To Love... or Not?
By Satosh1
Chapter 3: Heartbreak
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It was in the afternoon.
The nurse inspected Rei's injuries and tended to them, and then she instructed Shinji to place her onto a nearby bed, in which he did. Shinji patted her wrinkled clothing to make her more comfortable. One of his fingers stroked Rei's abdomen unintentionally, and he flinched back in shame. A chuckle was heard throughout the room. He looked back, only to see the nurse laughing inexplicably. Shinji's face reddened as he looked down to the floor in embarrassment for awhile, and until he heard a familiar voice of quiet from near the bed.
"...Ikari..."
Rei had regained consciousness, though she still felt a bit muddled. She turned her head to glance at Shinji. The bump on her cheek formed larger than before. He looked at her with concern, and instructed her to rest a little more. Rei acknowledged by engaging in a quiet slumber. She came fast asleep, having felt contented by Shinji's presence.
Shinji admired the beautiful blue-haired stillness. He glanced at her for quite a time. And then, Shinji held her hand apologetically and expressed his regrets of having her become so unsightly and afflicted, by the ever so easily intimidated Asuka. Reassured, Shinji left out of the nurse's office to tend to other matters.
"Asuka... why would you do something like this?"
Back within the class of 2-A.
All the other students left for home, signaled by the recent bell. Asuka had slumped onto the ground, never caring if her clothes would dirty. Rei's statement had gotten the worst in her. She regretted what she had done.
"That... Rei... she pisses me off so badly...""Now Shinji's caring for her... and not me..."
"Why did I do something so stupid..."
"There's no way in hell he's going to give me another chance now..."
Suddenly, footsteps could be heard behind the door. Louder and louder it approached, and then someone entered the room.
"Asuka?"
She immediately recognized the voice to be of Shinji's. She only stared onto the floor, not knowing what to say. Shinji approached her gradually, kneeling down beside of her. He didn't speak a word as he inched closer to Asuka, carefully laying his arms around her waist to reassure her that their relationship hasn't ended. Asuka turned her head to his face, taken away by the unexpected. She gave a solemn smile with a blissful feeling that filled her soul entirely. Asuka wrapped her arms around his neck, lovingly. She was glad to have Shinji with her again.
Shinji whispered in her ear, "Don't be so jealous next time, Asuka."
Asuka accepted Shinji's request with a nod. She kissed Shinji on the cheek, and his face filled with a deep crimson shade at its touch. They both stood up from the floor and walked towards the window, gazing into the horizon while they held each other. They stayed the same for a time. It came to be the happiest day of their lives, together.
Rei left the nurse's office, informed to leave by the nurse for the bell had already rung. Her bruise was still apparent but otherwise she herself felt fine. Besides wondering where Shinji had went, she remembered leaving her bag within the classroom, and decided to acquire it before leaving. Rei approached the door of class 2-A with the signature monotone expression she has always put on. Familiar voices caught her hearing, in which to her, had seemed to come from inside. She curiously glanced through the door window. Asuka and Shinji came to her view. Immediately, feelings of unknown became of her. She tried to figure out these feelings.
"What... what are these... feelings...?"
"These are... feelings of... disdain..."
Rei understood. She recognized the same emotions, the same feelings, the same... hatred... she had when she first noticed them together. Maybe only towards Asuka, or maybe towards Shinji. She felt the feelings of jealousy, envy, betrayal, and of hate, for the first time.
Another emotion came unto, and she gasped, while witnessing the two kissing each other. Both of them were smiling. Rei clutched her chest with a slight whimper, as they did.
"My... my heart aches...?"
"This is a common notion I have heard of before..."
"Is this... my heart... breaking?"
She placed her other hand onto the window, still gazing at the couple in front of her. Her eyes gave tears. Tears of sadness, or tears of regret? She could not decide. Maybe it is of both? These feelings that she could once hold back without difficulty, had ultimately overwhelmed her. It grasped her in a powerful hold, and no matter how much she struggled, she couldn't be free of it.
"Ikari... do I need you this much...?" Her voice had noticeably been weakened. She calmly whispered to herself of only one word. "Yes..."
Still clutching onto her chest, she slowly opened the door and stepped into the classroom. Asuka and Shinji watched her approach. Rei came close to him, her intentions becoming ever more clear to herself. She wanted to pour these emotions to him. To tell him these feelings of true. She wanted to let him know, before it was too late. She was unsuccessful.
Rei had fainted onto the floor.
"AYANAMI!"
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to be continued...