Dan was surprised to see her.
—Noemi?
She jumped.
—H-hello Dan, I didn't know you were here.
—Yeah... I just came shopping.
—Noemi? Who is she?- Himari asked.
—She's my friend.
—Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, Noemi. I'm Himari.
She nodded quickly.
—Nice to meet you too, Himari.
—Did you come shopping?- Dan asked with a smile.
—Yes... I came to buy a hamburger that Sofia recommended to me.
—Ah, we were also going to buy something to eat, right Dan?
He nodded.
—Yes, you can join us if you want.
Noemi waved her hands and shook her head repeatedly.
—No, I don't want to bother you two.
Himari laughed and approached to take her hand.
—It's not a bother, in fact I was also craving a hamburger. Let's go.
Dan walked behind the two of them as Himari led her to McDonald's.
The three of them entered McDonald's and sat at a table before ordering their hamburgers. Noemi sat next to Dan because Himari asked her to.
She pointed to herself with her thumb.
—Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Himari from class C, I'm the captain of the basketball team and Jonathan's girlfriend.
—Jonathan's girlfriend?- Noemi turned her head slightly to look at Dan- Jonathan is one of your friends, right?
He nodded.
—Yes, he's part of my group of friends.
She looked back at Himari, now with a kind smile.
—I didn't know Jonathan had such a beautiful girlfriend.
Himari blushed and leaned forward to take her hands in hers.
—Awww. Thank you so much, you're very beautiful too, Noemi.
—Not as much as you but thank you.
She sat back up in her seat.
—Well, I want to ask you two something.
Dan raised an eyebrow curiously.
—Of course, what do you want to ask us?
—What is your relationship?
The two of them blushed at the direct question.
—Why do you ask that?...- Noemi asked Himari.
—Because there's a rumor saying Dan is dating a girl because he's been spending a lot more time with her than usual. And since you two look very comfortable together I thought Noemi was the girl from the rumor.
—Ahh, yes I have been spending more time with Noemi but she and I are just friends, nothing more.— Dan said, still slightly blushing.
Noemi nodded quickly and repeatedly reinforcing what Dan had said.
—I see, so they're just false rumors as always.
—Thank you for understanding, rumors like this always come up when I talk to new girls.
Himari rested her elbow on the table and her cheek in her hand.
—The harsh reality of being popular, right?- She said with a small laugh.
—You could say so.
The orders arrived and the moment passed calmly. Noemi was curious about Himari and Jonathan's relationship.
—Himari... And how did you meet Jonathan?- She asked shyly.
—Ohhh, do you really want to know?
—But if you don't want to tell me I understand, I don't want to bother you.
She laughed. Dan kept eating his hamburger while listening.
—It's okay, it doesn't bother me. Make yourself comfortable and I'll tell you.
—Well, he and I met in preschool when we were four years old.
In her memories there was a little Himari as a girl in a corner of the classroom.
—I had a hard time making new friends, I was always alone and very introverted... until he arrived.
A little Jonathan approached little Himari curiously.
—Hi girl, what's your name?- little Jonathan asked.
She looked up.
—Himari...— She answered somewhat scared.
—What a pretty name. I'm Jonathan— He sat next to her— What are you doing here alone?
—It's just... I don't have anyone to play with... I don't have friends.
The little boy thought for a few seconds.
—I know! Then I'll be your first friend.
The little girl was surprised to hear him and looked up at him.
—Huh? Do you really want to be my friend?
—Of course I do! You'll see we'll have fun!— The little boy said super excited.
—From that day on he was always by my side, we played every day, even in elementary school we kept being very good friends.
—But when we finished first grade he said goodbye to me because he was going to study at a different middle school. From that day on I felt alone again like at the beginning of preschool.
Middle school Himari sat alone in her seat. She could only talk to Jonathan on the phone, she called him every day and told him how much she missed him.
—Luckily that changed again when I started high school, I saw him again and so I wouldn't lose him forever I confessed without thinking.
In her memories current Himari walked down the hallways nervously on her first day, when she looked up she recognized him without a doubt.
She shouted happily with tears in her eyes.
—Jonathan!.
He turned and Himari threw herself at him to hug him tightly and hide her face in his chest. Jonathan was surprised to see her.
—Himari...
—Jonathan! I love you!...— She looked up to see him with deep love— Don't leave me alone again! Please!— Tears threatened to fall from her eyes at any moment.
—Of course not. But you say you love me.
—Yes... It's something I've felt for you for a long time. I never want to lose you again. Please be my boyfriend.
He smiled and gently stroked her head with one hand while hugging her with the other.
—Okay, the truth is I love you too.
Himari smiled as she remembered that beautiful moment.
—And we've been together ever since, then I became captain of the basketball team and we're still together.
Noemi listened attentively to the whole story and smiled with her.
—It's good that you ended up together. You know? You used to be just like me but the difference is that I'm still shy.
—I understand you but I'm sure someone will come into your life who will make you forget your shyness and make you happy.
She nodded. After dinner they left the mall and Noemi said goodbye to them.
—See you tomorrow Dan and Himari.
Dan said goodbye by waving his hand and Himari did too.
—Goodbye! Take care friend!.
The two of them walked together in the opposite direction to where Noemi had gone.
—You know? Noemi is a special girl and maybe you're the one who will take away her shyness and make her happy. Take care of her okay?
Dan was surprised but he didn't know he was that person, since he only talked to her because of a bet.
—Yes...