Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is a fanfic written for entertainment only.
A/N: Another HM fiction. I got the idea when I was sweeping the floor, listening to X Japan's Longing. XD
Italic words – Thoughts/thinking
Underline words – Journal/diary entry
Dear You
Diary 1: The Unexpected News
"I'm getting married."
I almost spit out the milk I'm drinking. Wiping some of the milk from my lips, I looked at the woman beside me. "You're getting what?" I asked her to make sure that I'm not just hearing things.
Chelsea laughed. "No need to be so surprised. We've been dating for almost a year now," she told the blonde. "I said I'm going to marry Vaughn."
My heart almost stopped beating when I heard her words. Vaughn. My enemy. My nemesis. The one that I can never get along with in these islands. The one that I despised most because he took you away from me. The one that I'm jealous of because he managed to win your heart. "You're kidding," I said-not asking-to her.
The brunette looked at me. "Why would you think that?" she asked, raising her left eyebrow.
Uh-oh. "Sorry," I replied her. "I don't mean to sound rude but…it's just…," I gulped before continue with my words. "It's too sudden. I mean, you did say that you've been dating him for almost a year now. Isn't it too soon for you to marry him?"
Chelsea blinked at my words. A few seconds later, I heard her chuckled. "Oh, Mark. You're saying that as if I'm not supposed to get marry if I haven't date my future husband for more than a year," she said, suppressing her chuckle. "I'm not a little girl, you know. I know what I'm doing."
I stared at her. "Are you sure about this?"
"Of course I do! This is about my future. Why wouldn't I think seriously about it?"
"Just checking," I grinned, trying my best to show that I'm just teasing-in fact I don't-her. "When did you decided on this?"
"Last week," she replied shortly, walking towards Chuun, one of her cows in the barn. "Vaughn talked to me about it when he was here on Monday," she added while brushing Chuun.
So he was the one who made the first move. Damn him. "I see. Who else know about this? I mean about you're getting married."
Chelsea patted Chuun's back and earned a soft 'Moo' from her. She placed the brush back into her backpack. "Mirabelle and Julia, though I think most people in the island knows it now because they might probably tell them."
"I see…," I replied in monotone, suddenly found interest on the floor of the barn. So I'm probably the last person in these islands to know about this, eh? "Well," I added, looking up at her and flashed a smile. "Congratulations, Chelsea," I said, trying to put the happy tone in my words when I obviously not feeling that way right now. "I'm sure you will be happy."
Chelsea smiled at me. Goddess, I love her smile. "Thank you, Mark. I'm sure I will. I know that Vaughn will treat me good."
He will or else I'm going to punch him on that handsome face of him until he passed out. "Of course," I said. "Ah, I think I have enough rest. I'll go back to work now. I'll put the eggplants in the shipping bin outside," I continued and tossed the now-empty-bottle-of-milk to the trash bin nearby and started walking towards the door.
Chelsea nodded. "Okay. I'll take care of the milks here. I'll see you outside after I'm done."
"Sure," I replied shortly and exited the barn, closing the door behind me. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it! I was stomping my way towards the plowed field where Chelsea grows eggplants for the autumn. Why did things happen this way? I kneeled down in front of the plants and started to pick the ripe eggplants. Why wouldn't Chelsea wait a little longer before making such decision? I put the eggplants in the basket near me, slowly moving around to pick up more of the vegetable.
"Damn it," I cursed again. I stared at the eggplant in my hand. "Is this how it's going to end? I always thought I can win her from Grumpy Man," I sighed and continued what I'm doing; picking the eggplants and tossed it into the basket near me.
After a while, I finished picking all the ripe eggplants. I stood up, carried the big basket full of the harvested vegetables and walked towards the shipping bin. I tossed the vegetables in it and wonder how a small shipping bin can actually fits all the vegetables me and Chelsea puts in. I placed the empty basket beside the shipping bin and wiped the sweats from my forehead.
"It sure is hot today," I said to myself. I turned myself to my left and stared at my boss's house. "I never imagine that soon Grumpy Man will be living here." And I never thought that it only took Chelsea 3 seasons to expand her house this large. Maybe Vaughn helped her expanded it. I shook my head. "Nah. Chelsea's not that kind of woman. She's the type that will work to earn something that she wanted…even though Grumpy Man IS going to be her husband soon." One of the many reasons that I fall in love with her, despite that she's actually my boss.
