Chapter 4 – Nearing Revelation

"Bye, Dad." Hitomi kissed her father on the cheek.

"Bye, honey. See you later. Oh yeah, Van will pick you up later."

"Okay, Dad. See you later." Hitomi got out of the car and headed towards the school's front gate.

Mr. Kanzaki checked if there were cars passing by. There was none, so he made a U-turn and then drove off heading home.

While driving, he heard his mobile phone ring. He checked the screen and saw it was Hitomi's mother. He answered the call and pressed the button to put it on speaker phone. "Hey, how's it going?"

"Alright I guess. Are you at work?"

"No. I drove Hitomi to school today."

Ms. Kanzaki chuckled. "Did you really? That's new."

"Better believe it. I work at home now, too."

"Wow, you've made a lot of progress. That's good. At least you listened to what I told you before. Remember to make up time for her, okay? She's sick of having a non-existent father. She needs you. I know you love her."

"I do love her."

"Well then, start acting that you do love her! The thing that you're going to ask her to do, I believe, will be very hard for her to accept. Start being her father again and things will be less hard. I don't want her coming home in here next month with crushed spirits that even her father didn't even try to soothe."

"Okay. Okay. I got it."

"You better have. Take care of her. Take care of yourself. Bye."

"Bye," Mr. Kanzaki ended the call. I love Hitomi and I want what's best for her. She has to partake to the agreement. Knowing Hitomi, she will do it, but I really hope she won't take it too hard. It's rather painful seeing her not having a clue to what's happening, but things have to go as planned. It's for both families' benefit, especially Hitomi and Van.

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Hitomi entered her classroom and sat down on the desk located at the far right corner of the room. "Oh gosh. I'm so damn tired and sleepy. I hate Monday mornings." Hitomi let out a yawn, and then her head slumped onto her desk using her arms as pillows.

Yukari sat on the desk next to Hitomi. "Hitomi, you better not start snoring and drooling on the desk. Classes haven't even begun. We've got a really boring day ahead of us. After about one or two classes, I bet I'll be at the same state you're in right now." She started rummaging inside her bag and got out some books. "Hitomi, have you done the Chemistry homework? Can I see? I want to check my answers."

Hitomi, whose got her head still slumped on the desk, answered in a drone-like voice. "Yukari, you can go ahead and copy my homework."

"I didn't say I want to copy you homework." Yukari said in mock disbelief.

"What are the chances of you doing homework? None. Better start copying before I change my mind."

Yukari giggled. "If you say so."

"Oh my god, you guys! That bastard! You won't believe what I'm seeing right now!" Millerna squealed in excitement.

"What now, Millerna?" Hitomi and Yukari chorused, with both their heads bowed down.

"Stop whatever you're doing and look who just came in through the door!"

Hitomi and Yukari hesitantly looked up. As they both saw who came in, their eyes were astonished. Allen, their friend who had long, silky, smooth golden blonde hair, showed up with his hair cut short like every other guy in school; however his hair certainly stands out and definitely looks better compared to the other guys' haircut.

Allen walked towards the three girls' table at the far right corner of the classroom. He sat down on the desk in front of Hitomi and next to Millerna. He turned around and greeted them, "Hey ladies, you're all looking good today. How was your weekend?"

Millerna ignoring his question exclaimed, "Allen, what the hell did you do with your hair?"

"Oh, you noticed. I decided to have a change. You girls like it?" Allen stroked his hair with his hand in a proud manner.

"But the hair! Where did all the gorgeous hair go?" Millerna whined.

"Millerna, I believe, you're not the only one I'm talking to." He turned to Yukari. "What do you think?"

Yukari ignored Millerna's brisk hand movements and weird facial expressions and said with no second thought, "Love it." She continued on copying Hitomi's homework.

Allen looked at Hitomi, who had her head slumped down on the desk again. He stood up, walked to Hitomi's side and squatted down. "Hitomi." Allen called over to Hitomi in a somewhat singing voice. "The teacher is looking at you. Class started minutes ago."

Hitomi suddenly sat back up making her a bit nauseous. She looked around and found no teacher. "Thanks Allen, you just wasted precious minutes of sleep."

Allen laughed and went back to his seat. He started talking to the girls who just approached him, complementing his new look.

Hitomi looked at Allen and thought, he looks so different but he still looks good. Hmm… maybe better. I can't believe he actually cut his hair. He loved that hair. Well, not as much as Millerna. I can't believe that he actually considered and thought through my comments during our date last week.

