Just A Coincidence Finale
"Where is it?" I groaned, as something solid toppled over my head but missed me by a couple of
inches. "It's got to be here somewhere."
"Shyt."
I was in my closet, trying to find something that seemed familiar. I had begun my search before
even knowing what I was looking for. What the hell was I looking for? Trying to calm my
already growing agitation, I was rummaging hastily through stacks of boxes that lay on top of the
highest shelf inside. For a guy that didn't own too many things, my closet begged to differ.
"What's behind here?"
Carefully shoving off to one side a small column of books, my eyes finally found what I've been
searching for the past ten minutes. My gut instantly knew this was the item. Far off to the side,
hiding behind that stack of books, was a simple brown shoe box. It was something I haven't seen
definitely for a while.
"This could be it."
Eyeing it carefully, I reached for it. Once the object was in my hands, I walked eagerly into my
living room, sitting myself down on the couch. I placed the box on the coffee table, which I
pulled a little closer for better access, and gingerly took booth sides of the lid and lifted it open.
'It's been long. Too long.'
With that thought, I carefully reached in with one hand, picking up a lone black picture frame
that lay face-down.
In the frame was a picture of my parents. My dead parents.
They had died in a car accident when I was eight. I too had been involved in the ordeal. Being
the only survivor, authorities tried to ask me if I knew any friends or relatives to take me in.
Unfortunately, because I was involved in the car accident, I had developed amnesia, so there
wasn't anyone I could remember... except my name...
"I'm sorry son. I think you may want this..." I remembered the last words that the man had
spoken to an eight year old version of myself, solemnly, as he handed me the picture of my
parents. He had already explained to me as gently as he could all that had happened and that my
parents had not survived. "This was all we could find."
With picture in hand, I was then placed in an orphanage, living there for almost nine years. Nine
long years. And at seventeen, I gladly moved out of the orphanage after the government had
finally accepted and approved my special appeal to officially declare myself independent. And
for the last two years of my life, I lived alone, in my apartment.
Yes, alone.
With that picture.
And the only person that had ever came close to being a friend, or a true friend was Andrew.
But of course, his friendship wasn't enough. And neither was the picture.
I needed something else in my life. And I knew exactly what it was.
All I had to do was find it. Whatever it was.
However, in order for me to continue on this 'search', I needed to forget the past. Start over
again. Just let things go. So I hid this box two years ago. Along with everything else that
reminded me of my past. And I never thought I would look through it again.
Sighing, I put the picture frame aside and once again looked through the contents of the
container. Inside were other various objects of mementoes, but instead of dividing my attention
for each one, something caught my eye.
At the very bottom of the shoe box was a worn-out wrinkly pink piece of paper, tucked under an
old address book.
I narrowed my eyes in curiosity.
"This seems familiar."
Pulling it out without another thought, I held the letter now with both hands, feeling the corners
of my lips tug upward to grin.
My smile had grew even more because old emotions came back to me.
"How strange, even after all these years."
There, in my hands, was the letter I've been searching for.
Ever since yesterday's dream revelation, I had the overwhelming urge, something I couldn't
simply ignore, to look for this letter.
This... Old love letter.
'I saw it in my dream... She held it.'
My smile dying down, I unfolded it, gently smoothing out the crinkled corners. A faint but
familiar sent emitted from it, suddenly making my heart beat faster. It still smelled like fresh cut
roses.
'Its fragrance matched hers...'
And just like that, the memories came flooding back.
Three years ago, a young fifteen year old Serena Tsukino walked up to me with a bright smile.
"Hi... Darien!" Someone tapped on my shoulder from behind me. I was busy facing my locker, a
small smile forming on my lips. "You got a minute?"
Like any other highschool day, the halls were over crowded as usual, but that fact had escaped
my mind as soon as I turned around to face her. There was something about her that made me
forget my surroundings every time.
"Oh, hey Serena." I gave her a bright smile. I saw her blush slightly at my friendly gesture.
"What's up?"
"Well, I got something for you." With eager but slightly nervous hands, she plucked out a pink
paper from a notebook in between two books that she held up to her chest. She then hastily
shoved it into the air, toward me. "Um... Can you please read it when I'm gone? Anyway, I gotta
go now to finish up on some homework."
With a skeptical smile, I took the paper from her awaiting hand.
"What's this for?"
"Gotta go!"
With that, she quickly but shyly turned around and walked away from me, noticing that she
added an extra skip to her walk. If I had known better, she left with a wide smile plastered on her
face. Too bad I couldn't tell from where I stood.
After watching her disappear around a corner, my attention was now on the paper at hand.
Opening it curiously, I began to read the contents, noticing that a mild but fragrant sent of roses
was coming from the letter.
-----------
Dear Darien,
Hey, thanks so much for becoming my friend this year, since I hardly know anyone. You know
how it is for us kids who move to new schools in the middle of a semester... And to this day, I'm
still having trouble knowing where all the classrooms are!
If I hadn't bumped into you accidently, I'd have never met someone as sweet as you.
You've been so kind to take time in showing me around school, and you never seemed bothered
when I asked you questions about... well anything!
So now, I'm writing you this letter to thank you for all the nice things you've done for me...
And...
To say that I... like you.
I like you a lot.
You know... in that way.
I know this may sound cheesy but I think I like-liked you in that way ever since I laid eyes on
you.
I like your kindness and your sweet personality.
You always put a smile on my face. And that's something I can't ignore.
I hope we can become more than just friends.
Your non-secret admirer,
Serena Tsukino
PS. I think you're super sexy.
-----------
Sure.
The letter was simple in nature, and in fact, just like Serena had mentioned, it was a bit cheesy.
However the cheesiness, it forced the most happiest and goofiest grin to emerge on my face. It
was a grin that no one in the world could come to pry off me, even if they were paid a million
dollars.
In fact, 'I' felt like a million dollars right then. Heck, I even felt like doing a victory dance.
And three years later, I was eyeing the letter in my hands, but the same old grin started to falter.
I frowned.
Ever since she gave me the letter, Serena Tsukino had changed that year. She had become
distant and passive... around me... which eventually lead to ending our friendship that
year...permanently.
The spark that I once saw in her eyes had disappeared.
As years flew by, she grew older and damn well became even more beautiful-- something I
failed to notice before.
'Just like the dream had explained.'
But her attitude towards me worsened everyday that year, to the point were she just ignored me...
Worst of all, she looked hurt. She always looked hurt around me.
'Ever since that day she gave me the letter...'
And my frowned deepened.
After that year, with her sudden change of personality, I had completely forgotten all about her.
How did I forget her?
And I closed my eyes.
"Serena? Hey, can I talk to you?" I walked up to her with a smile, her back facing me while she
placed text books into her locker. "It's about that letter you gave me..."
She continued to place her notebooks now into the locker, not giving me a response.
"Serena?"
She then stopped her movements, as if she froze from hearing her name.
"Serena, is something wrong?"
She slowly turned around to face me with a look I have never seen on her face before.
Something I didn't expect. Something maybe I didn't want to see on her face.
She looked hurt.
"I heard what you said about me." She began, the look of pain never leaving her features.
"Please, do me a favor. Whatever you're going to say, just don't say it. I know what you're going
to say so don't even try..."
"What? I don't understand." I looked at her concerned when I saw her eyes gloss over with tears.
"What's wrong? Is there something I did-"
"Darien. Just leave me alone. It's enough what you did to me. Don't make it any worse. It was a
mistake. A HUGE MISTAKE."
With that, she zipped up her bag, slammed the locker door, and walked away, never looking
back at the confused being that I was.
I opened my eyes.
My frown returned.
And then I recalled why I had forgotten her for the last three years.
She was stubborn. She never gave me the chance to understand what I did that was so wrong to
her that year. Since that day, I had kept returning to her to find out what exactly made her think
differently about me. I didn't understand. I had no clue. And each time that I kept asking, her
only response was ignoring me.
Finally I stopped asking her and I forgot.
I simply forgot her. I had given up.
'Sound familiar?' A thought crossed my mind. I only shook my head. 'She was stubborn...'
"And she still is."
I looked at the old lover letter in my hand, as a new feeling began to form in my chest.
My eyes narrowing, I carefully folded the paper and placed it inside the journal.
I was going to do something about this. Now was the time.
"I'm not going to make the same mistake twice." .
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
Yes... Finally.
Today was Mina's birthday. Today was also the grand finale of our waltzing sessions, to show
off tonight the moves that we've been working so hard on.
'Or we've been enduring patiently for so long.' I sarcastically thought. 'God, she's really gonna
get it on MY birthday.'
"Hey, thanks for coming with me Amy." I heard myself say, interrupting anymore thoughts to
enter my mind. I needed to focus at the task at hand.
I was at the mall with Amy, the both of us trying to find the perfect gifts for Mina. During all the
drama and angst with Pretty Boy, I had failed to remind myself that I needed to shop earlier in
the month for Mina's token of appreciation for her birth and for being my friend. The task in
itself, was a pain. But thank goodness I had managed to persuade Amy to come along with me or
else I didn't have anyone around to give me a second opinion about the gift I was going to give
Mina. If anything, I knew what Mina would want. CLOTHES. And I was not about to give her
something that didn't have a second approval, besides my own taste.
"No problem, Serena." Amy said beside me as we wondered off into aisles together, running our
hands lightly through the files of clothes that hung on racks all around us. "Besides, I myself
didn't have time to shop for Mina. I should thank you for the opportunity, in fact."
Smirking, I plucked out a white top from the file of clothes in front of me. I playfully cried,
"Amy Mizuro? Didn't have the time to go shopping? How ludicrous!"
"Well, you see... It's just..." She began, as I continued to round a particular rack that served only
cardigans. "Well, I usually don't go shopping."
"Really?" I gave a laugh as I eyed a dark blue cardigan. "Well, I should've known. Considering
you do a number of things... Things that deserve more time and attention than shopping."
"Indeed." Amy smiled as she seemed to be fascinated with an clothing item in front of her. "I
mean I'm not stating that shopping is repulsive, I'm just saying that... I just don't do it."
"Oh, well in that case, just between you and me," I added with slight mischief in my voice. "I
don't shop much either."
We continued to roam through the aisles in comfortable silence when suddenly I had the urge to
ask her a question.
Going to neat piles of folded shirts on a small table that had a sign saying they were on sale, I off
handedly asked., "Amy, is it natural to be afraid to fall in love with someone?"
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Amy was not surprised by my out-of-the-blue question
much to my relief.
'Where did THAT come from?' I asked myself in slight shock.
"What do you mean?" She enquired comfortably.
" Err.. Okay, what I meant to say was..." I picked up a pink spaghetti strapped top in front of me
and eyed it, slight caution evident in my voice. "Is it natural for a person to not want to forgive
someone because that person is afraid to fall in love with that someone?"
"Well.." Amy began toward my direction to look through the pile of shirts as well. "That's a
tough question. I mean it all depends in the issues that are involved in that kind of situation..."
"Okay, I'll provide the issues." I added quickly, surprised that I even wanted this conversation to
continue, as I began picking up another shirt with curiosity. "Let's say person A use to like
person B a long time ago. But then person B had hurt person A and years later, Person B still
hurts Person A."
"Go on." Amy replied with curiosity.
"Should Person A forgive Person B even after all that person B had done to person A?"
"In my opinion..." Amy trailed off for a bit to think over what I just said. Then she replied
knowingly, "No matter what Person B had done to Person A, forgiveness should always be
given, especially if Person B is asking for the forgiveness sincerely."
"But what if..." I stopped looking through shirts now and placed two hands on my waist, now
fully attentive in the subject. "But what if Person A is AFRAID to forgive Person B because in
doing so would only hurt Person A?"
"You think that if Person A forgives Person B, Person A will become vulnerable to Person B and
be more prone to get hurt because of the action of forgiving?" Amy raised a lone eyebrow at me
also forgetting a shirt in hand. "Well, if that's the case, Person A should realize that forgiving
Person B is a big step, yes. But it is merely just forgiving them and not letting Person B into
Person A's life. So Person A shouldn't have to get hurt with Person B. Person A can always
chose to forget Person B after forgiving Person B... It's like that old cliche – Forgive and forget."
"Oh."
Amongst all those Person As and Person Bs, I was slightly amused that not once was I lost in the
conversation. But my amusement quickly changed into wonderment.
"Forgive and forget huh? That's it?"
"Yup, that's it." Amy gave a quick nod, resuming back to eyeing the shirt in her hand.
"It sounds so simple..." I whispered momentarily to myself.
"Huh?"
"Oh, it's nothing." I quickly changed the subject, noting Amy had heard me. "I'll be over there,
Amy. Nothing here seems to be the gift I want to give to Mina. I'll be back."
"Sure." I heard her reply.
And off I went to explore another side of the department store.
"Wow. Cardigan haven." I sarcastically mumbled as I neared a section that was in fact, full of
'various' and 'colorful' cardigans. "Blah."
Looking around for ten minutes, I became frustrated that the longer I looked through these racks
and piles of the thin petite jackets, the nastier and farther away from 'decent' did the cardigans
look.
"God I hate shopping." I mumbled once again to no one but myself when I had taken out a
ridiculously leopard printed and furry cardigan from the rack in front me.
"So do I."
Crap.
I froze in place, shutting my eyes tightly with a mix of annoyance, frustration, and shock all
rolled into one. I immediately shoved the cardigan back onto the hanger.
'Of all the places.'
"What are you doing here?" I sighed in annoyance, not bothering to turn around. I began walking
away from the rack of clothes to a set of new ones next to it. "Let alone, explain why you're in
the women's petite clothing section."
I had assumed he followed me and he did, much to my dismay.
"Just shopping."
"Didn't know women's clothing was a sexual fetish of yours." I smiled, but the smile didn't
reach my eyes. Quickly looking around, I spotted the women's lingerie section and added,
"Trying to find lingerie for yourself, Mr. Cross dresser? Or a new thong? If it's either of those,
you've come to the right place."
"You're verbally abusive, you know that?"
