The Past part 2

(POV Rachel)

Although I expected it to some extent, I was extremely disheartened after Rika started avoiding me after that incident. She avoided my calls and every time I saw her after that she would get flustered and scamper away cutely somewhere.

Even though I thought the fleeing Rika was also cute, I felt my heart breaking a little every time she avoided me. She was probably upset with me for making everyone think she's a lesbian and just didn't know how to express her anger. She pouted a lot, but I don't think I've ever seen her angry before, so I figured this was her best attempt.

It was only after about 2 weeks into my depression that I finally got the chance to talk to her again.

It was the weekend when I received a sudden knock on my door. I went to answer it even though I was still in my PJ's and had some bad bedhead. I could hardly care right now, instead focused more on turning whoever it was away so I could get back to another scoop of ice cream to drown the pain.

I was beyond surprised to find Rika at the door this late. Even more so to see her dressed like some 90s pimp or something.

"Y-Y-Yo! What's up, B-babe!? Y-Y-You lookin' f-fineee as usual! W-Wanna, I mean, Let m-me take you to a m-movies at 8 so I-I can show you a g-g-good time!" She stuttered out with a flushed face.

"..."

"..."

"What the hell are you wearing?"

"..."

"In the first place, it's already 9 o'clock,"

"..."

"And the movie theater is closed on Sunday,"

"..."

"Are you an idiot?"

"Uuu,"

Ahh, she started crying. Although a crying Rika is also cute. After getting a quick pic with my phone, I dragged her inside so she could explain what's been going on these past few weeks.

Apparently she did not know how to be a lesbian, so she had been researching online and in some stupid dating books to get an idea. She had been avoiding me simply because she was too embarrassed and didn't want to mess anything up before she did enough research.

I had almost forgotten that Rika had even less social skills than I did. I was really worrying over nothing it seems. I was so relieved I burst out laughing after she finished her explanation. At some point, that laughing turned into crying and I held her really tightly while she tried to figure out what was going on.

I truly could not describe the sheer amount of relief I felt in that moment. The thought of losing her was hurting me far more than I let on. I always tried to hide my emotions behind snark and pessimism, but in reality I was barely holding myself together these past two weeks. She had become such an important part of my life that I really didn't know what I would do without her at this point.

After I pulled myself together, I wasted no more time and claimed her lips once again. Although a little more bitter thanks to my tears, they were still just as sweet as I remembered. It flustered her in the beginning, but she hesitantly tried to return the kiss not long after. We were both incredibly inexperienced, so it likely wasn't the best kiss, but it was the one I would always remember the most fondly.

After breaking the kiss for air, I looked at her flushed face and I couldn't stop the desire to eat her up right then and there from surfacing. I'll admit I was a bit of a closet pervert, but I couldn't help myself, she was just so damn cute. Luckily, I could hold back enough to clear up a few misunderstandings.

"Rika. I love you because of who you are. You don't have to change anything about yourself to impress me. Just be yourself and we can take things at whatever pace you're comfortable with." I assured her before giving her a simple but loving hug.

"Un." was the only reply I got while she buried her head in my chest. Ahh. Really, if I knew I could see her being shy like this, I would have confessed ages ago!

After that, not much changed between us. I mean, we already practically did everything together anyway, so it was to be expected, I guess. My mum readily approved of our relationship and, in what was probably the most uncomfortable conversation I have ever had, even gave me a lot of...advice...on what a girl might like in bed.

I of course used every bit our first night together. Heh heh. I got to see some fantastic expressions that night…

Over the next few years, Rika also mellowed out a lot and cut back on her chunni antics, much to my relief and dismay. She never stopped, but she could hold a regular conversation for longer without relapsing. I actually grew a little worried about her for a while there, so I confronted her on why she kept it up this long, anyway.

According to her, it was to help her escape from reality. For the longest time she hated her life and earnestly wished she could go to another world, be somewhere else, be someone else. That, and apparently it was really fun to do. When I asked her if she still wanted to go to another world, she only smiled and replied,

"Why would I want to be somewhere else when you're right here?"

Needless to say, I didn't let her get much sleep that night. She ended up a little grumpy in the morning and even banned our night time activities for an entire week! Well, she held out 3 days before coming to me herself, tho.

This was also around the time she had her big break in life. It started off as an off-hand comment of mine during one of her episodes, but I never imagined she would take it so seriously.

