AUTHORS CUT:
Can't Let Go
Written by: Jhoeydagger
Chapter Four:
"Good! Now let's stop talking about this Van thing. I don't like him and I know you don't like him too. He might be doing this so he could take revenge about what you did to him with that girl."
"But I didn't do anything."
"But he thinks otherwise. Just stay away from him okay?"
"I will…"
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It's been two weeks since the day Van started acting weird around her. She tried to avoid him as much as possible but every time she tried to stay away he starts trying to get close, it was unnerving. He starts greeting her every morning, delighted at how she always jumps out of the way. He also likes to get close to her, literally close and it's making her senses go wild.
She drew a deep breath and settled her back against the tree. It's lunch break and Yukari is busy doing some work so now she's alone. She didn't stay at the cafeteria because all the girls are looking at her and it made her feel uneasy. After Van changed towards her, girls around the campus started giving her looks and she quite hates it even though she made it clear that she got nothing to do with that Van.
She drew a deep breath one last time.
"You might get sick taking too many deep breaths." She was startled that she jumped up and then slowly looked up.
* Not again… *
"What are you doing here?" she asked but started to walk away. She heard him jumped and was now following her.
"Isn't it funny that now you eat your lunch outside rather inside?" he said his voice as usual scary and cold.
"No it isn't. What's funny is…" she faced him.
"You. You keep on bothering… actually irritating me and you know it isn't working." She again turned around and walked.
"Isn't working? Then how come you're here outside?" She again faced him but this time with anger in her eyes.
"Is this the plan? To get rid of me by making others hate me, mostly girls!"
"Get rid of you? You should choose your words wisely because…" he then took a step closer to her his face mere inches.
"If I want to get rid of you…I could easily cut your throat." She gulped. She couldn't believe he said that. She paled and looked at him with disbelief. His face is calm as if he really means what he said.
"But I didn't, right? Then it means I don't want to get rid of you."
"Then what do you want?" She asked taking a step back but he simply took a step forward.
"Amusement."
"What?" she wasn't sure she heard him right.
"Amusement. You amuse me. For the first time in my life, you're the only girl who's not quite taken on me."
"Amusement! To amuse you! Why you…" She then slapped him in the face. The rendering sounds vibrating inside her head. * How dare he? Amusement! I'm not a toy and I'm not a clown for Christ sake! *
"If you're looking for amusement go to the circus!" she shouted then walked fast away from him.
"Amusement. Why that… I'll kill him!" she shouted as she walked. She was too busy thinking about the things he said that she didn't notice that he's following her. She stifled a scream when she felt hands going around her waist and then carrying her, pushing her against a tree. She stared at reddish brown eyes.
"And also, not only are you the first girl who's not quite taken on me but you're also the first girl who had the guts to slap me."
"Not only do you deserve a slap, you deserve a whipping! You are too confident of yourself that you think all the girls will bow in front of you! For your information, you're the last guy I'll fall for!" before she could even think of what to say, it was already out of her mouth creating silence between them. * You're a fool Hitomi…a total fool… *
"Really…wanna bet?" he asked pressing himself closer to her.
"I don't like bet." Trying to breathe but he's too close for her to even think.
"Well…this is the first time for me but I know I'll win." He smiled then slowly leaned towards her. She couldn't breath. * I can't believe this is happening! *
"Hitomi!" she heard someone called but it sounded from far away. She stared at his eyes, mesmerize. She then stared at his lips, and she couldn't help her self, staring more. His lips then turned to a smile.
"Hitomi!" she heard again. She shook her head and looked behind him. There were Yukari with classmates and other students from the other class looking at both of them. * Oh no! * She blushed and tried to push him away. He didn't move but rather stayed there, his arms going around her.
"Damn it! Let go!" she shouted. She struggled on his arms but he didn't let go rather hugged her closer. She then heard him whispered in her ear.
"The bet is on…" One last time he hugged her to him and slowly let her go. She pushed him back and started walking away from him. She pulled Yukari and they both started walking away.
"What happened?" she asked. Hitomi didn't answer her face red.
"Hey! What happened?"
"I'll tell you latter." * Now what? You've been avoiding him but look at what happened. Does he think this is funny! *
After school, on of the coffee shop…"I can't believe this." Yukari exclaimed.
