CHAPTER 14: Loss

Hey people, first and foremost, I'm sorry I've not been updating for the past 7 months. Just really got stumped in this story and I didn't knew where to go on from the last point of chapter 13. Well, at least I THINK I got it all sorted out now... I intended to finish this story, and I'm determined to do so! Your support is highly appreciated :D

"I-I'm sorry to hear that..." Yellow said, feeling a bit stupid for asking such dumb question at such a not-so-good time. Lance gave her a smile, "It's fine, I'm used to it anyway... Of having people around me just... die like that..." He muttered the last line more to himself.

Yellow was dense, but she's not deaf. She heard that line, and look at him with a surprised look, "Why?" She asked, wondering why he would say such thing.

He gave her a curious look, before chuckling to himself, "Nothing you should know... I'll call Red and your friends, they should know about this sooner or later, right?" he said as he stood up. But Yellow pulled his shirt, and gave him a look that just demand an answer; and explanation; as to why.

"What happened?" She asked again, sounding concerned.

He knew she wouldn't release him until he tell her something. He sighed quietly, "Because... I've witnessed so much more death, than what you think I have..." He said slowly, "My mother, father, grandmother... some of the clan members, my closest friends. And just a few months ago, before I came here, someone I care for..."

"Who is that person?" Yellow asked, curious.

He did not showed a decent expression, "You could say, a close friend I thought I could love from afar..." Was all he needed to say to have the blond girl let go of him. Lance said nothing else and went over to the phone, and began to search through the page of the phone book available there. Yellow said nothing as she kept her gaze fixed to him in a trance-like manner. She was quite, not knowing what to do, or say.

And before she knew it, her friends have arrive, and Lance has left...

Lance answered his ringing phone as he walked down the lonely street of Viridian. Well, you can't expect much on Sunday morning right? People tends to be lazy in such a nice morning... but then, it might not be that nice for some people...

"What is it?" Lance answered the phone caller, which happens to be his cousin, Clair.

"Lance! It's an emergency! I just got a news from Sarah who has just arrive and cancel the engagement forcefully by threatening her father that she would leak out all the dirty business he had been doing behind the society," Clair catched a long breath, "That grandfather got a heart attack and is admitted to the hospital!"

Having your friends over to comfort you when something bad happened is a good thing. You get to be comforted, and looked after. And Yellow felt somewhat better.

The next day, Blue, with the authority of her parents, soon found out lots of stuffs that might have a lot of things to do with Yellow's future in the city. It seems that Yellow's uncle had saved up more than enough money for Yellow to finish her education, an since he died, all the money goes automatically to Yellow, and she just have to manage the money so that it'll be enough to last for several years until she graduated and can find a job for herself. That solve the problem for her future education and the cost for her own living for the next several years.

She thank her friends, and unable to stop saying that word. They decided to have a sleepover in her place for the next few days, just to make sure she's okay, and all that stuffs. She sometimes find herself wanting to cry on several occasions, especially on touching ones, but Red will always be there by her side, to wipe the tears from her face, and to be strong once again.

And she would smile...

Lance was in his apartment, thinking hard as he faced himself with a piece of blank paper, and a pen in his right hand. Several crumpled paper could be seen in the rubbish bin, and the scowl on his face deepens everytime he scratched out a word, or probably more.

Time passed, he began to stuff his clothes in a travel bag, and paced back and forth as he waited for nothing in particular. On several occasion, he would look out to the window and curse something random out of frustration. He sighed as he sat on the edge of his bed and facepalm. He stayed still for a long time, until the due time finally came...

A knock on the door indicates that its time. He was still for a moment. He glanced to the paper next to him. He then stood up, pick the paper, and his luggage. He opened the door to see Clair there, looking at him with an unreadable expression, "Ready?" She asked.

Lance nodded, and made their way out, its time...

Yellow,
Something came up in Blackthorn, and I need to go back there as soon as I can. The old man overworked himself, and as his only relatives, Clair and I need to return to Blackthorn. I just wanted to say... Sorry if this was all too sudden, forgive me if by any chance, I hurt your feeling. I might not know when I'll be back, I might probably never come back to Viridian.
I just want to let you know that... The time I spent in Viridian had been fun, and enjoyable. I like the city, the school, and even the crappy stuffs you could find there. But most of all, to be honest, the one thing that makes it so special is... you. You're a nice person, and I really appreciate your company, you're one of my closest friend, just to let you know, because there isn't much. I will never forget you...
I could only hope that you'll be happy there. Well, why not? You have a good boyfriend that cares, and some faithful friends, really. Even though your uncle is there no more, they are the people that probably can help you to get through all of the hard part of your life.
I wanted to say that I'm sorry I can't stay by your side anymore and help you. I guess I'm not such a good friend after all. I just wish, I could say my farewell to you personally...
I'm sorry Yellow, may you be happy forever, goodbye...
Lance.

P.S. You will stay forever in my heart. I will always remember you, and I hope, you too will remember me...

A couple of weeks had pass ever since her uncle's death. Eventhough Yellow is still grieving, she still has to move on in life. And on this particular day, she made her way in the Viridian Academy once again. Though her life will never be the same again, she will always be Yellow, and she was determined to never change that.

Her first day of school was as normal as it could be, with a few friends saying how sorry they are and all that stuffs. She would always offered them a smile, and tell them that she will be okay. Things then went on normally, just like any other day, and she's happy by that fact. However, something disturbing came over her mind... Why is it that she couldn't see Lance, even just to say thank you to him? She had heard the story of how Sarah took of with no good reason, but Lance...

She believed that Lance would never went off like that without her knowing. Or at least, without saying goodbye. She wondered on, and somehow, the fact that the Cherry Blossom season is almost over really disturbs her mind. But that can't possibly distract her, since she had much to catch up on.

By the end of the day, she managed to catch up quite a lot, and was quite satisfied with herself. She wondered though, someone is missing today, and she really wondered. She was walking out toward her club, she was expecting to see Lance there, on the same spot she would see him on everyday; that is, under those cherry blossom trees. She expect to see him smiling, saying some witty stuffs, and all that again, and somehow, she was looking forward to it.

But, things can just go so wrong. In his place, she did not see Lance, rather she saw another boy. He was probably a senior. She approached him, and he seems to noticed her as well.

"Are you Yellow?" He asked.

Yellow nodded, "Yes I am."

He took out something from his bag. It was a letter, "Ummm... Lance and I live in the same apartment. Several weeks ago, he came to me at one night, and told me to give this to you once you're back to school. It seems he has went back to Blackthorn."

Yellow's eyes widened at those words, "What?" She gasped, unable to believe what she just heard, "Why?"

"Well.. I don't know much about that. We never even met before. I'm doing this because he.. well, paid a good sum..."

"Oh... that's alright then... thank you..." She said and looked down. The guy left.

Yellow took the seat which HE used to take and opened the letter...