By Chustang Sundust
~Part 1~
Realize
Moonlight played a slow song on the glittering black river, with
the light dancing like thousands of people depicted as thousands of white
dots. It was a perfect melody for her to cry to: totally silent. The tears
flashing clear on her tan skin were ignored as her lips murmured over a
few heartfelt lyrics to break the silence. Even silence began to press
in on you when you had this much to think about, and the time it takes
to heal a broken heart to think about it. Her crystal blue eyes lifted
up to the stars, clutching a small daisy in her long fingers, and she curled
her knees up to her chin. The girl sighed, and sniffed as a tear trickled
wetly down her nose and through her whiskers.
"Too bad," she said to herself. "Just too bad *sniff*… Aisha
ole girl. He just didn't give you a chance, that's all." The Ctarl-Ctarl
gave a sad smile, a strange emotion to grace her usually hyper and energetic
face full of life, and tossed the minute blossom onto the water. It drifted
quietly off, caught in the dancing light that seemed to buzz around the
unwanted visitor. Aisha fluttered her eyes half closed.
It was too late anyway. And it wouldn't have worked anyway. Even
if she wanted it to.
*Flashback*
Aisha was ecstatic and bouncing off the walls. The Ctarl-Ctarl
dashed room through room of the sunlit apartment, donning her best clothes.
Her white hair was thoroughly groomed and placed up in round pigtails,
with blue marble ties to keep them there. She was wearing a sassy blue
top with the words 90% Angel across the middle, and a white cargo skirt.
And across her face, the bubbly elation had stuck to a wild grin and it
would not fade. Her heart was rising up into her throat with happiness.
Dashing through the living room, it was strangely quiet in the
gold warmth of the sun pouring in. She paused and called again for her
fiancé-to-be, but there was no answer. The Ctarl-Ctarl looked around
cautiously, almost dreading, with her large, deep blue eyes flickering
around. She called again, and the voice echoed back, with no reply.
Aisha shifted uneasily, and slipped the velvet blue case into
her pocket, where she place her hand against the bulge. She knew it was
against all human and Ctarl traditions, but she knew if he wouldn't propose,
it would be her job. And there was no time… no telling how long before
he fell in love with someone else. She was just too afraid to lose him
before she had him.
She walked through the study, where papers were sprawled about.
Jim was sleeping in the piles of them; the yearly taxes. The Ctarl-Ctarl
paused, then walked over to him. Her blue eyes attained a sense of sentiment,
and she gently stroked the kid's cute face before picking his light body
up and carrying him up stairs to bed. Jim had been up all night doing them;
he deserved a break, especially all the emotional and financial support
he supplied all of the OLS crew. Flicking the light on with her tail,
Aisha gently placed him on the bed, and he sleepily opened his eyes as
she walked away and out into the hall. Jim smiled, and then turned on his
side to sleep.
By now, the lanky and dark-skinned Ctarl teen had fully begun
to worry. Had no one seen him? Where the hell could he be? Of all the ironic
things, now she couldn't find him when most of the time she couldn't get
away from him. And on the inside, it felt like he had her a leash, tugging
slowly then suddenly letting go.
Aisha shuddered, thinking about letting go.
But suddenly, she heard him. That low, enchanting voice that
drew her in a swirl of emotions again. It wasn't just a fling, she was
certain, but the final fight with Hazanko had proved it, hearing of the
strength and hero it had taken to beat him; She, Aisha Clan-Clan had fallen
for a human.
Barely able to contain her squealing, she rushed toward his room,
and was about to bust down the door in happiness, when it happened. She
heard the fears come to life. And she heard the other voice. Aisha paused,
seeing the door cracked open, and crouched silently next to the opening,
like a stalking tiger. Not daring to even touch the door if it might open
or give her away, she leaned breathlessly over and looked in.
Gene… and Melfina.
The redheaded outlaw was leaning against the wall, in jeans only,
and his mysterious dark blue eyes were focusing on the bio android beside
him, who leaned quietly against him. Mel had her arm reached over his chest,
and her hand around his neck, leaning her head against his shoulder. They
were talking quietly, with the breakfast tray on the table completely forgotten
and pushed away. Her heart twisted up painfully, as she saw her precious
outlaw give a returning squeeze on the hand on his neck, smiling his dark
and handsome face for her. Wild and breathtakingly red hair disheveled
and unbrushed, he suddenly eased his other arm around her waist, until
it was like dancing.
"Listen Mel…" he said shyly, putting his hand on her shoulder.
"I know I've neglected you in the past few weeks. It's just that…"
Aisha was praying for him to say, "It's just that I love someone
else." But it was wrong deep in her fabric. And with tears rolling freely
down her strong and giddy face, the Ctarl-Ctarl lipped the word "No" over
and over, hoping silently for this nightmare to all end. Aisha buried her
chin and mouth in her hands; barely able to keep her eyes open for what
happened next. It just broke her heart, plain and simple.
"It's just that… I love you, and I was to afraid to say it…"
"Gene!"
But he had pressed his forehead to hers, and a scarred finger
came up to her lips to quiet her. Melfina was beaming with a soft smile
of elation, as they drew closer. Aisha's eyes widened, misty with tears,
and her lip trembled in longing and anguish. She saw them until the lips
met, and then it blurred her whole world into disruption and corruption.
Aisha fell back from the door, screaming no at the top of her lungs so
the entire street echoed with her heartbreak, and she heard them fall into
silence.
Suddenly, Jim bolted out of his room and was panting, looking
around. "Aisha, what happened? What's wrong? Why'd you scream like that?"
His eyes were locked with hers, and she staggered up, biting her lip and
shaking her head while clear tears glittered like diamonds on her face.
The Ctarl-Ctarl flashed her eyes back, as Gene opened the door to look
out in surprise, and seeing him again, with Melfina held at his side, cut
the final straw.
She ran.
*End Flashback*