"I can't believe it either. What must I do?"
"I don't know. It seemed to me he thinks all of this is a game of sorts."
"That's what I'm afraid you'd say."
"But Hitomi, it looks that way."
"I know and that's what I'm afraid of." Hitomi said.
"We don't know this guy and I don't want him to hurt you. I'll go talk to Amano."
"No Yukari! You can't do that." Hitomi exclaimed holding Yukari's arm.
"Why not? Amano's his cousin. He will listen to him."
"I don't think so."
"Why not? He's living in Amano's house, he owes Amano."
"I know, but I don't want Amano to waste his time in this kind of problem."
"Hitomi, Amano's our friend. He'll help us as much as he can."
"But…"
"No buts!" Yukari insisted.
At Amano's house…
"I can't believe this!" Laughing his head off.
"This isn't funny Amano!" Yukari said.
"If you don't tell your cousin to stop I'll tell him myself!" Yukari shouted throwing Amano a pillow on the face.
"Come on Yukari. You don't expect Van to follow anything I said."
"He's your cousin and he owes you! He's living here, eating; he'll do anything to pay you back."
"But I think he'd rather leave here than follow anything you want me to say to him." Amano explained.
"Are you going to tell him or not?" threatening him with another pillow.
"Okay. I'll tell him but I'm telling you this now, don't expect him to follow anything…" before he could finish.
"Just shut up and tell him!" Yukari said.
"Can we leave now?" Hitomi asked nervously looking at the door. They are all sitting at the living room of the house.
"What's wrong?" Yukari asked.
"Van lives here Yukari and any minute now he might come in."
"Oh yeah! I forgot. We've got to go."
"Hitomi, Van is not what you think he is…" Amano said his face serious and she could here concern in his voice.
"No you're wrong he's exactly what I think he is."
"And what's that?" a voice from the door said. Hitomi couldn't help sucked in her breath as she looked at Van standing by the door.
"An arrogant, overconfident bastard." She answered. She walked towards him. * This got to stop! Don't show him you're afraid, Hitomi. He wants to play… well then let's give him that! You'll win the bet. You'll never fall for someone…again…* He blocked her way facing her.
"What's your hurry?" he asked stepping closer to her. *No Hitomi! You won't succumb in his tactics. This is his way to unnerve you. Well…it won't work this time! * She dared him by stepping even closer. Her eyes held his and their noses almost touching.
"I'm in a hurry because the last person I want to see obviously has shown up." She said and pushed him out of the way. Van was taken aback that he actually stumbled a bit. She left then.
Amano laughed, staring at Van's shocked face.
"What now, my dear cousin? It seems to me you've found your match." Van looked seriously at the door.
"I don't have a match. And she will never be a match." Amano laughed harder.
"Really? Well…then will find that out sooner of latter won't we?"
At school…
Then it all started the fight between Hitomi Kansaki and Van Fennel. All their classmates and schoolmates already knew about the bet. Even their classmates and other students started betting who will win but still many, mostly girls are angry with Hitomi because obviously Van is already busy on her to have time with other girls.
"Maybe you should stop this now Hitomi." Yukari got an angry snort from Hitomi.
"It's just that you're not like this Hitomi. You're not rude nor, you're insensitive. Since the bet you didn't give a damn about what others might think about you. You became rude at Van, I do know that he deserve it but sometimes, it seems too much…"
"Too much! Too much! It's never too much Yukari. He deserved every single thing I said to him! I won't let him get even Yukari never!" She said her voice hard she even slammed her hand against the table. The people around them looked. They are both sitting, facing each other at the cafeteria.
"But Hitomi…"
"He thinks too highly of himself as if he's a king…" she didn't finish. She stared fixedly at the table. * King…Van's a king. No! Stop it! He's not Van! He can never be Van! * She abruptly stood up and left, leaving Yukari calling her name.
At the Restroom (C.R)She's again staring at her reflection just like the first time she saw this new Van. She stared, looking at herself. She looked older actually she looked stress out. She hasn't slept that well since the bet started. Every time she saw Van she tried her best to get the last word. Even if he tried to irritate her with his nearness, she acts numb as if he didn't affect her but deep inside she carry every moment he walked close to her. Held every memory of his nearness, his closeness.
