The sound of the six o'clock bell has arrived a bit too fast in my opinion. I was close to believing my dreams, because, for the first time, it wasn't about Sheila, but about Lal. As a first, it was of joy, not of pain. It was of smiles, not of tears. Everything was what I would have always wanted.

But, I guess that it would be better to wake up now than to find myself believing in a lie later.

With a stretch, I pushed myself up from my bed. Nothing beats the feeling of recovering from an illness, no matter how light it was. My eyes drifted to the empty basin and the towel neatly draped on a nearby chair.

If my memory serves me right, Lal had left in the middle of the afternoon, though I'm not sure if that soothing farewell came from her or from my own fantasies.

Ah well. Life goes on, I guess.

Once I put away the basin and towel, I went to take a bath. I guess my sudden seizure from a while ago prohibited me to do so.

While I was walking around, I found a stack of envelopes at the foot of my door. I picked each one up.

Mail.

With a toothbrush on my mouth, I scanned through each and everyone, until I came across an interesting one. A long, envelope that says, in fine print, "To: Ms. Lal Mirch."

For Lal . . .?

At once, I finished cleaning myself and got dressed. I walked towards my window, and saw that her curtains were rolled up, meaning she was home.

Perchance I could use this letter as an excuse to visit her?

Carefully, I treaded the same path she crossed just this morning and that night we first met. Who knew how exhilaratingly dangerous the whole trip was? No wonder she prefers this over the "long way".

"Lal?" I called out as I stepped inside. The window was open, so I welcomed myself in, and, besides, the ledge next to her window was too dangerous to stand on for too long.

I looked around, and saw that no one was around, and yet the light was on, the radio was left open, and a pile of clean clothes sat on her bed.

My eyebrows rose almost involuntarily.

That can't mean right.

"Can I help you?" a voice asked from behind me. I turned around, and found her, with only a bath towel to cover herself.

My eyes tripped themselves throughout her whole curvaceous figure; from the evident bump of her breasts down to her smooth thighs, and then back again to her dripping face.

"Can I help you?" she repeated, a little impatiently. It was then that I without delay turned my back on her and covered my eyes dramatically.

"You're overreacting, Colonello," she said. "You've already seen me. You don't have to present to me delayed chivalry."

"Sorry, kora," I mumbled as I slowly turned around and casted my eyes away from her chest. Shakily, I handed out the letter. "This was sent to me by mistake, you see, and . . ."

She snatched the white envelope from my hand and examined it. Then, her face turned bleak, as if she saw something she didn't like.

"Is something the matter, kora?"

"No," she replied quickly, setting the sealed envelope underneath a nearby stack of books. "It's just a few business firms and what-not from my father's companies and such. Nothing significant . . ."

"Well, why was it sent to me, kora?"

"I used to stay in your place before you moved in here. Some idiots must think that I still live there, and thus, they sent it to you by mistake." She faced me, and smiled. "Thanks for going through the trouble of delivering it to me, though."

"Sure," I mumbled, inadvertently landing my journeying stare down at her body. Again, I glanced away before getting a good look. "I think I should go, kora."

"Of course," she whispered. I started moving towards the window, but, to my surprise, she seemed to have misunderstood, and headed the other way towards the door, thus both ending up colliding with one another. It wasn't a hard hit, thankfully, and we didn't end up falling against each other like how it always does in movies, but . . .

When have I last realized how beautiful her eyes were? Such succulent, emollient auburn orbs resting upon a pretty face, and both were looking at me in a very intense way. It could just be my imagination, but, to me, the gratifying piercing feeling was real.

Before I knew what was going on, I already felt her lips against mine. I couldn't tell who kissed first, but I'm pretty much certain not one was retreating, especially not me.

This probably was what my inner self was yearning for all this time; to hold her as though she was only mine.

Lal is mine.

Only mine.

I am hers.

Only hers.

The rest will probably follow through, but right now, I am once again trapped in a private world where only two people exist.

And, I am not planning on leaving it like last time.

Slowly, she let go of me as I rested my forehead onto hers. Her eyes looked up at me, and she smiled. I smiled back before I pulled her towards me once more.

