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“Mommy?” a tiny voice emerged sleepily from the bed where a chubby little girl lay bundled up.
“Yes, darling?” Julia Heartilly-Caraway asked questioningly, smoothening her daughter’s hair tenderly and gazing at her with a look of love only mothers can give.
“Mommy,” the girl repeated. “Can you sing me your song?”
“Oh, Rinoa. Why do you like that song so much?” Julia smiled. Her daughter’s fascination with it never ceased to amuse her, especially since it was of a woman singing about her love for a man. This was something you would hardly expect a four year old to understand.
“Just because,” Rinoa replied in a matter-of-fact-tone. “Anyway, it’s pretty cool to listen to you sing it, especially since you made it up. You sing it really well, too.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere, but I’ll make an exception in your case. Besides, I didn’t “make it up”, I wrote it,” Julia chuckled, automatically correcting her daughter’s grammar. Then, pretending to be presenting in front of a real audience, she announced, “ Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today, I will be singing a song called “Eyes On Me”. And she began to sing.
Whenever sang my songs
On this stage, on my own
Whenever said my words
Wishing they would be heard
I saw you smiling at me
Was it real or just my fantasy
You'd always be there in the corner
Of this tiny little bar
My last night here for you
Same old songs, just once more
My last night here with you?
Maybe yes, maybe no
I kind of liked it your way
How you shyly placed your eyes on me
Oh, did you ever know?
That I had mine on you
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer
So let me come to you
Close as I want to be
Close enough for me
To feel your heart beating fast
And stay there as I whisper
How I loved your peaceful eyes on me
Did you ever know
That I had mine on you
Darling, so share with me
Your love if you have enough
Your tears if you're holding back
Or pain if that's what it is
How can I let you know
I'm more than the dress and the voice
Just reach me out and
You will know that you're not dreaming
Darling, so there you are
With that look on your face
As if you're never hurt
As if you're never down
Shall I be the one for you
Who pinches you softly but sure
If frown is shown then
I will know that you are no dreamer
As she softly finished the last few syllables of her song, she saw that Rinoa had fallen asleep. Tucking her back into her bed, Julia thought back to how, just five years ago, she had met the man of her dreams, the man who had given her the inspiration to write a song, a song that was meant for him.
Laguna, the Galbadian soldier who had won her over with his charm. Tall and well built, with long jet-black hair that constantly fell into his face, he had swept into her life like a knight in shining armour. It had been love at first sight.
***Flashback***
It seemed like only yesterday that they had met. Julia, in the middle of playing a song on the piano, had lifted her head temporarily to look up, a habit she had to allow her to catch a glimpse of her audience and see if they were enjoying themselves. That was when he caught her eye. He was sitting at one of the tables in the front. Two other soldiers, one thin and the other stout, accompanied him, but only he was the one whom she was interested in. Leaning forward intently, he had been gazing in her direction, all the while ignoring the jibes from his fellow partners. She had been so startled by the sight of his piercing gaze that she had nearly made a few mistakes in her piano piece. Luckily, she had caught herself before she managed to mess it up, but as she kept her gaze on the keyboard, determined to concentrate on placing her fingers correctly, she could still feel his eyes on her.
After she had finished playing, she stood up to bow to her audience. As they applauded, she tried vainly to look for that mysterious man, and when she thought she saw a flash of black amidst the crowd, she quickly turned around to look, but he had gone. Once the bar had emptied, she asked the waitress who had been serving them whether she knew their names.
“ Oh, the tall man with the long black hair is Mr. Laguna Loire. I saw his signature on the bill, so I know. Quite a hunk, huh?” the waitress winked at Julia. When Julia blushed, she continued, “The thin one is Kiros Seagul and the other, Ward Zaback. They were wearing nametags. Funny thing was, Mr. Loire wasn’t. I guess he forgot to put it on.” Then she left. As Julia walked back to her room in the hotel, she wondered who Laguna Loire was and why he was here. Her head swimming with these thoughts, she went to bed, hoping he would be back again the next day.
Although he didn’t come every single day, he did come at least once a week. Things continued as before, and she never had a chance to meet him. One day, however, through a lull in the music, she had heard the other two whispering and pointing at her. They seemed to be arguing about something, but she didn’t know what for. Suddenly, he stood up and began to walk towards her stage. Her heart started to beat faster as she heard him coming closer, but she kept her eyes down to the piano keys. Looking at him through the corner of her eye, she saw that something very strange was happening. When he had reached her, he suddenly bent down in pain and grabbed his leg. As he turned around and limped back to his table, his friends began to laugh. Stiffening his resolve, he turned back to her, saluted, and practically dragged his leg all the way back. By that time, she had finished playing her song, and it was her turn to walk to where he was sitting. Nearing his table, she heard them poking fun at Laguna, but he was too lost in thought to listen. Ward looked over in her direction, then, eyes widening in surprise, he nudged Kiros with his elbow and pointed to her. He got the message and both stood up, telling Laguna to enjoy himself for a while.