"Done?" Chelsea's sudden voice behind me startled me.
'Yeah," I managed to reply her in a calm tone and turned around to face her. "I've picked all the ripe ones and put all of it in the shipping bin," I added and pointed the shipping bin behind me with my right thumb.
"Great!" the brunette said in her usual cheery tone. "Thank you for your hard work today, Mark. I couldn't do all the work without your help," she said, clasping her hands. "I know! Let's go to the Diner. My treat," she continued and winked at me.
I laughed a little. "Must we go through this every day?" I teased her. "It's my job, remember? You hired me to help you. You don't have to offer to treat me every time we finished our work in the farm."
I saw her pouted. Cute. "I just wanted to thank you," she said quietly. "Ah, why don't you come over for dinner? I'll cook something for you," she grinned.
"Uh…you don't have to, Chelsea," I told her. It's not like her cooking is bad. She just need…a little practice in cooking. I wonder if Pierre is willing to teach her. "The milk is good enough for me. Plus, there are leftovers in my refrigerator and I don't want to waste it." I don't want to stay here any longer.
"Really?"
"Yup," I nodded. Hey, half of it is true. I did have some leftovers from today's breakfast in the refrigerator in my home. "It'll be wasted if I don't eat it tonight," I added.
"Well, if you say so," she said in defeat. "But let me cook something for you someday, okay? I'll use fresh vegetables from the farm as ingredients. You will love it!"
I love anything that you make me, Chelsea. "Sure. It's a promise," I smiled at her. "It's getting late. I better go back home now. I'll see you tomorrow, Chelsea."
The woman nodded. "Okay. Be careful on your way home, Mark. See you tomorrow!" she said and waved at me who started to walked away from her property.
I waved at her back and turned to face the road I'm walking on. I sighed for the umpteenth times. Sorry, Chelsea. I might not be able to keep that promise because Grumpy Man hates me and will hate me more if he knows that his soon-to-be-wife cook a meal to his nemesis. I lifted my head from facing the ground and looked up at the sky above me. It's getting darker and it seems that it's going to rain soon. I better walk faster. I change my pace and is ready to switch into running when the door of Mirabelle's shop-also serve as her family's house-swung open, revealing a young woman with her curly light-brown hair tied in a ponytail. I slowed down when she spotted me and waved at me.
"Good evening, Julia," I said to the young woman-Mirabelle's only daughter-as she walked closer to me.
"Good evening to you too, Mark," she replied me with a smile. "Already done with work?"
I nodded.
"No wonder the farm's produce getting more and more every day," she said. "It's pretty late and you just finished working. Both you and Chelsea sure are working hard on the farm."
I shrugged. "I'm just glad that I can do something for the islands," I said. And for Chelsea too. "Hey, it's a good thing that Illusen Farm is striving each day," I grinned.
"Of course," Julia chuckled.
I stared at her. Julia is Mirabelle's only daughter and the one who's been helping her mother minding the store. She has a long, curly blonde hair that was tied up in a ponytail and just like her mother; she's a good-hearted person. I met her the second day I moved to these islands. She's been very kind to me to volunteer taking me on a tour on the islands. She's also 1 year younger than me and although we don't really see each other much-seeing that Grumpy Man is always in her house-we are practically good friends.
"So," her voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Have you heard it from Chelsea?" she asked.
"Heard what?" I asked back, feeling confused of what she's asking me.
"Oh? She hasn't told you about it?" she tilted her head to the left.
Then I remembered. "Ah, she…she did," I replied her. "You're talking about her marriage with Vaughn, right?" I added without using name calling. I can't call him that in front of everyone else especially his cousin, right? "She told me today."
I saw her nodded. "I see. She should've told you earlier though. I bet the news surprised you," she said, looking straightly into my eyes.
"No shit," I shrugged. "Opps. Sorry," I blushed at my cussing. "I'm surprised at her and their decision to get married. They've been together only for 2 seasons…"
"You're right," Julia ignored my cussing and turned to look back at the door of her house. "I can't believe it either but when I see how serious Vaughn is, I doubt they're just playing around. I mean, I never seen Vaughn acting that way. Not until Chelsea moved here and take over the abandoned farm," she said and chuckling a little. "And I still can't believe that Chelsea managed to crack a smile to his face. Me and mom have tried several methods to make him smile but we never did succeed. I wonder how Chelsea did it?"
