Life on Earth, Away from Gaea

Note: Well, thank you for waiting for the next chapter of my story. I'm very grateful for all those people who have read it and have loved it. Again, I'm asking you to please review because it will help me a lot to improve my story! ^__^

Chapter 2: Roommates . . . and Foes?

The elevator door opened and he stepped outside. He slowly paced towards his room and held the knob. 'I hope I'll be fine.' He turned the knob and pushed the door as he went in. The door suddenly closed and footsteps echoed in the room. He breathed hard and convinced himself that there's nothing to worry. But as the sound grew, he began to feel frightened. He felt his feet moved back as the sensation came closer. Suddenly, he closed his eyes and felt the presence in his room.

"Who are you?"

The voice asked. He slightly opened his eyes and saw a girl with white head band tied around her hair. She had short hair and she looked sweet. Her brown eyes shone as she stared him. He suddenly felt safe. He foolishly thought there was a ghost-but of course, there wasn't, just a girl. 'Stupid!' he thought.

"I'm Van Vener?," he replied. (Remember: I just used another last name for Van because he didn't want anyone to know his true identity.)

The girl raised her eyebrow and came closer to him.

"What are you *doing* here?" she asked. Van put down his luggage and stood straight.

"This is my apartment and I'm going to live in here. Shouldn't *I* be the one to ask you that stupid question?" he said sarcastically. The woman came closer to him and frowned disgustingly.

"How dare you say that?!" she cried. "I paid for this room. This is *my* apartment. Maybe you're lost."

Van was shocked at what she said. Anger shook his head and jabbed his spine.

"What the hell are you saying?! This is room 488, right?" he spoke. The girl nodded her head. Then she lifted her hand and scratched it confusingly. She thought for a while.

"But, Mr. . ." she paused and tried to guess his name.

"Van. . .Van Vener?. Well, maybe I should know your name too," he told her.

"Hitomi. . .Well, as I was saying, Mr. Van, I was the first who entered this room and paid for it. The old lady downstairs told me that I have no roommate. So-how could that happen?" her voice rose to a higher tone.

Suddenly, Van laughed slyly. He laughed loudly and sarcastically that the girl's cheeks turned crimson in furiousness.

"Maybe you haven't paid her for a year! Damn!!! Hahahaha!!! Geez, I never thought of that stupid reason. Oh goodness!" he shouted. Suddenly, the girl came closer and slapped him. Her hand left a deep red mark on his face. He was shocked at what she did. He held his face and felt the pain melting his cheeks. He removed his hand and looked at it. Blood stained his palm and fingers.

'Is she that strong? Or have I teased her so badly?'

He got a hanky from his pocket and wiped his wound. Blood was rushing down on his face. He looked at the girl and noticed that she was shocked at what she has done. Suddenly, she lowered her head and clenched her fists.

"I. . .I-will ask the lady the true-r-reason. And I'll prove to you that I'm right!" she cried as she went out of the room and headed to the old lady.

Van wiped the blood completely and went to his own room. He arranged his luggage and put his clothes in the wardrobe-half-covering the big window. He sat on his medium-sized bed and reposed for a while. He sighed deeply and scratched his head.

"My oh my! I never thought I'd be a roommate of an-of an arrogant fool like her. Hmm. . ." he cried.

Suddenly, something cracked behind him. He looked back and saw a broken picture frame. He examined it and a noticed the familiar face.

"This was the-this was the . . . girl in the restaurant!" he exclaimed. She was smiling in the picture but her eyes spoke that she wasn't happy.

Flashback:

"Sorry, ma dame," he spoke tenderly. He helped her as she stood up. He bent his back and picked up the broken glass on the floor. The woman was surprised at what she did. She bumped him. And that was the reason he might get fired.

"No-it's okay. Actually, it's my fault," she apologized. The man stood up with the broken glass on his tray. His dark blue eyes shone brightly as he smiled sweetly.

End of FB:

He put the picture frame inside the drawer and sighed again. "I heard him say, 'Hitomi'," he said as he crossed his arms behind his head. He was half- smirking.

Suddenly, he heard the door opened. He quickly stood up and went outside to check if she were already there.

"Mr. Vener?, I'm sorry. I'm very wrong. I found out that I really have a roommate. Sorry, well-you'll sleep there," she pointed to a room. "And you can use anything you want. . . except for *my* personal needs," the girl said sternly. She sat on a chair and put on socks. She wore a lose blue t- shirt and denim shorts.

"Okay. Well-I'll go now. I'll have work to do," he said. He put on his shoes and opened the door. He once looked back and saw the lady fixing her socks. The door opened and he left.

~*~*~*

"Who told you I don't love you?" she asked him.

He raised his eyebrows and pushed her to the wall. He trapped her between his arms and stared at her.

"Hitomi, is there a third party? Is there someone else? Tell me!" he cried. Tears flowed out of Hitomi's eyes. She covered her mouth and stopped herself from moaning. She shook her head and didn't look at him. "Allen, if you want to keep this relationship. . .

just. . .

have. . .

trust. . .

in. . .

me. . ."she spoke slowly.

