Chapter 10: Limit

~o~

"Miss Relena?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want to pry. But are you and Heero Yuy going out?"

Relena stopped arranging the folders on the table and looked up at her friend Amber, who stayed behind after their student council meeting to help her arrange the room.

"What, like dating? Of course not," answered Relena. "Yes? Something else you want to say?" she pressed on after the redhead gave a loud "Mmmhmmmmm."

The redhead sat back down on her desk and fumbled with her bag straps. "It's just. You went to the basketball game together. We saw you."

"A lot of students were at the Arena. It's a highschool league."

"But Heero Yuy hates the basketball team," Amber retorted, meeting Relena's curious look. "And his friends have been hanging out with you. Plus, he's not dating anyone since Ceres. Like, that was almost a month ago?"

Relena backtracked. How come she had not realized it now? Heero had a track record of dumping girls and dating girls soon after. And right now, Amber was right; he had not been dating anyone for more than a month. Whenever Heero broke up with a girl, all the prettiest girls in their school were suddenly hoping that they would be the next in line to be his, while those who do not have a shot with him would still similarly watch for who he would be dating next.

Heero going single? That was quite impossible to fathom, but then she thought of the time when she heard a woman's voice together with Heero one time on the phone. Maybe he was dating someone who wasn't from their school? That was possible, of course. So then why was her chest constricting at the thought?

Shaking her head, she dismissed the uncomfortable feeling. "Oh. Wow. I can't believe people have been keeping track of that and are actually counting dates. We're just friends. I know that's a showbiz answer, but it is. I'm aware of what people see, but take it from me; there's nothing going on. We don't even touch each other."

"Really?" Amber's brows shot up.

"I made him swear not to touch me."

"Well, then," Amber rested her cheek on the palm of her hand. "And why is that?"

"Because those hands have touched basically fifty percent of the female population in St. Gabriel and possibly more outside school?"

Amber laughed. "You are still such a man-hater."

"But that made you happy, didn't it?" Relena was laughing, too.

"Oh and also, you know my classmate Ralph? Well, he was kind of telling people that he saw you and Heero at the diner at the outskirts of town."

"Oh, yeah. We did. It was just a friendly dinner," Relena said, defensively, a flashback of the sophomores at the diner coming back to her.

"Ralph also said that Heero went over to their table, overhearing their conservation that…"

"That what?" Relena snapped.

"I'm sorry, I'm just relaying what they said. They were betting that Heero will finally be the first guy to… touch you."

"Jesus."

"They were saying Heero went over to their table and threatened them that if ever anyone talks about you again, they are going to regret having been born."

Dumbfounded, Relena recalled that moment when Heero went over to their table in the middle of helping her with her homework. Heero had brushed it off, saying that it was nothing despite knowing full well that something did work him up that caused his jaw to twitch and his grip on the pen tightening, before giving the others a piece of his mind. Deep down she was touched that Heero had defended her, but on the flip side, the thought of other people were actually betting on her relationship or even sexual status floored her.

Noticing the shift in Relena's mood, Amber quickly changed topics, "You think he'll notice me? Heero Yuy?"

"I don't see why not," Relena broke away from her friend's look and started to erase the writings on the whiteboard behind her table. She had always known her friend had always had a crush on the most popular guy in school. If Heero were to date Amber, she would be okay with that, right?

"Well, he only dates the prettiest in school," Amber said.

"What are you saying? You are beautiful."

"But not as beautiful as them. Nor you."

"I'd rather be smart than beautiful. You're both. But if he can't settle for smart girls, then better not root for him. And he told me himself, he likes smart girls."

Amber snorted. "As if his exes were smart."

Relena chuckled. "That's what I told him!" After erasing the markings on the board, Relena went back to the desk and began arranging her bag.

"Any other juicy stuff you got from him? What's he like? You're practically the only girl here who he's been spending time with and not dating."

