Tulip's Destiny

IV - TOTALLY NOT A DATE!

Raine woke up with a strange heavy feeling bearing in her chest. Looking around, she found herself laying on a pile of rotting dewy leaves. The tall overgrown trees in the forest covered the sky hiding her softly within its darkness. The moist air and stiffening atmosphere made chills run through her spine.

"Where am I?" Raine gulped. As if it couldn't get any worse, it started to pour. She quickened her pace as she heard loud thunder from a distance. Droplets of moisture began dripping from the leaves above the towering trees. The wind whips up strongly, shrieking anything across its path. Raine ran frantically in the hug of her white flowing dress going against the will of the strong wind. "What's h-happening?" She shuddered off the cold breeze sweeping against her. There was so much rain falling on her face, blurring her vision into a splash of pure darkness.

From a distance she began seeing light peaking through the large trunks so she ran towards the light. Suddenly her legs began to wobble and lost control. Bracing herself for the impact, she closed her eyes shut. But instead of hitting the cold and wet ground, Raine was held tight by a pair of strong arms wrapped around her body.

He hugged her tight, burying her face in his chest. "I won't leave you again." His voice broke out and the curtain of rain passed out in a second. "B-bleu?" Raine spoke looking up to the man, her voice barely audible. Staring back at her were the same mysterious blue eyes she had been trying to figure out all this time.

The man gently hovered his hand over her delicate face, fixing strands of hair to the back of her ears. His eyes shined light upon her, calming her once pacing heartbeat. "I'm here now." A soft smile graced on his pale and chiseled face.

And as if he had woven their hearts, they beat in synchronization as one with the other. In the heat of his touch, melted all her pain and fears away.

"I will always find my way to you, always."

Then a familiar voice called her back to reality. "Ate! It's already 8! Aren't you supposed to be back to your apartment by 10?" Shaiya hollered, snapping her out of a deep slumber. Somewhere in her heart she hoped that it wasn't just a dream, that when she woke up he would still be there. The hope was soon diminished as she rubbed her eyes and got up. "It was just a dream." Raine whispered and sighed.

After shower, she decided to wear a floral top with tulips prints and black slacks she found in her old closet. Raine let go of her which was previously wrapped in a towel. Her thick long black hair cascaded down to her waist. "Bleu..." She thought as she sat on her sister's vanity. Recalling last night's dream made her even more confused. Although Raine had already grown accustomed to her nightmares in the forest, this particular dream was giving her a deja vu. "As if Bleu had come back along with Mikhail, or is he Bleu?" Raine hesitated, fixing her hair into a ponytail.

"...but  it has already been years since I last dreamed of him." She continued staring back into her reflection. "It won't hurt to get closer to Mikhail, right? Plus, it doesn't necessarily mean that I'm hoping that HE IS BLEU, RIGHT?!" Raine said, convincing herself of her own thoughts.

Shaking her head, she managed to get herself out of her consuming thoughts. "Ate?" Shaiya started, walking over then sitting beside her. "Hmm?" Raine smiled, raising her brows while looking at her sister. "Ate, I'm sorry I can't come to your exhibit today. Something unexpected came up in school." Shaiya said, putting on a weak smile. "It's okay! It's not like the paintings are going to run anytime soon! But are you okay?"

"Yes, we'll just have to fix something. Nothing serious." Shaiya answered, leaning closer to lay her head on Raine's shoulder. "Sure?" Shaiya reassured her with a slight nod. "Tulips, huh?" Shaiya stood up and  gave out a slight smirk forming in her lips. "Oh you know how MUCH I LOVE TULIPS!" Raine exaggerated, reaching over to a drawer.