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10.24.03 – 10.28.03

started typing this chapter four!!! Woooooooo… finally I advanced to chapter 4~~~~ *jumps up and down!!* love this Korean songs I'm listening too.. owari!! XD im kinda weak at fight scenes so just pardon me.. XD

Standard Disclaimers apply… ^.~ (tho I would like to own them!! XD)

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Ffviii: Sweet Love...

Story Four: Hurt and Lost

12:15 pm     Dining Lounge

Sound of excited chattering and clanking of plates and utensils filled the dining lounger, asking who's gonna dance who and of course, eating. Well, the time for the SeeD entrance exams was going to take place within an hour or so, which became already a primary factor to the stimulated acoustics of the room.

"Rinoa, you seemed stressed out. You definitely need some of my prescribed beauty rests. "Quistis advised, spooning her caesar salad as Rinoa yawned for the millionth time.

Selphie warned. " I do hope that your tiredness is not caused by entering SeeD or any plans of taking that exam, hmm?"

Rinoa wondered. "Huh? Why not?"

Selphie waved her french fry in mid-air. "Because I already joined you in out skating club, which is currently on of the ten organizations of the SC Committee. Of course, we wouldn't want our champion skater to be over-fatigued, right?"

Rinoa asked in a voice loud enough for only Quistis to hear. "How did she…?"

"Simple. This will only occur when one of your friends happened to be the president of the Skating Club," Quistis whispered after she finished her sald.

"Oh."

"Okie!" Selphie said as she stood up. The other two ladies followed.

Quistis remembered as they left the noisy lounge. "Gotta go. I remembered.. I'm the one who's gonna test those examinees.. ciao!"

"Just don't be too hard on them, Quistis!" Selphie reminded after her.

So, Quistis will be in-charge of the exam. This is not easy as I thought. Tough to be exact. Rinoa thought as she and Selphie walked together pass the Quad.

"All examinees and SeeD cadets, please proceed to the Training Grounds for the exam. I repeat. Please proceed to the Training Grounds in an hour. Thank you."

"Oh, Selphie. I'm sorry, but I have to return to my dorm." Rinoa apologized.

"Well…" Selphie was puzzled, but Rinoa sensed her doubt right away.

"I'm gonna do some homeworks. G'bye! See you!" Rinoa spun around and made her fastest footsteps to the dormitory section, leaving Selphie bewildered.

~*~*~*~*~

12:30 pm     Dorm No. 426, Dormitory Section C

Good thing, I found this wig and pinwheel in one of my luggages. All thanks for not being a tidy young lady… Rinoa shrugged as she redone her hair into a ponytail after putting a blonde wig and pinwheel on her desk.

She looked at herself on the mirror, wearing a white sleeveless shirt and black Capri pants and a pair of blue-violet rubber shoes.

However, I also hoped to see him once more.. She blushed slightly as she drank her water gleefully.

"I guess being obscure is mandatory.. If I do want to enter SeeD without letting them know." She sighed as she put the wig inside her bag and left the room.

~*~*~*~*~

1:30pm     Training Grounds

"Examinee No. 31 X finishes off the T-rex flawlessly!" Zell announced as Rinoa, with her disguise, stood up victoriously with the T-rex on the floor, vanishing.

Squall gave another expressionless look while sitting behind Zell who was announcing results from the exam in the glass-covered room, which was about ten meters above the ground. "I'll go out for a while." Squall told Zell who was taking a short break from continuous talking, drinking some water.

"Ok. But be careful. There are many, I mean, a lot of women waiting for you there. " Zell threatened with a snicker as Squall left. "Especially Ms. Aura." He continued without Squall hearing it.

~*~*~*~*~

He's got to notice me. I must look at my best. Oh, he's coming any minute now. Perilemia thought, closing her compact face powder after putting some on her face. She quickly brushed her hair and fized her clothes. When she heard footsteps, she took a peek who it was.

~*~*~*~*~

So far, so good. Squall thought glumly as he strolled down the deserted hallway. Good, no women. He made a turn to the left; suddenly, a girl bumped into him.

"Oww… oh, hi Squall!" The girl simpered and hugged him, which is a not-so-expected thing to do to him.

"Wha.." Squall began, but the girl continued on.

