Jacques was staring outside his window. There was a vase with a small rose planted in it. He remembered when he was 10. There was once a girl whom he had met. She was called Hannah, if he's not mistaken.

He was inexcusably stupid for listening to her, but, he was in love with her and of course, he couldn't afford to lose her. Jacques would usually hang out with his friends and Hannah had always to tell him to spend the recess with her but did he listen? Nope. And so, Hannah was furious for it was the third week and Jacques still didn't spend time with her.

"I'm really, really sorry," begged Jacques "Please?"

Hannah shook her head until she spotted a bush of pink roses and oh my, does she love roses! She grinned evilly before eyeing Jacques. Jacques gulped as his instincts told him that something was up.

"I will forgive you," Jacques smiled "but on one condition," Jacques felt so small, kneeling in front of Hannah and begging for her forgiveness.

Hannah continued "Pick that rose, the huge one with lots of thorns, with your bare hands. No matter if you bleed, or hurt, you can't stop until you have that roses completely in your grasps. If you stopped just one second, it's over."

Jacques looked hurt and Hannah felt guilty but because she was selfish, she would not let that get in the way of her plan.

Jacques pulled it. He hissed as his thumb made in contact with the thorns. He pulled back his hands.

"Two more strikes and you're OUT!"

Jacques pulled again, the thorns tore the skin of his ring finger. There were many scars on his hands but he didn't stop until one of the biggest thorns planted itself into the soft skin of Jacques'. He pulled his hand again.

Jacques looked at Hannah. Hannah couldn't help but feel guilty but again, she was selfish. She shook her head and Jacques continued.

Goddamn you, rose!Jacques cursed.

Jacques gave another pull and now, all of the huge thorns were buried deeply and completely into his finger. Jacques cried but he still didn't stop. Hannah heard his cry, but somehow, the stupidity and the selfishness of hers were stronger than her guilt.

FINALLY!He had finally pulled the rose. No, not just one but two. It seems that he had already picked the first rose but what's with him picking two?

"Huh?" Hannah was confused "Why did you picked two?"

"one's for you, one's for me," Jacques beamed "So that both of us will remember this immature love."

Hannah smiled but it looked almost as if she was smirking. "How cheesy…"

Jacques blushed. Hannah leaned forward a plant a small kiss on the his cheek.

"What? Only cheek? Why not lips?"

Hannah rolled her eyes with a small smile. "Because—you have to pick 80 roses for me if you want me to kiss you, fully on the lips…

And that's when he wouldn't stop picking roses. Four roses per month. When he was 12, by February, on Valentine's Day, he had finally got what he had always wanted. And it was wonderful!

But, did I ever tell you, that he would ALWAYS get scolded by his mother, every time she saw his hands with scars and his fingers bleeding. But every drop of blood was worth it. But…

80 roses, just for one kiss… does that sounds fair? Well, to me, NOT! But, Jacques was head over heels and on cloud nine whenever he saw Hannah smiled. So, I guess he would even abandon the Black Pawkeets just for her love, or just another lame kiss…

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