Regret Confesses Her Love

.....

The date was April 2nd, 2022. It has been almost 2 weeks since Shelby Gills (Deep-Sea Girl) got revived from the dead. Ritsuko Fuyuma (Regret) was getting ready to leave. She was about to go to her friend Lemy Abelard's house. Mahime Fuyuma (Marionette) saw her.

Marionette: You sure you don't want me to accompany you?

Regret: Thanks for the offer, Mari, but I gotta do this on my own. I'm a big girl.

Marionette: I know.

Regret: Okay. Wish me luck.

She went out the door.

When she got to the Gills residence, she walked up to the front door and knocked. Shelby answered it.

Deep-Sea Girl: Hi, Ritsu.

Regret: Hey, Shelby. Is Lemy in there?

Deep-Sea Girl: Yeah. Hold on, I'll go get him.

She left and came back with Lemy a minute later.

Lemy: Hey, Ritsu.

Regret: Hi, Lemy. (to Shelby) We're just going to hang out at the park today. Is that okay? I promise to bring him home.

Deep-Sea Girl: Fine by me.

Regret: Great.

Lemy: Bye, Shelby.

Meanwhile, Ritsuko and Lemy were sitting together on a bench.

Regret: I heard of what happened to Shelby...she took her own life last year, didn't she?

Lemy: She did. I don't know why she did that. She left me and Eddie and our parents without even talking to us about it.

Regret: Well, Shelby has this thing called PTSD. Or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Lemy: What's that?

Regret: Well...it's kinda hard for me to explain. Okay, let's make you an example. You said your birth mother abandoned you, right?

Lemy: Yeah.

Regret: Are you still having those nightmares?

Lemy: Yeah. Every night.

Regret: That's kind of like PTSD. It's a really terrible event where you can't forget. Like your mom abandoning you.

Lemy: Why does Shelby have it?

Regret: Maybe Shelby didn't tell you about her childhood.

Lemy: Her childhood?

Regret: She was kidnapped when she was a kid.

Lemy: Really?

Regret: Mm-hmm. Her kidnapper did some horrible stuff to her.

Lemy: How come she didn't tell me this?

Regret: Maybe she didn't want to.

Lemy: Okay.

Regret: Um...Lemy?

Lemy: Yeah?

Regret: What would you say to me if I said I like you? A lot.

Lemy: Um...

Regret: Why are you hesitating?

Lemy: You just caught me by surprise. Why didn't you ask me out sooner?

Regret: Well, I wanted our friendship to grow a little more.

Lemy: Oh, I see.

Regret: So, do you like me back?

Lemy: Of course, Ritsu.

Regret: Really? Thank you! I can't wait to tell my mom and Mari about this. I bet they'll be so happy to hear that I got a boyfriend, especially since Mari has Riley.

Lemy: Who's Riley?

Regret: Riley Holiday (Clown Carnival). She's Mari's girlfriend. She likes clowns. Maybe she'll like you, too.

Lemy: I doubt it.

Regret: Why do you say that?

Lemy: No one really likes me. Well, except for Shelby, Edward, and their parents. And you, Mari, and your mom, of course.

Regret: What about those other guys you work with?

Lemy: Père Noël? No, they don't even care about me. Not even the other kids at school. Even Riliane hates me!

Regret: Don't worry. You have lots of friends. Eventually.

Lemy: I hope you're right. Well, do you have any ideas on a first date?

Regret: I do, actually. How about I come over to your house?

Lemy: Okay.

Regret: Good. Now I promised Shelby I would take you home. So, let's go.

And so, the 2 of them walked home together.

And that's that. I will see you guys in the next story!