The characters from the game belong to Capcom.

A/N:I'm not english native speaker, so you might find some typos or grammar mistakes, I do apologize for that. I hope you enjoy it.

A/N: I decided to update earlier this time, I'll have a very busy weekend and I don't know when I will get the pc.


Evana's POV

I pretended that gesture didn't matter. I pretended that I didn't feel the surge of energy between us. I pretended that – God help me – I just didn't care. I don't know how I did that, but being capable to keep a face of smelling roses at the moment of that kiss just felt incredible; at least towards my rival. I fought the urge to back her away, lean into him to assure he was mine. I won that game of provocations externally. Well, it also felt good that Chris turned to me without even saying goodbye to Emma.

However, despite acting naturally in front of her, our walk was silent and tense again when we were sure she had lost the track on us.

After that scene I definitely didn't have any mood left to appreciate the lake with him because the bad thoughts and my horrible imagination didn't leave me in peace giving me the images I didn't want to see of Chris and Emma together during those 30 minutes or in all the times they met in my absence. However, I was so lost in my own thoughts that I ended up going in the direction of the lake with Chris following me.

We stood side-by-side looking at the lake. It was a winter landscape but it still had its beauty and enchantment. It was a scene right out of a fairy tale, something almost every girl wished for some time or the other and I wasn't any different. I even had a prince charming by my side to add to this moment, and even then, I was failing to appreciate all of it. Both my heart and mind were poisoned by the kiss that I witnessed moments ago, and nothing seemed good enough to me.

"Wow this place is amazing!", Chris broke the silence between us.

"Yeah", was the only response I had for him.

"So I was thinking", he spoke not looking at me, "That we should go have a small treat with the money I just earned", he waved the money in front of me, "Maybe get a drink and some snacks."


Chris's POV

Evana let out a sigh and it appeared that she was displeased with the idea, "I am not really in a mood for that."

"Well, why not?", I asked her with a shrug, "You can show me more of the town and we can get…"

"I don't have time for it", she cut me in between, "I have something to do…", she avoided looking at me when she spoke that.

"What?", I asked in a disappointed tone, noticing that she didn't want to share my company.

"I…", she looked around before meeting my eyes, "I have to meet up with Yana. I haven't seen her in a while."

"Alright… I'm going to walk a little around the town." I backed away not wanting to force my presence.

"Okay, just don't get lost." she said with a slightly forced smile

"I won't." I assured her and she turned her back on me.

I watched her leave, feeling a slight sting in my chest. It didn't take a genius to see that she wasn't really fond of me, but then again I had caused too much trouble for her to get in her good books. Just when I was trying to live past my image of a drunkard, Emma kissed me, slapping the tag of pervert on me. Although Evana didn't say anything but I could just feel that she had distanced herself away from me since that moment.

I know I'm still a man and there's a part of me that urges for a physical contact. It's been a while as far as I remember… at least I'm sure I don't feel human touch since I was in the hospital… but I'm not that kind of man, I can feel it. I might not remember my love life prior to the amnesia, but this man here, he is a man of just one woman and he has doubts about how to make the next move.

That woman is you, Eva. I long for your touches, for your skin and I wish that those lips touching mine were yours. So I really felt bad because I felt betraying you, betraying my initial feelings for you.

I might not know much about you, I don't know if you are a free woman or what kind of life you do really have, but I don't even think about it. I don't think I have that right. I know we have a great friendship and this is the comfortable zone I prefer to keep even though my heart claim for yours.

From today on, I'd better start staying more distant from you before I regret something that I could've had prevented. I'll work harder to make more money so I can finally leave your house and not destroy our partnership.


TPOV

Chris observed the lake for a long time. He observed the nature around as if he was cleaning his inner feelings before he could go back to Evana's house and act as if they were just friends.

He took a deep sign before leaving the lake and walk around the small streets alone. Alone – that was the feeling he was feeling at that moment, actually since he left the hospital despite the guilty feelings.

Everything made him think of Evana, the bijoux shops that were in a considered number at that part of town; that was something that was all about her. Some women passed by him looking at him, but none of them did really get his attention, but maybe he should start reconsidering to get to know someone else to calm down his male instincts, however he wouldn't do that now.

After a walk of 40 minutes, Chris entered in an alley that apparently was a street of hostels. There were vacancies in of all them, as if they were inviting him to stay, but he just ignored it and reached the end of the alley that gave entrance to a much crowd street, full of restaurants and bars. A specific one caught his attention, "Dora's Bar" he thought and headed in the direction

He entered in the old-fashioned and rustic bar. Some of the men that drank on the tables looked at him and seemed to say something he couldn't understand. He headed to the bar counter and a female bartender with long and brown hair came to his direction. She asked about his order in her language, but Chris made a face he couldn't understand her, "I just speak English." He said hopeful she could understand him

"What's your order?" she asked, her accent was more evident than Evana's

"Beer." He said thinking it would be his best and cheapest option for the moment as he didn't plan to get wasted, but a cup of beer wouldn't kill anyone, right?

The woman didn't take too long to place a big glass of beer in front of him, "Want something to eat? Snacks?"

"A portion of French fries."


Evana arrived at her house, she was too upset. With tears blurring her vision, she walked dazedly to her bedroom. She took a few deep, shaky breaths in a desperate attempt to get herself under control. She had to be strong because she didn't have the luxury of having a shoulder to cry on. Sure, there was her friend Yana, but Evana didn't want her best friend's shoulder anymore, she wanted Chris's.

She took another deep breath, thinking of all the possible ways she could distract herself and the best option was to get herself absorbed in work. It would keep her from thinking about the kiss as well as the pain it caused her heart to bear. She took the time to train a bit at her gym and after that, she headed to her small kitchen and started to prepare the lunch. At least she could have the meal she loved.


