Curve Ball

Claire and Zayne walked up to the rooftop. 

They stood opposite each other, autumn leaves swirling in the air, their skin glistening in the sun. 

The uniform's shirts fluttered in the wind, creating that perfect romantic confession mood. 

Seconds ticked… 

Minutes passed … 

… 

..

.

" If you are not going to speak, I would rather go downstairs to get some work done. '' Claire said, looking at Zayne. 

" Wait … I … I know you agreed to date me reluctantly. You don't have to. You don't have to go on a date with me every month, you don't have to be my … X friend. " Zayne blabbered out. 

If he had stopped with that, it would have been alright. But he was in a rare rambling mood, so he continued. 

" I know you like children more than you like me. You take care of them with a sincere heart. I am very grateful. They are very grateful. I will make sure to let them live separately as soon as I can earn a deposit. I will take care of Robin too, in any case if you want me to take care of them, I will. I did not understand what you meant that we are co-dependent. That's why we shouldn't get into a relationship. I understand now. If I did not like you, then you asked me to be your boyfriend with children on the line, I would have no choice but to agree. I am ashamed that I have done something like that to you. Not that I don't like you, but I understand you don't like me, and only agreed to be with me for the sake of the children. 

I always believed coercing someone into a relationship like that is a very scumbag thing to do, but I did it myself, unaware how much the children mean to you. I am sorry that I forced you. You don't have to go on dates with me. We can just stay friends for the coming three years, till children get to a state they can look after themselves. Oh ! what am I doing .. I am rambling. I will stop now. In the end, the conclusion was that you need not go on a date with me monthly, and we will be just friends. " Zayne ended his rambling. 

Claire looked at him like she's looking at a circus monkey. 

" I disagree. " She said. 

" Yeah .. I know you would be happy with this .. Wait ! Do you disagree ? What are you disagreeing with ? " Zayne said, utterly unaware of what's happening. 

" I disagree with it all. " Calire answered. 

" What do you mean you disagree with it all ? You were so reluctant when you agreed. " Zayne snapped reflexively, feeling a strange sense of betrayal. What the f**k is this ? he had felt bad, guilty and like an utter total scumbag for three days for what ? How much heartbreak did he have to go through to come out and say this ? what does she mean 'disagree ' ? 

Claire just shrugged her shoulders. 

" I .. do not understand. Just what in the world are you dissatisfied with ? I asked you to be my girlfriend, you are reluctant to agree as if I am leading you to a slaughterhouse. So, I thought perhaps this is wrong, and asked to be friends, but you disagree ? What do you want to do ? Are you f**king toying with me ? " He was truly getting angry. 

The surrounding temperature picked up. 

" What if I am ? Is it such a big deal ? " Claire said playfully, as if she is enjoying riling up Zayne. 

Looking at the sheer happiness on her face, Zayne's anger calmed down. 

" Claire Bassett… Just what in the world do you want ? " Zayne said, holding his forehead. 

" Firstly, I want to know why you wanted to break off the relationship now. " Claire asked, taking pity on the poor guy. 

" I believed you reluctantly agreed to date me. Wasn't that right ? " Zayne said, remembering the situation on the cliff. 

" It was correct. " Claire answered. 

" Then why in the world do you disagree to be just friends ? " Zayne said bewildered at her thought process. 

" I am tied down with children and you, why the hell should I suffer being single for three years while being labeled as a couple by society ? " Claire answered honestly, now that she nas no fear of children listening to her accidentally, unlike the time on the cliff. 

" Tied down ? I am sorry we have been such a burden on you. From now on, I will take care of them by myself, " Zayne answered, feeling humiliated. 

" Look at this. Did I say you are a burden ? Is being tied down a bad thing ? Look at this ; we have exchanged only two sentences, but among all of them, you always focus on the wrong points. With this kind of communication gap between us, where do you get the confidence to propose a relationship ? " Claire asked, this time slowly getting angry. 

" Hey ! Go out and ask anywhere in the world. Where is ' Tied down ' not considered a negative connotation ? ' Zayne was miffed. 

" Once again, the wrong point ! " 

" Stop speaking in circles, and give me a straight answer…. Unless .. " Zayne suddenly looked as if he comprehended something ." Unless you want to leave me hanging, and string along other guys. Is that what you want to do ? Is that why you are so afraid to put a label on what we are ? " Zayne looked like he received enlightenment. 

' Damn it ! Why did this super straight guy suddenly understand the situation so well ? ' Claire thought in her mind. Stringing along is probably a bit too much, for she never wanted Caspian to be anything more than a colleague. However, leaving Zayne hanging was true. Claire heard about far too many stories of fire elementals losing their cool, causing accidents. She wanted to see if Zayne had the same tendencies. 

The fiery explosion from the last time was clear as a day in her mind. 

" The straight answer was that I like the current situation. I don't want to change it to any other direction. The end. " Claire answered. 

" Are you playing around with me? " Zayne snarked, his feelings exploding from him. 

 " Aren't you the same ? " Claire asked in return. 

Zayne reeled back like he was struck with a straight punch. ' Is that what she thought it was ? ' he wondered if the sincerity of his feelings was ever conveyed properly to Claire. At this point, even talking about it is a waste of time. From the beginning, she never believed him. She did not believe him when he was on Ifrit's altar writing with fire in the sky, nor did she believe him when he was throwing a tantrum into the sea. 

Just what is he supposed to do to make her believe ? 

Then … 

… 

..

.

Nothing… he drew a blank. 

His shoulders slumped at that. Somehow, he felt worse than he did when he thought he was a scumbag for forcing her. In the end, he believed treating sincere affection this blandly was something only villains do, as such, his actions righteous, despite him imposing upon Claire. Yes, in his head he knew he was wrong, but in his heart, he was sure of his innocence. 

But now he realized, from the beginning, he was just a random annoyance, tolerated, but not loved. 

" Let's just go back. " he said, turning back to the classroom. 

Jessica Shaw, who was listening from the corner, rushed downstairs with a wildly beating heart. 

She thought she would give up on Zayne temporarily, provided he and Claire were dating. After all there is the black bull guild's contract, which she avoided owing to Claire. She felt indebted despite Claire not asking for credit. Now that she knows Claire does not put Zayne in her eyes, and Zayne seems to be very disappointed, it is her chance. 

Claire and Zayne returned to the class, taking seats beside each other once again. 

Claire clearly sensed Zayne had very much misunderstood her, and she wanted to correct him. However, at this point, she realized that the more they talk, more misunderstandings pile up. Their perspectives on life are different, their points of interest are different, their communication language is different. Even if they both speak the same language, they don't understand each other. She's a science student, he's an arts student. It's a match made in hell. 

There is no way she could clear up the air between them when she tries to explain. 

In the first place, she wanted a boytoy, he wanted the love of his life. 

She was filming sex in the city, while he was filming beauty and the beast. Where is there a way to reconcile these two ? 

She is a thirty year old reborn person who has seen the end of the world. He is an eighteen year old boy with the heart of a hero. 

Understanding means crushing dreams and bringing down the only light in her life to the same dark cave that she lives in. Claire would rather let this misunderstanding continue, no matter what it is, for it is better than understanding.