NAVIGATION #01 EXISTENCE #02 MATA ASHITA #03 THE MISSING PIECE PT 1 #04 THE MISSING PIECE PT 2 #05 365+365+366+365+365+365+366+365+365+365= #06 BETWEEN US #07 WHEN LOVE TURNS DANGEROUS #08 SAY GOODBYE #09 HAPPY BIRTHDAY #10 SLEEPOVER #11 MISSION ADVISOR : FAILED # 12 BY YOUR SIDE #13 OUR STORY :
ONE WISH :
ONE MEMO :
ONE TIME :
ONE KISS :
ONE FAREWELL :
ONE LOVE #14 MISSION ADVISOR 2 : PJ BATTLE
Disclaimer/ AN: This story was originally written under the name of caix and/or Leyun in chinese. Cos of that . . .A lot of the expressions are literal translation. Some major parts were left out due to expression problems and length. This is originally a 29 chapters story . . . But I had managed to shortened everything into a single one shot. Thing to note that is that this is originally writing 5 years ago . .. when I was still a teenager . . .Therefore . . . there are some really cheesy and mushy things that I never thought I could write it now . . And now . . . Let me present to you . . .The first completed story of my writing life :
Existence
Not many had remembered my existence.
Not many are willing to accept my existence.
Not even myself.
Until the day I met you.
Then I realized, that's the reason why I existed.
[20th October 2010]
Clutching her phone tight in her hand, Ai held her hand close to her chest as she ran frantically down the street of skyscrapers with all her life and energy, tears brimming at her eyelids.
'This can't be true. This can't be true. Risa . . . This can't be true. . . ' The trace of urbanisation had gradually disappeared, and was replaced by greeneries, with soft sound of waves hitting the shoreline.
Ai set her foot into the sinking sand. The tears she had in her eyes were no longer there. "Risa!" Ai's voice echoed through the empty beach. Her eyes skimmed over the sight ahead of her as fresh tears started to flow down her face. Ai looked down onto the phone that she was grabbing tight in her hands. Tears dripped down, falling onto the familiar picture that was pasted to the back of phone. She sank her knees onto the sand, with her soul sinking in the similar way. "This can't be true, Risa. . ." Ai whimpered through her sobbing.
[20th September 2010]
"I HATE HIM!" Ai mumbled angrily under her breath as she stomped heavily off the bus. She had repeated the same sentence since she had stepped onto the bus and the 30 minute bus ride. Remembering what had happened earlier in the day, Ai grunted again. "I TOTALLY HATE HIM!" As the familiar sound of the waves gently echoed into Ai's ears - the sign that she was nearing her destination- the flaming fire that was burning in her mind slowly toned down, and a unexplainable wave of calmness began to fill in the space. Eventually, the angry she felt was gone as she set her feet onto the soft surface.
'This is surely calming.' Ai thought in her mind as she bent over and removed the heels she was wearing, allowing her bare feet to stand on the soft fine grains.
"AHHH~~~~~~~~~" Ai yelped excitedly. The waves and the wind echoed back the excitement, causing Ai to have the urge to run into the waters. And as she was about to do that, a petite white figure couple of metres away from her caught had caught her attention.
'Hmmm?' Ai slowed down and came to a complete stop. 'I'm not alone on this beach.' Ai had finally realised this fact.
'This is rare . . .This is the very first time I had saw someone other than myself on this beach.' Ai noted elatedly. The sight of the second party increased her uprising tension. She changed her direction and headed towards where the petite figure, making herself comfortably beside her.
As Ai sat down, the shuffling and movement of the sand caused the petite figure to turn away from the shore and faced Ai, revealing flawless feature and her pair of breathtaking hazel eyes. Ai was awestruck. The toffee eyes that were staring at her had caught her breath. Though breathtaking, the eyes had carried another story.
'Her eyes . . . They carried some much sorrow, so much sadness. . . But . . . Why . . . Why do I still find myself attracted by them . . .' "Hello! My name is Takahashi Ai. What are you doing over here?" Ai cleared her throat and introduced herself, flashing one of her best smile to the younger girl who was facing her at the moment. The conflict that she had with her boss earlier in the morning was now completely out of her mind. "Are you here to alleviate yourself up? Me too! I liked it here. It's quiet and calming. I like to come here when I'm upset or angry. The quietness and calmness of the wave . . . They are so comforting, aren't they?" Ai continued as she closed her eyes, enjoying the cool breeze on her face, waiting for the response from the other party. But what came up next was not what had expected.
"Aren't you afraid?" The younger girl spoke up for the first time.
"Afraid of what?" Ai returned the question as she opened her eyes and looked questionably back into the hazel orbs.
"It seems like you had knew nothing about that . . . " The girl replied as she looked away from Ai. "Do you know the reason why. . . why is it particularly quiet over here?" The girl continued asking.
"Is there even a reason for the quietness of the beach?" Ai raised curiously.
"Three years ago. . . . A horrendous murder had happened on this beach. A family of four who stayed by this beach was murdered and thrown deep into the sea . . . And till now. . . till now . . . neither the remains nor the murderer were found. . . People who had came here after the incident had claimed that . . . its haunted over here. . . Slowly . . . and eventually . . . the news spread and nobody had dared to set their feet onto this beach . . . not anymore. . . "
"I see . . . " Ai trailed off.
"You are not a local people? Why haven't you heard of this story? It was all over the newspaper . . ." The girl asked.
"Well . . . you can say that I'm not from the local. . . .even though I was born here, I was being sent over to stay with my aunt since I was 2 when both my parents were killed in a car accident. It was until last year, when I had came back to this country. . . " Ai explained sadly as she grabbed one handful of the soft sand and released it slowly back to its original position.
The younger girl made no vocal response to Ai. Instead, she just nodded her head slightly in acknowledgement, before she stood up from her position. The edge of her white dress danced in the direction on the wind, almost blinding Ai's vision. Not saying anything, she began to take her first step out, away from where Ai was seated, away from Ai sight of vision.
