"Oh!! I feel so bored..." Ran moaned as she stretched her arms. She looked for the clock and saw that it's already 6:00 in the evening. She sighed. She recalled Rei's family reunion in Mr. Otohata's office. Ran smiled. 'I hope they are doing better by now... What a troublesome family..." she chuckled. 'But I wonder... I haven't seen Rei since that time...it's been two days..." She smiled "...I hope he already forgive his father...'
"Oh well!!" Ran jumped off from her bed. "...4 days from now our graduation will be held... What should I do so it will be memorable...?"
Suddenly, someone knocked. "Sister Ran?" Sayo called. "Aya's on the phone..."
Ran snatched the wireless phone from Sayo as she opened the door. "Thank you!!" Then she slammed it right into Sayo's face. Sayo cried as she rubbed her aching nose. "Oh you're a monster."
"Hello Aya... What's up?" she said as she sat in front of her study table.
"Hi Ran... Am I bothering you for something?" Aya asked on the other line.
"Nope! Not at all..." she replied as she open a pack of potato chips.
A moment of silence before Aya speaks "Hmm... Ran? There's just one thing I want to ask..."
Ran already figured it out... It will be Rei... coz he's the only one that Aya wants to talk about... ALWAYS...
'BUT WAIT??' Ran shrieked at her thoughts. 'Did Aya knew Rei and I's secret? About the tutorial?' she thought. She suddenly feel nervous that made her body covered with sweats. She will be dead when Aya found out. And the fact that Rei hasn't been seen for the past two days, there's no one to help her for an explanation. Her heart is pumping nervously. 'Oh Rei... I'm gonna kill you for sure...' she cried to herself. "Yee--ye--s??" she replied with a tattering voice. She crossed her fingers.
"Have you seen Rei these past few days?" Aya suddenly asked. She swallowed. 'Oh my... this is it!!'
"Ah... No! I haven't seen him..." she answered. Then she heard Aya sighed on the other line "Oh Ran... I can't remember that I did something bad to him... I never remember that we argued... and I'm just wondering of why is he not showing up??"
Ran sighed with relief. Aya still doesn't know. 'Good thing...' she thought.
Ran scratched the back of her head. "You know Aya..." then she remembered back in his apartment 'And I never thought that I will love again…' Those Rei's words made her face frown. She was sure that Rei's talking about Aya at that time.
She sighed before speaking "Rei will never hate you..." she looked down."...Just think tha--tha--at he was just on a trip... or reunion... or something..." saying those words are hurting her. She doesn't know why... but she feels pain inside.
"Huh? What makes you say that...?" Aya asked.
Ran pouted. "Well... I think... because... he likes you..."
"You think so?"
Ran nodded to agree even if Aya can't see her.
"I hope he is..." Aya took a deep breath on the other line. She feels happy when she hears something like that, even if it's true or not. It just makes thing easier for her.
Aya is very important for Ran. She'll do anything to make her best friends happy. Even if she's hurt. Not a clue, but she knew that she's hurting. Just thinking that Aya is happy because of what she says, the pain she felt eases but not completely because she is sure that she's in pain. And she accepted it.
"Aya..." she said."Don't think something that will make you sad... because if ever that guy makes you cry again... I'll punch him and let him fly to Mt. Fuji ok?" she laughed.
Aya chuckled on the other line. "Ran... you're such a great friend. You're always there to make me happy..."
"Of course... I'll do anything for you..." then she smiled bitterly. "Even if it kills me..."
Aya cackled again "Don't worry... It won't kill you... anyway... I have to go now... Mom and Dad already arrived... I should greet them... So bye now..." then she hung up.
Ran helplessly pressed the off button. She stared at the phone. "Yeah... I won't do anything that will make you sad... even if... it kills me..." she whispered.
Silence surrounds her room when the phone rang. "Hmmm... who is it this time??" she muttered. "Hello?"
"Hello Sister Ran..."
'Sister Ran?' she wonders. It's a girl's voice. And only Sayo and her two friends called her that. "Who's this?"
"It's me Reika..."
"Reika?" she thought for a second. "... Oh yeah Rei's sister..."
"Yeah Sister Ran... I'm glad that you still remember me..."
"Of course... but stop calling me sister ok? I feel old when I was addressed like that..." she said.
Reika laughed "But I want to...you know... Just hoping..."
'Hoping' she wondered. "Anyway, what's up? It's been two days... And how's your family??" she asked continuously.
