Rrrriiiinnnngggg...
'That was the fifth time, why won't anyone answer the phone?'
Rrrriiiiiinnnngggg...
'Answer the phone, please!'
"Hello…" a sleepy voice answered the phone. Serena recognized her father's voice. 'It's just eight thirty and they're already asleep?' she wondered. "Hey, who are you?"
"Sorry dad, it's Sere."
"Oh, Sere," Serena heard his father switch position, maybe he sat up. "How are you? How's Haruka?" he asked.
"Everything's okay, dad, except that Haruka is in coma right now and I'm waiting for her to wake up," Serena fumbled on a button of her light blue blouse, nervous on how is she going to tell her dad that Seiya is coming over to get some clothes for her. She forgot that guys isn't likely to cross the gate when the 'guardians' are at home. "A friend is coming over to get some clothes for me dad. He's Seiya, a classmate. He's helping me watch over Haruka."
"He?" Serena could see his father straighten at the question of her friend's gender.
"Umm… yeah, actually," she crossed her fingers that Ken wouldn't get paranoid and sermon her about guys and all that chu chu stuff.
"Okay. I'll prepare your things and I'll hand them to him when he comes."
'That's it?' Serena waited for anything else.
"Okay baby, take care of yourself. Bye."
"O-okay. Thanks. Bye…" Serena listened as her father put down the phone. She looked at the phone with amazement, "What's happening?"
* * *
Darien can almost feel heaven at his fingertips as they walk to the garden of the restaurant made especially for lovers who wanted a more romantic atmosphere. The air is full of flowery scents and the touch of small lights sparkle with a stroke of romance. Darien feels like he is going to propose marriage but of course, that would be grander than this.
"Are you happy?" he asked as they stop in the bosom of roses.
Richelle's eyes were full of amazement, "Yes, I am. I've never been in a place like this before. I never thought that a restaurant could contain a garden as lovely as this." She looped her arms with Darien's and held his hand as she rested her head on his shoulder, "Thank you".
'The perfect moment,' Darien thought. "Richelle…"
"Yes?" Darien shifted so that he stood face to face with Richelle.
"I have something to tell you," he thought of words to say in introduction to his motive—or should he say it directly? He wanted it to be slow and smooth. He wanted every moment to be perfect. He reached behind him and picked up a red rose from the bush (while hoping that nobody sees him) and presented it to his angel.
"Richelle, you're so gorgeous. I mean, no, you're not gorgeous because no word can describe how beautiful you are tonight. You know, I really like you," Darien could feel his heart beating fast. It's not out of super excitement but there's an odd feeling in him. He thought that it's probably because of "the first time effect" that he's deciding to finally tell her and ask her if he can court her finally after long years of restraint. God, he's over-acting with this courting thing – and this is just all about courting! He really doesn't know if it's that but still, there's a small voice telling him to back away. The familiar voice long ago that triggers the fear in him of hurting and be hurt keeps on coming back. And what's worse, at this very minute, he can still think of the very idea that he shouldn't be doing this all along.
No, he will do this. He should and he must if he wishes to keep his sanity, "I…"
There's a lump in his throat, he couldn't bring out the words.
"Yes?"
"Can I…" a ringing sound cut through the silent atmosphere. Darien did his best to ignore it.
"I… Can I…" God! He needs water!
"You know I…"
"Darien, maybe you should answer your phone first," Richelle finally said, seeing his difficulty. She chuckled inside at how Darien could be so nervous; she decided to give him time to relax.
"No. I have to say this, can I…" the ringing sound makes it hard for him to concentrate. Richelle gave him the look that he really should answer it.
"I…" finally, he gave up. He quickly snatched his phone from his pocket and answered it, "Yes?" How he wish he left it in his car.
"Darien?" It's Serena.
"Why?"
"Haruka met an accident. She's in a hospital right now." Darien could sense gloom in Serena's voice.
"What? How's she? Is she okay?"
"She's in coma right now," At that moment, he just wanted to go and be there with Serena. Her voice shakes with exhaustion and gloom, maybe from too much worry. Of course he cared so much for Haruka but he felt like he wanted to be at Serena's side and comfort her. This must be hard for her.
