DON'T TELL ME



"How can I forget?"




Chapter 2: Confusions



The day was warm and the wind was cool. It made a perfect weather that hot sunny day. Van and I were taking a walk in the forest, the trees making shadows on the brown ground. I was wearing a tight- fitting blue shirt and denim cutoffs, the only extra outfit I had with me since I left Earth. Yesterday's swimming trip was still awake to my senses, and the feel of Van's skin against my lips was still there. It was impossible not to flush red whenever I look into his eyes right now. I stole a glance at Van, who was staring right ahead. He seemed focused on the forest's view than with us... wait a minute, US? What am I thinking?

Van must have noticed me looking at him, so his eyes flew to stare at mine. I felt my cheeks grow hot, my stomach getting jumpy in the bargain. I saw his lips (which seemed to me rather tempting) turn up at the corners slightly, producing a friendly smirk. "Hey, what's the matter?"

"Uh, nothing..." I mentally slapped myself. Stupid Hitomi! Why are you blushing like mad? Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Van's eyes flashed with concern. "Why the long face? You look like you wanna punch somebody." he said, putting his arm around my shoulder. I gritted my teeth, not wanting to give my thoughts away. "Look, Van. It's nothing, really. I- I just remembered I have to get something from Millerna." I lied, another mental slap hitting myself in the face. What a STUPID excuse!

We now reached the Fanelian- Asturian border, as we have been walking for what seemed like hours. Van craned his neck to get a better view. "See here, Hitomi," he said, removing his arm from my shoulder. "Millerna's castle is right there, just a mile ahead. You can get what you said you'll get from Millierna. Think you can walk that far?" he turned to me, his messy hair falling in fron of his eyes. I felt my heart thump louder. "Uh, yeah, well... okay."

"Let's go!" Van went ahead, excited at the idea. I frowned. What was he excited for? Van stopped. Then he turned to face me. I was very close behind him, and whenhe turned about, his face was so near to mine. "Oh, sorry." his sweet breath singeing my cheeks hotly. I stepped back. "Er-- maybe we should go on now." I said, my stomach turning over, flip- flopping as I walked. I could have kissed him then... WHAT THE ZAIBACH AM I THINKING?

After a long while, we had reahced the castle. We entered by the kitchen door, the maids shocked at seeing the king of Fanelia entering. The butler was immediately called, and beckoned us to Millerna's room. I was thinking of what to say when Millerna entered the room.

"Oh, Van, Hitomi... how are you?" Millerna swept out her hand. "Uh, fine." I replied as Van shook her hand. Millerna motioned for us to sit. I eyed her from head to toe. She was wearing a silk lavander dress with purple amethysts on the collar. Her hair was upswept in golden coils around her head. Complete silence prevaded in the air.

Millerna raised her eyebrows. "So, what brings you here?"

Before I could open my mouth to answer, Van had piped in. "She said she had something to get from you!"

Oh, no... I thought. Is this the weather or something else. I shot daggers at Van. He looked confused. So did Millerna.

"What's that, Hitomi?" Millerna was confused considerably. Silence prevaded as a maid entered, bringing cakes and sweetened Piscuss juice in tiny glasses.

I tried to think quickly. "Ah, er-- it's a girl thing, you know." Millerna's eyes dawned with intuition. She understood. "Okay... if you say so." She turned to Van. "Van, Allen's here. Maybe you could go and talk to him while Hitomi and I have some chitchat?" Van rose to go. "Okay, then. So I'll see you later, Hitomi." Then he went out the door.

After Van was out of earshot, Millerna turned to me quizzically. "Another blunder?"

"Yes... I guess so." I was talking fast now. "Look, it was all so strange and stupid. Yesterday, Merle, Van and I went to the Falls for a swim." Millerna nodded. "And then I had this sudden journey to memory lane, so Van asked me what was my problem. Apparently, we were SO close." I stopped, a blush rushing at my cheeks. "And... I KISSED him, 'cause Merle asked the famous 'rhetorical question'," Millerna drew closer, interest hinting her voice. "So you had this sarcastic fit wherein you..." she stopped.

"Yes." I was beginning to take control of myself now. "But it was by incident. That's all,"

Millerna pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Hm," she stood up and paced the room. "I think you better clear your head up with this whole idea. After all, it already happened. Nothing can change it," I stared out the window. Somehow... it seems IMPOSSIBLE.

Millerna paced around the room, the sound of her high heels clicking on the wooden floor filled the air. "Well," she began. "If you don't forget the whole thing, Merle might cast it all up to you,"

I sighed. Everything was just so pointless. "Okay."

***
Then after that we talked of more non- essential matters. Deep down though, I had a queer feeling that what had happened yesterday was only a beginning... OF SOMETHING ELSE. So before I went to bed that night, I wondered: OF WHAT?


__
A/N: This chapter is soo POINTLESS. The next chapter (i know) will be more intriguing... so stay tuned! Head's up! Ja ne, minna!