The story of us

Chapter two: inescapable.

I looked down at my phone in disbelief. It showed a tiny little envelope with your name written below it. 'No' would have been my first thought. This couldn't possibly be you. I've made it very clear the last time that I never wanted to see your pretty face again. But if I really meant that, why was my heart pounding so fast just because of one brief look at your name. Thoughts came rushing through my mind to explain this 'incident'.

'Maybe it's not him, maybe it's another Gippal…'

'It could be something about his work and nothing personal…I am quite the mechanic so…'

'Dad could have asked him to ask me something…'

Don't really know how much time I spend figuring out excuses but after a while I was sick of it. I decided to just ignore the stupid message. Not the best idea ever. Somehow I had forgotten that I got this phone from my dad, my pushy, want to know it all dad. Sooo he appears to have programmed some high-tech thingy into my phone so that, whenever someone 'important' calls or sends me a text message, the damn thing just keeps on repeating it until I read it or pick it up!

Of course I would not let this thing win so easily. I just stared back at my computer, at the summary I had to make for school, which I was trying to finish. Two to three words later, I thought I was doing very well at ignoring the beeping… and at writing the god damn summary too for that matter… until…

'Gippal says: We..need..to..talk. End of message. I repeat Gippal says: we…need…to..talk. End of message'

'WHAT?' I yelled out loud. I knew my dad was capable of programming such a thing but I never thought he would push himself to programming it in MY phone behind MY back! Anyways the thing kept on repeating the message so I opened it. I expected the words to be divided by dots because the voice had seemed to read so slowly. But… they were not. I guess my dad isn't as good as he used to be. Ten years ago he would have programmed a fluently speaking, fail proof program with his hands tied to his back. Mmmh.. I guess he's getting old.

But there was another, more urgent problem. Why is it that Gippal wanted to talk? And wasn't this some cheesy way to get back with me again? How could I ever be sure that this wasn't some scheme he had been planning ever since the day I kicked his butt out of the Bikanel dessert and back into Djosé temple where he belongs. I knew that if he intended to get back into my life, I would let him. It's one thing to ignore a pretty face when you don't see it, it's a totally different thing to say no to someone you still care about. Then again it's also difficult to erase a text message that appears to be so serious.

My fingers were trembling and it was as if my heart took control. I grabbed the phone in one swift move and typed a short, but effective 'what?'. The only thing I had left to do is hit the 'send' button. Even a simple thing like that can be hard when you're as curious as I was at the time. I wondered if he even deserved to get an answer from me. Then again, I figured that if there was something serious, I would want to know about it. What if he's dying from a disease even Yuna wouldn't be able to cure? A part of me smiled and imagined him laying on the floor whispering my name and thinking about what an ass he has been. Yet, my inner-Rikku got her act together, told herself that wouldn't happen even if he was dying and hit the send button anyways. As if she didn't care.

I tried to get back to work, honestly. But I just couldn't find the words to write anymore. The god damn guy didn't only take over my mind; he now controlled my grades as well. I decided that this school thingy wasn't going to work before I knew what was going on. So I did what every Al Bhed princess would do in this situation. I went to the fridge; got myself a big bucket of Ben and Jerry's and dialled dad's number.

'You've reached Cid, congratulations' was the first thing I heard. He always answers the phone in such a way you just got to smile and roll your eyes at the same time. But this time I would let him of the hook on that matter. I had more important things to discus with him.

'Dad? We need to talk!' I tried to be as formal as I could be towards my dad, but somehow it just didn't come out right.

'What? You got a bone to pick?' Sigh… that's always his response and maybe I should've gotten used to that over the years, but I still feel like a little girl put in the corner every single time he confronts me like that. But I wasn't going to let him win this time. I was old enough to stick this conversation out for once.

'Yeah I do! YOU programmed some voice into my phone that just doesn't know when to call it quits! If I don't want to pick up or know what someone send me, than that's my decision' Silence was all that followed. And after that, an ironic laugh.

'Now listen up, Missy. Remember who made you that phone in the first place? Yes, indeed, it was I. And if I, as your father, want you to pick up your phone and talk to me… You, as a daughter, are in no place to decide you won't. Have I made myself clear, princess?'

'But dad… This isn't about YOU calling. This is about Gippal sending me a text message and me who can't avoid the brat.'

'I've got nothing to do with Gippal. Your business with Gippal doesn't interest me one bit. As long as he continues his good work and keeps his hands of of you, I'm fine with him.'

'But…'

'Rikku, I don't have time for buts. I got a second line coming in, and I'm working on a machine that can go kaboom any minute now. So I'll talk to you when I get home. Okay? Now you be a good girl. Bye'.

Urgh. I repressed the sudden urge to throw my phone out of the window right then and there. Instead, I got to thinking. If dad only programmed my phone to be so annoying when he calls, why does the damn thing respond the same way to Gippal's number? This couldn't possibly be a defect in the program, my dad maybe old but he's not stupid. There could only be one person who would want to annoy me this much. Gippal. Boy he will have to have a good explanation for this or he'll be toast when I get my hands on him! I'll let Lulu fry him and I'll make sure Yuna won't be around to heal him for the first couple of hours!

When my anger finally dropped to a… somewhat normal level, my phone made a familiar beep. Knowing that I wouldn't escape what he had to say anyways, I decided to face this text message head on.