Reika didn't respond immediately, as if waiting for another question. "Hmmm? That's all?"
Ran's eyebrows met. "What do you mean that's all?"
"I mean that's all you wanted to ask? About my family? Nothing else?"
"Yeah? So?..."
"How about asking for my brother?" she teased. "I know that you two haven't seen for the past two days so I hope that you're... kinda... missed him..." Reika giggled.
"What?" Ran shrieked and blushed. "Miss him?? Why would I?"
Reika laughed. "Nothing... just asking... and hoping..."
Ran let out a deep breath. "Anyway... Where are you?" she looked down, blushed and uttered. "And Rei?"
Reika giggled. "I thought so... You missed him..."
"NO I'M NOT!!" Ran yelled.
"Ok... If that's what you say..." she laughed. "Anyway, we're on a trip... here in America..."
"America?" she repeated.
"Yeah... just for a family trip... you know... It's been a long long time since we had this... That's why I'm very happy... We're united again... Thanks to you Miss Ran... you really are a big help... And on behalf of my family... we really want to thank you... especially my dad..."
"Yeah, yeah... you don't have to mention it... And I feel so irritated just being thank like that... So cut it out... Just don't do stupid things again ok? And enjoy the trip..."
"Alright!" Reika said. "And about my brother..." Ran's heart suddenly pumped. She can feel her hot reddened cheeks. "Ah..." she can't even utter a word.
"He's with us... And he said that he'll be living with us next week... Isn't that nice?"
Ran smiled. "Yeah..." She feels happy now that Rei's family is together again. Rei won't feel alone...not anymore...
"But I'm wondering on why he didn't tell you about this trip..."
Somehow, her heart's pumping stop as her blood boiled.
"You see... We left yesterday... I thought he already told you but when I ask him he said that 'She doesn't care...'"
'Doesn't care?' Ran thought as her temper rises... to its limit... So she burst it all out "Doesn't care? What did he mean by 'doesn't care'? Tell your stupid brother that he's a super-idiot-stoic-type-nerd and a big-thick-witted-bastard that didn't even care to tell me on where on earth he is... And here I am all so worried to that stupid lunatic that I don't have any idea if he's still alive or not..." She breathed out all of her anger without a pause... and without even thinking... Well, that's Ran when she gets mad.
"Hey brother give that back to me... Sister Ran's telling me something... Give that back..." Then she gulped. So the moment when she's shouting all of her anger, Reika is not on the line... In fact...
"Really?" she heard Rei's one word with a CHUCKLE before he hung up.
Ran's mouth and eyes were wide opened. She can't believe it. She says all those stuff to Rei? And moreover, she didn't even think at that time... She said all weird things to him... and just not that... she even tell stupid and embarrassing things.
"Oh no!! What did I do?" She's very embarrassed. She wants to disappear.
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" she growled over and over as she hit her head several times by the phone. "Darn you Ran!!"
Rei's still staring at the phone after he hung up on Ran. He smiled 'And here I am all so worried...'.
"I said give that back!" Reika grabbed the phone. "Hello! Sister Ran? Oh no! Why did you hung up? I still want to talk to Sister Ran!"
Rei tapped her sister's head and untidy her hair. "Stupid! Mind your own business ok?"
"Stop it! Don't treat me like a kid... And besides you're the one who asked me to check out on her... if she's doing fine..." she argued as she arranged her hair.
"So? What did she tell you?"
Reika gave a teasing look "100 bucks!!"
Rei leaned to her and said "Not in a million years... and beside I'm the one who heard all of it!!"
"Oh You!! Because you snatched the phone... I didn't even hear what she says..." she said. She grabbed Rei's arm "... but I'm curious so tell me..."
"500 million bucks."
"Hey! That's too much you know... So does that mean that you won't tell me?"
"I'm afraid so..."
"Oh you!!" Reika was about to punch her brother but was stopped by Rei's hand on her face.
"What are you two still doing there? Dinner is served..."
"Yes Mom!!" Reika followed her mother and left Rei. He looked up at the sky "I'll be back soon Ran..."
"Ran!! Over here..." Miyu waved at Ran at the entrance of a cafe.
"Sorry for being late..." she said as she sat beside Aya. "Oooooh... it's so hot!!"
Aya took a fan and waved it to Ran. "Oh thanks Aya..."
"Yeah it's hot!" Miyu said.
"Hn? Where's Yamato? Why is he not with you?" Ran asked.