"Lal?"

I felt both of our bodies froze.

Simultaneously, our heads bobbed towards the direction of the owner of the voice, and I swore I heard something crash, like the sound of a heart breaking.

Perhaps, even three.

"Reborn," Lal gasped.

Immediately, I let go of her, and tried to approach him. Evidently, his face contorted as he walked towards me, violently grabbed me by the collar, and gave me a hard punch on the face, sending me towards Lal's bedside table. I tried to straighten myself up, but he was quick to grab me again, and it was there that I first saw his calm, dark eyes burn with anger.

And, no, I can't blame him.

"You bastard," he muttered through gritted teeth. I winced. "What do you think were you doing with my girlfriend, you perverted asshole?"

"Reborn, I . . ."

"How did you know who I am?" he demanded, shaking me aggressively. The sound of a gun being cocked and Lal's shriek followed. "Who the hell are you?"

"Reborn, put that down!" she cried.

"I-it's me, k-kora . . ." I replied hoarsely, looking directly at his eyes. Patently, his expression transitioned from angered to shock.

He recognized me.

"Colonello . . .?" he inquired with disbelief. "Could you really be Colonello?"

"Yeah, it's me, buddy," I told him, shakily pulling out a chain from within my shirt to present to him a blue pendant. The "Rain Pacifier".

"It really is you . . ." He tightened his grip on the trigger and pressed the gun harder into my temple, but, I saw it: the hesitation in his eyes. Expectedly, he pulled the gun away, and threw me away, letting my head hit the wall for the second time.

"You," he breathed, tears coming out of his eyes as he backed away and shook his head hysterically. "H-how could you?" I couldn't do anything else but stare back at him, straight in the eye. The desire to kill me was still palpable, and yet, he was fighting it.

"Reborn," Lal's voice called out, and I watched as she stood in the middle of us, grabbing both his shoulders and forcing him to look at her. "Please, let's talk about this. It may not be good for you to be angered like this, alright?"

"Shut up," I heard him burble as he pushed her out of the way, and headed for the door, stepping on a bouquet of flowers which presumably was for Lal on his way out. She tried to follow him, but I grabbed her shoulder, and, silently volunteered to do it instead.

Ignoring the pain from my back, I ran down the winding staircase, constantly calling for his name as I go. At last, I reached the last stairway, and there I found him, lying unconsciously at the foot of the flight of steps.

"Reborn!"

-m16-

The rest of the events passed by in a blur. Occasionally, I'd recognize a few sounds like the sound of sirens and Lal's constant pleadings for Reborn to wake up, but, rather than that, nothing.

Next thing I knew, I was sitting at the waiting bench, watching Lal pace back and forth, muttering unrecognizable words. I sighed as I adjusted the ice bag the nurse gave me to another throbbing part, silently wishing that it would also work on my throbbing heart.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw her halt, and intently stared at the red light that said "emergency".

"Please says something, kora," I mumbled, looking away.

To my surprise, she gave out a chuckle.

"My dad once told me that if I had nothing good to say to a person, might as well not say anything at all," she answered without looking at me.

"If you're mad at me, you can go right ahead and say it to my face, kora."

"Mad at you?" she jeered, looking at me with a sarcastic smile. "Dear god, Colonello, I want to slap you dead in the face right now if I could . . ."

I looked at her with incredulity.

"But, I wouldn't do that," she immediately countered. "Then I'd be a hypocrite."

"A hypocrite, kora?"

"Much as it pains me to admit this, but . . ." She gestured me to move aside, and she sat down beside me. "In case you didn't notice, I kissed you back. If I get mad at you now and blame you for all this, then I wouldn't be fair with myself."

"Why did you kiss me back, kora?"

"I don't know! Pity? Confusion? Frustration?" She ran her hands through her azure locks, eyes tearing up. "I was frustrated, alright? Long before I even met you, and, if my memory serves me right, I've told you all about it. Then, you—alongside that kindhearted attitude of yours—you came. You were so nice to me, but at the same time, evasive, so I didn't know what I was to think of you. It also didn't help that you told me who you really are. So . . . so, I don't know."