I rolled my eyes, as I pulled out a purple feathered cardigan from the rack in front of me. I
briefly wondered how many birds were plucked to get all those feathers onto the small jacket.
Oh the horror.
"Pointing out the obvious doesn't make you look any smarter."
"Neither does hiding the obvious for clueless people." His hand reached out and immediately
pushed down my hand that held the piece of clothing, returning it onto the rack again.
'What the hell?'
My eyes narrowed, ignoring the tingling sensation that ran down my spine at the sudden contact
with his hand on mine.
"Leave me alone jerk." I pulled my hand away from his.
"Not until you explain to me why you're so upset with me." Came an unexpected response. He
continued, "You have this nack of letting people be clueless about what they've done wrong."
"What's the difference? The damage has been done." I slowly turned around trying to muster a
glare. I placed a hand on my waist. "I see no point in telling someone what the problem is
because what more can be fixed? Anyway, I'm shocked and appalled that you've forgotten the
online issue."
"Like I've said for the last time, I didn't know it was you. It took me a while to realize for myself
that I was talking to you, of all people." His gaze was already narrowed toward me. I wasn't
surprised.
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why shouldn't you?"
I was taken aback from his punctual response after mine.
'What the HELL?' The same thought crossed my mind.
I shook my head to get me out of my temporary shock. "Oh, I don't know. Because you're a jack
ass maybe?"
"What a legitimate answer." One corner of his mouth raised itself into a half grin. "I know you
can do better than that."
I stared at him momentarily as if he really was the biggest jack ass in the world. Then I resumed
in giving him a glare.
"Screw you. And once again, leave me alone." I began to turn and walk away from him again.
'I've got to get away from him.'
"...Why can't you forgive me?" His voice became soft, almost as if he was mumbling to himself.
However, I caught it before taking my second step, in turn stopping me dead in my tracks.
I closed my eyes and sighed painfully.
"Like I said. I just... can't." I whispered back to him.
"But why?" His question was almost heart wrenching, making my insides turn to knots. "Why
can't you?"
'Why can't I?' A thought echoed his last question.
"Because I can't alright!" I suddenly turned around to face him, shock clearly written on my
features to find that he was only a few inches away from me now. How the heck did he get near
me so fast? "Don't ask me... because I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
I felt my breath hitch in my throat, still noting the close proximity between us.
'God he's so close...' I unsuccessfully prevented that thought from escaping me. 'He smells so
good...'
"Well, you're just going to have to except that answer." I tried to take notice of our
surroundings, trying to look anywhere but into his... eyes...
"No I won't. Not until I know why you won't forgive me." From the corner of my eye, he inched
closer to me.
Consciously, I found myself taking a step back.
"Okay. Here. Try this... why don't you except the fact that I won't forgive you?"Alarmed, I gave
him a hopeful glance, wishing that he'd step away this time.
Crap.
Instead he didn't, and took another step forward. I found myself taking another step back..
'Dear God-'
"Now why would I do that? How can I just accept that the nicest girl I knew four years ago
wouldn't want to forgive me? What was that one thing that I did that made me so repulsive to
you?"
"What are you talking about?" I raised an eye brow at him, noting that it was my turn to be
clueless. I finally looked into his face.
Big mistake.
He narrowed his eyes to me.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"No I don't." I eyed him cautiously now. Somewhere in the back of my mind, however, I had the
feeling that I knew what he was talking about. "Care to explain?"
"Oh, but stating the obvious doesn't make me any smarter, Serena."
I gasped when my back slightly bumped into the white wall behind me. I hadn't notice he had
managed to move me all the way back near where the fitting rooms were. And I notice he was
still inching closer to me.
'Crap. How dramatic can this guy get?' I would have taken the time to laugh at myself when I
noticed that this felt like a scene in one of those cheesy romantic movies. You know, the guy
pinning a girl up against a wall... or something close to that. 'But thank goodness he ISN'T
pinning me to the wall-'
At the same time, I had the urge to widen my eyes, when I noticed he had used that same line on
me, but I refrained from doing it.
'Keep your cool Serena.'
"Trying to turn the tables on me are you?" As if a surge of courage flowed through me, I
narrowed my eyes and took a step forward. "You tell me and I tell you huh? It won't work
Chiba."
Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes at me cautiously, slightly turning his head to the side.
The close proximity between us now was enough to be called 'violating one's personal space.'
I'll be damned if he tried to use that power of intimidation over me.
"You're right. It won't work... because you're too damned stubborn." He bent down slightly to
my ear and whispered. "Really, too damned stubborn."
"Sh-Shut up Chiba." I tried to growl but instead my voice sounded utterly confused. Almost all
the functions of my brain stopped. "Just leave me alone... Enough already."
"...I can't." His hot breath tickled my ear, heat rising up my cheeks. "Why don't you just... tell
me why?"
"W-why what?" I managed to choke out, trying to mentally wack myself with a base-ball bat for
sounding so weak.
"What did I do... in freshman year to make you hate me?"
With that one question and that tone of voice, some of the concrete of my metaphoric wall that I
had built around myself started to crumble.
'He sounds so sincere. Maybe I should-'
I paled slightly when I started to realize what he was doing. He was trying to pry guilt out of me.
'That bastard.'
Immediately, I saw a smaller version of myself, quickly picking up metaphoric pieces from my
metaphoric concrete wall to be placed back into those metaphoric crumbled areas. But the small
metaphoric me had trouble fixing the wall.
Because the problem was still there.
He remembered.
'No...'
At that, I stood up straight and stepped aside, giving him an unintended hurtful look.
"I can't believe you even have the nerve to bring that up with me." I almost whispered but loud
enough for him to hear. "Just... Leave me alone and forget about everything."
'Please.'
I began to walk away.
However, I almost stopped once again when I heard him say, "For now, Serena. For now, I'm
leaving you alone. But you'll see...."
I began to walk away again, trying to ignore the rising rate of my heart beating.
"You will see... tonight."
I wish I was oblivious in the seriousness of that statement. But I wasn't
Because in my gut I knew that statement held the weight of everything that had ever happened...
------
Throughout the rest of the afternoon an uneasy feeling, let's call it "worry", hung over me like a
small patch of cloud following me where ever I went and continued to rain over my head.
Earlier, Amy had noticed my sudden change of mood when I had returned to her quickly, seeing
that I still haven't chosen a gift for Mina yet. Luckily, in an attempt to forget what just happened
with 'him' and that feeling of weariness that decided to tag along with me for the ride, I began
looking again. After a few more minutes meeting up with Amy again, I had found the perfect gift
for Mina.
A simple orange cardigan.
And Amy eyed her gift from across the table from me. She bought her an orange floral top.
"I think our gifts will go perfectly together.." I laughed as I finally folded the petite jacket and
placed it inside it's plastic bag. "Just pray she has a pair of pants or a skirt that can match with
them."
"I hope so too."
Amy and I decided to grab a quick bite at the food court. With all that shopping, we knew we
deserved at least a small meal. Shopping for Mina wasn't all that easy. I happily grabbed a
couple of fries.
"So tonight's the big night huh?" I off handedly said, eyeing our surroundings comfortably.
"Have you seen the hotel yet?"
I knew Amy had become Mina's second in command when it came to helping out decorating the
place. Seeing the good job Amy did with the masquerade ball two months ago, Mina had no
choice but to automatically put Amy into that important position. And with this knowledge, I
knew Amy was one of the first to see the place.
"Yeah. It's really quite gorgeous." Amy began with a twinkle in her eye. "The place is amazing.
I could think of no better place than to have a debutante ball over at the Juuban City Starlight
hotel."
"THAT hotel?!" I gasped in shock.
Juuban City Starlight Hotel was one of the most prestigious and high ranking five star hotels that
ever existed in all of Juuban City. I never dreamed I'd set foot in a place like that. And little did I
know, Mina's ball would be there, of all places.
"How many people do you think will be there?"
"Close to about five hundred people I suppose." Amy replied taking a bite out of her burger.
"You're kidding me." I said wide eyed. "That's... A LOT of people."
"You got that right." Amy nodded in agreement. "It's actually kind of funny how Mina might not
even know maybe more than half of the people that will be attending."
"True." I gave a small laugh after taking a sip of my drink. "Funny how these debutante balls
are. And to think we'll be performing in front of all those people!"
Amy then frowned. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
"Wow, so you don't like shopping and you don't like standing in front of an audience..." I gave a
wide grin, chewing on another fry. "Wow, you could be my long lost sister!"
"So I take it, stage fright is also something we have in common." She laughed along too. "But I
suppose, just this one time, we'll have to get over that fear."
"Fear ladies? What is this fear you speak of?"
"Andrew?" I said a little surprised, as he welcomed himself to our table, grabbing a seat with us.
And so I've slightly noticed that Andrew had the nack of interrupting conversations a lot. Oh
well, the more the merrier. "What are you doing here?"
"As you can see, I'm the boyfriend who does last minute shopping." He lifted one of those small
department store paper bags and gave us both a wink. "Not that I haven't done it already."
"Already?" I gave him a questioning look.
"Secret ladies... but..."Andrew reached into the small paper bag and pulled out a tiny velvet box.
He then handed me the box and leaned closer into the table to whisper something to the both of
us. "Go ahead. Open it. I need both of your opinions."
"Sure." I off handedly said opening the box slowly. I gasped when I saw what was in it. "My
god, Andrew! You modern day Casanova. This is expensive!"
I quickly handed it to Amy, eyes widening as well. She gasped in agreement.
"Yes, Andrew. This is quite a gift."
"Twenty four karat gold too, by the way." He gave us a satisfactory grin, leaning back on his
chair and folding both arms across his chest. "The prettiest heart necklace for my love. Nothing
but the best for Mina."
"You Romeo! There's no doubt she's going to love it." I had noticed it was one of those small
hearts that was rimmed with tiny stone diamonds, hanging only onto a thin gold chain. Sure, I've
seen them on most girls who had boyfriends, but not this necklace. It truly looked dazzling and it
seemed the value Andrew had stated. Most of the worth was on the heart pendant itself. "And
you wanted our opinion?"
"So I take it, you guys approve?" Amy handed the box back to Andrew, but Andrew then
continued to stare at it, eyeing it hesitantly. "Because it's really important to me that my gift
mean something special to her."
"Oh please Andrew." I shook my head with a smirk. "If you have given Mina a simple bobby
pin, she'd still keep on talking about it for days. All because it came from your heart. And
THAT'S STILL an understatement... But since you got her that, I'm pretty sure I'll never hear
the end of it from her. She'll love it, believe me."
"I say the same as well." Amy said with a smile. "She would be very delighted to receive that,
positively."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." He finally shut the cover of the box and dropped it back in into the
paper bag. He actually seemed relieved. "Because, if she's not going to like it... well lets just say
I don't exactly trust a man's taste when it come to the matters of women's jewelry."
"What's the matter? You don't trust your own taste?"
"No. Actually... Seeing that I don't have any fashion sense, and yes I don't trust my own taste, I
had Darien come along with me to help me pick it out." He gave a small laugh and continued, "I
just wanted to make sure Darien hadn't made a mistake."
Just when I was going to forget the event earlier, his name had to be mentioned. But I was more
surprised that ... that idiot... the bastard... he actually picked that out for Andrew!
'Wow. No wonder I had to see him earlier.'
"Oh." was all I could utter.
"Well I must say, Darien has good taste for a man then." Amy giggled but now the happy mood
was ruined for me. My smile faltered. "Speaking of Darien, where is he?"
"Hey, Amy..." I began, alarmed that Darien would actually be close by. I wanted nothing more
then to be away from him right now. Another awkward encounter with him was not on the top of
my 'to do list'. "We gotta meet Mina now. Didn't she say she wanted to give us our dresses
around three?"
And thank goodness it was fifteen minutes before three when I glanced at my wrist watch.
"Oh. Oh right."
"Well, thanks for your opinion ladies." Andrew stood up with us and gave a smile again. "I feel
much better knowing I got the right gift."
"No problem."
And with that, Amy and I left quickly with Mina's gifts at hand.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
"I see they left in a hurry." I muttered putting the trays of food down in front of us. I sat across
from Andrew, a frown not wanting to leave my face. "What was that all about?"
"I showed them the necklace." He simply stated, looking slightly smug across from me. "They
thought it was fantastic."
"Now why did you have to go off and do that?" I picked up my burger and took a greedy bite.
"You know very well those two are Mina's good friends. It's not going to stay a secret very
long."
"For one thing I needed their opinions, since it would be from the perspective of ladies." And he
then gave me a grin. Not just any grin but an all knowing grin. "And I've added that you helped
me pick it out for Mina."
"So what if I helped you out?"
"My good man..." He grinned again as he took a bite from his own burger. "You don't get it do
you? Well, I do have to admit the gesture was small but..."
"Cut to the chase." I picked up a couple of fries and devoured them.
"I merely made you look good in front of Serena. That's all."
I frowned. "Ah, but why do that?"
"Because you're my friend and you need help. Simple as that." He gave a curt nod and took a
couple of fries. "And it was clear. The surprise on her face was evident."
"She was affected?" My frown lessened.
"Indeed she was. But anyway, I'm leaving the rest of the 'making-you-look-good' on your own."
He took another bite of his burger. "I trust you can be that 'modern day Casanova' or that
'Romeo' that she stated about me, without anymore of my help."
"I can. And I will." It was my turn to give him a curt nod. "I'm facing her tonight whether she
likes it or not. And this time, I've got everything I need to sway her."
My thoughts immediately fell back onto that old love letter.
'She'll have to face me.'
"I sure hope so Darien. It's only fair this situation ends once and for all. And you deserve to be
happy."
--------------
'And you deserve to be happy.' Andrews words were etched in my mind.
Maybe I did deserve to be happy.
Considering the events that happened in my life, to have been robbed of any memory of my
parents, to have been forced in an orphanage because I couldn't remember any faces, to have
lived alone...
Damn I deserve it.
And I've been looking. Looking for that happiness.
Looking for someone who would love me.
And I would love back.
