Argumentum ad Hominem

"Are you serious? You want to get married like now?" Gardenia protested while nibbling chocolate chips. "Yeah, I do. I mean look at it this way; mom thinks I must be independent and even otherwise, these days I'm feeling really lonely. I mean, nobody dated me for 8 years and it did bog me down, now a hot model with a heart of gold is dating me- of course I'll be happy!" Roark answered. Then he turned round "besides, I really want to start a family. And do everything my father didn't do for me!" he said clenching his fists thinking of that man who he called his father, who may as well have just adopted him.

Gardenia felt a lot of strength going away. As it is she was becoming less and less of herself around him, what could be worse? Her identity meant everything to her, no matter how crazy people thought of her! Then she asked him "But, what about me?" He turned around "Gardenia, I'm sure you'll find lots of guys who really care for you and want you forever. I mean, just be yourself, that same free spirited angel you always were and guys will flock to you like Combee to a Roserade! I mean, just look at me- I'm a dork and a real incompetent clod. You will get guys who are so hot; you'll probably melt in their presence." He attempted to console her. But all Gardenia wanted to scream was "I want nobody, I want you!"

Then he walked away for a few steps until he felt something in his pockets. He realised something was in there, but just clung it close to him. "I'll keep it for her as a surprise." He muttered and left. Gardenia was just standing there in limbo- this was pretty much the same thing his father did to him- gave up his loves for his interests. She sighed and watched retreating figure fade away until it really was gone. Then she turned round and went home. So much for that confession!

Then she bumped into another guy. She looked up at him after picking up his stuff and hands it over. "Excuse me, miss." He said politely and left, but hen Gardenia interjected "Do I know you?" The man turned around. "Oh, you're Miss Gardenia, am I right?" asked. Gardenia smiled. "Yeah. I am. And you are?"

"Riley. Riley Parkers. Is something the matter?" he asked her kindly.

"You know Roark, right?" he asked him. Riley smiled- this was what was going on; unreciprocated love. He tended to be a bit oblivious to such stuff, the boy. Then he saw a little paper fall to the floor. "Oh, this thing is Roark's prescription. I wonder what it says; doctors have illegible handwriting." He observed audibly and then handed it to Gardenia. "Why not give it him? He isn't so far away?" He suggested. Gardenia looked at the paper and agreed. It was important to him, she felt.

As she ran up following him, she was surprised to have found him at a glasses store. "Did his new one break yet again?" she wondered. Then she saw him coming out with a paper bag in his hand and calmly walking out, until he saw Gardenia. "Oh, hi! What's up?" he asked her joyfully. "What's that thing in your hand?" she asked him. "Oh these, contact lenses." He answered. "These transparent ones, not cosmetic."

"Why on earth will you need them anyway?" she interjected. "Glasses suck. Besides; I really need these while gymming, wouldn't want to lose an eye now, will I?" he answered and then proceeded to leave when Gardenia smacked his back, his Achilles' heel. "Aargh! What the hell!?" he yelled as he turned to Gardenia. "You never liked contacts anyway! Why on earth are you going to wear them?!" she blasted. "Oh please, Gardenia. Glasses are not attractive, they are nerdy. And besides, Luciana liked those movie star looks; wouldn't mind doing this will I? I really don't care about my sights; t makes her happy!" he answered.

"But Roark, you can't wear them; you are far-sighted! They aren't going to work for you!" she insisted. Roark then exasperatedly told her "Riley sent you, right? Tell him it's my life and business and that Luciana will be my wife!" Gardenia was mortified by what was told to her, it made her feel frozen solid. "H...how?" was all she could mutter. "Where do you think I was shopping for two hours?" he asked her jauntily as he showed her the ring he was going to give her; gold ring with a sapphire in it. Gardenia was too shocked for words- not only was Roark going to marry so young, he was going to marry someone who was not her! Right now she was unable to control her tears; it was just consuming her too much. She struggled to hide her face with her hair and said "You're going to be married?"

"It's an engagement ring, sugar doll. We'll probably get married sometime soon, but not now. Some commitment will be useful, right?" he explained and then saw some salty liquid down her cheeks. "Are you crying?" he asked her while trying to brush away her hair. She quickly slapped his hand. "Stay away from me." She muttered which frightened Roark; this was completely unlike her at all. "Aww, come on gardenia! How about you be my bridesmaid? Or at least the maid of honour in our engagement? It'll be great having you there! Anyway, I'm off. Toodles!"

When he was about a mile away, he heard her piercing voice scream "You idiot! How could you be so foolhardy and condescending to a girl who's been your best friend for two years?!" Roark froze and turned round to see a crying, angry Gardenia. This was bad news; she had a bad temper and his dry brain hadn't a clue what she was on about. "I don't follow. What are you saying?" he asked stupidly.

"Roark, why are you being so cold and rude to me? All these days I felt so stifled in your presence, you've been so unfeeling of lately!" she questioned sadly. "What? What on earth have I done?" he asked irritably and surprised. "Done? You've done a blooming sacrilege to me! First you skip the gym selections to go out with a plastic girl, then you ask me to cover up for you and on top of that you tell me now that you are getting engaged? How could you be so inconsiderate?!" she yelled. Roark was intimidated, but still rather confused. "I can't tell you about this after the party now, can I?" he told her assuring. "Will I not be depressed if you are marrying a girl you clearly can't stand?" she blurted. Roark was stunned- this was going too far.

"But you haven't even met her! And I love her!"

"No you do not! Admit it; you won't be able to live with her even for a day when you are married!"

"You are just jealous because you couldn't find your right guy. Who asked you to break up with Nando in the first place anyway?"

"No I am not! I am just saying this because I care about you, and so does Riley! Else would we care who you were in love with?! Luciana is so plastic and cold; you'll never even live in the shadow of her eyes!"

"You are making less and less sense now, Gardenia! And screw Riley, what does he know? Wait...you told him?!"

"No, I didn't! He was talking about the lenses..."

"I can never trust you to keep a secret, can I? I am such an idiot for this kind of stuff! How on earth could I, why? You really haven't changed a bit, have you?" he muttered angrily, so much he was shaking. Gardenia was worried; this kind of anger could make him ill. Then he broke into a wry smile "Pff, I should have known. Trusting you was just as bad as believing my father would ever come back to me... you both are just the same; cruel, vindictive and cannot even decide one thing with your life; being obsessed and all." He spoke coldly, still shaking with fury and sweating. "I am nothing like your father!" She screamed "Besides, you deserved to be forsaken by him-"

"Shut up!" he yelled and slapped her straight across. Gardenia cringed as she clasped that portion, now swelling and rubicund. She then burst into sobs and Roark cooled down, immediately regretting what he did. Then, still furious he spoke "So typical of you." Only to be slapped back by Gardenia and harder with more fury and anguish. "You'll regret this!" she spoke as she walked away from him and they parted ways. Roark the spoke back finally "Don't bother finding yourself a guy. Free spirits like you are allergic to commitment..."

Gardenia just raced back home ignoring a concerned Riley, who was rather surprised by her behaviour of late. But who would? If she were in love with such a cold soul who knew nothing of love; and started getting violent, she clearly was making a mistake. Even if his glasses and supple figure were cute. She flopped down on her bed and wailed endlessly. Nothing could ever console her; Roark was her only true love and now he was gone! To a stupid, cold woman like Luciana. She was so much better than her; Luciana would only intimidate Roark to high extents and depress him. What really gelled them together was the fact that he and Gardenia treated each other like equals, and she was surely much more beautiful even without slathering makeup on her face.

Btu what was the use now? He had changed far too much...