Chapter ...TWELVE and a HALF!!!

The sky is turning darker and darker, and occasionally flashes of light were seen flicking through among the clouds. Loud voices roar in the sky and the situation isn’t getting any better. A downpour is approaching.

The streets that were once filled with people are now less crowded, and from the top, people can be seen staring at the sky, wondering how long will the clouds hold on before they burst into rain. Some prepared their umbrellas, some started to walk towards roofed areas while some are seen running, hoping to reach to their destination in time. Among these lot of people, a guy and a girl were seen running down the street, arguing with each other, grabbing some other by passer’s attention. These two will never stop…

“Hurry! We are late!” The guy cried out to the girl and the girl just followed behind him and tries to catch up with him.

“We aren’t going to make it by running like this! I will holler a cab!” The girl replied while panting but the guy just continued running.

“Are you crazy? We will be caught up in the mass jam ahead!” The guy protested and still continues running.

“Hurry up! You have an important scene today!” The guy shouted out again and the girl looked at him with a mean look, grumbling about the running he make her going through.

“It’s all your fault! You are the one that volunteered to help Reeves deliver that package!” The girl shouted back at the guy.

Reeves…cool. Cloud and Rinoa on delivery job. Cloud really has time to spare.

“Hey! I didn’t know that we would get stuck in the subway for an hour! Besides, you are the one that wanted to tag along!” Cloud countered Rinoa’s complaint and Rinoa had nothing left to say. The two continued running toward the middle of Square city and slowly by slowly, drops of rain started to fall.

“Oh sh…” Cloud is on the edge of cursing.

“Watch your manners!” Rinoa scolded Cloud while still chasing up at Cloud.

“Why you…”

The two started arguing and more and more drops of rain started to wet the streets. The two started running faster and faster but all of a sudden, Cloud stopped down and his eyes were fixed onto a certain direction. Rinoa ran past Cloud and when she realized that Cloud is not running, she stopped down too and took a breather.

“You are…tired…? Weak…” Rinoa said while huffing and puffing. Whatever Rinoa said didn’t go into Cloud’s ears. Cloud’s eyes were fixed onto something and Rinoa just didn’t bother to see what it is. Cloud suddenly ran towards the direction he was facing.

“You go back to Square studios first! I will catch up later!”

Cloud ran off suddenly and left Rinoa alone. She wanted to pull him back but then she realized the drops of rain falling on her shoulders and the time on her watch. She had to make it back to Square studios in time or the entire crew will be waiting for her. Without much doubt, Rinoa continue running towards Square studios without Cloud. She knew that Cloud spotted something, but she had no idea what.

Hours had past since Rinoa had reached Square studios in time for her scene. That scene wasn’t much and it just involves the indoors of the various gardens. The shooting went smoothly and nothing major happen… except that Cloud wasn’t there. The feeling was just different. During the scene, Rinoa couldn’t help wondering where had Cloud went and what happened to him. She knows it might just be nothing, but again, maybe it’s something… an old friend? Ex-girlfriend? Wait a minute, why would she bother about that? Better concentrate on her job. Concentrate…

Within a few hours, the first scene was complete and the crew started working on other indoor scenes. Rinoa got some time to rest and she went to the main entrance Square studios, waiting for Cloud’s arrival. Cloud said that he would catch up with her and he won’t take long.

Won’t take long? It had been a few hours, and there was still no sight of Cloud. Rinoa can see that the rain was still pouring heavily outside, blurring vision a few yards away. The winds howled louder and the rain won’t seem to calm down. Still, no sign of Cloud.

Although Rinoa didn’t want to admit to herself, but deep inside her, she started worrying about Cloud. Cloud, out in that storm, not knowing what he was up to. He might had found shelter, but still, that worrying feeling was still there. She could only hoped for the best, though she don’t want to think of anything bad.