Would it be Serena?
'It would've been if you haven't given up before.' A thought bitterly crossed my mind.
"But how was I to know? I was only a kid then. I didn't have the means to be persistent. I didn't
have the patients. I... I just didn't know." I said allowed to no one in particular.
'Andrew had been right all along. Although you may have been a kid then, you still could've
waited. Kept asking. Kept trying- - took the time to have gotten to know her...' A new thought
countered back. 'You could've gone the whole nine yards... for Serena.'
And all of a sudden, I knew what Andrew meant.
I slowly opened my eyes to once again to revel in the beauty of the view before me.
Everything that Andrew had been pointing out to me had suddenly become as clear as the full
moon that had shown out tonight. It had come out for me.
No.
For the both of us.
Yes. Tonight was the night I was going to talk to Serena Tsukino once and for all. For the dream
revelation told me so. Because it was right. It was meant to be.
And from the moment I stepped inside the very decorative but elegant room, I knew there was
no turning back. The effect of realizing this multiplied ten fold, when I finally stepped out into
the balcony of the JCS Hotel. The Juuban City Starlight hotel.
And, as anyone would guess correctly, It was the same place I recently drempt of. Where the
truth came out. It was going to be in Mina's debutante ball. It was going to be at Mina's
debutante ball. And...
Serena was the one... She just had to be.
The ball would begin in ten minutes.
There's no turning back.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
"God, I'm so nervous..."
"This is it guys!"
"I can't wait!"
"This is just going to kick major ass."
"Guys, stand still!" Mina's harsh whisper had drawn everyone into immediate silence. "Quiet!
You know how it's going to be, so I advise you all to stick with the plan... Be serious!"
This was it.
I had arrived with Mina and the rest of the girls who were going to do the waltz earlier,
anticipation strangling our nerves.
'There's no turning back.' I kept repeating over and over to myself. I wonder why?
Having found out that the place was jam packed with five hundred people, and having to
perform IN FRONT of them, wasn't exactly a thrilling concept to fathom when I realized exactly
what Amy had said to me earlier in the mall today.
'Crap, crap, and crap. Five hundred people. And did I forget to say, there are five hundred people
in there right now?'
I swallowed a lump in my throat.
And just great. The girls were already standing in a line behind me, and I just HAD to be the
first.
'And more CRAP ensues.'
Yes. All the girls had to be standing in line so that when the music started, or the waltz for that
matter, all of us were to come out one by one in an orderly fashion while someone announced
our names formally. And that meant each girl was to walk into the dance floor alone and have
them be met up by their dance partner to have the lime light shine on the couple for a brief
moment.
Fantastic. And I was going to do this with Pretty Boy... of all people.
Whether I like it or not, I was going to get this over with, even if I had to do it mechanically.
'That's right. Don't look affected or show any hint of... emotion. In fact, try not to even argue
with him so that drama doesn't rear it's ugly head. For.. Mina.'
"My goodness, what's taking so long?" Amy snapped me out of my thoughts when I noticed the
rest of the sixteen girls behind us continued to be antsy. Much to Amy's dislike, she was placed
right behind me in the line, as a reward for her services to Mina. What a great way to repay
someone."It's been ten minutes already."
"So I've noticed." And I had. While standing here for about ten minutes and my mind wandering
off to la-la land, I had been staring at the huge brown doors in front of me. For some odd reason,
they utterly seemed familiar.
'Brown... Oak doors...' My mind began to describe and repeat. 'Brown... OAK WOOD
DOORS.'
And at that, the ulcer that I have grown to hate so quickly said a famous 'hello' in my tummy.
Not only was it saying 'hello', it also told me something BIG was about to happen. But earlier
before, I had dismissed this same feeling when I had thought it was out of nervousness... and
maybe it still is. Nothing more. Right?
'Just get it over with already!' My mind yelled frustrated as another minute slipped. My gloved
hand scratched my skirt covered thigh irritatingly.
And the dress.
Oh the lovely dress. Let me get started on that.
All seventeen of us were dressed in torso hugging, circulation stopping, tight on the bosom, but
very pretty light blue corset dresses. All of which were strapless since the corset on us did a
wonderful job at clinging to every curve and corner of our bodies... with great discomfort. And
yes, it showed a great portion of our upper body skin.
It was something Mina had love to seen us wear. And she had no time wasting the opportunity to
do so.
Damn her birthday.
When Amy and I had finally seen the dresses we were to wear earlier today, our jaws had no
choice but to drop. Both of us teamed up against Mina, scolding her for picking such a... very
sexy dress. Although Mina knew all the girls had decent enough figures, Amy and I had begged
to differ. Well, mainly me for stating I had baby fat, while Amy played out the modesty/
conservative card. But Mina immediately stomped her foot and made it clear we HAD no
choice. It was traditional that all the waltzers had to wear the same apparel and who were we to
break that tradition, especially for a friend? Oh the things we do for our friends indeed.
I was about to reach over to my thigh again and fail miserably to appease the itch that was
starting to form from under the fabric when the brown doors suddenly opened for me in a single
but slow dramatic movement.
I felt like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Crap." I quietly mouthed to myself.
"Announcing the waltzers, the beautiful Ms. Serena Tsukino and her handsome partner, Mr.
Darien Chiba." I heard the announcer say signaling me to start my path around the dance floor
and meet up with 'handsome' Pretty Boy. Oh that sounded oh so terribly wrong. I felt like
kicking myself.
Instead I didn't 'kick' myself let alone I haven't even MOVED from my spot yet! I stood there
frozen in place, eyes huge with shock, while the spot light blared at me.
'Damn it!'
"Serena? Serena! It's time to move!" I heard Amy's concerned whisper behind me, yet I failed to
acknowledge that I did, continuing to be frozen in place.
Was I really frozen in shock out of being nervous? Close to the answer but no.
As soon as the doors in front of me had opened, the ulcer strengthened ten fold because as I
looked inside, I immediately knew what the 'something big is about to happen' was going to be.
Peering in with wide unblinking eyes, I had slowly recognized the surrounds.
'This is THE DREAM!' My mind yelled frantically. "Oh. No!"
Inside, the very ceiling, every wall, every table, every chair, and the atmosphere in itself was
EXACTLY like yesterdays dream.
"Serena?" At that I felt a nudge behind me, causing me to snap out of my thoughts violently and
stumble a bit in my place. "Go."
And I went. With a deep breath, I tried to walk around the dance floor with a mix of grace and
caution, if it were even possible. But awe had not left my features. Because across from me,
Pretty Boy had become the ultimate shocker in all of this.
He was in my dream and I had should've known all along. He was in here as well as the dream.
And somehow, it felt like something was complete. And all I could do was stare and move...
And just as the awareness of me knowing that I was moving began, I stopped when he offered
me his arm graciously. And I've noticed, he couldn't do anything but to stare as well. Apparently
he looked as shocked as I was, much to my comprehension.
"Presenting Ms..." And the voice trailed off in my ears for the rest of the announcements. I
couldn't focus in what was being said because my eyes had focused on something else.
On Darien Chiba.
It felt like an eternity... His eyes reading me like they haven't done before. If I had complained
about his staring problem for the past month, you would think I haven't ceased in continuing.
But I did nothing. For now, I began doing the same action. It felt like I had no choice in the
matter. No free will! In fact, I rather felt like I ... enjoyed it!
'Good god-' And he slightly tightened his grip around my waist when the music began.
And so we moved...
--------------
The party had gone on for two hours already, the waltz having been done long ago. When we
had finished, everyone cheered, impressed at mainly the moves that Andrew and Mina had
displayed in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by the rest of the couples. IF I had
noticed, I would've understood why everyone cheered so loudly, because I had found out from
Amy, both Andrew and Mina had finally kissed in the end of the number... in front of everyone.
But I didn't notice.
Oh no I didn't. I had been busy looking at something else. More like 'somebody' else.
And I had broken all of my own rules.
And what rules were they? Rule number one: I wasn't suppose to be staring at Pretty Boy. Rule
number two: I was suppose to be paying attention to the dance and not at something ELSE. Rule
three: I wasn't suppose to be... FEELING THIS WAY!
Yes. I am frustrated. Frustrated at the fact that I couldn't enjoy Mina's debutante ball what so
ever. I should've been having fun, be care free, relishing in the fact that I was in one of the most
prestigious hotels in the city, yet I couldn't. I couldn't even enjoy my meal!
When the waltzing was over, everyone was seated in place to have the meals served to them.
Starting off with salad and soup, then the main course, and finally desert, everyone was
obligated to devour the food and actually enjoy it. And who would protest? Who would NOT
enjoy the meal? Ironically, me, out of five hundred people of this room. Serena Tsukino, who
never says no to food, actually being the only one not enjoying the meal. What an outrage!
But really, was I the only one?
I had looked across the table and cautiously glanced at Pretty Boy earlier, looking displeased as I
was. Interesting.
Could I blame him?
"Serena? Don't you want to join in the fun?" Amy sat next to me, gesturing toward the infamous
'conga line' that Andrew and Mina started up way back when, in the Masquerade ball. Oh the
ball...
I cringed at the memory.
Taking the champagne glass of water, I took a hearty sip in an attempt to drown the current
feelings that began to emerge all over again. "You're kidding me, right Amy?"
"Hey, what are you talking about? I saw you join the last time." Amy emitted a friendly smile
taking a glass of water herself.
"Touche." Setting the glass down, I began eyeing the people in the dance floor. As if I was
looking for someone. But who? "But I didn't join out of free will. Blame Mina for dragging me
in and forcing me to have a good time as usual."
"Well im pretty sure she'd still want you to have fun now, so why are you sitting alone?"
"I'm just not... feeling well that's all." And it wasn't far from the truth either. My eyes scanned
around now, away from the dance floor. I still didn't know who I was looking for.
"May I ask, has it something to do with the question you asked me earlier today at the mall?" If
Amy had been holding back the concern in her voice back at the mall, she sure wasn't hiding it
now. I realized she was only being courteous then.
"Actually... yes." I gave her a small sad smile with a slow nod. I began tracing the rim of the
empty champagne glass in front of me. "How'd you know?"
"Well, I noticed you didn't seem quite yourself after you asked me that question..." Amy trailed
off sounding a bit hesitant but continued, "But I just wanted to let you know, if there's anything
bothering you and you would like to talk to someone, I'm always available for it."
Why didn't I tell Amy what I told Mina yesterday, in the first place? Simple. The very idea of
mentioning of 'his' name let alone talking about him was something I wasn't looking forward in
dealing with. Instead, I ended up creating the whole amusing analogy of Person As and Person
Bs so to indirectly refer to Pretty Boy and I. To return Amy's courteous favor, I began to let her
know what was bothering me.
"Thanks Amy." I returned a grateful smile to her. "And about today, yes. I was bothered about
something and felt awfully compelled to tell you what that situation was. And... it's about Darien
and I..."
"Oh." She looked a bit hesitant again. "I'll understand if you don't want to talk about it now..."
"No, no. It's okay Amy. I want to talk about it, that is, if you don't mind." I quickly reassured
her that I needed someone to talk to confidentially, seeing that Mina was busy at the moment, let
alone not wanting to bother Mina about my situation since it is her birthday. "I actually trust you
Amy. It's just, I have trouble talking about him."
"I see."
"And about that advice you gave me... Thanks. It was very helpful." I continued to circle the rim
of my glass with my index finger. I sighed. "You see, Darien had hurt me three years ago..."
I began telling her the sad tale of how I had grown to like Darien a long time ago but having it
cut short due to what he had done to me. After that ended, I also told her about the dream
revelation I had yesterday, and how it lead me up to this point in Mina's ball.
"No wonder you didn't move when we started to walk out." Amy stated when the realization had
dawned on her. "I would've done the same thing!"
"I know... And what's worse, I know I have to face him now. I can't... I just can't, Amy."
"Serena, I think the reason why you don't want to forgive him, let alone have a conversation
with him, is because... Do you still feel any attraction toward him?" She gave me the same
concern look all over again.
I looked at her quite mortified. "What?"
"It makes sense. You liked him before and he hurt you." She paused for a moment to give
emphasis. "You still like him now and you're afraid that he'll hurt you again if you forgive
him..."
"But, that can't be... I can't possibly like him. I-I don't!" I shook my head in disbelief. There's
no way I could still be liking that jerk even after all these years yet, Mina had said the same thing
yesterday. "I... I can't Amy, I won't allow it."
"What's to allow Serena? You already feel that way." She sighed with a small sad smile. "But
the question you have to ask yourself is, will you forgive and forget?"
"I..." I looked at her troubled. For once I didn't know what to say to that.
"Incase you want to talk to him, I saw him step out on the balcony." Amy began to stand up,
straightening herself. However, the expression on her face hadn't left. "But as a friend, I'd like
to give you the advice to follow what's in your heart. Tell him what you feel. I hope that helps."
She promptly excused herself saying she was going to get something to drink. But I knew exactly
what she was doing. She wanted to leave me to think about my decision. And for that, I was
grateful.
--------------
I surrendered to the side of wanting to talk to him after having internal deputes with myself for
the last fifteen minutes.
How could I turn down a talk with him? I couldn't. Obviously, I didn't have much choice in the
matter either since I began to literally feel the warm atmosphere that emitted off the bodies that
danced on the dance floor a few yards from me. Was it me or was it the fact that although I was
in a five star hotel, their ventilation system sucked to the core? Oh yes. It was getting hot in here.
And coincidently enough the only place that offered any form of fresh air was at the balcony.
Where HE was. Oh how fate can be so cruel.
I slowly stood up, smoothing out my slightly wrinkled skirt and began walking to the balcony.
And the process of walking up to it felt so eerily familiar. And I knew why. Because it happened
in my dream.
'No denying that.' I sarcastically thought.
And before I knew it, I was at the entrance, his back towards me, leaning against the frame of
the huge door way.
'Here we go.'
I stepped out slowly, my arms automatically hugging myself when the cold air greeted me
comfortably.