"He suddenly got work... So I'm alone with Aya for now... and besides… don't you think that this is a great time to have a nice chit-chat with you guys? And also... our graduation is fast approaching so I just want to know some plans..."
"Yeah... I think a trip on a beach suits it..." Ran said.
"You're right Ran..." Aya said and smiled.
"Wait!! Wow Aya... what's with the blooming face...?" Ran asked.
"Yeah, Aya...I've noticed that before too..."
"Oh!" Aya smiled and blushed. "You see? Rei sent me a message this morning... He said that he was on a vacation trip..."
Ran's face flushed. She can feel envy. He sent Aya a message but for her it's just the word 'Really' that she got from him.
Miyu saw Ran's face. She has to say something before the atmosphere change. "A trip? But with whom...?"
"I don't know... maybe friends..." Aya guessed.
"His family..." Ran said without thinking again.
They turned to Ran. They're flabbergasted. "How did you know?"
Ran looked up and saw their stares. She can sense confusion in their eyes then she remembered that no one knows everything about them. "A--aa--ah... Nothing... I just guess... If it isn't with Aya... then to whom... you know... Rei's friends our only we... so I guess..."
"Maybe you're right..." Miyu agreed. 'Phew... that was close.' Ran thought.
"But still... I wonder... Aya! Have you heard anything about his family??"
"Nope! Not a thing. He never told me anything about it..." Then they turned to Ran with a suspicious look.
Ran beamed at them "Hey!! Don't look at me like that... Like I told you I was just guessing... Oh my goodness... It's so hot!!" Ran took a hanky inside her pocket and wiped her face. Aya noticed that Ran's handkerchief is somehow familiar. 'That's...' she wondered as she remembered something.
Ran used the hanky as a fan. She noticed Aya's stares. "Is something wrong?"
"Hey guys... I'll get your order... I'm too hungry... What do you like Ran?" Miyu asked as she stood from her seat.
"The usual please..." said Ran.
"How about you Aya?" Miyu asked but no response. She noticed her focused eyes on Ran "Aya?" Miyu caught her attention as she turned to her "What?"
"Your order?"
"Ah... The usual... I guess..."
"Ok! Just wait here..." Miyu said and left for the counter.
Ran is still wiping her face with a light blue handkerchief "It's really hot isn't it Aya...?"
Aya nodded and gave a fake smile while her eyes are still focused on the light blue handkerchief. She feels bothered. That handkerchief's style is the same as the handkerchief she saw at Rei's apartment. And it is very rare to see those kinds. 'But if the yellow one was from Ran... then why is it in Rei's apartment?' she thought
Ran followed Aya's eyes. "Uh... you've been staring at this for a long time... Is something that matters?"
"U--uhh--uh nothing... it's just that it looks familiar to me..."
"Is that so? Well this style is my favorite of all... I searched for it in every corner of Shibuya... Isn't it beautiful??" Ran said as her eyes sparkled with hearts.
"Y--ye--es"
Ran gave her a glare and hugged the handkerchief like someone will steal it. "I'm sorry Aya... but I won't give this one to you... even if you are my best friend... never..."
Aya chuckled a bit. But she still feels awkward. Her face turned to frown.
"Aya I was just joking... Don't look at me like that..." Ran said. Aya took a deep breath before asking "Those kind of handkerchiefs are very rare, right?"
"Of course... You can only buy it if the owner wants you to... When I got there at the shop... I was looking for a handkerchief but I can't fall in love with any of it... But the owner is nice to me... She made this hanky for me…" She raised the light blue handkerchief. "She said that I save her life once… that's why she made this… A gift for me…"
In every word that Ran will say, Aya's eyes widened. "And if I ever got there again, she'll make another in exchange for an autograph and pictures... and I don't have any complains because I really like it... So, Then and now... I'll pass by there to have one with different colors... Thanks for me... for being a charismatic person... I get what I want for myself... I'm such a lucky person..."She laughed with a devilishly as Aya weakens. 'So that means... only Ran owns something like this??' she asked herself.
"So you're saying that only you own that kind of hanky?"
Ran pouted. "I don't know... maybe... because the owner said that it was made just for me..."
"So that means that you have a yellow hanky too?? With that style??"
"Hmmm... yellow?" She pouted and slammed her head in the table. "Yeah... I have... But it's lost..."
Aya's eyes widened more. 'Couldn't be that that yellow hanky I saw in Rei's apartment... is Ran's?? But how?? And why??"
