'This can't be happening to me.'
She saw the car smash into her car. The emergency balloon went seconds too late and it's not enough to protect Haruka. She hit something and at the corner of her eyes, she saw the blood stained window.
'This can't be happening to me.'
Her vision blurred into nothingness, her pain suddenly disappeared into numbness. The last thing she saw was darkness…
* * *
"Where is she? Is she okay?" Serena's body was shaking as she approached the nurses, "What happened?!" she received a call from the hospital saying that Haruka was injured from an accident. Her heart wanted to burst from that moment until now and she then wanted her mind to stop presuming bad things that could happen to her. And now, she couldn't help but panic and long to see her best friend.
"Her car was hit head-on by another car when she attempted to overtake," a nurse calmly explained. She's in coma now." The nurse saw Serena's horrified look and immediately looked for the right words to say, "We are doing everything to save her so don't you worry."
"Can I see her?"
"Yes, you may now," replied the nurse and then left.
Serena entered the cold hospital room. She saw Haruka's unconscious body connected with several tubes to life-support machines, blood bag and dextrose. She walked slowly to the bed and when she finally saw Haruka's face, a tear slid down her cheeks. She never saw Haruka like this. She's always strong and rarely ill. Now, the lady whom she felt like a sister has a face with the color of death.
* * *
Darien wanted to settle himself once and for all, 'If these confused feelings towards Serena would continue, I'll be crazy!'
So this is the day that he would settle it. He will ask Richelle if he could court her. There's nothing wrong with it; she's beautiful, intelligent, nice—her angel. On top of it, he's been dreaming of her since fourth grade. So how's that, almost nine years? If he would focus to that feeling, then the confusion will eventually go away.
"Darien…"
He invited Richelle in a famous Italian restaurant. He thought then that he won't be ready for commitments, most likely because he's afraid to hurt and be hurt. But now is different—he waited long enough. That's just it. Loving romantically is one thing, loving a friend is another. 'I definitely know my limits. My friendship with Serena is too good to waste on some stupid confused feelings.'
"Darien…" now he heard the voice calling his name.
"What is it?" he replied.
"That's my line," Richelle grinned "What's bothering you? You seem to be so absorbed into your own little world."
Darien smiled. There she is, sitting on the passenger seat of his car. He longed for this moment since his senior prom when the song played dreamily on the background as they talked and laughed together, far from the world that threatens to set them apart. That night seems forever theirs and this night, he prayed, would be just as endless.
"I'm okay. I was just being thankful that I am with a wonderful angel tonight," he planted a quick kiss on her forehead before speeding off after a long red light.
* * *
"What exactly do you mean by you're no longer a section chief? You got promoted or you got fired?!" Serena's mom shouted around the house as she followed her husband upstairs to their room. She mentally kept her fingers crossed that her husband would finally tell her that he got promoted after almost 10 long years. But his downcast expression is not of big help.
"What?!"
He softly shook his head, "You're worrying too much. I wasn't terminated…"
"Then you're promoted?"
The downcast face suddenly turned into a huge grin, "Yes! I'm now a department manager," the heated conversation turned into celebration. There were bubbles everywhere and the sound of rejoicing could be heard. This is a long-awaited promotion and finally, he got it!
"You got me there!" Ikuko hit her husband hard on the head with a huge slap. "Finally, you've proven yourself worthy of a family man! Wahahahahaha!!!!!!" and that left a sweat drop on the poor man. ^_^
"But…" Ken suddenly became serious, "we have to move and settle somewhere near my work. I'm transferred in our Shinukawa office and you know that's way far from here."
Ikuko pondered for a while, "then Sere and Sammy would have to transfer schools as well?" her husband nodded. "But Sere's in a university. Transferring would be hard."
He paused for a while, "Her semester ends in two weeks. I guess it wouldn't be that hard. And as far as I know, one of the best universities that teach nursing is in Shinukawa so I think it would be better for her to transfer there."
Ikuko led her husband down in the living room to relax, "Can't we let her stay in a dormitory for the rest of the year then let her transfer next school year?"
Ken stiffened, "No. That's one of the last things that I would allow our daughter to do," he began to light a cigarette, "I don't want her to live anywhere besides in our own home unless she's getting married. She's coming with us, she's transferring university and that's it."
"When do we get to move out?" the caring wife entered the room with a cup of tea for her husband.
"As soon as Serena and Sammy finished their semesters. We have to talk to their teacher or dean, or whoever we need to talk to if possible to hasten their transfer recommendations and other necessary papers," Ken paused to drink the tea "Hey this tastes wonderful as usual! By the way, where are the kids?"
"Sammy is going to sleep over at a classmate's house for a project and Serena, I think, would be staying in the hospital to take care of Haruka who met a car accident," she sat beside her husband on the couch and gently linked her arm with Ken's while her head rested on his shoulder.
Ken got the perfect idea, "So then we would be alone for the night?" he got the perfect sexy tone in his voice. Ikuko looked up to him and smiled a meaningful smile. "Then we'll celebrate!" he scooped his wife up from the couch in the most loving manner and marched towards their room like newly weds do…
* * *
Her grace matched a princess as she stepped out of the car; her white dress flowed with every movement she makes. Darien held his breath as she held her hand as he felt its silkiness. Richelle smiled at her and he offered his arm for her to cling to and she did. They walked to the door and as they did, Darien felt like a noble prince, escorting the princess to a royal dinner.
