ChApTeR 7

"Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while, you might miss it. "

Ran arrived at the airport just on time to have a quick talk with Aya before she leaves. There was an unmistakable frown on her face to find his absence but then slightly shook her head and smiled instead though it was partially sad.

She gave Ran a hug as soon as she was in reach. Ran returned the hug and whispered apologetically in her ear. "I'm sorry. I tried but-"

"He's just being him. I wasn't expecting really." Aya cut her off and gave her a reassuring smile that she was perfectly fine.

Rei, on the other hand, wasn't as perfectly fine as anyone else. He was struggling with his feelings even right now. Even if he perfectly knew, without a doubt, there was no mistaking, he likes her. Tears keep falling from his eyes. It was worth it though. She was the first who had made him feel this way. True. Love is the greatest feeling of all outmatch by nothing but being love back.

But now at this very moment of time, Aya's probably on her way to London, leaving him behind. This must be what she was feeling, being rejected and left out. It was unbearable. It was pure grief. He thought it was too much for her gentle heart to hold. "I don't want her to feel this way anymore…" he whispered.

After a long pause of silence, of which Rei spent staring at a picture of their gang, he finally made up his mind and decided it was about time. Having the title 'ice prince' was good but having to hold her, kiss her and claim her as his own was second to none.

At long last Rei gave up to the feeling that had him for your years only to find it now, now that everything seems to fall. Rei had finally admitted to himself that indeed this girl held him captive like no other. She was more than anyone. She was the only one who had seen pass his barriers. She was the one who showed him true love. And now, he wouldn't let this get away again. He won't just let her believe that up to the last minute of their reach, Rei wasn't feeling the same for this girl.

"She has to know. I want her to know I'll be waiting for her." Rei whispered to himself as he settled on his car, hurrying to catch up on her flight. There were maids running frantically behind him as he took the car on the road but he didn't cared. There was a much more important thing he needed to do.

"Good luck Aya. This is your chance to shine. Give your best shot. O.K.?" Miyu said giving her a hug. Ran and Sayo also gave her a hug. Yamatto bid her good luck and shook her hand. Yuuya did the same and also gave her a faint smile.

"I wish Rei was here. He doesn't know how much he's missing." Yuuya whispered. Just then his phone rang and Yuuya excused himself from the lot. It was the maids back from their rest house they were saying something about Rei and this car.

Yuuya's heart fastened. He suddenly felt nervous for his pal. He quickly ended the call and returned to the lot. Yuuya went beside Ran a lowly whispered to her so no one else gets to hear, especially not Aya, not now.

Ran's eyes grew wide and felt herself as scared as Yuuya sounded like. She gave him a nod and Yuuya went off on his way. He was to make sure Rei is going to be fine.

" Wh-where's Yuuya heading, Ran?" Aya asked a little concerned that maybe something was up but Ran knew the same and only shook her head. She wasn't going to tell her. She needs not to know. It might be too much for her.

"Asuo business" Ran lied. Poor liar.

"Wait for me, Aya. Please…" Rei was whispering to himself. He has decided that he'd let her know what he feels. He doesn't care what the others would think of him. He just wants her to know she got him waiting for her, even for eternity. This was his only chance. And he's going to blame himself if he let this one last chance away like the rest. 'This must be what she felt. I don't want her to feel like this anymore. She have to know … I love her.'

"Damn" Rei scowled as he caught another traffic. He wasn't that far from the airport. He could even see it from there. He sighed frustrated and looked at his watch. 'She couldn't be off now…'

Rei gazed around desperately searching for a short cut. Luckily he found a some sort of alley, wide enough for one car to cross but without mush ease. But he doesn't care, she was far more important than everything. Rei hurriedly adjusted the position of his car and drove for the alley.

It was long and vacant and so Rei decided to catch speed. He was running fast. Nothing is going to stop him anymore from meeting her. Well at least that's what he wanted to believe.

From the other side of the alley, a ten-wheeler truck suddenly appeared from nowhere. Rei quickly stepped on the brakes to try and stop his car from meeting the truck but he was running on brake neck speed and the maids were trying to warn him for it that his car was running out of brake fluids.

And so it happened in a flash…

Yuuya was waiting just outside the airport if ever Rei comes around. A smug smile was plastered on his face. 'It's about time Rei realizes' he sighed thinking that finally they would be happy couple.

Yuuya's thoughts suddenly washed off when he found that not far from the airport there was a ruckus going on. A policeman ran pass him heading to the scene. He grabbed the policeman by the arm and inquired. "Excuse me, sir. But do you know what's the commotion all about?"

And soon he learned what he dreaded to hear. He was wishing deep inside that it might be only coincidence. He didn't want to believe till he'd seen it himself. He went to the scene, hurriedly pushing his way to the crowd. But wish he had not…cause he soon found his fears all became reality.

"Aya" It was that feeling again. She heard him call. It was no mistaking. She was feeling that same mushy feeling she always has whenever he's around. She twirled her head, frantically looking for him but he wasn't there.

" Aya. Are you alright?" Miyu asked concerned, standing beside her.

She didn't know what to say. She was feeling weird aright. "uhm… yeah, I'm fine. It's just that I thought I heard – Never mind" Aya said dismissing the thought.

Soon a loud voice came from the speaker boxes announcing the flight of the plane leaving for London. Everyone felt silent and was staring reluctantly at Aya.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye then." She said and gave them that sweet, kind smile they'll always remember.

She hesitantly picked up her bag and bade them goodbye. She was soon standing on a line with the rest of those heading for London.

Ran's cell phone suddenly rang. Seeing Yuuya's name and number flashed on the little screen gave her stomach a little flip back.

"Y-Yuuya?" She greeted hesitantly and heard an equal scared voice in the other line. Yuuya didn't know how to put it into words and tried to slow it down but Ran was that patient and was eager for some news.

"What on earth are you trying to spill out, Yuuya?" Ran almost screamed from frustration. Yuuya swallowed hard. It was time for her to know.

"Car accident… Airport… Re- Rei…" Yuuya stammered, his voice faltering.

Ran was caught off guard. She knew this was coming but still tried as she might to conceal it, she wasn't successful to hide her fears and scream out his name in a disbelieving tone. "Rei…"

Aya was next in line and was about to hand her passport to the attendant by then. She heard Ran's voice echoed his name and she turned to see her friends. Her heart was beating fast and there was that feeling again, she can't explain. All she knew, she had heard him call out her name lately and she was wishing it was real.

"Rei…"