"He's actually nice despite his constant breaking of hearts," Relena answered as she stopped what she was doing to think about the Heero whom she had been spending time with and got to know a bit better. One of her hands was on her hip, while with her free hand, she tapped a finger on her lips. "He's also intelligent; a human calculator. He's thoughtful and helpful, has good taste in music, he's a musical person, sometimes he's on a playful mood, sometimes he's pretty intense..." Relena paused. The thing was, she could think of other good things about him. Good things that totally eclipse the negative things she had thought of him prior to actually meeting him and being friends with him. Heero was good-natured, though with his mood swings he can indeed be very intense, but then he apologizes soon after, and everything goes back to normal again. There were so many good things about him; if he had not been a Casanova to begin with, could it be possible that she….

"Oh my god, he's absolutely perfect. Don't you think? He's the full package," Amber mused, her hands palmed her blushing cheeks, and her dreamy eyes were fixed on the ceiling, as if Heero's face was posted there.

"Might be okay for me if he weren't changing girlfriends often like he changes shirts."

"But I wouldn't mind being his shirt for a one-time big-time thing."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this," Relena gave an exasperated sigh. "You didn't just say that."

"Please let him keep hanging around here in the office please." Amber was standing now, and was wearing her backpack. "If he's not dating someone else in school, you think he's seeing other girls in a different school?"

Just then Heero appeared by the door, one of his arms leaning on the door frame. Behind him, the sun was setting beyond the horizon, orange and black hues meshed together in the darkening sky. He had an easy air around him; like he was comfortable with his own skin. He exuded confidence, easiness, and playfulness, coupled with his natural looks that made Relena's heart beat faster. When had she started thinking like this?

"Hello, ladies. You all ready to go?" Heero asked.

"Hi, Heero!" Amber greeted, jumping from her seat before eyeing Relena. "Or not," she said, referring to her question before he arrived.

Heero exchanged glances between the ladies, but finally settled on Relena who turned away from him and said, "Might be."

~o~

After deciding that everyone's free night will be on Wednesday, Dorothy, Relena, and Hilde did quick showers and changed outfits in Relena's house before driving together to Howard's. Truthfully, this was Relena's first time going to a bar so she had no clue how to dress up, so she ended up wearing a black tank top and dark jeans, but brought along a grey cardigan to offset the skin-revealing top. She had also braided her hair and let it fall over one shoulder. Dorothy, on the other hand, settled for a dark sleeveless dress, paired with high-heeled strap on sandals, while Hilde went for a red off-shoulder blouse and jeans.

"Ladies, we're glad you made it!" Duo greeted, hugging Dorothy and Relena with Hilde receiving the tightest one followed by a kiss on the head.

Howard's wasn't the most upscale bar in town, but it was one of the institutions there for having been opened for four generations already, and was known for its signature beer, open mic sessions, and delectable nachos. It lied at a corner of the road beside a convenience store.

Duo, Quatre, and Trowa met the girls at the entrance. Duo was in a black ensemble starting from his shirt and jeans up to his boots, while Quatre was the complete opposite with a white long-sleeved shirt and beige pants. Trowa joined them, as well, also looking dashing with his green long-sleeved turtle neck shirt. Each male escorted the girls so as to avoid any mishaps in the crowded bar as they made their way towards the table. Inside was long and narrow and had a small stage on one corner; a raised platform a foot or two off the ground.

The three dashing men led the ladies to their table directly in front of the stage, which was prepped for eight people. To the left of their table was the bar itself, which was illuminated with the brightest lights, and tended by girls with skimpy red tank tops and short denim shorts. The whole place reeked of beer and a bit of cigarette coming from the smoker's area outside. Thankfully, the owner Howard prohibited cigarettes inside. Still, there were too many people in too small a place.

Wufei stood upon seeing them approach and greeted the ladies with a handshake each. He, too, looked gallant in his red shirt and white pants. These guys can really carry themselves well. No matter how simple they dressed, they still reeked of sophistication and elegance. Gentlemen, even. For a second, Relena thought of how out of place their companions were in this small bar.

Scanning the crowd quickly, Relena asked, "Where's Heero?"

"He went out to take some call. He'll be back," Trowa replied, motioning for the ladies to sit down.