Chris just stared at his glass filled with beer, with a million thoughts running in his mind. He really wanted to bring the glass to his lips and take a sip of that yellow liquid, knowing very well that it was the very thing that could ease the ache in his heart. It was the only thing that could make him forget about his worries, but still he couldn't bring himself to do it for some past half an hour.

He kept thinking about the promise he made with Evana regarding his drinking habit over and over again. His mind was telling him that it was all right because he wasn't drinking at her place, but his heart kept asking him if he wanted to betray Evana once again. If the liquid in the glass could soothe him more or comfort him better than the woman his heart longed for.

Chris gripped the glass tightly, as the moment when Emma kissed him rolled like a movie in his head. He was reminded how Evana distanced herself from him after that and how it made him feel; he didn't want to feel that way again and if he drank that glass of beer, then he might end up distancing Evana even more.

At that moment, Chris knew that he had to clear things out with Evana, and tell her the truth. He knew that she would understand what actually happened and see the situation for what it was. He left his glass at the counter and almost ran back home, without thinking about it twice. He almost burst through the front door like a bear, startling the blonde woman, who was working in the kitchen.

"Evana…", Chris spoke between the pants, making his way towards her, "I am sorry but I can explain…"

"What are you talking about?", she asked confused.

"The kiss…", he said still trying to catch his breath and he noticed lines of frown run across her face, "You have to believe me… I am not like that", he tried to say it as earnestly as possibly, "I have nothing to do with Emma… it was her. She was the one who forced it on me", He spoke it as fast as he could before Evana stopped him from speaking.


(Evana's POV)

I widened my eyes in perplex, I couldn't believe he felt bad and guilt for something he didn't really cause, at least not in that specific moment, "That's how 'offered Emma' acts… it wasn't your fault."

"Offered Emma." he laughed a bit, "She really is a bold woman…maybe a little too much in my opinion." He added

"Men like that about her…"

"I guess I'm still the old-fashioned one then."

"What do you mean?" I asked with a puzzled look

"Never mind… it's just something I thought loud." He said passing his hand on his hair

I remained in silence.

"What's your story with Emma?"

That question took me by surprise. Never crossed my mind he would want to know such thing after all that scene, a few instants ago.

"It's a long story. You really shouldn't bother yourself with that", I said avoiding the subject. I didn't want to lie to him and I couldn't bear with another blow to my heart today, so it was in my interest that I kept Emma and my rivalry story under wraps.

"I have all the time you know", he said being persistent about knowing our history.

"Believe me you're better off not knowing", I spoke taking the lunch out of the plate, "Now c'mon let's have lunch before it gets cold", I added before he could say anything in counter.

We sat together to have our lunch and it was silent like usual. I knew he wanted to know me more and I wanted him to know me more, but I just didn't know how to do that without hurting myself. There was a lot of things in my past that just filled me with shame and embarrassment, and maybe Chris could look past it all but still it was hard for me to face those things and tell him my story…shameful story.

Once we were done with our meal, Chris offered to do the dishes and took the dirty plates back to the sink. I excused myself in lieu of not feeling well and wanting to rest in the bedroom. I couldn't handle it anymore and needed to stay away from him to recharge myself.


(TPOV)

Despite her best efforts, her body betrayed her. The sob she had tried desperately to suppress escaped her tight control. Before she knew it, hot, salty tears streamed down her cheeks. She turned away and lied down on her bed in a fetal position, resting her head on the pillow and embracing another one. She cried like her heart was broken. She cried for her traumatic teenage. She cried for her current lifestyle. She cried for her parents who had passed long before they should have and in the way it happened. She cried for being weak and not had kept her promise to her mother to start over. She cried for the death of hope that Chris was the man of her latent dreams she had let go when she was 20 years old. She cried and cried until she lost of all her strength and fell into a deep sleep without even hearing her cell phone ringing.

(**)

It was already late at night when Evana woke up in the complete darkness. She searched her bed with her hand to find her cell phone and she couldn't believe how many lost calls and messages she had missed. Most from Yana and "Stan…" she spoke with a bitter tone. She looked at the time and it was already 1:30 o'clock in the morning, "Another night without working…" she muttered

Evana stood up from the bed and headed to the bathroom, but the devastated face she saw in the reflection of the mirror made her sigh. She removed her clothes and despite of the time, she decided to take a quick bath to clean her body and the swallowed face.

Evana couldn't sleep. After listening to Stan's voice messages, she was wound up.

She knew why he wanted to talk, but she wasn't ready. She had thought she wouldn't hear from him anytime soon since he said he'd go on a long trip. She didn't want to see him anymore, she just couldn't. It was all too much. Now she had no choice but to talk to him. He was determined to continue pushing her to meet him. The problem was that if he would understand and respect her No.

She didn't want to go where she knew he would find her and that included her job. So far he respected the agreement that she didn't allow men in her house. There was no way around that. She'd have to be strong and somehow get through it. She wanted to put it off for a while, but with Stan being persistent to talk, she needed to prepare herself. She definitely wasn't looking forward to the next day, but it had to be done.


"Dear Diary,

I'm so sad. I can't stop thinking of the things that hurt me and I don't know for how long I can keep some secrets in the dark. It's a shame. I wish I could erase the past…

The past still haunts me and I can feel I'm starting to lose control on the matter; which put me on an anxious mode because I know there are a few threats that can reveal it to the one (Chris) I'm not allowed to love… I don't deserve it. I shouldn't care about it since we will never be a couple… However, I do care and a lot!

Sigh

I wish that was me kissing Chris's lips…"


I hope you liked it! thank you SUPASTAR89, Otori Kaede and Xaori for the reviews :DAny thoughts, comments or questions? Let me know and stay tuned.