Dreams

Chapter 31: Beg

"I beg you, almighty Len Kagamine! I beg you with all of my life! Please, Sir! Please!" Rin kneeled in front of the said man and cupped her hands together. "Please make a cheerleader outfit for me! I promise I'll do anything for you. I'll pay you reasonably too! So, please help me!"

Seeing her eyes glitter with small beads of tears, Len narrowed his eyes and clarified, "Anything?"

"Yes, anything!"

"Hmm... that's interesting," he muttered aloud with a smug as he rubbed his chin in a superior way. "But..."

Rin looked up and pouted at him. He wouldn't be so cold-hearted, would he? Len had been helping her so he might help her this time. His agreement would be her only last hope.

He smiled coolly at her and continued, "Begging me like this won't make me help you. Can't you see that I'm busy with my work everyday? Move out of my way, newbie model."

Len took a step forward but Rin refused to budge. When he turned left, she hurriedly crawled to her right. When he stepped to his right, Rin swiftly stretched her left leg outwards blocking his way as if daring him to walk any further and fall flat on the ground. Thanks to the physical trainings she had for the past three weeks, she was not as stiff and slow as before. Len had had enough of her nonsense so he stopped and glared at her.

"I'm not interested in doing this type of thing. I may have designed clothes in the past but now, it's a whole different story," Len said bitterly. "And just to let you know, I've never make any of my designs come true before."

"Sir..."

"Let's end our conversation here. To add on, common sense will tell you that it's impossible to make a cheerleading outfit within six days."

"You won't know unless you try!" Rin yelled and hugged his leg like her life only depended on him. "I beg you. Please! Do me one last favour! I'll call Miss Yowane to pay you hundreds of dollar or as many as you want. I don't mind taking over your job for a month since holidays are around the corner..."

"H... Hey... Let me go... Miss... Tch!"

Clicking his tongue in an annoyed manner, Len tried to shake her off his leg but Rin, being a stubborn and persistent person, tightened her arms around his thigh.

"Look, Miss Kagamine, I don't plan to let you kill our passengers," Len said sternly. "Neither do I want your money because unfortunately, I am a man who lives by his principles."

Looking up, Rin stared at his face in disbelief and asked nonchalantly, "So, tell me, what exactly are your principles? Not helping a friend in need, huh?"

Len looked away and remained still.

"I didn't say that you're my friend..."

"I dare you to say that again," Rin bellowed.

"You're not my friend."

"You..." Rin loosened her arms around his leg and slowly stood up, feeling extremely dejected. "I'm not joking that I really need help. Why won't you help me?"

"For the hundredth time, it's impossi..."

Before he could complete his predictable sentence, a hand just flew across his face and a sharp but slightly muffled voice was heard, "I hate people who always lie!"

Len's hand travelled up to his redden cheek and held there for a long time without looking up. All he heard was heavy footsteps stomping away from him and everything became silent within a few seconds. Just then, he heard light footsteps behind him and he turned around only to see his mother walking towards him in her sports attire. She wore a frown on her already wrinkled face, showing her obvious displeasure about Len's attitude towards Rin. Despite that, Len casually tucked both of his hands into his side pockets and cleared his throat as if nothing had happened.

After he closed the main door, his mother asked, "Does she needs a cheerleader outfit?"

"Yeah."

"She came all the way to our house to ask you for help..."

"You've heard it, haven't you?" Len interrupted as he let out a heavy sigh. "Within six days, I can't do much about it. You know it as well."

"Len, I don't know what happened to you last time but now, you're just running away," his mother chided. "You're a coward who is so afraid of getting hurt. That's why you... you can never succeed!"

Upon hearing that, Len hesitantly turned away from his mother. His chest hurt when she said that. What did she know? Everything he did was for her. He sacrificed everything he had for her. He even betrayed his closest childhood friend just because of his own mother. He did not care if he was labelled as a liar or someone who was incompetent as long as he fulfilled his duty as a filial son. That duty was the only thing he had in mind and to succeed.

"I'm going to take a breather. Take care," she mumbled sullenly as she walked past him and out of the house.

-:-:-:-

"I'm sorry for this, Ma'am. We really need the outfit by next Saturday. Is it possible... Hey! Don't hang up! Hey!" Haku shouted and then slammed the phone angrily. "This is the sixth person who has rejected our request! What am I going to do? I can't design and sew."

She picked up the telephone again and dialed for the seventh fashion designer in her list. Then, she tried to contact the eighth, the ninth and so on, but none accepted to help them. Sighing hopelessly, Haku finally gave up and rested with her eyes shut closed.

Suddenly, the door of her office swung open and Rin's heavy footsteps startled Haku. She noticed Rin's eyes were a little sore and red, her face was stained and her nose was running. Rin roughly closed the door and slumped against the nearby little couch inside the room.

"Where have you gone?"

"To some idiot's house," Rin grunted as she took out a small white pack of cigarettes out of her pocket. "Begging him to help me with false hope."

"Like I said, leave everything to me. All you've to do is to memorise your script."

"I don't see a need to memorise anything for a variety show," Rin muttered softly and fished a short white stick out of the pack. "It will be so fake... like... stage?"

"Yes, it's mostly stage. And you..." Haku pointed at the cigarette. "No smoking in my office."

Rin pouted and shoved the cigarette back into the pack. After a brief moment of silence, Rin suddenly stood up looking very determined and gazed at Haku.

"I'm going to look for him tonight. I'll make sure he agrees to help me! Trust me, Miss Yowane! I'll make sure he does!" she proclaimed and ran out of the room, leaving Haku in disbelief.

