Naively Clueless

crystal-mist

Chapter 7

For the first time in her life Runo learnt the actual meaning of the word utter 'discomfiture' the hard way. It was awkward walking to school beside him in stark silence. She would make up her mind to talk to him the next day but her plans would always dash into the dust.

He would still wait for her though. That was a good sign, right?

Julie apologized to Dan time and time again. He wasn't angry at her; rather he was depressed. But he had made up his mind to get over Runo and that was something he had to do, for both their sakes.

He also noticed that he wasn't the only one who was displeased by their silent approach to the matter. He could sense Runo's discomfort as she walked beside him. She always pretended to be distracted, but Dan could still see the uneasiness she so craftily concealed away.

For some time he thought that she would take the first step and reinstate their previous friendship. But now he saw that he had to do it.

So, one day on their way to school he finally spoke something.

"So…How's class going?" he asked the simplest and crudest question that he regretted it afterwards.

Runo's eyes widened and a part of her was very glad that Dan had spoken first. "Fine I guess… But then our history teacher gives us tons of homework and it's tiresome."

He nodded. "Yeah, I know… I think she sees kids as super computers or something." He answered glad that Runo had talked to him instead of ignoring him.

Runo giggled at his comment. Runo then saw her best friend Mira walking in front of her.

Runo shifted her gaze to Dan and he nodded. "Go ahead." He said smiling.

The blue-haired girl couldn't help but return that smile. And for a brief second or two, stark guilt gripped her heart. "I…I am sorry for everything." She muttered before running away and joining Mira.

Dan gazed after her in surprise. And he soon realized what she was apologizing for. "I forgive you." he muttered to himself.

Runo walked by Mira. She thought back to why exactly she had apologized to Dan. Sure, she had felt really bad over the past month. But 'sorry' was not a word that Runo had been especially comfortable in using. She was not one of those people with that huge bag of endless sorry's and thankyou's that they would chuck at people whenever they pleased.

When she said either of those two words she meant it deeply with her heart.

And very soon this incident was forgotten, or rather, the both of them pretended to no longer remember the awkwardness that had induced silence in the both of them. And Julie promised with all her heart that she would not tell a single soul.

And then everything happened so suddenly. Myleen 'coincidentally' moved into the same apartment complex as Dan and Runo.

Myleen's attitude was a bit troublesome. She always viewed Runo like a little kid who needed looking after and also treated her as such.

Runo really did not like the Myleen treated her and what's more, it seemed like Dan actually enjoyed her company.

Walking to school was something that Runo now loathed… So she would voluntarily stay engrossed in silence as Myleen addressed Dan.

She also always called him Daniel-sama in the most flirtatious way which annoyed Runo to no end. Was Dan so dense that he couldn't see through the way Myleen was badly trying to make Runo loose her cool?

One day they were all in Alice's house watching a movie. A movie based on high-school drama and things like that.

The protagonist had snuck his way into one of the school club rooms just so that he could convince the female protagonist that he was indeed in love with her. He smiled seeing her serious face as she read the book. And he called out to her, she stood up and stark surprise flooded her face.

"You!" she muttered in utter disbelief. "You came? But-" her voice broke off as she hesitated. "I thought that you wouldn't show up…And-"

The 'love' story kind of continued.

"Why did he have to sneak into the clubroom? All he had to do was wait for her outside. She would have come there and-" Runo was saying to Julie after the movie was over.

Myleen overheard this. "Well; it's not the scriptwriter's fault that some people who see this movie can't appreciate the perfection of the romance scenes." She commented.

Runo pouted at that. "Well; I was just saying that it was-"

Myleen cut Runo short. "Hm…I was just saying that you are way too young for these kinds of things… Or perhaps that you are so naïve, so sentiment less that you are unable to realize the worth; the true meaning of love. I bet you would disregard other's romantic feelings based on this thing you call 'logic'."

The others laughed, taking it as a joke.

As Runo heard this her heart froze… She was filled with this strange reasonless anger and a sort of sadness.