"Wait a minute!" Ai called out loud as she quickly made onto her feet. "You have yet to tell me what's your name!" Ai continued as she took a few steps forward. The sight of the white petite figure had slowly disappeared.
"Risa" The waves echoed the soft voice, bringing the name Ai wanted to know to her.
'Risa . . . So her name is Risa. . . That's such a nice name. . . ' Ai wandered in her mind. She turned her vision back to the wide ocean before her. Without knowingly, the faint image of Risa appeared before Ai. The captivating eyes of Risa were staring straight into her orbs, causing her heart to skip a beat.
'She's beautiful . . . ' Ai thought in her mind.
'Will I be able to see her again?' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[23rd September 2010]
'Well. . . A new day at a new workplace. . . and I wondered what's ahead for me?' Ai thought in her mind.
'Will I be able to meet her again? She wasn't there when I went back to the same place both yesterday and the day before. . .Will I be able to meet her again?' Ai continued to wonder as the image of Risa flashed past in her memory.
"Come on, Ai. The boss is here. Let me introduce you to her." Eri stood by the edge of Ai's working desk and urged. She took Ai's arm and brought her towards the entrance of the office, intercepting the pathway to the boss's office.
"Boss, this is Ai, the new girl who's starting work today." Eri introduced excitedly to Miki, who had just shot a glance to Ai, before sifting her way through the tiny space and back to her office.
'Does she hates me?' Ai thought offensively in her mind due to the treatment she had received from Miki.
'She didn't even bothered to make any eye contact with me . .. ' "Don't mind." Eri encouraged as she patted onto Ai's shoulder. "Boss is like that."
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The day at work went passed at the blink of the eye and Ai was now seated at the seat on the bus, the bus that drive through the road to the beach. "Uncle, I'm alighting over at the front" Ai called out to the bus driver. The bus driver looked queerly at Ai before stopping the bus. He sped of immediately the moment Ai set her feet on to the ground.
'That's interesting. . . to think that in this 21st century, there are still people who believes the existence of ghost.' Ai mocked playfully in her mind at the actions of the bus driver.
'That's totally unbelievable!' Ai began to skip her way through the pathway- the pathway leading to the beach - hoping and praying that she would be able to meet the lady she had met 3 days ago. And she did. When she had reached the place, Ai saw the same petite figure clad in the same white dress was seated at the same position as she was 3 days ago. Ai sprinted her way through the sand, not bothering in removing her shoes, and stopped beside Risa.
"Hi! You are finally here! I've been waiting for you to appear here since 2 days ago!" Ai yapped excitedly as she rested her palm on her knees, catching her breath after the running the distance.
"You sound happy today." Risa commented as she stood up. "Then why are you here today? I thought you had said that you come here when you are upset or angry, when you need to be cheered up. You don't look like you are in need of any of these."
"I was happy . . .happy because you are here!" Ai explained as she blushed gently. "I had wanted to see you again . . . even since our last meeting. . . " Ai continued as she looked away from Risa's glaze.
"Why?" Risa asked suddenly.
"Wh - y?" Ai stuttered. "Why? . . . It's - It’s because . . . I - I think - I'm - I'd fallen in love with you . . . " Ai confessed, as the redness across her cheek increased its intensity.
"Are you crazy?" Came the unexpected replied. Risa turned away and began to make her way away from Ai, failing to catch the tears that had began to dwell at Ai's eyelid at the response of Risa.
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[24th September 2010]
Ai turned up in the office the next day, with a pair of swollen eyes and a throbbing headache.
'Are you crazy?' The last words of Risa for her yesterday had truly drove her crazy. She ended her night on her bed, crying herself to sleep. She cried in sadness, in sadness that Risa had rejected her confession, asking whether was she crazy or not. She cried in fear, in fear that she might not have the chance to see her again. She cried in confusion, in confusion in wondering what had she done wrongly, in confusion in whether what she had said the day before was appropriate or not. Tears had once again made their way onto Ai's face.
"Woah, Ai, what had happened to you? You looked like you had gotten into a war last night." Eri asked in concern when she had passed by Ai's working desk, and saw Ai burying her face into her palm.
Ai tried to wipe away the tears as she peeled her face away from her palm. "I'm alright. I - I just didn't manage to get adequate amount of rest last night." Ai explained.
"Get back home now." Eri ordered. "Boss asked you to rest well first before coming to work."
Ai nodded her head lightly as she complied to the order. She had zero motivation to work, especially when she had some much uncertainties and sorrows in her work. As she passed by the café on the ground floor of the building she works in, her heart skipped and clenched tightly within her left chest.
'What is she doing here? Should . . . . I just leave and pretend that I had not saw her . . . .or should I go forward and talk to her?' Ai debated within her mind and her heart and had finally decided to go with the latter. She took a deep breath and entered the café, stopping before the counter where Risa was seated.
"Is . . . is it okay . . .if I seat down over here?" Ai asked timidly as she glanced nervously on her shoes.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you." Ai thanked quietly. "What are you doing here?" Ai asked after moments of stillness.
"What are you doing over here then?" Risa chose not to answer the question Ai had raised. Instead, she returned the question back to Ai.
"I - I work in this building. Fujimoto Design. Have you heard of this company?" Ai replied.
"You work in Fujimoto Design?" Risa asked interestedly as she sat up in attention and leaned slightly closer to Ai.
'She works in Fujimoto Design . . . Then . . .this would be a good chance . . . A really good chance . . . ' Risa thought in her mind as she glanced at Ai in the same curiosity for the first time.
'Her eyes . . . Her lips . . . They are perfect . . . She would like them . . . she would . . . ' "Is there a problem with that?" Ai asked back curiously at Risa's sudden interest.
"No." Risa replied curtly and shortly, leading the conversation to come into an awkward silence.
