i don't own Beyblade

UNREQUITED LOVE...


The clear small body of the pond looked so beautiful.

There were tiny lilies beside gigantic lily pads.

There were the gold and silver fishes that swam underneath.

A few water grass stuck out of the surface and it made everything about this pond so striking.

So resplendent I felt like crying.

But I lowered my head to calm myself down, clutching the red jacket on my lap.

I rested on a boulder larger than the most rocks that encircled the pond.

It gave me a better view.

The sun's light reflected all around, towards me.

I was so caught up in trance staring at the pond that I wasn't aware of anyone arriving.

"Hilary?"

I broke my daze as I quickly tilted my head up.

I followed the voice to my right, digging the jacket deeper onto my lap.

I don't know, but was that really Tyson?

My eyes witnessed a different sight of him.

In the past years of trying to train this guy's ass, I was surprise at what I saw.

Usually, he whined like a baby and ate like a pig.

He had even looked kiddish himself when I argued with him, especially when his face turned purple.

I chuckled at the thought.

From the past few years that I trained his ass, he had looked nothing but a baby to me.

But now...

He looked...

Different.

Like he had changed dramatically.

And I mean dramatically.

His navy blue hair seemed to cover his face and that stupid hat of his was on.

His large yellow shirt was—no kidding! —almost the size of the huge red jacket I clutch on my lap.

His figure seemed...

Mature.

His fingerless dark blue gloved hands were on his back.

I guess he did have back pains.

But that look on his face was no different from the look on my face.

Had Tyson worked out of something?

I hardly see him without a jacket and seeing as I now did, he looked like he's got Rei's muscles.

Chuckle

I couldn't help staring at him.

But I don't think he'd stared at me more than I stared at him.

The emotion on our face was equally surprise and dumbfounded.

All we did was...

Stared!

For who knows how long!

Like I'm seeing a whole new Tyson while he's looking at a whole new Hilary.

There was nothing stopping us from gazing at each other.

There was nothing in the world that could make me stop looking at him.

There was nothing between us that could snap my thoughts about him.

Well...

Except Tyson, of course.

Our gaze snapped back to reality when he chuckled, placed a hand behind his head, and looked away.

As if this is some kind of joke.

But I noted the neurotic and timid tone in his chuckle and I hinted this as a first good sign of our conversation.

I guess Tyson isn't use to staring at girls—like me—for a long period of time—or seconds.

It made me feel sad, so a I turned and gazed at the pond's surface again, thinking hard.

Both my arms were wrapped around the jacket.

Everything was quiet, silent.

I watched those gold and silver fish twirl around in circle, as if looking for something.

Looking for a hint.

Searching for it real hard.

Ripples were created beside the green lily pads and their pink buds.

One fish bob its head out to catch this air I breathe.

Another fish came again.

And then another.

Soon afterward, the pond was calm and serene again.

I could see my rippling faint reflection below me.

I noted the sadness that divulged in my every face.

I noted the half-closed eyes, gloom yet dreaming while awake.

I noted the brown hair that fell over the face.

Look at you, I thought to myself.

You look so lonely and depressed...

Suddenly, a second reflection came beside me.

I saw the hat, the yellow shirt, the blue hair, the boy.

It was Tyson's reflection.

In the pond, he was sideways.

He was turned facing me.

And I'm scared to face him up this close.

So close...

So, so close.

I felt my shoulders tremble and soon I was shuddering.

I wish I could've brought a jacket for this autumn.

I wish I could've worn Tyson's jacket.

But what would he think?

I shut my eyes then opened them.

Without doubt, I slowly turn my head and stared at Tyson.

I was confused at the sudden flinch of surprise that came from him.

I was puzzled to see the glimmer in his eyes while he stared at mine.

What's wrong, Tyson?

Something in my eyes that's bothering you?

Do I have tears?

If I do…

I can't seem to…

Feel them.

Am I crying, Tyson?

Tell me.

Tell me the truth…

Don't worry, I'll look away then...

I turn to look away.

"Hey, Tyson" I greeted, still looking away, trying to fight the stammers that revolved in my heart.

"Wussup," Tyson said. "What brings you here?"

I took the courage left inside of me just to stare back up at him.

I smiled.

"Oh, nothing," I answered. "I just came by to say 'hi' and..."

He frowned.