"Remember me? Perilemia Aura? Your soon-to-be-girlfriend?"

"Eh? What are you talking about?!!!"

"I've waited so long for this.."

Squall rolled his eyes behind her back. "Sorry. I don't know you, but I'm leaving." Squall gave Perilemia a push and broke free, walking few steps ahead and taking tricky passages to shake her off his trail towards the Training Grounds.

~*~*~*~*~

"At long last , the final and ultimate test!" Zell reported as both Rinoa and Quistis entered the ring. "Examinee No. 31 will finally face the Core Commander Quistis Trepe, the terror of the elite SeeD Squad!"

Quistis shot a icy threatening eye at Zell, indicating that if he'll ever thought of repeating his previous statement once more, she will finally freeze him with a Blizzaga spell. Just then, Selphie arrived to keep the peace and order intact.

"Zell, be careful." She hissed as she took a seat beside him. "Quistis freezing you right here and then is possible."
"Oops." Zell whispered as he blushed on his mistake upon seeing Quistis's glare on the close-up screen in front of him.

Selphie smiled. "Ok. Back to the final showdown, not to delay a second more, let's begin!"

~*~*~*~*~

"Thundara! Water!" Rinoa quickly evaded Quistis's attack and dashed in front of her, unleashing a high reversal kick that pushed back Quistis from her place.

Quistis kneeled down from the impact received from the sudden attack. She's good and experienced. Hey, where the heck did she come from? A very familiar face? But from where?

Then it was her turn to attack. Using her whip to delude Rinoa evading to the right, she subsequently attacked her with a low kick. Rinoa, as if she had expected the upcoming attack, blocked it with her pinwheel, but she still managed to receive some of the damage, producing a deep scratch on her leg.

Quistis is so skilled. Do I have any chances of winning?

~*~*~*~*~

"Squall, wait up! Don't you really remember me?" Perilemia purged, still perseveringly following Squall who remained silent the whole time.

"N.O." A reply finally came out from his sealed mouth. He faced her outside the open door of the training grounds, exposing them the live battle between Rinoa and Quistis.

"Finally.. I was beginning to think that you're a robot or even a weirdo… but still.. I can't help it.. I really love you!" Perilemia, blushing, ran to embrace Squall, who remained stable at his place.

~*~*~*~*~

Rinoa's eyes scanned the place quickly, alert for the possibilities of victory while they were both catching their breaths after a twenty minute tedious fight on the place. Wiping her tickling sweat upon her brow, she looked to her left, which is the entrance. Rinoa froze short upon seeing Squall and Perilemia closed in an embrace.

Ba dum, ba dum.. why.. why am I feeling this way? What about you that made me feel this way?

Time seemed to stop for her.

Quistis immediately knew her advantage. After eyeing Rinoa's every move, she confirmed that she was already caught off-guard. She jumped to her feet and made a dash towards Rinoa. "Quistis Trepe Special Attack – Blue Magic!" She began as her palms formed a bright yellow aura. Then, she made her attack. "Ray Bomb!"

Ladies and Gentlemen, we're seeing it again! Quistis's special attack!! Will Examinee No. 31 make it?

Rinoa finally took notice of Quistis's fore coming attack and was about to defend herself. However, it was already too late to make any defensive move. Covering herself only with her pinwheel, she was taken aback. She then fell on the floor and hit her head on the large rock behind her.

Then, everything went black.

~*~*~*~*~

4:00 pm     Infirmary

"So, how's Rinoa?" Quistis worriedly asked as Doctor Tracy Freewish, an older woman with long, curly blond hair, went out of the detaining room.

"She's still unconscious. Her wound on the head already stopped bleeding. So was her skinned leg." The doctor reported, walking towards her working desk. "All we can do now is wait.."

Selphie's hands began shaking nervously. "I should have known that she was going to take that exam! Then…"

"No.. it's all my fault! I -- I shouldn't had unleashed that attack!! It's all my fault.. dumb! Dumb! Dumb!" Quistis broke down, covering her face with her hands.

Rinoa… oh please… do wake up…

~*~*~*~*~

"Hey guys!" Zell called after Irvine and Squall entered inside the Student Lounge. "Have you heard? Ms. Heartilly's at the infirmary, unconscious!"

