Day 4: Red, Purple, and Blue
The fruity frappe that she had ordered sat before her nearly untouched. Her strawberry croissant was equally untouched. Glumly, she watched the red, purple, and blue fruit syrups melt and blend together in the heat of the Egyptian airport. Her stomach rumbled and only when it clenched in hunger, did she finally break off a piece of pastry. Chewing the sweet treat, she basked in her regret.
Anzu thought that Yugi would have followed her, but he didn't. She supposed he was trying to give her more space, but despite her earlier attitude, she wanted his company. Bouncing her leg, her foot tapped an unsteady rhythm as she sipped her frappe.
Maybe…Maybe they didn't need to talk this over? Yugi apparently didn't want to talk and she apparently could not work up the nerve. Maybe she should let the dust settle and then broach the subject when they weren't nursing such fresh wounds?
The soft clicking of boots and the placement of a plastic tray ripped her from her thoughts. Glancing before her, she found Yugi pulling out a chair and sitting across from her. He smiled at her and picked up a fry from his plate before popping it in his mouth.
Anzu returned his smile and slurped from her melting drink; the red, blue, and purple finally blending together to create a strange darker shade that Anzu found calming. The two sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes until Anzu gathered her nerve. "Look, Yugi, about earlier-"
"Don't worry about it," Yugi garbled out around his bite of burger. He swallowed thickly and slurped his cola. "Excuse me," he mumbled sheepishly before continuing. "We're all testy right now. And I know…" The boy paused and chewed his lip; his gaze everywhere but Anzu. "I know you had feelings for Atem. I don't expect you to be completely yourself. It's okay to be sad or angry or…" He trailed off.
Anzu played with her croissant; her hunger suddenly gone despite the treat only being half finished. "Yugi, I…" What could she say? She was being completely selfish. She knew Yugi was hurting worse than she was. "I'll be okay," she lied. "I'm more concerned about you, though. I mean, you two were…close." It was an awkward choice of words, but they were in public. She could not very well blurt out the truth of the matter.
Again, Yugi refused to look at her. "Yeah…" He shoved a handful of fries into his mouth and the silence from earlier engulfed them.
The brunette pushed her ruined croissant away and allowed herself to admit something that truly bothered her. "I just wish that…" She played with her straw and swirled the syrupy slush in her cup. "I wish I had gotten to say goodbye." A pressure in her chest eased. She had been so, so close. But Jou…She closed her eyes as the painful memory overwhelmed her. Her hand had been stretched out just like in her nightmares. His name ripping from her lips desperately. He hadn't even turned to spare her a parting glance. Which made it all the worse. Because in her dreams, he had looked back at her. He had given her the consideration of one last look at his heartbreakingly beautiful face. A last chance to burn those eyes into her memory. As if she could ever forget those haunting eyes anyway. But last night he had just…walked away. He only offered them a thumbs-up like he had just won the greatest duel. In theory, she supposed he had. He had finally found his name and could go home. He could finally be at peace.
And then Yugi said those four little words that shattered her like porcelain.
"I loved him too."