"I tried to look for it... but I can't find it..." She rubbed her hair hardly "First, my cell phone and now... one of my favorite handkerchiefs is lost..." she cried.
Aya feels confuse. She doesn't know what to think by now. She can't even find a reason to tell herself that it's not what she thinks.
She shook her head. 'Of course it's not just Ran who has that kind of handkerchief... Maybe someone who's close to him whom the owner idolizes too... But who might that be?' She touched her aching chest. But Rei never hanged out with anyone, anyone but them. 'Maybe one from his family...' she continued thinking. '...but... the smell...' she turned to Ran again. '... Come to think of it... the hanky has the same smell as Ran's...'
Aya's grip tightened on her chest. 'Something is not right here... And no way that it can't be Ran's hanky..." She closed her eyes and calmed herself. 'And there can be no possibility that Ran will be at Rei's apartment... for all we know she hates him... that's right... So I shouldn't make a fuss about it...' She turned to Ran again. 'And knowing Ran... she won't keep a secret for me... especially when it comes to Rei...' But as she looked at her best friend, something feels different than before. She felt like someone will be taken away from her in just a second. Two persons at the same time. She frowned. At that moment, she really wanted to cry... but for what reason?? 'I just hope that everything is just fine... Fine... the way it was before... and nothing will change... nothing...'
Ran's on her room. Tomorrow is their graduation already. "What should I wear under my Toga...?" She said as she mixed and matched her favorite dresses. "I'm really excited... I can't wait for tomorrow..." She squealed. She jumped and jumped on top of the bed. "Tomorrow is a big day for me... I wonder what those two are doing..." She took the phone and dialed Aya's number. But an answering machine answered it. "Hmmmm? How come? I think Aya's excited too... that's why she doesn't want anyone to bother her at the moment... after all... she got an award... I should give her a nice gift..."
Then she dialed Miyu's number.
"Hello?" said a guy on the other line.
"Hmp? Yamato? What are you doing there? And where's Miyu? Don't tell me that you two are doing dirty things!!"
"What? You pervert... What makes you think like that? Stupid!!" Yamato yelled.
Ran chuckled. "I was just guessing... Anyway... where's Miyu?"
"Honey... the number 1 crazy gal in Shibuya is on the line..."
"Hello Ran?"
"Miyu? I was just wondering... what are you doing?"
"Oh! I was just looking for the best dress that will suit for the best day... And Yamato's here to help me...You know what Ran... I'm really excited, finally... We're going to graduate..."
"Yeah... me too...Ok then... I won't bother you two... I'll prepare my things... Bye..." then she hung up.
Ran stretched her arms "Ok! Let's get back to work!!"
On the other hand, at Hoshino's residence, Aya is staring deeply at the yellow handkerchief. 'The owner said that it was made just for me'
"But why?" Tears fell down on her cheek. "I can't think of any reason at all... I want to know everything... tell me the truth Rei... Ran... What's going on between the two of you?"
The day for their graduation came. "Hmmm..." Ran inhaled the scent of the school's entrance. Everything for the graduation has been set. All that they need are the newly upcoming graduates. She really can't believe that she really made it. If it wasn't for Rei... then she won't walk in that aisle anymore. She smiled and looked at the sky. 'I just hope you're here to see me graduate...'
"Ran!!" Miyu called her from behind. Aya's beside her. She ran towards them. "Good morning girls..."
"Wow Ran... you sure are excited..." Miyu said.
"Is it too obvious?" she laughed. Then she turned to Aya. She can't see happiness in her eyes. "Aya?"
Aya turned to her. Just by seeing Ran, she feels dumped. She feels pain... loneliness... and alone. She wanted to cry. She wanted to ask her but how? Tears start streaming from her eyes. "Aya? What is it?" Miyu and Ran approached her. "Aya? Why are you crying?"
Aya shook her head. "Nothing... I'm just happy... that we'll graduate together..." She tried to smile. She didn't want to ruin their special moment together with just some intuition. 'Yeah! it's just an intuition... it's just impossible...' she said to herself.
Ran wiped her tears. "Don't you cry now... you'll ruin your make up..." Aya chuckled a bit. 'Ran won't keep anything for me... and she won't do anything that'll make me sad... because she's my best friend...' She hugged Ran and Miyu. "I love you both... so much..."
Miyu and Ran hugged her back. "Yeah... we all are..."
"Now! Let's graduate together..." They yelled in chorus.