'God, it's so beautiful out here.' A thought entered my mind when my eyes scanned the entire
expanse of the dark void we humans would call the night sky that lay before me, temporarily
forgetting who would be out here with me as well.
And the moon. Goodness it was beautiful.
And I heard something shut behind me.
Deja vu.
'Just like in the dream...' I wearily thought. 'And just when I was hoping to be alone.'
"Serena..." I heard him say softly behind me. I turned slightly to glance at him. "You're not
going anywhere until I get you to listen to me and-"
"Hi." I interrupted, giving him a sweet smile. I noted that this caught him off guard.
Aware of the awkward silence that followed, I turned back in front of me to gaze at the full
moon again. Surprisingly, the moon seemed more brighter than I've ever seen it before. As if it
was welcoming something...
Welcoming us...
"Great view huh?" I had become aware that he stood beside me, our forms slightly leaning
forward on the marble railings in front of us."
"Mmm." I merely nodded in reply, trying to ignore the butterflies that began to dance in my
stomach.
Another long silence ensued this time, but it was comfortable.
"Serena, there's something I need to talk to you about. But you have promise not to interrupt
me." Just when I thought the worse was over, I was wrong. He had to bring up the 'talk' again.
I only nodded in agreement again, not being able to look at him.
"First off, I want to say... I'm sorry for whatever I did that happened three years ago." He began,
his voice softening for each word that was uttered. "But what I want to know is, what
EXACTLY did I do to you?"
"You... You mean you don't know?" I looked at him questioningly, a bit shocked at the tone of
honesty in his question. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
I looked away hesitantly then shook my head. "...Never mind. Forget it. It's no big deal."
"Serena..."
"No. Just no." I began to turn around towards the door and began walking when his hand caught
my wrist.
"You're not going anywhere until we talk. And we're not finished." He then sharply pulled me
into his body. At this, I could only gasp. "If you can't answer that question, I'll leave it alone for
the moment. So here's another question... maybe something you can actually answer to."
"If you'd let go of me, maybe I would cooperate." I merely whispered in response.
And he gently let go of me, myself surprised that I missed the warmth that came from the close
proximity between myself and him.
'Not a good time to be feeling this way.'
"Serena. Did you dream yesterday?" He snapped me out of my thoughts. "Please tell me the
truth."
"...Yes."
Silence followed again, as a gentle breeze blew in our direction, causing me to slightly shiver.
He noticed this.
'Damn.'
"Here. Take my jacket." He began to take it off and attempted to place it around my shoulders.
"No thanks." I immediately stated, taking a step back.
"Obviously, this is going to be a long talk and I don't want you catching a cold-"
"I said no okay?" I frowned at him, interrupting his sentence. "Since when did you care about
me catching colds?"
"Why do you have to be so stubborn." was his immediate reply. "Damn it. Just take the jacket
and let's get this over with."
Surprise was written on my face when he just handed me the jacket instead. I took it quickly as
if the offer wasn't going to last for another second. Not giving him the satisfaction of me finally
obeying his orders, I annoyingly put on his jacket with disgust. "Happy now?"
"Yes."
"Whatever." With that I turned toward the railing again. "Say what you need to say so I can go
back inside."
"Fine." I heard him sigh, hearing him walk toward me. "What did you dream of yesterday?"
"That's private."
"Serena, don't start with me again..." He sounded frustrated, as he ran a hand through his hair
from the corner of my eye. "Look. I drempt of this place too if it still hasn't occurred to you yet."
"Okay."
"..And I'm pretty sure you're well aware of the fact that we both know what happened in the
dream..." His voice became soft again, sending a chill down my spine. "Do you want me to spare
you the details or do I have to describe it to you?"
It was enough that I had died and gone to heaven when I had worn his jacket. It smelled like him
and the scent was playing tricks on me. I had battled to sustain my consciousness and my
awareness, not wanting to lose them from that lingering sent in his jacket. It was quickly doing
wonders on me, and I was losing horribly... especially when he had to mention the dream.
I knew what he was referring to... the kiss.
'Oh god the kiss.'
"Okay! Okay! YOU win! I drempt of this place too alright?" I turned to him and had the
incredible urge to stomp my foot in anger. "Fine. NOT ONLY did I drempt of this place, but I
had been dreaming about YOU for more than a year! Got that? Are you happy to know that?
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR! And it's pissing me off! God, it's pissing me off!"
He looked at me stunned, when he noticed a tear silently slipped down my right cheek. I quickly
wiped it away.
'Damn! I can't start crying now!'
"But... But why would it piss you off?" He asked softly, taking a step toward me. I only took a
step back in response.
"God Darien!" I tightly wrapped his jacket around me, as if I was trying to shield myself. "Don't
you see? You're the last person I should be dreaming of! Why do you keep doing this to me?
Why do you keep hurting me? What have I done to deserve this?"
I looked at him angry as more tears began slipping from my eyes. Why was it so easy for him to
make me cry?
"Serena... I don't know. I... I didn't know I was hurting you." He closed his eyes and pinched the
bridge of his nose, holding the position with a hand to his waist, still frustrated. "I don't know
what the hell you're talking about. I don't even know what's going on..."
"Darien, you hurt me three years ago. I liked you and you rejected me cruelly. It's as simple as
that..." Somehow that statement suddenly sounded wrong. As if there was a huge mistake to say
it. "Can you really blame me for... acting this way toward you? In fact, I'd love to avoid you if I
could. To spare you from my dislike toward you and acting upon it..."
"Serena? My god... Serena? Did you realize what you've just said?" He looked at me curiously
now as if I gave him an epiphany. Apparently, I think I did. "Serena... I never rejected you! In
fact... It was the quite the... opposite."
I looked at him disbelievingly. What was HE saying?
"What are you TALKING ABOUT?! I heard you loud and clear Darien! I heard what you talked
about me three years ago! You said I was weird and stupid and obnoxious-" Before I could
continue on with the list of things I could recall him say about me, he suddenly interrupted my
sentence.
"Serena. Three years ago... I was talking about somebody else! It wasn't you I was talking about!"
He walked towards me again and I tried to step back, only to find there was wall behind me. He
was now officially violating my personal space. "If anything, I wasn't talking about you!"
'Breath Serena!' My mind urged when I had exhaled, releasing a breath that I hadn't noticed I
was holding.
"Then... Who were you talking about?" I eyed him nervously, wishing that I could just jump off
the balcony instead. Anything to get away from him. ANYTHING.
"I was talking about... Beryl." He simply stated.
My eyes widened.
"Beryl? You mean that TAB?" I quickly replied, my eyes widening in slight shock but was still
looking away from him."That's a lie! How come you dated her then? You wouldn't date
someone you didn't like so much."
"Well that goes to show how much you know about me." I sensed he began to step away, a
teasing tone in his voice. "I can't believe you went and assumed I was talking about you..."
I finally got the courage to look at him now, cautiously eyeing him.
'This can't be right... He was talking about.. Beryl?' I hesitantly thought, as I watched him lean
on the railing again. 'Beryl... as in his ex-girlfriend.'
"So... You weren't talking about me... with your friends?"
"No. Not at all." He began with a sigh. "I found out Beryl had a crush on me as well... When I
found out from a couple of friends about how Beryl felt about me, I started making fun of her. I
wasn't interested in her one bit. And to prove I didn't like her, I brought out a picture of her and
began talking about her..."
Immediately, the image of a young Darien flashed in my mind, pointing to a picture of some girl
and was laughing hysterically with friends as if mocking the picture.
"Oh my god." I whispered to myself.
"What did you say?" Apparently he had heard me.
"Oh." I simply squeaked in reply. "That's nice."
"That's nice?" He turned to me with a smirk. "After this misunderstanding all you can say is
'That's nice?'"
"Well, yeah." I frowned. "What did you think I was suppose to say? Oh my god Darien I'm sorry
I love you?"
I immediately clamped my mouth shut, bring a hand to cover my lips.
'Wow Serena Tsukino... Ultimate Jack Ass Queen.' A thought teased me, while I continued to
be mortified. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment rightfully so.
"Well... yes." He began walking toward me again and stopped when he was now directly in
front of me, looming over with that tall frame of his. "In fact, you never let me tell you how
much I felt about that... letter of yours."
"Letter? W-what letter?" Oh yes. He definitely remembered that. Oh the horror.
"The love letter you wrote to me. Don't you remember?" He grinned devilishly as I gulped. This
was NOT good.
"I-I wrote no such letter."
"Liar." with that he quickly turned around and walked over to the other side of the balcony.
Upon reaching the other side, from what I could tell, he reached for his back pack and unzipped
it. He then pulled out something and began walking towards me again when the object was in his
hands. "I think you should have this back."
With an extended arm, he handed me the journal.
My journal.
"My journal... You kept it?" I looked at the object now in my hands, stunned that it was still in
tacked. In perfect condition. "I thought you would've thrown this away by now."
"Now why would I do that?" He sounded a bit shocked himself, a hint of amusement in his
voice. "Go ahead. Open it. You can check it if you want to make sure everything's there."
And I did. I had opened the journal and found that the detached pages were in tacked, or rather,
tapped securely to the spine of the journal. I was impressed. He went out of his way to restore
my journal?
"Thanks. But why?"
"Go ahead. Turn another page." He urged with a new kind of smile this time. I rose an eyebrow
to him. He looked rather... goofy.
"Okay." And I turned the page. When I did, I found something all too familiar. Something I
thought I wouldn't have ever seen again. "Oh my god."
"See something of interest?" He laughed as I continued to stare in awe. "Because if you do, that
automatically makes you into a liar."
"You... you whore!" I plucked the pink letter that lay flat on the journal. Obviously, he had
tucked it like a book mark in the pages. "You kept this?!"
"So what?" He gave me a smirk, suddenly making me feel giddy. I didn't like this. I didn't like
this one bit. "Now it's my turn to give you my letter. Let you know how I feel."
"What... are you talking about?"
"Turn to the next page. I wrote something in there for you."
And I turned the page, this time excitement growing at the pit of my stomach.
I began to read.
---------------
Dear Serena,
You never gave me the chance to let you know how I felt. You never gave me the
opportunity to respond to your letter. So let me take the time to do it now.
There's something about you I loved. Something I've failed to notice before. The way
you smiled. The way you talked. The way you made me feel inside three years ago. I've
wondered, once upon a time, how it would've been like to have been with you. If you were my
girlfriend...
Yes. And about me showing you around school. Me being your personal tour guide and
answering all of your questions... You're welcome. I'd have been glad to have done it all over
again. Just for you.
I really liked you. I liked you a lot. In fact. I still like you...
I hope we can become more than friends.
Your non-secret admirer,
Darien Chiba.
P.S. I also think you're super sexy.
-------------
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or to just plain scream. Darien Chiba... liked me back! He
liked me back all these years!
A wide smile plastered itself on my lips. I felt like doing cartwheels.
But then something dawned on me. And my smile began to falter quickly.
"You're too late." I sighed closing my eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm not interested."
I quickly inserted the love letter I wrote to him into the journal and slammed it shut. I then
shoved it into his hands. "No thanks."
"What?!" He almost yelled it out. "I-I don't understand. You're not interested?"
"Darien Chiba. I forgive you about everything. I finally realized that it was a misunderstanding
that made me hate you all this time for three years. Finding out about the whole online issue...
You being sxytuxboi... Finding out that your dreams are connected with mine..." I began to trail
off, unable to continue suddenly.
"What?"
"Don't you see? I can't handle this." Finding the courage to talk again I continued, "I'm an
ordinary girl. I'm private. I don't believe in relationships let alone love. I do not want to care or
need anyone. In fact, It's too illogical and it's pointless. Relationships are the least of my needs."
"And most of all, you're afraid to get hurt. Am I right?"
"Yes... What?" I became surprised that he added to my list as well. "How... how did you know?"
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't know?" He gently lifted my chin, making me face him
directly. His thumb began to trace the side of my cheek, making me blush like a mad woman.
"Serena, when you dream, do you feel any emotions at all?"
"No..." I said breathlessly. I felt my knees began to shake.
"Now that's still a lie." He grinned, tilting his head slightly to one side as if he was curious with
my face. Oh god... I hope nothing was on my face. "Every time I dream about you, I don't know
how to explain this but... I feel what you feel. Every dance that we danced, every smile that you
made, every time I kiss your hand... I feel your passion. I feel you wanting me. It's like I know
you need me. Please don't deny it..."
He leaned in more closely this time, his face dangerously near mine. "Don't deny me Serena.
I've waited so long. Now that I know the truth... don't say that you don't want me..."
And just like that, he finally leaned in and our lips met.
'Oh god.' His kiss was the most gentlest thing I've ever experienced in all my life. Sweet,
tender, hell even full of emotion.
And before I could stop myself, I gave in. I gave in... to him.
This time, I returned the kiss, if not the same but exceeding the amount of passion in it. I kissed
him like there was no tomorrow. As if it was the last thing I was ever going to do in this world.
Oh god... So this is what it felt like... This was how it felt like to fall in love.
After an eternity, we finally pulled apart to catch some air, the expression on our faces the same
as they were in our dream.
'And again Deja vu.' I thought rather happily.
"So... I take it we're dating?" I shyly whispered, blushing strongly now.
"Hell yeah. You didn't think I gave away kisses for nothing did you?" He chuckled pulling me
toward him for a small embrace. I noticed he slightly shivered.
"Cold?" I raised an eyebrow at him but smiled. "If you are, too bad. It's you're fault we had to
talk out here."
"Did I have a choice?" He looked at me questioningly. "Come on let's get out of here or I'm
going to freeze to death."
"Such the gentle man." I laughed as we walked towards the door. "You and your manly
formalities."
"Hmm.. This is strange. I can't seem to open it." I heard him mumble when he reached the door
before I did.
"What do you mean?"
"The door won't budge.." I heard him sounding alarmed now.
"You idiot! You locked us out!"
And so began another war...
Was it a coincidence or was it... fate?
You decide.
"Where is it?" I groaned, as something solid toppled over my head but missed me by a couple of
inches. "It's got to be here somewhere."
