I'm sick orz I'd make Lele type, but he isn't here ; n ; -Zuzu

:) -Lele

We don't own anything but the plot.

"A-are you serious?" Rinta asked, wide eyed at her. I saw his eyes reflect sadness on the window. Could he see me? I wiped away my tear with my sleeve and peeled my fingers from the window where the print had settled. I didn't want this to happen. I didn't plan for this to happen. My nails dug into the white paint of the window sill, leaving marks of my frustration. Rinta wouldn't have planned this, he's not the kind of person to have others worry about his well being. He wasn't manipulative, he was just trying to survive. Just like the rest of us.

"...yes," Rin said, but her voice was shaking. "I...I want to marry you..."

"...Rin, I want to talk to Len alone," Rinta said, softly. I barely heard him, but she uneasily left the room, closing the door behind her. "Len. You're the smart one here. Do something!" I walked up to a flower vase and chucked it out the window out of anger and jealously, watching it crash on the sidewalk below. "Len!"

"Can you see I'm pissed?" I asked, in a harsh softness. I shut the window softly and let out a sigh. "Rinta, Rin means everything to me-"

"I know that," he responded back. "And you and I are best friends. You don't want me to die, but you don't want to give up Rin. We both know there's only one way out of this, Len. But it's the only way."

"I really didn't want it to come to this," I said, turning around. "But you may be right." I looked at the clock. "Rin's turning 16 in four days. Try to live till then, Rinta. It'll kill Rin if you don't. You did, after all, save her life."

"...I'm sorry, Len."

"Does that matter anymore?"

Rin POV

Miki drove Len and I back to the Orange mansion, keeping silent the entire ride there. I couldn't tell at all what Len was thinking, but I could sense that he wasn't happy. I wasn't happy either, but...I want to save Rinta's life. I love the both of them, but it feels as if it was a different love than what I knew. It was a kind of relationship where we were bonded together with a red rope, not string, of fate. Or handcuffs. What ever suits your tastes. Len and I sat farther away from each other than we've ever been and it felt saddening. The minute we stepped into the mansion, Len went straight upstairs and into Mikio and Miki's room instead of any other room, but I don't blame him. I'd probably act the same way he was if I were in his position. I made my way unto the gold painted balcony that over looked the entire city and sighed as the cool wind whipped my hair.

"Thinking about something?" a familiar voice asked. I looked around, but saw no one. I turned back to my spot, confused. "You've always made that face when you thought about something that didn't have to do with studying." I looked around again, but no one was there.

"Who are you?" I asked, frowning.

"Oh, sorry." She stepped out from behind the corner and leaned on the railing right beside me. "I thought it'd be easier for you to talk to me if you didn't see me." I looked at her and scooted back a bit.

"Well, you were sorta gonna try to kill me again," I pointed out. Lenka laughed and pointed to the rest of the Orange city.

"Rin...we've had this talk before," she said, wrapping her arms around me. I held on to the railing and she sighed. "All I want to do now, is talk to you." She released her arms and leaned on the railing next to me and that's when I noticed it.

"You cut your hair..." I breathed.

"It means I've let go of a past love," Lenka explained, with a small smile. "Honestly, I think it looks better on me right now. After all, we no longer need to keep the same hairstyle. You're going to be the viceroy now-"

"Vicereign," I corrected her. "I happen to be a girl."

"Rin, let me talk," Lenka said, frowning. "This is about you. Word's being going around you've offered your hand to Rinta." She looked at me with a serious look on her face. "Is that who you truly love?"

"Y-you're not going to talk me out of it, Lenka," I said, crossing my arms.

"I'm not, I'm just offering for you to do something," she responded. "Postpone that marriage until after you gain your title. And once your gain your title, I want you to appeal to our grandparents." I placed my hands up and stopped her.

"How do you know I didn't want to marry Rinta in the first place?" I asked.

"I don't know that," she responded. "I just didn't want Len to be left alone. He's a really sweet guy, Rin. Always a bad first impression, but he's-"

"Lenka, I know," I said, a bit too loudly. "I know..."

"So you do love him," Lenka said, finally. I didn't respond. "Then postpone the marriage and appeal to our grandparents."

"For what?" I asked, gripping the railing.

"For the obvious," she said, as if it was the most obvious thing. "Ask to marry the both of them. I don't know what situation Rinta's in but I can understand that you want to try to save him. So marry them both."

"...I can do that?"

"Only if you appeal."

"Lenka, you are my best friend." I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed.

"Hey, what are cousins for?"

OTL I'm going to CRY from absolute BOREDOM OTL

Question of the Chapter: Should Rin follow Lenka's advice?