Rom's Love Story:

"…" she found herself here again. In the elevator slowly rising to the 10th floor.

She decided to go a walk on her own a little while ago, thinking that it might make her stop thinking about her encounter with him. But she can't obviously. No matter what kind of things she thinks about, it always leads up to that encounter. The boy that looks at the city with a bored expression.

When she found herself right in front of the hospital, she actually was scared to go in. Her meeting with him wasn't all that great. He had almost ignored her completely, and she was nervous throughout leading to a very uncomfortable atmosphere for her. But rather than to tuck tail, she steeled herself and entered. Her reason? Her feet had "urged" her to go.

*TING!*

The elevator chimed. She steps out of the elevator and entered the familiar hall. The lounge is actually three steps from here, so from where she's standing, she can see the lounge well. The many tables and chairs as well as the window pane that overlooks the city below. The patients that wear the same clothes, some watch TV and some sit with others.

"…He's not… here…" she was half-expecting to see him here, half-expecting not. She steps into the lounge, taking a peek at everyone that is currently in.

"…He's not really… here…" she never expected that she'd let out a disappointing tone. She should have expected that he might not be here, why was she disappointed? She doesn't know.

"…I guess I'll go ho…!"

"Rom?"

"…Eh?" and just as she was about to turn, a familiar voice called out to her. She turns to see a nurse with congo-pink hair.

"…Miss Compa?"


"Ah, I see. So you just went for a walk"

"Mhm"

"But how'd you end up here?"

"…Um, I really don't know myself" she hangs her head.

"I see. Okay, I'll give Nep-Nep a call" Compa brings out her cellphone and dialed in a number before putting the speaker next to her ear.

"…Hello! Neptune, Goddess of Light and Darkness speaking!" from Rom is sitting she can hear the CPU's cheery voice.

"Ah, Nep-Nep!"

"Oh Compa. How's it hanging?"

"I'm fine, Nep-Nep. I found Rom here"

"Eh? Rom? How'd she… Nepu! Is she okay!?"

"She's okay. She just ended up here"

"How!? Did a random baseball suddenly hit her!? Did she tried to save a crow on the street that is about to be hit by a truck but ended up to be garbage bag instead!? Did she suddenly realized that slice-of-life shows are basically giant cliff-hangers and that the fact their life will go on after the last episode but you will never be able to see it is like abandoning your child!? What!? What!?"

"Oh, Nep-Nep. I told you she's fine! I'll bring her back later since I'm duty okay?"

"Wa-!"

*BEEP!*

Compa drops the call and returns her posture towards Rom.

"Okay, Rom. I want you to help me out!"


"…Um, Miss Compa?" Rom calls the nurse's attention with a cart that has food for two people, a pitcher of juice with two glasses.

"Hm? What is it?"

"…What am I going to do?"

"Well, there's this patient that I have to take care off. But Miss doctor said that I need to help her with something"

"Oh…"

"Don't worry. Even though he's a bit hard to talk to, he's a good boy" Compa gives her a reassuring smile.

The elevator rises. The lights on the top lit which floor they are currently on. The buttons on the side of the elevator door have the number 17 lit. The smell of food is getting stronger in the elevator's closed space. It slowly tickles her appetite. There is a tune playing in the background, but the tune is unrecognizable to her.

*TING!*

The same elevator chime rings at the same time, the feeling that she's being lifted also stops. The number 17 above the door is lit, the same as the number 17 button on the side. Compa readies both hands on the cart and the elevator doors open as if on cue. She pushes the cart out and Rom follows along.

She remembers floor 17. Every now and then, she and the other would visit Plutia in floor 17 room 12. The visits were frequent but not every day. It was only before she would be discharged that her visits were practically every day. And she also remembers that night as well…

"Here we are" Compa cheerily said.

"I hope he doesn't sit on the floor this time" Compa said puffing her cheeks in which Rom doesn't understand.

*KNOCK!* *KNOCK!*

She knocks as though signaling that she's coming in. She turns the knob of the door and pushes it open. Compa pushed the cart in as she entered and said:

"Here's your lunch! And I brought a friend too!"

"Hello… Ah…"

"…"

The boy was sitting on the bed. The windows were open and the slight breeze of the air softly lifts the white curtains. His blue eyes, that takes the color of the sky, seems to sparkle like a gem to her. His navy blue hair sways with the wind. And though his age is only 12 or 13, he's pale skin, he's thin profile, he's green hospital gown erodes a disturbing air of familiarity to him.

"Mm? You two know each other already?"


"Okay, I'll be back to get the plates…" Compa said

"Mhm" Rom nods before Compa closes the door.

*THUMP*

The door thumped audibly from the silence signaling the start of their meal. The sounds they make as they eat, the spoon and the plate, the food that they chew, somehow echo in their ears like bells ringing. The boy eats on the bed, and the girl eats on the bed side chair.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Are you..."

"…?"

"…On community service again?" he asked.

"Mh hm…" she shakes her head.

"…I see…"

"…"

"…"

They both continue to eat in silence.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Miss Compa said…"

"…"

"…That you always sit on the floor"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…The floor's comfortable"

"…I… see…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Again, they are both silent. Focused on eating their meal and unable to look at each other. His expression was the same as they first met. Detached and somehow bored. The same awkward piercing silence.

"…Stories…"

"…?"

"…Did you brought some story books…?" he asked again.

"…I… didn't"

"…I see" The boy is talkative today and the he's surprised at that fact. Was he always this talkative? Or is it because it has been a while since he had a visitor.

He stops eating for a while and looks out through the window. The ocean of blue sky and white clouds hover over the city. He remembers their first meeting, the night that made something happen. Her blue eyes staring at his'. Her surprised expression, with a tinge of fear and tinge of seeing majestic.

He looks at the girl's profile right now, the first time after their talk. It was different from when she introduced herself. As though she is carrying weight on her small shoulders. She continues to eat her meal, with a gaze filled with uncomfortableness, and nervousness.

"…"

"..."

"…"

"…"

The girl doesn't actually know what to say. She continues to eat her meal, but her mind is elsewhere. It's uncomfortable, she thought. And even if she tries to bring something up, she remembers how abrupt and short his answers are. What does he think of her? She asked herself. And each time she asks that, it puts a little more weight around her small shoulders.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Next time…" the boy spoke.

"…" she looks up to him. And his sky colored eyes meets hers.

"…Bring a story book…"

"…!"

A sentence that she didn't expect. An expression that he didn't expect. The world around them is suspended for a brief moment. An ephemeral moment that filled them something definite.

"…Mhm!"

And that definite is a magnificent one.