Nah…when was the last time I updated? Anyway… Thanks… Italics are flashbacks…
Itsumo: A Thousand Paper Cranes
Chapter Four: Revelations I
Ren didn't know for how long he sat on that rock. He didn't notice that everything was slowly succumbing into darkness. He didn't feel the rain that started to drench his whole body. He barely heard the violent rustle of trees, or the angry clash of the waters against the rocks of the once peaceful creek.
He was cold. He was shivering. He didn't care. Everything was such a blur. All but one thought refused to enter his mind….
Clogging his senses… Constantly reminding him of his predicament… Of what he had lost…
He had lost Pirika. He lost the girl he loved more than his life.
And he was there to appease the pain he felt inside… To cast everything to the angry waters of the creek…
As they said, only waters can extinguish the ignited fire.
Ren stayed there all night, his blank eyes merely staring at the creek that had regained its breathtaking beauty as the storm quieted down. Once again, everything was peaceful and quiet. Once again, he felt alone.
He looked up as the first light of the morning dawned. He smiled bitterly. Finally, after all these years, he had witnessed his first sunrise in the creek, something he wanted to do once he came back. And his waiting did not fail him. It was indeed breathtaking. Yet the beautiful scenery did not do much to soothe the pain he felt inside.
Ren stood, and wiped his now muddy clothes. He sighed, and with one last look at the creek, he walked away.
The creek had served its purpose.
"I already know what to wish for." Pirika whispered as she leaned against Ren's shoulder. The two of them had spent a picnic in the creek, and were now resting.
"What is it?" Ren asked as he gently wrapped his arms around the smaller girl for support.
"I would wish that we would always be together… "
"You don't have to wish for that, baka…"
Pirika smiled. "Promise?" She stuck up her little finger.
"I promise." Ren replied, joining their little fingers together.
Pirika stood outside her apartment, her hands shaking from the cold, and from the situation she had confronted earlier. Her whole body was wet from the heavy rain that fell after she left the creek.
Even the weather didn't cooperate with her.
She took her key from her handbag, and with one turn, she got in. She hurriedly closed the door. Pirika knelt down and cried.
Pirika knew she should have stayed away from that creek. From the very start, it brought her nothing but pain. Then there was the girl who asked her to fold a paper crane, the perfect timing for Ren to enter the scene. Then the talk…
I didn't break any promise, Pirika… That's why I came back… I came back to keep it… I've always loved you, Pirika. I still do. I will still.
Was Lady Luck truly mad at her or something? Why did everything happen all at once tonight? Why did she have to confront her past tonight?
She wasn't ready. She didn't know if she would still be.
Everything happened so fast. A bit too fast… They weren't supposed to talk yet! And to say, Ren merely arrived this morning…
More things could still happen…
More times like this would still happen…
Pirika was tired. Too tired of crying. Too tired of pain. Too tired of promises.
She was just too tired of everything.
She just wished that this month would be over.
Pirika fell asleep wishing that this were just a dream, a nightmare, that tomorrow, when she woke up; everything would be the same again.
As dawn approached, words were unconsciously muttered; betraying a mask of indifference, revealing what was truly inside.
"I love you too…"
"Can I open my eyes now?"
"No, not yet."
"Ren!"
Ren smiled. "Just a few more minutes, Pirika."
Silence.
"How about now?"
"You're so noisy, do you know that?" Ren drearily replied. He took Pirika's hands and led her towards the hill. He held her waist.
Pirika giggled.
"What's the problem?"
"That tickles…"
Ren rolled his eyes. He then held her tight and whispered close to her ears. "Now, at the count of three, I want you to open your eyes… One… Two… Three…"
Pirika gasped. Before her was the most beautiful scenery ever. They stood on top of a hill, overlooking rivers and trees, the beauty of the sun slowly uncovering everything from the darkness. "It's… beautiful…"
"The first of the many sunrise we'll watch together." Ren replied as he sat on the ground. He flashed a warm smile on her. "Happy 15th birthday, Pirika."
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"
A thundering voice greeted the dark-haired man's ears the moment he stepped into the warm apartment.