"Shyt."
I was in my closet, trying to find something that seemed familiar. I had begun my search before
even knowing what I was looking for. What the hell was I looking for? Trying to calm my
already growing agitation, I was rummaging hastily through stacks of boxes that lay on top of the
highest shelf inside. For a guy that didn't own too many things, my closet begged to differ.
"What's behind here?"
Carefully shoving off to one side a small column of books, my eyes finally found what I've been
searching for the past ten minutes. My gut instantly knew this was the item. Far off to the side,
hiding behind that stack of books, was a simple brown shoe box. It was something I haven't seen
definitely for a while.
"This could be it."
Eyeing it carefully, I reached for it. Once the object was in my hands, I walked eagerly into my
living room, sitting myself down on the couch. I placed the box on the coffee table, which I
pulled a little closer for better access, and gingerly took booth sides of the lid and lifted it open.
'It's been long. Too long.'
With that thought, I carefully reached in with one hand, picking up a lone black picture frame
that lay face-down.
In the frame was a picture of my parents. My dead parents.
They had died in a car accident when I was eight. I too had been involved in the ordeal. Being
the only survivor, authorities tried to ask me if I knew any friends or relatives to take me in.
Unfortunately, because I was involved in the car accident, I had developed amnesia, so there
wasn't anyone I could remember... except my name...
"I'm sorry son. I think you may want this..." I remembered the last words that the man had
spoken to an eight year old version of myself, solemnly, as he handed me the picture of my
parents. He had already explained to me as gently as he could all that had happened and that my
parents had not survived. "This was all we could find."
With picture in hand, I was then placed in an orphanage, living there for almost nine years. Nine
long years. And at seventeen, I gladly moved out of the orphanage after the government had
finally accepted and approved my special appeal to officially declare myself independent. And
for the last two years of my life, I lived alone, in my apartment.
Yes, alone.
With that picture.
And the only person that had ever came close to being a friend, or a true friend was Andrew.
But of course, his friendship wasn't enough. And neither was the picture.
I needed something else in my life. And I knew exactly what it was.
All I had to do was find it. Whatever it was.
However, in order for me to continue on this 'search', I needed to forget the past. Start over
again. Just let things go. So I hid this box two years ago. Along with everything else that
reminded me of my past. And I never thought I would look through it again.
Sighing, I put the picture frame aside and once again looked through the contents of the
container. Inside were other various objects of mementoes, but instead of dividing my attention
for each one, something caught my eye.
At the very bottom of the shoe box was a worn-out wrinkly pink piece of paper, tucked under an
old address book.
I narrowed my eyes in curiosity.
"This seems familiar."
Pulling it out without another thought, I held the letter now with both hands, feeling the corners
of my lips tug upward to grin.
My smile had grew even more because old emotions came back to me.
"How strange, even after all these years."
There, in my hands, was the letter I've been searching for.
Ever since yesterday's dream revelation, I had the overwhelming urge, something I couldn't
simply ignore, to look for this letter.
This... Old love letter.
'I saw it in my dream... She held it.'
My smile dying down, I unfolded it, gently smoothing out the crinkled corners. A faint but
familiar sent emitted from it, suddenly making my heart beat faster. It still smelled like fresh cut
roses.
'Its fragrance matched hers...'
And just like that, the memories came flooding back.
Three years ago, a young fifteen year old Serena Tsukino walked up to me with a bright smile.
"Hi... Darien!" Someone tapped on my shoulder from behind me. I was busy facing my locker, a
small smile forming on my lips. "You got a minute?"
Like any other highschool day, the halls were over crowded as usual, but that fact had escaped
my mind as soon as I turned around to face her. There was something about her that made me
forget my surroundings every time.
"Oh, hey Serena." I gave her a bright smile. I saw her blush slightly at my friendly gesture.
"What's up?"
"Well, I got something for you." With eager but slightly nervous hands, she plucked out a pink
paper from a notebook in between two books that she held up to her chest. She then hastily
shoved it into the air, toward me. "Um... Can you please read it when I'm gone? Anyway, I gotta
go now to finish up on some homework."
With a skeptical smile, I took the paper from her awaiting hand.
"What's this for?"
"Gotta go!"
With that, she quickly but shyly turned around and walked away from me, noticing that she
added an extra skip to her walk. If I had known better, she left with a wide smile plastered on her
face. Too bad I couldn't tell from where I stood.
After watching her disappear around a corner, my attention was now on the paper at hand.
Opening it curiously, I began to read the contents, noticing that a mild but fragrant sent of roses
was coming from the letter.
-----------
Dear Darien,
Hey, thanks so much for becoming my friend this year, since I hardly know anyone. You know
how it is for us kids who move to new schools in the middle of a semester... And to this day, I'm
still having trouble knowing where all the classrooms are!
If I hadn't bumped into you accidently, I'd have never met someone as sweet as you.
You've been so kind to take time in showing me around school, and you never seemed bothered
when I asked you questions about... well anything!
So now, I'm writing you this letter to thank you for all the nice things you've done for me...
And...
To say that I... like you.
I like you a lot.
You know... in that way.
I know this may sound cheesy but I think I like-liked you in that way ever since I laid eyes on
you.
I like your kindness and your sweet personality.
You always put a smile on my face. And that's something I can't ignore.
I hope we can become more than just friends.
Your non-secret admirer,
Serena Tsukino
PS. I think you're super sexy.
-----------
Sure.
The letter was simple in nature, and in fact, just like Serena had mentioned, it was a bit cheesy.
However the cheesiness, it forced the most happiest and goofiest grin to emerge on my face. It
was a grin that no one in the world could come to pry off me, even if they were paid a million
dollars.
In fact, 'I' felt like a million dollars right then. Heck, I even felt like doing a victory dance.
And three years later, I was eyeing the letter in my hands, but the same old grin started to falter.
I frowned.
Ever since she gave me the letter, Serena Tsukino had changed that year. She had become
distant and passive... around me... which eventually lead to ending our friendship that
year...permanently.
The spark that I once saw in her eyes had disappeared.
As years flew by, she grew older and damn well became even more beautiful-- something I
failed to notice before.
'Just like the dream had explained.'
But her attitude towards me worsened everyday that year, to the point were she just ignored me...
Worst of all, she looked hurt. She always looked hurt around me.
'Ever since that day she gave me the letter...'
And my frowned deepened.
After that year, with her sudden change of personality, I had completely forgotten all about her.
How did I forget her?
And I closed my eyes.
"Serena? Hey, can I talk to you?" I walked up to her with a smile, her back facing me while she
placed text books into her locker. "It's about that letter you gave me..."
She continued to place her notebooks now into the locker, not giving me a response.
"Serena?"
She then stopped her movements, as if she froze from hearing her name.
"Serena, is something wrong?"
She slowly turned around to face me with a look I have never seen on her face before.
Something I didn't expect. Something maybe I didn't want to see on her face.
She looked hurt.
"I heard what you said about me." She began, the look of pain never leaving her features.
"Please, do me a favor. Whatever you're going to say, just don't say it. I know what you're going
to say so don't even try..."
"What? I don't understand." I looked at her concerned when I saw her eyes gloss over with tears.
"What's wrong? Is there something I did-"
"Darien. Just leave me alone. It's enough what you did to me. Don't make it any worse. It was a
mistake. A HUGE MISTAKE."
With that, she zipped up her bag, slammed the locker door, and walked away, never looking
back at the confused being that I was.
I opened my eyes.
My frown returned.
And then I recalled why I had forgotten her for the last three years.
She was stubborn. She never gave me the chance to understand what I did that was so wrong to
her that year. Since that day, I had kept returning to her to find out what exactly made her think
differently about me. I didn't understand. I had no clue. And each time that I kept asking, her
only response was ignoring me.
Finally I stopped asking her and I forgot.
I simply forgot her. I had given up.
'Sound familiar?' A thought crossed my mind. I only shook my head. 'She was stubborn...'
"And she still is."
I looked at the old lover letter in my hand, as a new feeling began to form in my chest.
My eyes narrowing, I carefully folded the paper and placed it inside the journal.
I was going to do something about this. Now was the time.
"I'm not going to make the same mistake twice." .
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
Yes... Finally.
Today was Mina's birthday. Today was also the grand finale of our waltzing sessions, to show
off tonight the moves that we've been working so hard on.
'Or we've been enduring patiently for so long.' I sarcastically thought. 'God, she's really gonna
get it on MY birthday.'
"Hey, thanks for coming with me Amy." I heard myself say, interrupting anymore thoughts to
enter my mind. I needed to focus at the task at hand.
I was at the mall with Amy, the both of us trying to find the perfect gifts for Mina. During all the
drama and angst with Pretty Boy, I had failed to remind myself that I needed to shop earlier in
the month for Mina's token of appreciation for her birth and for being my friend. The task in
itself, was a pain. But thank goodness I had managed to persuade Amy to come along with me or
else I didn't have anyone around to give me a second opinion about the gift I was going to give
Mina. If anything, I knew what Mina would want. CLOTHES. And I was not about to give her
something that didn't have a second approval, besides my own taste.
"No problem, Serena." Amy said beside me as we wondered off into aisles together, running our
hands lightly through the files of clothes that hung on racks all around us. "Besides, I myself
didn't have time to shop for Mina. I should thank you for the opportunity, in fact."
Smirking, I plucked out a white top from the file of clothes in front of me. I playfully cried,
"Amy Mizuro? Didn't have the time to go shopping? How ludicrous!"
"Well, you see... It's just..." She began, as I continued to round a particular rack that served only
cardigans. "Well, I usually don't go shopping."
"Really?" I gave a laugh as I eyed a dark blue cardigan. "Well, I should've known. Considering
you do a number of things... Things that deserve more time and attention than shopping."
"Indeed." Amy smiled as she seemed to be fascinated with an clothing item in front of her. "I
mean I'm not stating that shopping is repulsive, I'm just saying that... I just don't do it."
"Oh, well in that case, just between you and me," I added with slight mischief in my voice. "I
don't shop much either."
We continued to roam through the aisles in comfortable silence when suddenly I had the urge to
ask her a question.
Going to neat piles of folded shirts on a small table that had a sign saying they were on sale, I off
handedly asked., "Amy, is it natural to be afraid to fall in love with someone?"
From the corner of my eye, I saw that Amy was not surprised by my out-of-the-blue question
much to my relief.
'Where did THAT come from?' I asked myself in slight shock.
"What do you mean?" She enquired comfortably.
" Err.. Okay, what I meant to say was..." I picked up a pink spaghetti strapped top in front of me
and eyed it, slight caution evident in my voice. "Is it natural for a person to not want to forgive
someone because that person is afraid to fall in love with that someone?"
"Well.." Amy began toward my direction to look through the pile of shirts as well. "That's a
tough question. I mean it all depends in the issues that are involved in that kind of situation..."
"Okay, I'll provide the issues." I added quickly, surprised that I even wanted this conversation to
continue, as I began picking up another shirt with curiosity. "Let's say person A use to like
person B a long time ago. But then person B had hurt person A and years later, Person B still
hurts Person A."
"Go on." Amy replied with curiosity.
"Should Person A forgive Person B even after all that person B had done to person A?"
"In my opinion..." Amy trailed off for a bit to think over what I just said. Then she replied
knowingly, "No matter what Person B had done to Person A, forgiveness should always be
given, especially if Person B is asking for the forgiveness sincerely."
"But what if..." I stopped looking through shirts now and placed two hands on my waist, now
fully attentive in the subject. "But what if Person A is AFRAID to forgive Person B because in
doing so would only hurt Person A?"
"You think that if Person A forgives Person B, Person A will become vulnerable to Person B and
be more prone to get hurt because of the action of forgiving?" Amy raised a lone eyebrow at me
also forgetting a shirt in hand. "Well, if that's the case, Person A should realize that forgiving
Person B is a big step, yes. But it is merely just forgiving them and not letting Person B into
Person A's life. So Person A shouldn't have to get hurt with Person B. Person A can always
chose to forget Person B after forgiving Person B... It's like that old cliche – Forgive and forget."
"Oh."
Amongst all those Person As and Person Bs, I was slightly amused that not once was I lost in the
conversation. But my amusement quickly changed into wonderment.
"Forgive and forget huh? That's it?"
"Yup, that's it." Amy gave a quick nod, resuming back to eyeing the shirt in her hand.
"It sounds so simple..." I whispered momentarily to myself.
"Huh?"
"Oh, it's nothing." I quickly changed the subject, noting Amy had heard me. "I'll be over there,
Amy. Nothing here seems to be the gift I want to give to Mina. I'll be back."
"Sure." I heard her reply.
And off I went to explore another side of the department store.
"Wow. Cardigan haven." I sarcastically mumbled as I neared a section that was in fact, full of
'various' and 'colorful' cardigans. "Blah."
Looking around for ten minutes, I became frustrated that the longer I looked through these racks
and piles of the thin petite jackets, the nastier and farther away from 'decent' did the cardigans
look.
"God I hate shopping." I mumbled once again to no one but myself when I had taken out a
ridiculously leopard printed and furry cardigan from the rack in front me.
"So do I."
Crap.
I froze in place, shutting my eyes tightly with a mix of annoyance, frustration, and shock all
rolled into one. I immediately shoved the cardigan back onto the hanger.
'Of all the places.'
"What are you doing here?" I sighed in annoyance, not bothering to turn around. I began walking
away from the rack of clothes to a set of new ones next to it. "Let alone, explain why you're in
the women's petite clothing section."
I had assumed he followed me and he did, much to my dismay.
"Just shopping."
"Didn't know women's clothing was a sexual fetish of yours." I smiled, but the smile didn't
reach my eyes. Quickly looking around, I spotted the women's lingerie section and added,
"Trying to find lingerie for yourself, Mr. Cross dresser? Or a new thong? If it's either of those,
you've come to the right place."
"You're verbally abusive, you know that?"
I rolled my eyes, as I pulled out a purple feathered cardigan from the rack in front of me. I
briefly wondered how many birds were plucked to get all those feathers onto the small jacket.