"Okay, okay I'll go right there. What hospital?"
"Sendai Hospital, the one near Haruka's university."
"Be there," Darien turned around and all of a sudden he remembered what he was supposed to do. He turned to Richelle to say it straight now but he couldn't still. Serena's voice kept on ringing in his head and he knows that he needs to be at her side.
"Haruka met and accident. She's in coma right now. I need to go," He held Richelle's hand and walked to exit the restaurant.
"Is she okay?" Richelle's expression was full of concern. "I'm coming with you."
"You can visit her sometime but tonight, you should rest. It's getting late and I don't want your father to get mad at me."
He wished that this night could go on eternally. He wished everything to be perfect. But now he realized that he didn't do what he was supposed to do and, for some odd ways, he thinks that this isn't just the right time.
* * *
'I can't be falling again, not this time. I've learned my lesson and I had enough.' Serena keeps on repeating this over and over again. For some reasons in the past, she had the bad habit of falling in love fast (but sure Lita is faster) but since Darien, there had been nobody else. The love was so huge that it can bring her up to the clouds and in the end it suddenly dropped her hard on the ground. Now she can feel soaring slowly again and she have to do everything to keep herself on the ground to avoid a major fall.
The sound of the opening door startled Serena from her deep thoughts, "Dar—" she stopped when saw Seiya instead. She sighed at herself, 'You better stop thinking about him.'
Seiya flashed a smile, "Hey, I brought food for you. You better eat if you don't want to get sick. And I got your clothes."
"You didn't get interviewed, did you?" Serena asked, curious if her father's attitude in the phone was just a spur of the moment.
"Oh no. He just made sure that I'm really bringing this to the hospital and not to some hotel," he chuckled. "But other than that, nothing else. Oh and except that I bring you home single."
Serena chuckled. She better not betray her father's trust. Yeah right as if she has the chance of getting a boyfriend while her friend suffers. "Thanks a million," she absent-mindedly hugged Seiya tight.
That appeared to be a huge mistake. At the door, Serena saw Darien in his white tux, looking surprised at what he saw. Serena immediately pulled away and felt like she was caught red-handed by her boyfriend while embracing another guy. "Darien, umm… hi!" Serena would kick herself if she can. That was the stupidest greeting that she ever said but then, it's too late now. She clearly saw how Darien composed himself—or was she just imagining it? Was she just imagining that she saw jealousy in Darien's eyes?
"How's Haruka?" he asked. He wanted to hug Serena, to comfort her. But based on what he saw, maybe she doesn't need his comfort right now.
"She's still in coma. The doctor said she needs blood. We're looking for a donor."
"I'll do it," Seiya and Darien said simultaneously.
Serena chuckled a bit, "You can both do it." She noticed Darien's tux, "Hey Darien, what's with the tux? You don't need to wear it in a hospital."
"Oh, sorry. I came from a date with Richelle," Darien suddenly bit his tongue. There's nothing wrong with it but he felt that he shouldn't have said that.
"Umm… by the way Serena, would you attend you classes? Because if you don't, I'll be more than willing to excuse you from our professors, if that's okay with you," Seiya chimed in before Serena could react.
"Oh, yes, thank you. I think I would wait for Haruka to wake up." Serena heard that clearly and there was a hint of sadness and hurt in Serena's eyes when she heard Darien's words. She realized that Darien and Richelle must have a very important date because Darien's in formal suit. Could he…? No, that thought pierced directly at her heart's very center. Of course, that could be a major possibility but then… She wanted that, did she?
"Umm…" Serena tried to look at Darien but was too afraid of the risk that she'll cry, "Darien, I'm sorry if I disturbed your date. I didn't mean to…"
"Hey, that was okay. And besides, we're going home anyway." 'Yeah minus the fact that I didn't have the chance to ask her if he could court her but anyway, that wasn't Serena's fault.'