Hours have been spent in their graduation. Everything was done properly. And the three of them are really satisfied, including Aya with an award(Just think of something...). Their family took pictures of them, especially the three freshly graduates.
The graduation ends as the sunset falls. Everyone is making their way back home. The three gals stood at the school's gate. "Ok! This is it! Congratulation to the three of us..." Ran said.
"Oh yeah! Why don't we make a promise in here..." Aya suggested.
"Here? In front of the school?" Miyu asked.
"Yeah! Here? Let's promise that our friendship will last forever..." Aya added as she raised her smallest fingers on both hands.
"That's a great idea..." Ran said and did what Aya said.
"Ok!" Miyu did it too. They combined their fingers together. "Ok then..."
"We promised that our friendship will last for a lifetime..." They said in chorus and laughed.
Ran hugged her two best friends. "It's a promise for eternity..."
"Yeah Ran..." the two girls said. They stayed like that for a moment when Ran broke the hug "I'll be off now... See you tomorrow..." They waved goodbye to each other.
"Come on Aya... let's go home..."
"Yeah!!"
Ran's walking towards home. Her smile never left her face. It's the best day she had for now. Graduating with your friends is the best of all. 'I just hope he's there...' she suddenly thought.
"Smiling alone? You really are crazy aren't you?"
After hearing those words, Ran's heart suddenly pumped. 'That voice!' She slowly turned around to see if her intuition is right. 'That voice...'
Then she saw Rei, smiling behind her. "Congratulation!" he said.
She ran towards him. She didn't even think twice. Her body just move. Then she realized, just looking at him, that she missed this guy.
"Rei!" she whispered as she hugged him with excitement.
Rei, shocked at first, said "I'm home..." He placed his hands around her hips.
"Darn you..." was all she can say and tightened her embrace.
They stayed like that for a moment when Rei started to teased her "Hey, don't hug me that much... I'll die if you squeezed me more..."
This wake Ran to reality. She's hugging Rei!! She freed herself from the hug and unintentionally slapped him in the face.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Rei cried as he wiped his aching cheek.
"A--ah--ah sorry!! My hand just swing..." she lied and turned around. 'Why did I do that? Stupid of me... I'm really stupid...'
Rei watch Ran's back. He feels happy to see her again. He missed her... so much that he wants to go back the day they went to America. If it's not for a family reunion he won't go to America... and if he don't go... surely, Ran will get mad at him… and he doesn't like that…
"Should I hear 'Thank you' for the diploma you received?" Rei said as he passed by on her. Ran turned to him. He's started walking and she didn't even notice. "Hey! I already thank you with the chocolate..." She followed him.
"Oh yeah…"
They are strolling at a park. Ran watched his back. Even if she doesn't want to admit, she missed him, this guy in front of her. She smiled. She is somehow glad that Rei arrived contented and still the same as ever.
"It's good to be back…" Rei muttered as he inhaled the scent of the eve. They stopped at a place where they can see the great view of the city, as the lights from the buildings give colors to the peaceful night. "I missed Shibuya…"
"And speaking of leaving…" Ran said. Rei turned to her. Her foot is tapping the floor, arms crossed below her chest and one arched eyebrow. Rei smirked. "What about it?" he teased.
"What about it my butt… you stupid nerd… you didn't even have the guts to tell me that you're leaving for America… How can you be so insensitive… darn you Rei…"
Rei chuckled. "So? What will you do if I tell you? Will you stop me? Or give me a good luck trip?"
"Don't give me those idiotic words… It's an SOP… you should notify that you're going somewhere else… We're your friends darn you?"
Rei smiled at her and stared deeply into her eyes. This silenced Ran. She blushed and looked down.
"I'm sorry… I'll never leave without telling you… ever again…"
Ran looked up and met Rei's stares. They stared for a moment when Rei speak. "But it's good to be back… and I'm happy to see you again… Ran…"
Ran smiled at him. 'And… so…. am… I…' she said to herself.
"So how's the trip?" she asked. She stood beside him and watched the city's view.
"Nothing much… just the same before I've been abandoned. You know, when my father apologized to me, one person popped in my mind. For all I know, she's the only stupid person that can do that… 'Coz she's persistent… an idiot… and crazy…" She turned to Ran again and smiled.
"Well… I guessed you should gratify that crazy girl…" she boasted. They laughed.
"Thank you Ran…" he smiled as she smiled back.
Aya and Miyu started heading home, "I'm very very happy today… So Miyu? Where's Yamato? Are you two having a celebration today?"
