Chapter 4: Crazily in love
Rhys went home from the night in town with Mitsui. She looked out her bedroom window and saw a guy playing basketball in the backyard of the large mansion beside his house. She felt like she could recognize him so she step into her bathrobe and head straight for their door. She head straight for the little fence and saw Rukawa playing some night-basketball by himself.
"Hey! Want some one-on-one?"
"Rhys? You're. what are you doing here?"
"I don't know, maybe because I'm your new neighbor?"
"So, you're the new neighbor Mitsui was talking about."
"Maybe I am."
"How'd your night out with Mitsui?"
"Oh, tiring."
"Why are you still out here? You need some rest."
"I can't sleep."
Is she getting me off guard?
"Oh, ok. Try some milk."
"Did it, still didn't solve my problem."
"What's your problem anyway?"
"Mind if I jumped over?"
"Oh, sorry. Sure, let's sit over there by the swing."
They sat and Rhys was feeling more comfortable.
"What's the problem?"
Rhys put her head on Rukawa's chest. Rukawa blushed, looked at the opposite direction and scratched his head.
"Nothing. I just want someone near me tonight."
"Uh, Rhys."
"Why?"
"I'm not used to a girl being so close to me."
"Oh, sorry."
Rhys sat back and fixed her robe trying to hide her blushing face.
"It's ok."
"Huh?"
"I know you're new here and every thing and I know you're sad because you miss your friends."
"No, no. not really. well, sort of."
"Doesn't matter, I'm here."
Rukawa let Rhys' head rest on his shoulder and patted Rhys to sleep.
Early next morning...
"Yo! Kaede!"
Rukawa and Rhys nearly jumped up while Rhys faced in the opposite direction.
*yawn* "Oh, it's you Mitsui."
"I see you've met Rhys."
Rhys saw Mitsui and flashed a blushing smile.
"Yeah, the first time she went here."
"Well, have fun you kids! I'm off to the park!"
Mitsui drove off with his bike.
"Well."
"Um."
"I'd better get back in the house. My dad will be looking for me."
"Yeah, me too."
Rhys walked towards her house without even having a second glance at Rukawa.
"You blew it big time!" Rukawa muttered.
In the Williamson residence.
"Good morning sleepyhead!"
"Dad! You're up early!"
"I got excited. I see my little baby is already others' baby."
"What? No, dad, you see."
"No need to explain honey, I know all about it. come on, have a hearty breakfast to celebrate your night!"
"Dad."
"All right, all right, I'll stop teasing you."
"Thanks dad! You're the best!"
Rhys sat down and had a toast...
"I think your cooking skills have improved Dad!"
"Oh, thank you Rhys! Anyway, I'll be off to work. I left my office number near the phone; call me if you need anything!"
"Sure! Bye Dad!"
Rhys gave her Dad a hand going out the door and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Have a good day at work!!!"
Her Dad drove off.
In the Rukawa Crest.
"Who did I kid; my parents are always off. I'm always alone in here. I think I'll go down to the park and confront Mitsui about last night."
He took his bike and drove off to the park.
After some months, Rhys tried to get near Rukawa but it seemed as though Rukawa have been avoiding her intentionally. She didn't get it. She tried sending him e-mails, trying to get to know what the problem is with the help of some of his friends but no one knew for Rukawa became a totally different person. He was meek and demure, cold and clammy; no one wanted to be with him except for Rhys. Rhys tried to do her best but Rukawa just avoided her. It went on for months and Rhys just gave up, not knowing what to do.
Rhys dated Mitsui but her mind is not with him. It was with Rukawa. She tried to put herself together for Mitsui but nothing worked. Mitsui realized that but started to face the fact. He tried to start up a conversation about it every now and then but Rhys always tried to change the topic. Sometimes, it was Rhys who would ask Mitsui's help. But it seemed that Mitsui wasn't an advice-giving person. His advices were lame and useless. It seemed to be so obvious, practical in a sort of old fashioned way. Rhys didn't want that, she knew she wasn't going to fall in love with Mitsui.
"I'm sorry Mitsui, it just isn't working out."
"I know."
"Will you free me?"
"You've always been free but I locked myself just for you."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems that I'm falling for you Rhys."