I know a little bit about Tyson.

And I do know that he doesn't like to play mind games.

It kind of pisses him off.

But I took no care for I had been in worse arguments against him.

"That's it?" he asked. "You came just to say 'hi'? If you want to—"

"And say I'm sorry," I interrupted, hating to see the way he always makes our conversation into a debate.

What is wrong with Tyson anyways?

Every time I try to make a chat with him, he ends it up by spitting something at me.

And I could do nothing but to argue back.

What is wrong with Tyson?

I watched his eyebrows rise.

"Sorry?" He asked. "For what?"

I shrugged.

"You know," I began. "About school and not visiting your grandpa's dojo too often. You know, I had to... to do something."

I know Tyson doesn't believe what I said in the end because he could hear the lies that bore in my tone of voice.

"Whatever," Tyson mumbles. "What really bring you here?"

I blushed and looked at my lap.

The jacket lay there, unwanted but wanted by me.

I face him and stood up.

How long had Tyson grown?

It looked as if he was three inches taller than I was.

Maybe more.

I held out the jacket.

"I just came by to give this back to you," I replied. "I—I thought you might've dropped it or something. I—I guess it fell on me, huh?"

It sounded stupid coming out of my mouth.

But that was the only thing I could tell him.

If I'd told him I thought he gave this to me last night because I was cold, he'll go delirious.

He took the jacket from my hands and clutched it to his side.

"I thought it was someone else's," I murmured.

"Then how'd you know it was mine?"

I flushed and looked at my feet.

"Because I always see you with that jacket," I answered softly. "I don't think I've seen anybody else wearing a similar one like yours."

"Oh," I heard the disappointment in his voice.

There was another pause of silence between us.

I frowned to myself.

Oh?

What, Tyson was expecting me to say something else?

Because it shocked me a little to hear disappointment in the tone of his voice.

That was all I could say.

Or at least what I wanted to tell him.

What am I supposed to say?

I couldn't think of anything else rather than ask him how in the hell I got this last night.

But I couldn't put it in words.

But at least I tried to sound sincere.

"Am I right?" I turn to look at him.

His eyes were out of space.

I saw the glimmer of his grayish blue eyes stare right through my own eyes.

I gawked at him a bit until he found the energy to dumbly snap back to reality.

"Huh, what, sorry?" he asked, blinking.

I closed my eyes and sighed.

"I asked if I was right," I exclaimed.

"Oh, the jacket?" Tyson said. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right. It's mine."

I smiled at him, hoping he'd understand that I'm smiling because I knew it was his.

Before I could find the time to gaze at him, he had imprison my reveries as he turned around.

He found a large rock and sat on it.

I was a bit irritated at how rude this was but I concealed my temper.

No, Hilary, I told myself. Don't start again.

I stayed where I was, three feet away from his right.

I gently clutched my hands behind me and gawked at the afternoon sky.

I heard a faint shout from the opposite side where we were, Max and Rei shouting 'Driger' and 'Draciel'.

I recollected the first time I had ever seen the structures of Tyson, Rei, Max, and Kai's bit-beasts.

I could remember clearly the form of Tyson's, a pretty dragon form he called Dragoon.

I remembered Max's turtle-like Draciel, Rei's tiger-like Driger, and Kai's bird-like phoenix Dranzer.

It was like two days ago that I'd seen their ghostly figures.

Instead of two years ago.

I thought beyblades were the mere toys of a child.

Only played for fun and games.

But having to hang around Tyson and the others for so long, I've realized that their goal were as different as the immature beybladers out in the street.

Like they not only put fun in the game, but also add in winning.

Like winning's the only thing that would make them stronger.

But not just winning.

But fun and freewill.

The only person I thought was strong enough to beat Tyson was Ozuma.

But I realized that Tyson was stronger than he is.

I don't think I hardly saw Tyson lose in a serious battle.

Is it true?

That they pour their own soul into these childish kid's toy and actually be one of it?

I don't know.

Don't ask me anything about beyblade... or beyblading...

I'm not a blader.

Nor intend to be one.

But even if I do want to become one, I wouldn't get the chance to become as good as Tyson and the others is.

I was right.

It's too late.

I closed my eyes and sniffed the air.

Tyson's dojo was unruffled and serenity.

And it was the best place to think and even practice.

