Chapter 2: Reality Bites

Van was stupefied. Yes, they were drunk, unaware of their actions, vulnerable to doing stupid things. But to treat what happened like an accident...would that be the best way to deal with it?

Perhaps.

However, given it was the most foolish mistake they've ever done in their entire life, almost next to impossible if only they were in their sane minds- they still couldn't ignore the fact that it had happened to the both of them, who had nothing but a plain platonic relationship. That would always be at the back of their minds. At least for him.

Even though he couldn't recall it clearly, the tangible evidence was there, shouting right before their eyes. They were both naked, their clothes scattered almost in every corner of his room, undeniably giving the impression that they did the unthinkable just hours ago.

"We can't pretend it didn't happen..." he muttered almost to himself, his hands cupping his aching head. What he wouldn't give just to wake up from this seeming nightmare.

Hitomi's eyes snapped back at him. "Damn it, Van! What do you want me to do huh? It's not as if you already impregnated me!"

"But what if I did? It's a common possibility, Hitomi," Van said anxiously, running his fingers through his raven hair in sheer desperation.

"No, Van!" It took all Hitomi's effort to restrain her hands from banging Van's head against the wall. 'Kami, give me the strength not to murder this person in front of me,' she silently prayed. Her patience with Van was quickly evaporating into thin air.

"Don't tell me you're going to abort our baby! I won't allow you! Not a chance!" Van shot back in a harsh tone. He felt a sudden surge of anger just thinking about it.

"Goodness, Van! What's got into you? You're exaggerating, like I'm not the only girl you've---"

"I don't remember using any protection....." Van tersely interjected.

With that remark, Hitomi found herself staring blankly at him, looking as if she would lose her sanity any minute. Such is the irony of her so-called life. She lost her most valued virginity not to her boyfriend, but to her best friend - of all people who ever walked on Earth! Her quote unquote beliefs and principles had gone straight into the waste bin. What would Dilly do to her once this came to his knowledge? The mere possibilities caused goose bumps to violently pop out in her skin. And to make matters even worse, she was facing the possibility of one situation she herself loathed and never imagined dealing with ----a teenage mother!

"Why did this have to happen, Van? Why me? I've done nothing wrong to deserve this!"

Hitomi cried in such helplessness that Van wanted to bury himself alive. If only he could undo everything, if only he hadn't invited her into his bedroom, if only he hadn't let himself get so drunk...if only.....

Just then, a sudden knocking on the door jolted them both from their wandering thoughts. Warning bells started ringing in their minds as they moved with terrifying panic unbeknownst to them. Van hurriedly tried to find his boxer shorts amidst all the mess scattered on the floor. Hitomi abruptly buried herself in the bed, pulled the linen sheet up to her head, and hoped against hope that she would stay unnoticed.

With only a second later, the door revealed whoever was behind it.

"Van, Hitomi's parents are----" Van's mother, Varie, was taken aback. Her eyes widened simultaneously with her mouth in utter shock and disbelief. Who wouldn't be when you found your all grown-up son in a very uncompromising situation---completely adorned with nothing but his birthday suit while he crawled on the carpeted floor, his head under the bed? And what was that piece of cloth hanging by his study table? Was that a brassiere?

"W -what's the meaning of this, Van?"

Van cursed silently, blaming the fates for his mom's perfect timing. "Just great! My misfortunes are far from over," he mumbled sarcastically.

In slow motion, he pulled his head reluctantly from under the bed and readied himself to face his sorrowful humiliation from the eyes of his own mother. His hands moved frantically, grabbing the first piece of material to cover his lower half and willed himself to stand up.

"Morning, Mom! What's up?" he greeted cheerfully, putting on his most adorable smile.

Van witnessed the vein that ticked in his mother's jaw; her sweet face transformed into that of a tigress. He knew at that minute that his attempts of escaping his mother's wrath were futile. He knew better than to think he could get away that easy.

There was nothing he could do but to close his eyes and wait for the inevitable, as he started his silent countdown.

'Three....'

"Van, I will ask you one more time."

'Two.....'

"And you better give me a good answer this time."

'One.....'

"Tell-me-the-meaning-of-this!!! Van Slanzar Fanel!" Varie shouted at the top of her lungs, banging the door closed behind her and shaking the entire house. The feigned innocence in Van's voice caused her calm nerves to turn into a building anger. Not ever would she tolerate this façade of nonchalance coming from her son, who was obviously desperate to hide his illicit act.