Relena looked behind her and there he was. He was indeed at the back alright. Only that, Heero was smiling and talking with one of the bar girls who leaned across the counter, her cleavage spilling out of her tank top with her tongue pressing against her cheek as she blushed at what Heero said. And how could she not? Heero was a head-turner as he always was with his fitted dark shirt that accentuated his muscular body underneath, together with his dark pants and Doc Martens. He had this commanding presence he carried with him, which was why Relena wasn't surprised that all the girls that passed by him gave him second glances.

Sensing that eyes were on him, Heero looked up and locked eyes with Relena. Caught in the act, Relena flinched at the eye contact, her cheeks flaming at being caught staring. All of that didn't seem to matter, though, as Heero smiled her way. Not once did he look back at the redheaded bar girl as he sauntered towards them, looking bashful as he slightly kept his head down and bit his lip to keep from smiling, a gesture that Relena found adorable and so unlike him.

"Hi," he greeted upon reaching them, smelling of fresh shower and light beer.

"Hi," Relena responded.

"You look beautiful, as always," he remarked.

Relena snorted, looking down at her cardigan, jeans, and flats. Surely she was the most covered girl in the area. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself."

Heero smirked. "Glad you approve."

Dorothy cleared her throat. "Ehem. Hi, Heero. We're here, too."

Relena turned to their friends, who were all smiling from where they sat. Wufei, Trowa, Hilde, and Duo were seated on side while Quatre and Dorothy sat on the other. Beside Dorothy were two more vacant seats for Heero and Relena.

Heero greeted their guests before they all settled down on the table just when an old man with greying hair, and was wearing shades and a pink Hawaiian button down shirt approached them. "You're going to be up in a few minutes, boys," he said, patting Quatre's shoulder, "I see we have more guests here. Hello, ladies."

"Howard!" Duo exclaimed, "Ladies, this is Howard, the owner of the bar and one of my grandfather's pals. And How, this is our special lady friends Hilde, Dorothy, and Relena."

"Pleased to meet you, special ladies," Howard said, shaking hands with the girls as they greeted him. "Great timing because the boys are scheduled to play tonight. Anything you want to drink? I'll have them delivered here personally."

"Do you drink?" Heero asked Relena.

"Does coke count?"

Heero's mouth curved. "Of course, the princess doesn't drink alcohol."

Relena's brow rose. "You want to expound on that?"

Heero held his palms up. "Not fighting you, princess." He laughed, "Yes, they have coke."

"Okay. Good."

"Howard, one coke for Relena, please."

"Gin for me," Dorothy chimed, while Hilde answered with, "Beer."

"We'll have the regulars," Quatre signalled with a raised finger.

"And please our beautiful guests with your world-famous nachos," Duo quipped.

"You betcha it's the finest in the world, alright. Coming right up! Better get your instruments prepared, too, lads," Howard chipped before heading towards the bar.

"We're going to do an acoustic session today," Trowa said, leaning back on his seat.

"We'd better prepare," Wufei stated and stood.

The others followed suit. When the five tall, gorgeous, and confident men stood, all eyes were instantly on them. The loud chatters turned into murmurs as everyone stopped whatever they were doing, compelled by the commanding presence of the five men who were now on the stage and doing sound checks. The men saw them as threats, while the women couldn't hide their predatory gazes and awe.

Dorothy, Hilde, and Relena also exchanged looks just when four chatty and busty girls, who could not have been older than 20 years old, were all taking their place at the bar nearest to the stage, giggling as the boys were doing their sound checks. Two of them were blondes while the others were a brunette and a redheaded, and all of them were wearing tube tops and jeans. After ordering at the bar, the girls were calling the five men by their first names –first names!- trying to catch their attentions, and giggling when one of the fab five glanced their way.

Duo was the most accommodating of the five, saying "Hi" and "Hello" or giving the girls a nod when they call his name. Hilde actually raised a brow, while tapping her fingers on the table in agitation, calling him in his gestures, to which the braided man replied with a flying kiss her way. The girls followed his line of sighed, and their faces soured when Hilde gave them a triumphant smile, telling them, He's mine.

Dorothy was pretty calm about the whole thing, with a content smile on her face, as her gaze never wavered from Quatre who was trying out a few keys on the keyboard.

