Episode 57: MISSING YOU

They arrived at early morning. 6 am.

Red carried her home, and she was still asleep in his arms. He then put her down the couch, careful that he wakes her up. Red then heads to her room, and poured warm water on her tub.

She would love it when she wakes up. He's very sure.

The red reaper thought proudly.

Red then steps away from the bathroom, then proceeds to look for her wardrobe.

As embarrassed as he was, he opens her closet to get her new set of clothes, even her undergarments.

He also cared to organize her very messy closet, as he sighs to himself of how very disorganized she is. Even though, his admiration of her didn't stagger one bit. She's the same old Gabby he deeply cherish.

He bothers to look at her again, after hearing noises from the back, and he noticed that she was beginning to wake up.

Good.

She opens her eyes slowly, then a feeling of her head splitting into half greeted her. She moaned in pain, then Red quickly comes to her aid.

RED: A...anything you want?

He nervously asked.

She looks at him, pain vivid in her eyes. But the pain subsided a bit realizing how much he cares.

GABBY: A bath...is okay.

RED: I've prepared it for you. I'll carry you there.

She blushes at his words. His eyes shows concern she've never seen before. He looks...kinda cute with that expression on his face too.

Then she refuses the offer. She thinks she've been carried around WAY too much. Her feet feels kinda numb.

GABBY: I'll walk. Just...be there for me.

RED: O...okay.

GABBY: Thank you.

She smiles then takes his hand. He quickly held hers tightly then carefully guides her weak feeble steps to the bathroom.

Her legs hurt and her bleeding hasn't yet stopped. Damn it. Why are women cursed with this every month??? Her pissed up state distracted her from her own table that she stubbed her toe.

She hissed in annoyance.

RED: Hey, careful.

GABBY: So...sorry.

RED: It's all good.

Gabby arrives at the tub then slowly reaches her fingers to feel the water.

She turns to look at him,

GABBY: Now I think it's time to let me be. I'm going to...ya know...get naked?

RED: Oh, yeah right!

GABBY: Heheh.

RED: Should 'help', if you need anything, okay?

GABBY: Oh sure.

She giggles as he quickly closes the door, and while he had his face turned swiftly, she was certain he had his cheeks tinged in red as well. She knew he gets all awkward around her at times. But they're good room mates. Having him around, made her life more funny, and convenient.

Then she sighed. If only he was her real boyfriend. Things would have been more happier, and perhaps less awkward.

She strips and puts her discarded clothes on the floor. She lets her soar body sink in the water, feeling relaxed as she slowly scrub her arms and neck with soap.

Oh stress...

Nothing that a good bath couldn't fix.

After so, she changes into the new clothes Red had prepared for her. And she appreciates him even more. Red might look tough and scary on the outside but...he's a really thoughtful guy. It was quite flattering to have him do this for her other than protect her from enemies. From a guardian, to a valuable companion. She've grown to love him more and more everyday.

When she comes out, she realized that Red had cooked for her. She was overwhelmed with joy.

Wow...now she really feels like a disney princess.

Red looks at her, then smiles genuinely.

RED: Where are your clothes?

GABBY: Hah?

RED: Your clothes.

GABBY: What about them?

RED: Get them for me and I'll wash them.

GABBY: What? You would?

RED: Yep. You need rest the most so just leave them to me.

GABBY: You're my guardian not my nanny.

RED: Please. Just rest. It will make me so happy if you recover faster.

Awww...Red earns 100, 000 points of being a good boy.

Gabby almost cries, she's so touched she can't even describe how she's feeling.

She nodded then before going back to the bathroom to fetch her old clothes, she pulls Red in for a tight embrace.

Red didn't expect such action but he didn't protest. He smiles as he too, wraps his arms around her. They needed this after a long stressful day.

RED: You're so warm.

GABBY: You're so kind.

They lasted being in that position for at least 3 minutes.

...

Still not well enough, not to mention still on the process of forgetting just how dangerous her experience was yesterday, she was advised by Red to take a break that day and leave a note to her office. She took the advice and trusted his judgement.

Gabby spends her first hour of recovery on her room, while watching western movies and sipping hot coffee.

She feels bad that she had to do that, and had to miss the reception and all the fun things that Kleo and Anne prepared yesterday. As well as her project. She also feels that if it weren't for the Animation Staff's kindness and understanding, she might have lost the job a long time ago.

