＃13 Why should I go on a motorcycle trip, ridiculous? I had a language school test today.Grammar, Listening, Writing, Reading, Speaking test. The school was bustling.There were new students, and before and after the two-week Christmas holiday, it’s busy preparing in many things.And Megu, who went back to Japan, sent me a fax, and Clive delivered. “Thanks, I`ve been encouraged by Elle” It was written. I’d neverdone anything for Meg, I felt sorry to hear that.I just wanted Meg to stay here longer.
Meanwhile, I was excited to travel to the South Island alone.So, to calm down, after class, I was drinking cappuccino at an outdoor cafe indowntown with Budy from Indonesia.Budy is like a younger brother that I adore.His eyes slant up wards slightly and he wearsglasses.He has acne on his face, and he’s rather skinny, but it looks a little pitiful. So sometimes when I go to a cafe, I take Budy with me.He didn’t hate it either.After graduating from high school, Budy came to New Zealand to study. He is going to go to college after finishing a language course.
“I think we don’t need to learn history to live.” He once surprised the entire class by saying outrageous remark like this.Sometimes he had made a reckless and selfish remark, but I couldn’t hate it for some reason.I thought it was the process of becoming an adult.There was a time when I was talking nonsense like Budy.But one day he will realize, too, and that day may come sooner than I do. And even now that I think I am an adult, I am living by making a lot of mistakes and slip of the tongue casually.
I`m chatting with Budy when Nori is walking from the crosswalk.”Hello, Elle, Budy, what are you doing here?” said Nori.”As you can see, we`re talking about the world” I replied.”I have something to say to Elle,” Nori said with aserious look.”What is it?””I heard from Mi-Jeong that you’re going on a backpack trip to the South Island duringChristmas vacation.””Yes.”Since talking to Mi-Jeong, I imagined that Nori would eventually find out.”Elle, are you traveling to the South Island?” asked Budy.”Yes, please. Don’t tell anyone else” I said to Budy, laughing.
“I also want to travel to the South Island, but I have to go to Sydney to meet my friend on Christmas, I promised them I’d go, So, can you travel to the South Island with Daisuke?”I stared blankly at Nori.”Are you telling me to travel by motorcycle?” I said in surprise.Daisuke always rides a motorcycle.At school, he is famous for riding motorcycles well.But it is about a distant world to me.It was a relationship that we were together only when Nori was there.
We’re not very close, and we don’t talk much when we’re together,He is such an awkward school friend. Naturally, I refused.I was able to communicate with Daisuke because Nori was there.I couldn’t imaginetraveling on a motorcycle.Nori went on, regardless.”Daisuke was a professional motorcycle racer, so he is an absolutely safe driver. In many ways, travel expenses can be saved,” he continued to persuade me.That was true, but considering cost, going together with a Taiwanese family was the best option.
However, I could understand Daisuke’s desire to travel to the South Island bymotorcycle.Because New Zealand is a sacred place for motorcycle lovers.”I don’t think I can, but I’ll think about it,” I said.I thought it is impossible, but I felt sorry,”It’s not something I can decide right away, so can’t you give me some time?” I said.
After parting with Nori, I went to the information center to get the timetable of Kiwi Experience, a sightseeing bus, and headed to Aotea Square. In the blue sky there are long clouds like a thick thread, floating in the sunlight.”It’s New Zealand!” I said unconsciously.I have never thought of traveling with Daisuke on a motorcycle.
At the moment, I remembered riding a Daisuke`s motorcycle before.While I was studying in the library, I happened to meet Daisuke,Nori wasn’t around him.I wondered, and asked Daisuke why he was alone.He hesitated and couldn’t give an answer.I learned later that Mi-Jeong and Nori were dating, Daisuke knew before me.At that time, he came to the library to find Nori.Since he’s not there, Daisuke thought that Nori went with Mi-Jeong somewhere, so, he was about to go back home alone.Daisuke, who was hesitating but couldn’tanswer, and I went out for a while and drank canned coffee together.”How do you feel on a motorcycle?” I asked.”Very good!” Daisuke replied simply.
I smiled at his clear and calm answer.”Can I have a ride?” I asked.”Okay,” he laughed.And Daisuke once took me to Hillary’s house by motorcycle.I remembered it was a pleasant ride.”It happened” I murmured to myself.And on the way to the square, a motorcycle passed by.While Suzuki’s 250cc was passing by, a pink line clearly came into my eyes. It was Daisuke’s motorcycle. For a moment, the feeling flinching touched my heart.I couldn’t figure out what it was. It was like a momentary wind.And I felt a vague longing that I might be able to do it.I don’t know what it is, but if I don’t do it now, I can’t do it forever
I think it might be a mirage-like wind created by New Zealand.In the end, like New Zealand’s wind pushed my back,I decided to go on a motorcycle trip with Daisuke.Until then, Daisuke didn’t have many other friends besides Nori.It would have been difficult to get close to his classmates a little bit because they were young.For one reason or another, I decided to take Daisuke’s motorcycle and start a journey I’ve never done before.
Before we started our trip, we talked aboutvarious things, including the movable distance, time, and destination of a day’s motorcycle trip, etc.The destination of the trip was the South Island, so even if we push ourselves too hard, I made a schedule to avoid staying for a long time on the North Island where we are.So, I thought it would be a hard journey.Until then, Nori helped me communicate with Daisuke.I didn’t have much conversation with Daisuke at school.He seemed to be a little shy, so I didn’t want to put pressure on him.But when I saw him laughing and talking happily,the language of English may have made him a little nervous.
The day has finally come when the trip began.Daisuke came to pick me up at Hillary’s, and that’s how our journey began. To be continued in the original book ！！
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