"I'm sorry, kora," I mumbled as she looked at me. "Sorry that you had to meet me." I turned to face her, but she immediately pulled her gaze away.

"But, I love you, kora."

"Well, I don't."

She stood up and walked a few paces before continuing.

"I'm sorry, Colonello, but, I don't think I feel anything for you besides affinity. Reborn . . . he's the one that I love, and you . . ." She gave me a sidelong glance. "You just remind me of my father."

You're right, I silently replied, not even bothering to look up at her. I just kept my head down, letting the lone tear fall right off it, towards my lifeless hand.

She doesn't love me.

I love her.

But, she doesn't love me.

But, I love her.

The red light turned off, and a man in a white suit came out with a grim face. I saw how Lal's face turned pale.

"May I speak with a relative?" he asked in a low, solemn voice. He stared at both of us, and I can tell that he has concluded that no one of us is what he was looking for.

"Anyone close enough?" he lightly suggested, eyebrow arched expectantly.

"I'm his fiancée," Lal volunteered, refusing to cast any form of stare at me. "How is he?"

"Frankly, not very well," the doctor replied. His next words were stated in a whisper, so I didn't get to hear any of them, but judging by the way Lal's eyes began to tear up, it wasn't good news.

The doctor left us, and soon, a nurse approached us and led us to a peaceful room where Reborn was sleeping serenely. As soon as the nurse left us, Lal walked briskly towards the lone bed, and wrapped her arms around the slumbering figure.

I was forced to watch this all.

"Sleep well now, my love," she whispered, brushing her lips tenderly to his, and then straightening herself up to stare at me.

"What did the doctor say, kora?" I asked as she slumped herself at a nearby chair.

"Do you even have to know?"

"Of course, I do," I answered, dragging another chair and placing it next to her. "Reborn's my friend, kora."

She looked at me with a questioning glint.

"Oh yeah. You two know each other."

I nodded. She kept on staring.

"What?" I asked.

"How did you two know each other?" she prodded.

"He and I went to college together, kora."

"Oh." Her eyes directed downwards. I knew that look. She needed to talk with someone about something . . . else.

"I could tell you more, if you like, kora."

"Please do. I need to get this off my head for at least a moment."

"Well, let's see. I met Reborn during our freshman years, kora. A year after the 'Sheila' incident."

"Does he know about what happened with you back then?"

"Of course he did. Everyone at school did, which is why, as soon as I entered my first day as a college student, people began looking at me funnily. They avoided me and isolated me. Nobody wanted to at least have a little chat. So, for the first time since I first entered school, I was forced to eat by myself, kora."

I stared wistfully at his sleeping form.

"Then I met that bloke over there, kora." I gripped at the cushion I sat on as I began reminiscing of that fateful day.

Hey, blondie.

. . .

Hey, I'm talking to you, guy whose name is kinda long for me to pronounce. You with the yellow head, hey.

What do you want, kora?

Why you all alone there, Mr. Hotshot?

You don't know who I am, I presume, judging by the way you approach me, kora.

I know you. Yeah, you're that Mr. Heartbreaker they were talking about. The guy with the many girls, right?

. . .

Right?

Isn't this about the time you start running away or, perhaps, if you're heartless enough, start calling me names and such, kora?

Why would I do that?

Because I'm a monster, kora.

I don't think you're a monster.

You don't, kora?

No. Of course not. You're too wimpy to be a monster. Pocket monster, maybe.

Heh, good one, kora.

So . . .

So what, kora?

Isn't this about time you stand up there and join me and my friends to lunch?

Huh?

You heard me.

But, why?

We're lacking a member.

But, why me, kora?

You ask way too many questions. Just stand up and follow me.

Wait.

What?

Who're you?

You don't know who I am?

No, let me guess. The Easter Bunny, right?

Yeah, you'd wish I was that fluffy.

. . .

Name's Reborn, chap.

"Before I knew it, Reborn had pulled me in what seemed like a prominent group I was never aware of. They called themselves the Arcobalenos, or the Rainbow—a group composed of various characters with traits you'd never know you could endure, kora." I pulled out the chain necklace with the blue pendant to show to her. "They gave me this, and called me the Rain Arcobaleno . . ."