A furious man met his gaze later. "I asked you a question, Tao. Where the hell have you been?"
Ren cocked a smile at the irate man. "Are you my mother?"
"NO!"
"Are you even my sister?"
"NO!"
"And obviously," A twisted smile once again appeared on his face. "You're not my father. So why are you even asking?"
"Damn you!" Horo-Horo replied, visibly shaking Ren in anger. "Did you know how many times your sister called me last night? Did you know what she told me each damning call she made? THAT I SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR YOU! And you have the nerve not to come home last night!"
Ren rolled his eyes. So what if his sister called last night?
"ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?"
"Are you even listening to me?" A 16-year old Pirika angrily demanded, as she turned sideways to face him. "What's the matter with you? Have you decided to become a I-don't-care-bastard once again?"
Ren turned to face her angry blue eyes. "What did I do now?"
"Nothing!" Pirika replied. "That's what you did! Nothing! I've been talking to you for who knows when and I got no damn reaction from you… Not even a nod, a shake of the head… Nothing!"
"Well, what am I supposed to say?"
Pirika grunted, turning to leave him.
"Oh, damn it." Ren cursed as he grabbed Pirika's arm. "Wait."
"What do you want now?" Pirika demanded. "And let go of me! You're hurting me!"
"Not until you hear what I'm supposed to say." His grip remained firm on the girl. "I'm sick. I'm stupid. I'm crazy. I didn't know what to feel!"
"Do you need to see a psychiatrist?" Pirika warily asked.
"No! Will you please shut up for a minute?" That prompted Pirika to silence. She did nothing but to glare back at him. With a sigh, Ren released the girl. His gaze softened as well. "Pirika… I just did the most stupid thing in my life…"
Silence. Amber eyes locked with sea-blue.
"I think… I think I'm falling in love with you…" He stammered before claiming the girl's mouth, and holding her firmly against his.
"I guess that makes us both stupid then."
"Ren! Ren!" This time Horo-Horo was violently shaking him. "Man! Are you okay?"
"Of course, I am." Ren replied, as he moved away from Horo-Horo. Damn it. Just the perfect time for him to totally lost control of the situation.
Horo-Horo sighed, sitting on the couch. He looked once more at Ren. "You blacked out on me, man. What the hell is wrong?"
Ren was silent. I don't really know.
"Look, I don't really know why, what, how. I just had the feeling that something's not right here. Your engagement, you coming here all of a sudden, your sister's calls… If you won't tell us, we'll find out Ren… We'll find out."
"What's the matter here?" Tamao appeared. She looked at one face to the other. "Oh my god, Ren. What happened to you? Better take a shower and change into warm clothes before you get sick." She moved towards the couch and pecked Horo-Horo's cheek, making the man blush. "Breakfast is in the kitchen."
"Thanks, Tamao. I surely need a shower and some sleep." Ren looked at Horo-Horo. "I talked to Pirika last night… At the park…"
With that he was gone.
Horo-Horo's mind raced. Ren was at the park talking to Pirika all night? Now that was something.
"Now, tell me again why we have to keep everything a secret." Pirika asked, as she leaned on Ren's arms.
"Because one, your brother would kill me, or do even worse things than that once he found out. You don't want me dead, do you?"
Pirika gently laughed.
"Two… My sister… She'll get thrilled and all that… Shopping… Phone calls… You know, and you might die in the process."
"Someday I'll tell her you told me that."
"Third, I wanted to keep you for myself…" Ren nuzzled Pirika's hair. "At least this time."
Pirika smiled. "I never wanted a jealous overprotective boyfriend, Ren…"
And the last? I wanted to protect you, Pirika. I wanted to keep you away from my family…
Yep… Ren's family had something to do with the plot… Yaay! I'm revealing the events one by one! Next post, Revelations II, last part of the flashbacks… Hopefully… Then I'll go on with the story… Present time…
Don't forget to review. Don't ask me when the next post is, hopefully, before Christmas. There are so many things to do. I'm actually finishing this chapter midnight of Dec 9, that is, morning of Dec. 10.
Next post for Entrapment… Next week, after my finals. Yep… I'm having my finals so just pray for my soul. Amen.