"I love you, Heero," one of the blondes called out, downing her margarita. Heero didn't seem to hear as he continued his conversation with Wufei, who was on the drums. Relena, on the other hand, couldn't help sucking in a breath whenever the girl tried to call Heero's attention. She was blonde like her, only with larger blessings on the front, glammed up shiny rebonded hair, and bright red lips. Relena mentally smacked herself for not even putting up any bit of makeup.

"They've been playing here since they were in middle school," Howard's voice floated back in their area, sitting on Quatre's vacated seat. "Duo used to come here with his grandpa, and brought the boys along. I like having them around, it draws more customers. They never let me pay them, though. So it's a win-win for me." Howard laughed, setting down the girls' food and drinks from a tray. "

"Yeah, I bet," Hilde mused, taking note of the crowd that were still watching the five. "They have that effect."

Howard nodded, placing a hand behind Dorothy's seat. "I'm very pleased to meet you, ladies. These boys kind of grew up in my bar, as well, but they have never brought a lady here. Even a friend, to see them play."

"Really?" Relena asked, swivelled fast in her seat to face the standing elderly man.

That elicited a hoot from the bar owner. "I understand that that's hard to believe, but yes. It is the truth. But take note that I only said that they haven't a brought a lady here; not walking out of here without a lass."

Their conversation was halted as Duo called the audience's attention through the microphone beside Heero, a bass guitar already strapped against his body. "Good evening, ladies and gents. We are the Ridiculously-Hot-Studs-But-Still-Nameless-Band."

The crowd jeered, and Wufei did a quick drum roll to punctuate the spiel. Heero may be the vocalist of their band, but it was Duo, the most outgoing one of them, who established the rapport with the audience.

Eyeing their table, Duo winked at Hilde. "Hi, babe. Please ignore whatever that old man's saying about us, it's going to be a lie. " The five chuckled themselves on the stage.

"Oh pipe down you weasel. I was just telling them how saintly you are," Howard fired back good-naturedly, laughing with one hand on his stomach, the other on his back now. "I'll be heading off to my office now. I can't stand your noise." Howard said, addressing the girls. "Please enjoy yourselves. And I hope to see you again here."

"You're not watching?" Dorothy asked.

"Nah. I can hear their sound all the way to my office. And I'm too old for such noise," nodding towards the direction of the girls at the bar.

When Howard exited, Duo introduced their original song, which was also still nameless. They were facing the crowd fully now with Wufei at the drums behind Heero who was the frontman, Quatre was at the left side of the stage at the keyboards beside Trowa who was in charge of the electric guitar, while Duo at the right side of the stage with his bass guitar.

The lights dimmed, then soft keys of the keyboard started to play, followed by Heero's voice filling the room.

If there is doubt in your mind,
Well, let me tell you mine,
All I want is to be with you tonight

Everybody went silent and paid attention to the band, captivated. Closing his eyes, both of Heero's hands wrapped around the mic as the drums and electric guitar started playing building up to the chorus. These guys were taking rock ballad to new heights.

Can we still go back?
Back to when things were right
Before we went off track
Before we lost our light

The bar crowd listened in, captivated, swaying their bodies in time with the music. Some of them were also mouthing the lyrics – even the four girls near the stage – which means that they have been performing this song for quite some time now. Heero's voice wrapped around Relena like an embrace. When the chorus ended; Heero opened his eyes and met Relena's.

Relena's heart sank at the intensity in his eyes, more so when the second verse began and he was still looking at her, not even blinking. Heero was mesmerizing on stage. He had such a huge stage presence that even if he just stood there like a statue, people will still take a double take when seeing him. He commanded attention, not demanded it. And he made people retain their eyes on him more so when he sang, his husky and seductive voice lulling people to dreamland and fantasy. Her breath caught; her balled fist made its way to her chest. What also hit Relena was not only the song, his voice, but the fact that Heero was looking at her the entire time. One hand was on the mic, while the other was holding the mic stand.

"Hot damn. That guy can sing!" Hilde commented, catching Relena's attention across the table.

