“Sempai, ohayo~”    The next morning, on the way to school.  Haneki fell in step with me.

“Ohayo.”  I managed to put up a smile for her, hoping that my expression would not betray me.

“I’m sorry I’m just left you behind yesterday.”  She smiled embarassly.

“It’s okay.  The guy is more important right?”  I barely managed to fake the teasing tone.  Within myself, my heart actually felt torn apart.

“Sempai!”  She stamped her feet, her cheeks reddening.

“I spoke the truth only.”  I almost applauded myself, what splendid acting.

How pathetic.  I could almost cry.

“I’m not going to talk to you...”  She blushed, sticking her tongue out at me before running away.
 
 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 
 

It’s him.. right...?
 

The guy I saw yesterday..
 

He was the one...
 
The one to put that light into your eyes...
 

Never have I seen you so happy.

A certain air of gladness hung over you..
 

Could he.. be the one..?  As you always mention.

The prince... to wake you up from your deep slumber.
 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

Ring....
 

Ring.....
 
 

Ring ring.....
 

“Moshi moshi?”

“Junno Sempai! Haneki desu.”  Her voice came unexpectedly through the phone.

“Haneki? Do you know it’s almost one o’clock in the morning now?”  I groaned, hardly barely opening my eyes.  I didn’t sleep a wink last night.

“Gomen ne, but I really have some news to share with you.  Oh, Sempai.. I’m so happy ne!”

“Nani?”  I sat upright, it’s really unusual for Haneki to call me at this hour.

“Sempai...” I could hear her taking in a deep breath.  “Jin told me he had always liked me.. and he asked me to be his girlfriend.”

“and...?”  My heart shattered.  Unknowingly, I gripped the receiver tighter, afraid of her answer.
 

“I agreed!”
 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

How...

I finished the conversation with her.. I didn’t know...

The only thing I remembered... was that she asked me to congratulate her...
 

I did.

My heart broke.
 

I had dreamt of spending the future with her...

Now..  It’s impossible.
 

The night went.  And morning came.

I laid in the same position after hanging Haneki’s call.

I didn’t want to do any thing.. even thinking..

Afraid that the pain she gave me would appear again..
 

But somehow... I knew..  I could not remain like this forever...

Love is not like this...

When the one you loved gained happiness...

You should feel happy... even the one who gave happiness her was not you..

Somehow... you would feel satisfied just to see the smile on her face.
 

I decided then...

I love her..

That’s why I’m giving her up... to a person in better position to give her happiness.

Haneki...
 
 

I wish you all the best.... with him.
 
 

 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~
 

When the princess was awaken by the prince... by a kiss of life...

She smiled... into his eyes..

The love between them grew since...

There ended the duty..  of the knight...
 

The knight... who have never left her side...

Along the years..   Protecting her faithfully...
 

His love for her...

Could never be confessed..
 

He was fated to remain in a dark corner of her life...

For..
This was the destiny of a knight...
 
 
 
 

~ END ~