seasonal change || graire ✔️

Chapter 13

~Trent's POV~
     I lazily sat on my seat, not having any energy. I'm still not in the mood until now. I just can't forget what I saw during the Beach Day. When I saw Claire smiling at that Kai. It makes me see red. It makes my blood boil. He really does like playing with girls. He already has Popuri, yet he still wants Claire. How infuriating.

     I guess all people in the town are in a good condition since no one came for consultation. I'm the only one in the Clinic today, since I let Elli take the day off. I remembered that day again. Since that, she rarely talks to me. She talks to me only when there's a patient. After that, silence. And Claire, after that, she never spoke to me again. I didn't even see her anymore at the Inn. The last time I saw her was during the Beach day, where she was talking with the bastard.

     I decided to just go out to the beach and see the calm blue seas. I need to relax myself for some time, so I traipsed towards the beach, seeing no one in particular. It's quite weird since they are always at the town park or just roaming at the streets. I didn't mind it for now and went to the shore. I saw Karen standing there, staring at the horizon. She looked all disheartened and somber. I stood beside her and stared at the horizon, too.

"What happened? You seem down." I queried.

"Nothing," then she wore a small smile. "I just lost a special someone. Someone who thought of me as a friend despite my attitude."

"You lost Rick?"

"So you're telling me you haven't heard," she curved her lips up for a smirk. "Claire Adams had left the village just before fall season came. She left with Kai, going back to the city."

"What!? I know you're a quite a joker, but don't joke me like that. She's still here."

"I'm damn serious! I'm not joking. She left." she then turned serious. "If you don't want to believe me, fine." then she left.

     Claire... left? But why? I felt my tears trickling down my cheeks as I remembered everything that happened in between of us. Why did she leave? Is she mad at me for doing something, that's why? But... I even haven't got the chance to say what I really feel for her. That I love her so much. So why? Why did she leave me? I just kept on crying as I walked back to the clinic.

~Gray's POV~
     I've been here at my grandpa's shop, working again as his apprentice. Few people were coming by to check on their tools. Usually, there would be someone asking for an upgrade, but she doesn't stop by these past few weeks. I admit, I am still affected by what happened between me and her. I still haven't talked to her since the day I made my confession. And also, I noticed that she doesn't go to the Inn anymore. Though I'm still in pain because of whatever happened in between us, I'm still concerned of her state right now. She still became a part of me, after all. That's why I can't help myself but to care about her.

     I also noticed that the stupid doctor doesn't come often now at the Inn. Maybe it's because that Claire seldom goes there, too. Maybe they're having their date at the mountain peak, that's why they don't go at the Inn that much anymore. Then go date each other! No one cares if you do. I don't care if you do.

     I chose to leave the shop and wander around the streets. The atmosphere seems to be quite somber, for some reasons that I still don't know. It's already 1:00 pm, and still those women who ofter stay at the park are still not here. Carter is still inside the Chapel, and those kids are still not here. I decided to go to the library and just see Mary. Maybe I could ask her what's happening to the town right now.

"Afternoon, Mary." I shyly said.

"Afternoon, Gray." she greeted back, a sullen smile on her face. "Came to read new books?"

"Yeah."

     Oh right, I remembered what happened the last time. When I accidentally yelled at her when all she did was to show her concern for me. Yeah, I'm such a numbskull for doing that. And I still haven't apologized because I had too much pride to go here and apologize personally to her. Though I did say sorry, I'm sure she didn't hear it. I do regret yelling at her for such a childish reason. I was being so immature that time. Maybe I should say sorry to her now.

"Hey," I blurted out. She looked away from me. "I'm sorry for what happened before. I know I've hurted your feelings. I was so childish to shout at you for such reason. So please, don't look so down now. Smile, okay?"

She reddened and stared down at the floor. "Y-you don't have to say sorry. W-we are just okay. I-I d-do understand why y-you... did that." she then looked at me. "Um... you need something else?"

"Ah... you once said to me that you're making a novel, right? May I read it? I'm just amazed that you're writing stories on your own."

She crimsoned again and reached out for her notebook. "S-sure. Just wait a bit," when she finally got it, she handed it to me. "H-here. I hope you would like it."

"Thanks."

     I started reading the novel she made. Well, it still isn't done, but I could say she has a future to be writer. The composition of her sentences, her choice of words does have a big effect on this novel of hers. It's simply catchy. I turned the page and read it. As I kept on hovering my eyes over the said page, she spoke up.

"Have you already heard the news?" she asked.

"What news?"

"Claire Adams already departed from Mineral Town. By the time the summer season ended, she left the village." she said, glumly.

     Her notebook fell from my hand as I stared at nothingness in shock. I soon felt my cheeks getting wet because of the tears falling from my eyes. I ran out of the library, and straight to Claire's farm, hoping to see her there. I knock several times on her door, hoping for her to open it and see me. But then, all my hopes were crushed, when Zack came and told me that she really had left.

"No one lives there anymore. Don't waste your energy knocking on a house where no one stays in." he said, as he gathered some apples falling from the apple tree nearby.

     I stopped and rested my head on my arm. I let my tears fall freely, as I punched the door with my other knuckle. I walked back home, lowering my cap for the villagers not to see me in this kind of state. I entered the Inn and saw Ann cleaning the counter, in low spirits. I went upstairs and laid on my bed, hiding my face using the pillow. I cried and cried, punching the mattress. Why did Claire leave? Why did she do that? We could have talked. We could have smoothed this. Now, how could I say sorry to her? How can I fix our problem now? She should have stayed. She shouldn't have left me. So she can hear my apologies.

     I kept on crying. It hurts. I know I'm the reason. I shouldn't have acted that way. I should have understood. Because I'm her friend. Her best friend. Now, it's too late. She left me. She left me, broken. In pain. And I don't know how to fix myself now.