He can; there was no doubt about that. Even Dorothy and Hilde were arrested at the sight of him, at the sound of him. Then Trowa and Duo's guitar solos filled the room, adding to the intensity of the last chorus of the song. Hilde was enamoured, leaning forward on her seat.

After the song, the crowd clapped and cheered with no reservations. All the girls professed their loves to the five musically-gifted men on the and Heero then switched places, with Heero taking over the guitar on the side and Duo owning the mic stand as they played two more songs. This time the songs were much upbeat, which were more of a pop-rock tune. When the set was done, the men returned to their tables, not without being grabbed by the females near the stage on their arms and shirts.

"Wow. You rocked the house down!" Dorothy clapped as Quatre wiped some sweat from his forehead with a tissue.

"We haven't played here for quite some time, so it felt good. Glad you liked it," Quatre replied bashfully, turning his full attention to Dorothy.

"Liked it? We loved it! You were switching instruments and genres, you guys were way too awesome!" Hilde gushed.

Duo laid his arm at the back of Hilde's chair, while his other hand grabbed a bottle of beer. "Thanks, babe. That show we put on was just for you, ladies, though. "

"Really now," Relena teased, motioning her head to the girls at front, who were now eyeing their table, with annoyed looks. "Some ladies would think otherwise."

"They can think what they want, but what matters to us is what you think," Heero sat beside Relena, his gaze trained fully on hers.

Relena's heart was at her throat. Were there words that can actually describe how she felt when she watched them –him- perform? "You played beautifully."

"Beautifully? I don't think we'd fit into that description. Beautiful is you, but we'll take it."

Relena ignored her swirling stomach. Everybody in the table then fell into an easy and comfortable conversation as food and drinks continued to flow.

A few minutes later, Relena excused herself to go to the restroom, rejecting Heero's offer to go with her in the process. While inside the small cubicle full of graffiti, the door opened and the clicking of heels and laughter filled the room.

"It's been a long time since they last performed here! They are still so hot!"

"Heero Yuy still looked so delicious; he can totally bang me again anytime!"

Again. The word slapping Relena on the face. She swallowed hard, her breathing quickening. She was just standing inside the cubicle now, one hand balled on her fist. If she knew any better, the girls talking now were the girls near the stage.

"Heero is a god in bed. God. He's a machine that can run all night! I could barely stand the morning after that first time!"

First time? How many times did they have?

"Remember that time when he came over to our table and invited us to his-"

The girls giggled and recounted more about Heero's anatomy and skills as she also heard compact powder cases being opened and closed. They were retouching, meaning they'd be still here all night. Was this something they'd usually do? Especially when Heero was in here? Surprisingly there was no mention mention of his friends' rendezvous,

"Heero hasn't talked to us tonight, though." One of the girls spoke up.

"He's with this blonde, who dressed like a nun. I mean come on, this is a freakin' bar."

"Right? Is she like his cousin or something? She's not his type. Heero had never gone with girls like her. She's not even the type who goes to bars."

"But she's pretty… In a non-threatening way." More laughter ensued.

"You think he's banging her?"

"Maybe not yet. But if he does, he'd be so disappointed; he'll leave before she even wakes up. The poor girl looked inexperienced. Wouldn't be able to keep up with our marathon man. Waste of time and effort."

Another piercing set of giggles filled the room. "Really, I'm just waiting for her to go home. I mean, it looks like her first time in a bar; she's bound to go home soon. Then Heero will go out with us again."

Relena was breathing heavily now, eyes stinging. The room closed in on her as it spun in her vision. Without warning, she was already hunched over the toilet bowl, regurgitating, elicited a collective "Eew" from the girls outside.

"Someone's barfing here, gross. Let's go," one remarked.

When the restroom was vacated, Relena barfed more; spilling out everything she had eaten and drank, praying her self-loathing would go with it. Afterwards she went out of the cubicle and gargled with mouth wash multiple times. Looking back at the mirror, Relena's shoulders deflated. Her makeup was fading, strands of her hair fell out of her braid and had clung to the sweat on her neck, and she just felt so, so, tired. Tired, insulted, and sick.

