Stout Little Heart

Chapter 11

After being transported to the hospital to check if there were any injuries, Gakupo took me home. When we arrived, my parents were hugging me as if I were back from the dead. Jeez, parents. I rolled my eyes and politely introduced Gakupo to them. When they knew that he was the one who saved me, my mom hugged her tightly I doubt if Gakupo could ever breathe. I knew right then that my parents idolized Gakupo. Sigh, I can't blame them. I was infatuated with Gakupo for about 2 years before Len came. Who wouldn't? He's smart and gorgeous (but for me, Len's more gorgeous though not that smart). He's responsible and rich. Man, if my parents were to pick out a groom for me, I wouldn't be surprised if he was like Gakupo. Half an hour later, Gakupo waved his goodbyes to my parents. When he was gone, my parents interrogated me immediately.

"Rin, is he your boyfriend?" My mom asked.

"Momma! I'm only 16! He's not my boyfriend!" I exclaimed, I could have screamed if she weren't my mother.

"Why not?" My dad asked seriously.

"Because." I said, unable to find the right words. What am I supposed to say? That I'm in love with somebody else? If I tell them that, they would ask me again and again who that guy would be and I have no plans whatsoever to tell them anything about my love life.

"Because?" My mom pressed. She can be so annoying sometimes.

"Because." I repeated, determined not to tell them anything. "Can I rest now? I'm really tired and my head aches." I said and started upstairs. I looked at them one more time and smiled. "Goodnight Mom, Dad."

That night, sleep avoided me. I just stared at the ceiling all night, replaying the scenes on my mind. There really was something wrong. I was quite positive that it wasn't Gakupo's voice I heard. It was more like Len's. But if it was Len's, wouldn't he be there when I woke up? Maybe it really was Gakupo, the drugs they injected just blurred my senses. But it's just that, my senses are blurred and I can't possible make out what really happened clearly. I looked at the clock, 3:00 AM. I need to sleep and my head really hurts. I closed my eyes and a few minutes later, I drifted off to sleep.

I am here again. Was it just a dream that someone saved me? Why am I here? I looked around and saw the same room where I was almost violated. I looked for the outline of the door and saw it, luckily. Maybe it really was just a dream. I reached for the knob but then someone grabbed my wrist. It was the redhead.

"Going somewhere, missy?" He said. Oh my gosh. That saving part was really all just a dream! The same thing happened. Pimple man grabbed my ankles and they started to undress me. I struggled so they drugged me. "Gakupo…" I whispered. Just then the door flew open and instead of Gakupo, Len was there, standing like a knight-in-shining armor. He stabbed both men and now here he is, cradling my head. I touched his face, which was etched with worry and at the same time relief, and said. "I love you…" And then a ring broke the silence between us. It keeps getting nearer. All of a sudden, Len was becoming transparent, like the air and he smiled at me. "Len! Don't leave me!" I wanted to shout but my voice seems stuck in my throat plus I'm too tired. I just let the ringing come to me. I cried silently…. Riiiiiiiiiing!

The sound of the alarm clock pierced my ears. Damn alarm clock. I reached out and turned it off. What with that dream? Is it really Len who saved me? I sighed.

Downstairs, the first thing I saw was Meiko talking to my parents. I called to her and beamed. "MEIKO!" I rushed down and hugged her tight.

"RIN! Thank God you're okay!" he said when she released me.

"What day is it?" I asked randomly.

"Well, it's a Sunday. But the school gave you their permission to rest for a week." It was my mom. She always butts into my conversations.

I hesitated. I don't want to rest for a week. I still need to ace the exams and tutor Len. I voiced it out. "But mom! I don't want to rest! I still need to ace the exams." I said.

"Honey, you're grades are already okay. Just rest for a while and have the special examinations later." She said casually. She wouldn't understand. I sighed.

"Mom, I'll go to school tomorrow whether you like it or not. Besides, I feel okay already." I replied. She can't stop me.

She shrugged. "Suit yourself." And she walked away.

Meiko then dragged me to my room. I let her. Psssh, I'm too tired to think anyway.

"Soo, tell me what happened. I heard from your Mom that Gakupo was the one who saved you. That's so sweet." She gushed. Sweet? I was almost raped and all she can say is that its sweet? Pssshh.

"Yeah. But I still have this nagging feeling that something was wrong. I quite don't believe that Gakupo was the one who saved me." I shared; I can't keep this for too long.

"But, why?" She asked.

"Well, I don't know. Maybe that drug they injected really was strong." I replied.

"Drugged? Ohh.. Uhm.. I've been meaning to ask you… Do you mind?" she hesitated.

"Mind what?" My eyebrows knit. She never asked permission just to ask something.

"Uhm.. Are you.. uhm.. still a .. virgin?" She said quietly. I swear I just saw her blush!

I laughed out loud. "Hell. Of course!" I laughed again.

She sighed in relief.

Monday, it was a week before the finals. The first thing I did when I arrived at school was look for Len. I spotted him in his lockers and greeted him.

"Hey Len!" I said, smiling toothily.

He looked at me and replied curtly. "What do you want?"

I was taken aback by his response. I thought we were okay already?

"Uhm.. I just want to say sorry that I hadn't come for the tutorial. Something happened." I answered.

He grunted. "Yeah, I know. Now can you leave me now?" He scowled at me.

It seems my heart was broken into a million pieces by his attitude towards me. I turned away, hurt. What did I do? He was so warm yesterday I thought we had a connection. Maybe it was all just a joke. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the day.

The first class of the day was chemistry. As I made my way towards my locker to get my lab gown, a group of girls approached me. I stopped and readied myself in case they want a fight. But instead, an unusual thing happened.

"Hi Rin. I heard you were almost raped last night and Gakupo saved you. That's so sweeeet!" She gushed. Man, I prefer them scowling at me than enduring this.

"Yeah," I replied shortly. I started towards my locker again. The other girl, a pretty curly-haired girl, stopped me. "Hey wait. We're still talking to you." She said her voice dangerous. I sighed and turned to her.

"I really am not in the mood to fight so if you'll excuse me." I walked past them but before I could reach my destination, another girl slapped me so hard I thought I heard my jaw crack.

"Holy shit! What's your problem dude?" I screamed. I am through with insecure bitches hating me.

"What's YOUR problem? Why are you stealing Gakupo from us?" The curly-haired girl replied.

STEALING? Gosh, they're insane! "Stealing? Did I tell Gakupo to come there and save me? Did I ask him to like me? Why the hell are you so damn insecure? Go get your 'beloved' Gakupo for all I care! Let's see if he will like you too! Now get out the heck out of my face or I swear I'd punch y'all. I don't even care if you're girls!" I threatened and opened my locker.

I was still fuming mad when I reached the Chemistry Lab. I grumbled and complained and kicked things. It's a good thing I there wasn't any apparatus yet at the table. Len being my partner didn't even help at all. Instead, I felt worse.

"Hey pig-face. Stop grumbling or else you're going to fail this subject and you can't proceed to junior high," Len told me one time when I was complaining about how hot it is.

"Shut up. Mind your own business bastard." I hissed at him. Gone was the good ole' Rin. Let him suffer!

After the first class, I strode towards where the lockers are when all of a sudden, a hand grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the AVR. I didn't have the chance to complain for a pair of lips crushed mine in a deep kiss. It tastes familiar. The warmth was familiar. I pushed him for a second and saw a pair of eyes full of tenderness. It was Len.

"I missed you sweetheart. I have to let you go." He hugged me and kissed me again. I responded to the kiss with all my heart. He suddenly broke the kiss and went out. I was left there, astounded. What did he mean let go of me?