Chapter 16
Closer
November 28, Thursday morning
-=ALAINA=-
Time flies.
It's been what? Eight months now? Eight months have gone since I stayed here. Whoa! I actually survived?? Hmm… it isn't really as bad as what I always thought.
5:30… Too early for school. What should I do? What shall I do? Err… basketball.
Huh? I actually got a basketball?? As I gape at the orange thingy laid discreetly at the corner of my room, I turned on the lights.
Oh. My birthday present, last month…
HE gave me THAT. How can I forget?
He knew that I'm addicted to round things. With all my blabbering and nonsense talk, I didn't realize I'm beginning to think out loud. It all started when I came here… and HE got my attention. I've become talkative… nah! Garrulous. Yep. Garrulous… and in five months time, I know he knows me too well. I don't know… I just felt comfortable talking to him as me.
Anywhere… his garden, my house, the school gym, the park, the rooftop.
Rukawa.
How he gave the present? Odd.
[flashback]
I celebrated my birthday at the beach. The team and all my friends were there, having a cool time kidding around each other. Everyone gave me a present… except him. Well, I don't really mind because I'm not expecting any from anyone. All I wish is to have fun with and to see my mom happy. And yep, I'm okay now with the parent trouble. I just wish that there'll be no harm for anyone… again.
Anyway, Aki drove us both home. Thanks to him… I think I was too tired to move a limb. And when I finally reached my bedroom, I caught him standing in the middle of his room, staring at me through the window…strangely. I peered at him to let him know that I saw him but he didn't budge. I moved closer to the windowpane and sat on it - Indian style, facing him. I waited… he still wouldn't move.
"Oi, why are you staring?"
. . . still staring.
"Hey, mister! Yoohoo?? Are you gonna stare forever or you want me to go there and kick you're a-"
*Bog*
"Happy birthday."
Aww… What was that? atleast I caught it... after it gracefully hit my nose, hard. An old basketball? And he flatly said 'happy birthday.' Lame.
Since when is he not? Hehe…
I looked up to atleast say thanks but he's out of sight. Hmm… wuss.
But I have to admit that I have to smile at that. Rukawa, the ice block, actually cared to give me his precious basketball. He didn't buy it. Obviously, it's the one he's using everyday for his personal practices. Too thrift.
The same way how we first met.
But still, the thought made me flattered. And the smile won't go off my face. Hmm… that guy!
[end]
It's been seven months since I've known him better. Yep, surprisingly, we've become friends.
Not the bondingly close-friend type. You know how that fox is… we're just friends. Uhh… TEASING friends.
You know how Sakuragi irritates him, right? Well, we sorta have that kind of bonding too. I oh-so-love to tease him… to death. Haha! And ofcourse, how he retorts? "Do'aho."
Yeah, some things never change… though the feelings do.
Hey, I'm not being freaking sentimental here, okay? And it's not what you think it is… I'm just saying that Rukawa isn't that bad at all. He's fine, and a great friend… I guess. Except for the fact that his bimbos WERE always sticking their nose at me. One time, someone grabbed my hair and pulled it really hard. I thought I'm gonna be bald! But he arrived and glared at them, really hard. Then he pulled me off to the rooftop. There, we stayed skipping our next class. I have no idea what he did next but those girlies sure knows how to treat me after.
Hn.. speaking of the devil…
There, he lies on his bed, still sleeping soundly… with all the drool and the loudest snore. Maybe he forgot to close his curtains? Drat. As if it's not his everyday habit. Hehe… you should see his stinky room with all the clothes scattered. And yep, even his underwear is lying there somewhere. Well, don't question me. I heard his mom forcing him to take his underwear off under his bed so she can wash it… Nyahaha!!! And he caught me gaping at the scene. His reaction? "Do'aho." Hehe… but I actually saw him blush… Cute!
And uhhuh… I'm actually getting fond of calling him 'cute'. It irritates him. He knows I'm not the flirty type and he knows I use the term only for my pet, Boxer... and ofcourse, my crushes.
Hey, it's not my fault if he always lets his windows open, right?
So maybe I could…
Hmm… Where did I place that recorder???
-=RUKAWA=-
Zzzz…
Basketball.
Beat Sendoh.
Basketball.
-=ALAINA=-
"Whoa! Another steal from Rukawa! He glides back, with Sendoh still guarding him. Opting to make a shot! And it shoots! Another 3 pointer from the super rookie of Shohoku! Rukawa Kaede!"
Hehe… That booming voice of the announcer should wake him up. Adding a little…
"L-O-V-E RUKAWA! L-O-V-E RUKAWA!"
I shouted with all my might, imitating those highly-pitched exotic looking bimbos.
