A/N: Yo. I'm gonna try a different kind of writing style.. I'm gonna do it from Fuery's point-of-view. Okay? Okay.
Fall In; Chapter 3: Streets
This morning, I found my old pair of specs inside a box that was labeled "For disposal". Good thing I never got around to disposing it.
I brushed the dust off the lenses and hurried to a mirror to see how it looks on me.
Last time I wore them, 'twas way back three, four years ago.
They were basically square-framed eyeglasses, pretty much like the same pair that I broke yesterday, but smaller.
"Phew."
I looked at my reflection.
I really liked how I looked in the morning.
Disheveled hair (no matter how I tried to keep them flat, they would just spring right back up), effortlessly presentable...and overall, okay-looking.
I guess I looked somewhat appealing because some women have confessed their affections for me. They said that I was cute, adorable and stuff. However, as I watched my reflection, I felt a need for improvement. A call for vanity, maybe.
As I looked into the mirror, I figured that if I wanted the person I like to like me back, I would have to work on my physical self.
...maybe I'll go try and work-out at a gym and probably get buff or something...
Noticed how I referred to my old pair of glasses as "them", like they were alive? Well, would like to think that they had lived with me all through the times that I wore them.
...and yeah, that was a very weird thing to say.
Well, you see I need to go out and get some errands done. But since I smashed my current pair of eyeglasses, I had to use them old ones.
I jammed the lenses further up my nose, and surveyed myself briefly.
Not bad at all.
Yup, they will have to do for now.
The morning was very warm, good thing I wore light clothes. A gray shirt and a pair of dark jeans that I rarely use was what I was wearing. I hope that I looked alright.
I was on my way over to his place when I saw him walking towards me. Lucky that the street was kinda crowded and that he was looking over his shoulder when I saw him.
I quickly turned around so that he won't see me. At that instant, I became nervous and jumpy just because he was around.
I don't know why, but he unknowingly does that to me. But what the heck? Why am I turning back? It's not like he'll swallow me alive or something...
He's a comrade who you can depend on.
An ally who has always been there.
A friend you can trust, albeit reckless sometimes.
He's Jean Havoc.
If I could slap myself back to my senses without anyone noticing, I would have done that.
"Yeah, like that will work."
So yeah, just go talk to him.
And Kain, please stop mentally talking to yourself.
It isn't unusual for co-workers to stop by and chat when they meet outside, is it?
I gathered my courage and turned to face him again when I found my path blocked.
By who else? Jean Havoc in the flesh, his chest 5 centimeters away from my face.
I don't know, but I wish I was a bit taller than I am now.
Quickly, I stepped backward, looking up at his cheerful face. I gulped, more of as a steadying gesture rather than a form of surprise.
"Morning, Fuery!" he said, peering down upon me.
"M-morning, Havoc."
I pray to God that please, please don't show any trace of a blush on my face.
"What? Did I scare you?" he said, before giving a hearty laugh. "You look pale, Kain. Are you okay?"
"No, I-.. I'm just fine, Jean." I said. "D-didn't e-expect to literally bump into you, i-is a-all."
Why did I have to stutter like that right now?
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that." said Jean as he held out my repaired spectacles inside its case. "Here, good as new. I got it fixed by an old friend, so no need to pay."
I took them from Jean and removed the old pair that I was wearing. He just stood there, as if he was watching a mildly interesting television show. I put the black-framed lenses on and felt like I was reunited with a lost part of myself.
"Thanks."
"No big." he said, inserting his hands into his pockets as he looked around.
I noticed that he wasn't smoking a cigarette today. Very unusual for him, really.
"Not smoking today, I see."
Last night, I was thinking about seeing Jean today. Well, I haven't thought that we can meet halfway. I haven't really planned on doing anything with him. I just... just needed to take back my glasses. That was the original plan.
"Well, if I don't reduce my smoking, my smoking will reduce me." he said with a shifty grin. "Get it?"
"Y-yeah. I do." --?!
I forced a small chuckle. Normally, I would've found that joke quite funny, but my mind being shrouded over with a static-like disturbance, I really didn't have ample time to take it all in.
I don't want to leave yet, but I also don't want this to become awkward, so...
I looked down at the ground, barely noticing that a person or two were casting us dark looks because we pretty much blocked half of the sidewalk.
"I g-guess I'll go n-n-now."
Jean suddenly snapped out of his reverie and looked at me so suddenly that I was quite taken aback. He gazed at me with his deep, azure eyes. I thought that I felt a bit of his disappointment in the look that he gave me. However, he spoke like he normally would.
"Uhh, yeah. See you... around."
I turned and reluctantly walked back home.
Really, that man confuses me.
At times like that when he would look at me, I would feel something I just can't explain. I feel uneasy, like he was trying to tell me something. I don't know, but somehow...
Somehow, I wished that he would tell me what I wanted to hear from him for so long.
So now, I have turned my back on him. Hopefully, he would have gone too. I imagined how odd it would look for us to stay standing here in the middle of a busy sidewalk.
I suddenly came up with an idea, but had no time to think it over. Once again, I turned around to run up to him. Maybe talk to him about being reassigned and stuff over breakfast. It was the least I could do to thank him for mending the glasses which granted me clearer vision.
It was really unexpected, but when I turned around, I saw him running towards me. I looked at him and cracked a grin. It was kinda funny, like we had the same things in mind.
I walked briskly and met with him. He was all-smiles, and I was too. Why? I didn't care why.
"So, had breakfast yet?" he said, looking positively cheerful again.
"Nope, you?"
"Same." he said, and he pulled me by the arm. "Let's go grab some food. It's on me today, Fuery."
"Hey, hey! No need to pull me. You know, I shouldn't say no to free food, yes?"
Jean just snickered as I wrenched myself free from his (surprisingly gentle) grasp.
"Hell, yeah, you shouldn't."
I just let myself get dragged by Havoc to somewhere he only knows. Well, you have to put all your trust on people you trust, don't you?
So I'll put this simply. I just felt that Jean was onto something. I also felt myself drawing nearer and nearer to him.
Because I am with him, I feel happy.
Jean had not only repaired my formerly shattered glasses to help me see clearly again. He had also shed light on my clouded eyes.
From that day, I realized that what I have been looking for has been here the whole time.
It suddenly dawned on me. I laughed at how slow I was in realizing this. Even though a little "Caution!" alarm popped up in my brain right now, I'll just have to take risks now to see where this leads.
We could be starting the "you and me forever" stuff right here, right now on this very day.
And so we walked down that busy sidewalk filled with busy people living their own busy lives...
I really don't know how love feels, but if it feels like this, then...
.
..
...
Yes, sir. I think I am on the way to love.
A/N: Kain's POV not working for you? Well, it works for me. Who gets the final say? I do.
Just kidding. Let me know if you aren't comfortable reading from this... limited first-person point-of-view. But, oh, I dunno. I like it better like this. It's like listening to someone telling a story (think story-reading around the campfire thingies), yes?
Not much readership on this story, but what the heck. I write to express, not to impress.
Leon, out! (I had always wanted to say that.)