Defeated, she brought out her phone from her purse and sent a message to Pagan. She couldn't stay here any longer. Not when all of the girls here have already been touched by him, and especially when everyone was talking about her as non-threatening, and out of place. She was out of her element.

A knock from the door tore her eyes away from her phone. The door soon opened and there he was.

"What are you doing here?" Relena accused.

"You were taking so long. Thought I'd come for you. Your friends are getting drunk to stand to check up on you. You okay?"

Heero eyed her from head to toe; Relena was aware of what he saw, but she was so tired to put up appearances.

"What happened? You're not okay," taking two strides to reach her inside. His arms came up to grasp her forearms but froze in mid-air as he remembered their truce. "Did you get sick?" the urgency and worry in his voice were palpable. Was he always this caring with his women? Did he treat them all this way?

"I'm just tired," Relena muttered.

"I'll take you home."

"No need," Relena checked out her phone as it vibrated in her hand, "Pagan is already here. I have to get the girls." She passed by Heero and pushed out of the restroom to find her friends. There was no way she were going to leave them half-drunk with their new friends. Especially Heero.

"Hilde, Dorothy, I'm going now. Pagan is here," Relena announced, standing behind Hilde who was leaning against Duo's body. "Do you want to come with or are you staying?"

"What time is it?" Hilde asked, eyes half-closed.

"12:15 AM."

"Jesus." Hilde sat up straight. "Yeah, I'm going."

"Me, too," Dorothy chimed after downing her last drink.

The girls all bid farewell to the boys, giving Trowa a half-hug and Wufei a handshake before Duo, Quatre, and Heero led them to the entrance where Relena's pink car awaited.

Quatre and Dorothy shared a quick embrace, while Hilde and Duo shared a longer with a peck on the cheek before getting in the back seat of the car. Relena, on the other hand, addressed all the guys, "You guys were amazing tonight. Really."

"Thanks, President. We hope you can watch again sometime," Duo saluted.

To that, Relena only replied with a smile, "Good night, guys." She turned to Heero, her smile fading. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."

Before Heero can reply, Relena went inside the car and sped away.

Seconds after riding the car, Relena's phone buzzed with a text message from Heero, Please text me when you've arrived home safely. Thank you for coming tonight. Good night, Relena.

Relena's eyes stung with the tears forming as she read his text message over and over again, as she recounted how he looked at her and somehow directed what he was singing to her, his concern tonight when she took so long in the bathroom, how she was insulted by the people in the bar, and how the people in their school have now been lining her up with the rest of the girls that Heero had in the past. She's had enough.

It was only when she sniffed when she realized that the tears were now streaming freely from her face, oblivious to her friends who were already in dreamland.

~o~

The following day, nobody had seen Relena at school may it be during lunch, in her classes, nor at the Student Council Office. It was exactly the same thing that happened just days after Heero last kissed Relena. She had been absent for three days after that, and was so unlike the model student of their school. Plus, she didn't even drink any alcoholic drink. She should be fine, right? Hilde and Dorothy were able to go to school the day after, why can't she?

Even Hilde and Dorothy were being very suspicious about it. When he had asked during lunch where Relena was, Hilde didn't even look at him, and proceeded in piercing the chicken thigh with her fork and munched. "She's fine. She'll be back."

"That's not what I asked."

"Heero, drop it," Duo pleaded, pacifying his friend with a look, and a touch on the shoulder. "People get absent. You don't even go to class sometimes. Surely the President can have some time offs, right?"

Sure. If only Duo had seen what he had seen the night before. Relena's pale skin, smudged makeup like she had been crying, and her tired eyes. He couldn't shake off the image from his head, and it only constricted his chest even more. Heero had called her a few times the whole day and had sent a text message asking her how she was feeling, but the calls only went to voice mail, and there was no reply to his messages.

The following day, Relena still wasn't in school. Stepping out of the classroom, where Relena was supposed to attend Biology, Heero waited outside until Dorothy's platinum blond hair was insight.

~o~

Author's Note:

Thank you, readers, for the support, as always! XOXO!