A/N: I'm sorry! There's just so much in the way keeping me from updating. School's been killing my ass. My computer's motherboard blew up and a portion of this fic got deleted. Plus, I'm having a lot of trouble with the plotline of this story! Grr. Excuses, excuses I know. But honestly, if I had a choice, this website and especially this section would be my life XD So, thank you everyone who took their time to review. I appreciate it very, very much, every single one of you.

To recap: Last time we left Gippal, he'd waken up with no memory and with Rikku by his side. Determined to maintain his goal of having a long-lasting relationship with his girlfriend Syrisina, he decided to leave Rikku without any indication of his presence, but a simple note left on her pillow.

Three Stupid Words
Chapter 3: Morning After: Gippal

I am irresistible.

The ladies of the city are eyeing me passionately, I can tell. It's not everyday someone as damn good-looking as me walks the newly paved streets of New Home. With my headache and guilt all drowned in the water of the Oasis, I feel refreshed, revitalized, and ready to redeem myself from last night's stupid mistake.

I don't get drunk that easily, so I've managed to recall most of yesterday back to memory after the awakening bath in the desert oasis. I remember now that I was called to New Home by Nhadala because of some special, unique discovery of some machina or other. I remember telling her I would arrive today, but then secretly came yesterday so I could spend some time with Syrisina.

Then… something happened, and I wound off jumping some poor kid of his case of beer (he's too young to drink anyway…) and then somehow wandered over to Rikku's. We drank a little, then talked a little, then fucked a lot. And that was it. Then I woke.

Doesn't matter now. It's over and done with and Rikku, being the kid she is, probably got too drunk to recall a single thing. She will wake up not remembering who she'd slept with but read the note and feel assured. Yep, everything will work out fine.

But in the meanwhile, I need to find Syrisina. She probably spent all night up waiting for me to come visit her and is probably crying over herself this very moment thinking I had left her for some other woman. Can't keep her upset now, right? I need to show her that I am damn right committed to having a real relationship with her and am not going to let it get screwed over by something as little as sleeping with my ex.

Just… if only I could remember what's so special about today. I've crossed out the possibility that it's her birthday because fate can't be that cruel to me. I've also crossed out the fact that I'm supposed to be meeting with her father or other family gatherings. The most likely explanation is that it's an anniversary of some sort. I just cannot figure out what.

But I will not have her know that I forgot so I'm searching for a suitable gift either way. And everyone knows that the best present, despite any occasion, is a bouquet of flowers.

If only I could find a thriving flower shop in the middle of this desert.

I spot a gift shop to my left and decide to go inside and look around. I have barely stepped inside before a feminine voice rings through the air in soft gentleness. I turn towards the cash register, the direction of the voice, and my eye falls upon an innocent beauty. She's smiling at me bashfully. "Can I help you?" she asks in that melodic voice of hers.

I take a quick glance around the shop. Then, I turn to her with my most charming smile. "You wouldn't have 'ne flowers as gorgeous as you now, would you?"

She reddens slightly. "Let me show you what we have," she says with a small giggle, then makes her way out from behind the counter and heads toward the end of the store. She turns to me with a seductive look in her eyes. "Follow me..."

And that's exactly what I do, walk directly behind her, all the while reminding myself about my whole long-lasting relationship aspiration. But as a true Al Bhed man, I just couldn't ignore the opportunity to check her out. And with the great fortune of walking behind her, I got the best view her short, olive, mini skirt could offer.

Rikku. And at the sudden image of her face, my body slightly jumps in alert as if I'd just been caught cheating stealing machina oil. But before I am able to further the thought, the woman shoves a bunch of plastic flowers in my face.

"Here!" she exclaims. "They've just come!"

I push the fake petals out of my sight. "You don't have 'ne real ones?"

She frowns. "I'm sorry, we don't."