"You really should look into acting or something. At least I think you'd have an easier time doing that then ridding the world of the leafy green menace. Actually, just eat your vegetables already…"

Inspired by my words, she started getting into acting seriously. She began small with a few voice acting gigs and she really took off in that department. She brought a level of life and passion to her characters that few could emulate. She became a hit almost instantly. It was little surprise that not long after she got offered a small part in some long running animated T.V show.

"Ray! I got the part! I got the part!" She came up to me running and hugged me after getting the news. It goes without saying that I once again didn't let her get much sleep that night. She was grumpy again, too. Sigh, I just can't win with her. Though her grumpy expression is also cute…

As for me, I was a wealthy second generation so I never really had to worry about money. I still wanted something to do, so I started getting into independent animation and had some success on UTube. Rika even did some voice acting for me, both as practice and publicity.

Things were looking up and going great for us. I had never been so happy in my entire life-

"I'm sorry to say this, but I'd say you only have 3 more years left to live." -Then it all came tumbling down at once.

As expected, I was shocked. I felt fine until that point, and now I was suddenly being told I was going to die? I didn't know what to do. I was scared, angry, depressed, anxious; you name it. But most of all, I worried about that fragile but strong girl I fell in love with all those years ago. I didn't know how to tell her. So I chose not to. It was a cowardly choice, but I did it anyway.

She could obviously tell something was wrong with me, but I always dodged the subject. How do you tell the person you love you're going to die in 3 years? I was lost. Honestly, I was worried less about myself than I was about leaving her alone. I didn't want her to withdraw into herself again.

"Let's have a baby,"

"Wha-!?" So, I had the not so bright idea to leave a piece of myself behind with her to remember me by. I was thankful that she wasn't opposed to the idea, even if caught off guard. That said, life wasn't done giving us the middle finger just yet.

"I'm sorry to say this, but the test results say you are infertile," I think I hate doctors now. A bunch of money hungry bastards that deliver bad news like a mailman.

My ranting aside, Rika was very distraught over the news she was infertile and I was hesitant to take the procedure alone, but I still offered to. I wanted to leave behind something she could remember me by. Sure, I would essentially be leaving her a single mother, but it was better than nothing, right? Plus, I had enough money in my will for her to live off for the rest of her life. I'm sure she would have made it somehow.

Unfortunately, she didn't feel the same way as me. To be expected since she didn't know my thought process, I guess. She was adamant on just adopting a kid from an orphanage and raising them together. I of course didn't agree since it would defeat the entire purpose.

This difference in thinking led to probably our first serious fight since our relationship started. Like all good relationships, we've had our spats before, but this was the first time neither of us compromised on anything. Even the vote to do both was thrown out the window by her. It was so frustrating that I even considered going behind her back and having it done without her knowing, but I could never betray her like that.

I could only do my best to convince her before my time was up. But like all good (bad) things, they come in threes.

The worst part is, it was so damn cliche. Some crazy kid that doesn't know when not to cross a street. My dumbass moving before I could even understand why. A lot of pain. And now I'm struggling to say the only words that actually mattered at the end of my life.

"I...l-love...you..." I barely whispered out. Sigh, I could say it in the end. I'm at least thankful for that, if nothing else.

"I...I love you, too. J-Just hang on, okay? Don't you even think about leaving me! Or I'll...I'll declare war on all of heaven to get you back!"

'Pfft. Even now I still think she's a cutie. That's the girl I love.' I could only smile internally while my eyes closed as the last of my consciousness drifted away…

"Yo! I'm Rob and you all died!"

...or at least that's what I thought.

---

[A/N: ...This mini arc was supposed to end here. Why is it going on for another chapter?

Oi! Bring back Hikari already!

Ngl I just had a lot of fun writing for Rachel and Rika so things continued on for longer than I planned. Next chapter will be the wrap up for Rachel for now. She is the secondary protagonist of this story so for those of you who do like her expect some more chapters from her POV in the future. For those of you who don't...

Anyway! Let me know what you guys like best so far. First person or third person POV. I find it easier to write in first person but I feel like things are easier to understand in third. I'll probably be switching back and forth between the two but it'd be nice to know what you guys like the most.

Thanks for reading! Maybe one more chapter today if I really feel like it. Kind of in the mood ya know?]