"Don't, you'll only get hurt. Just forget what we've been through."
"It's not that easy Rhys."
"Do it for me. Free yourself."
"I'll try Rhys. I'll try."
"Friends?"
"Friends."
Christmas is around the corner.
Rukawa's e-mail arrived just on time. It said.
"Just give me some time. I'm working something out. I don't expect anyone to understand that's why I'm not telling anyone. It isn't something you did. It's something I did. Just give me sometime. I'm not avoiding you."
"Is he telling the truth?" Rhys thought.
She sent him a reply.
"Just want to let you know, I'm here. if there's any help I can give I'm not so far away. Also to tell you, you're right, you've always been right."
Just in time, Rukawa logged in. He read the email at once and received an instant message from Rhys.
Their conversation. (cool_guy: Rukawa) (lil_rhys: Rhys)
lil_rhys: hey! cool_guy: hi lil_rhys: what a coincidence. cool_guy: yeah. lil_rhys: how are you? cool_guy: fine cool_guy: *made a skull* lil_rhys: yikes!!! cool_guy: afraid of skulls? lil_rhys: not really. I think they're kind of cool cool_guy: thanks lil_rhys: how's it going? cool_guy: ok I guess lil_rhys: try me cool_guy: what? lil_rhys: tell me about your problem. cool_guy: don't want to bother you lil_rhys: ok. if that's what you want. lil_rhys: so what now? cool_guy: don't know. cool_guy: *made three alien faces* lil_rhys: what's going to happen? cool_guy: huh? What are you talking about? cool_guy: hey! Let's fight!!! *cool_guy downloading fighter. lil_rhys: how's that? cool_guy: pick your character. lil_rhys: rhys cool_guy: cute! lil_rhys: thanks.
Debugging. "Oh blast it!!!" "What happened Rhys?" "Nothing Dad. it's just the computer debugged while I was chatting with Rukawa." "Just restart it and log in again." "That I'll do."
lil_rhys: thank goodness you're still on line. cool_guy: checking something out. lil_rhys: don't download it already. lil_rhys: our computer's not up to it. cool_guy: it's ok. lil_rhys: . *cool_guy logged off
"Ok." Rhys shut down her computer and rest back on her chair. She lay on her bed expecting a call.
Early next morning...
"Hey! I didn't expect to see you sleeping beside the phone!"
"A simple good morning would do fine Dad." *yawn*
"What were you doing?"
"Expecting a call."
"Early in the morning?"
"No, late at night."
"Bet you."
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it."
"Sure Dad. what do you want for breakfast?"
"I don't know. but I suggest you prepare a hearty meal."
"What for?"
"We've got ourselves a visitor."
"Ok."
"Wouldn't you want to see who?"
"Who is it?"
"Hey."
Rhys turned around and saw Rukawa with a big smile waving to her in the hallway.
"Hey."
"Tried to call you last night after I disconnected but no one is answering your phone."
"Impossible! No one used that phone!"
"No one but you forgot to plug it in."
Rhys' dad held the cord.
"Oh, yeah. Must have been so excited."
Rhys blushed.
"Come on you kids! I'll prepare breakfast so we can all eat."
"That won't be necessary Mr. Williamson."
"What?"
"You see, I've come to pick you both up for a special breakfast, my treat."
"Ok. I guess I will be having breakfast all alone then."
"You don't understand Mr. Williamson."
"No, I've got to go somewhere. You kids go along now."
"But Dad."
"Come on dear, get dressed!"
Rhys looked at herself. She forgot that she just woke up and look! There in front of her, her crush!
(Oh my.)
Rhys didn't say a word and rushed off to her bedroom and quickly fixed herself up.
"You sure you don't want to go Mr. Williamson?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Well, I kind of wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Are you fine with the idea if I asked Rhys to go steady with me?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you Mr. Williamson."
"I'm ready!"
Rukawa looked at Rhys. her long red hair blended with the black dress she's wearing.
"What a present!!!"
"Huh?"
"Nothing Rhys. Let's go!"
"Bye Daddy..."
Rhys gave Mr. Williamson a kiss on the cheek.
"Take care kids."
"We will Mr. Williamson! Thanks!"
Rhys and Rukawa drove off.
