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It's Hard to Forget
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Chapter Four:
By My Side
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A/N: Hi! So, here is yet another chapter. I'm not really that confident about this because I kinda rushed it. But, still, please read and review.
Disclaimer: I don't own PoT.
"You're being selfish." Ryota said.
Aimelyn felt pain. His words stung.
"Have you ever considered my feelings?" Ryota asked. "Has it ever occurred to you that what you're doing is hurting me, too? I would have felt better if you have rejected my proposal than to accept it for such a reason..."
"I..." she was at loss of words again. "Gomen." Her hand opened, allowing Ryota to slide the ring off her finger.
"I'll leave you two, then." He said as he headed for the door. He gently closed the door.
"Ah," Aimelyn muttered before taking a seat on one of the sofas. She pulled her legs up, resting her chin on her knees. She wrapped her arms around her legs and began to cry.
Ryoma stood there, not knowing how to react. During the many years that they've known each other, she has never cried in front of him. He didn't know how to comfort her, so he decided to wait... until she calms down.
---
Ryota walked to the balcony, looking at the darkness of the night sky, watching the glimmer of the stars. He placed his wine glass on the railing (Is this the right term? I'm not sure. =D) He stared at the white wine. Then he placed his hand over it, dropping the ring. He looked up again, sighing.
"What did you do?" Sakuno asked, stepping from the shadows and standing beside Ryota.
"Nothing really," Ryota casually answered. "I simply fixed the mess I've created."
"I wonder if it was really your mess in the first place." Sakuno whispered, looking up at the sky.
"From the descriptions I've heard from Aimelyn, that doesn't seem to be something that you would say." Ryota said, smiling at the petite woman beside him.
"People change," she responded.
"Of course," Ryota said, looking up again.
"So, I guess this means your engagement is off."
"Yeah. I didn't think she would try to stop me, though."
"But, then, wouldn't that be expected of her? After all, she keeps her word. It goes against her nature to..." Sakuno trailed off, looking at the ring sitting at the bottom of the wine glass, surrounded by the white wine. "What did you say to her?"
"I told her she was hurting me." Ryota looked at the wine glass. "I didn't think that she would believe such a lie."
"But, that wasn't entirely a lie, was it?" Sakuno said, understanding how he felt.
Ryota's eyes opened wide. He looked at the woman standing near him. "Right," he said. "I'm in pain. But it's not because she accepted my proposal for a reason other than loving me..."
"But, because she loves somebody else even after all that you've done." Sakuno said, feeling what she felt years ago.
"It seems you've had this kind of experience."
"Three years ago... with Ryoma-kun," Sakuno said, looking far away.
"Quite the troublesome couple, don't you think?"
"I guess."
"Sakuno-chan?" Fuji asked, approaching them.
"Oh, Fuji-kun!" Sakuno said, startled. She turned to face the tensai.
"Would you want to dance?" Fuji asked, offering his hand.
Smiling, Sakuno took it. "Don't worry, Yamato-san. You'll find the right one for you soon enough." Sakuno said before disappearing into the crowd.
"Ah." Ryota smiled. 'I wonder, though, if anyone could ever compare to Ayumi.'
---
"Sorry, about that." Aimelyn said when she finally calmed down.
"Ah." Ryoma said, still standing.
For a few minutes, nobody spoke.
"You were avoiding me." Ryoma said, looking at Aimelyn's eyes.
"Gomen," she replied, apologetically.
"Why?" Ryoma said, stepping toward her.
"Why, you ask?" Aimelyn said as she stood up and faced Ryoma. "It's because I couldn't face you, anymore."
"Wha-" Ryoma stopped when he say her crying again.
"I- I can't play tennis anymore." She said. "I'm sorry." She said as her knees gave in. She was now on the floor.
"What do you mean?" Ryoma asked.
"My knees can't handle playing tennis, anymore." She said in between her sobs.
Ryoma didn't speak, leaving Aimelyn to sob.
"So, what if you can't play tennis?" Ryoma asked, making his way toward Ayumi.
"I..." she looked down.
Aimelyn's eyes widened as she felt two strong arms wrap around her.
"You idiot," Ryoma said. "I don't care if you can't play, as long as you're by my side."
Aimelyn smiled, tears stopping.
"So," Ryoma said, standing up. "will you stay by my side? Ayumi?" he asked, stretching his left hand toward her.
'Ayumi? I haven't heard that in a long time. It feels weird... like it isn't my name.' she thought. "Ah," she said, reaching for his outstretched hand.
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A/N: So, how was it? Short, right? So, I think this will be the last chappie. So, please leave a review. Comments and flames are welcome. Both signed and anonymous reviews are accepted.