The TRIBE Chronicles : Forgotten Memories (Completed)

06.2 - Hidden Sorceress Unveiled (Part 2)

The afternoon had come when Lia finished her dancing practice. She had been practicing since morning with the local musicians and performers group for the performance on the last day of the Festival in a dojo downtown. And after the break, she would need to prepare herself for teaching music for the kids. Although she had done it all each year for the past four years, she still hadn't gotten used with the tiredness that she felt afterward.

"Sakura-san."

A call made her looking around. A girl from the musician group had called her.

"Mitsuki-san is looking for you," she told her while pointing politely at the door.

And when Lia turned her gaze to the door, she saw Gail standing by the door, waving at her. She smiled and approached the younger girl. "What's the matter, Gail?" She asked as she stepped out from the room, to a small gazebo near the entrance.

"Lopka told me to deliver your lunch box," the younger girl said as she handed a small box of lunch that wrapped in flower pattern cloth.

Lia smiled to see the lunch box. "I see that you're running errands for Lopka now." She received the box and sat.

"Yeah, thanks to someone who's getting busy for the Festival," She said as she sat beside the girl.

Lia chuckled to hear the girl's complaint as she knew precisely who and what the younger girl was referring to. Gail might sound sarcastic with her words, but she never meant to offend her. "Sorry about that. I thanked you for the lunch," she thanked her. "But isn't it a little bit late for lunch?"

"Well, she figured if you might skip your lunch time because of practicing. So she insisted to give you your lunch."

It brought a smile to Lia's face to know about Lopka's caring nature. She looked back to the lunch box that had been sitting on her lap. "Lopka is always caring, right?"

Gail only nodded. Both of them knew; because Lopka was the oldest among them, she had always felt responsible toward the younger two, especially at the time when their teacher was away. Perhaps it was why the older girl was once fuzzier than her when they were younger. Lia even remembered on how Gail complained about Lopka who had always acted like their mother. But no matter what, Lopka had never failed to tend and care for them. It always made them feeling blessed to know a friend such of her.

Lia unwrapped the lunch and opened it. She took the chopsticks and put her palms together to give thanks for the food before starting to eat. In the middle of eating, she suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Gail..."

The younger girl turned her look at her, wondering why she called her. "Yes?"

"Do you like Takahiro?"

The sudden straight-forward question was very much unexpected by Gail. In addition, she saw mischievous look on the older girl's face. She should have not surprised if Lia had found out about it; the girl always had higher observation skill than her, along with spiritual power hidden within her. So Lia might have guessed if something had happened.

But to be asked a straight-forward question like that, Gail couldn't help but to blush. "W-w-what a-are you talking about? What do you mean by that?"

She had somehow stammered, making the older girl to chuckle with her behavior. But she knew if her behavior had raised suspicion for the girl.

"Don't try to read someone else's mind without permission." She scolded the older girl.

"Well, well, Gail. How many years do you think I've known you? I don't think I need to read your mind to know about it." She smiled. "Your behavior this morning has given me a solid prove."