“Hey! Come on guys! What’s the hurry? Aren’t we here to have fun?” he protested.
“Just stay here and… relax, Laguna. The drinks are on us tonight,” Kiros replied. With that, they hurried off, leaving him to look at them with an expression of confusion and dismay on his face.
“Hello,” Julia said as she came up behind him. Laguna gave a big start and whirled around. Seeing her, his face flushed, and he stuttered a greeting.
“Mind if I sit down?” she asked.
“Uh, sure! B…be my guest!” he replied, making room for her to sit down.
“Is your leg all right? You seemed to be having some trouble with it,” Julia threw him a look of concern.
“Oh, my leg? Um, it’s fine! It just cramps up whenever I’m, er, nervous,” he replied.
“You were nervous?” she asked him, feeling happy. He must like her too!
“ I was, well... but... um… I…” he
mumbled.
“ Please, relax... I would feel
terrible if someone was nervous because of me.” She told him gently.
“Ah… I’m s…sorry.” He was almost
as red as a beetroot by now.
Thinking quickly, she whispered, “I have a suggestion, but... could we talk in
my room?”
Startled, he stood up and said in amazement, “ Y…your room!?” Then, he
immediately sat down and blushed even harder.
“Well... It's just that it’s difficult to talk here. Everyone can hear what we’re saying...” she looked around and everyone listening to their conversation tried to look away discretely. She turned back to Laguna.
“If it's okay... I hope you can come. I’ll love to talk to you…”
Noticing his hesitation, she asked
disappointedly, “You don't want to?”
“Don't be ridiculous! Of course I
do!” he cried, as if she had just asked a stupid question.
“Well, then I'll be waiting for you. Just ask for my room at the front desk,” Smiling at him, she turned to go, aware that the others where trying to scuttle away as fast as they could. She entered her room and had barely closed the door when she heard knocking. When she opened the door, Laguna stepped in, closing the door behind him.
“Have a seat,” she told him. He walked over to the far end of the room, and sat down on an armchair. Then he got up, sat on the bed, got up again and finally walked towards her nervously. Julia laughed and asked him, “Going so soon?” He fidgeted and answered, “Er… well, you see, I’m a big fan of yours, so, uh, erm, well I…”
“Is that why you come to so me play so often?”
“Y…you mean you s…saw me?” He ran to the to the other end of them room again and began pacing up and down.
“You were always smiling when you looked at me…” she said dreamily.
“You have beautiful eyes, though they look a bit frightened now. Don’t worry, I’m not going to pluck ‘em and eat ‘em. I just want to talk, gazing into those eyes…”
And that was when he began to tell her about his dream… to be a journalist. She remembered how, after drinking some wine, he had fallen onto the bed and fell asleep. How could she forget? He had been so adorable… sleeping like a contented baby. Then, when he had woken up, he had been so embarrassed and asked her what her dream was.
“I want to sing. Not only to play the piano, but sing, too. I’m not good at writing lyrics, though.”
Crossing his arms and frowning slightly, he commented, “That must be really hard. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll be able to write something soon.”
“Actually, I already have and idea of what to write,” she said shyly. “I think you’ve given me the inspiration I needed.”
“M…me?” He asked in shock, pointing at himself.
“Yes. The many faces you showed me... The many times you were hurt, or happy. Your eyes told me. I think I can write a wonderful song now.”
Speaking half to himself, half to her, he said, “This is incredible... I must be dreaming.”
“But it's not a dream, is it?” she replied, in a voice full of tenderness that made him look at her with love in his eyes.
Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted
the magic moment between the two. Slightly disgruntled, Laguna heard Kiros say,
“Laguna! We have new orders! Assemble in front of the Presidential Residence,
right away!”
In a slightly wavering voice, she asked, “Will we meet again?”
I’m so afraid… afraid that he will leave… that he’ll be wounded in battle and never come back again, she thought to herslf.
“Of course! I'll come back to hear your songs...” he replied confidently, and, before she could react, he kissed her passionately on the lips and left the room.
***End Flashback***
But that was all in the past now. Laguna had broken his promise… he had never come back. He had left to go to a war, and he had died before she could tell him how much she loved him. But that was all in the past now… she had met General Caraway and married him, and now that she had her Angel, Rinoa, nothing could make her happier. She stood up and silently left Rinoa’s room. In the study, she could hear the clacking of the computer keys as her husband finished up the last of his work. As Julia went into the master bedroom, however, deep down inside her she knew that she would never forget him. She might push his memory into the darkest recesses of her mind, throw herself into her work to try to ignore the nagging ache in her heart, but her song, no, THEIR song, would live on. She would always remember him… her Laguna.