The Oracle

Chapter 59: A Gala for the Ages

SORA

Having been made aware in the early morning of Akari and the other's presence and the new addition of Valentine to our group, I started to feel like everything may be going a bit too much in our favor.

"Sora, hey, wait a minute!" Merrick chased after me as I walked down the hallway, having just had breakfast with everyone in the dining room.

"Can everything really just be fixed so soon? Can it really be that easy?" I frowned.

"No, probably not," Merrick frowned back, his brown eyes holding hurt in them, "but that doesn't mean we should always be on edge."

"I want to believe that, but it seems that the moment we start to feel like we aren't on edge, everything falls apart," I said.

Merrick watched with a frown and almost went to reach for me as I started to continue walking down the hallway.

"Can things really be okay?" I breathe out as I stare at myself in the mirror of my guest room, my eyes flickering across my tousled mint hair that's become a normality for me by now and my black suit jacket that rests over top of my white dress shirt and mint tie.

Earlier this morning during breakfast after we all got settled, Cordelia gave us all cards for us to go shopping with so that we could buy clothes for the gala, on the house. Even though most of us wanted to refuse spending anyone else's money, she insisted. Thus, the new dress clothes.

My eyes flicker over to the clock on the wall, reading the time as 4:00 P.M. The gala formally starts at 5:00, so I should probably head out soon to mingle with the others.

I decide to head out of my room and make my way down the hallway to the ballroom where the gala is being held. Upon arriving outside the ballroom, music can be heard drifting out into the hallway, the doors to the ballroom open and silver and purple balloons tied to the silver winding archway that lines the doors.

Glancing around the room as I enter, I spot Merrick in a deep red suit jacket with a black tie and black slacks, my heart skipping beat. I make my way over to him as he's talking to Akari, her long blonde hair pulled up into a ponytail with french braids running around the sides and smokey eyeshadow and black eyeliner outlining her eyes to match her silver dress that ties around her neck and stops at her ankles, the back cut out, as well as her silver strappy heels.

Akari's blue eyes flicker over to meet mine and a soft smile forms on her face before her eyes flicker back to Merrick, whose back is turned to be mostly facing me. I sneak up behind Merrick and wrap my arms around his waist, making him jump in surprise and Akari stifle a laugh by placing her hand in front of her mouth, her eyes glad.

"Hey there," I grin, making Merrick lean his head back to smile at me.

"Hey," Merrick says with a pleasantly surprised grin.

"I'm sorry about earlier," I sigh. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't," Merrick frowns. "Trust me, I understand."

"So, lovebirds," Akari muses, "are you two finally a thing now, or?"

"Yeah," I chuckle. "Finally."

"Good," Akari beams, her eyes meeting mine, allowing me to read the sincerity in them. "I'm happy for you both, really. You deserve it."

Some sort of relief washes over me and I realize that of course Akari wouldn't be upset at me being with Merrick instead— she's not that kind of person. Even still, hearing and seeing her happiness for the both of us makes me feel like I didn't somehow betray her.