'What should I say now . . . This silence . . .it's scary . . . ' Ai thought worriedly in her mind. "I . . . About yesterday . . . . . . . I - I was just kidding with you . . . when I said I'd fallen in love with you . . . " Ai lied.
'As long as we can be friends. . . As long as I can still meet you. . . I won't mind that . . .' Ai thought sadly in her mind. "I hope you won't mind about that . . . And that . . . Can . . . Can we be friends? I swear . . .there's nothing much. Just friends. "Ai requested as she played with her fingers nervously, praying that Risa will not reject her offer of being friends.
'I can't take anymore blow more than this . . .' "Of course I wouldn't mind." Risa replied unexpectedly. "I wouldn't mind having more friends, definitely." Risa continued with a gentle smile.
'She smile! This is the first time I had seen her smile . . . they are just . . . I think. . . I think my heart had just melted. . .' Ai swelled in her heart.
Risa waved her palm before Ai, trying to get the attention of the dazed Ai. "Are you okay?" Risa asked.
Ai snapped out of her daze and nodded frivolously. "I am." She finished up with a smile before bringing her right hand up before Risa. "Let us start this all over again. Takahashi Ai." Ai continued.
Risa took the cue and held Ai's hand to a handshake. "Risa."
"Risa?" Ai asked when Risa did not include her last name in her introduction.
"Yupp. Just Risa." Risa insisted as she released Ai's hand.
" Can I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Did you ran away from home or something like that?" Ai questioned curiously. "You . . . have been wearing the same set of clothing since the day I met you . . . and . . . your last name. . . you are unwilling to use your last name, don't you?"
Risa was struck at the question.
'What should I do?' Risa worried.
'Maybe I should just play along with that then.' Risa decided. "Ye-yes, I had gotten into an argument with my parents. . . . and. . . yah. "Risa trailed off till silence.
"Do you need a place to stay in?" Ai offered, causing Risa to look up in surprise at Ai. "I do have a spare room in my apartment. If you don't mind, you can stay with me for this period of time." Ai beamed with a smile.
"Really?" Risa was astonished at the spontaneity of Ai's offer to a stranger like her.
"Yupps."
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[25th September 2010]
A continuous banging on Ai's bedroom door made Ai to stir and roll on her bed reluctantly. "Ai! Aren't you waking up? You are going to be late for work if you do not get up at this instant." A familiar voice continued.
"Hmmm" Ai whined softly as she reached her hand to the bedside table and brought the clock closer to her face, reading the time shown on the clock. She shot up from her lying position the moment the time was registered in her mind,
'Shoot! I am going to be late!' Ai exclaimed in her mind. She placed the clock to its original position and took the pair of spectacles that were placed beside it and shove it onto her face before getting off her bed and towards the door.
As Ai opened the door, Risa's knuckles were just inches away from her face. Risa's fist trembled and dropped back to the side of its owner. A muffled giggling was heard. Ai scratched her hair with her right hand as she read the expression on Risa's face. "What's so funny?" Ai asked in her sleepy voice.
"Your - your - spectacles . . . " Risa managed to replied through her giggling.
Ai had finally realised what had caused the uncontrolled laughter of Risa. Her black thick framed glasses. No one else had seen Ai with her spectacles expect for her aunt. Risa was the first one. And that had caused Ai to shake herself out from her sleepiness even without having the need to wash herself up and brush her teeth.
"You . . . you. . . looked cute in them . . ." Risa continued as she covered her mouth with her hand, hoping that that would stop her from bursting into a loud streak of laughter. Though that effort, she had failed.
"You little brat. . . .how dare you laugh at me" Ai threatened humorously as she marched closer to Risa, causing Risa to back off each time Ai took a step forward. "Aren't you afraid that I will eat you up?"
"Don't you come near me!" Risa shrieked out lightly. As she backed off, she tripped over the armrest of the sofa, causing her to fall onto the sofa on her back. "I will scream if you come near me." Risa continued as she played along.
"Do you think I will believe in you?" Ai played, with the intention to corner Risa to the corner of the sofa.
"No breakfast for you if you continue to come near me. And I can assure you that you will definitely be late for work today." Risa continued with a victorious smile.
'No breakfast? That's so sad . . . . ' Ai realised. "Don't be so mean, Risa nee chan . . ." Ai pouted as she began to act pettishly in a charming manner. "I know you would be that mean right?" Ai continued as she stopped beside the sofa.
Risa sat up on the sofa as she glanced curiously at Ai. "I thought I'm a little brat. Since when I had become your Risa nee chan?"
"You are always Risa nee chan. . . Since when did I called you a little brat? Nope I didn't" Ai refuted childishly as she swung her shoulders left and right, just like a spoil child would do. "Risa nee chan is the best . . ." Ai continued.
"Ah okay okay. . . that's enough. Stop getting so mushy, my dear friend."
'My dear friend . . .' These three words echoed painfully in Ai's mind, causing the smile on her face to disappear for a short moment.
'Yes. . . I'm just a friend to her . . . .nothing more. . . .Isn't that what you had asked for too as well, Ai?' Ai reflected sadly in her mind. Not wanting Risa to take notice the change in her mood, Ai took a deep breath before forcing another smile onto her face. "Alright. So my dear, friend, what's for breakfast today?"
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-Ding-
Ai stood in the elevator, reflecting on the short events that had happened in the short 2 days.
"Nee, Risa, This is for you!" Ai informed as she presented a nicely wrapped box to Risa.
"What's this?"Risa asked curiously as she took the box from Ai.
"A gift for you. In remembrance for you moving into my house, and also the start of our friendship." Ai explained. "Open it up. I think you will like it. It's like a baby to me."
Risa tore off the ribbon and opened cover of the box, revealing a simple white wallet."What's this for?"
"I realised you didn't have a wallet or something. I guessed you had forgot to take them when you left your home. This is my first assignment when I was in design school."