--FLASHBACK--

Hitomi's eyes looked around the restaurant in a warily manner. "Did you know that every girl in this restaurant have at least checked you out once."

Allen grinned. "Oh, don't you feel lucky."

Hitomi laughed. "Well, you do stand out in the crowd."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Hmm…The girls are apparently glaring at me. I'm not really used to this kind of attention. I bet they're thinking of beating me up to death, cutting me into pieces and dumping me in the land fill so they can be in my place."

"Are you complimenting me by any chance?" Allen gave Hitomi a flirtatious smile.

"What's the compliment from what I said?" Hitomi said innocently.

Allen rolled his eyes and laughed. "Never mind. Tell me, why do I stand out in the first place?"

"Allen, haven't you noticed that you are the only guy with hair that goes up to your lower back in here. You are pretty conspicuous."

"What's wrong with that? I've had it for years. It never really bothered me or anything."

"Nothing's wrong with. It's just…I don't know. Have you ever considered a change?"

"Thinking of having a change never really occurred to me."

"Having a change does require a lot of thought. It is a risk itself, so you often question if this change is worth it, either for you or for others. To consider a change, you consult your wants, your desires. So the question is, what is it that you desire?"

--END OF FLASHBACK--

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The bell rang indicating the end of school.

Hitomi stretched out her arms and arched her back backwards. "I thought this day would never end!" She gathered up her things and headed for the door. "Bye Yukari. I'll see you tomorrow. If you see Millerna, could you say goodbye to her for me? I really, really want to go home and sleep."

"Sure thing. See you tomorrow."

Hitomi was walking on the corridor filled with rampaging students. She felt someone tapping on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Allen bearing a wide smile on his face. "Oh hi, Allen. What's up?"

"Nothing much. I'm just ecstatic to see you. Keep on walking. I'll walk with you."

Hitomi and Allen started heading towards the exit of the building. Allen suddenly slipped his hand on Hitomi's waist and pulled her close to him.

Hitomi was caught aback with Allen's actions. "What are you doing Allen! I don't want other people getting ideas."

"Hitomi, we've been going out on dates. Am I not entitled for intimate physical contact?"

"We've only gone out twice." Hitomi said dryly trying to overpower Allen's grip; however, the more she tried to pull his hand away the more Allen tightened his grip. "You're about to suffocate me, you know."

Allen laughed. "Well, you better stop fidgeting then."

Hitomi gave up and let things be. She is well aware that they are being watched. She could feel all these eyes staring at her. Damn, here goes the start of tomorrow's gossip.

Allen was oblivious to their gaping spectators or he simply didn't care. "So where are you getting picked up? Have you seen the car yet?"

Hitomi looked around and sought for her ride. "Nope, I don't see any of daddy's cars yet. I usually get picked up around the corner but since but since there's a new driver, I don't know where to go."

"I can give you a ride home."

"No thanks, daddy probably already sent a car to pick me up. Oh, there it is!" Hitomi pointed to the midnight blue colored car that just parked in front of the school.

Allen eyed the guy that just stepped out of the car and leaned onto the car with arms folded over his chest. "It seems that you new driver is a babe-magnet." He saw numerous girls checking him out, but the guy doesn't seem to pay attention to his surroundings. A smug on the guy's face was evident. What an ass! He thinks he's so good.

"Oh! That's Van! Come, I'll introduce you."

"What's up his butt?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Never mind. Wait, isn't he a bit young to be a driver?"

"Get out of the stereotypes, Allen. He's the nephew of my dad's driver. He's filling up for him while his uncle is away."

Allen, unknowingly, suddenly tightened his grip more on Hitomi's waist.

Hitomi gasped. She became puzzled and intrigued. Instead, she reacted in a joking way. "Allen, I am not fidgeting anymore, so stop squeezing the air out of me!"

Allen continued walking silently, his mind preoccupied with thoughts. He suddenly felt something slapping his hand holding onto Hitomi's waist. "What the hell?"

Hitomi's face was in the shade of red and her arms were waving frantically. Hitomi exclaimed breathlessly. "Allen, you're suffocating me! I could feel pain on my waist!"

"Oh, damn! I'm so sorry Hitomi!" Allen smiled apologetically and let go of Hitomi.

Hitomi stopped walking and started taking deep breaths. "It's okay. Don't do that ever again!" She took Allen's hand. "Come on. You have to meet Van."

Allen let Hitomi lead the way. He thought, of course I have to meet this asshole. I'm not getting a good vibe out of him.