Van took a step back. He was getting scared with every passing second, never had he seen his mother this mad. Her eyes were blazing with unrelenting fury. "Mom, please calm down.....You'll wake the whole neighborhood," his voice pleaded, as he continued on stepping backwards while his mother was taking steps towards him.

"I won't calm down until you answer my question, Van!" Varie's eyes were in slits. "And you, young lady, whoever you are come out now before I pull you out from that bed!"

From under the sheets, Hitomi let out a gasp of horror. She thought she would be spared the same agony and humiliation Van was gravely suffering at the moment. 'Now Hitomi, you can do this. Just explain to Van's mother everything.' Hitomi tried desperately to psych herself. Gathering all her courage, she removed the sheet from her face, settled it to her chest, and moved herself up.

"H–hitomi?" Varie was shocked.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Varie," Hitomi whispered, her head bowed. She couldn't meet her eyes.

"Hitomi, I didn't think you and Van were---"

"We're not, Mom," Van cut in. He was cornered between the foot of the bed and his mother.

"Shut up, Van, Hitomi is the one I'm asking right now," Varie spoke with an angry voice, her gaze not leaving Hitomi.

"We got drunk, Aunt Varie, a-and we.....didn't know what we did 'til we woke up this morning," Hitomi explained.

Varie heaved a deep breath, trying to calm the anger that had burst a while ago. "Do you know the consequences and complications of this?" she asked both of them.

"W-we didn't intend this to happen, Aunt Varie."

Varie sighed. "Your parents are looking for you, Hitomi. They were worried when you didn't go home last night."

Hitmi's eyes widened. "My parents?"

"Yes, and they're downstairs."

"How am I going to face them?" Hitomi asked, face filled with deep worry.

"Hurry up and get dressed. We will discuss what we're going to do about this matter when both you and Van are decent enough," Varie said in dismissal. She turned around and started walking towards the door.

Then, as if remembering something, she looked back.

"Van, get rid of that baseball glove you're holding. It's pretty old and dirty. Buy a new one if you must."

Van looked down in embarrassment. Hitomi couldn't help the little smile that tugged her lips in spite of herself, as she shifted her gaze to Van and noticed for the first time how ridiculous he looked with the said baseball glove.

"What!!!!!!" Natsumi Kanzaki, Hitomi's mother, asked in absolute shock and alarm, which made her quickly spring up from her seat. Yuuji Kanzaki remained seated and didn't say a word, his face void of any expression. Varie and Goau Fanel stayed silent.

Van and Hitomi were sitting in the living room with their parents, their face cast downwards. They had just finished explaining to the four people in front of them what had happened last night and what they'd found out this morning in a subtle, careful manner, wishing their parents would take it lightly. To no avail.

"I'm sorry, Mom, Dad," Hitomi apologized, her voice low. Tears were brimming her eyes.

"You disappoint us, Hitomi. We thought you were responsible enough not to engage in something like this," Yuuji Kanzaki said in a calm tone, but Hitomi instinctively knew he was just trying to control his anger.

"I didn't make this choice, Dad. Everything that happened was way out of my control. We were drunk....."

"What if you become pregnant?" Her mother asked worriedly.

"Mom....."

"We can't let you get pregnant without a husband, Hitomi," her father said with gritted teeth. Then, turning his face towards Van and his parents, "You will marry my daughter, Van, and I won't take no for an answer."

"Wait a minute, Yuuji," Van's mother interceded. "Don't you think they're too young for marriage? They're still just children for goodness sake. They haven't even finished high school yet."

"They have to suffer the consequences of their actions, "Mr. Kanzaki replied sternly. Then he added rather more seriously, "I don't want our family's long time friendship broken by your refusal, Varie."

A long deafening silence enveloped the four corners of the living room. Van's father finally spoke up.

"Van will marry Hitomi, Yuuji, whether he likes it or not. The wedding will be set as soon as possible," Goau Fanel said quietly.

"Goau....." Varie whispered. Looking at her husband's serious face, she knew he had already made the decision and there was nothing she could do about it.

"Its settled then," Yuuji answered, his voice cold and calculating.

Van and Hitomi just sat there, their expressions petrified.

A/n: Things are getting pretty tough for both Van and Hitomi eh? Well, more are in store for them in the coming chapters! Though, sad to say, chapter three will be out maybe in the last week of this month 'coz I need to buy time to study for my forthcoming exams (--;) Gomen ne minna, but I promise chapter three will be worth the long wait ! Now, please don't forget to review and tell me what you think folks! Ja ne!!!

Disclaimer: Don't own Escaflowne

Coming Soon: Chapter Three: Breaking Up is Hard to Do