I twitch my mouth to the side in disappointment, watching the frown on her face deepen. "S'alright," I tell her and push her lips up gently with my thumb. "Don't ruin your pretty face over it."

She glances down shyly, and puts the plastic flowers back on their rack. Then she gestures towards the counter. "If you want something real, we have a really nice plant over there for sale."

I follow her gaze as she leads me back to the front of the store. She picks up a random pot and places it gently in my hands. I stare down at the plant in it, trying to imagine Syrisina's reaction if I gave her – "A cactus?"

Her bright grin falls at my dismayed tone, and she reaches for the pot. "I-I don't know what I was thinking…" she mumbles.

Being a compassionate person, I find myself feeling sorry for her. The cactus is the only living plant in her entire store. "No," I say, and pull the baby cactus plant closer to me. "I'll take it."

She gives me a weak smile. "You don't have to -"

"I want to," I urge, and drop a handful of coins on the counter. "Because you picked it for me. So it's… perfect."

I don't wait for her response. Instead, I seal the confrontation with another charming smile and then walk out the door before she starts thinking that I've been flirting with her all this time.

I turn the corner quickly just in case she decides to follow me, and jog down the street in search of my girlfriend. I'm trying to figure a good way to present the gift to her. Maybe if my presentation is good enough, she won't notice what it actually is. 'Here, Baby… I got you cactus for our anniversary.' Ah geez. I can just imagine the headline news now, Shelinda's voice reporting, 'And in other news, the leader of the Machine Faction has been fatally wounded after his girlfriend unexpectedly smashed a cactus on his head…' Though she's not exactly the type to react so violently, when men forget anniversaries… it usually does bizarre things to a woman…

"Gippal?"

I turn around and my heart leaps into my throat at the sight of my Syrisina. I breathe out in relief and throw my arms around her, careful not to hurt either one of us with the plant's needles. "Didn't see you there!" I explain honestly, pulling her close and kissing her neck softly. "I'm sorry I didn't come yesterday… I was delayed by – uh – by – the, the Faction workers. Yeah, stupid engineers. Stupid engineers; they - they're the reason why, why you know, I'm like you know… wasn't here – with you – yesterday… And I'm sorry Baby. I promise I won't -"

"Gippal," she whispers, pulling herself slowly out of my grasp.

I reluctantly let her go, but stare at her in confusion, not understanding the unfamiliar look of sorrow in her eyes. She's not giving me one of those passionate female looks that I've grown so accustomed to since arriving here in New Home. No, she's giving me a different look. A look that says… that says…

"Honey…" She pauses, searching my eye for any hint of realization. "Honey, we broke up."

HUH?

She steps back as if to give me some space for the truth to settle in. But I don't need space. I just need time. Time to recall what exactly happened between the moment I stepped foot on the sands of Bikanel and when I had stayed at Rikku's. Is it possible that she saw? Could fate really be that cruel that my girlfriend caught me with my ex and yet I'm stand here completely oblivious?

I glance over to Syrisina, trying to read her expression for an answer. Well, she doesn't seem angry. In fact, she looks… as if she feels sorry for me.

"You still can't accept it, can you?" Biting her lip, she breaks our stare and turns away from me. "You've got to stop doing this, Gippal," I barely hear her whisper. "I know I've hurt you, but I just think that it's better this way." She suddenly whirls around and flings herself on me, crying out onto my chest. "Please understand Gippal!" she begs desperately.

I am completely speechless. I can't believe what I'm hearing. She broke up with me? My supposed-to-be long lasting, eternal, genuine relationship blew up last night, and I couldn't even remember?

She pulls herself off of me, tears streaming down her red cheeks. She squints at me, her mouth looking like it's about to explode into another sob. "I'm sorry, Gippal. I'm really sorry… Please… Please understand…" And with that, she takes off running down the street, leaving me alone and baffled, holding the little cactus plant loosely between my hands.

A/N: I'll try to get the next chapter out this Thursday : )

Thanks for reading. Please Review.