Step 7 - Defining Happily Ever After

110 16 11
                                    

ılı.lıllılı.ıllı.

ᴺᵒʷ ᵖˡᵃʸᶦⁿᵍ; [ Citrus Love by Bao the Whale ]

1:33 ——◦———— -4:10

↠ⁿᵉˣᵗ ˢᵒⁿᵍ ↺ ʳᵉᵖᵉᵃᵗ ⊜ ᵖᵃᵘˢᵉ

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-Your POV-

"Oh, I guess this is it." I force a smile to offer to Ilima. "Well, goodbye then." My voice — by a miracle — was steady, and I choked out the obligatory farewells, waving to Melenele's Trial Captain. My gaze sept the pier once more, looking desperately for a certain edgy blonde...

But the docks were empty beside the few other travelers waiting for the boat to arrive. Once it came, I'd be off to the next island, Ula'ula. It hit me; I was scared of losing Gladion.

Clearly, I was only weighing him down, in the end. It was better off this way, really. Gladion had his own life, and I'd done a pretty horrible job prying into it, peeking past his tough facade, and needling to lighten up. Maybe it's true that I worked my way into his heart... but it was over. After one, small, unimportant ride across the sea, I might not see his face anymore.

"Until next time, friend." Ilima nods sadly.

I mirror the somber expression, hesitant and remorseful, but also indefinitely regretful. I felt guilty, that much was sure. "Thanks for coming to see me off," I say graciously, trying to take my mind off things.

"It's my pleasure." His soft gray eyes shimmer with concern. "But is something the matter? Did you patch up things with the boy from earlier?"

I shake my head, dowcast. "I... I did not. But that's quite alright. Don't worry yourself."

Ilima looks like he wants to say something more to comfort my visible sorrow, but the horn to a boat blasts through the air, interrupting. I shift my gaze to see the ferry pull into the bay, and will myself not to cry.

And although my eyes were indeed watering, not a tear fell.

"Ticket?"

"Here." I hand the man my slip of passage and step onto the ramp, but pause before fully boarding. "Once more, Ilima, I'm grateful for your help. I hope to see you again. Maybe I'll circle back and visit Melemele sometime."

"That'd be wonderful." He agrees, giving me a small wave.

Still reluctant, I let my eyes wander, sweeping the port as a last resort. I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I should really stop getting my hopes up. There was no way, after all that happened, that he'd actually come to see me off. Everything was screwed up — there was no doubt in my mind that it was my fault, my mistake, my wretched step gone horribly wrong in my foolish strive for happiness.

I turn, gliding my hand against the railing and scaling the metal ramp sluggishly, somber, lingering thoughts dragging me down.

"Hey, wait!"

A shout shot across the sky and met my ears. I instantly perked up, recognizing the voice immediately. I whipped around to see my knight in shining armor dashing across the docks atop his partner, Type: Null.

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