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Van, leaning onto the car, has been watching Hitomi with a blonde haired guy getting comfortable with each other's company. Oh shit. I never knew she has a boyfriend. Things have gone to a harder level. Van became disoriented on how things are going. He never thought that this would happen. Damn it! How can I be so thick, thinking that Hitomi won't have a boyfriend? I'm fucking dumb! What will I do now? Van may have been disoriented on the current stuffed up situation, but he doesn't seem to notice the real reason why he is making such a big deal about Hitomi having a boyfriend. Well things would still go as planned. I could still continue to befriending Hitomi. But…what will happen if all is revealed to her? Will she go through the same pain as I had? Van realized that he cares so deeply for Hitomi. She can't go through the same pain. She just can't!

Van slapped himself mentally when he saw Hitomi and the blonde guy walking at this direction.

Hitomi waved. "Hi Van!"

Van smiled. "Hi Hitomi. Are you ready to go?"

Allen annoyed from being ignored cleared his throat in a loud manner.

Hitomi looked at Allen in a weird fashion. She turned back to Van. "Oh yeah, this is my friend, who is currently craving for attention, Allen Schezar." In turn she looked at Allen. "Allen, this is Van Fanel." Both guys shook hands sternly..

Allen eyed Van suspiciously. Van Fanel. Fanel. Fanel. I've heard that surname before. It seems so familiar. He became locked up in his thoughts.

Van, on the other hand, had his own thoughts. Hitomi only referred to him as a friend. Hmmm. Maybe I thought wrong.

Hitomi felt awkward from the sudden silence between the two guys. "Well, umm… I'm really tired. I really want to go home. Van, are you ready?"

"Oh, yes." Van opened the door for Hitomi.

Hitomi gave Allen a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Allen. See you tomorrow."

"Bye, Hitomi."

Van closed the door as Hitomi got into the car. He gave Allen a slight nod, walked to the other side of the car and sat in the driver's seat. Hitomi waved at Allen. The car drove off.

Allen waved back. Something suddenly struck in his mind. Now I remember! Fanel! Folken Fanel! That damn bastard! I will never ever forgive him! I believe Van is Folken's brother, since there's only one Fanel family in this country. The Fanel family stands as one of the rich until recently. Wait a minute. What the fuck! Why the hell is he working as a driver? Something is really fishy! Shit! Hitomi!

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A young lady, 18 years of age, was sitting peacefully outside a small café, sipping her hot cappuccino while reading a book. Deciding to give her eyes a rest, she looked around at her surroundings and started watching passer-bys with a handful of shopping bags clutched on their hands and the cars driving past her. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of a midnight blue colored car. Her eyes squinted and she suddenly recognized the person driving it. Van Fanel. The thought of him crushed her spirits once again. Her eyes started to water.

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Van and Hitomi's conversations started to become more casual. They often ridicule each other. Inside the car, there was an uplifting atmosphere, until the end of the trip.

They finally reached the house. Surprisingly, Hitomi's fatigue diminished. Suddenly, while both Van and Hitomi were still inside the car, a mobile phone rang indicating a text message has been received.

Van felt his mobile phone vibrating in his pocket. "Oh wait. It's mine."

Hitomi, who checked if it was her mobile phone that sounded, has put her mobile phone back inside her bag. She opened the door. "Thanks Van. See you when I see you!" She got out of the car, closed the door and waved goodbye to Van.

Van waved back, smiling. He took out his mobile phone to read the message. Van read, 'Hi Van. It's Julianne. I miss you terribly. Can we meet and have drinks at least? I really want to talk. Please meet me at 7:00 pm in Alfredo's. I will really appreciate if you come.'

The atmosphere inside the car changed dramatically. Van's fists pounded on the steering wheel. So it's damn not over yet.

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Authors Note:

sigh after a week of cramming for school…I finally had time to update….okay! I just gave out big clues of what's really going on!...i'm sure you guys figured it out by now….: ) well I'm not going to jump into conclusions that u already know….the full overview of the plot will be revealed on the next chapter….i think…. I just realized that I added subplots to the story….naughty naughty me! Now the story will be longer than I expected… oh well…hope you can bare with me people! Hope this chapter is ok. Thanks for reading…if u do read it! Reviews will be great!

Review Replies:

Chisakami Saiyuki – like I told you before... you should have figured out the plot by now! Hope this chapter is ok!

Chocolate-Covered-Coffee-Beans – awww…im so flattered! Blushing thanks for adding this story to your favourites! well I believe you're not clueless anymore! Hope u enjoyed this chapter!

Fran – LOL! u know the reason why I'm laughing! since I told u already... yeah… can't wait to read some of your stories!