Oh the horror.
"Pointing out the obvious doesn't make you look any smarter."
"Neither does hiding the obvious for clueless people." His hand reached out and immediately
pushed down my hand that held the piece of clothing, returning it onto the rack again.
'What the hell?'
My eyes narrowed, ignoring the tingling sensation that ran down my spine at the sudden contact
with his hand on mine.
"Leave me alone jerk." I pulled my hand away from his.
"Not until you explain to me why you're so upset with me." Came an unexpected response. He
continued, "You have this nack of letting people be clueless about what they've done wrong."
"What's the difference? The damage has been done." I slowly turned around trying to muster a
glare. I placed a hand on my waist. "I see no point in telling someone what the problem is
because what more can be fixed? Anyway, I'm shocked and appalled that you've forgotten the
online issue."
"Like I've said for the last time, I didn't know it was you. It took me a while to realize for myself
that I was talking to you, of all people." His gaze was already narrowed toward me. I wasn't
surprised.
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why shouldn't you?"
I was taken aback from his punctual response after mine.
'What the HELL?' The same thought crossed my mind.
I shook my head to get me out of my temporary shock. "Oh, I don't know. Because you're a jack
ass maybe?"
"What a legitimate answer." One corner of his mouth raised itself into a half grin. "I know you
can do better than that."
I stared at him momentarily as if he really was the biggest jack ass in the world. Then I resumed
in giving him a glare.
"Screw you. And once again, leave me alone." I began to turn and walk away from him again.
'I've got to get away from him.'
"...Why can't you forgive me?" His voice became soft, almost as if he was mumbling to himself.
However, I caught it before taking my second step, in turn stopping me dead in my tracks.
I closed my eyes and sighed painfully.
"Like I said. I just... can't." I whispered back to him.
"But why?" His question was almost heart wrenching, making my insides turn to knots. "Why
can't you?"
'Why can't I?' A thought echoed his last question.
"Because I can't alright!" I suddenly turned around to face him, shock clearly written on my
features to find that he was only a few inches away from me now. How the heck did he get near
me so fast? "Don't ask me... because I don't know."
"That's not an answer."
I felt my breath hitch in my throat, still noting the close proximity between us.
'God he's so close...' I unsuccessfully prevented that thought from escaping me. 'He smells so
good...'
"Well, you're just going to have to except that answer." I tried to take notice of our
surroundings, trying to look anywhere but into his... eyes...
"No I won't. Not until I know why you won't forgive me." From the corner of my eye, he inched
closer to me.
Consciously, I found myself taking a step back.
"Okay. Here. Try this... why don't you except the fact that I won't forgive you?"Alarmed, I gave
him a hopeful glance, wishing that he'd step away this time.
Crap.
Instead he didn't, and took another step forward. I found myself taking another step back..
'Dear God-'
"Now why would I do that? How can I just accept that the nicest girl I knew four years ago
wouldn't want to forgive me? What was that one thing that I did that made me so repulsive to
you?"
"What are you talking about?" I raised an eye brow at him, noting that it was my turn to be
clueless. I finally looked into his face.
Big mistake.
He narrowed his eyes to me.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"No I don't." I eyed him cautiously now. Somewhere in the back of my mind, however, I had the
feeling that I knew what he was talking about. "Care to explain?"
"Oh, but stating the obvious doesn't make me any smarter, Serena."
I gasped when my back slightly bumped into the white wall behind me. I hadn't notice he had
managed to move me all the way back near where the fitting rooms were. And I notice he was
still inching closer to me.
'Crap. How dramatic can this guy get?' I would have taken the time to laugh at myself when I
noticed that this felt like a scene in one of those cheesy romantic movies. You know, the guy
pinning a girl up against a wall... or something close to that. 'But thank goodness he ISN'T
pinning me to the wall-'
At the same time, I had the urge to widen my eyes, when I noticed he had used that same line on
me, but I refrained from doing it.
'Keep your cool Serena.'
"Trying to turn the tables on me are you?" As if a surge of courage flowed through me, I
narrowed my eyes and took a step forward. "You tell me and I tell you huh? It won't work
Chiba."
Now it was his turn to narrow his eyes at me cautiously, slightly turning his head to the side.
The close proximity between us now was enough to be called 'violating one's personal space.'
I'll be damned if he tried to use that power of intimidation over me.
"You're right. It won't work... because you're too damned stubborn." He bent down slightly to
my ear and whispered. "Really, too damned stubborn."
"Sh-Shut up Chiba." I tried to growl but instead my voice sounded utterly confused. Almost all
the functions of my brain stopped. "Just leave me alone... Enough already."
"...I can't." His hot breath tickled my ear, heat rising up my cheeks. "Why don't you just... tell
me why?"
"W-why what?" I managed to choke out, trying to mentally wack myself with a base-ball bat for
sounding so weak.
"What did I do... in freshman year to make you hate me?"
With that one question and that tone of voice, some of the concrete of my metaphoric wall that I
had built around myself started to crumble.
'He sounds so sincere. Maybe I should-'
I paled slightly when I started to realize what he was doing. He was trying to pry guilt out of me.
'That bastard.'
Immediately, I saw a smaller version of myself, quickly picking up metaphoric pieces from my
metaphoric concrete wall to be placed back into those metaphoric crumbled areas. But the small
metaphoric me had trouble fixing the wall.
Because the problem was still there.
He remembered.
'No...'
At that, I stood up straight and stepped aside, giving him an unintended hurtful look.
"I can't believe you even have the nerve to bring that up with me." I almost whispered but loud
enough for him to hear. "Just... Leave me alone and forget about everything."
'Please.'
I began to walk away.
However, I almost stopped once again when I heard him say, "For now, Serena. For now, I'm
leaving you alone. But you'll see...."
I began to walk away again, trying to ignore the rising rate of my heart beating.
"You will see... tonight."
I wish I was oblivious in the seriousness of that statement. But I wasn't
Because in my gut I knew that statement held the weight of everything that had ever happened...
------
Throughout the rest of the afternoon an uneasy feeling, let's call it "worry", hung over me like a
small patch of cloud following me where ever I went and continued to rain over my head.
Earlier, Amy had noticed my sudden change of mood when I had returned to her quickly, seeing
that I still haven't chosen a gift for Mina yet. Luckily, in an attempt to forget what just happened
with 'him' and that feeling of weariness that decided to tag along with me for the ride, I began
looking again. After a few more minutes meeting up with Amy again, I had found the perfect gift
for Mina.
A simple orange cardigan.
And Amy eyed her gift from across the table from me. She bought her an orange floral top.
"I think our gifts will go perfectly together.." I laughed as I finally folded the petite jacket and
placed it inside it's plastic bag. "Just pray she has a pair of pants or a skirt that can match with
them."
"I hope so too."
Amy and I decided to grab a quick bite at the food court. With all that shopping, we knew we
deserved at least a small meal. Shopping for Mina wasn't all that easy. I happily grabbed a
couple of fries.
"So tonight's the big night huh?" I off handedly said, eyeing our surroundings comfortably.
"Have you seen the hotel yet?"
I knew Amy had become Mina's second in command when it came to helping out decorating the
place. Seeing the good job Amy did with the masquerade ball two months ago, Mina had no
choice but to automatically put Amy into that important position. And with this knowledge, I
knew Amy was one of the first to see the place.
"Yeah. It's really quite gorgeous." Amy began with a twinkle in her eye. "The place is amazing.
I could think of no better place than to have a debutante ball over at the Juuban City Starlight
hotel."
"THAT hotel?!" I gasped in shock.
Juuban City Starlight Hotel was one of the most prestigious and high ranking five star hotels that
ever existed in all of Juuban City. I never dreamed I'd set foot in a place like that. And little did I
know, Mina's ball would be there, of all places.
"How many people do you think will be there?"
"Close to about five hundred people I suppose." Amy replied taking a bite out of her burger.
"You're kidding me." I said wide eyed. "That's... A LOT of people."
"You got that right." Amy nodded in agreement. "It's actually kind of funny how Mina might not
even know maybe more than half of the people that will be attending."
"True." I gave a small laugh after taking a sip of my drink. "Funny how these debutante balls
are. And to think we'll be performing in front of all those people!"
Amy then frowned. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
"Wow, so you don't like shopping and you don't like standing in front of an audience..." I gave a
wide grin, chewing on another fry. "Wow, you could be my long lost sister!"
"So I take it, stage fright is also something we have in common." She laughed along too. "But I
suppose, just this one time, we'll have to get over that fear."
"Fear ladies? What is this fear you speak of?"
"Andrew?" I said a little surprised, as he welcomed himself to our table, grabbing a seat with us.
And so I've slightly noticed that Andrew had the nack of interrupting conversations a lot. Oh
well, the more the merrier. "What are you doing here?"
"As you can see, I'm the boyfriend who does last minute shopping." He lifted one of those small
department store paper bags and gave us both a wink. "Not that I haven't done it already."
"Already?" I gave him a questioning look.
"Secret ladies... but..."Andrew reached into the small paper bag and pulled out a tiny velvet box.
He then handed me the box and leaned closer into the table to whisper something to the both of
us. "Go ahead. Open it. I need both of your opinions."
"Sure." I off handedly said opening the box slowly. I gasped when I saw what was in it. "My
god, Andrew! You modern day Casanova. This is expensive!"
I quickly handed it to Amy, eyes widening as well. She gasped in agreement.
"Yes, Andrew. This is quite a gift."
"Twenty four karat gold too, by the way." He gave us a satisfactory grin, leaning back on his
chair and folding both arms across his chest. "The prettiest heart necklace for my love. Nothing
but the best for Mina."
"You Romeo! There's no doubt she's going to love it." I had noticed it was one of those small
hearts that was rimmed with tiny stone diamonds, hanging only onto a thin gold chain. Sure, I've
seen them on most girls who had boyfriends, but not this necklace. It truly looked dazzling and it
seemed the value Andrew had stated. Most of the worth was on the heart pendant itself. "And
you wanted our opinion?"
"So I take it, you guys approve?" Amy handed the box back to Andrew, but Andrew then
continued to stare at it, eyeing it hesitantly. "Because it's really important to me that my gift
mean something special to her."
"Oh please Andrew." I shook my head with a smirk. "If you have given Mina a simple bobby
pin, she'd still keep on talking about it for days. All because it came from your heart. And
THAT'S STILL an understatement... But since you got her that, I'm pretty sure I'll never hear
the end of it from her. She'll love it, believe me."
"I say the same as well." Amy said with a smile. "She would be very delighted to receive that,
positively."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." He finally shut the cover of the box and dropped it back in into the
paper bag. He actually seemed relieved. "Because, if she's not going to like it... well lets just say
I don't exactly trust a man's taste when it come to the matters of women's jewelry."
"What's the matter? You don't trust your own taste?"
"No. Actually... Seeing that I don't have any fashion sense, and yes I don't trust my own taste, I
had Darien come along with me to help me pick it out." He gave a small laugh and continued, "I
just wanted to make sure Darien hadn't made a mistake."
Just when I was going to forget the event earlier, his name had to be mentioned. But I was more
surprised that ... that idiot... the bastard... he actually picked that out for Andrew!
'Wow. No wonder I had to see him earlier.'
"Oh." was all I could utter.
"Well I must say, Darien has good taste for a man then." Amy giggled but now the happy mood
was ruined for me. My smile faltered. "Speaking of Darien, where is he?"
"Hey, Amy..." I began, alarmed that Darien would actually be close by. I wanted nothing more
then to be away from him right now. Another awkward encounter with him was not on the top of
my 'to do list'. "We gotta meet Mina now. Didn't she say she wanted to give us our dresses
around three?"
And thank goodness it was fifteen minutes before three when I glanced at my wrist watch.
"Oh. Oh right."
"Well, thanks for your opinion ladies." Andrew stood up with us and gave a smile again. "I feel
much better knowing I got the right gift."
"No problem."
And with that, Amy and I left quickly with Mina's gifts at hand.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
"I see they left in a hurry." I muttered putting the trays of food down in front of us. I sat across
from Andrew, a frown not wanting to leave my face. "What was that all about?"
"I showed them the necklace." He simply stated, looking slightly smug across from me. "They
thought it was fantastic."
"Now why did you have to go off and do that?" I picked up my burger and took a greedy bite.
"You know very well those two are Mina's good friends. It's not going to stay a secret very
long."
"For one thing I needed their opinions, since it would be from the perspective of ladies." And he
then gave me a grin. Not just any grin but an all knowing grin. "And I've added that you helped
me pick it out for Mina."
"So what if I helped you out?"
"My good man..." He grinned again as he took a bite from his own burger. "You don't get it do
you? Well, I do have to admit the gesture was small but..."
"Cut to the chase." I picked up a couple of fries and devoured them.
"I merely made you look good in front of Serena. That's all."
I frowned. "Ah, but why do that?"
"Because you're my friend and you need help. Simple as that." He gave a curt nod and took a
couple of fries. "And it was clear. The surprise on her face was evident."
"She was affected?" My frown lessened.
"Indeed she was. But anyway, I'm leaving the rest of the 'making-you-look-good' on your own."
He took another bite of his burger. "I trust you can be that 'modern day Casanova' or that
'Romeo' that she stated about me, without anymore of my help."
"I can. And I will." It was my turn to give him a curt nod. "I'm facing her tonight whether she
likes it or not. And this time, I've got everything I need to sway her."
My thoughts immediately fell back onto that old love letter.
'She'll have to face me.'
"I sure hope so Darien. It's only fair this situation ends once and for all. And you deserve to be
happy."
--------------
'And you deserve to be happy.' Andrews words were etched in my mind.
Maybe I did deserve to be happy.
Considering the events that happened in my life, to have been robbed of any memory of my
parents, to have been forced in an orphanage because I couldn't remember any faces, to have
lived alone...
Damn I deserve it.
And I've been looking. Looking for that happiness.
Looking for someone who would love me.
And I would love back.
Would it be Serena?