Rhys went home from the night in town with Mitsui. She looked out her bedroom window and saw a guy playing basketball in the backyard of the large mansion beside his house. She felt like she could recognize him so she step into her bathrobe and head straight for their door. She head straight for the little fence and saw Rukawa playing some night-basketball by himself.
"Hey! Want some one-on-one?"
"Rhys? You're. what are you doing here?"
"I don't know, maybe because I'm your new neighbor?"
"So, you're the new neighbor Mitsui was talking about."
"Maybe I am."
"How'd your night out with Mitsui?"
"Oh, tiring."
"Why are you still out here? You need some rest."
"I can't sleep."
Is she getting me off guard?
"Oh, ok. Try some milk."
"Did it, still didn't solve my problem."
"What's your problem anyway?"
"Mind if I jumped over?"
"Oh, sorry. Sure, let's sit over there by the swing."
They sat and Rhys was feeling more comfortable.
"What's the problem?"
Rhys put her head on Rukawa's chest. Rukawa blushed, looked at the opposite direction and scratched his head.
"Nothing. I just want someone near me tonight."
"Uh, Rhys."
"Why?"
"I'm not used to a girl being so close to me."
"Oh, sorry."
Rhys sat back and fixed her robe trying to hide her blushing face.
"It's ok."
"Huh?"
"I know you're new here and every thing and I know you're sad because you miss your friends."
"No, no. not really. well, sort of."
"Doesn't matter, I'm here."
Rukawa let Rhys' head rest on his shoulder and patted Rhys to sleep.
Early next morning...
"Yo! Kaede!"
Rukawa and Rhys nearly jumped up while Rhys faced in the opposite direction.
*yawn* "Oh, it's you Mitsui."
"I see you've met Rhys."
Rhys saw Mitsui and flashed a blushing smile.
"Yeah, the first time she went here."
"Well, have fun you kids! I'm off to the park!"
Mitsui drove off with his bike.
"Well."
"Um."
"I'd better get back in the house. My dad will be looking for me."
"Yeah, me too."
Rhys walked towards her house without even having a second glance at Rukawa.
"You blew it big time!" Rukawa muttered.
In the Williamson residence.
"Good morning sleepyhead!"
"Dad! You're up early!"
"I got excited. I see my little baby is already others' baby."
"What? No, dad, you see."
"No need to explain honey, I know all about it. come on, have a hearty breakfast to celebrate your night!"
"Dad."
"All right, all right, I'll stop teasing you."
"Thanks dad! You're the best!"
Rhys sat down and had a toast...
"I think your cooking skills have improved Dad!"
"Oh, thank you Rhys! Anyway, I'll be off to work. I left my office number near the phone; call me if you need anything!"
"Sure! Bye Dad!"
Rhys gave her Dad a hand going out the door and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
"Have a good day at work!!!"
Her Dad drove off.
In the Rukawa Crest.
"Who did I kid; my parents are always off. I'm always alone in here. I think I'll go down to the park and confront Mitsui about last night."
He took his bike and drove off to the park.
After some months, Rhys tried to get near Rukawa but it seemed as though Rukawa have been avoiding her intentionally. She didn't get it. She tried sending him e-mails, trying to get to know what the problem is with the help of some of his friends but no one knew for Rukawa became a totally different person. He was meek and demure, cold and clammy; no one wanted to be with him except for Rhys. Rhys tried to do her best but Rukawa just avoided her. It went on for months and Rhys just gave up, not knowing what to do.
Rhys dated Mitsui but her mind is not with him. It was with Rukawa. She tried to put herself together for Mitsui but nothing worked. Mitsui realized that but started to face the fact. He tried to start up a conversation about it every now and then but Rhys always tried to change the topic. Sometimes, it was Rhys who would ask Mitsui's help. But it seemed that Mitsui wasn't an advice-giving person. His advices were lame and useless. It seemed to be so obvious, practical in a sort of old fashioned way. Rhys didn't want that, she knew she wasn't going to fall in love with Mitsui.
"I'm sorry Mitsui, it just isn't working out."
"I know."
"Will you free me?"
"You've always been free but I locked myself just for you."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems that I'm falling for you Rhys."
"Don't, you'll only get hurt. Just forget what we've been through."