- - - - -
"Nee, Risa! Let's take some print club photo!" Ai asked as she pulled Risa into a shop that was filled with pink machines.
"What for?" Risa asked curiously.
"A remembrance for today!" Ai explained briefly as she continued to pull Risa into one of the machine. "Smile!"
When the photos were done, Ai took the white wallet she had gave to Risa and pasted one of them in the wallet. "So now, you can see me, your dear friend, everyday!" Ai chipped childishly. She then took out her phone and pasted the same photo onto the back of the mobile phone. "See! I have the same one as well!"
- - - - -
"Bye bye! Enjoy your work!" Risa waved to Ai as Ai entered the building. "I will prepare the dinner for tonight!"
'So . . .. this is how it feels to stay with someone . . . feeling of home . . . .when you know that there's someone back home waiting for you to go back from work. . . ' A wondered.
"Ai?" Eri waved her hand at Ai's eye level, trying to get her attention. "Are you alright? You are there, downright spacing out. The elevator and reached this level for 10 minutes, and you made no intention to move. And too, from time to time, you were smiling stupidly by yourself. Are you alright? Do you want another day leave to rest at home?" Eri asked in concern.
"I'm fine. I was just recalling some things that had happened lately." Ai explained as she brush away the blushing on her cheeks.
"Good to hear that. We are having a meeting in the meeting room in 15 minutes time. Get yourself prepared for it." Eri informed.
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'Three years. . . .Three years had passed. . . have she moved on? I hope she did . . . . ' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Eri is leaving us next month. And to select the new chief designer taking her space, both Eri and I had decided to come up with a competition for all designers. The one who wins this competition will be the new chief designer." Miki spoke out. "The theme of this design is Love - feeling of being in love- . That's all for today's meeting. All of you have 3 weeks to finish this project. Do well and all the best." Miki finished.
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"I'm back!" Ai announced as she unlocked her apartment door and swung it opened. She froze in her steps.
'Wait, did I got into the wrong apartment? This is not how it was like when I left for work. I'm pretty sure that the coffee table was covered with unwanted letters and design sketches. The shoes were not in this position as well.' Ai thought as she back out a step and glance on the name tag.
'No this is my apartment.' Ai noted silently in her mind.
"Surprise? Thought that you had entered into a wrong apartment?" Risa asked as she walked out of the kitchen.
Ai nodded her head in embarrassment.
"I was surprised that you managed to live in such conditions for months. It's not like how a girls' house would look like, Ai. It's as messy as a guy's house." Risa scolded lightly.
Ai continued to blush in embarrassment as she rubbed the back of her head.
"Maa. . . .I guess it's alright. . . since each and everyone have their own strong points and weaknesses. I guess. . . being messy is one of your weaknesses." Risa continued. "Are you hungry?"
"Yes! Let's eat out!"
"But . . . I had prepared dinner . . ." Risa explained.
"We can pack them out and eat. I feel like going to the beach today." Ai insisted as she began to pack the food on the dining table into plastic containers and placed them into a carrier bag. She then swift into the kitchen and packed white candles. "Let's go." Ai grabbed onto Risa's wrist and dragged her out of the apartment.
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"You are such a great cook!" Ai praised as she stuffed another mouthful into her mouth.
"Really? You are the only one who had said that." Risa looked down onto the sand.
"Of course! Why would I lie to you?" Ai encouraged as she patted on Risa's shoulder.
"Nee, Ai."
"Yes?"
"Do you remember the story I told you about this beach?"
"Hmmm." Ai nodded her head as she placed a mouthful of food into her mouth.
"You had yet to reply my question . . . Aren't you afraid?"
"Of course not! If I was, I won't be sitting down here with you at this time in the night. And . . . This is the 21st century. Ghost, do they really exist?" Ai analysed.
Risa remained silent. She turned away from Ai and began to focus her vision on the wide ocean ahead.
"What's wrong?" Ai asked as she noticed the sudden change in Risa's state of mind.
Risa shook her head in response. "I was just thinking about some stuffs." Risa sniffled. "So . . . What are we going to do now? Now that we are done with the dinner."
"Enjoy the sea breeze and the stars. Look at them!" Ai looked up into the sky. "They are shining especially brightly tonight, just for you and me." Ai joked.
Risa giggled softly as she raised her head. "It's true . . . they are shining so brightly tonight."
The two of them began to sat in silence, enjoying the silent company of the wind and the star. Not long after, Ai felt a heavy weight on her shoulder. She tilted her head slightly to her right and saw Risa dozing off on her shoulder.
'She must be really tired. . . having to pack my apartment and prepare dinner. . . ' Ai noted silently as she prevented herself from moving, not wanting to wake Risa up.
'She looks so cute when she's asleep.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[26th September 2010]
The first light from the rising sun shone upon the two girls, causing Risa to flip her eyes open at the glaring light. "Ah, Sun rise!" Risa caught her breath at the beautiful sight before her. "It has been a long time ever since I last saw the sun rise!" Risa commented as she turned over and looked excitedly at Ai. "It's so beautiful!"
"If that's the case, we will come here once every week to catch the sun rise." Ai told Risa.
'I like that smile of hers. . . . the eyes of sorrows are gone . . . this hope . . . they had filled them up at the sight of the sun rise. . . ' "But - "
"No but. Let's come here every week to catch the sun rise. I like them as well. It's not something troublesome anyway." Ai continued as she flash a charming smile to Risa before turning to the uprising sun.
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[1st October 2010]
'It has been a week ever since Risa had moved in . . . And I wondered . . . .was it a right thing to do to let her move in . . . within this whole week. . . I had found myself deeper in love with her. . . she had brought colours into my life. . . The kind of family warmth that I had wanted since I was young. . . . Coming back into a home, where there's someone you love, you cared about, waiting for you, preparing dinner for you. . . .That's the kind of family I wanted . . .' Ai rolled on her bed and reflected.
