seasonal change || graire ✔️

Chapter 18

~Claire's POV~
"Watch where you're going, will ya!?" Gray yelled at me, but froze in his place.

     We've finally met again, Gray Williams. It's been two years since then. Nothing really has changed about you, your physical features. You still wear the 'UMA' cap you've always been wearing ever since. You're still wearing that thick jacket of yours, that jacket that you need because of your work. You still have that sapphire blue eyes, eyes that have shown anger and pain, but at the same time showed happiness and joy. And your personality? It has never changed. You're still the same short-fused guy I knew. You still seemed to be the stubborn guy I met, the one who never listens to the others. But I do wonder if you still see me the same way. I do wonder if I'm still a friend of yours.

"Hi Gray," I greeted him, smiling. "Long time no see. It's been two years, huh?"

He hid his face in his cap. "You're back." he said icily like he doesn't care about it.

"Y-yeah." I stammered. "I-I missed you. And everyone here. I missed doing farm work. So I decided to come back."

"No one cares." then he sauntered.

     I stood there, watching his figure go away. I felt a sharp pang of pain in my heart, as I just let out a fake smile. Pain. I'm sure I made him feel that. I'm sure that he suffered a lot. I was really wrong about making that decision. I wasn't really thinking straight that time. I was so drowned in my own despair that I forgot what the others would feel. What my friends would feel. I just left them without leaving any word. I wonder if they are all mad at me already, especially Ann. I never told anything to her, unlike Popuri, who knew the reason why I left. I know she was against about the idea, but I was too selfish to listen to her. I just hope that they're not mad at me.

     I went back to my farm, and started to plant the seeds I bought from the supermarket. I remembered Karen. She welcomed me really warmly. I felt her sincerity when she hugged me. She may seem a bit rude, but she's kind. I am friends with her, and I trust her, but she's still different from Ann and Popuri. The two are my best friends; I trust them so much. But I don't know if we still remain the same, because maybe... I ruined their trust on me.

Oh c'mon, be optimistic, okay?

      So after I finished watering them, I cleansed myself, and change into some clean shirt and wore another set of clean overalls. I left the house, and decided to stay at the Goddess' Spring for a while. I find the environment there very relaxing. It gives me time to unwind, to sort out my thoughts, and to calm when I'm already at the point of bursting out. So I set off and went to the place.

     I sat on one of the rocks, looking down at the waters of the spring. I felt calm as the wind gushed in front of my face. The soft breeze coming from the emerald leaves of some trees nearby soothed me, as I closed my eyes and inhaled some fresh air. I miss the nature here. I miss going here with Ann and Popuri. I remember when I first went here, I saw them both. They were really so kind to me. I was collecting some herbs to sell that time. I wonder if I'll be able to spend time with them again here

After spending about an hour there, I decided to go to the inn and see Ann. I felt my heart thumping loudly, as nervousness got to me. I took deep breaths, telling myself that everything would be okay. The skies are getting dark now, since it's already six in the evening. I hurried through my walk, and reached the place a lot sooner that I expected.

     Ann was standing near the counter, talking to Cliff, who was eating curry rice. The two both froze in shock as they saw who just entered the doors. Yeah right, totally unexpected. I wasn't also expecting that I would be here again, that I would meet them again. My brother is just so kind that's why I was able to come back. I approached Ann, as she just stared at me, still in the state of shock.

"Hi Ann. I'm back." I said to her, waving my hands.

"C-Claire, is that really you?" then she started to touch me, checking if I'm just an illusion.

"It's me. I'm back." I said once again, as I hugged her.

"C-Claire..." she embraced me, as her tears fell down. "Y-you're here again. I'm... I'm so happy. I'm sorry if I wasn't by your side when you needed help. I'm sorry for not restraining you to go. I should've been by your side."

"No Ann... It's my choice to go. It's my choice to leave. It's my choice to come back. Don't blame yourself, okay?"

"I'm sorry again. I'm sorry for being dramatic. I'm just so happy that you're back. It's been two years."

"Yeah."

"So you want some juice? Or some wine?"

"Just a glass of water would be fine."

     So after she served me the water, we started talking. Cliff went to their room, telling us that he'll let us have some "girl talk". I gave him as a smile, as Ann thanked him, hugging him after then. She then told me how Cliff and her got together after I left. The shy brunet has always been comforting him whenever he would see her crying, and that really made her fall in love with him. He may be shy and dense, but he really cares for Ann a lot. He's not just the showy type— because of his shy and mellow personality— but he loves her very dearly. As she continued to narrate her love story, someone really familiar entered the place.

"C-Claire?"