This one was during a summer some years ago and almost a year after Giotto came into her life. It was piping hot. Most prefer to stay home or go to the sea. She was one of those who preferred to stay home. She just couldn't stand heat as it made her feel weak. On the other hand, G was pretty fond of summers. Even during her wild childhood, where she was still boyish and all she did was playing with G outside, she had fainted due to the scorching heat. Even so, despite her weakness in summers, she longed to play by the sea during the season. She wondered what it would feel like to swim in the seas and lie on the sands, for she spent her times on the hills. If heat was her enemy, then cold was her best friend.

She was sitting on a small wooden chair by the window in her room, when she saw Giotto came out from the house next to hers. Thanks to him, her fear of boys had been lessened. Even though some insecurity remained that she would sometimes act cold around Giotto. However, that was about to change entirely.

Giotto was walking towards the town square, and maybe to the beach, since G had also gone there. Her face was bitter with sharp eyes and frowned lips. However, there were actually sadness and loneliness in her gaze. She knew she would be left behind again that day. But just when she was about to lost her sight of the blond, Giotto turned around and look towards her house. Towards her window.

Surprised, she gasped and threw her looks somewhere else to avoid eye contact. Slowly, she rolled her eyes to take a peek of Giotto, in case he was still there. But no, he was not. Driven by curiosity, she stood from her chair and moved closer to the window to push it. With her hands on the window's rail, she put her head out and looked around.

"Valentina~!" her mother called out from downstairs. "Come down, dear! Giotto is here to see you!"

Oh, dear. She was still messy in her nightgown.

"I'm coming! Just give me a minute!" she answered, while running to her mirror to comb her hair hurriedly and changed into a white summer dress. Instinctively, she never wanted to look 'ugly' in front of Giotto. She had totally forgotten how much she felt indisposed. After she reached downstairs, she walked towards the front door slowly and saw Giotto sitting on the front stairs.

Noticing a movement from his back, he stood and turned. He grinned as he greeted her, "Hey."

"Umm, hi, Giotto." she greeted back, her face remained flat. "I ... thought you were going to the beach?"

"Indeed, I was. But I forgot something, which is why I come. I was wondering, why I haven't seen you lately."

"Oh, that. You see... I'm not good with the heat. I mean, I'd like to visit the beach, but I'm afraid I would faint. I can't swim either," she sighed. Coincidentally, as she finished her sentence, the clouds started to block the sun. Soon it wasn't too hot and the sunlight wasn't too bright, but bright enough for a good summer.

"It looks like the weather answered your problem," Giotto continued while looking at the sky and then back to her. "It will be fine. I'll teach you to swim as well, how about it?"

Tempted by his smile—I mean, offer, she finally agreed and went with him. It wasn't too bad, after all. The sun was unusually kind to her on that one summer's day. It took some time to convince her mother that she would be fine, though.

By the time they arrived on the beach, G was lying on the sand; his pants were wet and his shirt was damp.

"G!" Giotto called.

G was about to reply until he saw his sister beside Giotto. With one brow raised, he questioned, "What is this? It's so unlikely for you to come out on a summer day."

"Well... It's unusually better today. Right?"

"Hmph. Maybe just because it's Giotto."

"Wh-what? No! Shut up!" she denied right away. Her cheeks reddened.

"No, I won't," he responded, sticking out his tongue. Then, while patting Val's head roughly, making her hair messy, he said to Giotto, "Well, then. I'll leave my cute sister to you."

A tone of sarcasm, as usual.

"Where are you going?" Giotto asked the redhead who was about to leave the beach.

"I'm hungry. I've been swimming for hours today." He glanced at Val and then smirked teasingly. "Have fun, you two."

"What is on his mind, really?" Val huffed. Giotto could only chuckle at the siblings.

"Well then, want me to teach you how to swim? Don't worry, it doesn't feel too hot once you're in waters."

"A-ah, right. Sure!" she answered nervously, but excitedly as well. It was rare for her to get excited during a summer. Maybe G was right, maybe it was because of someone. There were other things that also made the heat worth resisting, though; the clear blue waters and the open skies above the ocean. It had been a very long while since she last visited the sea.

Leaving her undergarment—a simple white dress on, she swam with Giotto, who kept her safe while teaching her. Gradually she started to understand the basics of swimming. And within the hours of learning, they had fun with each other; splashing water, doodling on the sand, and making sandcastles, although they failed that last one. Instead of building sandcastles, they were 'sand fighting'.

Hours went by and still she didn't feel like fainting at all. Maybe the cool seawater also helped her in surviving the heat. In the end, she was finally able to swim, even if she was still scared to swim far.

As she smiled and laughed, she thought of when was the last time she had so much fun. She got lost in her thoughts upon gazing at the blond; she had no idea she would be doing so much fun with him that summer. It was definitely a first. The first time to smile and laugh a lot in front of Giotto; in fact, in front of a boy.

