Eclipse Blade

Chapter 7: Whispers of Love

Carl POV: 

I arrived at my father's current residence, where he now lives with another woman due to his ongoing disagreement with my mother. As I reached the front door, it became evident that it was locked, and a sense of emptiness filled the house. With no other option, I reluctantly moved away from the door, feeling both frustrated and disappointed.

I tried to contact my father on his mobile phone, but he didn't pick up the call, leaving me stranded in a sea of silence. With a growing sense of urgency, I headed to my mother's office, hoping to have a conversation with her.

Unfortunately, she wasn't present there. I asked the office staff about where she might be, and they informed me that she had gone to a nearby place to gather information about a recent murder case. Confronted with the absence of both my parents, a profound feeling of isolation took over me.

Unable to connect with either of my parents, I set out on a journey to reach Mia. Assuming that high school classes were likely over, I pedaled my bicycle swiftly towards Mia's cafe, where I hoped to find her.

Upon arriving at the cafe, I quickly entered and searched the area for Mia, but she was nowhere to be seen. Nevertheless, I spotted her mom behind the cash counter. I approached her and asked, "Hello, Mrs. Thompson. Could you tell me where Mia might be?"

Mrs. Thompson responded promptly, "I think she might be at home. By the way, I've been wanting to discuss with you why you've been avoiding Mia." Before she could elaborate, I interjected, my words rushed, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Thompson, but can we talk later? I'm really in a hurry to see Mia."

With that, I hurriedly exited the cafe, unintentionally brushing past some of the people present, leaving Mrs. Thompson and others quite surprised.

With the sun beginning to set, I eventually reached Mia's house. I called out her name with a sense of urgency, and she emerged from inside. Her gaze held a mixture of surprise and doubt as she spoke, "Carl, is it truly you?" Fatigue in my voice, I quickly responded, "Yes, Mia, it's me. Could we go somewhere else? I want to talk to you."

We both walked along the road, neither of us saying a word, the silence around us deepening. To break it, I glanced down and asked, "How have you been? It's been a while since we talked." She responded calmly, "Yes, I'm doing well. But whose fault was it that we stopped talking?"

I turned toward her and admitted, "I understand that if I hadn't kept my distance, things might be different now. But I'm not here to dwell on the past." I paused our walk, and she inquired, "Then why are you here?"

I responded promptly, "I came here to apologize for the trouble I caused you during that summer. I realized I never properly thanked you for how you took care of me back then." She replied swiftly, "So, you came all this way just for that? I thought you were going to tell me that you still love me."

I gazed directly into her eyes and replied, "How can I say that I love you when you're in love with Jack?" Hearing my words, Mia was taken aback, her shock evident as she swiftly slapped me across the face. She retorted with a mixture of anger and frustration, her voice raised, "You idiot! Do you honestly believe that I have feelings for that jerk? He's been relentlessly pursuing me, despite my efforts to avoid him. But what he fails to realize is that I'm already yours, and he can't make me love him."

Despite her slapping me in the face, her words filled me with overwhelming happiness. With a joyful smile, I responded, "So you still love me."

Coming closer to me, she said, "After all I've said, you still didn't get it right. Maybe this will make you understand." And then, she kissed me on the lips. At that moment, words failed me, and I found myself lost in her gaze. It was a kiss that ignited a fire within me, a sensation like being swept away by the tide, longing to return to the shore but content in the depths of the ocean of her affection.