Lorcan's Encouragement

It's already dark outside, but Kinrue and Raven are still inside the infirmary. A deafening silence resounding the whole place with a little but getting faint sound of sob from Kinrue. She didn't sleep but cry for more than an hour in the arms of the man she hate. Despite of it, she feels at ease and comforted. There's no way she like his presence, but his arm is enough to calm herself. Both of them are lying down, Raven on the bed and she's on the top.

"Are you calm now?" Raven broke the silence.

"Hmm."

"Elf, can you be honest and tell me what you want? How can I make you happy?"

"You're a creep. Forget what I said. I'm just frustrated and annoyed." She said. "Don't do unnecessary things, like how we didn't confirm our relationship with other, you don't need to make me happy just to fulfill your responsibility."

Raven let out a gentle smile and caress her hair. "Fine. I'll spoil you for now as an apology for what I did. Is it fine?"

"You don't need to do anything, instead make a move to make Callie fall in love with you. Hurry because time is running. It's almost November, you know."

"What about it? Are you leaving the country?" Raven asked.

She didn't answer, rather give a faint smile before she stand up and fix herself. Raven looks at her with confusion while sitting down. Those rumors about her change are real. It's like a newborn woman. No. It's like she became wary about her surroundings and attitude towards others. He can't say she mature, Kinrue is still childish who got annoyed, mad and cry in simple things but something changes.

Both her eyes are seeking for help and she seems restrained by an invisible chain that caught her again after a long chase. It's not Kinrue Cienfuegos.

He stare at her back, watching how she fix her hair and uniform. Without knowing, his hands move to pull her but stop mid-air and clench both fists. They have a deal. He shouldn't cross the line. A chuckle escapes his mouth before standing up. He tousles her hair and walks ahead.

"Argh! I just fix my hair. What's wrong with you?" Kinrue said in annoyance and follow him, hitting his back.

"Sorry, it's my bad."

Raven reaches out his hand to open the door but it opens from outside that surprise them. In front of the two, Callie Leroux is standing, looks speechless and stunned. She looks at them back and forth, analyzing the situation. Behind him is the confused Kinrue, but after a while of awkwardness between the three, she gains some courage to break the silence. She simply pat Raven's back, gives a sign to explain the situation to Callie before grinning and takes a step forward.

"I don't like the scene here, such an annoying pair," Kinrue said, mumbling enough for Callie to hear.

Even though he wants to stop her from leaving on her own, he doesn't have a courage to complicate the situation. It's an opportunity that she gives to him. He glance to her while walking away and saw how she put a thumbs up without turning back. A second later, she turns back and smile to him, waving her left hand. He let out a short laugh because of what happened. Action speaks louder than words. These thoughts prove their situation now.

"Why are you laughing?"

"N-nothing, it's nothing. Why are you here?"

"I forgot something in the locker room and I'm about to go home."

He smiles at her. "Let's go home together,"

Even with a confuse look, Callie follow him and didn't ask anymore. He's in a good mood so she didn't want to make him upset. These past few days he's talking less, most of the time sensitive to anyone. She shrugs her head because of the thoughts and continues to walk.

The next day, Kinrue came to school earlier than others. Since their first subject is P.E., she wears the jogging pants and P.E. shirt in advance. She's sitting, both legs on top of the table and arms cross together while staring at the sky outside the window. In the past few weeks, there's no single day she sleeps in peace. No one's inside beside her and thought to take a nap but failed. She came an hour in advance for that purpose. Although the weather seems good, the sky is clear, and the wind is not strong. She just watches the leaves in a tree sway as the wind blows, birds flying in from tree to tree and the voices of people on the field. It's a peaceful life.

In the middle of deep thoughts, someone knocks on the backdoor. Kinrue turn to look towards the door and saw Lorcan in Basketball jersey holding a ball. It took a few seconds before she realize her position. She sits properly in a split of second and smile at him.

"You're early today. What are you doing?" He asked.

"A-ah, n-nothing." She laughs awkwardly.

"If you're not doing something, would you mind helping me to practice?"

She stands up with a wide smile in face, nodding her head like a robot. "There's still an hour before my first class. I can help you."

"Let's go then." The two left the room and go to basketball indoor gym.

She looks around as soon as they came inside, but no one from the basketball team members is here. If this is before, she'll definitely jump out in happiness, but today is different. There's still the feeling of admiration rather romantically. It's like a sibling like. A typical brother and sister relationship. Besides, Lorcan is nice since the beginning, and whenever she failed a lot of confession, he's the first one to comfort her in his own way. It's the charm he has that many woman adores him.

"The Lunaris Basketball Team enters the qualifying finals. It's my last game with this team, so I want to practice a lot. Thanks in advance," he said while dribbling the ball.

"Well, congrats. I hope you enter the semi-finals at least though it's better to be in finals."

Lorcan laugh, turns around and passes the ball to her. "You're straightforward as ever. I like that personality of yours."

"Everything about me is likeable,"

"Sorry, but you're the only one thinking like that in school."

Kinrue gives a short laugh, staring at the ball.

"You can pour all your frustration in that ball." Lorcan said.

"H-huh? F-frustration?"

"If you're under a lot of stress, everything will be hard for you." She flinches at what Lorcan said. "Do you know what rumors run around on Lunaris High recently?"

She shrugs her head as an answer.

"They say, 'The hopeless romantic queen becomes a decent person,' I want to laugh whenever I hear such ridiculous remarks." He sign to pass the ball to him, so she did. "The Kinrue I know is bubbly, has less worry and short-tempered woman. She's always involved in trouble, the headache of teachers and the most shameless person I've ever met. Despite of all these negative traits, she's still kindhearted, crybaby and tough at the same time."

He smiles, runs towards the court while dribbling the ball and stops at the three point mark.

"The Kinrue Cienfuegos I know are the true one, and it's sad that she vanish little by little." He form his body to shoot before he let go the ball and went inside the ring. "Do you understand what I'm saying now?"

She didn't respond, rather, look down.

"I only have a few months here and I'll study outside the country. We won't see each other, so I want to lighten up your mood. It's a payback for cheering on me and the team, for being a great friend and sister."

"Do you know I like you, right?"

"I know,"

"Do you know because of you I tangled up with a strange relationship?"

"I already notice,"

"Thank you for not acting awkward to me. I appreciate it." She walks towards the ball and picks it up.

A silence echo inside, but Lorcan waits for her to open up. He treats Kinrue as a younger sister and always adores her endless courage and confident but seeing her going the wrong way is painful. Like a real brother and sister, he worries a lot and care for her.

"I'm Shenrue Himura."

He flinches on what she said and takes a step backward. Himura is the number one Elite Family for decades now. Just hearing the surname anyone can sense the great power they hold as an elite.

"W-what?"

"It's real. I don't like my family and runaway but they've already found me. They didn't waste any time and put me on a leash again. After I graduate, I'll leave this country. Maybe I'll never see my friend again."

"It's hard to be an elite. Many people are expecting something to you but Kinrue..." He walks towards her, pat her head. "You are you. If you live in fear, then you can't move forward. If you don't know what to do, then breathe and think what's best for you."

"T-thank you, thank you."

"Don't be afraid to take a break if it's too much. Your brother will root for you whatever decision you make."

"T-then brother, don't make me cry and let me help you practice for real."

Both of them laugh together and practice some dribbling and passing technique.