'Wait a minute . . . My project competition! One week had passed and I had yet to do anything about it.' Ai remembered as she sat up on her bed.
'How can I let this to slip out of my mind!' Ai got off the bed, out of her bedroom and into her working room, where she sat at her working desk, glaring into the piece of white paper.
'AH! I can't think of any designs!' Ai thought as she crumbled one piece of paper and threw it into the bin.
'The theme is feeling of being in love. . . . . Doesn't that meant Risa? Ah! Maybe I can use Risa as my model! So that I can focus properly on the project.' Ai decided. She threw her pencil onto the desk, rushed out of the room with the measuring tape she took from the drawer, and stopped outside Risa's room.
"Risa, are you awake?" Ai knocked on the door and asked. "Risa?" Ai knocked again.
Heavy footsteps could be heard shuffling slowly through the carpeted floor. "Yes?" Risa mumbled softly as she opened the door. "It's only 630 in the morning. Why are you awake at such a timing?"
"I need a favour from you, Risa." Ai asked as she walked towards Risa. Not waiting for Risa to reply her, Ai began to raise Risa's arm up and began to take her measurements.
"What are you doing?" Risa mumbled softly as she allowed Ai to move her limbs.
"Taking some measurements." Ai replied and began to take the shoulder width and slipped her hands down to her waistline. "Okay, I'm done, you can go back to sleep." With that, Ai pushed Risa gently back to Risa's bed and scooted out of the room, closing the door after her.
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Risa sat up on her bed right after Ai left the room.
'I can't fall back asleep . . . . ' Risa thought. She hung her legs on the edge of the bed and sat there. She pulled out the drawer by the bedside table and took out the white wallet given to her by Ai. She flipped the flap and glanced at the photo that was pasted in it.
'Why is she so nice to me? I think . . . I'm falling in deeper. . . .What should I do . . . what should I do . . . this is not part of my plan. . . ' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[15th October 2010]
Two weeks had passed since then. In the whole of the two weeks, Ai always spent the weekend with Risa at the beach, as she promised, to watch the sun rise. And during the rest of her free time off work, she would spent it in designing and sewing the evening dress she was supposed to design for the competition. As she finished the last needle on the dress, she jumped out of her chair and yelped in joy. "I'm done!!" She hugged the dress close to her chest and ran out of the working room. She headed towards Risa's bedroom and began to knock on it.
"Risa! I have something to show you! Come out!" Ai knocked repeatedly.
"What happened? Fire?" Risa asked as she flicked the door open hurriedly.
"No. I'm done with my project and I wanted you to try it out." Ai replied.
"At 230 am in the morning?" Risa groaned tiredly.
"It's 230 in the morning? I'm - I'm sorry. . . I didn’t know. . . .I shouldn't have disturbed you. You can go back to s-" Ai apologised before backing out of the room.
"It's alright. I'm awake anyway. Just pass it to me." Risa replied and took the dress from Ai.
Ai strolled out of the Risa's bedroom and sat on the sofa, waiting patiently for Risa to try up the dress.
"I'm done!" The bedroom door clicked open, revealing the Risa, clad in the pure white evening gown that revealed her flawless back. Ai was stunned at the view of Risa. "Why are - you staring at me in this way. Do I look weird in this?" Risa asked when she realised Ai was staring at her, with her lip slightly opened.
"No." Ai shook her head. "You looked . . . gorgeous . . . " Ai praised, causing Risa to blush deeply. "This is for you. "
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"Ai, wake up." Risa shook Ai gently. "You have your presentation today right? You won't want to be late for work today right?" Ai whined in tiredness. "Come on. I have packed your dress." Risa dragged Ai up from the bed and pushed her into the toilet.
After Ai was done washing up and changing, she got out of her room and saw Risa, sitting by the dining table. "Good morning!" Risa greeted.
"Good morning!" Ai returned.
"There!" Risa passed the paper bag to Ai. "All the best for your presentation today." Risa encouraged with a smile.
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"Good morning, Ai! How's your preparation for the presentation?" Eri asked as she patted Ai's shoulder.
"Perfect!" Ai replied with confidence.
"It's starting in half an hour time. Prepare yourself well."
"Hai!" Ai responded. She placed her hand into the paper bag and pulled out the dress to change into. Just as she did so, a pink piece of paper dropped out onto the floor. Ai bent down to the floor and picked it up.
To the silly Ai
I knew that you will definitely oversleep today since you had slept at such a late timing last night. So I had prepared breakfast for you, and placed it in the paper bag as well. All the best! You can do it, my friend.
Risa
A wide smile crept onto Ai's face.
'Thank you, Risa.' Ai slipped the paper back into the bag and began to head towards the toilet.
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"Ai, Miki wants to see you in her office." Eri came towards Ai and informed. Ai stood up from the seat and entered Miki's office.
"I like your design. It fits the theme very well. Both Eri and I had decided that you have the potential to do. We have decided to promote you to be the chief designer.
"Really!" Ai beamed with joy. "I will work hard!"
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"Risa! Pack your luggage. We are going somewhere to celebrate my success!"
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-knock knock-
Risa was alone in the apartment when the someone knocked against the main door. Risa rushed forward to the door and opened it, only to see a drunk Ai leaning against Eri.
"Hi -" Eri greeted. When she saw the Risa. She was stunned. "Hi. I'm sending Ai home. She got drunk during the celebration with the company."
"Thank you." Risa thanked and took Ai from Risa. "You should return home soon as well. It's getting late."
Risa dragged Ai back to Ai's bedroom and settled her carefully onto the bed. When she was done, Risa went out of the room and into the kitchen, and prepared a hot towel and ginger tea before returning back to the room.
"Risa! I really really love you very much. Why can't you see that? I was lying when I said I was kidding. I was so afraid that I won't be able to see you again. I was so afraid that . . . Why can't you see it?" Ai blurted out slurry.