"That's enough…I've had enough of your gibberish." Runo exclaimed at her with a slightly raised voice. Runo then turned to Alice. "I'm…leaving now." She informed before opening the door and walking outside.

"What's her problem?" muttered Myleen shrugging her shoulders innocently.

Joe shook his head from side to side as he muttered something to Alice and then the both of them went out the door as well. The rest of them- Shun, Marucho, Myleen, Julie and Dan were left in Alice's living room.

Julie soon stood up from the couch, glared at Myleen before dashing out the door as well.

"Why do I get the feeling that I am not wanted around here." Muttered Myleen to herself.

"We should leave Alice's house now." said Marucho as he ran into the kitchen and informed that they were leaving.

Dan didn't know what to do. He couldn't go after Runo because the both of them weren't as close as they used to be since the day his feelings were revealed to her.

Meanwhile Julie had found Runo crouched in floors of the third building of the apartment complex.

"Hey there." She called out as she sat beside Runo. "You shouldn't let Myleen words get to you…I know she's rude but still, you shouldn't let that upset you." she said in a soothing voice.

Runo raised her head and stared at Julie. Julie was surprised to see the tears formed in her eyes. They did not flow out but Runo was on the verge of crying.

"She doesn't deserve your tears." said Julie seriously.

Runo nodded as she gulped. "Hey Ju… But she is right though… I am sentiment less. Perhaps that was why I replied Dan so…so…harshly?" she hugged her knees to her chest as she bit her lower lip. Runo's face was dubious as she looked at Julie with beseeching eyes. "When he told me his feelings all I said to him that I had no reply. "she said as she rested her back on the wall and she looked at the white of the ceiling. "NO reply! I mean…That was so rude…I should have said something properly…I should have explained myself and just admitted the confusion that had overtook he….but instead I hurt him…" she said. "I am so sure that I hurt him… His voice, it was so…so…I can't explain it. And after that I stopped talking to him… Why? I should have said something the next day but I didn't… And in the end we didn't talk at all in one and a half months and then he had to be the one to break our silence."

"Runo…" Julie said. "Breathe for a second and then continue."

Runo nodded as she paused. "It must have been so awkward for him…. I am…I am so heartless!"

"Don't say that Runo… You know that's not true… You were confused. Who wouldn't be?"

"But Julie…That is NOT an excuse…The fact that I have been making excuses so far is so….PATHETIC."

Julie saw the tears that were pricking at Runo's eyes as she desperately fought them back. Julie smiled a bit as she held Runo's shoulder. "On second thought Runo... You can cry if you want." She said. "Because, these tears aren't for Myleen are they? They're for Dan. He'd be guilty if he knew that he made you cry though. But Runo… Just know one thing… I am here for you… I know I am unreliable at times but I swear I'll help you…I've got your back so don't worry."

Runo smiled waveringly as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Thanks Ju." She then buried her head in her knees as more tears escaped her eyes. Julie moved closer to her friend and held her shoulder soothingly.

There came sounds of footsteps hurriedly climbing the stairs that led there. Apparently Runo hadn't heard them. Julie was alert as she gazed round the corner for someone to finally appear and as if it were fate the person who appeared was Dan.

Dan's brown eyes lighted up in relief as he noticed Runo and Julie there he was about to say something when Julie held a finger to her lips and shook her head from side. She then indicated through signs that Runo was crying.

Dan gulped and just stood still where he was.

That feeling of being unable to help Runo in her time of need seeped into his heart like water through cracked tiles.

A growing anger towards himself flourished in his heart as he gazed at the figure of the one he loved trembling as she cried onto her knees. Damn that Myleen. Why did they have to push him further away from Runo than he already was?

The great desert of insecurity that had separated Runo and Dan seemed to multiply by a few thousand miles or so.

Frankly I am sick of making excuses for my publishing delays…

All I can say is that I am sorry and I am so thankful for your encouragement…

Thanks for all your wonderful reviews in spite of this disappointing story…

Please do keep supporting me alright? I know you know what's coming next.

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Ps- And any Fairy Tail anime fans please contact me.