Hiead was back to his normal self. He was hostile to everyone and he didn't trust anyone because of the fear of being betrayed again. The great manifestation over his anger at Zero was remarkably seen by every candidate at GOA. No one though, dared to ask Hiead why. Each time Zero tried to approach Hiead, he would only get cold answers or no answer at all. Zero was obviously hurt by this. His eyes could prove this. His eyes were always distended due to his tears that seemed to never stop falling down from his eyes. Zero didn't have the mood to talk about what happened. He always tried to ease the pain, hoping that it'll stop.
His sorrow over his failed relationship had to stop. It had to, specially now, because he had to engage in serious trainings for him to be able to get good results for the test run of the Pro-Ings. If not, then he couldn't become a pilot.
Clay, Sawamura, Yamagi and the others tried to cheer him up but it was of no use. Zero's training results were going down the drain. Hiead didn't even care about what had been happening to his ex-lover. No matter how much his heart wants to be near Zero, his pride wouldn't let him. For a conclusion, Zero was hopeless about getting Hiead back.
Kizna, Zero's technician talked to him. Zero had an answer for her questions but that would only be yes, no, I don't know. Kizna had to condition Zero for the next test run. She knew how important that test run was for Zero. It was a test run out of Zion, after all. And good results would mean that Zero could possibly a pilot someday.
"Zero!!! Arghhh!!!" Kizna slapped Zero in the face.
"Ow!!! What was that for?!" Zero pouted and carefully caressed his cheek.
"Look at you! It's like you don't want to become a pilot anymore! Damn it. You're not the Zero I once knew!" Kizna let out a sigh.
"I'll be fine. I'll get the right grade for the test run." Forcing out a smile, Zero looked away.
"Right grade?! YOU'RE NOT ZERO!!! Zero's aspiring to get the HIGHEST grade!!!" Kizna banged both her hands on the table.
"Oh yeah. I am going to be the highest alright!" Zero showed a fake happy and energetic expression to Kizna.
'Calling all candidates...' The announcement went on.
"Look, Zero... Take care of yourself. This is no ordinary test run it's outside Zion... Too dangerous." Kizna worriedly eyed Zero.
"Uh-huh! I'll be fine!" Zero ran with his fake happy face on.
....
....
Zero walked to the Pro-Ing and stared at it for a few minutes. 'Please, help me. I might not be in the right state to perform a test run, but I need guidance.'
"Hey, 88." Instructor Azuma called out.
"Sir!"
"Are you sure you're going to push through this test run?"
"Am 100 sure, sir!"
Kizna could see Zero from afar. She saw Zero hiding his emotions from everyone.
"Hey, Kizna, is everything fixed?"
"Yeah." Kizna walked away. "Take care of yourself." She simply said as she continued to walk towards the control room.
"Hai hai!!!" Zero hopped in the Pro-Ing.
Hiead, on the other hand kept on observing Zero. By the time that he saw Zero smiling again, he felt relieved and somehow a lot more betrayed. He was thinking how Zero could easily recover from what had happened. It was now clear to him that Zero never loved him... that Zero just wanted to prove that he's better.
"You'll see, Zero Enna." Hiead slammed his fists over the Pro-Ing.
Ikhny hurriedly approached her partner. "Hiead, what's wrong?"
"Shut up and ready my pro-ing." Hiead hopped in fast.
Ikhny, with a disappointed look on her face proceeded to the control room.
The pro-ings were launched. Though, the mission was just to beat another pro-ing, the danger of encountering victims was still at high range. The candidates have to be extra careful of not getting too far from Zion or a victim may spot them.
Hiead didn't waste any of his time he beat up almost everyone on his way to find Zero.
Zero on the other hand didn't really fight any candidate; he blocked their attacks but didn't give any heavy blows to his opponents. Kizna ignored Zero's weird actions, what was important was he's safe.
'Victim spotted!' The alarm sounded again and again. Kizna got so nervous. "Zero!!! Get out of there!"
All of the other candidates obeyed orders and went back. Hiead though, was persistent of looking around for Zero.
"Hiead!!! Come back, please!" Ikhny called out almost pulling the speaker off.
Hiead ignored this. He stopped and viewed the place in search for Zero. Then he stopped when all of a sudden, a rush of memories came sliding into his mind. Hiead held his head in pain. The tension was killing him. The memories were of Zero and him. His stream of thoughts was so fast that he couldn't exactly recognize the details. All he knew was Zero was certainly a part of his sudden reminisce of events. But why was he thinking of such things? Something wrong is happening.
Hiead speeded up and ignored every sound coming from the speakers. He needed to see Zero. He needed to see him not because he wanted to prove that he's better but rather, he wanted to be sure that Zero was safe.
....
....