Risa placed the warm towel on Ai's forehead. Before she knew it, Ai grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto the bed. "Don't go. . . Don't leave me alone. I'm afraid. . . Stay with me . . ."
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[16th October 2010]
[i'This hurts . . . ' [/i]Ai groaned in her mind as she snuggled and hugged into pillow beside her. '
Hmmm. this feels different from my usual pillow. It's unusually warm. . . ' Ai peeked opened her eyes. She released her grip frantically the moment she saw the person lying beside her.
'Why is she lying beside me? What happened last night?'Ai stuck her face close to Risa's face and studied her features.
'She's so beautiful.' Ai lifted her hand up and stroke Risa's cheek gently before putting it back to Risa's waist. Ai snuggled in closer to Risa and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, Ai had fallen asleep once again.
15 minutes later, when Ai opened her eyes once again, she saw Risa, staring at her with her captivating toffee orbs. That, once again, shocked Ai. She pulled back and removed her arms away from Risa's waist.
"You're awake?" Risa asked softly.
"Hmmm." Ai nodded her head lightly.
"About what you had said last night. . . . . ."
"What did I say last night?" Ai asked frantically.
"You asked . . . whether can I stay back with you . . . "
"Did I ? Why didn't I have any of such recollection?" Ai pondered.
"Because you were drunk . . ." Risa replied childishly.
Silence began to fall in. The pair stayed silence, and stared at each other into their eyes.
"I'm . . . .willing to . . ." Risa mumbled inaudibly.
Ai shot her eyes wide open. "Are you kidding me?"
Risa shook her head.
"Am I dreaming?"
Risa shook her head again. She shuffled forward and position her lips onto Ai's lip, pressing them deeply. "What do you think so? Are you dreaming?"
Ai shook her head. She wrapped her arms around Risa's waist and pulled Risa closer to herself. "Thank you . . . "
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"I've booked a hotel tonight for the celebration." Ai informed as she unlocked the room door.
"Hmmm? Why is there only 1 bed?" Risa asked when she explored the room. "Where will I sleep then?"
"With me!" Ai beamed as she hugged Risa from the back.
"With you?" Risa doubted.
"Why? Are you afraid . . . that I will eat you up?" Ai teased as she bit a mouthful of Ai.
"Nope." Risa snuggled out of Ai's grip. "It's just that . . . I'm afraid that you will be on the floor the next morning. . . " With that, Risa attempted to escape out of the room.
"Are you really that cruel to me?" Ai pulled Risa back to her embrace and threw her onto the hotel bed. Ai straddled and pressed her body against Risa's. "So . . . do you think you can get me down on the floor tomorrow morning?
"Fine! You win. I won't kick you down the bed. Can you get off? You are heavy. . . " Risa whined.
"Well . . . You should know what you should do . . . " Ai lowered down her face and beside Risa's ear.
"Fine." Risa place a peck on Ai's cheek.
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"Nee, Ai . . . If there's one day. . . . If I'd disappear. . . What will you do? Will you be very sad?" Risa asked suddenly.
Ai ruffled Risa's fringe. "Not only that I will poignant, I will search the whole country, until I find you again. . . " Ai replied, as she snuggled into Risa's cheek.
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[17th October 2010]
Ai felt relieved to find herself on the bed the moment she opened her eyes.
'She was kidding when she said she would kick me off the bed.' Ai felt the grip around her waist tightened. "Wakie, Risa. . . " Ai whispered into Risa's ears.
"Hmmm." Risa whined. "I'm really tired . . . Let me sleep . . . "
"If you don't wake up now, I'm gonna to use my special skill to . . . " Ai finish with an evil laughter.
"Do it then. . . " Risa replied sleepily.
"You said so . . .I'm coming!"
Ai got off the bed and took a flower spray into her possession. She then returned back to the bed and began to spray the water onto Risa's face. "Are you waking up yet? If not, it's gonna be pouring down . . . " Ai threatened.
"Fine!" Risa pouted as she sat up on the bed. Ai place the water spray on the side table and began to pull Risa out of the bed and into the bathroom. She closed the toilet seat and sat Risa on the toilet bowl. "Let's wash up!" Ai asked as she picked up her toothbrush and toothpaste and began to brush her teeth.
Risa on the other end, sat where she was and remained still.
"Why aren't you moving?" Ai asked with the toothbrush in her mouth.
Risa looked sillily at Ai. "You are brushing your teeth over there. How am I suppose to brush mine?" Risa pouted, still a little moody that Ai had dragged her out of the bed in such an early time.
"Brush together!"
"I don't want. "
Ai took the toothbrush out of her mouth and bit her lower lips. "Why?" Ai pouted
"I . . . ."
Before Risa could finish her sentence, Ai placed her lips on Risa's and kissed her feverously. Risa opened her eyes wide - for the first time in the morning - and stared at Ai. Ai pulled back from Risa and burst out into a huge fit of laughter.
"What?" Risa looked blankly at Ai.
"You looked like a little kid who had just finished her ice cream." Ai commented as she pointed at Risa's lips.
Risa turned around and faced the mirror, only to find toothpaste around her lips. The toothpaste came from Ai, who had yet to finish brushing her teeth before she kissed Risa. Risa narrowed her eyes slightly at Ai. She closed herself to the sink and twist the tap switch. "Look who's talking . . . " Before Ai could rebut Risa, Risa began to splash the running water in Ai, initiating a water fight in the toilet.
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[18th October 2010]
"Nee, Ai. . . It's has been a long time ever since we went to the beach . . . "
"Do you want to go?" Ai asked.
Risa nodded her head like a young kid would do. "But it looks like it's going to soon." Risa pouted as she looked up to the gloomy sky.
"It's alright. Let's go!" Ai held firm onto Risa's hand.