'It would've been if you haven't given up before.' A thought bitterly crossed my mind.
"But how was I to know? I was only a kid then. I didn't have the means to be persistent. I didn't
have the patients. I... I just didn't know." I said allowed to no one in particular.
'Andrew had been right all along. Although you may have been a kid then, you still could've
waited. Kept asking. Kept trying- - took the time to have gotten to know her...' A new thought
countered back. 'You could've gone the whole nine yards... for Serena.'
And all of a sudden, I knew what Andrew meant.
I slowly opened my eyes to once again to revel in the beauty of the view before me.
Everything that Andrew had been pointing out to me had suddenly become as clear as the full
moon that had shown out tonight. It had come out for me.
No.
For the both of us.
Yes. Tonight was the night I was going to talk to Serena Tsukino once and for all. For the dream
revelation told me so. Because it was right. It was meant to be.
And from the moment I stepped inside the very decorative but elegant room, I knew there was
no turning back. The effect of realizing this multiplied ten fold, when I finally stepped out into
the balcony of the JCS Hotel. The Juuban City Starlight hotel.
And, as anyone would guess correctly, It was the same place I recently drempt of. Where the
truth came out. It was going to be in Mina's debutante ball. It was going to be at Mina's
debutante ball. And...
Serena was the one... She just had to be.
The ball would begin in ten minutes.
There's no turning back.
( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)
"God, I'm so nervous..."
"This is it guys!"
"I can't wait!"
"This is just going to kick major ass."
"Guys, stand still!" Mina's harsh whisper had drawn everyone into immediate silence. "Quiet!
You know how it's going to be, so I advise you all to stick with the plan... Be serious!"
This was it.
I had arrived with Mina and the rest of the girls who were going to do the waltz earlier,
anticipation strangling our nerves.
'There's no turning back.' I kept repeating over and over to myself. I wonder why?
Having found out that the place was jam packed with five hundred people, and having to
perform IN FRONT of them, wasn't exactly a thrilling concept to fathom when I realized exactly
what Amy had said to me earlier in the mall today.
'Crap, crap, and crap. Five hundred people. And did I forget to say, there are five hundred people
in there right now?'
I swallowed a lump in my throat.
And just great. The girls were already standing in a line behind me, and I just HAD to be the
first.
'And more CRAP ensues.'
Yes. All the girls had to be standing in line so that when the music started, or the waltz for that
matter, all of us were to come out one by one in an orderly fashion while someone announced
our names formally. And that meant each girl was to walk into the dance floor alone and have
them be met up by their dance partner to have the lime light shine on the couple for a brief
moment.
Fantastic. And I was going to do this with Pretty Boy... of all people.
Whether I like it or not, I was going to get this over with, even if I had to do it mechanically.
'That's right. Don't look affected or show any hint of... emotion. In fact, try not to even argue
with him so that drama doesn't rear it's ugly head. For.. Mina.'
"My goodness, what's taking so long?" Amy snapped me out of my thoughts when I noticed the
rest of the sixteen girls behind us continued to be antsy. Much to Amy's dislike, she was placed
right behind me in the line, as a reward for her services to Mina. What a great way to repay
someone."It's been ten minutes already."
"So I've noticed." And I had. While standing here for about ten minutes and my mind wandering
off to la-la land, I had been staring at the huge brown doors in front of me. For some odd reason,
they utterly seemed familiar.
'Brown... Oak doors...' My mind began to describe and repeat. 'Brown... OAK WOOD
DOORS.'
And at that, the ulcer that I have grown to hate so quickly said a famous 'hello' in my tummy.
Not only was it saying 'hello', it also told me something BIG was about to happen. But earlier
before, I had dismissed this same feeling when I had thought it was out of nervousness... and
maybe it still is. Nothing more. Right?
'Just get it over with already!' My mind yelled frustrated as another minute slipped. My gloved
hand scratched my skirt covered thigh irritatingly.
And the dress.
Oh the lovely dress. Let me get started on that.
All seventeen of us were dressed in torso hugging, circulation stopping, tight on the bosom, but
very pretty light blue corset dresses. All of which were strapless since the corset on us did a
wonderful job at clinging to every curve and corner of our bodies... with great discomfort. And
yes, it showed a great portion of our upper body skin.
It was something Mina had love to seen us wear. And she had no time wasting the opportunity to
do so.
Damn her birthday.
When Amy and I had finally seen the dresses we were to wear earlier today, our jaws had no
choice but to drop. Both of us teamed up against Mina, scolding her for picking such a... very
sexy dress. Although Mina knew all the girls had decent enough figures, Amy and I had begged
to differ. Well, mainly me for stating I had baby fat, while Amy played out the modesty/
conservative card. But Mina immediately stomped her foot and made it clear we HAD no
choice. It was traditional that all the waltzers had to wear the same apparel and who were we to
break that tradition, especially for a friend? Oh the things we do for our friends indeed.
I was about to reach over to my thigh again and fail miserably to appease the itch that was
starting to form from under the fabric when the brown doors suddenly opened for me in a single
but slow dramatic movement.
I felt like a deer caught in the headlights.
"Crap." I quietly mouthed to myself.
"Announcing the waltzers, the beautiful Ms. Serena Tsukino and her handsome partner, Mr.
Darien Chiba." I heard the announcer say signaling me to start my path around the dance floor
and meet up with 'handsome' Pretty Boy. Oh that sounded oh so terribly wrong. I felt like
kicking myself.
Instead I didn't 'kick' myself let alone I haven't even MOVED from my spot yet! I stood there
frozen in place, eyes huge with shock, while the spot light blared at me.
'Damn it!'
"Serena? Serena! It's time to move!" I heard Amy's concerned whisper behind me, yet I failed to
acknowledge that I did, continuing to be frozen in place.
Was I really frozen in shock out of being nervous? Close to the answer but no.
As soon as the doors in front of me had opened, the ulcer strengthened ten fold because as I
looked inside, I immediately knew what the 'something big is about to happen' was going to be.
Peering in with wide unblinking eyes, I had slowly recognized the surrounds.
'This is THE DREAM!' My mind yelled frantically. "Oh. No!"
Inside, the very ceiling, every wall, every table, every chair, and the atmosphere in itself was
EXACTLY like yesterdays dream.
"Serena?" At that I felt a nudge behind me, causing me to snap out of my thoughts violently and
stumble a bit in my place. "Go."
And I went. With a deep breath, I tried to walk around the dance floor with a mix of grace and
caution, if it were even possible. But awe had not left my features. Because across from me,
Pretty Boy had become the ultimate shocker in all of this.
He was in my dream and I had should've known all along. He was in here as well as the dream.
And somehow, it felt like something was complete. And all I could do was stare and move...
And just as the awareness of me knowing that I was moving began, I stopped when he offered
me his arm graciously. And I've noticed, he couldn't do anything but to stare as well. Apparently
he looked as shocked as I was, much to my comprehension.
"Presenting Ms..." And the voice trailed off in my ears for the rest of the announcements. I
couldn't focus in what was being said because my eyes had focused on something else.
On Darien Chiba.
It felt like an eternity... His eyes reading me like they haven't done before. If I had complained
about his staring problem for the past month, you would think I haven't ceased in continuing.
But I did nothing. For now, I began doing the same action. It felt like I had no choice in the
matter. No free will! In fact, I rather felt like I ... enjoyed it!
'Good god-' And he slightly tightened his grip around my waist when the music began.
And so we moved...
--------------
The party had gone on for two hours already, the waltz having been done long ago. When we
had finished, everyone cheered, impressed at mainly the moves that Andrew and Mina had
displayed in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by the rest of the couples. IF I had
noticed, I would've understood why everyone cheered so loudly, because I had found out from
Amy, both Andrew and Mina had finally kissed in the end of the number... in front of everyone.
But I didn't notice.
Oh no I didn't. I had been busy looking at something else. More like 'somebody' else.
And I had broken all of my own rules.
And what rules were they? Rule number one: I wasn't suppose to be staring at Pretty Boy. Rule
number two: I was suppose to be paying attention to the dance and not at something ELSE. Rule
three: I wasn't suppose to be... FEELING THIS WAY!
Yes. I am frustrated. Frustrated at the fact that I couldn't enjoy Mina's debutante ball what so
ever. I should've been having fun, be care free, relishing in the fact that I was in one of the most
prestigious hotels in the city, yet I couldn't. I couldn't even enjoy my meal!
When the waltzing was over, everyone was seated in place to have the meals served to them.
Starting off with salad and soup, then the main course, and finally desert, everyone was
obligated to devour the food and actually enjoy it. And who would protest? Who would NOT
enjoy the meal? Ironically, me, out of five hundred people of this room. Serena Tsukino, who
never says no to food, actually being the only one not enjoying the meal. What an outrage!
But really, was I the only one?
I had looked across the table and cautiously glanced at Pretty Boy earlier, looking displeased as I
was. Interesting.
Could I blame him?
"Serena? Don't you want to join in the fun?" Amy sat next to me, gesturing toward the infamous
'conga line' that Andrew and Mina started up way back when, in the Masquerade ball. Oh the
ball...
I cringed at the memory.
Taking the champagne glass of water, I took a hearty sip in an attempt to drown the current
feelings that began to emerge all over again. "You're kidding me, right Amy?"
"Hey, what are you talking about? I saw you join the last time." Amy emitted a friendly smile
taking a glass of water herself.
"Touche." Setting the glass down, I began eyeing the people in the dance floor. As if I was
looking for someone. But who? "But I didn't join out of free will. Blame Mina for dragging me
in and forcing me to have a good time as usual."
"Well im pretty sure she'd still want you to have fun now, so why are you sitting alone?"
"I'm just not... feeling well that's all." And it wasn't far from the truth either. My eyes scanned
around now, away from the dance floor. I still didn't know who I was looking for.
"May I ask, has it something to do with the question you asked me earlier today at the mall?" If
Amy had been holding back the concern in her voice back at the mall, she sure wasn't hiding it
now. I realized she was only being courteous then.
"Actually... yes." I gave her a small sad smile with a slow nod. I began tracing the rim of the
empty champagne glass in front of me. "How'd you know?"
"Well, I noticed you didn't seem quite yourself after you asked me that question..." Amy trailed
off sounding a bit hesitant but continued, "But I just wanted to let you know, if there's anything
bothering you and you would like to talk to someone, I'm always available for it."
Why didn't I tell Amy what I told Mina yesterday, in the first place? Simple. The very idea of
mentioning of 'his' name let alone talking about him was something I wasn't looking forward in
dealing with. Instead, I ended up creating the whole amusing analogy of Person As and Person
Bs so to indirectly refer to Pretty Boy and I. To return Amy's courteous favor, I began to let her
know what was bothering me.
"Thanks Amy." I returned a grateful smile to her. "And about today, yes. I was bothered about
something and felt awfully compelled to tell you what that situation was. And... it's about Darien
and I..."
"Oh." She looked a bit hesitant again. "I'll understand if you don't want to talk about it now..."
"No, no. It's okay Amy. I want to talk about it, that is, if you don't mind." I quickly reassured
her that I needed someone to talk to confidentially, seeing that Mina was busy at the moment, let
alone not wanting to bother Mina about my situation since it is her birthday. "I actually trust you
Amy. It's just, I have trouble talking about him."
"I see."
"And about that advice you gave me... Thanks. It was very helpful." I continued to circle the rim
of my glass with my index finger. I sighed. "You see, Darien had hurt me three years ago..."
I began telling her the sad tale of how I had grown to like Darien a long time ago but having it
cut short due to what he had done to me. After that ended, I also told her about the dream
revelation I had yesterday, and how it lead me up to this point in Mina's ball.
"No wonder you didn't move when we started to walk out." Amy stated when the realization had
dawned on her. "I would've done the same thing!"
"I know... And what's worse, I know I have to face him now. I can't... I just can't, Amy."
"Serena, I think the reason why you don't want to forgive him, let alone have a conversation
with him, is because... Do you still feel any attraction toward him?" She gave me the same
concern look all over again.
I looked at her quite mortified. "What?"
"It makes sense. You liked him before and he hurt you." She paused for a moment to give
emphasis. "You still like him now and you're afraid that he'll hurt you again if you forgive
him..."
"But, that can't be... I can't possibly like him. I-I don't!" I shook my head in disbelief. There's
no way I could still be liking that jerk even after all these years yet, Mina had said the same thing
yesterday. "I... I can't Amy, I won't allow it."
"What's to allow Serena? You already feel that way." She sighed with a small sad smile. "But
the question you have to ask yourself is, will you forgive and forget?"
"I..." I looked at her troubled. For once I didn't know what to say to that.
"Incase you want to talk to him, I saw him step out on the balcony." Amy began to stand up,
straightening herself. However, the expression on her face hadn't left. "But as a friend, I'd like
to give you the advice to follow what's in your heart. Tell him what you feel. I hope that helps."
She promptly excused herself saying she was going to get something to drink. But I knew exactly
what she was doing. She wanted to leave me to think about my decision. And for that, I was
grateful.
--------------
I surrendered to the side of wanting to talk to him after having internal deputes with myself for
the last fifteen minutes.
How could I turn down a talk with him? I couldn't. Obviously, I didn't have much choice in the
matter either since I began to literally feel the warm atmosphere that emitted off the bodies that
danced on the dance floor a few yards from me. Was it me or was it the fact that although I was
in a five star hotel, their ventilation system sucked to the core? Oh yes. It was getting hot in here.
And coincidently enough the only place that offered any form of fresh air was at the balcony.
Where HE was. Oh how fate can be so cruel.
I slowly stood up, smoothing out my slightly wrinkled skirt and began walking to the balcony.
And the process of walking up to it felt so eerily familiar. And I knew why. Because it happened
in my dream.
'No denying that.' I sarcastically thought.
And before I knew it, I was at the entrance, his back towards me, leaning against the frame of
the huge door way.
'Here we go.'
I stepped out slowly, my arms automatically hugging myself when the cold air greeted me
comfortably.