"Nope! It'll be tomorrow… I'm too tired and besides it's late in the evening already."
Aya chuckled.
"So, did Rei send you a message for a congrats?" Miyu asked.
Aya shook her head. "No! But I knew that when he come back. He'll surprise me. For sure!!"
"Okay…" Miyu nodded.
"OOOPSSS!!" Aya shrieked.
"What is it Aya?" Miyu asked.
Aya searched inside her bag and took off a gift in it. "Oh! I forgot to give this to Ran…"
"Here is yours…" She gave Miyu her gift.
"Thanks… but how about Ran's gift...?"
"I know… I'll catch up on her… I guess she hasn't got that far from us… So I better go… Bye!" and she left Miyu.
"Hmmm… What am I still doing here? I should follow Aya and see what'll happen if Ran sees Aya's surprise…" And then she followed Aya secretly and silently.
"Ran, my father wanted to see you…" Rei said. They stood beside each other as they watch the city's bright lights. "… He wants to meet you in a nice way…" he continued.
Ran stretched her arms. "Okay! In these days for sure…"
Silence surrounds them again.
"I missed you!!" Rei said out of the blue.
Ran's eyes widened. "What?"
He turned to her and whispered "I said I miss you!!"
Ran swallowed. Her heart is pumping again. "S--s—st--top joking around, Nerd!!" She looked on the other side and smiled secretly. She heard Rei laughing. "You're getting cuter when you blush."
"No I'm not!!" she defended. "Stop teasing me Rei… I'll smack you if you won't…"
"Yeah! Yeah!" he said.
"So Rei… What did you do in America?"
"Hmmm…" He mulled for a second. "Uhmmm… We went to an enormous park… We did some strolling… What else…. Uhmmm… Oh yeah… We talked about my first love…" Rei stared deeply into Ran's eyes. And with those stares, Ran shivered. 'His first love?'
"S—so wh—what about it?" She feels confused. She can't tell if she really wanted to hear or not… but somehow, in some corner of her heart… she wants to know…
"Curious too?" he asked sarcastically.
"Hey, don't get the wrong idea here… I just want to have some nice conversation…" she muttered.
Rei smiled and continued. "Well… I met her at some street in Shibuya…"
"Shibuya? So I knew her?" she asked. Rei nodded. Aya's came on her mind. She frowned. 'I knew… It would be her… So why do I bother to ask… when I already knew who it is…'
"So who was she?" she asked with a sad tone. Rei smiled "What's with the lonely face? Do you really want to know? Or are you… somehow… jealous?"
"What? What the hell are you talking about?" She smeared. "If you don't want to tell me then don't… I'm not that interested at all…." She was about to go when Rei continued.
"She's beautiful…" She turned to Rei again and started listening. 'Of course, Aya's beautiful.'
"At first… I thought she's a flirt… Or a girl of all the boys in town…" Rei chuckled a bit. "We met when he ran towards me. She wanted to have something on my belonging. And thinking that she's just an easy-to-get girl, I asked her on a date…"
'Hey! It kinda reminded me of something… it seems like it happens to me too… But I can't remember…'
"She got mad at me… She scolded me several times… She's very loud… She told me that I'm not his type… She even told me that I'm arrogant… Even though I just met her…" He smiled. "And that's the time when I really fell in love… for the very first time… in my entire life…" Rei gave a deep stare on Ran. Ran looked down but she feels bothered. She tried to remember Rei's story. It reminded her of something… something from the past.
"So what do you think?" Rei asked.
"What?"
"Does it remind you of something?"
Ran startled. She knew that it happened to her too. But when? She shook her head several times. 'Of course it won't happen on me… It's Rei's first love… so I guess… That's what happens when they first met… I guess…"
"So…" She's shaking. Just by thinking that Rei's in love with her, she feels lonely. 'But why? I can't understand this feeling… Everytime I think of him and Aya… I feel hurt… And I don't like feeling this way… I hate it…'
"S--so--so…" She's tattering now. She wants to cry but shouldn't… not in front of him… without any reason at all. "…that's how you met Aya…" She courageously faced him. "… Your first love."
Rei looked down.
"That's great!!" She turned to the city's view. She doesn't want to see his face, 'cause she'll feel more pain if she did. "Aya feels the same way for you too…"
On the other hand, Rei can't believe that he's actually hearing those words from her. He clenched his fist. After all the bravery? This was all he got from her? He stood and walked towards her.