I smiled-and make sure that I'm not flashing a sad smile-at her. "Yeah. Chelsea is really something." She's an angel, a goddess that shines even brightly than Harvest Goddess herself. Well, she didn't technically shine or sparkles-like those vampires in the novel that mom read-but she gives out the approachable aura and one can feel relaxed when talking to her or simply by just looking at her. Hm, probably not everyone feels the same but I sure do. "What do you expect from a young woman who takes on the challenge of reviving an old, messed-up abandon farm anyway?" I grinned at the blonde-haired woman in front of me.
"You're right," she turned and grinned back at me. "If Chelsea can take on such challenge, it'll be easy for her to do the impossible thing-making Vaughn smile-too," she added and glanced at her watch. "Oh, dear. I'm late for my meeting with Aunt Felicia. I'm sorry, Mark but I have to go," she smiled an apologetic smile.
I shook my head. "Nah, I'm cool. Sorry to stood you up, Julia. Be careful not to tripped on your way there," I joked.
"Even though I'm dating Elliot it doesn't mean I'm adapting his clumsiness, you know," she chuckled again and started to walk away from me. "Oh, and Mark," she added, turning once again to me. "I'm sorry about not telling you about the news of their marriage earlier. I thought Chelsea has informed you but it seems she forgot about it-again-because of her work. Don't blame her on that."
"I would never," I smiled at her. "I know how busy she is-I worked at the farm too remember-and didn't intended it. Grumpy Man is another story though.
"Right," Julia said and nodded her head. With that, she walked away, leaving me standing alone in front of her family's shop.
I watched her for some seconds before I turned around and resume my walk to my home. My head was filled with different emotions and I didn't notice when I reached the front door of my home. I stared at the door and sighed, pulling my keys out of my pocket and unlocked it. I turned on the switch to light the dark room of my house. I walked towards the sofa at the center of the room and plopped myself onto it, throwing my backpack nearby. I stared at the ceilings and my mind replayed the scene between me and Chelsea and me and Julia today. I let out a sigh. I turned to face a picture frame on the coffee table in front of me.
"Guess I lost my chance in getting her, Mother," I said to the blonde woman in the picture who was holding a baby, smiling as a man-his head in the picture is ripped by me-holding her at her waist. "I can't believe I lost to Grumpy Man though."
I stretched my hand and reach for the picture, taking it close to me. I smiled as I caressed the frame of the smiling woman, my mother. I switched my gaze to look at the ripped-out-head-photo of the man beside her and my eyebrows narrowed as I glared in disgust at the incomplete picture.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'm not going to become like him," I said to the woman. And I will never be.
After a while, a put the picture down to its original place, stood up and walked towards my bed. I took the blue book lying on the side-table next to my bed and sit down on the bed next to me. I opened the book.
Fall XX, Year X
It's been 3 seasons since I came to Sunshine Islands. I have to admit that I'm kind of nervous when coming here but I'm glad that the residents here are friendly and kind-minus Grumpy Man-to me. Martin even gave me his house when he made decision to travel to look for more places to fish. Heh, guess he will never be bored in fishing. Anyway, today Chelsea, aka my boss told me that she's going to get married to Grumpy Man. I was like WTF but I have to maintain my coolness in front of Chelsea. There is no way I'm going to show that I'm totally surprised at her decision. I mean, half of it is my fault for not telling her that I love her. But even if I do, I don't think she will feel the same as me. We're close, of course, but I think she only sees me as her best friend and employee. -sigh- Is there really nothing I can do about this? Maybe if I go and confess to her, things will change...
Oh, and speaking of which, I bet Grumpy Man's going to visit Chelsea at the farm tomorrow because it's Monday and he will be in the islands. Well, that sucks. He's the last person that I wanted to see now.
I re-read what I wrote in my journal and sighed. Man, I'm so messed up. I put the book back to its place and walked towards the bathroom. If I do tell her earlier that I love her, will this ever happen?
A/N: Finish chapter 1. C=