Another hour went by. Rinoa sat on the couch in the lounge near the main entrance, sipping a cup of hot coffee. She had been waiting here for some time. For what, she didn’t really want to know. She only knows that she should do this. That is to wait. Her eyes are fixed onto the main entrance, waiting for someone to come in. Just waiting, waiting…

Suddenly, the automatic door opened and Rinoa immediately stood up. She saw a person with spiky hair came into the building, soaked and wet, and seems to be trembling in cold. Yes, Cloud.

Rinoa put down her cup of coffee and walked towards Cloud. Cloud seems to be shivering badly in cold, and it looked like he’s been in the rain for a really long time. His eyes looked tired, his body looked exhausted, but…he had a smile on his face. A warm smile, a smile that kept his entire body warm.

“What do you think you are doing in that rain?”

Rinoa scolded Cloud and Cloud just nodded.

“Where had you been? Reeve’s looking for you!”

Rinoa scolded again and Cloud just nodded stupidly. Rinoa sensed that something is wrong.

Rinoa placed the back of her hand on Cloud’s forehead. To her shock, she retracted her hand after feeling how hot Cloud’s forehead was. Cloud seemed to wobble a little and then he forced himself to stand up. He looked at Rinoa straight in the eyes and Rinoa just looked back.

“I need a …”

Cloud collapsed onto Rinoa before he could finish his sentence. Rinoa shouted out and hold on Cloud, supporting him. Staff in the building started to react to what’s happening and situation became tense.

“Don’t worry, just the common fever. This guy really needs some rest. He’s exhausted.”

“Thank you, doctor.”

Rinoa thanked the doctor and the doctor gave a prescription of a list of medication for Cloud. The doctor left the room and Rinoa turned around and saw Cloud lying on the bed, covered with a blanket and sleeping soundly.

The two are now in a night shift bunker, where crew and staff spend their night if they do overnight jobs. Cloud seemed really, really exhausted and Rinoa just don’t understand why. Before Cloud went off by himself, he seemed energetic and still has the strength. But now he seemed pathetic and just lay on the bed, like he had died out. Rinoa just couldn’t figure out what happen in between that moment of time.

A knock on the door was suddenly heard. Rinoa asked the knocker to come in and Rinoa saw an old lady, carrying a plastic bag, entering the room. This old lady dressed in a rather old fashioned way, had white hair instead of grey, wore a pair of tiny glasses and had a charming smile on her face. Rinoa smiled back at her and stood up to welcome her.

“Uh, you are…”

Rinoa asked the old lady and the old lady just chuckle. She put her plastic bag down and sat down on a chair near her.

“I am just here to bring something to thank this young man. I knew he would get sick after helping me in that rain.” The old lady said and took the content out from her plastic bag. Rinoa took a look and saw that they are herbs and traditional medicine that her grandmother used when she was sick as a little girl. But now Rinoa just wanted to know how Cloud got sick.

“Help? In the rain?”

Rinoa asked again and the old lady chuckled again. Rinoa looked at her and the old lady smile and replied her.

“Yes. This young man helped me to find this in that downpour. You can seldom find such nice young people these days.”

The old lady presented to Rinoa a bracelet that has beads with alphabets on it. Rinoa took a lot at the string of alphabets and it spelled “I love you forever and ever until the end of time holding your hands even on that day”.

Rinoa felt a sense of awe while seeing this bracelet and can see that this old lady is proud to show off this belonging of hers. It seems precious to her. There must be a story behind this…

“You know, this young man walked slowly down the street, looking carefully for this bracelet for hours before he found it.”

The old lady talked a little about Cloud and Rinoa looked at Cloud and couldn’t believe what she heard. It doesn’t look like Cloud. Or, it doesn’t look like the Cloud she knew.

“Wow. This bracelet must had been something for you to treasure it so much.” Rinoa commented with a smile. The old lady just smiled back.

“Do you want to know the story behind this bracelet?”

The old lady and Rinoa nodded slowly. The old lady leaned back and started her story.

“This bracelet was given to me by my high school sweetheart. At that time I a popular one and he was a few years older than me. He was, well…great with girls. Good looks, excels in sports, and best of all, he write amazing love letters.”