"You'll make a good couple someday… for sure… and…"
"Enough!!" Ran was silenced. She turned to Rei and met his glare. "What--"
Rei grabbed and pinned her, by his hands, towards a tree.
"Ah--" Ran cried as her back met the tree. "Rei… What are you doing?"
"Me? What am I doing?" Rei growled. Ran feel's nervous. This is the second time he saw him mad. But now, he really is mad. Angrier than before. "After all those things that happen to us? After all the mulling I did just to see you again? And after all the things I've done for you… This was all I got?"
Ran's panting and scared. She didn't know what she did to make him angry like that. "What-- What are you saying?" she asked in a low tone.
Rei's eyes softened, as well as his voice. "Can't you see Ran? I love you…"
"What?"
"Ever since the day I met you… I fell for the very first time."
Ran was shocked. She doesn't know what to do. Rei had just confessed that he love her. And the story that Rei told her was actually the first time they've met. That's right. They met somewhere in Shibuya. He asked her on a date and she took his bag. But no!! This isn't right. Rei should be joking and fooling her.
Ran chuckled. "Stop it Rei… Don't joke like that…" She tried to free her shoulder from his hands but Rei pinned her more on the tree.
"How could you say that? I love you Ran… I love you very much!!" Rei yelled.
"Rei... stop it... Please tell me that it's just a joke…" She's shaking with fear. She can't respond clearly. All of this time, she thought that he's in love with Aya. And now, he's confessing his love for her. "... Please..."
"No!!" Rei hugged her tightly. "I've been holding my feelings for you for a very long time… And I can't hold back now… I love you!!"
"Rei…" She can't bear it anymore. Everytime he told her that he love her, she weakens. "…Stop it! Let go of me…" she pleaded.
"No!!" Rei tightened his embrace. "I waited for this day… I wanted to hold you like this… I wanted to tell you how I feel… but it's always been Aya… you're always thinking about your friends' sake… Aya's sake. And I'm sick of it."
'Aya…' she thought.
"Back then, you told me that you'll be satisfied when your friends are happy. I did what'll make you happy. I sacrificed my feelings for you to be happy. I asked Aya to be my girlfriend even though I did it just for you… just for you to be happy… because I love you… I want you to be happy…"
"I tried to tell you my feelings but you keep talking about Aya… to make Aya happy… to stop making her cry… that I have Aya by my side… But it's you that I want… It's you that I love the most…"
Ran weakens. So all of it was just for her, just for her to be happy.
"And then there's Tatsuki… I know that you don't have feelings for him… I know that you don't have any serious feelings for him than friends…"
"You just accepted his feelings because he confessed to you in front of many people… And for him to not be embarrassed… you said yes…"
Ran closed her eyes. 'That was right… I don't want my friends to be lonely just because of me… I'm afraid that he'll have a grudge against me…So I accepted it…'
"Even though I noticed your true intentions, I still feel jealous… because… I'm afraid that you might fell for him someday… "
"Then I realize that you're satisfied with the way things are… you're happy with everything… That's why I kept my feelings… I promised myself that I'll never bother you forever… Also… I'm afraid that if I told you my feelings, you'll distance yourself… because you don't want to hurt them…"
"But seeing that I made you happy because I accepted Aya's feeling… I pretended that you do not exist in my heart… And I'm hoping that I can learn to love Aya someday and my feelings for you will disappear… but the more I let you go… I've longed for you… I love you even more…"
"Rei…"
"Then, suddenly, you came to me and asked for my help… I tried to resist 'coz it'll make things harder than the way they are now… but when I think of being with you… even just like that way… I can't help but to agree…"
Rei freed from the embrace and cupped Ran's cheek. "Ran… I love you… so much…"
Ran looked on his eyes. She can't believe that he made him suffer like that. She's always thinking about Aya and the others, and forgotten all about Rei. She never knew that in the back of his stoic-type presence, there's a Rei who loves her deeply. She made him suffer a lot.
"Ran… Tell me… do you love me??"
Ran was flabbergasted at those 4 word question. "Ah--I--ah…"
'That's right… Do I really love him?? Is it love that I really feel for him…? Is that why I get nervous when he's so near to me?? Is that why I get hurt just by thinking that he's in love with Aya?? Is that why I'm happy when we're together, just by looking at him... just one smile from him?'
"I can feel it Ran… I knew that I'm something special for you too… So please…" he pleaded and kissed her hands.