"We heard." Irvine replied. "Like she's already the talk to the town within thirty minutes' time."

Squall remained silent, recalling the events that occurred earlier. She was staring at me… staring at me with her deeply hurt eyes..

"Then let's go!" Zell invited as he led the two people out of the place.

"Hmm.. I suppose you're planning to see on Ms. Tilmitt, right? Ei, speaking of which, have you asked her out yet?" Irvine mentioned.

"No… not yet… I haven't… actually… I get tongue-tied when I'm with her." Zell sighed heavily. "Besides, I bet she has someone in mind already."

Squall looked at the opposite direction. "You'll never know unless you try." He muttered.

"Hey, are you going out with Ms. Aura? After all, it is possible since you were hugging with her in public… in front of the Training Center.." Zell teased as they reached the infirmary. Squall gave no response as they waited outside.

"Oh, hi. What a surprise seeing you guys here." Selphie's half-cheery voice commented as she and Quistis came into view, holding grocery bags.

"Oh, hello, Selphie.. uh.. Ms. Selphie.." Zell managed to choke out. Suddenly, the auto-door slid open.

"It's you, girls. Come inside." Doctor Freewish closed the door at the men's face as if they weren't there.

Irvine closed one of his eyes. "Oww."

"How pathetic it is.." Squall absentmindedly mumbled as he turned away.

"Now. Will you wait for us please?"

~*~*~*~*~

Slowly, her eyes began to flutter into consciousness, greeted by the infirmary's bright fluorescent lights on the ceiling.

"Rinoa! Rinoa! You're finally awake!!" She saw Selphie's tears fall down.

"Selphie?"

"Rinoa! You're ok!! I'm so glad you're ok!" Quistis hugged her tight.

"Quistis? What… what's happening here? Why am I here?" Rinoa asked as she sat up after Quistis released her hold. "I remember.. I was back at the Training Grounds… wait! The exam!"

"Rinoa!" Selphie gasped, ready to scold her like a kid for what she did.

"Oops.." Rinoa blushed. "I should have told you guys earlier…"

"Rinoa.." Quistis gave a playful spank at Rinoa. "You should have.. then.. then… releasing that attack would have been evaded.. and.. and…"

Rinoa ruffled Quistis's head. "Ha! Then it wouldn't be fair anymore! Besides, I am alive, right?"

"Stop giving me the creeps. Rinoa! You're scaring me!" Selphie pleaded, wiping her tears away.

"I'm just so glad.." Quistis smiled.

"Me too. I'm so glad to have glad to have you guys as my friends…"

~*~*~*~*~

"He… he didn't visit me even once.." Rinoa sighed as she walked alone to her dorm after the three gals separated ways. Hmm.. I'm still wondering whether I should go to the dance or not… After all, I'm not even sure if he's already taken.. Besides, it seems like I'm not his type anyway.. Her thoughts formed as a self-argument. Then, her eyes spotted a silhouette of a man outside her dorm.

I wonder why would anyone be here at this time of the night.. She walked a few steps closer.

~*~*~*~*~

Man, why am I so nervous about this? It's not like my first time to ask a girl out. Seifer wondered as he clutched the bouquet of roses tight when he saw a glimpse of Rinoa coming towards her dorm. After an interval of a few seconds, they met face to face.

"Oh, hi… Mr. Disciplinary Committee Chairman… Is there any new violation I made?" Rinoa playfully joked as she retrieved her dorm key inside her pocket.

"Uh.. no…" He stammered.

"Don't worry… I'm not angry at you anymore.. what happened last time is already a forgotten past. No use worrying." Rinoa assured. "Um, excuse me." Seifer stepped aside and let Rinoa use her dorm key to open the door. AS she entered, Rinoa noticed the bouquet of roses on Seifer's hand.

"Sorry to be so ignorant. What brings you here anyway, Mr. Almasy? That is, if you don't mind.."

"Well.." Sweat tickled down his neck, as a result of nervousness. He gave the flowers out to Rinoa. "I… I am here… to ask you… out… out to the dance… of course.. if… you … say.. 'yes…'"

Next ep: Will Rinoa say yes or not? What shall she do now?

Up next: Story Five: Dared to Dance