The story begins

Phil just can't believe what he just saw. He was just on his way to her house, with a bundled dozen of orange roses on the passenger's seat. It was raining heavy that night, but his wide smile could clearly be seen on the car's drenched windshield.

He got a chance to say the three words, at last. And this time, he's really planned it to the littlest detail. No damn storm could stop him now. No, not now when he finally have gotten over all obstacles to reach this point. So many chances have been wasted, there's no way he could lose this one now.

Perhaps not even a quick flash of lightning directly striking a tree that instantly bursts into flames and falls into where his car rushes through.

Rain pours heavily on his face as he keeps his bundle of orange roses safe in his arms. He just can't believe even this storm seems to be stopping him from reaching her tonight. "Geez, I will have to walk, then," he whispers in dismay. Yet, he seems not to mind how wrecked his car has become, or how soaked and unfit he is now to accomplish his plans. "No, I this day won't be ruined by anything at all!"

Smoke can be barely seen from afar, but now it seems the world has turned into but a rain-drenched stage for two extremes. On the left is a long path towards where she is. To the right, where everything seems to be drifting away.

But the gentle soul seems to have found focus now. "I have to hurry... she's waiting for me." So he went on to the brighter part of the "stage", filling his heart with tingly excitement in every step on his way.

It was like walking through dark corridors, and he suddenly sees himself in front of her beloved's door. It's a wonder how focus could make everything else in the world disappear in an instant. He was to ring the doorbell when another strike of lightning revealed a silhouette of a woman crying behind the curtains.

Then he realized where he really was that moment.

"Phil..." the girl cried. She runs to the door, somehow hoping that she could make it to where he is right now, hoping she could outrun time to save their story from it's sudden end.

On the gate, she found only a bundle of orange roses soaked in a puddle, a note simply saying "I love you", and smoke and flame coming from afar.

One last strike of lightning but it unusually never felt frightening for her. A white shadow of his face, his smile, his wonderful eyes flashes before her in a split second. It felt like being in Gene's arms once again.

"I love you, too, Phil..."

Her name is Celine. And this is her story.