"The tranquilizer . . ." she muttered. I looked at her.

"Y-Yeah . . ."

She smiled weakly at me as she pulled out another chain necklace similar to mine, with a gray pacifier as its pendant.

"I know you might find this funny, but, back in high school, I used to be part of the Arcobalenos as the Rain Tranquilizer. When we graduated, I had to move away, since my dad's condition began to worsen." She chuckled. "To think that those idiots would have that group continue until college . . ."

"So, technically, I replaced you, kora?"

"Yeah, that's right. This . . ." She raised the pendant to let it shine under the faint light. "This used to be blue, but it faded into gray as time passed. I'm surprised yours didn't."

I stared at my glossy ornament, and sighed.

"Perhaps, you're the rightful owner of the Blue Pacifier."

"Huh?" I chuckled.

"Nevermind," she mumbled, placing back the necklace inside her pocket. With a sigh, she stared at me gravely.

"If you must know, his heart had failed him, literally."

"What, kora?"

"Perhaps you don't know this since he doesn't like telling others about this, but, he was born with a weak heart. Severe spur of emotions is not good for him and his health, and his body is too frail for excessive labor, which is why, when he found us . . ."

"I understand, kora," I interrupted, standing up.

"Where are you going?"

"Just need some air, kora."

Without waiting for an answer, I hurriedly walked out of the room, and headed for the rooftop of the building. The breeze passed by me as I headed for the edge, making me shiver

The evening zephyr was always the coldest in my opinion.

Far, far too cold.

I stared at the view of the whole city shimmering with lights. Still as beautiful as how I remembered when I first looked at it. Who knew that in this city, where I came to escape bitter memories, I would meet those who would bring me back to acrimony?

My knees buckled, and I fell down to the ground. It was too late and cold for any sane man to come near me, so I chose to stay there on the cold floor, looking up at the stars.

Scatter me across the sky, and I'll shine all night, and just like a star, I'll end up falling for you.

I know I have been too selfish, even back then, and yet, why do I keep on becoming like that? Why do I always seem to fall for love's poisonous side-effects? It would've been better if I was the only one suffering, but why must there be other casualties?

Lal hates me.

Reborn might die because of me.

Might as well make the world end in my name, to make it complete!

Like the child that I am, I started bawling silently. But then again, why bother keeping it silent when there's no one to hear it? I may as well cry all I want until no voice come out of my throat.

Maybe that will ease up the pain at least a little. It was worth a shot.

Another arctic breeze passed by me, blocking my voice.

I couldn't shout anymore.

Rather, I stood up despite the stabbing pain in my back, and looked at the city one last time. Unconsciously, my hand reached for my chest, and gripped my shirt hard.

My heart.

My poor, blemished, and out-of-dated heart.

It was never given a chance to prove its worth.

Perhaps it's because it has no worth . . . unless you call constant heartbreaks as a worth.

I wonder . . .

Why was I given a heart in the first place when, in the end, all it can ever do is destroy?

It can't create, nor help create in that sense.

Having it was senseless.

Living with a heart that is unable to love is absolutely meaningless! I might as well throw it away, right here, right now!

I watched as how every light closed one-by-one, until the evening became as dark as I would've remembered back then, when I first met Lal Mirch. With one last sigh, I turned around, and headed back to the room. I found Lal has fallen asleep, lying down at the couch, face stained with tears. Silently, I crept towards her, and knelt beside her.

She never looked lovelier this way, yet how disheartening this view was for me. It felt horrible.

To think that I have caused this much pain to her, when all this time, I was careful not to do that?

"Lal, kora?" I called, daintily brushing my finger down her cheek. She reacted with an aggravated moan, but other than that, nothing.

"Please wake up, I need to tell you something, kora," I whispered, lightly shaking her, but she didn't budge. Almost immediately, I decided to let her like that. I stood up, and walked over to Reborn. Even without doing anything, I knew he wouldn't wake up, no matter how many times I shake him, but, I know that he can hear me.

