DISCLAIMER: I do not own SE.
It was a warm Sunday night in Death City and Maka was reading her novel outside a coffee shop a few blocks away from her apartment. She was focused on her booked when she heard a voice coming from the side of the store.
"You have to tell me things Kelly. Don't leave me in the dark."
"But it's not your problem. And it was my choice. Its none of your business!" A girl tempted not to shout but failed to do so.
"How on earth it was not my business? How can I help you if you won't tell me?" The man said back.
Maka sighed. Lovers quarrel, huh. She put the book down and sipped his coffee. Complicated stuff. I don't like that.
Where did she heard that?
Rather, who said that?
A blurred image of a guy appeared in her mind.
"Hey."
A voice caught her attention and her chest tighten when she saw who it was.
White-hair, tan skin and red eyes.
What the hell was he doing here?!
"It's been a while." He said with his husky voice, and started to walk towards her.
She cannot find her voice. Its been two years since they saw each other. But he didn't change at all. He still looked the same as when she last saw him. He was even more 'beautiful' now.
He stopped in front of her, grabbed the chair and sat, without asking her permission.
Damn it.
The young man looked at her when she continued to stay silent. "Oh, were you waiting for someone?"
Damn him and his handsome face. "Oh no, no." She laughed. "I'm just killing some time." Finally, she spoke.
His brows rose up but did not comment. He looked around at the store. Gladly, the couple on the side earlier has left and all they can hear were the busy streets of the city.
"I do not know you're here." Maka said, to avoid awkward silence. "Soul."
The said man grinned and called the attention of the waitress. When the attendant left with his order, he turned to her and smiled again. "Just arrived yesterday." He informed her and put his arms on the table. "Did you miss me?"
Maka slit her eyes at him and Soul laughed. Lord Death, I missed his laugh.
"Take a joke Maka." He smiled and eyed the book laying on the table. "Killing time is reading? Wow. I don't think I'd do that." He teased.
Maka was about to retort but the waitress arrived with his coffee. She put it on the table, asked if there's anything else HE needs while smiling; obviously flirting with him.
Soul quickly said 'no' and turned to Maka. The waitress left with a pout on her face. Seriously, what's with her?
She watched Soul make his coffee. He still likes it sweet, she noticed when she saw him put more sugar into his cup.
He looked the same, really. His leather jacket that emphasized his broad and strong shoulders, white t-shirt with a band name logo that didn't hide his leaned body, black pants with chains looping in one pocket and his black converse sneakers. He looked the same person as he was two years ago.
But the question was, was he still the same Soul? Two years was a looong time.
Soul seem to noticed her eyes studying him. He looked at her before he drink his coffee. "Don't mind me. Keep reading." And sipped.
Maka leaned on her chair and put her arms on her chest. "What are you doing Soul?" She said with her cold tone. Her novel will have to wait.
He looked puzzled. He did not comment and continued to drink his coffee while maintaining to look cool.
Why are you here? She wanted to ask.
Maka waited but sighed when he did not answer. Maybe he was intentionally being silent to piss her off? But why would he do that? She thought and tried to calm herself and decided not to think too much.
"How are you Maka?"
After two years, she looked at his eyes again. His ruby like orbs searching on her own jaded eyes. "I'm..I'm fine." Crap. Did she just stutter?
He keep searching on her eyes as if she just lied. After a few seconds of staring, he just shrugged.
Damn it. "How about you?" She guessed she just have to return the question.
Again, Soul shrugged. "Okay". He leaned and slouched on his chair looking uninterested. It was quick but she saw his scowl.
Maybe she should change her pace? "Are you on a vacation or something?" She asked and tried to smile.
He was looking at the bookstore across to where they were sitting. He did not turn to her when he said "You could say that."
What's with him? He arrived bouncing earlier and now he looked like a kid having tantrums. It was her turn to shrug her shoulders. "That's great then." She picked up her novel and looked for the bookmark. She decided to continue reading and not mind his ex-boyfriend.
Yes, Soul was her boyfriend. They broke up two years ago and he then flew to Paris to maybe pursue his career in music. They haven't talked until now. No letters, no calls, even a single text message. Well, why should she expect when she was the one who broke up with him?
She received news from Blackstar about him when he left but they became rare. Eventually, she learned to continue her life without him. Why the hell not? She's Maka-fucking-Albarn.
