Fan Fiction |
by Hope
“I know, I know, I’m sorry,” Leila apologizes from the washroom, drying her hair. “Besides they shouldn’t have let me volunteer to set up for the party tonight, they know me better than that.”
Ron chuckles at the comment as he turns on the computer. With all the projects and proposals he’s had to deal with, he hadn’t been online for quite some time. His first reaction was to check into ICQ, a message immediately popping up.
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“Hey RN, it’s Laina. Haven’t talked to you in ages, been super busy? I just wanted to invite to my fashion design class party Saturday night at 10:00 p.m. If you can’t make it, it’s all right. Hoping to see you (especially for the first time! I’ll be wearing a black, bareback evening gown)! Love you lots!”
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Stunned at the invitation, Ron exits out of the message and realizes that his once online dream girl was actually one of his students. Before he could question any further, Leila walks into the room and interrupts his thoughts.
“Ooh, did I show you my outfit for tonight?” Leila asks, opening her closet and taking out an evening gown. “Ta-da! Isn’t it pretty, took me forever to find this one,” she sighs twirling with the dress in front of her.
Ron does not respond, only looking at the black, bareback evening gown in front of him.
Seeing Ron’s dazed expression, Leila brings him back to reality. “Ron? You okay there?” Then noticing the computer screen, “Hey, you have ICQ too?”
“Yeah,” Ron replies, shaking off the now obvious conclusion. “What’s your online name?”
Leila smiles, “I use my given name, Laina.”
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“So you sure you’re going to quit the job?” Edison asks, as both Rain and him were walking down the downtown street.
“Yeah, it’s not like the job interests me,” Rain assures. “Besides, it’ll be a nice change for me, and I can actually go and focus on finding what I really want in life.”
Remembering the night Raymond and Rain were outside her apartment building, “I thought you and Raymond had solved everything, does he agree to you resigning?”
Surprised by Edison’s assumption, Rain explains, “There is nothing between Raymond and I now. My decision to resign was just a self decision.”
Hiding his guilty joy, Edison gives a supportive smile, “As long as you’re happy with your decision, I’ll support it.”
Just as Rain was about to respond, she stops at the one familiar gift shop, looking into the display case.
Edison, seeing that the “Gift Dolls” were still where they had last seen it.
Tapping on the glass, Rain sighs to herself, “Guess we’re just not destined.”
Not wanting to miss the opportunity, Edison grabs Rain’s arm, “Come on, let’s go inside.”
Knowing that Edison just wanted to cheer her up, Rain brushes off, “No, if I see it any more up close, I’d want it even more,” she tells him. Then putting on a smile, “I’m hungry, let’s go for lunch.”
Looking at the “Gift Dolls” once more, Edison starts to catch up with Rain.
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“This is my letter of resignation,” Rain tells Raymond, handing him an envelope as they stood across from one another in his office.
“Is this because…” Raymond starts to ask, but feeling too awkward to continue.
“Of course not,” Rain gives a reassuring smile. It’s been almost two weeks after their break up, and what feelings did linger began to dissolve. “I just don’t feel this is the right job for me.” Then adding to ease the atmosphere, “Besides, we can always see each other when we get together with Michelle and them.”
Raymond, knowing Rain’s decision, accepts and puts forth his right hand. “Then I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
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Michelle, picking up a file from the main office, notices Rain walking out of Raymond’s office and walking off in the opposite direction. Thinking of what could have happened, she does not bother to call out to Rain.
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“Come in,” Raymond acknowledges the knock. Looking up to see Michelle, “Hey Michelle, did you need anything?”
Michelle, taking a seat across from Raymond, looks at him and confesses, “I saw Rain walking out from your office…”
Knowing her question, Raymond answers, “Rain just came to give me her letter of resignation.”
Surprised, not only by the knowledge, but also at how Raymond was handling it. “Rain is resigning from her position? She never mentioned it to me.”
“I don’t think it was planned long ago,” Raymond assumes. “But I respect her decision and hopes she finds what she’s looking for.”
Michelle looks at Raymond questionably. She knew that Raymond would accept Rain and his break up after a few weeks, but was having a less easy time processing the acceptance. “You and Rain…”
Raymond smiles, “Yeah, I was thinking it’d take me forever to get over Rain, but two weeks isn’t bad, much better than I expected.” Then adding to Michelle’s knowledge, “Rain’s right, we were only dragging our relationship. And through the past couple of weeks, I realized, if I had loved Rain as deeply as I claimed, I never would have dragged my relationship with Lily from when Rain and I started.”
Michelle, not responding, finally realizes what it was she was beginning to see and admire about Raymond, his ability to persist, yet knowing when to accept and let go.
Seeing Michelle’s dazed expression, Raymond smiles, “And of course I have you to thank,” he acknowledges.
Surprised by the comment, Michelle looks at Raymond in question.
Raymond reading Michelle’s thoughts, “Thanks for being there to support me these past two weeks, I really appreciate it.”
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“Not inside with the rest of them?” Ron asks, walking out into the garden where Leila stood alone, looking out into the night sky. “Waiting for someone?”
Leila sighs, looking from the starlit sky to Ron, “No, I don’t think he’ll be coming.”
Ron smiles, “Maybe your friend has already arrived.”
Slowly shaking her head, “If he did, he would have found me by now.”
Turning his position to face Leila more closely, Ron tells her, “You look very beautiful tonight.”
Leila smiles in comfort, “Thanks.”
“Do you believe in Fate?” Ron asks, knowing her answer. “What if Fate told you that the person standing in front of you was the person you were waiting for?” Seeing Leila’s confused expression, Ron reveals, “Laina, you look very beautiful tonight.”
Leila, immediately knowing Ron’s identity, looks at him in shock and flurries of emotions. With a wide smile of joy forming, she starts to asks, “You are…”
“May I have this dance?” Ron asks, slightly bowing towards Leila and gestures his hand out to hers, waiting for her response.
Leila, smiling, looks to him and replies, “Of course,” placing her hand on his. Ron then gently takes her in close to him, as they were face to face, dancing slowly under the night sky, and every other thing was non-existent.