Sometimes it's driving her crazy. She wanted to reach for him, hugged him close to feel again the warmth that she always feels whenever he's close but she held back, held back by the thought that he isn't the Van she wants. No, this is someone she doesn't know…someone so strange to her. Someone who doesn't care about her but rather about some stupid bet.
* What's really going on? Who is he? Why can't I understand? * She pressed her hands against her head.
"Why can't you make me understand?" staring at herself. Then she heard someone talking heading towards the door. She immediately ran to one of the cubicle.
"I can't believe Van is actually wasting his time with that girl." She heard someone said. (1)
"I can't believe it either!" someone replied. (2)
"Well…he'll lose interest sooner or latter. She's not even beautiful she's common even pale at times." (1)
"He's just doing this because of the bet, so it won't last that long." (2)
"I already put my bet on Van. Only blinds could resist Van." (1) And then she heard them giggled.
"You're right about that but this girl Hitomi is quite insane! If I were her I would have taken advantage of Van!" (2)
"We'll just have to wait and Van will fall for us." Then laughter. She heard the door opened then closed.
She stared again at her stupid reflection. "She's not even beautiful she's common even pale at times." She stared… * Pale…common…you never think of yourself as beautiful before why would you start now? "He's just doing this because of the bet, so it won't last that long." *
"Because of the bet…" she whispered. * Van…why can't it be you Van. The same you Van… * She drew a deep breath then pushed her upcoming tears away.
"He can never be you Van, he can't." she whispered.
She walked out of the restroom.
"One thing that I hate about girls is that they think too much how they look." She turned rapidly and saw Van his back at the wall and his arms crossed. She immediately straightened. * Is this what you want Hitomi, to fight against him, to prove him wrong, for what purpose? What will you get afterwards? * Her shoulder slumped.
"For what?" she whispered to herself.
"What happened to your voice? You lost your nerve?" That made her straightened and looked at him. He laughed.
"Actually no. I just didn't expect a guy to stand by near a woman's cr. Move away Van. Many might get the impression that you're a pervert. We wouldn't want that would we?" her voice sarcastic then turned to leave.
"You'd be happy if they did right?"
"More than happy Van! I just might hold a party for it!" she shouted never stopping. She heard him laughed. Since the bet many of her classmates and of course schoolmates said that Van laughed more. * And his laugh is of amusement! *
"You won't change would you?" he shouted at her.
"Why would I? You're asking the wrong person here. Why don't you try to ask that to yourself, he just might answer!" she shouted back.
On the way home…"Hitomi!"
"Hey! Hitomi!" she turned and saw Amano running towards her. They started to walk together.
"Yukari told me what happened."
"I intend to say sorry but she said she had things to do so I didn't bother." She was staring at the street.
"I know. But she did have things to do. I saw her practicing her piano lessons."
"I see."
"Hitomi, I'll talk to Van." She turned to him.
"About what?"
"About the bet. I'll tell him to call it off."
"Why would you do that?"
"You've change Hitomi…" Amano said his voice full of concern.
"Change? I didn't…" he cut her off.
"You're not acting the way Hitomi would."
"And how would I act?"
"About the bet, you would have laughed about it and you would tell the guy to go find other girls to play with because you have more important matters to attend to." She didn't answer. * Maybe he's right. What if it was not Van, if it was some other guy? *
"See…maybe because it is Van and not some other guy?" Amano added. She didn't answer but continue walking along with him and her head bowed thinking.
"Hitomi, Is it Van? Is it because of Van you're acting this way? Is it because you know him more than we know?" she looked at him shocked.
"Where did you get that idea?" she said looking away.
"You never did know how to lie."
"Amano, listen to me. I'm acting this way because I do hate your cousin…" he cut her of again.
"You've change. Just listen to yourself, Hitomi. You don't hate people, you sometimes don't care about them but you never hate them."
"Well…this is different. I hate him. He thinks too highly of himself and I hate it."
"Hitomi…"
"Please Amano, I don't want to talk about him."
"If that's what you want." Silence reigned. They walked in silence until Amano said.
"Next week is the summer vacation. I've already arranged the car we're riding. I'll just stop by at your house."
"I'm sorry Amano but I've decided not to go."
"No. You're coming I'll wait for you in front of your house." Then he left.
"I don't want to come." she whispered.
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