She got his attention from what she said. He looked at her questioning her words.
"I mean, vacations are great. Time to relax..have fun and all." Maka opened her novel.
"I'm thinking of staying, it depends." Before she can look at him, his eyes were back in the streets.
Maka's heart started thumping a little louder. He's staying? For good? She tried not to show him how his words affected her.
She tightly closed her eyes to scold herself. Because after all this time, she's still hoping.
She secretly looked at Soul and she realized something. One thing. She's still in love with him.
But no. She should not encourage herself. There's a possibility that he has someone special now in his life. And that was not her. With his looks and good heart, that was not surprising.
She felt something pierced her heart on that thought.
Even when they were together, they were a lot of girls who tried to get his attention - like the waitress earlier for instance. But she remembered, he always, always declined them. Sometimes politely, on the other times, in a mean way. He was loyal to her.
To whoever's in his life now, she knew he's faithful to her. Like when he was her man.
Then why did they break apart?
"Do you have classes tomorrow?"
Her thoughts were stopped by his question and again, looked at him. Not in his eyes though. Just looking at him. "Yes. Why?" She was in her last year in medical school. She was even surprised he remembered.
"It's getting late. You should go home now." He stood after he noticed the time on the wall clock in the store. He pulled his wallet, got some bills, put on the table and looked at the young woman. "Come on, let's go."
She looked up. "But -".
"I think it will rain". He said even before she finished her words.
That's when the cold air blew and she absent-mindedly wrapped her arms aound her shoulders.
"Here, wear it." He said handing his jacket.
She accepted and stood up. Maka wanted to argue but she knew he was right.
She silently followed the guy who looked like a God from heaven. I am wearing his jacket. His jacket! Her mind was beginning to panic.
They stopped in front of his orange motorcycle, parked not too far from the store.
"She's looking bright as ever." It was too late when she realized she have opened her stupid mouth.
Soul chuckled. "Yeah." And handed her a helmet.
The situation then sunk in. She will be near him again? Of course! Since she will be riding Etta.
Damn. I even remember the motorcycle's name.
How many times has she cursed today? But it can't be help. This will just be for tonight. Yes. Maka told herself. After this, everything will be back to normal.
She hopped on after him and she still didn't know if she will hold onto him or not.
"Just do it Maka".
She shut her eyes tightly and hold him. She saw a genuine smile when he glanced at her over his shoulders but closed her eyes again and inhale his fragrance.
She felt herself calming down. It did not change at all. His scent that she missed so much. The sweet scent that was left in her apartment when he was gone. The scent where she have felt solace. Because of the things she remembered, she held and leaned unto him tightly - like the way she did before.
Soul glanced at the girl behind him and stopped himself from saying anything that would push her away.
The ride was quick and quiet. However, when she got off from Etta, the rain started to drop. She felt bad letting him go and as a token of gratitude - she thought - Maka invited Soul into her apartment until the rain stopped.
"Come in." Maka said as she walked into her apartment. Soul was behind him trying to dry his hair with his hand. On her way to the living room, she turned to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, offered the cloth to her 'visitor'.
He accepted it and mumbled a small "Thanks." She noticed that the guy was eyeing her home.
It was on a second floor, with a single bedroom, a bath and toilet, a small kitchen and living room, just enough space for one person.
"How long have you've been here?" Soul asked while sitting on the couch.
"Uhm, twenty-two months and three weeks to be exact." Its clear on her mind. "Do you want coffee? Tea?" She asked even though they just had coffee.
When she did not hear his answer, she decided with tea. Once done, she walked to him and put the tray with the tea on the center table and sat across from him.
She saw him observing her apartment. She didn't have much. In the living room she only have a flat screen TV, shelves of books on both sides of it, a few posters on the wall mostly about literature and that's it. The window was on the left side and they can see the rain still pouring down.
"It's nice in here." He said while staring outside.
"Yes, it is."
Yes. She transferred in this apartment two months after they broke up. The previous one held too many memories. Every time she looked at a particular spot, she remembers something. Way too many memories in that place.
He nodded. He was done drying his hair.
He looked cute with his hair like that. But she wouldn't say that. She poured tea in two cups.