'But how about my friends? Aya and Tatsuki… how about them? How would they feel after hearing all about this?'
Ran looked down and pulled her hands. "I can't… Aya... Tatsuki…"
Rei shook his head. "No Ran… it's always been about them… We're always thinking about them… Don't you think that it's time for us now?? It's time for ourselves' happiness?? It's time to live on what'll make us both happy??"
'He's right… It's always about them… but… Will I be happy if I made them cry?? But if I refuse… how about Rei… he suffered enough… Oh no… I don't know what to do… I feel confuse…'
"Ran… Please! Tell me you love me…"
'What should I say to him…? What should I tell him…?'
"Why can't you tell him??" Out of the blue, someone uttered from a distance. Ran gulped. 'That voice…' They slowly turned to where the voice came from and saw….
"Aya?!" Ran and Rei said in chorus. Aya's tears started to flow. "What will you tell him?? Huh? Ran?"
"Aya… I--I--i…" Ran tried to say something, but nothing came.
"Stop it! Don't say anything…" Then Aya ran, ran away from them.
"Aya!!" Ran was about to follow her when Rei grabbed her arms to stop her. "Ran!!"
She turned to him 'I don't have a choice… I can't... I just can't...' and said. "Stop it Rei!! I CAN'T LOVE YOU!!" Then she followed Aya.
Rei was shocked. She watched her go. He looked down and chuckled "I knew it…" he whispered. He leaned his back on the tree and sat helplessly on the ground. "I'm just stupid… You won't choose me… even if I pleaded a hundred times…"
Then someone offered a handkerchief. "Here…"
He looked up and saw Miyu. "Miyu,…"
"Wanna talk about it?" Miyu smiled at him.
"Aya please wait!! Stop!!" Ran grabbed her arms and tried to pull her towards her. "Aya, stop please…" Aya faced her by slapping Ran hardly on her face. Ran was stopped. "Aya?" she turned to the crying Aya. She was surprised. It's the first time that Aya slapped her.
"I knew from the start… that this day will come… But I'm not bothered… 'Coz I'm hoping that you'll never betray me… I'm hoping that you'll never fall for him because you hate him the most… that's what you tell me…"
"Ah… Of course not Aya… I'll never betray you… it's just that…"
Aya took the yellow hanky from her bag and show it to Ran. "So how can you explain this??"
"That…"
"How can you explain this huh? What is this doing in Rei's apartment?"
Ran was shocked. She never knew. "Ah--I—I"
"See? You can't say anything… 'Coz you lie to me… You're having an affair with him secretly… You betrayed me from my back… You keep on encouraging me that I should go on to fight for his love but you…"
"No Aya… you got it all wrong… I try to tell you but… I—i--I"
"But what? Another lie? Is there something that I didn't know up until now??"
"No Aya…"
"Then tell me… Just tell me… Do you have any feelings for Rei…"
Ran's eyes widened. 'Do I really love Rei… What should I tell her?' She can't speak.
"Aya... " Ran started to cry as well.
"I'm sorry… I don't know…" She can't bear all of it anymore. She's confused. She can't even think right, because she doesn't know what to think. Everything is happening so sudden. "I don't know..."
"I hate you… And I don't want to see your face again…" Aya ran again, but this time, Ran didn't follow her. She just watched her go with tears. Tears started to streamed more. Two special things on her were lost in just a day. She cried helplessly and sat on the ground. "Why is all this things happening? What did I do…?"
"I love you… Ran..."
"I hate you… And I don't want to see your face again…"
'I don't know... I just can't...'
Suddenly, someone tapped her on her shoulder. She turned and realized that it's...
"… You…"
Whoa... all of you are waiting for this right? So how was it? Do you like it? Or are you disappointed?
Sorry about the late upload... I have so many things to do... heheh...
So If you want to say anything... just send a review...
I'll appreciate it...
To those people I can't reply with...
iswakgirl: Sorry about that... Rayven is a girl... sorry... sometimes I never notice it... even if I doulble-check it... heheh... So this is what you want right...? The time that Rei'll confess... heheh... hope you like this one... And i hope you didn't get disappointed... and thanks for the review... MWUAH...
STOOPID PEEPILL:Thanks for considering me as a good author... heheh... hope you'll like this one... heheh... MWUAH...
anonazure: Hello... thanks for the review... And I'm glad you find that heart warming... heheh... MWUAH...
To others who didn't sent review...
Hope you like it and love it... MWUAH