Red knew she was terribly sad, so he knocked to her door, hoping that somehow she'll let him in.

After so, he heard a body shifting. Followed by a voice.

GABBY: Come in.

She faintly said.

Red's face became brighter and he excitedly went in. Gabby looks at him with questions on her eyes, and minded to ask him,

GABBY: What's with the face?

Red lowers his stance so he can face Gabby's head.

He knelt to his knees and happily proposed his plans,

RED: How about we go to the mall at the weekends? And have Harry, Humility, and Carrie, join us?

GABBY: Oh, Carrie? The beautiful lady Humility likes?

RED: Yep! She never had a chance to do this things before and she wanted to give it a try. I talked to her through notes with my summons. She's excited.

GABBY: That's cool! I get to hang out with supernaturals who aren't trying to kill me for a day!

RED: Yep! You need a stress free day so wear your best and we're going to eat lots when the weekends comes!

As Gabby's pale face was replaced with excitement and joy, Red couldn't help but feel a quick surge of heat rise up to his throat. He feels awe-struck when she smiled sincerely.

She was so beautiful even though she experienced a lot of things to cry about. She might feel she's weak but to him, she's the most mentally strong person he've ever known about. Surely if he was her, he might have been already crazy by now. How easily she've coped with all the horrors life is giving her.

He was thinking about a lot that Gabby realized he was just staring at her.

GABBY: Hey? Pst...Red?

She waves a hand, and his focus broke in seconds time. He then feels more flustered after realizing Gabby noticed.

Finding out that he's lost in the thoughts, Gabby laughed. Making Red feel much more embarrassed than before.

RED: Quit laughing! It's not funny!

GABBY: Uh, yeah it is! *continues to laugh*

RED: Oh, come on! Enough with that!

GABBY: Why? Little Red riding hood's boutta cry?

RED: No... And don't call me that. It sounds stupid.

GABBY: Awww, well someone's sensitive.

RED: I said...

He snatched both her hands and pulled her face close to him.

RED: ...stop.

Gabby stopped immediately, her heart thumping wildly as her face turns scarlet. Red's serious expression quickly changed though, and he exploded into laughter.

Gabby felt annoyed and punches his shoulders half-heartedly.

GABBY: Quit laughing, you!

RED: Nah, you thought we're about to kiss, right?

GABBY: No, I didn't!

RED: Yieeee, you think I would! I caught you!

GABBY: Shut up! I didn't! So don't be too full of yourself.

Red lets go of her hands, then snickers.

RED: You're no fun. Tell me when you're ready to go out. I'm reading a book.

GABBY: Okay, whatever.

RED: You're still red.

GABBY: Yeah, yeah. Says the one who cooked a feast for me and even washed my bra.

RED: Hey!

...

A man, with hazel eyes, and a taper hair cut slowly makes his way to the train station.

However, a rushing woman accidentally bumps into him, who then, with a red face, apologized quickly. He didn't mind, and only assisted her up. He can't blame her. As he wears a black hoodie, and he wasn't really fair skinned either. Perhaps his dark complexion had mixed too well with the dark.

He then steps inside the train, whistling to himself and plugging his earphones into his ears, choosing a music to help him set the mood.

When he finds his seat, he sits down, and saw the woman before sit down beside him.

She smiles awkwardly and he simply waves.

He then smiles as he looks at the window of the still running MagLev train.

After a while, they come across the famous mountain of Japan. Mount Fuji's beauty had never failed to amaze him.

Then he searches on his bag, which made the woman beside him curious.

She takes a peak, and only saw an old photograph of two kids.

He was holding the picture gently, and in his eyes one could see how much he misses that moment.

He looks at the picture of him and young Gabby, then followed by a short sigh.

He have missed her so much and wasn't able to keep in touch with her as he had promised due to some reasons yet to be revealed.

The woman asked him if it was his children, because the other one looks like him, to which had surprised him.

MURASAKI: No, of course. This picture might have been well kept if you think they're not that old, but no. This one is me and my childhood friend.

She only nodded her head, smiled, then apologeticly turned the other way.

Murasaki laughs to himself then had the picture back to his bag. He closed the zipper of his bag then relaxed his back at the seat.

Gabby...must have been so grown now.

He thinks to himself.

Excitement was obvious in the way his heart beats rapidly, but until he hasn't yet seen her, he must contain it a little more.

He looks at the scenery before him again, before whispering to himself, "See you soon."