Soul took one, smelled it a bit and took a sip. He sighed. "I missed this." He said with a low voice.
"Huh?"
He looked at the cup he's holding. "The tea." He touched the rim slowly with his fingers. "No one does it like you do."
She blushed. She knew that. "Guess so". Deja vu? "So..how was Paris?" She have to talk to avoid discomfort. "I haven't watched or read the news lately, but I know you're doing great with your music."
He just shrugged. "Who knows."
It felt that what he said was "I don't really care what people think."
She tried to humor him. "How about your pratice? Do you practice everyday? If so, that must have been hard." She laughed a bit. Though Maka clearly remembers he doesn't want anyone to push him into practicing. To force him to play. For him, it was uncool. For him, he will play when he wanted to. When he feels to.
He put the cup back on the table and shook his head. "Yeah. It's been tough."
Why does he sound so sad?
There was silence.
He looked up to her. "Seriously, Maka. How are you doing?"
The young woman was caught off guard, not by the question, but what she saw on his face.
It was a different look from earlier. His mask has been removed now and he was showing her a look of vulnerability, as if he was lost and got no clue what to do. A rare expression of Soul he never showed to anyone - except her.
Maka avoided his eyes and she nervously laughed. "What do you mean Soul? I'm fine." She gave him a smile and turned to face him.
No answer. But again, he was searching her eyes.
Talk Maka.
"Why? Were you worried about me?" She laughed again. Should they talk about the past? "If that's what it is, then you don't have to Soul. I'm fine really. And its been what, two years? I'm sure you have moved on."
He continued to stare at her, sitting straight on her couch. It was silent, only the sound of rain outside her window.
Soul shook his head, elbows on his knees and hands clasped together. He took a deep breath and sighed. She tried to looked at him but she cannot see his eyes because of his bangs.
"Do you still hate me?" He asked slowly.
Seems like they will talk about the past. Should they be?
It was Maka's turned to sighed. "It's in the past Soul."
"But that did not answer my question." He calmly said. Ruby eyes intently looking at her.
She had to be firm. "Soul," Firm, yes. "It was me who decided to end it right?" the relationship. "If we're talking about hate, I should be hearing that from you. Not the other way around." What was she saying? There's no point in looking back.
What are you doing Albarn? A voice inside her head asked her.
"It was me, right? We've talked about this and I made you agree that it was for the best." She continued. "You should be the one hating me."
What the hell were you saying Albarn? He didn't say anything, so what the hell?
"I don't hate you. Who fucking said that?!" She saw his hands turned into fists.
Ehhh? All this time she thought he hated her.
When he left two years ago, he didn't say anything. She was left alone in her apartment after their fight. She just heard from someone that he went back to France.
Well, they broke up. Of course he should not be telling him things! He must have hated her so much to leave Death City in the blink of an eye. No call, no messages, even letter. And ye, she was a hypocrite if she will say that she was not hurt by his actions. She cannot blame him. She was the cause of his pain and she deserved such treatment.
Honestly, she felt relieved hearing it now from him.
She suppressed a chuckle and turned to him. "If that's the case, then I don't hate you. We're friends Soul." Was she convincing the guy, or was she saying these things to convince herself?
Besides, this young man here just asked her how she was. Not specifically her love life!
"With the things you said when you broke up with me, I was not sure if we're still friends. But I can live with that, Maka." He smiled but she noticed that it did not reached his eyes.
She felt a sharp sting in her heart. Maybe he has, indeed, moved on?
"I better go now." He said while standing up. She glanced at the window and saw that it was still raining. "It's fine. You have to rest." He spoke before she was able to say anything.
He walked to the door and followed him but near the doorway, he stopped and turned to her.
"I'll take it from here. You go inside." He instructed her which made her stopped in her tracks.
She found herself nodding. Still puzzled on the conversation they had. Things were not clear.
Soul's right hand lifted up and touched her cheek gently. He smiled while looking at her. She was mesmerized by his ruby eyes looking at her, feeling that he was searching through her very soul.
"It was nice seeing you again." He let go. "Goodnight Maka."
Maka was frozen and by the time she realized what he just did, she heard his motorcycle roar through the sound of the rain.
And again, he was gone.
A/N:
ProfessorMaka! I used the cool motorcyle name :) Hope you don't mind. Thanks!
R & R