“Since we were both popular ones, we slowly get to know each other and started a relationship. This guy, would write love letters with a piece of bead in it, and send it to me through his younger brother, that was in the same class as me. In the first letter, the bead was ‘I’, the second, it was ‘L’, the third, ‘O’, the forth ‘V’ and it goes on and on…”

The old lady said and hold her bracelet with care, showing Rinoa the string of words again. Rinoa felt even more awe in this. What a romantic way of sending a gift! She will surely fall for that!

“Wow. Your husband sure is romantic.”

The old lady looked at Rinoa with a strange look the moment Rinoa said this.

“Husband? That guy isn’t my husband. I broke up with him.”

Rinoa just a sense of shock the moment she heard this. Why is this old lady keeping something like this? Couldn’t she really forget this person after all these years?

“The real meaning of these beads lies in another person, which is my husband, that just left this world…”

The old lady said with a sense of sorrow and Rinoa just waited for her to continue. The old lady leaned back again and continued her story.

“I was so sad after that break-up with that person. He break-up with me because of someone that looked better than me. Of course, when dating such a perfect guy, I knew that this day would come. But I still couldn’t help myself. I was depressed. It was then when he entered my life. My husband…”

“My husband is the younger brother of my ex-boyfriend. The person that delivered his brother’s love letters to me. I didn’t really noticed him but it seemed that he had deep feelings for me for a long time, ever since the day he delivered his brother’s first love letter. It was him that comforted me and was my side after the break-up.”

“I don’t know how it went already. I only knew that one day, he met in person and confessed that he had deep feelings for me, and whether that we can be together. I can still remember that he was shaking and avoiding my eyes the moment he said this. It was too sudden for me. I couldn’t take it. I know how hard it can be for him, but gently, I broke his heart.”

Rinoa just listened quietly to the old lady. Rejection... it must be really painful... she never been through it and would never want to.

“I kept that bracelet even though I broke up with him. I guess I cannot forget him that easily. Then one day, while strolling mindlessly in the snow, the string holding the bracelet together snapped and then the beads, all sixty-eight of them, fell onto the white, cold snow, rolling toward all directions. I was stupefied, a rush of helplessness came into my mind. I quickly bent down and try to pick up and find every one of the bead, before the snow covered them.”

“Ten, eleven, twelve... I counted while shivering as I picked them up but as it was dark and the snowing just got heavier, chances of finding all of them seemed so dim. I panicked. My fingers were stiff by digging through the snow, my eyes were filled with tears that blurred my sight... I got desperate... I felt so pityful, until...”

Rinoa's eyes stopped blinking and she just stared at the old lady, waiting for her next words. The old lady then smiled and continue her story.

“Until he came. My ex-boyfriend's younger brother came and without a word, rummaged through the snow to look for the beads that I am looking for. Without saying anything, the two of us searched the place for the whole night, and even though it was freezing cold, even though it was dark, even though hope was dim, still continued to search for those beads. And like a miracle, we managed to recover all sixty-eight beads.”

“I was filled with joy the moment he handed me the last most difficult to find bead, and would want to hug him but afraid that he might misunderstood. He just replied with a smile to acknowledgment my gratitude, and prepared to leave and turned around. But... It was when he was leaving me, I asked him the question that changed my life. I asked him why he would deliver the letters for his brother. Why he would help me find those beads that carry his brother's shallow love. He answered...”

“Your smile is what matters. Seeing you smile comforts my heart, even though they are not for me.”

“Those were the words that changed my life forever. We got closer after that day, and then our first date, our first kiss, our wedding, our kids… all the time, he try very hard to make me smile, one way or another. A love that really brings happiness, at times of good and bad, at times of happiness and sorrow... Now that he is gone, all that was left from that moment is this memento from his brother which was delivered, by him, recovered by him. It still makes me smile even though he is not around.”

Rinoa remained quiet throughout the story and was captivated with the what the old woman said. A simple story, yes. But how often does something like this happen to someone? Even though it was just a simple momento, but the meaning behind it is great to those who hold it, it is her soul. Cloud deeply understands this, driving him to find it for hours, even in the rain, even if hope is dim... just like...

