Stout Little Heart

Chapter 3

"I just had the weirdest dream last night." I told Meiko on our way to school. "It was like, EW." I stated, with a disgusted look upon my face.

"Really? About what?" Meiko asked.

"It was about me and that sissy Len. It was so, ugghh." I stated once more, again with an ever disgusted look upon my face.

"Ooooohh.. Something's fishy in here." She teased. "Do you like him Rin?" She raised her eyebrows up and down.

"What the…. Hell NO! Never ever! That's GROSS!" I said, pulling away from her. "God Meiko that's twisted!"

"Hey, you're too defensive girl. I was just asking." She raised her hands as if defeated and continued to walk. "Hey, did you know that Len asked Miku out yesterday?"

"Already? What did she say?" I asked.

"Yeah, and she said yes." She looked at her and smiled.

"Yeah yeah. I bet." I said to myself and noticed Meiko smiling at me. "What's with the smile?" I asked, annoyed.

"Nothing." She giggled.

I so hate it when people do that, you know. When they seem to know something and they give out a clue yet they do not tell you. It's super annoying. That's why I left Meiko on her own and went to school through the other road.

I was observing the surroundings when I bumped on someone.

"Shoot!"I exclaimed.

"Damn Rin, are you following me?" The guy spoke, guess who he is? Yeah, it's the High and Mighty Len.

"Ugh, and who are you?" I replied sarcastically.

"Now now Rin, no need to deny it, I know you like me. Liked me since the first time you saw me." He grinned mockingly.

"Gosh, where's the wind coming from? Too much wind." I said as I rubbed my upper arms as if it was cold.

"Deny all you want Rin, but you can't hide the fact that every time you see me, I see some telltale sparkle in your eyes."

"Sparkle? What do you think of my eyes, glitters? Hah!"

Len sighed but still grinning. "It's useless talking to you. You're too much affected of my presence."

"Too much affected of your always present air, you mean." I scoffed.

"You speak too much." To my shock - and annoyance, he cupped the back of my head and kissed me, hard and punishing. I pushed him as hard as I could and hit him in his guts.

"FUCK YOU!" I yelled at him.

"Yeah, fuck me. And I believe I just gave you your first kiss." Instead of being angry, he laughed and rubbed his stomach.

"Believe all you want, and when you're at it, GO TO HELL!" I picked up my bag, which fell when he kissed me, and turned away from him.

"Your welcome." He laughed again, this time devilishly.

I walked hastily to outrun Len and mumbled all the way to school. When I reached the gate, I was panting already and when I saw no Len around, I whispered a prayer of thanks and went to my lockers. On my way, I saw Len, already talking to Miku and his books, obviously, was already in his locker. That creep, I thought I've outrun him. Psshhh, he's a loser anyway, why would I bother?

Meiko approached me. "Hey, Rin. What happened to you? I thought I lost you. Did you know I went back and a-," She stopped when she noticed I wasn't listening and followed my gaze. And then she smiled.

"Sooo, gelatin Rin?" She teased.

"Gelatin? You have gelatin? Can I ask? Puh-leeease?" I said.

"Jealous. Gelatin, Jelly? Sounds like jealous?" She said, rolling her eyes.

"Ohhh," I was disappointed. I was hungry. Grrrrrr..

"So you really are jealous?" She exclaimed.

"Oh my God NO! Why would I be? EEEWW."

"Because you like him." Meiko smiled that stupid little smiled I hate.

"', understand?" I was already annoyed.

"Say all you want, but deep inside, you like him. I'll just wait until you're ready."

"Okay, I LIKE HIM, I LIKE HIM SO MUCH. HAPPY NOW?" I said sarcastically, a little bit louder than I expected my voice would produce.

"OH MY GOSH! Pig-face just confessed she likes Len!" A girl screamed from behind.

"My, how I pity Len." Another blurted.

"Hey Len! Rin here likes you! She just confessed it to us!" A guy told Len.

I felt humiliation burning in my face. I walked out of the hallway and into the garden where I cried my heart out.

I have been treated like this for too long and ever since I haven't cried. I keep it all inside of me even though it hurts so much. But now, it seems my heart's gonna burst if I don't let it out. With that thought, I wailed harder and louder.

I was still crying and bawling when I felt a hand touch my shoulder. I looked up and saw Gakupo smiling down at me, concern registered in his eyes.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said, "Well, actually no." I decided to be honest. "I can't take it anymore. Is it my fault that I'm fat and ugly? Yeah, being fat was mostly my fault but is that reason alone enough for them to treat me like this?" I bawled again.

He pulled me close and hugged me. "Hush now. No dear Rin, it's not your fault. Just think of it this way: They won't tease you if you aren't special. They won't even know you're there if aren't special. So, because they are giving their time and energy, you are special to them."

"If that's true, how come no one gives me any gift during my birthday except Meiko and my parents? Nobody even greets me except them!"

He sighed. "I don't know Rin. I don't know."

We didn't talk anymore instead we just let the silence fill up our empty hearts. I stopped crying already but I stayed in his arms. I never knew being cuddled could be this good. You see, my parents haven't cuddled me; they just let me cry and heal my own wounds when I stumble and stuff like that.

"You okay already?" Gakupo asked after a while.

"Yeah, thanks for being here. It really means a lot to me." I smiled.

He wiped my tears away using his own hands. "Sure, anytime. So, you wanna face the crowd now?"

I took a deep breath and grinned at him. "I think so."

"That's my girl. Will you do me the honors?" He held his crooked arm at me.

"Gladly." I took his arm and held on tight.

He must have noticed my uneasiness for he held my hand and squeezed it. "You'll be fine."

I smiled back at him. And, gathering all my courage, I kissed him on the cheek. I expected him to turn away and avoid me for the rest of my life but instead he smiled at me warmly. I felt delirious. I held onto his arm, more confident now and we walked to the school canteen. I felt I was the happiest girl on earth.

But then someone wasn't happy. Someone was watching them from afar, observing. When he saw Rin kiss Gakupo, he got angry and stormed off. Who was he?