-:-:-:-

Len returned home hours later and found something interesting in the living room. Books on making clothes were scattered all over the floor and his mother was browsing through one of them on the couch. He scooped down and picked up a thin book about sewing.

He looked at her with a frown and asked, "What are you thinking, Mum? Are you serious about helping her?"

"Since you're not helping her, I shall do it," she replied immediately without removing her gaze from the book. "You're not going to stop me, Len."

"Mum, it's impossible and if you stay up late because of this project, you'll fall sick."

"At least it's better than seeing that young girl not knowing what to wear next Saturday," she snapped. "She fought hard to get there and it would be a pity if she fails her first debut."

Deciding to ignore her previous statement, Len squatted and began to pick up the scattered books on the floor. As he was picking up the books, he could not help but to feel that his mother was being too soft towards Rin.

He said nonchalantly, "There'll be someone who can help her with this. Don't concern yourself with her."

"And I'll be that someone!"

Len looked at his mother again but this time, he was giving her a shock look. Just then, a door bell rang. Startled, Len put down the pile of books on the small coffee table and headed towards the door. When he opened it, he saw Rin standing outside his apartment, which indeed shocked him further. Rin was panting heavily with beads of perspiration rolling down her forehead. It was undeniably obvious that she literally ran over to his house to beg for his help again.

"Good evening! You've worked hard today, Sir!" Rin greeted with a surprising renewed beam.

With a still face, Len spoke calmly, "What do you want now?"

"About my request last night..."

"So, are you trying to say that you want me to work even harder?" Len interjected.

"Yes."

Len gawked at her. He did not care if she really meant what she had said or she had blurted some random nonsensical answer without thinking. But still, it made him want to laugh at her, of course, in a sarcastic manner.

"I promise you that this will be the last time I ask you for help. I know the request is absurd but there's a saying which I always believe in." Rin grinned weakly. "You won't know unless you try."

Len nodded and added, "And when you see a pit, don't jump to your early grave. This is an ingenious saying made by me."

Rin cleared her throat and protested, "Selfishness leads to self-destruction. Another saying which I adore a lot."

"Such interesting saying made by you, Miss Kagamine, I'm impressed," Len mocked. "Here's another one, a chain of kindness starts with one graciousness."

"Say that to yourself, selfish old man!" Rin retorted with a finger pointing accusingly at him. "You're the one who is not gracious!"

"Hmm..." Len looked away and smiled wearily. "Am I the only option?"

"For now, yes."

"Is there anyone else professional could help you with this?"

"No."

"I'm worse than an amateur, you know," Len mumbled in a softer tone. "It will be my first time doing this so the outfit will be very horrible."

"But at least there's something unique to wear next Saturday. The outfit won't be just a normal outfit because it is something made by you and..." Rin returned him a smile. "It will hold a high value since it is your first piece of work."

Len narrowed his eyes at her and her face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

"I mean, value as in... you will know where you stand with that piece and... and... I... I... I'll... treasure it a lot...yeah, a lot."

Rin laughed sheepishly at her own response. If there was anything made by Len, ugly or not, she would treasure it. Suddenly, Rin felt a strong pull on her arm and found herself being pushed against his warm chest. Surprised and stunned at the same time, Rin held her breath as his arms tightened around her shoulders. His warm breath brushed against her right ear and slowly travelled down to her neck.

She cringed a little at the ticklish warm sensation on the sensitive skin of her neck. She did not know what had caused Len to embrace her all of the sudden but she undeniably liked his hug. Like always, she had forgotten her goal here and wanted to be embraced by him a little longer. If time could stop for them, it would be her wonderland.

Being a little perverted, she could not help but to notice that Len's body frame was so much larger than what she had expected, especially his chest and arms. This realisation made her heart race crazily.

"When a friend hugs you, isn't it normal for you to return the hug?"

"Wha... What? You... You finally claim tha... that you're m... my friend," Rin stammered bashfully. "As... as if I'd h... h... hug you."

"Then, I shall let go," Len said and loosen his arms around her.

Without thinking, her arms immediately wrapped around his waist, refusing to part with him. Len remained still as his arms fell to his side and he looked at her blonde hair which brushed against his chin with soft eyes.

"When a girl hugs you, isn't it normal to return the hug?" Rin asked in a meek voice.

"Yes, if only..." Len pulled away from her embrace and looked straight into her eyes. "... she's someone I like a lot."

He faked a smile and took a few steps backward. Rin swallowed hard and stared at him with wide eyes. As if the brief moment of her own inner happiness came crashing down upon her, Rin stood rooted on the ground and witnessed the heart wrenching scene of the door shut right in front of her face for the second time of the day.

Hi guys, thanks for reading up to Chapter 31.

Next, I would like to thank those who had reviewed Chapter 30. Thanks for all those encouragements. Hope to hear more from you again! :D

Here are the reviewers:

- Leaf-Aprillia
- Yellow Fantoche
- Guest (1)
- Ama Zon
- Lizway
- Guest (2)
- mirrors02
- Guest (3)

Lastly, I would also like to thank those who had story alerted and favourited this story.

Preview of the next chapter:

Chapter 32: How to Start a Fire

"Isn't that great, Rin? I told them our problem and they decided to change your role to a ditsy student. So, you can wear your high school uniform without the school badge on," Haku explained. "Thank goodness! We don't have to hunt for fashion designers anymore."

Rin shouted with joy and waved her arms wildly in the air as the worries and anger she had earlier was being lifted up. The lucky thing was that she still kept her high school uniform for memories sake but the unlucky thing was...

Rin froze and stared at Haku with knitted eyebrows.

"My uniform..." Rin grimaced as she closed her eyes tight. "It's at my parents' home."

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