-Merlin-
Well so I kinda spent the day roaming around with Rin, I guessed she'd probably figured I would be leaving for Italy soon since I had decided to stop following Natasha. Well I was a fool to have tried to find her at first but Rin never made me feel that way, though she could joke about it at times. She then decided to spend that time with me, my last moments in Hannival. She had already decided we could spend some time in a tennis court, the only place where we'd sit and talk, with peace a guarantee since there wasn't much activity.
"You cleaned up on your own this time, I'm impressed" said Rin mockingly.
"What's so impressive, you only helped me once".
"Yeah after you'd spent the last 2years not cleaning, and you did say thank you" she sarcastically remarked, her eyes following a tennis ball that'd just been hit off the court. She was pretty much avoiding eye contact with me. "Hmm being sarcastic again are we,... I have a lot more to thank you than just that Rin; you've been a great pal". I murmured trying to find her face as she maintained her stare at the rogue tennis ball which went on to land on the road off the court's bounds, she chuckled. I wondered what was going on in her mind, but I was positive it wasn't about the tennis player. "You've helped me with so many things Rin" I said. "Yeah, stalking The Black Rose included"... She remarked bringing back her eyes to me.
"Oh fuck off"
"So tell me what's the occasion, why'd you clean up, did you find someone to bring home."
"No just starting a new, less creepy life, I guess"
"Oh, I want to be proud of you but, you need to convince me and it'll take more than that."
"Rin c'mon, you need to trust me for once,... so are you sure Natasha will show up?"
"You will be surprised, that girl's a party animal."
She said turning her head away again, as if she didn't mean it or she didn't want to talk about it, well I was just starting to learn about Rin's soft side, I just hoped she wouldn't be so sensitive as to fall for me. Since I'd started knowing her she was this strong and bold ass Jamaican girl no one wanted to mess with
3 Years ago
I walked into Clermont club the next day after I'd officially met Rin. This time I had no hat or shades to cover my face but I tried best I could to match the dress code in the club with a bandana over my head and baggy trousers then a black vest, it would be so embarrassing if any of the people who knew me back in Italy saw me like this. I stood at the entrance as everyone in the club suddenly turned creepy glares at me, I felt comfort in the music at least until it also came to an abrupt halt as if it had been planned, This was one awkward moment as I couldn't really figure out to whom I could direct my gaze so that I at least get saved from the embarrassment of a lifetime, Natasha was out of the question for a common person like me. I felt like running back outside, I looked around to find Natasha, it wouldn't hurt to try, maybe at my signal she'd come to my rescue, but I couldn't find her. I had one more option, Rin... I turned to her, she had that evil smirk and was squinting her eyes, everything about her looked so evil to me, but I had to be safe right now more than anything.
"Yo Rin wassup" I acted. I just felt too fake when I did this, my heart raced and I could swear I was sweating. "Hey boo, get over here." She responded. Well she was nice enough; I hadn't expected that on the onset. I slowly started walking towards her. I was shaking inside my pants; no part of me was stable. Before I reached the counter, there was a fiercely built black man in my path. He was taller, I raised my head to look at him, I heard murmurs from the people, Drag was his name, as it was apparent from the rising chants.
"What' you doing here white boy, this ain't your turf" His voice alone almost dropped me, generally as a bouncer he looked scary but not bad for the general appearance of a ladies man, unfortunately I was a man. I went back two steps just avoiding being too close to him in case he tried to lift me.
"Ahh nothing, really I was just leaving". I cowardly gave in.
"You better" he thundered.
"No one's going anywhere Drag" Rin intervened for me,
"Watyu say Doug?" Drag advanced to Rin and she just stood there glaring at him like he was a dog, I thought she was going to be thrown across the club.
"Wanna say that again bitch" said Drag quite demandingly. "Oh yeah fool, there ain't nobody gettin' the fuck outta here, get that right or you'll drag your so sorry sweet ass out the hard way". Drag chants from the crowds came to an end, then came just the Ohh, cheering, the big man glared at Rin as if about to pull a serious blow sending both of us flying. "Fine, you win, now get outta my way and let me welcome this white nigga".
Rin scoffed and stepped aside, shit.. I thought. I quickly breathed in and out and he raised his huge hand for a half handshake and hug, I gave him my own, so he pulled me in. I practically collided with his metallic body and the crowds started cheering for me and before I knew it, there was girls around me, all but Natasha whom I noticed was now sitting at the high stools at the corner with some other composed and from the looks of it, rich looking black guy, certainly not the one from last night. "You're too thin, don't wear a vest until you do something about those muscles." protested Drag sending a wave of laughter throughout the club until Rin intervened again. "Okay stop, everybody go, stay away from him he's mine, she said literally shooing all the girls away"
CURRENT...
"We should have brought the equipment, don't you think?" I suggested, I knew we could still borrow from the players if she did want to play but that didn't seem to be the case.
"I'm not good at tennis, anyway, I didn't bring you here so we could play tennis, we need to talk. I'm worried about you Merlin, I've always been."
I looked away, it seemed like she was going to tell me what she'd never told me, like I wanted to know. I knew that Natasha as the black rose had flaws, ones I didn't like, our values would be different, where we came from wouldn't be the same. I liked her better as Natasha Goodwin, the shy girl who wasn't loved by many people, well loved by me only, to be precise... Now she was pretty much everyone's.
"Yes Rin, tell me"
"I don't wanna lie to you boo, but you're a good person, Natasha doesn't deserve you and you know it. You deserve better". She said. I was quiet while she spoke, well the truth hurts, I'd always kept it at the back of my mind but Rin was telling me the truth... I really didn't think Natasha deserved to be with me... but in my conscious, I didn't deserve her, she was too good for me. I had to take a step back every time I'd move a leg towards her.
"What are you talking about Rin?" I stupidly inquired. She slapped my head in response.
"Don't be a fool; you know what I'm talking about."
"Ouch, you didn't have to do that I get you"
"Yeah serves you right, pay attention. If you're going back to Italy, make sure to erase all memories of the black rose, find another flower, there's plenty of them in the garden, roses will always prick you doug."