“You know, your boyfriend is really nice for a young man nowadays.” The old lady smiled and said and Rinoa and Rinoa protested politely.

“He... he's not my boyfriend! We are just colleagues!”

The old lady remained her smile and continued looking at Rinoa. Rinoa felt akward and looked at Cloud.

“Oh really? What a waste. He really is a nice guy. Oh, look at the time! I had to go back home and cook for my grandchildren. See you again!”

The old lady stood up and slowly walked out of the room. Rinoa just stared at Cloud that was still sleeping soundly. The Cloud she know is a person that won't bother about such things. She wondered how much she actually know about him...

Impression rating of Rinoa for Cloud up.

Time somehow just flew by inside night-shift bunker. Cloud was still sleeping, and Rinoa couldn’t stand the boredom and accidentally feel asleep on a desk too. Night crept in, but in that bunker with the lights out, there is no telling whether it is day or night. Hours just past by, until...

“Oh... my love... my darling...”

A security guard was seen walking down the corridor spinning a bunch of keys with his finger. His shift is about to be over. He can then enjoy the night with his buddies. Thinking of this makes him happier, the night after a day's work. Ah...

One by one the security guard checked the rooms and locked them up. It's his everyday routine. He is usually very careful with his job, but tonight...

“Are you done yet?! We are going to leave without you!” Voices came far from the corridor and the guard speed up his job.

“Yeah, yeah, coming!” Without peeking into it, the guard closed the night shift door shut, and then stuck the key into the keyhole, and then turned it. Click. The final door is locked. Without much delay, the security guard make his way back to his buddies, and switched off the lights in the corridor on the way. The place is now entirely dark. Little did he know that there are still people inside that room...

“Where... am I...”

Rinoa woke up in the dark and rubbed her eyes. It was so dark that she couldn't see anything. Still not fully waken up from her sleep, she just sat on her chair, gathering her thoughts.

Suddenly something struck her mind. With a bit of her sight regained after a while, she stood up and bolted towards the door. She turned the door knob and to her horror, it's locked. She made another few attempts but it still failed. She then thumped against the door and called for help, but no reply. She's locked in here all alone...

“Ugh... what's... going on...”

Correct me. She's NOT alone. Rinoa turned around and saw someone getting up from the bed, still no clue with what's going on. Rinoa totally forgotten about his existence in this room. The two now, even though in the dark, somehow felt that they are both staring at each other, stunned.

There was at first the sound of rummaging, and then searching. After some time, all of a sudden, a bright source of light appear, and Rinoa shielded her eyes with her hand but then slowly brought it down.

“This is all they've got.” Cloud put down a desk lamp onto the desk and went back to his bed, while Rinoa sat at her chair.

The atmosphere is now very, very quiet. Nothing was heard, no words were spoken, and there is no telling how fast or slow time past by. The both seemed to keep a distance from each other. Cloud, which started to recover from his fever, just lay on the bed against the wall, trying to get some sleep, but he can't. Rinoa's presence seemed to keep him awake. Her silence is making him nervous. She somehow seemed afraid...

Although Rinoa tried to stop herself from thinking, many wild thoughts just run through her head. Cloud is her friend, she knew him well, he is a gentleman. There is no need to doubt his integrity. But... they are now all alone in this room. What if... he couldn't hold himself and...

A frightening face of Cloud's appeared in Rinoa's head. Rinoa quickly shook it off and continued to sit still quietly. Perhaps it is better to chat with Cloud to kill the time, but Cloud seemed so tired... that somehow assured her that Cloud won't make any moves on her.

Time continued to crawl by until Rinoa started to feel sleepy herself. She tried to keep herself awake, feeling that she had to stay alert, but slowly, her eye lids became heavier, her mind started to doze off, now is way past her bed time, she just had to... had to...

Before she knew it, she was already laying on the desk, falling asleep. Darkness eluded, the sleep became deeper, and deeper...

