? "

I walk towards the door too see that the four of them are here . Tarot waves at me . My mom turns to me questioning if I know them .

" Yeah , These are my new friends . Akira , Taro , Kenji and Kaito . But what are they doing here ? "

" We came to help you with your unpacking "

" But how did you memorize my address ? "

" Well , before you arrived at the gate Kenji said you will refuse our helping so we will walk you home , we recorded a vedio from the school till here . And when Kenji stepped forward yesterday , we took pictures secretly. "

I look at Kenji and he shrugs .

" I can't believe you really did this . "

In my mind , I added a new hobby for Kenji : pranking .

They all laugh at my reaction . My mother invites them inside .

As soon as they enter , They all start helping me unpack but Akira stays behind holding a gift box and standing next to my mother .

" You are shy aren't you ? No need to be . You know what , you can call me mom and treat me as your mother . Ok ? "

" Ok …… Mom "

" Thats it . Good job , Akira "

" You noticed who I was "

" Of course I do . You were outstanding with your polite sillence "

He hands my mother the gift box .

" I didn't know what to bring so I bought something I made when I was younger . I hope you like it . " He says giving my mother the gift box .

" Mind if I open it later after unpacking ? "

" No problem . Let's go help them . "My mother nods and we join the others . They finished the living room and they are all gathering up in my room now . I organize everything with them . As soon as we finished it , my mother insists that they stay and have dinner with us . After dinner,she insists they stay a few more hours . As soon as we gather , mom looks at Akira who is waiting for her to open his gift .

" Ok , I have something to say . "

We all look at her curious . But Akira looks like has no idea what she wants to say .

" This morning , my son , Akira gave me a gift he made himself and I promised I will open it infront of you all "

" Well,well,well , someone is smiling now " Says Kenji

My mother brings the gift box and opens it slowly . She gasps when she opens it . We all lean in curious about the gift .

" I made it when I was ten so I know it's … "

" It's beautiful " She interrupts him

She pulls out a black scarf with a red roses frame sewed professionally . We all gasp when we see it .

I pat on his shoulder and he looks at me .

" Good job , its beautiful . " I say using sign language

" How did you know I knew sign language ? " Asks Akira

" I think you read her and she read you . But how ? " teases Kenji

"Kenji once said you never talked and mom said you were shy . Shy people don't use words as much as they depend on body language and expressions . You read me with them , didn't you ? "

" I … I did "

" Wow , Why do I feel left out ? You and taro talk Filipino, you and Akira use sign language , you and Kenji tease each other … "

" You and my daughter share the same favorite books . I noticed you knew a lot of my daughter's books earlier . "

He looks at his watch to avoid embarrassment .

" It's getting late , We will leave . "

One by one , thet shake hands with me and my mother till its Akira's turn . As he shakes my mother's hands , she gently pats him on the head and thanks him for the scarf . When they are all out , she asks us to stand together for a photo . She brings her camera and takes a photo for us all together .

We say goodbye to each other and then they part ways . I go back inside and head straight to my room . I grab my dairy and my favorite pen and sit on my desk .

' Saturday 9 June 2018 .

Dear dairy ,

Today,my friends came and helped me unpack . Akira gave my mother a beautiful scarf . she was really happy with it . she even called him son . We met only yesterday . I can't wait to go back to school .

Will I tell them what happened ?

I can't wait to know what the future holds for us all '

I close the light and sleep .

The next day , I wake up and get realdy for school . While I'm on my way to school , I hear a bicycle's bell ringing . I ignore it but it doesn't stop ringing . The ringing is getting closer and closer .

" Hey ! Can't you here my bike'sbell ? " Says a familiar voice .

I turn to see Kaito riding the bike .

" Oh hi , I heared it but I didn't know it was you "

" Yeah , I live nearby . Want a ride ? "

" No , thanks . "

He stops moving with his bike and gets off and turns to me .

" Seems I will have to do it the hard way. "He says

" What do you mean by … ”

He grabs my hands and pulls my to the bike . He puts a helmet on my head .

" Jump on quickly or you will be late . " He says and gets on his bike again . I sit behind him and hold his shoulder so that I won't fall off the bike . When we arrive at school , the others are already inside the building . I get off the bike and turn to Kaito .

" Thanks for the ride "

" Your welcome "

We enter the building where the others are waiting for us already .

" Well here they are . " Says Kenji

" What's your first class ? " asks Taro

" Math " Says Kaito

" English " Says taro

" Music " Says Kenji

" I have art "

Akira doesn't say anything about what his first class is.

" See Rose , I told you he doesn't talk much . "

Akira doesn't answer but he glares at Kenji . Kenji was saved by the bell of the first class . We say the we will meet up at lunch time and then we part ways .

When I enter the class room , Akira is there .

" So you glared at Kenji because he thought no one will know your first class but you knew that I will be in the same class as you ?"

He nods . The teacher enters the class room and starts the first lesson . After few classes , I head to the cafeteria to meet up with the others . I sit and tell them about Akira and the reason he glared at Kenji earlier . They all laugh at Kenji teasing Akira and turning out to be the one who doesn't know anything about Akira .

" Guys , I think we should tell her " Says Kaito and they all nod .

" Tell me what ? "

" I looked up information about your old school and found out what happened to you and I shared it with the others . " says Taro

" What ? When did you do that ? How did you even know my old school ? "

" I saw your picture wearing another school's uniform while we were helping you yesterday so I looked up all the related articles and found the latest article was taking about a female so I assumed it was you . "

" How could you do that ? I just wanted to keep it hidden till I forgot it . But you searched about it ? Even while knowing that I don't want to talk about it … yet ? "

I say that and leave the cafeteria immediately . I didn't share any more classes with any of them . At the end of the day , I was heading out of the gates when I hear them calling me but I never turned back .

" ROSALINE " Shouts Taro

I pause hearing him call me with my full name . But I don't look back and I just continue to walk away . When I'm home , I make sure mom doesn't notice that I'm not feeling good . She said that my sister and my dad will arrive here soon . After dinner , I head to my bed room and open the small lamp on my desk and grab my dairy and my pen and start writing my daily dairy .

' Sunday , 10 June , 2018 .

Dear dairy ,

Today ,my friends found out what happened in my old school .

I thought I could trust them when they said they will wait , but now I don't trust them anymore .

I planed to tell them soon but now I don't even want to talk to them or be around them anymore .

What do you think is the right thing to do ?

Should I forgive them ? '

I close the light and lay on my bed . It's still not bedtime yet but I just wanna relax . My phone buzzes with a notification from the group chat .

' Rose , We're sorry . please, just talk to us . ' That was taro's text

I close my phone . Soon after that , my phone keeps ringing , They all keep calling and texting me till I shut down my phone and sleep .

The next day I head to school . They are waiting for me at the gate . I enter the school and just like yesterday , I act like they are invisible to me . At the end of the day , I head home as usual . I change my clothes and head to the park to get some fresh air .

I stay for a while after sunset . My phone buzzed with a text from mom .

" They are here "

I thought she was talking about my father and sister . I rush home to see them . But when I open the door , I see my friends there instead .

" I will leave you guys talk " says my mom leaving the room .

" Why are you here ? "

" To talk to you "

Taro points at the empty chair for me to sit next to him . I slowly approach the chair and sit down with them .