Fallon Altair: TRANSPARENCY

By Shinjue Oe

It was one afternoon that Fallon dreaded – the afternoon where everyone was asked to go out and sketch.  It’s Art Class – one of the electives she chose to have and for some sick stroke of luck, her class was scheduled the same time as that of the juniors of the Accel class.  Most of the two groups avoided each other.  She found a spot just under a large cherry blossom tree leaving the others and started sketching when, of all the people to show up, Abaven Shahe…did. "Not surprising, really..."  She muttered to herself as the Accel seated herself.

“Well now…what a coincidence!”  Abaven grinned as he seated himself beside the frowning Fallon.  “I think it’s my lucky day.”

Fallon rolled her eyes and continued drawing.  “It’s my worst day…”  She mumbled and kept to herself.  She noticed the handsome Accel peak at her sketch.  “Do you mind?”  She asked pointedly.

Abaven chuckled.  “Come on, Fallon…  I was just observing…”  His laughter died down when he saw her glare.  “Okay…I’m sorry.  I didn’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable…”  He started doing his sketch in silence for a while and asked a question.  “You know what…  I wonder why you’re always on the edge when I’m around…”  He paused and grinned at Fallon who is ignoring him.  “I bet you like me…”

Fallon continued sketching.  “Do you have a death wish?”

Abaven just tossed his hair back and chuckled once more.  “No, my dear…  Basically wanted to connect…  But seriously, if you have a reason to hate me, please do tell…”

Fallon stopped sketching and sighed.  Indeed, if she chooses not to answer, she could…but would once more be obligated to tolerate Shahe’s constant pestering.  She turned to him and takes in everything about the guy.  Sure, he was dubbed the most dashing bachelor in campus…the irritating thing is…she agrees.  “I just…hate…everything…about…you.”  She said, slowly elaborating each word and went back to sketching.

Shahe bowed his head but shrugged nonetheless.  “That answer just shows that you are keeping something from me and I will find out sooner or later…”  Fallon gave him a warning look.  "See, see... THAT...drives me insane."  He smiles seeing that Fallon chose to ignore him and go back to sketching.

Fallon kept to herself and continued sketching the landscape.  She glances once in a while to find Abaven grinning at her.  It ticked her off.  She still can't forget the day she met him in the hotel where he told her he's getting married.  Please...the ass is...just joking...  She wonder why it bothers her... 

"Fallon, why so silent?"

Fallon sighed heavily and faced him.  "Shahe, why do you always...always keep on annoying me!?"  She slammed the sketchbook on the ground.  She surprised herself as her anger became evident.  "You are about to marry someone else, right?!"

Shahe was shocked and answered, "...Y-yes."

"Then why the hell are you talking to me!?"  Fallon shouted and glared.

"Well, I...."  Abaven stared but was cut off.

"Well what?!"  Fallon roared.  "You're gonna marry a woman in weeks and you're running after my hide like some sick puppy!  It annoys me!"

Abaven bowed his head.  "I...didn't mean to annoy you..."  He replied silently. 

"YOU DON'T MEAN TO ANNOY ME???"  Fallon stared at him, incredulous.  "You've followed me in and out of HADES despite my resistance and You're telling me you don't mean to annoy me?!"

Abaven laughed at that but stopped when he saw Fallon's eyes nearing tears.  "Truly, Fallon...  I was just following what...well...what I feel.  Is it that hard to accept?"

Fallon sighed as she closed her eyes.  "You are going to be married and you're still muttering nonsense."  She turned to face the scenery.

"Would you rather I cancel the engagement?"  Abaven asked in a seriousness.  "It doesn't mean that if I'm marrying her, I love her...because I know you...know that is a lie."  Fallon continued to ignore him.  He stood up and fixed himself.  "You know what, even if you keep on shouting at me, I will always follow you...  I love you, Fallon.  I don't know what I must do to make you believe this."  He chuckled and sighed as he placed his sketch pad on the ground beside Fallon.  "I don't have any credits to myself...my wonderful hordes of females are proof of that..."  He smiled and left.

Fallon rubbed her eyes.  It's ridiculous to find herself crying.  She snorted at the mere fact that Abaven affects her so much.  She started to stand up when she saw the sketch beside her.  It was a perfect portrait of her face.  Her heart skipped a beat.  Idiot...  She took the sketch and went off to submit her own work.

TBC.