Just as it was expected, the rain began to pour down the moment the two alighted the bus at the beach.
"It's raining. . . " Risa whined. "
- boom -
The thunder strike and lightning sounded. Risa shivered and hovered into Ai's embrace at the loud lighting. Ai held onto Risa protectively. "It's just a lightning."
"You are not afraid of lightning?" Risa asked innocently.
"No." Ai shook her head. "It's because I'm with you, that's why I have no fear for the lightning." Ai explained.
"Stop being so mushy" Risa scolded shyly and looked away from Ai.
"Do you know the reason why?" Ai continued with a mischievous smile. "It's because . . .Risa. . . you are taller than me. . . When the lightning strike . . . the ones that are taller . . .will" As Ai explained, the facial expression on Risa's face changed. Her eyes were wide open and a warming smile warmed her face.
"You . . . " Risa wriggled her finger at Ai's waist, tickling Ai at her sensitive spots. Ai began to run away from Risa, towards the beach. Risa chased after her. And when Risa finally chased up with Ai, she pounded Ai onto the wet sand and pressed Ai on her shoulder. Ai looked up at Risa and down to the wet white clothing of Risa.
"You. . . have a very nice body . . ." Ai whispered playfully.
"You are such a pervert." Risa returned the statement playfully as well.
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[19th October 2010]
"Nee, Risa. . . Let's make a visit to the beach tonight! I have a surprise for you." Ai spoke through the phone.
When nightfall came, Ai guided a blind folded Risa through her way to the beach, which Ai had spent the whole afternoon decorating - with sea shells and coloured candles, special dinner and red wine. "Tomorrow marks the first month we had met each other. I want to celebrate this day with you . . . " Ai whispered softly into Risa's ears.
'One month. . . .One month had passed so quickly . . . that means . .. 'Risa thought sadly in her mind. Ai raised her cup of red wine before Risa. Risa picked up hers and did the same thing as Ai had did. "The stars . . .they are breathtaking tonight. . . how I wish . . . they will never fade off . . ."
Ai drank a mouthful of the red wine. "Yupps. They are as beautiful as you were, Risa. But when the morning comes, more hope and beauty it will bring. . . "
Risa followed as suit and drank a mouthful from the cup.
'How I wish the morning will not come.'Ai drank her second mouth. "I will never forget tonight."
"Me too." Risa agreed.
'Should I tell her or not?' Ai drank her third sip of the wine.
"Ai . . . Actually. . ." Before Risa could say what she had intended to, she felt a heavy weight on her shoulder. Ai had gotten drunk.
'This is why . . .. and how your colleagues had managed to get you drunk.' Risa glanced intensively at the sleeping girl on her shoulder.
'This is the first time . . I am watching her so closely. . .. so freely. . . .' --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[20th October 2010]
"Risa?" Ai called out as she was awake. She woke up alone on the beach, with no Risa by her side. "Risa?"
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"Ai, I have a new project for you . . .the folder is in my room. Go pick it up from my desk." Miki ordered.
"Hai." Ai responded without any energy.
'Where is Risa. . . Where had she gone?' Ai wondered worriedly in her mind as she entered into Miki's office. And as she picked up the said folder for her, A photo in a glass photo frame on Miki's desk caught Ai's attention. She dropped the folder back onto the table and picked up the photo frame instead.
'This is impossible . . . She didn't tell me anything about as such . . . ' "What are you doing?" Miki shoot, stunning Ai as Ai jumped up at the sudden entrance of Miki.
"This . . . Who . . . is she?" Ai asked as she pointed to the lady in the picture, whom Miki was hugging tightly from the back.
"Niigaki Risa. My late girlfriend." Miki replied quietly. She took the photo frame back from Ai and glared sadly at the picture.
"Late - late girlfriend?" Ai stuttered.
"Her family . . . was being murdered . . . by their beach house 3 years ago. . . "
"Three years ago. . . . A horrendous murder had happened on this beach. A family of four who stayed by this beach was murdered and thrown deep into the sea . . . And till now. . . till now . . . neither the remains nor the murderer were found. . . People who had came here after the incident had claimed that . . . its haunted over here. . . Slowly . . . and eventually . . . the news spread and nobody had dared to set their feet onto this beach . . . not anymore. . . "
'This is impossible. . . No . . . ' Ai thought repeatedly in her mind. She ran out of Miki's office and to her desk where she grabbed her phone and out of the company.
'No . . .she's real . . . that's impossible. . . ' "Nee, Ai . . . If there's one day. . . . If I'd disappear. . . What will you do? Will you be very sad?"
- - - - -
"Aren't you afraid?"
Clutching her phone tight in her hand, Ai held her hand close to her chest as she ran frantically down the street of skyscrapers with all her life and energy, tears brimming at her eyelids.
'This can't be true. This can't be true. Risa . . . This can't be true. . .' The trace of urbanisation had gradually disappeared, and was replaced by greeneries, with soft sound of waves hitting the shoreline.
Ai set her foot into the sinking sand. The tears she had in her eyes were no longer there. "Risa!" Ai's voice echoed through the empty beach. Her eyes skimmed over the sight ahead of her as fresh tears started to flow down her face. Ai looked down onto the phone that she was grabbing tight in her hands. Tears dripped down, falling onto the familiar picture that was pasted to the back of phone. She sank her knees onto the sand, with her soul sinking in the similar way. "This can't be true, Risa. . ." Ai whimpered through her sobbing.
'What is life . . . when there's no you in my life?' Ai thought in devastation.
'There's no point in living when there is no you in my life Risa. . . Risa. . . ' Ai strolled slowly and heavily towards the ocean. Every step she took forward, memories she had with Risa kept flashing back into her mind. Every single detail, every little event, every smile that she had gave, they all kept flash in Ai's mind. At the next step, Ai tasted the salty sea water in her mouth. At the next wave that hit on Ai's face, Ai had finally lost her conscious.
