Eternally
By Lady-Rinoa14
Chapter 1: Unexpected encounters
"Unexpectedly you came into my life. We started as strangers and don't even know that both of us exist. Now that I knew you, I have realized the beauty of expecting the unexpected…"
Summary: Love comes into our lives unexpectedly. Squall, a popular athlete wanting to be loved meets Rinoa, a mysterious lady running away from love. Faced with many obstacles in life which involves Rinoa's secret, is love really worth fighting for?
A/N: Good day everyone! I'm back with an AU Squinoa fic. This story just came into my head and so I want to share it with you guys. I hope that you'd enjoy this. Ü
The title of this new fic of mine is inspired by the song, 'Eternally' by miss Utada Hikaru. It's one of my favourite songs since it's so inspiring and beautiful. He-he. Okay, on with the story. Enjoy reading!Ü
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VIII.
What IS love?
That is the one question that I may never ever get to answer for all my life and probably the only feeling that I may never experience.
There are so many things that prevent me from doing the things I want to do. There are also lots of things that I have to avoid just to escape from the pain of hurting others.
I have experienced the joys and pains of living. During the sixteen years of my life, I have been sheltered from people and from the things that I want to do. I have experienced the sorrows and the delights in of living…but there's still this one thing that I may never experience…
Love…
I have heard from lots of people that it is the most wonderful thing on Earth and probably the saddest thing that ever existed, but here I am fantasizing and daydreaming towards the day where I might get the chance to see it and feel it.
And probably, that moment is not far away. I think that I finally saw it the day I met him…
Balamb is a lot different from Deling city. This place is more peaceful probably because Deling is much more crowded. The air here is much more refreshing and it gives me a light soothing feeling.
How I wish that mom were with me right now. I'm sure that she would've enjoyed Balamb rather than Deling. I used to hate this place so much but I guess time flies by really fast and I can't even imagine that I now liked this place by just spending three months here.
Here I have to live on my own which is good. I'm quite glad that my so-called father who is the General in the Galbadia army agreed with my wish for the first time in years. And now, I have to carry my problems with me.
It's been awhile since I've last been out, it's so nice to be out, thought Rinoa as she looked up the azure sky.
The sun's so high though but I guess I'll make it to the day. She then opened her white umbrella and adjusted her white hat as she started walking at the streets of Balamb.
I wonder what I still need to buy, she thought to herself as she passed by a couple of stores already.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she suddenly heard a whistle blow. Looking around at her surroundings, she instantly realized that she was now in front of the local gymnasium. It was like a huge dome type of gym where every sporting group can train and practice.
Curiosity got the best of the raven-haired woman as she slowly walked towards the entrance door. She 'peeked' at the gymnasium and saw a group of what seemed like basketball players all wearing their red practice jersey uniforms jogging around the dome-like place.
At the middle of the dome gym, there's a huge basketball court and beside it was a volleyball court. And all around the courts were seats for the audiences. The seats reached up to five levels all around.
I guess the people in Balamb are all athletic, she told herself upon seeing the huge gym. After a while she heard another loud whistle coming from a man wearing glasses, who probably was the coach of the team, standing at the middle of the basketball court.
"Leonhart! Come here!" shouted the brown haired middle-aged looking man.
Rinoa looked from the crowd of jogging men wondering whom the coach was calling Leonhart. After a while, a brown-haired young man separated himself from the jogging crowd, wiped the sweat from his forehead by his right arm and walked towards his elder.
He's probably Leonhart, thought Rinoa as she eyed the young man intently. She can only see the side view of him and she can see his muscular well-toned body. Rinoa blushed at the fact that she was actually thinking that he was hot.
"Squall," she heard the older man say. Squall… That's probably his first name, Rinoa didn't even realize that she was trying to listen to their conversation.
"Squall," the older man repeated, "You're a good leader, and we all know that. You're our ace player, and we all know that. Everyone can see your skills and talents. You're good at what you do."
The young brunette had a cold look on his expression as he stared at his coach, "Then what's this all about?"
"What's this all about?" the older man chuckled, "Squall, let me ask you this question. Why are you here and what are you fighting for?"
"What?" asked the teen without changing his cold expression, "I don't understand. What's that got to do with me?"
The older man removed his glasses and wiped it using his white t-shirt, "You see Squall. We can all see your potential as a good student and athlete but what we fail to see from you is your heart. Your purpose, Squall."