The restaurant attendant saw them as they stepped in the place and immediately escorted them to Darien's reserved table. The couple didn't escape some of the people's attention as they walk silently to their table. Darien looked noble in his white tuxedo. His one-hour hair polishing paid off and so is his expensive shaving cream and manly perfume.
Richelle on his side, got the impression of, what else, but a princess and most mothers in the restaurant could only wish that she is their daughter. She wore an elegant white dress, sleeveless and with a neckline that is plunging, but not quite revealing. The fitting is just right to show her curves at the right places and the skirt flows along with her hips. Her silky brown hair flowed like ocean waves down her back. In the light of the chandelier sparkles a golden cross with the necklace that graces her neck. Her face, a sight of an angel, blooms with happiness and natural colors. At the sight of her, ladies have to keep their boyfriend's jaws from dropping to the floor.
Seeing some of the people's reactions, the couple could only chuckle at themselves.
* * *
"Hey!" Serena ran to catch up with Haruka, "What's your problem anyway?"
Haruka faced her, "Nothing really, just realized that I'm missing a lot about you lately," Haruka sighed but smiled. "But that's life anyway. We're too busy to catch up with each other. Guess I just have to accept that."
"No… Haruka…. don't go…"
"Serena…"
"Haruka…"
"Serena, wake up…"
"No…"
"Wake up…"
Serena felt the shaking at her shoulder. She slowly opened her eyes to see a familiar figure, "Seiya?"
He smiled but with concern in his eyes, "Yeah, I called at your house and they told me that you're here." He pulled a chair to sit beside Serena, "How's she?"
"I don't know, really. I'm just glad that she's alive but I don't know for how long…" tears started to well up her eyes. "She's mad at me, I know that. We haven't got a chance to talk—no scratch that—I didn't find a chance to talk to her. I know that she's mad at me and I didn't pay any attention to her. I'm not a good friend!" Serena started to sob. She covered her face with her two hands in shame to herself and partly, to Seiya who can see her cry.
Seiya pulled her in an embrace, "Don't say that you're not a good friend. We both know that you are a good person. Wait until Haruka wakes up and she herself will tell you that."
Serena wanted to tell him that he's wrong, that she's not a good friend. That she's been ignoring her for the past weeks since Darien came in her life again. That she's too guilty to be able to defend herself from her conscience. She wanted to run away and probably kill herself for being stupid, for not being a good friend, not only to Haruka but to the rest of her friends. She just watched when they went away and over time, she watched them disappear. She was just happy that Haruka stayed, but here she is again, doing nothing 'till she goes… away from her.
She cried and felt terrible for herself. But somehow, the soothing embrace of strong arms calmed her. She could feel his arms warm her from the cold atmosphere. His hands stroked her hair in a comforting and somehow, loving way. She cherished the feeling of it and she could feel herself falling…
'NO!' shouted her inner self, 'you slut, you should be thinking about Haruka than your feelings!'
Summoning her will, Serena broke away from Seiya's embrace. "I'm okay now, thank you." She focused herself on Haruka, "All I wanted now is for her to be well again. I don't care of she hates me after, so long as she can live a healthy life like before."
Seiya smiled, "I'm glad to hear that from you. But I'm quite sure that she would be well again and she won't be mad at you. You two will be happy like before."
"Thank you."
"By the way, where are her parents? Doesn't she have any relatives to take care of her?"
"Her parents are in Europe and I think her relatives are all in America. She's living alone."
"What happened to the other driver who hit her? The authorities should look into the case."
Serena got up to pour herself a drink, "I already talked to the investigating officers. The driver had some injuries but nothing serious. In fact, he's home by now. We cannot sue anyone since it's an accident in a blind curve and both drivers didn't notice the other, though one of the officers, I heard, said that it's the driver in front Haruka's fault. His speed is way below the required speed and that tempted Haruka to over take." She chuckled a bit, "Imagine, the world's best driver met a car accident? Before this happened, I thought the idea was ridiculous."
Seiya straightened, "And now?"
"It's dead serious," she slumped back onto the couch and massaged her temples.
"You look tired, Sere. Why don't you go home and rest for a while? I'll watch her while you're gone," offered Seiya.
Serena shook her head, "I've left her before, and I don't want to leave now that she needs me most." Her expression says that her decision is final so Seiya decided not to insist. "Can I just go and get some things for you? Clothes maybe? I'll get food for you too."
Serena doesn't have the strength to argue right now, "I know it's wrong to ask but I would be grateful if you would do so." She stood up and smiled at Seiya who stood to face her, "I'll just call home so they would know that you're coming and then can prepare my things."
"I would be glad to do things for you, Sere. Just tell me and I'm just here to help you with anything," Seiya held both of Serena's hands with his. "I'll always be here for you Serena… always."
Serena slowly pulled her hands back, "Thank you Seiya. You don't know how thankful I am that you're here."
"I'll be back soon."
Serena watched as Seiya walked away and disappeared behind the door. She sighed, "Don't do this to me, Seiya."
Author's babble: That's was sooner than usual ne? Well, thanks for reading and review! I'm accepting anonymous review now (I just don't know why I kept the settings for authors only). By the way, since I think it's about time, I'm putting this up:
DISCLAIMER: Characters belong to Naoko and several other people. Plot's main frame belongs to Dyan, my friend. Thankies!
