Silence... That's all the harmonic warrior could heard, mediating in the calm bamboo forest. Lin Chung was enjoying this silence that doesn't really happen much in First Squad's briefing room as he sat on the ground until...
"Lin Chung!"
His dark eyes darted towards the spot of red, white, and pink in the distance which slowly form into the monkey he knows, or at least the only monkey he knows. Hope ran towards him until she's in front of the harmonic warrior.
"Hello, Lin Chung." Hope said.
Lin Chung let out a small sigh of disappointment for his silent day ruin because of the monkey, but have a small smile appear on his face as he said to her, "Hello, Hope. What are you doing here?"
"I was just hoping if you could have a nice snack with me." Hope said.
"Sure." Lin Chung said.
"Yay!"
Hope look out her red and white picnic on the ground and sat down on it. Looking around in her picnic basket, she ask, "So, what do you want? Pie... cookies... cake... Chocolate... um..."
"All you have is sweets?" Lin Chung said, sitting next to her.
"You know me, a sweets monkey." Hope said, smiling.
"It seems to be kind of unhealthy to eat so much of them."
"Hey, I eat healthy stuff too. It's just I LOVE sweets."
Lin Chung sweatdropped and said, "Alright... I have some of that fruit tart."
"Okay." Hope said.
The tart Hope gave him was about the size of his hand, maybe smaller, and have mostly sliced strawberries than the blueberries and mango slices. Lin Chung knew that the monkey did like strawberries as well as bananas. As Lin Chung took a small bite out of the tart, Hope ask, "Hm... What would you do if we're stuck on a island?"
"That came out of nowhere." Lin Chung said.
"Trying to have a conversation."
"Well... I'm not sure. Depends on what's on the island."
""Um... You know, normal island stuff. Jungles, beaches, quarries, grassy fields, a volcano and stuff like that. Something like islands in some of my games, only without the secret lab since it would make a bit easier."
Lin Chung gave her a look of confusion about the 'secret lab' part, but answered, "Survive, of course, until I find a way to be saved or find a way back to Big Green."
"I guess that was very obvious." Hope said.
The silence seem to came back as the two ate fruit tarts. Soon, Lin Chung thought, It's odd. When I want to meditate or paint, I want some silence. When Hope comes along, I don't want the silence.
"Lin Chung," Hope said.
"Yes?" Lin Chung said.
The harmonic warrior notice seriousness slowly appearing on the monkey's face.
"Can you keep a secret?" Hope ask, making Lin Chung nod. "Good."
"Why do you ask?" Lin Chung said, wondering if he wants to know.
"Well... You know how many people wants to know how my mother... you know, right?"
Lin Chung nod, then took a bit out of the tart.
"If you Pinkie Pie promise that you would never ever tell anyone about it, I'll tell you." Hope said.
The harmonic warrior was surprised. Hope never told anyone about it, not even the commander and he's her closest friend, but she decided to tell him if he does this small, silly task.
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." Lin Chung said, doing the gestures.
Hope let out small giggles until her face suddenly turn serious as she move closer towards the harmonic warrior until their faces are one inch apart away from each other. In a small whisper, Lin Ching was able to hear Hope say, "I don't know."
Lin Chung's eyes widen as they move away from each other. There was a long silence between the two, as Lin Chung still feels so shock by this information. How could Hope not know her own mother's death?
"How? How do you not know?" Lin Chung ask.
A look of sadness was on Hope's face as she look down.
"All I heard she was died from the rumors around Monkey Castle, but how she died was never mentioned. I tried to find out out how, but no answer to it. It haunts that I don't know."
The harmonic warrior could see Hope shivering, but she continues to talk.
"It haunts me that I may never know how she died. I can't know that she died peacefully, painfully, in an accident, or did someone tried to kill her? I don't know. I just don't know."
Hope was really shaken until she felt a pair of warm arms wrap around her, pulling her into a hug against Lin Chung's chest. The monkey's cheeks turned slightly red as her eyes widen a bit.
"I kind of know how you feel." Hope heard Lin Chung said in such a quiet tone, feeling a small tear land on her furry head. "I know that he died of old age, but I know the pain of losing someone."
The pink and white monkey slowly begin to realize who he's talking about.
"Lin Chung..." Hope slowly said.
"Hope, if I can get used to that knowledge, then you should too." Lin Chung said, gently petting her head.
It was silence between them for quite a long time until Hope said, "Maybe I'll try, but it will take a very long time."
"I understand." Lin Chung said as they separate.
Hope pack up her things and started to head toward Big Green. Lin Chung watch her go with a fruit tart in his hand. There was a small smile on his face as he wish Hope gets better with her problems.
Hope can be a sweetheart and I hope she gets used to the fact her mother is gone. Lin Chung thought.
Then he took a small bite out of his tart.