-=RUKAWA=-
Steal. Dribble. Fake.
Shoot.
"Whoa! Another steal from Rukawa! He glides back, with Sendoh still guarding him. Opting to make a shot! And it shoots! Another 3 pointer from the super rookie of Shohoku! Rukawa Kaede!"
We're still leading.
"L-O-V-E RUKAWA! L-O-V-E RUKAWA!"
Huh?
Them again?? But I thought I'm practicing at the park. Sendoh's not here. I'm alone. Announcer??
What the-?
-=ALAINA=-
"Bwahahahaha!!!"
I know it'll work on him! Just look at him lie asleep on his bed, and play basketball at the same time… hehehe…
He actually look stupid with his feet waggling slowly while making a shot with his Keroppi pillow as the ball… hahaha!!!
Headlines: Ice king, possessed. Caught on video cam.
Really good to start your day teasing him.
-=RUKAWA=-
That girl!
I'm losing it… How could she..?? Teasing me everyday is enough. But teasing me while sleeping is another thing.
I should have not let her near me… like the others. Like before.
Argh!
Hell, I can't resist. It happens everyday, what's new. Then I would just go to my bathroom, and prepare for school while smiling uncontrollably.
Shit.
But I like it. Atleast she doesn't see me smile. And that's the important part. She should not see me smiling because of her… Or else? Damn it.
-=ALAINA=-
"Hahahaha!!!"
I couldn't… hahaha!! stop… hehe… laughing… nyahahaha!!!
Kaede Rukawa actually did THAT???
COOL!
Next move: I'll PRETEND to bring the V-8 and show it to everyone. Even those bimbos! Hehehe!!!
Wonder his next reaction will be???
Boy… I just love to irritate him these days! ^__^
-=SENDOH=-
University. Err… what university?
Can't believe it. My high school years is almost through. A few months and I'll be leaving Kanagawa… and Alaina.
Hmm... atleast she got a new companion.
Rukawa… I know I can trust him.
-=MITSUI=-
"Hi, Ryota! What's up?"
"Hey, you seem to be getting over Alaina, ne?"
"Alaina, who?"
*Whack!*
"What did you say??"
"Ayako, I was kidding. You know I can't forget her. And we already talked and figured things out. We're better off as friends… As a matter of fact I've got a new girl to eye on. Same university as mine."
-=ALAINA=-
Everything set.
Off to school! Oh, here comes Rukawa… maybe I could join him while he rides his bike. Hehe… and besides…
I have a purpose.
"Ohayo!"
-=RUKAWA=-
Her again. Uhh… Ride the bike or not?
She's walking. Nah! Who cares. But I left my bike anyways.
"Hn."
"Know what? You really look DIFFERENT a while ago."
Can she not emphasize the word different?? It's humiliating enough.
"But I think it's cute."
"Do'aho."
Here she goes again. Remember to smack her off later. When nobody's looking.
"What do you think if I tell the team?"
"They won't believe you."
"Oh? They know I'm not a liar."
"Do'aho."
"Besides, I've got an evidence."
What is she up to??
"Caught ya!"
Huh? Is that a… video camera? Kuso... She did not!
"Hahahaha! Caught ya on camera! Caught ya on camera!"
I glared at her… hard. No effect, she just continued laughing, teasing me like hell. I moved towards her, she ran. Hmm… so this means I can take that thing off from her IF I catch her…
You better start running fast now.
-=ALAINA=-
"Darn! He's running after me! It's fine but hell, I'm wearing a skirt! Damn it! But still, this'll be fun… hehe… just don't let his bimbos see us. "
*Blog!*
Ooh. Ouch. Suddenly, I'm on my butt.
"Hey slut! What did you do to our Rukawa??"
Demented bimbos! Argh! And they're suddenly around me in a circle… Their life actually lives for Rukawa?? Boy, how absurd can they get?
"Leave her alone."
"Ru… ru… ka… ruka… wa"
Automatically, the crowd cleared his way. He held my wrists and helped me up, leaving his shinetai a deadly glare… again.
"Thanks."
"Hn."
He didn't let go of my left hand… gripping it more firmly. I didn't resist.
Quietly, we headed for school.
A/N: Hey, yo!
I'm actually thinking of ending the story here… ya think? I'm a bit biased. Tell me what you like by reviewing, please?
Should I leave it hanging here or what? Err.. I'm planning to make another, anyway… hehe…
And I have another ongoing fic too. "Seize the camera!"
You might want to read it… hehe… I still need more critic reviews if I should also continue that or not.
Thanks for finding your time to review! I appreciate it very much… ^_^
And oh… who's watching MG??? I like Jerry! Hehe… -_^