Why are you so silly? Killing yourself? That's not what you should be doing! A smoothing voice came echoing to Ai's ear.
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'Where am I ?' Ai wondered as she sat up straight at read her surroundings.
'Am . . . am I dead?' Ai was lying on a wooden floor of a small wooden beach house, with no furniture in it, except for a table and a chair. The table has two drawer. With curiosity, Ai pulled opened one of them and found a diary in it. Ai removed the diary from the drawer and flipped opened it to the first page.
{20th September 2010}
3 years . . . The same day 3 years later. . . Here I am. . . standing and breathing in this world once again. . . .
(Is this Risa's diary?)
I wondered why . . . and How . . . is it possible that . . . I am standing on this world once again. I don't understand this as well . . . Was it because of my unfulfilled wishes when I passed away. . . . Or . . .
All these three years. . . Miki. . . She had never left my mind. . . She . . . How's she . . . Has she gotten over my death?
{22nd September 2010}
Two days . . . two days had passed. During these passed two days, I had went to the apartment where I stayed with Miki. . . As well as Miki's parent's apartment. They are not there anymore . . .Not anymore. . . .Where had they went ?
I too met a weird girl . . . Not bad looking. . . Someone . . . who should be the type of girls Miki look in. She knew nothing about the story of this piece of beach . . . And when I told her the story. . . She wasn't afraid at all . .. Such a weird girl. . . Her name . . . was Ai . . . if I didn't remembered wrongly. . .
{23rd September 2010}
Indeed . . . she's a weird girl. Or to be exact, she's a crazy girl. She had actually confessed to me . . . Someone who she had met for barely 72 hours. . . how can that be ?
But . . . to be truthful . . . I think . . . I did felt something towards her. . .. It's kind of warmest in the heart . . . when I first knew Miki . . . The first sight . . . .
{25th September 2010}
I had moved in with the person by the name of Ai . . .
I had went to Miki's company . . . hoping to catch a glimpse of her. . . just a glimpse will do . . .But instead of Miki . . .I'd met Ai instead. How small the world could be . . .She's actually working in Miki's company. . . With this coincidence . . . would she be the best choice for Miki to move on?
She asked me whether if I had a home . . . or did I ran out of home. . . She invited me to stay with her . . .She told me . . . what she had said the day before . . . was just a joke . . . For some reason . . . I felt queasy within myself . . . Why . . . Why am I feeling slightly upset?
(She had ulterior motives . . . It seems like she loved Boss with all of her heart . . . The love . . . She said yes to me . . .was it true . . . Or ?)
{13th October 2010}
It's been two weeks ever since I came back here. . . .
For the past two weeks . . .tons of things had happened . . . between the two of us . . . She . . .she did some much things for me . . . Always acting like a spoiled child . . . making me smile . . . I never thought I would be able to smile and laugh like how I used to be . . . but she . . . .
The feelings inside of me. . . .they are stirring up stronger as compared to how I felt for Miki . . . But I can't . . .. I know I can’t . . . If I do . . . I would end up hurting more than what I intended to . . .
(Did she really loved me?)
{16th October 2010}
She was promoted to chief designer. . . with the design she made for me . . . I knew she will make it . . . Miki will definitely love it . . . Now that she had been promoted . . . that's means that she would have more chance to work with Miki . . .which means . .But why am I feeling this way . . . Something is quivering within myself . . . Isn't that what I wanted. . . ?
Could it be that . . . I had really . . .
(That . . .you hadn’t let of boss. That she's the one and only that you had loved?)
{18th October 2010}
In the end . . . I could no long suppress this growing affection I had for her . . . I . . . accepted her love. . .
She came back . . . drunk after the celebration she had with her colleagues. . . I saw Eri as well . . . She recognised me . . .she was shocked as well. . . But putting that aside . . . she . . . the words she spoke when she was drunk . . . They were heartbreaking . . . How long had she been putting herself in this torment . . .of being in love. . . yet to be pretending that she is not . . .for how long?
Though it was short . . . . It was the happiest days of my life . . .
(Really ? )
{19th October 2010}
One month had passed some much unknowingly . . .Time really flew. . . .Closing up my eyes . . .It felt like all these things had only just happened yesterday. . . . it felt like. . . . It was only yesterday when I first saw her. . .
When the first light shines tomorrow . . . It would be the time for me to leave. . . to return back to the place where I belong . . . And too . . .. It's my birthday as well . . . She didn't know about it . . . she didn't . . .
She celebrated . . . our first month of meeting . . . All the things she had done for me . . .they had just flooded my mind . . . I wanted to tell her the truth . . . but . . . she . . . had drunk herself before I could say that. . .
This story . . .the story of us . . . .would have to come to an end . . . though it was short . . . but I know. . . I will miss her very much . . .
Even though that . . . I know . . .our love exist . . .
And now . . . I had finally understood the reason for my this existence . . . It's to know what's the meaning of being in love again . . . It doesn't matters if we could be together forever . . . As long as . . . she's in my mind . . .I'm satisfied . . . She will live in my heart forever . . .
"Risa . . ." Ai mumbled incoherently as tears began to pour off her eyelid as she dropped down onto the ground. Ai flipped the diary back to the very last page , where there were very faint writings on it.
Believe that our love existed . . .
Don't doubt that . . .
Even though I can't stay with your forever . . .
But know that . . .
The love that exist between us is true . . .
It won't fade
nor will it be forgotten
I will always hold you in my heart
Don't do any foolish things anymore. . .
Cos it hurts not only yourself . . .But me as well
We can't change this horrifying truth . . .
But an extraordinary event had led us to be together . . .
It had all happened for a reason. . .
Always remember . . .
Our love existed . . .
END
Hope that you all have enjoyed this story. . . . I was laughing and smiling like crazy when I read the original version while trying to write this up. - It was way way way childish . . . -.- hahahahahh