What is he saying? Why would they care of what I want to do? "I seem to be missing your point here coach," the brunette replied.
"You are the team captain of this team, my boy. They chose you because they know that you can lead them very well. My point is that I want you to reflect on yourself and see if studies and basketball are enough for you to achieve something important. It seems to us that you're playing without a cause."
"I don't find any reason why any of you should care about my reasons and purpose for doing what I want to do."
"Do you have one?" his coach dared with a smile.
Damn it. A purpose? I'm not really sure if I understand him right. I just… play basketball. I maintain my high grades then what does he mean by a purpose? A purpose for doing these things, huh? I do this because I just want to. To kill time probably? To avoid my personal conflicts with life? I don't know anymore.
The older man put back his glasses on and continued to smile, "I thought so. We are just concerned about you. You see, basketball is just temporary Squall. It's not forever. And later on, you will find out there are things outside your basketball and popular life."
Squall nodded. Now I'm trying to see what he's getting at.
"I've heard that you're popular among the girls, Squall. But never had a girlfriend, eh?" his coach teased.
Squall shook his head. This guy's nuts.
"Well, maybe it's time for you to have one!" the old man declared. "Just joking about that but I'm telling you Squall, lighten up a bit. You're always into basketball and studies, which is good, but learn to reflect on the things around you. Know why you are here and what are you fighting for."
Squall nodded, "I understand coach."
"Good. Now, I guess we're done here. You could go now if you like, you've worked so hard these past few days. I still need to train your team mates here," his coach offered.
"Thank you coach," replied the young brunette as he once again wiped the sweat from his forehead with his jersey.
As he was walking towards the bench where his things were placed, his gaze diverted to the entrance door where a young woman, dressed in a white Sunday dress, stood.
Who is she? He wondered as he stared at her intently. Long, shiny black hair, with hints of gold and brown fall down her face and back. Her pale face glowing with a hint of redness on her cheeks and her eyes… a chocolate brown that was so mysterious that it penetrated him. He was stunned at her beauty that he can't seem to take his eyes off her.
I haven't seen her before. In all my sixteen years here in Balamb, I've never seen anyone like her. He mentally told himself as he kept his gaze focused on the mysterios young woman at the entrance door of the gym.
Rinoa heard the whole conversation between the young man and his coach and even felt that it was wrong to listen to the other's conversation. Even after the long talk between the athlete and his superior, she still hasn't removed her eyes from the young man.
It made her heart jump as she realized that the young man that she was staring at earlier was now staring right back at her! She felt her cheeks blush as she locked her chocolate brown eyes to that of steel blue ones.
His eyes… Rinoa couldn't tear off her gaze from the young brunette, who at the same time was staring right back at her. There was something that captivated her by just looking at his piercing blue eyes.
While he was facing her, she took the advantage to observe him and blushed more as she noticed how handsome this young man was. Brown hair where his bangs fall in front of his eyes, he has a well-toned body, and moreover cold steel azure eyes that gives him a different aura.
So handsome this guy is… Rinoa thought to herself.
They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Their unbroken stares were broke when Squall's coach whistled once again, as a sign for his boys to end their jogging.
They both flinched at the sound of the whistle, which made them break their eye contact with each other. Squall shook his head and headed for towards the bench and fished into the pockets of his varsity bag for a towel. He put the towel from behind his neck and picked up his bag.
After saying goodbye to his teammates, Squall made his way to the entrance door where the young woman was standing before but she was not there anymore.
He hurriedly walked towards the door for any hopes of finding the young woman that he was looking at earlier but to no avail, she had left.
Sighing, he walked over to his black motorcycle that was parked by the entrance. He put on his red helmet and placed his red varsity bag behind him as he rode his on vehicle.
She's so mysterious. An angel? Squall shook his head as he thought of the woman that he just saw. He shook his head in disbelief that he thought that he just saw an angel.
Get real, he told himself, Maybe it's the Angel of Death that's come to get me.
The engine roared and he sped off into the streets, secretly wishing to see the beautiful angel that he thought he saw.
That was a close one, Rinoa breathed heavily after running so fast. After hearing the sound of the whistle, she left the gym and ran as fast as she can.