'God, it's so beautiful out here.' A thought entered my mind when my eyes scanned the entire
expanse of the dark void we humans would call the night sky that lay before me, temporarily
forgetting who would be out here with me as well.
And the moon. Goodness it was beautiful.
And I heard something shut behind me.
Deja vu.
'Just like in the dream...' I wearily thought. 'And just when I was hoping to be alone.'
"Serena..." I heard him say softly behind me. I turned slightly to glance at him. "You're not
going anywhere until I get you to listen to me and-"
"Hi." I interrupted, giving him a sweet smile. I noted that this caught him off guard.
Aware of the awkward silence that followed, I turned back in front of me to gaze at the full
moon again. Surprisingly, the moon seemed more brighter than I've ever seen it before. As if it
was welcoming something...
Welcoming us...
"Great view huh?" I had become aware that he stood beside me, our forms slightly leaning
forward on the marble railings in front of us."
"Mmm." I merely nodded in reply, trying to ignore the butterflies that began to dance in my
stomach.
Another long silence ensued this time, but it was comfortable.
"Serena, there's something I need to talk to you about. But you have promise not to interrupt
me." Just when I thought the worse was over, I was wrong. He had to bring up the 'talk' again.
I only nodded in agreement again, not being able to look at him.
"First off, I want to say... I'm sorry for whatever I did that happened three years ago." He began,
his voice softening for each word that was uttered. "But what I want to know is, what
EXACTLY did I do to you?"
"You... You mean you don't know?" I looked at him questioningly, a bit shocked at the tone of
honesty in his question. "Seriously?"
"Yes."
I looked away hesitantly then shook my head. "...Never mind. Forget it. It's no big deal."
"Serena..."
"No. Just no." I began to turn around towards the door and began walking when his hand caught
my wrist.
"You're not going anywhere until we talk. And we're not finished." He then sharply pulled me
into his body. At this, I could only gasp. "If you can't answer that question, I'll leave it alone for
the moment. So here's another question... maybe something you can actually answer to."
"If you'd let go of me, maybe I would cooperate." I merely whispered in response.
And he gently let go of me, myself surprised that I missed the warmth that came from the close
proximity between myself and him.
'Not a good time to be feeling this way.'
"Serena. Did you dream yesterday?" He snapped me out of my thoughts. "Please tell me the
truth."
"...Yes."
Silence followed again, as a gentle breeze blew in our direction, causing me to slightly shiver.
He noticed this.
'Damn.'
"Here. Take my jacket." He began to take it off and attempted to place it around my shoulders.
"No thanks." I immediately stated, taking a step back.
"Obviously, this is going to be a long talk and I don't want you catching a cold-"
"I said no okay?" I frowned at him, interrupting his sentence. "Since when did you care about
me catching colds?"
"Why do you have to be so stubborn." was his immediate reply. "Damn it. Just take the jacket
and let's get this over with."
Surprise was written on my face when he just handed me the jacket instead. I took it quickly as
if the offer wasn't going to last for another second. Not giving him the satisfaction of me finally
obeying his orders, I annoyingly put on his jacket with disgust. "Happy now?"
"Yes."
"Whatever." With that I turned toward the railing again. "Say what you need to say so I can go
back inside."
"Fine." I heard him sigh, hearing him walk toward me. "What did you dream of yesterday?"
"That's private."
"Serena, don't start with me again..." He sounded frustrated, as he ran a hand through his hair
from the corner of my eye. "Look. I drempt of this place too if it still hasn't occurred to you yet."
"Okay."
"..And I'm pretty sure you're well aware of the fact that we both know what happened in the
dream..." His voice became soft again, sending a chill down my spine. "Do you want me to spare
you the details or do I have to describe it to you?"
It was enough that I had died and gone to heaven when I had worn his jacket. It smelled like him
and the scent was playing tricks on me. I had battled to sustain my consciousness and my
awareness, not wanting to lose them from that lingering sent in his jacket. It was quickly doing
wonders on me, and I was losing horribly... especially when he had to mention the dream.
I knew what he was referring to... the kiss.
'Oh god the kiss.'
"Okay! Okay! YOU win! I drempt of this place too alright?" I turned to him and had the
incredible urge to stomp my foot in anger. "Fine. NOT ONLY did I drempt of this place, but I
had been dreaming about YOU for more than a year! Got that? Are you happy to know that?
FOR MORE THAN A YEAR! And it's pissing me off! God, it's pissing me off!"
He looked at me stunned, when he noticed a tear silently slipped down my right cheek. I quickly
wiped it away.
'Damn! I can't start crying now!'
"But... But why would it piss you off?" He asked softly, taking a step toward me. I only took a
step back in response.
"God Darien!" I tightly wrapped his jacket around me, as if I was trying to shield myself. "Don't
you see? You're the last person I should be dreaming of! Why do you keep doing this to me?
Why do you keep hurting me? What have I done to deserve this?"
I looked at him angry as more tears began slipping from my eyes. Why was it so easy for him to
make me cry?
"Serena... I don't know. I... I didn't know I was hurting you." He closed his eyes and pinched the
bridge of his nose, holding the position with a hand to his waist, still frustrated. "I don't know
what the hell you're talking about. I don't even know what's going on..."
"Darien, you hurt me three years ago. I liked you and you rejected me cruelly. It's as simple as
that..." Somehow that statement suddenly sounded wrong. As if there was a huge mistake to say
it. "Can you really blame me for... acting this way toward you? In fact, I'd love to avoid you if I
could. To spare you from my dislike toward you and acting upon it..."
"Serena? My god... Serena? Did you realize what you've just said?" He looked at me curiously
now as if I gave him an epiphany. Apparently, I think I did. "Serena... I never rejected you! In
fact... It was the quite the... opposite."
I looked at him disbelievingly. What was HE saying?
"What are you TALKING ABOUT?! I heard you loud and clear Darien! I heard what you talked
about me three years ago! You said I was weird and stupid and obnoxious-" Before I could
continue on with the list of things I could recall him say about me, he suddenly interrupted my
sentence.
"Serena. Three years ago... I was talking about somebody else! It wasn't you I was talking about!"
He walked towards me again and I tried to step back, only to find there was wall behind me. He
was now officially violating my personal space. "If anything, I wasn't talking about you!"
'Breath Serena!' My mind urged when I had exhaled, releasing a breath that I hadn't noticed I
was holding.
"Then... Who were you talking about?" I eyed him nervously, wishing that I could just jump off
the balcony instead. Anything to get away from him. ANYTHING.
"I was talking about... Beryl." He simply stated.
My eyes widened.
"Beryl? You mean that TAB?" I quickly replied, my eyes widening in slight shock but was still
looking away from him."That's a lie! How come you dated her then? You wouldn't date
someone you didn't like so much."
"Well that goes to show how much you know about me." I sensed he began to step away, a
teasing tone in his voice. "I can't believe you went and assumed I was talking about you..."
I finally got the courage to look at him now, cautiously eyeing him.
'This can't be right... He was talking about.. Beryl?' I hesitantly thought, as I watched him lean
on the railing again. 'Beryl... as in his ex-girlfriend.'
"So... You weren't talking about me... with your friends?"
"No. Not at all." He began with a sigh. "I found out Beryl had a crush on me as well... When I
found out from a couple of friends about how Beryl felt about me, I started making fun of her. I
wasn't interested in her one bit. And to prove I didn't like her, I brought out a picture of her and
began talking about her..."
Immediately, the image of a young Darien flashed in my mind, pointing to a picture of some girl
and was laughing hysterically with friends as if mocking the picture.
"Oh my god." I whispered to myself.
"What did you say?" Apparently he had heard me.
"Oh." I simply squeaked in reply. "That's nice."
"That's nice?" He turned to me with a smirk. "After this misunderstanding all you can say is
'That's nice?'"
"Well, yeah." I frowned. "What did you think I was suppose to say? Oh my god Darien I'm sorry
I love you?"
I immediately clamped my mouth shut, bring a hand to cover my lips.
'Wow Serena Tsukino... Ultimate Jack Ass Queen.' A thought teased me, while I continued to
be mortified. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment rightfully so.
"Well... yes." He began walking toward me again and stopped when he was now directly in
front of me, looming over with that tall frame of his. "In fact, you never let me tell you how
much I felt about that... letter of yours."
"Letter? W-what letter?" Oh yes. He definitely remembered that. Oh the horror.
"The love letter you wrote to me. Don't you remember?" He grinned devilishly as I gulped. This
was NOT good.
"I-I wrote no such letter."
"Liar." with that he quickly turned around and walked over to the other side of the balcony.
Upon reaching the other side, from what I could tell, he reached for his back pack and unzipped
it. He then pulled out something and began walking towards me again when the object was in his
hands. "I think you should have this back."
With an extended arm, he handed me the journal.
My journal.
"My journal... You kept it?" I looked at the object now in my hands, stunned that it was still in
tacked. In perfect condition. "I thought you would've thrown this away by now."
"Now why would I do that?" He sounded a bit shocked himself, a hint of amusement in his
voice. "Go ahead. Open it. You can check it if you want to make sure everything's there."
And I did. I had opened the journal and found that the detached pages were in tacked, or rather,
tapped securely to the spine of the journal. I was impressed. He went out of his way to restore
my journal?
"Thanks. But why?"
"Go ahead. Turn another page." He urged with a new kind of smile this time. I rose an eyebrow
to him. He looked rather... goofy.
"Okay." And I turned the page. When I did, I found something all too familiar. Something I
thought I wouldn't have ever seen again. "Oh my god."
"See something of interest?" He laughed as I continued to stare in awe. "Because if you do, that
automatically makes you into a liar."
"You... you whore!" I plucked the pink letter that lay flat on the journal. Obviously, he had
tucked it like a book mark in the pages. "You kept this?!"
"So what?" He gave me a smirk, suddenly making me feel giddy. I didn't like this. I didn't like
this one bit. "Now it's my turn to give you my letter. Let you know how I feel."
"What... are you talking about?"
"Turn to the next page. I wrote something in there for you."
And I turned the page, this time excitement growing at the pit of my stomach.
I began to read.
---------------
Dear Serena,
You never gave me the chance to let you know how I felt. You never gave me the
opportunity to respond to your letter. So let me take the time to do it now.
There's something about you I loved. Something I've failed to notice before. The way
you smiled. The way you talked. The way you made me feel inside three years ago. I've
wondered, once upon a time, how it would've been like to have been with you. If you were my
girlfriend...
Yes. And about me showing you around school. Me being your personal tour guide and
answering all of your questions... You're welcome. I'd have been glad to have done it all over
again. Just for you.
I really liked you. I liked you a lot. In fact. I still like you...
I hope we can become more than friends.
Your non-secret admirer,
Darien Chiba.
P.S. I also think you're super sexy.
-------------
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry or to just plain scream. Darien Chiba... liked me back! He
liked me back all these years!
A wide smile plastered itself on my lips. I felt like doing cartwheels.
But then something dawned on me. And my smile began to falter quickly.
"You're too late." I sighed closing my eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm not interested."
I quickly inserted the love letter I wrote to him into the journal and slammed it shut. I then
shoved it into his hands. "No thanks."
"What?!" He almost yelled it out. "I-I don't understand. You're not interested?"
"Darien Chiba. I forgive you about everything. I finally realized that it was a misunderstanding
that made me hate you all this time for three years. Finding out about the whole online issue...
You being sxytuxboi... Finding out that your dreams are connected with mine..." I began to trail
off, unable to continue suddenly.
"What?"
"Don't you see? I can't handle this." Finding the courage to talk again I continued, "I'm an
ordinary girl. I'm private. I don't believe in relationships let alone love. I do not want to care or
need anyone. In fact, It's too illogical and it's pointless. Relationships are the least of my needs."
"And most of all, you're afraid to get hurt. Am I right?"
"Yes... What?" I became surprised that he added to my list as well. "How... how did you know?"
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't know?" He gently lifted my chin, making me face him
directly. His thumb began to trace the side of my cheek, making me blush like a mad woman.
"Serena, when you dream, do you feel any emotions at all?"
"No..." I said breathlessly. I felt my knees began to shake.
"Now that's still a lie." He grinned, tilting his head slightly to one side as if he was curious with
my face. Oh god... I hope nothing was on my face. "Every time I dream about you, I don't know
how to explain this but... I feel what you feel. Every dance that we danced, every smile that you
made, every time I kiss your hand... I feel your passion. I feel you wanting me. It's like I know
you need me. Please don't deny it..."
He leaned in more closely this time, his face dangerously near mine. "Don't deny me Serena.
I've waited so long. Now that I know the truth... don't say that you don't want me..."
And just like that, he finally leaned in and our lips met.
'Oh god.' His kiss was the most gentlest thing I've ever experienced in all my life. Sweet,
tender, hell even full of emotion.
And before I could stop myself, I gave in. I gave in... to him.
This time, I returned the kiss, if not the same but exceeding the amount of passion in it. I kissed
him like there was no tomorrow. As if it was the last thing I was ever going to do in this world.
Oh god... So this is what it felt like... This was how it felt like to fall in love.
After an eternity, we finally pulled apart to catch some air, the expression on our faces the same
as they were in our dream.
'And again Deja vu.' I thought rather happily.
"So... I take it we're dating?" I shyly whispered, blushing strongly now.
"Hell yeah. You didn't think I gave away kisses for nothing did you?" He chuckled pulling me
toward him for a small embrace. I noticed he slightly shivered.
"Cold?" I raised an eyebrow at him but smiled. "If you are, too bad. It's you're fault we had to
talk out here."
"Did I have a choice?" He looked at me questioningly. "Come on let's get out of here or I'm
going to freeze to death."
"Such the gentle man." I laughed as we walked towards the door. "You and your manly
formalities."
"Hmm.. This is strange. I can't seem to open it." I heard him mumble when he reached the door
before I did.
"What do you mean?"
"The door won't budge.." I heard him sounding alarmed now.
"You idiot! You locked us out!"
And so began another war...
Was it a coincidence or was it... fate?
You decide.
