The Ball

Chapter 3
Len's Misfortune

Len's Perspective

It was early in the morning, and Len woke up from his dream. It was a good one, involving Rin accepting his invitation and Jun looking stupid. He grinned. It was an unusually good dream… Then he remembered the incident yesterday. Rin must be feeling awkward… Maybe he should say something to her.

"Hey Rin, this is Len and I want you to accept my invitation and dump Jun. That way, things won't get complicated. Thanks."

Even the inside of his head was thinking stupid. He changed into his jogging suit and went out, to refresh himself. Maybe, he should get Rin another gift. He jogged to the gift shop, half-hoping to meet Rin on the way, only to see Jun come out of the gift shop. He tried to turn back, but too late, Jun had spotted him.

"Ah! Len!" he cried out. Len had no choice but to go over.

"Quite a morning, mm?" Jun said. "I just bought a gift for Rin. Here, I'll show you." Then, he brought out a long box from the plastic bag in his hand, and opened it. There was a beautiful silver pen inside. Even though Len didn't like Jun, the pen was quite something.

"See you around, then," Jun said cheerfully, carefully kept the box, and went off.

Len entered the bookshop, and bought another ribbon, this time white. Maybe he'll get a chance to give it to Rin. Just then, he heard his stomach growling. He went to the nearest cafeteria with a plastic bag containing the gift box, and ordered some food. That was when he noticed that Rin was in the cafeteria, several tables away. She had her back turned to him, so she probably didn't notice him. Maybe this is not a good time to give her the gift. It would come later.

Ah no, he thought. I seriously need to use the bathroom. With that, his went off to the cafeteria's toilet.

Some one came over, and leaned over Len's food, and poured something from a small bottle, and hurriedly went off. The person didn't notice something drop onto Len's plastic bag with the gift box.

Len came back, refreshed and hungry. He immediately ate the first gulp.

Mm, this is good…but it doesn't taste like it used to…

Everything melted away.

Rin's Perspective

Rin got up from bed hungry. Well, her parents were off on a job trip and her mother hadn't made anything. So she went off to a cafeteria, and ordered some food, thinking about the incident. Maybe it won't be so awkward if she acted as if nothing happened…

CRASH.

The sound came from her back, and she turned, only to see Len on the floor, and the chair. All the other people were turning around too. It didn't seem like he accidentally over turned his chair, as he was making no reaction whatsoever. People started muttering, and some people came to examine him.

"He's knocked out cold!" A burly man announced. Someone must have called the ambulance, as several minutes later an ambulance came. They took his possessions, mainly the plastic bag and his wallet he placed on the table, and drove away. Rin was stunned. What on earth was Len doing here? How did he get unconscious? It seems as though it happened while he was sitting there eating his food. Rin got back home. It would be foolish to accept Len to go to the ball with her. It might worsen his condition. So she had to accept Jun's invitation? Maybe she should. That way, Len would give up asking her. She had made her decision. In the afternoon, she met Jun on the way.

"Hey, Jun!" she called out to him. He came over.

"Yeah?"

"I will go to the ball with you." Jun face was unreadable, then broke into a smile.

"That's great! Well, see you at the ball then," Jun said, and walked away.

There. She had done it. But it was for Len's own good… She believed she made the right choice. After all, Len might not be in a suitable condition to go to the ball. And there was nothing wrong with Jun. Only 4 more days to go…