Unlovely Kind

02 Fools We Are

Chapter 2

"And when all things are brought to the light, then their true nature is clearly revealed; for anything that is clearly revealed becomes light."

Ephesians 5:13-14

ICD or Impulse Control Disorder—a psychiatric and behavioral disorder characterized by extreme impulsiveness. A person suffering from this condition has tendencies to fail in controlling his or her increasing urges and emotions that might lead to hurting one's self or worse, others—without him or her really conscious about it. People with ICD are likely to become violent and aggressive in any circumstances due to things that trigger their impulse and also, due maybe to their inability to express themselves causing them to act incorrectly.

"And I happen... to be one of them. I was just fourteen when I was diagnosed as to having this kind of impairment or was it better to say, I was already at that age when I first found out that I acquire such impairment. If you'd ask me when or how I became like this, I certainly have no idea at all. What I just know, is that I have to live in discreet and isolation."

"...so I was saying! ~" Eri's loud voice pulled Cliff back into reality. "You see, those two men are chasing after me..." She went on. She was referring to the two men in suit, quite masculine. They were persistently looking for someone across the road.

Of all the things Cliff hates in this world, this is what he hates the most—close encounter, direct personal contact with strangers, especially with the opposite sex; because that would mean he has to pretend and act normal.

Cliff just watched Eri continue making noise inside the car as her hazel eyes (that match also the color of her frizzy hair) blink synchronically while she spoke; though they were almost covered by her pretty much bothersome bangs. It was a funny thing to think that an Eri Stainheart who was loved by everyone was apparently a woman with no poise at all in real life.

"Hey! Are you even with me?" she snapped her fingers to Cliff's face then said, "Ooow--kay, I know how stunning it is to see a superstar this close but—"

"GET OUT."

Eri was in shock for a brief moment upon hearing that from Cliff, not really believing how he acted.

"Excuse me, but... you don't really know who I am, do you?"

"I do. You're Eri Stainheart. Now, could you get out of here?" Cliff reached for his leather mask and wore it while Eri was seemed more surprised with what Cliff did than with what he said.

"Wait!" she just won't stop!

"You don't really get the whole thing! Those two men are really, really scary! I'm afraid they might try to kidnap me or worse kill me!" she said dramatically.

Logically, it is her who's killing him; she's grating his nerves now and heaven does not know if he can still hold his temper.

"I'm calling the police then."

"NO!"

Cliff turned to Eri with that of an ambiguous look.

"I mean, don't. That's absolutely not a very wise thing to do."

In his temper, Cliff let out an 'irritated' kind of a sigh and told Eri, "Listen Miss Stainheart, those two men are just doing their job to secure your safety or else they might get fired. So please stop playing around and act accordingly."

"Okay. I understand. I'm getting out now." It was pretty obvious that through the tone of her voice, she was totally mortified with what Cliff had said to her. As she motioned to open the door, Cliff was already outside to open it for her; this seemed fluttering to look at but Eri somehow felt more insulted, she thanked him anyway.

"Thank you." Eri stood stiff there, at the pavement as Cliff drove away.

"Tch! Dope. You tried to ditch me off, huh? Let's see who's gonna regret it later." Eri smirked shrewdly while holding Cliff's plane ticket in her right hand. The surrounding was beginning to go dark now and street lights were alighted. Eri was about to leave but someone blocked her and hell, it was Cliff!

"O Christ!" she screamed in grave terror. "I almost had a chronic attack 'cause of you!" she gruffed, looking at Cliff which is a struggle since she just realized that he was 187 cm tall. Such a giant for a petite woman like her!

"I'm just going let this incident slip, but you... forced me to change my mind. Give me the ticket!"

"Ticket? What ticket?" asked Eri, acting obliviously.

"I know you snatched it."

Eri seemed hurt to Cliff's term so that, she reacted ridiculously.

"Hey! That was too much! I didn't snatched it, it just fell!—" This made her pause realizing she was caught in her own words.

"Fine! Here! You can have it!"

She was expecting that Cliff would get it but he didn't instead, he said, "That has no use anymore since my plane already took off minutes ago. I just want you to realize your fault, Ms. Stainheart."

Eri was astounded about that saying, "O, sorry If I caused you much trouble." She admitted feeling so guilty.

Cliff didn't bother answering her anymore. He was ready to leave but Eri stopped him.

"What is it?" he said frowning.

"Can you just wear off that frown? Try to look up."

"What?"

She pointed upward the sky with that, Cliff had his head up and saw that classic, exquisite view of October's first full moon.

"Lovely, isn't she...? They call her, 'The Hunter's Moon'." Eri said while being captivated by the moon's beauty. While the moon reflects on her, she continued, "She was the brightest of all full moons, that's why old folks say she reveals those hidden and those missed ones."

She expressed this to Cliff who's at the same time drowning into his own thoughts while gazing at the moon.

"Of all the billions of people in this world, only two are bound to meet."

This, he thought letting the entire idea wash over his system while both he and Eri are being encapsulated by the moonlight.

"I don't believe in fate. Only fools believe in that."

It was just then that Cliff felt a sudden excruciating pain in his forehead causing him to completely lose his balance which gave way for him to fall to the ground. And Eri, went in full panic as soon as she saw Cliff struggling in pain.

"O my God!" she gasped. "What's happening to you?!" she went for him and tried to hold his trembling hands. Cliff can't control his reflexes now, he was breathing heavily; he felt like his blood in his bloodstream is going to burst any minute.

"I'm... I'm calling some help!" when Eri motioned to stand, Cliff grabbed her arm. He was still struggling but had enough force to push her away from him.

"Leave! I... don't need 'elp!" he said wincing painfully.

"Are you crazy?! You're--!"

"Just go!" the pain keeps penetrating inside him, if she stays longer he won't be able to hold it in.

But Eri was still in her post, doesn't know exactly what to do; though she knew what seizures are it was her first time witnessing it. Cliff's agitation was gravely increasing now. One second or two he'll soon lose control of himself.

—the agitation, now stopped.

Crap!

"Run...! I said run...! Now!" he screamed at her.

Everything went dim.

Hacel Aizer