"Hey, buddy?" I called, not letting any part of me near him. "I need to tell you something, but I doubt you'll find this acceptable. I want to throw my heart away. No, not in a manner in which I'd kill myself, though there's still that possibility hovering above my entire being. Rather, in the sense that I won't love anymore. I promised you that I'd move on and tell Lal how I feel about her, and I did them, so, I want you to keep a promise to me as well, kora."

I turned around to look at Lal.

"I'm going to try my best and give you another chance, and if ever you did get that chance, I want you to take good care of Lal, and love her for all the times I wasn't given a chance to do so. Love her until you can't love anymore." I looked back at him. "Can you promise me that, kora?"

Two stray tears fell down on Reborn's face. I smiled.

"Surely, if you were awake, you'd accuse me of being a crybaby, right?" I wiped my dampening eyes as I pulled out the necklace again. The blue pacifier shone so beautifully, and it would only hurt me more if I had to witness how it will fade into gray someday.

"What am I saying, kora? Of course I know you can keep that promise." I reached for his hand, and enclosed in it the sole treasure that I have cherished for many years.

The treasure of indiscriminate friendship.

"Knowing you, I know you can do it, kora."

I returned back to Lal, and found her shivering. Unceremoniously, I pulled off my jacket and draped it over her small, fragile body, subtly filling my senses with her scent.

Her scent alone can cause the death of me.

I tried to open my mouth to speak, but the tears arrived a little quicker. As an alternative, I searched for something, and found the same long envelope stuck in her pocket.

She must've read this while I was up there. The evident stains on her lovely countenance gesticulates that this letter contained something that she didn't want to read, or perhaps, something that she could've waited a long, long time ago.

Crudely, I tore open the now unsealed envelope, and read the contents of the letter.

As I have expected, it was from her father, asked to be sent to her on this specific day.

Happy 25th birthday, My Precious Angel.

I had this letter written long before you were born for I have expected that I will not live when you reach the coming of this age. When that happens, I want you to remember one last thing from the many, many nonsense I would reiterate when you grow a little older.

Love, my dear.

Love like you've never loved before.

I know it will be hard, especially after seeing my body deteriorate with your very own eyes, but still, I want you to love. Do it in memory of me. Like me, give your heart to those who needs it, even if there's nothing for you to take.

Every heart has its use in life, that's what I believe, and we are born to this world to find where our hearts belong. Be it dedicated for a special someone, or for an even worthier cause.

Your heart is not an exception.

No one's heart is.

I want you to know that on this age because this was the same age I first got married. She was the real woman that I have loved, but, due to gruesome circumstances that are best left unsaid, she sacrificed her heart for someone else. That someone else was your mother. Now, dear don't think that I only loved your mother because of that. As a matter of fact, I loved her as well, but not as much as I could've love my first wife. Which is why . . .

Here is the truth, my dear:

Your mother holds my first wife's heart. It pained me well to watch as she gave away her heart for someone else, but, it pained even more to watch the new holder of her heart love someone else.

I never wanted that, so I acted without thinking; something I will never ask you to do ever in your life. But, thanks to that, I've had you.

Oh my dear, I can tell that you're crying right now. Please don't. I want you to smile.

Smile for your father, Angel.

It's the only thing I would've wished for.

Happy birthday again.

Long live, my Precious Angel.

Love,

Your Father who loves you very dearly.

I turned the paper, and found that it was blank. Just when I thought that there was still more.

So, his first wife gave away her heart for Lal's mother, which is why she is still alive until she died a few days ago.

Talk about tragic.

I couldn't help but smile.

I took a pen, scribbled something behind the paper, folded it and slid it back to the envelope. Carefully, I returned the envelope to her pocket, and walked away with a phone on hand.

-FIN-

Er . . . I know this chapter is a little long and fast-paced, but it's only natural, because this is the second to the last chapter! Please stay tuned for the last one, and while we're waiting, why not give me your ideas for the ending? (Note: I've already finished this WHOLE fic days before and I already have an ending for it, but, still I am interested with your ideas :D)

Thanks for reading!

LoveLots~