I made a complete fool out of myself, she thought as she now regained her composure. Standing up straight, she once again opened her white umbrella and put on her white hat. While walking down the streets of Balamb, her rosy lips curved into a small smile as thoughts of the young man, whom she have known to be called Squall, entered her mind.
Maybe we'll see each other again someday…
Nighttime came and the sky was filled with billions of stars. The streets of Balamb were clear. Though it's nighttime, it's not really dark. There were lampposts on the corner of every street and only a few people were straying off in the streets.
"It's getting dark, better go back," Squall said as he slowly stood up from his lying position on the flower-filled grass.
After his practice at the gym and that encounter with the young woman, he decided to go to his favourite place in Balamb, the flower field which is located a little bit far off the city.
He discovered this place when he was young and was attracted to the peaceful aura that it has. He often goes to this place whenever he felt the need to think. To be alone, to reflect and to just relax.
He was now wearing a white shirt, brown leather jacket on top of it, jeans and a necklace with a lion pendant on it. It seemed that he changed his clothes as he went there.
Putting his helmet on, he sat on his motorcycle and gripped the handles with his gloved hands. As the engine roared with life, he drove towards the city.
Rinoa Heartilly walked down the streets of Balamb while holding a plastic bag in one hand and an umbrella at the other. After running away from the gymnasium where she saw a young man, she decided to shop for her new school materials to be needed.
As she was crossing the street, she can't help herself to look up at the star-filled sky. There're so many stars tonight. How pretty…
Squall drove his motorcycle at the city and as he turned around the corner, with his hands gripping the handles a little tighter to increase the speed of his vehicle, he failed to see a figure standing at about fifteen feet away from him.
After a few seconds, it was then that he noticed someone standing at the middle of the street. Drawing nearer, he tried to focus his vision more on the person standing a few feet from him.
This can't be true. Is she it? He noticed the white dress that she wore, her shiny black hair and her pale porcelain-like skin that glimmered under the moonlight. As he was too preoccupied with his thoughts, he failed to remember the speed of his motorcycle and that he was speeding towards her.
Finally, the person dropped down her gaze from the sky and instantly looked at the speeding motorcycle. Her eyes went wide as she realized that she was about to be hit by it. She instinctively covered her face with her hands when the front lights of the vehicle almost blinded her.
Squall's eyes widened, when he saw the face of the angel that he saw earlier. And because of that, he totally forgot that he's almost going to end the girl's life with a hit from his motorcycle.
Without a second more, he sharply turned his motorcycle, which made it slide down the streets and eventually hit a tree.
Squall was thrown off his motorcycle and ended up rolling on the streets.
Damn, that hurt. Squall stood up from his fall and held his right arm with his left hand. He didn't get any scratches at all, but the impact that he got from falling off his motorcycle and considering that he landed on the ground with his right side, made him feel pain. This will go away soon, he thought.
He scanned his surroundings looking for the young woman that he just almost ran over. His eyes then landed on a figure lying down at the middle of the street.
Am I still alive? I guess I still am. Rinoa asked herself mentally, as she lay there on the ground when suddenly she heard footsteps approaching her.
"Miss? Miss? Hey miss, are you all right? Open your eyes, please," said a cold voice with a hint of concern.
What the…? Who could that be? Rinoa thought as she opened her eyes gently. As she opened her eyes, she felt her breath taken away.
Those same eyes… Rinoa blinked a couple of times to ensure herself that this was not a dream. She found herself lying in the arms of the young man that she saw earlier. Chocolate brown eyes locked with steel blue ones once again.
For a moment, they just stayed like that but a flinch that came from Rinoa's body made them go back to reality.
Squall shook his head and asked the young woman in his arms softly, "Are you alright? Can you stand?"
"Yes," she replied weakly.
A bit shaken from the incident, Squall held the young woman's arms with his hands as he helped her get to her feet.
"Thanks," Rinoa muttered as she slowly bent down the ground to pick up her plastic bag and umbrella, which Squall ended up doing in the end.
Rinoa muttered another 'thank you' to the handsome stranger in front of her and kept her head down to hide her blush.
Squall looked at her intently once again and found the urge to speak, "What were you doing at the middle of the street anyways?"
Rinoa looked up and met his eyes, "I'm sorry about that. I was just… looking at the stars, you see."
The stars? Squall then lifted his gaze up the sky and saw billions of diamond-like stars twinkle at the sky.