On the other hand, Zero stared blankly over the open distance in front of him. It was again, the sapphire layers and the twinkle of stars that cheered him up. Zero smiled and turned the speaker off. He was so out of his mind that he closed his eyes, not knowing that the danger of being killed by a victim draws near.
....
Kizna was called the instructor's attention. "Sir!!! There are two candidates left outside! We have to rescue them!"
"I know. The Pilots are about to launch in a few seconds." The instructor pretended that he calmed but deep down he was already worried about the two candidates.
....
'I love you, Hiead...' Zero opened his eyes. A victim stood in front of him. It was prepared to shoot him.
This was the time that Hiead spotted Zero.
"Zero!!!" Hiead couldn't hide his fear of losing Zero.
His attempt of saving Zero failed. Zero got hit before he could even shoot the victim. And at this time, the pilots came to rescue the two.
Back in GOA, was Zero who had been bleeding and unconscious. Hiead followed worriedly behind.
"I'm sorry, but you cannot come in." The woman warned Hiead.
He couldn't do anything now. All he had to do was wait and hope that Zero could be saved.
Hiead punched the wall several times. He blamed himself for what had happened to Zero. It was his fault why Zero was not in the mood for trainings... why Zero didn't get enough sleep or why Zero didn't want to eat. All these summed up to Zero's life being endangered. Closing his eyes, he remembered how Zero would happily handle things even though he was sad inside. He remembered Zero's smile over his problems. But the thing that brought distinct pain in Hiead's heart was reminiscing Zero's I love you's. Those words meant so much to him. That's because, those words were from the person he loved.
Finally, the lady came out telling Hiead that Zero's condition was secured. Hiead was relieved. He gently opened the door and looked at Zero. He was sleeping. Bandages covered his forehead and his chest. Ventilators were the ones to give life to him. Hiead felt hurt of seeing this. It was only in his memory that he could see Zero smile. The happy-go-lucky image of him disappeared. Zero was pale and somehow striving to catch his breath. Hiead's heart was stabbed little by little as he listened to Zero's breathing.
'I'm sorry, Zero...' He lightly touched Zero's hand that had tubes connected to it. He tried not to cry. To him, it was a sign of weakness. He had to be strong.
A slight movement came from Zero's hand. His eyes slowly opened. At first, he didn't recognize the person beside him. But on further observation, he did. "H...Hiead?"
Hiead looked up at Zero. His hands moved from the grasp of Zero's hand to his face. "I'm sorry, Zero."
"It's not your fault." Zero let out a short breath then continued, "I'm just such a loser."
"No. I am the loser. I shouldn't have—"
"Hiead, please..."
"It's the truth." Hiead admitted what he had done.
"Don't blame yourself..."
"I hate myself for hurting you. I've always watched you but I never thought I'd end up hurting you. I feel so sick of my self-centered thoughts. I feel stupid when I couldn't even tell you my feelings. I can't understand things and I can't understand myself. I'm the loser. Such a stupid loser."
"Don't say that... please. I made mistakes too. I admit, I did plan on fooling you... and I'm very sorry."
"..."
"I'm just afraid. So afraid that I might end up hurt again. I'm sorry if I thought of things that way."
"I know how you feel.""Are
you still..." Zero's hand was shivering but still, he was
determined to hold the other's hand. "...Going to leave
me?"
Hiead kissed Zero in the cheek. "I don't know how
to."
"If you knew... would you?"
"Listen... You
taught me a lot of things... and I'm thankful."
Zero's
eyes were tearing up again. "Hiead..."
"You taught me how to love... But you never taught me how to let go. Thank you, Zero."
Zero stared at Hiead. He tried to stop his tears from falling but failed, eventually. "Thank you, Hiead. I love you so much."
Hiead wiped the tears of his lover's face flimsily with his fingers. "So I guess we can't do our fun for a couple of weeks, ne?" Hiead managed to tease the injured boy.
"You and your dirty mind!" He pulled off Hiead's hand from his face. "Ow. Damn!"
"Correction, very very very dirty mind." Hiead smirked.
"Gah! Do you even love me?!!" Zero went on with his cute pout.
"Correction..."
Zero waited for Hiead's abrupt alteration.
"I don't just love you. I love you so FUCKIN' much." Hiead's fingers ran frivolously over Zero's bandaged chest.
"Pervert!"
"Ahaha! Get well soon, or I'll do it you in your current condition."
Zero blushed and looked away. "Even with the cameras on?"
"Yeah, even with the cameras on."
"Even with the doors unlocked?"
"Uhuh, even with the doors unlocked."
"Naughty."
"So I guess another not so normal night would pass again, ne?"
"Not so normal yet so perfect, because I'm with you."
'I love you, Rei Enna.' Hiead thought to himself.
OWARI
AHAHAHA. That wasn't really much of a good ending, is it? But it's better than a tragic ending!!! Goodbye for now. Thanks for the reviews, y'all.