Reine
In an unspoken agreement between us, I spend some time at his place every day after school to visit Pochi. Every time I reach his door, Pochi will always run and jump towards me. Looking at how much energy he has, I can't believe the vet's words that Pochi is dying.
Anyway, as the duration of my visits become longer, somehow it becomes my routine that I cook the dinner for the three of us (yeah, Pochi is included) and by now his kitchen has been somewhat familiar to me.
It's so easy to cook for Neil since he will basically eat anything cooked and edible (especially spicy food, I notice), unlike Gwen who is just... so picky. Maybe even the word 'picky' is an understatement.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" he asks while we're cleaning the dishes.
Wow. What a rare favour: he's starting the conversation.
"Shoot away."
"Why... didn't you dye your hair like your sister?"
"If I did, how can I accept myself as it is?" I ask him back. "I want to be myself, and this pink hair is included in the package."
"Besides," I add on, "Pink is nice."
He then stares at his golden fringe that lies just above his violet eyes. "Why?" I ask, "Are you thinking of dying your hair?"
"Yeah, saving my money for it."
"That would be a waste." I reply while washing my hand. "I mean, your hair is nice the way it is and it's truly you. No fake, no lies."
Suddenly, I hear the sound of glass being shattered.
Neil
Blood oozes out from the spaces between my fingers as I shatter the glass I was holding into pieces after she uttered the words.
No fake or lies?
Why does it matter if you don't survive?
"My God! Let me see your hand!" She immediately takes my hand and rushes to find the first aid box. By now, she is already familiar with how this house is arranged.
We then sit down around the dining table. She opens the box and takes out some alcohol and cotton pad. She takes my left hand and carefully cleans the wound.
"When I was walking to the school for the opening ceremony, I saw someone was being beaten up by a group of students from other school. I decided to defend him, but then when I showed up late on the ceremony with some injuries, Gaston immediately thought I was causing trouble. Furthermore, I couldn't prove to him my hair was natural.
"Anyway, I used to work at construction site nearby and when I showed up in school the next day, people always thought I had been getting into fights. Words spread and somehow group of gangs from other school found me. They tried to beat me up, but I managed to fend them off. Then, it became a cycle."
Suddenly, Ms Swann's words some time ago were replayed in my head.
There is a way to break that cycle. And you know how.
"So you think dying your hair brown will solve the problem?" she asks while covering the last cut with Band-Aid. Now, almost all of my fingers are covered with at least one Band-Aid.
"Maybe. Who knows? At least I wouldn't be so... noticeable."
"I never knew you're a coward, Neil."
Her words struck me. "What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Dying your hair to blend in with the crowds? That's the most cowardly way to run away, no?!" she raises her chin and voice.
Pochi suddenly walks to her side and rubs himself against her leg as if trying to calm her down. She takes him into her arms and glares at me with her fierce eyes. "If you really are a man, Neil, you've got to face that fight. You might be tattered, you might be beaten up, but I know you will stand up again. Face it, fight on." She continues, "That's how you should survive."
She then puts Pochi down, takes her bag and leaves.
That's how you should survive
She's so brutally honest about it.
Reine
I never thought Neil Forrester is that cowardly, seriously.
I walk out from his house after taking my bag.
Dying his hair to solve the problem? Bullshit.
Why am I so pissed off by this?
Suddenly two strangers block my way, both of them reek of alcohol. I'm in no mood for nice talk, especially to drunkards, so I growl, "Move out from my way."
"There's no need to be so fierce, missy," one of them said.
He grabs my hand and pulls me to him. That hits the button. I swing my leg and smash him to the nearby wall. "I told you, move out from my way!"
The other guy's face turns pale, but he apparently tries to put up a tough front. "As expected from his girl, no?"
I clench my fist, "Are you getting away or not?!"
He lunges forward, and I take it as his answer.
I run toward him and perform a lariat attack. Okay, my arm is not the strongest of my limbs, but they're not that bad as well. Now, both of them are writhing in pain on the ground.
"Reine!"
I turn around and see Neil, his breath unsteady. "Are you... okay?"
"How do I look to you?" I ask him back rather cynically. "What are you doing out here?"
He take a deep breath as he walks to me. "I heard the sound of fighting, and... yeah."
I smile. "You're worried?"
"No." he denies immediately.
Oh, well.
His face tenses up when he sees those guys. "You know them." I conclude quickly.
"I'm walking you back."
"I thought you're not worried?"
"Just shut up, Reine."
Well, two is better than one, so I accept his offer. We remain silent most of the way, though, since none of us are really in the mood for talking. Soon enough, we almost reach my place.
As much as I don't mind showing Neil my place, Dad is not the kind that will tolerate Neil. Especially at this hour.
"Actually, my place is just along this road."
"Okay."
"Thanks."
I am about to walk away when he holds my hand, "Reine,"
"Huh?"
"About your words earlier..." he trails off. He then lifts up his head and looks at my eyes. "You're right. I was being cowardly."
"So? Still thinking to dye your hair?"
"No."
All of a sudden, all the annoyance I feel against him earlier vaporises. I smile at him, "I like your hair." I tell him honestly. "It brings you to me."
Shit. What am I saying?
Neil
"It brings you to me."
I could swear she's blushing as she says the words. But, oh well, her hair that falls on her cheek might have been it as well.
She then turns and runs towards one of the house and before she enters, she turns at me. Even from this distance and with this little light, I still can see her rosy pink hair.
She said my blond hair brings me to her.
It's applies the other way around too, no? Her pink hair brings her to me.
But, she's fiercely proud of her pink hair, while here I am, trying to conceal my hair, or as she said, my true self.
How more embarrassing I can be?
I wouldn't be saying this last year, but Thank God I was born blond.
Author's note: Gaston (actually it should be Mr Gaston) is the disciplinary teacher who dragged Reine away from ceremony because of her hair (refer to Chapter 1)
Finally Neil is able to accept, even grateful, for the colour of his hair.
Who are Reine's assailants?
What will happen to Pochi?
Curious?
Wait for the next chapter to find out~
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