*pants* You guys won't believe this . . . I'm already halfway through the LAST chapter of this little chappy! Yey!
But, no. I will not post it all at once. But, since you guys were nice enough, I will post two more this time.
Okay, giddiyap, chapter two!
-m16-
"Good morning, kora," I greeted as she looked up from watering her plants to look for the source of the voice.
"Oh, hey there," she greeted back. "Good morning to you, too."
I gave away a grin. How easy that was, but to stop myself from saying my next statements was difficult.
"You look good today, kora," I told her.
"Good one," she said, rolling her eyes.
"No, I mean it, kora!"
And, harder was it still to hinder myself from continuing.
"By the way, Lal, are you doing something tonight, kora?"
"Me? Why?"
"Would you like to go out on a date with me? I really wanted to see more of this city, kora!"
Soon, I found my will power deteriorating as she smiled.
"I'll pick you up at six. How does that sound, kora?"
"That sounds great, Colonello, but, I'm a bit busy tonight. I'm meeting with my dad's lawyer and his son. Next time, okay?"
"Of course, kora!" I grinned. She smiled, and then withdrew back in her room, closing the window in front of me. Immediately, that grin disappeared.
That was close. Good thing she said no, otherwise . . .
Curse this. Why can't I seem to stop myself at all? For what were those sleepless nights of slapping myself to wake me up from this foolishness?
I can't let her fall for me. How many times did I have to repeat that?
Frustrated, I slammed my window closed, and jumped back into bed. I reached for my phone, and started scrolling down the contacts.
I needed to talk to someone about this.
"Let's see . . ." I muttered, scanning through the names.
What if I call for Mammon? He's good with these, but then he'd ask me to pay, so no.
Luce? Also a surefire bet, but, if I'm not mistaken, she's pregnant for her first child and me calling might stress her . . . or her husband.
Fon? Nah, he's in China right now. Too distant.
Verde? I can already imagine him telling me to fuck off.
Skull? Yeah, right.
I scowled at the multitudinous names passing before my eyes, aggravated that not even one can help me. Then, I came across the name of an old friend of mine who moved here two years ago. The guy's more mature than I am, but . . .
Oh, what the heck.
I fidgeted with the stray hair falling on my face as I listened to the ringing from the other line. Soon, I heard a 'click' followed by a heavy voice.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Good to hear from you, too, Reborn, kora," I retorted, rolling my eyes.
"Wait . . . Colonello?"
"No, it's me Santa! What do you want for Christmas, young man?"
"Ah, fuck off," he chuckled softly. "Wait, hold on." A few rustlings and a loud car horn was heard before I heard him again.
"Let me guess," I started. "You're in a car, kora."
"And . . .?"
"You're with your dad."
"And . . .?"
"You were the one driving."
"Very good," the disembodied voice commented. "Still the lame fortune-teller, aren't you, buddy? So, how's the new house? You're landlord nice enough to endure you?"
"Funny thing you've mentioned her, kora . . ."
"'Her'," he repeated with a knowing hum. "A landlady, I see. Let me guess, you're in love with her, am I right?"
"Well, on the verge, but . . ."
"That 'Doubting' Syndrome of yours acting up again?"
"Wait . . . my what, kora?"
"You know what I mean, Col," he said. "That's how you always are whenever you get close to a girl who seems to have this strange power to attract your attention. You're afraid of hurting them and more nonsense similar to that."
"It's not nonsense, kora!" I argued. "In point of fact, I'm being considerate. You remember the last time it happened, right?"
"Colonello, it has been years since that happened. Will you please, for the love of every fucking car getting in my way—FLY, YOU MORON! Hello? Hello? You still there, Col? Yeah, sorry about that. Some fucktard just came swooping in front of me. Lonely bastard. Where was I? Oh, yes. Try and move on. She could be the one, whoever she is."
"I can't doubt that," I told him. "She's an amazing woman, but, that's not the point. The point is she's been through a lot—and by 'a lot', I mean a lot—and I don't want to be the cause of more of her misery."
"You talk as if you're the biggest heartbreaker in town, you know that? Just listen to yourself."
"Well, there's a big possibility, and I'm not going to gamble with fate again like how I did the last time, kora."
"I dare you . . ."
"Please, no, Reborn. You know I—"
"You heard what I said right? I said I dare you. Are you refusing?"
"Reborn, this is no time for games, and—"
"Could this be true?" he said in a mocking tone. "The almighty Super-Soldier Colonello of the Arcobalenos is backing out of a dare? Oh my . . . History is being made."
"Seriously, you intend on bringing that up again, kora? That silly group broke up when we graduated, so please, let's be serious, and—"
"Coward."
"Fine!" I cried. "What are you daring me to do, kora?"
"Simple," he replied, and I swore I heard him smirk. "Tell her directly how you feel."
"What?"
"You heard me. Isn't that what you're good at? Direct confessions?"
"Well, yeah, but . . ."
"Seriously, Colonello, you still doubt? What I'm asking you to do is very simple: tell her how you feel about her."
"What will I do after that, kora?"
"It depends on what she'll say. You'll know what to do afterwards."
"But, Reborn, I—"
"Uh-oh, I don't hear you anymore," he said beneath heaps of crackling noises. "I think we're breaking up. We're going through a tunnel. Okay, good luck. Bye."
And, all I heard was my phone's ring tone.
"That fucker," I muttered, throwing the phone aside and staring up at the ceiling.
I didn't really acknowledge this at first, because it could've been just shock from having been kissed by someone as amazing as she was, but then, everytime I get the chance to talk to her, or even see her from across my window; I felt this resurging feeling of strange want. Maybe, I have fallen for her without knowing it. Or maybe, I do know it, but just didn't want to believe it. Face it; it's too unbelievable even if I say that I have unconsciously fallen for my new landlord.
Well, it's not like there's nothing to like about her. That's just plain wrong. She's perfect. Far too perfect for a foolish guy like me.
I guess I'm just afraid. Lal seems like the kind of girl who's going through a lot of things, and the last thing she needs was someone who'd hurt her and push her even farther into the pits of pain and misery. That someone can be me. I've hurt far too many people in my past experiences, and it's not far for me to do the same for her.
I'm broken when it comes to loving. Trust me. Even I would agree with that.
But I . . .
I can't seem to instill that into her. She keeps on letting herself go deeper into my heart, as if trying to find a place there that she may call her own. Doesn't she know that one wrong step and she might succeed? And, what if she does? What will I do then? Will I be able to do it right this time? Will she find the proper love in me—the love that she deserves?
And, what if I can't?
What will happen to her then?
No. It's too treacherous for the both of us.
It's best that I stay away.
-FIN-
That's it for chapter two! Yeah, I know I'm being a bit . . . how shall I put this? Slow in pacing, but, you'll be surprised at the next chapters, I promise!
Keep on reading and pressing on that "Review Button"! It makes me a happy little Maggie!
Hat-cha!
LoveLots~