* * *
They sat there—they just sat there watching carefully for the slightest move that Haruka might make but nothing. She still lies there, motionless as death. That was half-true because the truth is they were waiting for each other to break the ice. Seiya could have done it but he left thirty minutes ago—to Serena's urging—to have his rest and prepare for tomorrow's class. Seiya didn't want to leave but figured that Serena needed him so she can catch up with lessons.
"What happened? Why did she have to be in coma?" Darien asked more to himself.
Serena wasn't sure if she has to answer but did anyway, "She had some head injuries and lost a lot of blood, at least that's what the doctor told me." She bit her lip, having problems now with saying Haruka's condition over again. It makes her cry, not to mention, guilty.
"Doesn't she have any relatives who we can call?"
Serena slowly shook her head, afraid to speak and let the impending tears to fall. Darien saw this and immediately went to her side. There was this sudden urge to comfort Serena. He lifted his arms to pull her in an embrace but something else pulled him back. Instead, he laid his hands on her shoulder.
"You should rest, Sere."
"Why do people always say that I should rest? I'm resting! I'm not doing anything!" Serena burst into sobs, "All I want is to see her wake up. I just wanted to say I'm sorry!"
"Sshhh…" Darien tried hard to calm her down but somehow, he doesn't know how, "Calm down now. She wouldn't like to see you crying when she wakes up, would she?" Darien is standing, pulling Serena close to him and gently strokes her back to calm her down. "Would you like something to drink?" Serena nodded in response. "Okay, I'll get back in a while," with that, he left the room.
Why am I feeling this? Why is it that it somehow hurts to see her cry? Why are there some restraints to comfort her? So many questions, yet answers are nowhere in sight. She's my best friend, isn't she? I shouldn't have these problems. He slowly went to a vending machine and got two bottles of water. Two bottles of water… Serena and Haruka were like these, bottles of water with different labels, different in taste perhaps. But still, they're both waters. Yes, it must be really hard for her, plus the guilt feelings. But what should I do? What can I do?
He slowly turned the knob to the room, still immersed in his own thoughts. What can I do? What can I do? "Sere here's your—" he looked up and saw Serena sleeping soundly at Haruka's bedside. Darien noticed the trace of tears on her cheeks and he couldn't help but flinch at that. I can't do anything. He saw Serena's hand holding that of Haruka's. He suddenly remembered those years when scenarios like this are, but distant fears.
flashback
Haruka is sitting outside, alone and looking lonely. I stood there, cool as ever, and decided to approach her. "It's cool outside, isn't it?"
"Oh, yeah."
"It feels nice during fall. It's just so cool to feel the breeze on your face. Sometimes, I climb trees to have a better feeling of it."
"Oh yes. I love the afternoons, the clouds and the wind. I feel calm."
I could sense something odd about her.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Nothing."
"Sere?"
"…"
"I thought so."
"No, you're wrong. We're happy and it's going to stay that way."
end of flashback
I knew they were having problems then. It's funny the way they kept their friendship and be happy about it. People even say that they have their 'own little world'. Maybe it's fate, as others might say, but I don't believe it.
Darien heard a low groan and short gasps for air. He looked up and watched in horror as Haruka's face twitched in pain and her chest heaved for air. Serena woke up from the movements and was alarmed when she saw Haruka's condition. Serena was equally shocked and did nothing but call out her friend's name, "Haruka! Why? What's happening? Haruka!! What's happening?!?!?" Do something! Darien's mind shouted at him, directing him to move and call for help. But his feet are rooted to the ground. He looked as all color faded from Haruka's face and all they could see is a mask of pain. All life-support systems are ringing in alarm, like a bomb ticking the last seconds of life. "Help!" Darien managed to shout but could barely heard himself shouting, "Somebody, help!!!" Haruka isn't opening her eyes. She greatly struggled to inhale, her back arched painfully. "Help!" this must be a nightmare, he couldn't move a muscle. "Somebody! Anybody!" Move! Darien forced his legs to move and finally did. He immediately ran for the door but as soon as he opened it, the sound of death resounded.
He turned back and saw his worst nightmare.
On the machine beeped a long and steady sound, marked with the sign of mortality:
All that's in her face is peaceful pain.