But I don't think I should be found in a place like this thinking.

Tyson would come fooling around my business and he'll make me yell at him again.

I don't know why but I think I really am the one starting these arguments with Tyson.

I just don't know it but it was really my fault that I make Tyson scream at me so many times.

If only I could tell him I'm sorry.

But it's been two years now and I don't think I've the courage to—

"Why are you really here?"

A voice I had forgotten that was here beside me broke off my contemplation.

My head automatically turned to look at Tyson, far to my right.

His voice was faint while my thoughts were in motion.

"Huh...?"

I watch Tyson put the jacket on.

"I asked you why you're really here," Tyson answered.

I looked at the pebbled grounds and grasped my hands tighter behind me.

There was a long breeze that interrupted my reply.

There were Rei and Max's calls somewhere in the opposite of Tyson and me.

When I didn't speak, I heard Tyson's feet, standing up.

"Listen," he told me. "I don't like playing mind games here, Hilary. If you want to tell me something just spit it out!"

Don't be so cruel to me, Tyson.

I haven't done anything so bad to you.

And I never intend to do anything that would make our friendship break…

I shut my eyes tight.

My heart throbbed faster as thoughts poured over every beat.

Just spit it out?

Would you like me to just spit out what I really want to tell you?

I want to tell you that having to hang around with you guys for such a long time, I found a new strength of respect.

I want to tell you that having to hang around you guys for a long time made me realize that my life isn't nothing but being perfect in school and telling people what to do.

I want to spit out that doing things to people just to make them like you--chuckle even love--isn't really what's worth it.

I realized that having to hang around with people like you who knows what life is really about has given me a chance to live life.

To love life.

To even try and love you…

But instead, I gave him the opposite remark.

"Remember last night?" I asked him.

Tyson hesitated.

"Yeah, what about it?"

I took a slow seat on the white pebbled ground and hugged my knees.

"Um, about the slapping thing," I said, chuckling softly.

Chuckling nervously.

"Oh that," Tyson muttered distinctly.

I sighed and remembered what happened that night, as I scan my eyes through the white pebbles, as if looking for something.

As if looking for a sign.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, loud enough for him to hear from a far. "I don't really know what I was thinking. And—and I don't know what came over me when... when I did that..."

I don't know what came over me when I kneeled in front of you and touched your cheek.

The cheek that I had wounded.

Without knowing it, something wet slashed through my cheeks.

I felt the wetness slid under my chin and falling on my knees.

When I discovered that it was tears that ached through my cheeks, I gasped and quickly wiped them away.

What are you doing, Hilary?

I shouldn't be crying in front Tyson.

Again.

Tyson hadn't said a word for five minutes and I was getting worried that my butt would hurt from these tiny little hard pebbles.

But I had to make this right.

Just to make this one moment right.

To get everything back to normal again.

"How's the practice without me?" I crossed my fingers for the right moment to come.

"Meh," I saw Tyson shrugged. "Same as always."

Even without me? I wanted to add.

"Who ever you're playing against with," I began. "All of you better win."

I heard the surprised tone in his voice.

"Why?"

I grinned and my eyes glinted back alive.

The Old Hilary has awoken.

"Stupid, for two years of my hard-ass training why should you guys lose?"

My heart leaped to hear him chuckle.

"I guess," he said.

"Why shouldn't it be?"

Tyson sighed and waved two hands defensively.

"Well," he began. "I don't think we remembered what you taught us when you 'left' us for two weeks."

I frowned, but couldn't help myself smile.

"So?" I told him. "You guys should know what to do."

"Well, duh, we do," Tyson rolled his eyes. "BUT. It's'll easy training from now when we don't got you anymore..."

I shook my head exasperatedly.

Please keep this conversation like this!

"Whatever, Tyson Granger," I huffed. "Like I'll ever give up keeping you all in shape for the next beyblade battle thing!"

Tyson spat.

"Why don't you how us, then?"

I grinned.

"Why don't I then?"

"Then go."

"I will."

"Then go!"

"I will!"

"Then come back to us then if you're so confident."

Come back to us.

That seem to echo right straight to my brain.

Come back to them?

I would do anything just to come back to them.

To come back...

To Tyson.

"If you would let me," I whispered.

"If you would let me come back, I'd love to come back"—come back to you…


tbc