No matter how I look like, despite my cold and flat expression, sometimes harsh personality, he didn't mind. There was even a time when I yelled at G, and Giotto didn't call me a 'witch'. He didn't even see me 'differently'.

When the day was almost over, they sat together by the shore watching the sun went down. They were waiting for their clothes to dry. The stillness reminded her how she wouldn't be there if it wasn't because of Giotto. She didn't expect for him to come and get her this noon. How very thoughtful of him.

"Giotto," she spoke with a little voice, almost a whisper.

"Hm?"

"Why are you being so kind to me? I mean, I'm far from fun or sweet. I don't smile a lot, I was kind of mean to you, and..."

"..."

"I thought you would hate me at first, and after all you've been through. You know, I'm not ... pretty too, or anything like that."

Giotto stood up and offered her his hand. He smiled before replying, "Let's walk home. I'll tell you on the way."

She realized that her undergarment was already dry, so she took his hand and wore her outer dress. That was when she felt the effect of playing in the heat all day. Her body felt warm and her head started to spin. Giotto noticed her weird condition.

"Val, can you walk?"

"Uhh, I guess..." she answered and started to walk.

After taking a few steps, she became unsteady. Eventually she was going to fall; only Giotto was there to hold her shoulders before that happens.

"Hop on my back, it's my responsibility for taking you out. Okay?" he smiled apologetically. She just nodded, hiding her reddening face caused by the heat and something else.

On their way home, they met Franco, who was about to close his flower shop. Val was given some 'Parma Violets' which were left unsold for that day. They chattered for a while and then continued to walk.

"You've probably known this," Giotto began to speak. "Years ago, before I moved here, I was already friends with G. He told me he had a little sister and that she used to be energetic. But then, just like what happened to him, she was rejected by other kids. Especially boys, who were blunt enough to call her names."

Knowing it was her story, she buried her face in his neck.

"Ever since then, she had changed. She doesn't like playing outside anymore, she became gloomy, and she stayed away from the other kids, especially boys. They said she was barbaric like a boy, unfriendly. A 'witch'.

"But I think they were mistaken."

The last words caused her to look up. Giotto stopped as they had arrived in front of their houses. After dropping her in front of her house, he took one violet from Val's hand and put it behind her ear. With a smile, he continued,

"Despite her bitter expression, her occasional smile is so warm that I forgot the cold past I had been through. And I found out that," he paused as he stroked her hair behind the flower, "she wasn't cold at all."

It was true that, even if she wore her naturally cold visage most of the time, once she smiled, she smiled from the very bottom of her heart. And even though her eyes were sharp like G's, they held warmth. Especially after she was rejected, there was also fear if anyone were to look closely. If not, they would only be mistaken as glares.

"See you tomorrow, Val," he bid her a goodbye with a small smile.

She could feel tears started to form in her eyes while her cheeks were warm. While she was flattered by Giotto's words, she was also reminded of her own past. But what hurt her most was guilt. She felt guilt because she was once a bit harsh towards Giotto for she doubted him. She felt guilt for sulking and complaining as if she was the most unfortunate person when actually, Giotto had experienced a greater loss.

She cried. And as tears rolled down from her eyes, she ran to hug Giotto tightly. Giotto could only wonder if it was something he said while the girl was crying on his shoulder; words of apology were heard in between her sobs.

"I-I'm s-sorry—all this time, I—" she cried, "I've been selfish."

"Eh? Selfish?"

"I was wrong. You—you're not like any other boy. I'm sorry. I w-won't think of you badly anymore."

His eyes were widened. She had never shown many emotions—other than blushing—before. He was happy because she smiled and laughed a lot that day, but was even more touched because Val confessed her deepest feelings and poured them into tears to him. He felt trusted.

She continued to sob, letting out all of her anger and sadness she kept for years, and all the loneliness and fear as she felt a pair of arms wrapping around her. Yet she was happy, because she knew that from then on, she wouldn't be gloomy ever again. She promised to herself, she would smile more for him; it was her turn to cheer him up whenever possible. Valentina became more and more cheerful since then, for the sake of returning his kindness.

The next day, she got a fever. Oh, summer heat.


Author's Note : Ehh it's cheesy, right? But I hope you guys liked it. Chapter 9 will be posted soon. (Maybe next Wednesday :D)

Note :
1. 'Parma Violet' is a flower belong to the more exotic branch of the violet family. It first appeared in Italy, in the 16th century. The idea was because Violet is February's birthflower. And Valentina's name is due to her birthday. Oh yeah, she was born on 14th February and was named after Saint Valentine, who caused the love day to exist. It also symbolizes watchfulness, loyalty, and faithfulness. One gives violet to say that he/she will always be there for the receiver. Nice, eh?