/ Chapter 17 /

" Leave me alone!"

" I will... if you tell me what's wrong!"

" You wanna know what's wrong? I tell you what's wrong! Everything's wrong! I'm not suppose to be here right now!"

" Then why you agree to come in the first place?"

" I... I... I come here because I wanna know what's it like to live in Perth!" Darien knew Serena was hiding something still. He could sense her nervousness, but was gone the minute she spoke again. " Why do you even care?"

" I care because I like you! And don't you say I can't because I already have!" As soon as the word left him, Darien wanted to crying out loud. He didn't mean to confess it just like that, nor did he meant to gain everyone in the school campass their attention, not to mention yelling at her the second times today. He, however, didn't care them all. All he cared was to calm himself down, before opened his mouth and added silently. " Is it that hard to tell the truth?"

" ..."

" I can help you, only if you allow me to."

" ..."

" I'll keep your serect, no matter what it is."

" ..."

" You have my words, and please. Say something. Anything!" Darien, by now plead Serena to speak. No matter if it was just only a word. Yet the more the encouragement he gave, the more the silent she became, and Darien was getting worrier by minutes. He soon was relieved when he heard a soft 'can we discuss this somewhere?', then he answered her by dragging her somewhere private.

Although he had a cool and calm shown on his face, he, as the matter of fact, was a nervous wreck inside because he knew today, today was the day he would have his questions all answered. It seemed like hours later, when Serena finally done with her story. There seemed to have no more hiding from Darien, because she had told him everything he wanted or needed to know, including her ex boyfriend broke up with her without a real reason, how she couldn't let go of her sad feeling as well as the slap he had given her days ago.

" I know he's lying when he told me he doesn't... doesn't love me anymore that night. He... he finished our relationship by saying: 'how can this be love if there's no trust in us?' [The trust was: Why don't you trust me when I want to break-up with you] Then... then the next day, he left before i could apologised..." Serena, then looked up directly at Darien, with her puffy eyes, before continued saying. " I... I don't know why it's hurt so much when you slapped me that day. The impact was much more deeper than the night he broke up with me... everything went blur after that. Do... do you think my heart has changed?"

" No!!" Darien almost yelled, but was able to refrained himself from doing so. " No, I wouldn't be thinking that, but I'll say it's time to move on."

" Do you think so too?"

Darien nodded in return, and Serena, for the first time, gave him a real smile. Serena and Darien were officially an item after that incident. Everyone was happy after hearing the news, even their parents, who too agreed that it was the time for Serena to move on after learning the story. Everything went perfectly smooth until...

Serena's mother became very unusual ever since she came home from her shopping spree. She had talked less, and people often caught her drifting in her own thoughts, yet she wouldn't tell what had changed her so dramatically. They only knew she shook her head hopelessly, and couldn't stop sighing as the relationship between her daughter and Darien became closer each day. One morning after the children left to school, Aunt Gaia took the chance to force her friend to spill the beans for she had had enough of her odd attitudes.

" She has the right to know."

" ..."

" You HAVE to tell her, and I know you know it."

" But... does it wise to let her know?"

" What are you saying? Of course it's wise! They are still best friends, are they not?"

" Yeah, but..."

" There's no buts, Serenity. She's got to know it."

" I don't know..."

" LISTEN, SERENITY! It will be sooner or later when she finds out about that."

" ..."

" Serenity--"

" I have to think about it."

" No. You've got to tell her, Serenity. Do you hear me?"

" I'll tell her tomorrow."

" No, you will tell her when she gets home. Today. Right Away."

/ End of Chapter 17 /

FALLEN-NIGHT: Yup, another cliff-hanger. SO what do you think? Am I getting better or getting worse? So-so? Is that really hard to read or understand? Hmm... better not think about it anymore, but I ought to know. =) I know my English isn't as good as everyone else in , but hey, I'm still working on it. Please forgive me if some doesn't make sense for you, or if you spot my mistakes, but I'll be appreciated if you can tell me, so I can learn from my mistakes. Thank you very much. And I also have to thank all of you who have read and review my stories, as well as the people who are waiting patiently for the next chapters. Oh, one last thing before conclude my er... 'nagging'. Please, please send me some feedback. Both reviews and flames are accepted.