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03.07.04

GOMEN GOMEN!! Its sooo late I know.. and schools killing me slowly and slowly more each dai.. T~T

Waiiiiiiii… my fanfic's 2nd year anniv!! And still I haven't finished it yet!! T~T sad hope ya enjoy this chappie.. *too much shoujo influence!!*

Standard disclaimers apply.. ^^


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Ffviii: Sweet Love...


Story Four: UNEXPECTED CONFESSION

8:30 pm     The Quad

"Ms. Rinoa, I have brought you some refreshments…" Seifer said as he went back to the terrace. Damn, they should had told me about the SC report tomorrow, not now… what schedule do they follow anyway? He thought as he looked up and saw no one in sight. Now, where could she be?

He sighed heavily as he placed the two cups on the marble railing. Upon spotting the organizer and his gift on the floor, he froze. After his secret was written on that page, below was the three distinct words that really made him stare at the floor with huge wide eyes.

"I hate you."

*~*~*~*~*

"C'mon, Squall-dear…let's dance to celebrate your success in the SeeD exam." Perilemia urged as slow music began to play in the background. No answer went out from his lips, but Perilemia knew his silent refusal throughout the time she was prompting him to dance.

"Excuse me." A blonde male asked, not intentionally interrupting them. "May I have this dance, Miss Perilemia?"

Perilemia hesitated, looking at Squall for some hints then back to him. "Ok, but I'll be coming back for the last dance, Squall-dear!" She laughed as she disappeared with him towards the dance floor.

Squall-dear.. Gimme a break… Squall's face displayed a disgusted look. I don't care anyway. He then raised his glass and stared at the transparent red color of the fruit punch. Through that surface, he saw Rinoa hurriedly leaving the party.

He released a sigh. "I knew I should have said my real identity back then. Well, nobody understands." He decided to stand up and leave the party as well.

*~*~*~*~*

"So.. I guess men here at Balamb aren't serious in dates after all." Rinoa grumbled as she reaches the gates of Balamb Garden University unknowingly. ".. Treating them as dares!"

"Now, what should you do, Rinoa? Go out or stay behind?" She asked herself. "If you go out, surely you'll receive punishment which you definitely don't favor of. And if you stay behind…" Seifer's face flashed back into her mind.

"Ohh… that monster.." She angrily gritted her teeth, making her recall the events earlier. "I knew I shouldn't have.."

The water silently poured down from the night sky. Her tears simultaneously feel down, camouflaged as she decided to return to the dry building. ".. agreed in the first place." She then muttered as her clothes are soaking wet, making her shiver uncontrollably. "No matter how hard I try to mix with the crowd, I always end up alone.. alone and hurt.. why.."

"You're soaking wet and already shivering.. here.." A voice spoke from behind as two warm hands covered her with a coat. Rinoa looked back in reflex.

"Oh, hi! What brings you here?" Rinoa feigned a smile, a smile that obviously tells Squall that something bad had already happened.

I guess I came at a wrong time. He thought.

"Nothing." Squall lied. "Um, is something wrong? You don't look so good."

She stammered. "May.. May I borrow your back for a while? Please?"

"Uh.. ok."

Rinoa smiled her last before she went behind him. "Thanks." Right then and there, her tears of pain and sorrow were released, fastly cascading down as the rain slowly came to its stop for the night.

*~*~*~*~*

6:15 pm    Dormitory Section C, Dorm No. 426

Rinoa kept on tossing on her sleep. The alarm clock beside her sounded, and she reached out to snooze it off. Just like a robot, she automatically sat up on her bed, bleary-eyed. Standing up, she stetched. Right on cue, her head began to spin.

I… I don't feel so good. But.. She thought as she headed to the bathroom and changed into her school attire. It's just a small headache. Nothing to be worried about..

"I'll be alright." She got her books on her study table and headed to the door when her headache attacked again, and she just let the pain defeat her this time.

*~*~*~*~*

11:30 am    Dining Lounge

"What to do now, Fuujin. I screwed up. What if she's gonna initiate a scandal against me which will definitely ruin my famous rep?" Seifer freaked out as he placed his food on their table and settles himself beside Raijin.

"Don't worry. Ms. Rinoa is not a dirty and revengeful blackmailer, they say.." Fuujin ate her French fry calmly as Raijin quietly ate his.

"What if she announces it via email?"

"She can't… I'm filtering the emails this month."

"What if she calls the school paper and tells them all about it?"

"Raijin's one of the staff this sem."

"What if.."

"Enough with that! Why don't you just trust me? Ever since that night, all you blurted out from your mouth is Rinoa, Rinoa Rinoa! I had settled it all period." Fuujin angrily grabbed her half-eaten pack of fries and dumped it in the wastebasket.

If only he knew that I like him.. She shook her head in regret.

"But, I'm just playing it safe… clearing out the possibilities of Rinoa ruining my rep!"

"Well.." Her eyebrows met as she stood up. "I.."

Raijin decided to stop the argument before the people around them begin to notice the morphing Discipline Squad into Warring Team. "Guys, I suppose we should settle.. down… you're beginning to be too noticeable already." He then nudged his head for the two to see the students looking, pratically staring in disbelief.

As he expected, Fuujin blushed and quietly sat down while Seifer calmly whistled and brushed his coat.

Good. Back to normal. Raijin satisfyingly thought as he secretly smiles at his small achievement. I never knew I could get this situation  under control.

*~*~*~*~*

1:30 pm    Dormitory Section Hall

"Selphie… the person I've been looking for." Quistis said as she caught up with Selphie even before she went into her dorm.

"What's up?" Selphie asked before she noticed the obviously worried expression on Quistis's face. "Is something wrong?" She quickly added.

