Appearing at the door in her burgundy flannel pajamas was Charlene, holding a cup that Gillian guessed was warm milk. It was her sister's ritual to drink a cup of warm milk before bed each night to ensure a peaceful slumber.
"Adding another marble to your collection?" the younger sister asked, making herself comfortable on the bed, eyes sweeping around the room.
"No, just looking," Gillian replied, as obscure as it may sound, she always felt that Charlene did not approve of her marble collection even though the latter had never utter a word of criticism. It was just instinct on her part.
"Oh, I came in to tell you that I can't help out at the community center fund-raiser tomorrow night. Another nurse called in sick and I have to take over her shift," Charlene explained, sipping from her cup.
"That's alright, I'll be fine. Kenny will be there. I can ask him for a ride afterwards."
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"Tired?" Kenny asked aware of Gillian's good mood, as they exited from the front entrance of the community center.
Gillian's eyes sparkled as she nodded with a smile, "but it's all worth it, we received enough money to keep the children's after-school program running for the next year."
The two continued to engaged in light-hearted conversation when a pair of blazing headlights caught their attention. Within seconds, a vehicle appeared from the surrounding darkness, nearly hitting them when it swerved in their direction before speeding away.
Instinctively, Kenny slammed his body into Gillian, protecting her, just as the vehicle swerved, landing them safely a few feet away on the hard ground.
After the vehicle had passed, Kenny immediately focused his attention on Gillian, who was lying unconsciously on the ground, an obvious bruise on her forehead.
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"Are you insane?" Edison lashed out at Yumiko, barely able to control himself, after the latter foolishly tugged on his steering wheel, causing the car to almost swerve into two pedestrians.
"So what if I am?" Yumiko challenged, while glaring at Edison vehemently. "If I can't make you love me. I'll make sure you'll never forget me."
The irritating smug on Yumiko's face infuriated him even further.
A quick turn to the steering wheel and a hard press to the brakes the car was immediately parked on the side of the road.
"Get out," Edison commanded quietly, staring straight ahead.
Moments later, when Yumiko made no movement toward the door, his face remained expressionless, hiding his overwhelming frustration and anger, knowing very well that any reaction would just give the other more satisfaction.
Leaning over, he opened the car door next to her; with one hard shove, she landed on the gravel ground.
Without a backward glance, he drove off; cursing the day he met her.
He knew there would be consequences for his actions tonight. Yumiko was not one to take rejections lightly. Further more, her brother, Shawn was powerful figure in the underground world but he could care less.
He drove on to a deserted beach, sitting there until the sun rose.
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- - - - - flashback starts - - - - -
The sky was dark and the air was chilly at the deserted beach.
He was snuggling against her, arms wrapped around her waist tightly from behind. His warm breath on the nape of her neck sent waves of excitement through her body, making her giddy and light-headed.
Slowly, the sun began to rise before their eyes, sending the morning rays to warm their bodies and glowing everything in its path.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you, too."
- - - - - flashback ends - - - - -
- - - - - flashback starts - - - - -
They were in his apartment. The walls were all painted in a shade of teal; all around the room jars and jars of colorful marbles laid about.
"Why do you have so many jars of marbles?" she asked curiously staring into a particular jar.
"I drop a marble into the jar each time I think of you."
- - - - - flashback ends - - - - -
- - - - - flashback starts - - - - -
The sun had set hours ago. The only light source illuminated from the lampposts along the empty road they were standing on.
"Gill!" she heard him cry for her from behind, forcing her to pause momentarily from walking away. All the while her heart wrenched in agony as warm tears continued to soak her face.
"I don't ever want to see you again," she screamed, before running as fast as her legs could carry her, afraid of seeing the pain written on his face, afraid that her heart would soften in his presence.
- - - - - flashback ends - - - - -
Darkness and deafening silence welcomed Gillian as her eyes slowly fluttered open. Roaming her eyes around the unfamiliar room, she knew she was in the hospital.
Vaguely, she was able to make out Charlene's sleeping figure on the chair next to her bed. She did not feel the need to wake her sister, rather the opposite; she did not want to disturb the peace that had overtaken the room.
Her mind continued to race, images from her dream replayed over and over again.
Who was the man holding her? Why was his room filled with jars of marbles like her room? Why had she told him that she didn't want to see him again when it was so obvious that she was deeply in love with him? Was it all just a dream or part of her past?
Answers.
She needed answers.
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