She removed his arm and stared at him back once more. He was stupefied at what he heard from her mouth. His eyes were widened and no one could interpret his mixed feelings.

She paced slowly and tried to get away from him. But her feet were so heavy. She couldn't lift them nor move them. Suddenly, Allen pulled her towards him and kissed her as he hugged her tightly. Tears rushed down on their faces as they tasted each other's breath. Sadness and anger were between them. And un fortunately, it's not- love.

~*~*~*

The woman lowered her head and yawned a bit. She was half-sleepy and her eyes were lowered. Suddenly, another girl came and went to her.

"Millerna, he's waiting," the girl spoke.

"Arigato, Ucari. I'll just go to his office," she said. The girl stood up and entered the room.



~*~*~*

Reflection By: Christina Aguilera

Look at me

I will never pass

For a perfect bride

Or a perfect daughter

Can it be

I'm not meant to play this part

Now I see

And if I were truly to be myself

I would break my family's heart

*who is that girl I see

Staring straight back at me

Why is my reflection someone I don't know?

Somehow I cannot hide who I am

Though I've tried

When will my reflection show

Who I am inside?

I am now

In a world where I have to hide myself

And what I believe in

But somehow

I can't show the world what's inside my heart

And to love for whom I am

*who is that girl I see

staring straight back at me

why is my reflection someone I don't know

somehow I cannot hide who I am

though I've tried

when will my reflection show who I am inside

there's a heart that must be free inside

that burns with a need to know

the reason why

why must we all concede

what we feel

how it feels

when will my reflection show who I am inside

When will my reflection show who I am inside. . . --- She lowered her head and wiped the tears that formed in her brown eyes.

"I loved you for the past year. But- you didn't seem to understand my situation," she said. Her eyes shone brightly. But the tears kept on flowing.

"Allen. . .do I still love you?" she asked herself sadly.

~*~*~*

Van rested his head on the pillow. He crossed his legs and turned on the TV. 'Why is she so cold to him?'

Flashback:

The man nodded his head and quickly went back to work. Hitomi watched him as he went inside the lounge and sat for a while. She turned to Allen and was disappointed at what he did.

"Why did you do that?" she calmly asked. Suddenly, he kissed her lips and held her face. But she quickly turned her head away from him. She noticed that the waiter was secretly watching them. His eyes were lowered and his pinkish lips were curved downwards. She felt sorry for him. She was really the reason. She shouldn't have bumped him.

"Do you love me? I just need one answer, Hitomi. Yes or no?" Allen pleaded. She looked at him and tried to speak.

"Well-. . . maybe" she replied.

End of FB:

Someone knocked on the door. Van got up and held the knob.

"Who's this? Ms. Hitomi?" he spoke.

"Y-y-yes!!!" the trembling voice answered. He wondered what happened. Suddenly, he opened the door.

The girl rushed inside-crying. She threw herself carelessly on the sofa. He went to her and noticed that she was crying so hard. He sat beside her and comforted her.

"It's all right. Whatever it is, it's just a very bad dream," he told her. Surprisingly, she pushed him aside.

"Dream?!" she shouted. "You don't know what I'm in so you better shut up! I- I don't need anybody . . . anyone who would want to disturb me, okay?!" she cried as she threw a pillow to him. Tears kept on rolling on her cheeks. She was very angry at something-or worse, maybe with him. He stood up and looked at her. His face almost turned red.

"Okay. I will shut my mouth. But stop acting like a foolish. . .arrogant- brat! You're not a kid anymore!" he exclaimed. "You know, I hate people like you. I was just trying to ease the pain that you're feeling. But what are you doing? You keep on neglecting it."

"But I don't need your help!"

"FINE! I won't help you. Who cares?! Huh-Hitomi?!" he cried. He walked towards his room and locked himself inside. He was very angry with her. 'I was just trying to help her. But why is she like that?' He didn't know what was happening. But he felt that there's something wrong going on. 'Hitomi, what's your problem?'

~*~*~*

Night came.

They haven't talked to each other. She was in her room and he was in his own room. But it was really because of her. She tried to become strong but actually she was just so weak. She shouldn't have done that. He was kind and gentle but she still refused his kind deed. She was just as foolish as ever.

'maybe he's right. Maybe I'm really a foolish.arrogant brat. No one would not accept a feeling of concern from him except-me.' She thought. Suddenly, the door opened as she looked back. He was standing there with a bouquet of flowers arranged nicely. He lifted his head and smiled.

"I can't forgive myself for what I've done. I let a girl cry just because of me," he said. He came closer to her and gave the flowers. He grinned widely as his eyes shone.

"Hitomi, I'm sorry," he said. Suddenly, she threw herself carelessly on his chest and cried hard.

"I'm very sorry, Van. I. . .I'm so sorry," she cried as she hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and comforted her.

"It's all right. Everything's fine," he said happily.

To be cont. . .

Well, one chapter's finished! Again, please review!!!^__^