Quistis released a heavy sigh. "Yes. Something's definitely wrong. Haven't you seen, Rinoa? I'm very much worried about that girl. I mean, it's not like her to just miss today's classes."

"I know. I haven't seen her either in gym class. If she's sick, the doctor would had consulted her and informed our instructor. Then minutes later will the whole student body know about it. But what's happening now is the opposite!"

"I don't know. But I'd say let's check her out in her dorm."

"Hey guys! What's going on in our little meeting?" Both females spun around and saw Irvine and Zell behind them.

"We're very much worried about Rinoa. She's either missing or sick!" Selphie replied straightforwardly.

"I haven't seen her yet either." Zell admitted.

"Me too. Actually, we're also looking for Rinoa. She topped last week's major economics exam over Perilemia." Irvine announced. "Can you believe it?"

"I can't right now. "Quistis replied. "But I believe we must find Rinoa ASAP. Then let's charge to her dorm, men!" She suddenly stopped after taking a few steps forward.

"What happened?" The other three chorused behind her.

"Funny. I guess I don't know her dorm number too."

*~*~*~*~*

Squall was quietly polishing his gunblade inside his dorm an hour later, watching as his reflection repeatedly appeared and disappeared like a magic act. Suddenly, the image of the girl whom he lent his coat to flashed back into his mind, letting him remember yesterday's events. He immediately shook his head as his face began to color.

"Why can't I just forget her? Is she somebody important to me?"
He sighed as he decided to go out for some fresh air. Squall stood up and grabbed his coat, walking out the door. Unfortunately, his least favorite person appeared in front of him.

"Squall." Perilemia began. "Why did you leave me alone last night? Whatever the reason was, you must tell me! After all, I'm your girlfriend!"

"No.. None of your business. I'm not in the mood to talk to you by the way." He walked away.

"It's Rinoa, right? She stole you away from me!" Perilemia protested angrily. I'll make you pay, Rinoa. I'll make you pay. She turned around angrily and walked the opposite direction furiously.

Then came in front of Squall are the two girls who seem to have a conversation.

"Hey, guess who topped the gossip charts again?"

"I have no idea, Ash."
"Rinoa Heartilly! She's actually at the infirmary, sick!"

"Oh, really?"

"You heard me right! Even, Selphie Tilmitt and Quistis Trepe are both there."

"Which also means Irvine and Zell must be there." Abruptly, they turned around to see Squall in front of them.

"Oh my gosh! I must be dreaming! Squall Leonhart!" They both gushed, blushing as their eyes were fixed on Squall.

Squall then decided to make a quick turn to the infirmary. "Thanks." He murmured as he ran away from them, leaving them in unexplainable bewilderment.

*~*~*~*~*

"Hey, Squall… never did I expect you to be here." Zell mentioned as Squall arrived in the place, seeing Quistis and the others waiting for some results.

"What's this? An exclusive waiting room for celebrities?" Squall mentioned with sarcasm as he slumped back at the green painted wall.

"So, what brings you here?" Selphie wondered.

"I just happened to be passing by for some fresh air." He nonchalantly replied.

"Oh really? I assume you're up to something." Quistis raised her eyebrow. "Unusual for you to be here."
Can't blame you guys. He thought, staring at the ceiling in silence. As anticipated, Dr. Freewish came out, putting down her notebook and some pills on her table.

"Oh my, never did I expect for my place to be the hang-out of star celebrities!" She chuckled the exact sarcastic humor Squall mentioned a while ago as she settled herself on her chair.

"So, is she ok?" Selphie inquired with anxiety written on her face.

"She's fine." Dr. Freewish replied, writing something on a piece of paper. "Actually, she just needs some rest from her fever. I suppose she's pressured lately."

"Whew." Quistis gave out a relieved sigh as Irvine playfully gave a pat on the back. They both laughed. Squall gave a nod to bid them farewell and left the room, satisfied of what he just witnessed.

*~*~*~*~*

11:30 am (Monday)     Hallway

"Ms. Rinoa. Glad to hear that you're ok." A female student greeted as Rinoa walked down the hall a week later.

"Thank you for your concern." Rinoa thanked, flashing a smile for the nth time.

"Ms. Rinoa. Gladd you're well." Came another girl. Rinoa mentioned another thanks.

"Rinoa!" A familiar voice called from behind. Rinoa grinned as she turned.

"Selphie! Hi! What's new?"

"Well, first, I'm glad you're ok. Second, gosh, I'm so excited to tell you this!" Selphie began, clapping her hands softly yet enthusiastically.

"What are you excited about?"

"You'll never believe me, but actually, Squall Leonhart came into the infirmary last week to see if you're ok!"

"What's the big deal? Maybe it's because he's just being nice to everybody!"

"The fact is that he wasn't nice to everybody! You're the very first, very lucky, very privileged girl to receive a visit from him!"

"But I'm not that very lucky, very privileged woman in this society as everybody thinks I am!"

"C'mon, Rinoa... speaking of which.."

Rinoa glanced to where Selphie is hinting at and saw both Squall and Zell heading their way. She just stood there when the two men finally stopped in front of them.

"Meet Squall Leonhart." Selphie introduced as Zell whispered something to her ear. "How unfortunate.. Something came up. Hope you guys enjoy yourselves together.. Ta-ta!"

"Selphie! What do you mean -" Rinoa bit her lower lip when both Selphie and Zell disappeared. Then she faced Squall. "Oh, hi.."

Squall slowly looked up, "Hi.."

"Excuse me.. Are you really.. " Rinoa began. "Squall Leonhart? It's so confusing. People say that you're Squall Leonhart, but what you had said… who are you really?"

"I can only answer if you tell me yours after I tell mine."

"Me? My name?"

"Of course. A name for a name."

"Fine. It's a deal."

Squall released a short laugh. "They are right. I am Squall Leonhart."