Consciousness then started to come around her. How long she's asleep... she didn’t know. She looked at the direction of Cloud and saw him sleeping soundly now, like a baby. Rinoa, with a sigh of relieve, now convinced that he is a gentleman and will never take advantages on her. With a slight smile, she continued staring at Cloud. In his sleep, he somehow seemed so calm and charming, so unlike the Cloud she made fun and joked around during the day, a side she never thought she will be able to see...

Without realizing it, Rinoa got up from her chair and walked towards Cloud, climbed onto his bed, and sat next to him. She then placed the back of her hand at his forehead. His fever isn't that bad now. He will be okay with more rest. She now felt herself less vulnerable, instead, she felt herself bolder. She moved her face closer towards his, studying every detail of his face. She didn't realized before that under the dimly lit light Cloud can actually be so attractive. She just sat there, staring...

“Um...”

Cloud started to move and Rinoa got a shock, but then she remain unmoving at her position. Cloud then slid down the wall which he is resting on and his head fell onto Rinoa’s shoulder. Rinoa nearly cried out but she held her voice. Cloud is still asleep and stopped moving and she didn't want to disturb him. She just let him be. Her heart raced faster and faster. She had never been so close to him before...

“I...”

Cloud suddenly spoke and then he started to became conscious. He moved a little and suddenly he realized that he was leaning against Rinoa. As if it was natural reflex, Cloud retracted himself and sprung to the corner of the bed, keeping some distance away from her. Still catching his breath, he looked away from her.

“Sorry... I didn't mean to...”

“How are you feeling?”

Rinoa said politely and Squall slowly lifted up his head and saw Rinoa looking at him with a wan smile on her face. She... had never been this polite to him before. Under the dim desk lamp light some distance away, he saw a Rinoa that he had never seen before. Still blushing, she seemed so gentle, so kind, so caring... just like...

“A little dizzy... I need a drink. There is some mineral water in the drawer over there.”

Cloud said and pointed toward a cabinet. Rinoa got up and walked towards the cabinet and looked through it. There is really a few bottles of mineral water there. Rinoa fetched one and brought it to Cloud.

“You seemed to know this place well.” Rinoa suddenly asked and Cloud's expression changed.

“Ah... it's nothing... I've been here a few times... you know... late night shootings...”

Cloud replied while giving a forceful laugh but Rinoa seemed to ignore it. Cloud continued to observe Rinoa that was staring into space. He just couldn't take his eyes off her. Her delicate face, her long silky hair... In his head he started to have thoughts of kissing her or caressing her, but he pushed away those thoughts before they could even make it half way through. He couldn't... he couldn't do that to her... but... he would never had any chance like this anymore...

“Squee...”

Rinoa heard a sound and turned towards the direction. A tiny little creature was seen standing up, looking at her on the edge of the bed. Rinoa took closer look. It's a...

“Squeek!”

“Mouse!”

Rinoa's heart nearly leaped out of her chest and she unconsciously grab hold of whatever she can hold on to. It is this moment when she realized it. She turned around and saw herself wrapping her arms around Cloud's neck, and their faces are just inches away. Cloud was now looking at her straight in the eyes and the two gazed at each other, couldn't pull themselves out of each other's sight. They got closer and closer, they can both hear each other's heart thumping, their eyes closed, their lips touched each other's...

“What a beautiful morning...”

A voice was heard from the direction of the door and then bright light suddenly shone in. The two shielded their eyes with their hands and tried to look at what was going on. All that was seen was a security guard, staring at the two stupidly.

“Aww... man! You again! What the heck you take this place for?! Please treat this place with respect!”

Cloud and Rinoa sudden realized that how close they are to each other and pushed each other away, staring at the security guard. The security guard, seemingly misunderstood whatever that was going on, shaking his head and sighed.

“I know... I know... never to tell this to others, right? Man... you young people...”

The security guard said and then left the two in the room alone again. The two stared at each other, somehow hadn't the slightest idea what to do next.

Author says...

(You knew this was coming, right? Hmm... You knew what will be coming, right? Hm... read on.)