"It's not that easy Rhys."
"Do it for me. Free yourself."
"I'll try Rhys. I'll try."
"Friends?"
"Friends."
Christmas is around the corner.
Rukawa's e-mail arrived just on time. It said.
"Just give me some time. I'm working something out. I don't expect anyone to understand that's why I'm not telling anyone. It isn't something you did. It's something I did. Just give me sometime. I'm not avoiding you."
"Is he telling the truth?" Rhys thought.
She sent him a reply.
"Just want to let you know, I'm here. if there's any help I can give I'm not so far away. Also to tell you, you're right, you've always been right."
Just in time, Rukawa logged in. He read the email at once and received an instant message from Rhys.
Their conversation. (cool_guy: Rukawa) (lil_rhys: Rhys)
lil_rhys: hey! cool_guy: hi lil_rhys: what a coincidence. cool_guy: yeah. lil_rhys: how are you? cool_guy: fine cool_guy: *made a skull* lil_rhys: yikes!!! cool_guy: afraid of skulls? lil_rhys: not really. I think they're kind of cool cool_guy: thanks lil_rhys: how's it going? cool_guy: ok I guess lil_rhys: try me cool_guy: what? lil_rhys: tell me about your problem. cool_guy: don't want to bother you lil_rhys: ok. if that's what you want. lil_rhys: so what now? cool_guy: don't know. cool_guy: *made three alien faces* lil_rhys: what's going to happen? cool_guy: huh? What are you talking about? cool_guy: hey! Let's fight!!! *cool_guy downloading fighter. lil_rhys: how's that? cool_guy: pick your character. lil_rhys: rhys cool_guy: cute! lil_rhys: thanks.
Debugging. "Oh blast it!!!" "What happened Rhys?" "Nothing Dad. it's just the computer debugged while I was chatting with Rukawa." "Just restart it and log in again." "That I'll do."
lil_rhys: thank goodness you're still on line. cool_guy: checking something out. lil_rhys: don't download it already. lil_rhys: our computer's not up to it. cool_guy: it's ok. lil_rhys: . *cool_guy logged off
"Ok." Rhys shut down her computer and rest back on her chair. She lay on her bed expecting a call.
Early next morning...
"Hey! I didn't expect to see you sleeping beside the phone!"
"A simple good morning would do fine Dad." *yawn*
"What were you doing?"
"Expecting a call."
"Early in the morning?"
"No, late at night."
"Bet you."
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it."
"Sure Dad. what do you want for breakfast?"
"I don't know. but I suggest you prepare a hearty meal."
"What for?"
"We've got ourselves a visitor."
"Ok."
"Wouldn't you want to see who?"
"Who is it?"
"Hey."
Rhys turned around and saw Rukawa with a big smile waving to her in the hallway.
"Hey."
"Tried to call you last night after I disconnected but no one is answering your phone."
"Impossible! No one used that phone!"
"No one but you forgot to plug it in."
Rhys' dad held the cord.
"Oh, yeah. Must have been so excited."
Rhys blushed.
"Come on you kids! I'll prepare breakfast so we can all eat."
"That won't be necessary Mr. Williamson."
"What?"
"You see, I've come to pick you both up for a special breakfast, my treat."
"Ok. I guess I will be having breakfast all alone then."
"You don't understand Mr. Williamson."
"No, I've got to go somewhere. You kids go along now."
"But Dad."
"Come on dear, get dressed!"
Rhys looked at herself. She forgot that she just woke up and look! There in front of her, her crush!
(Oh my.)
Rhys didn't say a word and rushed off to her bedroom and quickly fixed herself up.
"You sure you don't want to go Mr. Williamson?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Well, I kind of wanted to ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Are you fine with the idea if I asked Rhys to go steady with me?"
"Of course!"
"Thank you Mr. Williamson."
"I'm ready!"
Rukawa looked at Rhys. her long red hair blended with the black dress she's wearing.
"What a present!!!"
"Huh?"
"Nothing Rhys. Let's go!"
"Bye Daddy..."
Rhys gave Mr. Williamson a kiss on the cheek.
"Take care kids."
"We will Mr. Williamson! Thanks!"
Rhys and Rukawa drove off.