"I've got to go," Rinoa said, making Squall look at her once again, "I'm sorry for today."
"Wait," he began, "Were you the one at the gym earlier?"
Rinoa kept her head down to hide her cheeks that was turning red but slowly nodded.
I see… What a coincidence, Squall thought. "Are you new here? I've never seen you around before."
Rinoa, not finding the courage to speak, slowly nodded once again.
Why is she like that? Is she scared of me? Or maybe, she was still in a state of shock after what happened? Squall asked himself these questions. This girl in front of him sure is mysterious. Mysterious but lovely, he told himself.
"I have to go. I apologize again for what happened to you and to your motorcycle. If you want, I'll just pay you," Rinoa said.
"No, don't be and you don't have to. It's alright," he assured her.
Rinoa gave him another nod which gave him the cue that she's about to leave.
Squall nodded in return but noticed blood ooze from Rinoa right arm. "Hey, you're bleeding."
Rinoa looked down at her arm and shook her head, "It's alright. I'll just wash it at home. It's no big deal."
"Wait," he said, trying to stop her from leaving without helping her. He then fished through his pockets for his red handkerchief. He then gently, applied pressure on the scratch of her arm just to stop it from bleeding before tying it. "It may get infected. Wash it when you get home, all right?"
Rinoa nodded once more, feeling very thankful at the young man, as she turned her back to him to walk home.
"Hey," Squall called out once more, "My name is Squall. May I know yours?"
Rinoa turned around to face him with a smile, "I know that. I guess we'll be seeing each other soon, Squall." And with that, she ran out of his sight.
Squall was left there, dumbstruck. She knows my name? And what does she mean by we'll see each other again?
He smirked as he thought of her last words. What a mysterious lady. He shook his head. I don't know what I'm doing. I thought I hate girls, they are just burdens in life. Then why did I even bother asking her name or even approach her? I should've just left her there. But I didn't… Why?
He walked over to his fallen motorcycle and the good thing was that it only received a few scratches on the front. Putting his helmet back on, he drove himself home.
There's just something so enchanting about her… Especially when she smiles.
The next day, in Balamb High, the school's bell rang as a sign that classes are about to start.
Squall, together with his friends, sat down at their assigned seats. He felt tired because of all his practices with his team and doesn't have the motivation to listen to the lecture of all his teachers.
Sitting beside the window, he only looked outside, admiring the sky.
Their teacher entered the room bringing with a couple of books. He put the books down his table and greeted the class, "Good Morning students."
"Good morning, Professor Highwind," the students boringly replied in unison.
The Professor smiled and then began to speak once more, "Before we start the class, I am happy to announce that a new student will be joining your class from now on. She's come all the way from Deling just to study here so I want you to be kind to her."
Irvine, a friend of Squall who has a long brown hair, which he tied with a ponytail, sat two seats away from his friend leaned in, "Hey Squall, you think that this new student will be a hot one?"
Squall shrugged, not bothering to look at his friend and kept his gaze outside the window, "Whatever."
Professor Highwind then invited the new student in.
A raven-haired young woman entered the room, wearing their school uniform, a white polo with white buttons lined up at the middle and a maroon skirt that reach up to her knees.
She smiled shyly at her new classmates and introduced herself, "Hello everyone, my name is Rinoa Heartilly. I'm from Deling city and it's a pleasure to be here in this school."
Scanning the room, Rinoa flinched when she saw Squall sitting at the back with his eyes concentrated outside.
It's him…
Squall, upon hearing the voice of the new student, diverted his gaze from the sky to the young brunette standing in front of the classroom. He felt his jaw drop and his eyes widen at the same time when her gaze met his.
"Hey Squall, isn't she a beauty?" he heard Irvine hiss.
Squall was speechless and her last words from last night repeated itself into his mind. Hyne, I'm dreaming…
A/N: Okay, done! So, what do you think? Comments? Suggestions? Let me know what you think when you leave a review, oki? Please review… Ü I'd really appreciate it when you do…
This story just popped out of my head and I decided to write it for you guys. Since it's our summer break, I'll be focusing more on this story.
And to those who're waiting for the updates on my other stories, don't worry. When I have my free time, I'll work on that.
Anyways, good day to all! Take care everyone! Until next time… Ü
Lady-Rinoa
