seasonal change || graire ✔️

Chapter 16

2 Years After...

~Claire's POV~

     Life has been stable for me since then. Usual routine, waking up at 6 AM, eating and dressing up, going to work, then going home. It's quite boring, but hey, I earn just enough and I am able to save some. It's easier than planting and harvesting crops, taking care of poultry and livestock, mining ores and fishing. But still, being a farmer was the best job I ever took.  I was able to make true friends, unlike here in the city, where people are very dubious and can not be trusted. Well yeah, it's been two years and I should have forgotten everything, but I still haven't moved on for real. I still feel like it's my fault, and I haven't fully resolved everything. Like I still need to smooth something. But I tend to ignore this feeling because it just makes me regret everything.

"I'm home!" I yelled, but no answer.

     Yeah, right. Brother's still not home. Overtime again, I guess. He's been working pretty hard lately, because he told me he has some bills to pay. I wonder why he shoulders everything when he could actually ask help from me. He's not like that. I actually can describe his past self as lazy, good-for-nothing  who likes to annoy me. But even though he's like that to me, he never ever left me and has always cared for me. That's why somehow, it makes me more happy that he's actually working hard now. I wonder what could be the thing that made his laziness fade away.

     I just entered my room and changed into my night gown. And finally, I'm able to rest. I sighed, and closed my eyes.

"Okay. So... can we be friends, Gray?"

"Sure. No problem."

     My eyes fluttered open as I remembered that scene in the Goddess' Spring, when me and Gray Williams had became friends. In all these years that have passed by, thoughts of him always seem to bother me. I feel like I wanted to see him again, to talk to him again, and to say sorry to him. Of all the people I met in Mineral Town, he's the one I missed the most. Even though we're not really in good terms because of my stupid feelings for the Doctor that time, I know that he also wanted our friendship to be restored. But I was dense that time, and never made any move. That's why I left without our friendship fixed again.

     And again, I wondered. The same thoughts again. What could they be doing right now? I'm sure they already have forgotten me; I've been away from them for a long time. Him? What could he be doing now? I'm sure he's doing great, because even though he's a bit irresponsible, he's always been determined to learn new things, to improve himself and to prove something to his grandfather. I wonder if he's still that stubborn blond guy I met. I wonder if he still remembers me. I wish he still does. I do miss him, my friends, Mineral Town, everything.

"I miss... just everything." I murmured to myself as I find myself crying silently again.

"Then why don't you go back and mend everything? I'm sure there's a chance for you." Jack suddenly appeared from nowhere, surprising me.

"Were you listening to me all this time?"

"I always see you cry, and I don't want that. So if you want to go back to that place, go back Claire. I know that you're not really happy here, because you have true happiness there. So go back there, Claire."

"But it's too late already. I can never be with them anymore."

"You can be with them if you wanted to. Don't be a pessimist. It's never too late if you start acting now."

"But how about you?"

"Don't worry about me. I can handle myself."

"You sure?"

"Of course."

     I hugged him. He's so understanding, really understanding. I wiped my tears away and looked for the newspaper. And yes, I saw the advertisement again. That ad that tricked me, yet made my life amazingly beautiful. I dialled the number and made negotiations. My brother was smiling at me all throughout the conversation, and when it's done, he called out to me.

"Claire." he uttered out, as I gazed upon him with a smile.

"Yes?"

"Take care of yourself there, okay?"

     I gave him a hug as a response and went to say,

"Yes."

~Gray's POV~

"Get out!" my grandfather shouted at me again, as I left the blacksmith.

     It's always been like this, and it even got worse. I walked my way to the library, wishing to cool off my head for once. I was greeted by a smiling Mary, as I just stared at her, wearing a poker face. I picked out one of those books there, not really listening to her recommendations and her stories. I've lost my interest in living here, just wanting to go back to the city. Ever since Claire left, I found myself losing motivation in doing everything I once loved. Even being an apprentice to my grandfather. I seem to have lost that fire in me, that fire of determination that once made me do what I loved wholeheartedly. And it's because of that stupid girl.

"Are you just okay? You seem to be outraged again." Mary asked with concern, but I shrugged it off.

"Yeah. I'm just fine." I told her, as I felt a vein already popping out.

"Are you sure? If you ne-" I interfered already, as I totally got pissed off.

"Can you give me some damn time alone!?" I yelled at her, as she looked at me, all scared. "Sorry. I guess I'll just go." I sighed, as I saw her about burst out.

     Since then, I always have a hard time controlling my temper. I always say things before I could even think of it, often because of my anger. I always get all hot-headed, not being able to calm down myself. Why? It's because of that stupid Claire. If she hadn't left, if she stayed, maybe we're okay. But before we could even smooth everything, she was gone in a blink. She made a very foolish decision. Did she run away from our problem? Is she that coward?

"Sht. I'm thinking of her again." I cursed myself.

     Even in all these years, she's always been haunting me. In my thoughts, in my dreams, just everywhere. Why did she even leave? It's her fault I'm like this. It's her fault that I can not control my temper, that I hurt other people. It's her fault that until now...

I'm still in pain because of love.

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     Sorry if I seem to be rushing things up. Well, I don't really intend to. And forgive me if I used some foul words here. I just thought that it would suit the scene, so yeah.

                                                                                                                 ~his_enemy2723