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Second part of a series. First part is entitled Short Story: Umbrellas in the Rain. The story contains stuff from a game. If you can't identify with some things, just comment and I'll try to clarify. It was an unnatural weather condition, perhaps. Or simply, just the fact that it's December that made me say: "It's freezing out here..." I was sitting on the concrete railings of the balcony, again. Watching the stars as I always did, wearing a wool sweater, a double layer of socks and gloves. Somehow, it was colder this Christmas, physically and personally. It was cold without her. But six months have passed and still I haven't seen her. "Iris... Where are you?" Whispers into the night, seemingly little, seemingly futile. Yet, there's always hope... I've tried, of course. I've checked the tutoring records, got her school. But it would be weird if I go in during classes and ask for her... I got off the railing and went back to my bed. I didn't bother with blankets anymore, I had too much insulation on me already. I stared outside the window, then at the clock. It was already one in the morning. I wasn't comfortable with myself. I looked at the bedside, and a Santa Poring doll stared back at me. I still had to place it inside the present box. She'll love it. "She" is a girl I met in Ragnarok, a Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game. I helped her a lot to gain levels for her character, a cute brown-haired Acolyte with my Knight. Over the game's built-in chat system, we became close friends, and decided to meet in real life in a net gaming cafe near my school. We didn't know each other's name, nor what the other looked like; we decided to discover that in our "date" of sorts. I doubted that she would bring any change in these cold nights. But, she was a friend, and she may help me thaw off the glaciers of melancholy. Still drifting in thought, I looked at a sketch of Iris, which I made after the fateful rainy day I realized that I may never see her again. Somehow, the sight of her smile lulled me to sleep. Beeping sounds ran through my eardrums. It was time. Much like the evening, the morning was also a frigid time of the day. The water in my bath caused my body to shake and my whole being to be wide awake, shivering. I had a lot to do that day, so I went off early in the morning to be in time for my appointment with her. Later in the afternoon, I walked along an avenue, then decided to get her a Christmas card. I got a card, went to the cashier to pay for it. Outside, however, the skies poured down. I didn't have any umbrella or a raincoat. A girl was facing the baggage counter. She looked familiar.The ponytail, the smile, the eyes, it couldn't be... She reached inside her bag and took out a small umbrella... My umbrella? It looked like it. "Iris?" She was already walking outside, umbrella open. I ran toward the door to talk to her. Too late. She was nowhere to be seen. I stood there in disbelief, until the time that the guard pulled me away from the pathway. I blinked after a few seconds. It wasn't a trick from a lonely mind... It was true, and I let her pass away. I requested for a plastic bag to place my gift in. After that, I ran towards the nearest tricycle and asked to be dropped off in the meeting venue. It was cold, cold coming from the rain and the missed opportunity to see and talk to her once more. I hoped that it was a dream, but the involuntary shivers told me that it wasn't. Five minutes was all it took. I stepped outside the trike and paid, then rushed inside the place. I took some time to remember the stuff she said: "I'll be playing in Unit 9." She was on the other aisle of PCs. Slowly, I paced towards her. When I saw her playing, I opened my eyes wide. "It can't be..." She was facing away, looking at a computer monitor, yet she had a recognizable ponytail. I looked at the umbrella rack. My umbrella was there. Careful steps toward her... She was the girl, the girl I shared that umbrella about six months ago. Would she recognize me? There was only one way to find out... "Iris?" "Hmm?" She turned her head to look. She looked surprised. "Kaze?" "That's my pen name." "But I always called you that, so..." "Never mind, Iris." "Don't tell me you're the knight..." "Yup." I found her at last. "What a coincidence!" She smiled. It brightened up my day. "Where have you been? You're soaking wet!" "Long story, sorry... I have something for you." Somehow, I was lucky. I always get lucky during December, I don't know why... After I gave her the doll, we talked while playing. Funny how fate strings two people together. I never knew what fate had planned, but I had to trust her. In the end, what was separated was brought together again. I had regained my friend, and, possibly, hopefully, my love. I sat down on the railings again, looking at the stars, which seemed to be happy in shining. The winter air blew again. Somehow, it didn't seem that cold anymore.
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