Ready to Fall

Chapter 6 Helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly

Something about Chapter Six: I have been thinking the whole week whether I should split this chapter into two. I have decided to keep it as it is until I proof-read it before uploading. So now, this chapter is the first half of the original one. I also had to change the chapter title.

----- # -----

When you're holding me like this,

I'm carelessly lost in your touch.

I'm completely defenseless.

Baby, it's almost too much.

I'm helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly falling in love.

-'Helplessly, hopelessly, recklessly' by Jessica Andrews-

----- # -----

________________________________________

Two months and four days before that cold and empty night…

It was the official start of Winter break, day after Christmas.

Almost everything in the University was coated in white due to the blizzard the night before. That kind of blizzard was unexpected at that time of the year. But it was not strong enough to cause real damage, except for some frozen fuse and electrical wires that caused a power outage in the University.

Also, because of the snow, Daniel could not hang-out on his usual place under the Sakura tree. Therefore, instead, he chose to stay at the gazebo near the Middle School Building, where he used to hide when Persona was looking for him. It was also where he bumped into Miki during one of those hide-and-seeks.

He was holding a new manga that James gave him for Christmas. He was planning to read it that morning when he went out, but his thoughts were somewhere else that he could not focus on the reading material.

He sighed and muttered to himself, "I think I just reached a point of no return. What am I supposed to do?"

That was when he noticed a small brown thing standing in front of him, watching him.

"Hey, Mr. Bear," he greeted the little one as he helped him settle next to him.

Mr. Bear offered him a biscuit from his little pouch.

Daniel's lips curled into a smile as he dug in. He still could not imagine that the stuffed toy would be nice enough to offer him biscuits. He has caused torments and physical pain to students before who even tried to touch him—like Miki. He guessed that all those years that Miki insisted forming a friendship with Mr. Bear paid off. The stuffed toy now offers tea and biscuits rather than kicks and punches. Jerwin Lopez helped in this, too. He told the bear to be nice to them since no one else would look after him when he graduates. Surprisingly, the bear complied.

However, others—not belonging to their group—were still careful not to stand too close to the stuffed toy, because he could still kick and punch like a heavy weight wrestler.

While munching a biscuit, Daniel noticed that Mr. Bear was watching him intently. If not for his normal cranky stitched face, he would think that it seemed concerned.

"Don't tell me you, too?"

But it only continued to stare at him.

Daniel sighed in surrender and looked into space. "I don't understand anymore what I want. I was so sure before. I thought I was so sure… until this morning when I woke up."

Last night, Daniel was feeling obliged to check on Miki. He did not really intend to stay the whole night, but that was what happened. His concern for her kicked in, especially when the lights went out, because he knew Miki is afraid of the dark.