Spring Song
Author's Note: Omg, ok, I'm extremely happy for that first review! TO ANONYMOUS: Thanks for the lovely review! I was actually very embarrassed about my writing skills but I'm so glad that there's someone enjoying it. I do have a long way to go but your friendly review was very encouraging! Thanks for reading as always, guise :D
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Chapter 7
After that little fiasco we had earlier, I admit that I was feeling quite down. I didn't know what to say to Sabo. He seemed genuinely angry at me and that burst he had still remained fresh in my mind. It scared me, maybe because I was unfamiliar with this side of his. Usually, I was greeted with his warm personality and carefree jokes. Even though Koala told me to leave him be for a while, I was worried.
After walking silently as a group, we approached the less muddier side of the forest. There was tension in the air but no one dared to speak anything. However, after walking for so long, I realized that the sky was already dark. Evening had come.
"Let's camp here tonight," Sabo briskly said.
"Agreed." Hack followed. Everyone put their stuff down and I gently rubbed my aching back, relieved that we finally stopped for the night.
"That's odd," Koala came beside me, "I didn't think the island was this wide. We should have reached Music Garden a while ago..."
"You guys rest up," Hack spoke towards us, "we'll set up the tent."
"Thanks, Hack," Koala said gratefully and I smiled at him in appreciation. Then, she turned towards me.
"Does your feet still hurt, Haru?" she asked with a tint of worry in her voice.
"No, not really, thanks for asking..."
"If it does, don't hesitate to tell me," Koala stood up and reached into her large backpack that she'd been carrying. She took out four bundles of salted riceballs, neatly wrapped up in clean banana leaves. She handed one towards me and quickly went to pass the rest out to Hack and Sabo just as they finished setting up the tent.
Maybe it was my fault that there was so much tension in the air between the four of us. The meal was eerily very quiet. Koala and I sat on one corner while the two guys sat at the opposite far end. I could see Hack looking at me sympathetically while Sabo just avoided to meet my gaze. Koala was a wonderful company, nevertheless. She tried to take my mind off things as she talked about anything that comes to mind. She was cheery and she never fails to make me smile, even in times like these. Though Sabo and I are giving each other a temporary (I hope) silent treatment, she could see how troubled I was. In order to the avoid an awkward moment with Sabo, she stayed by my side the entire time. She even urged me to go to bed early with her so that I wouldn't have to painfully (?) face Sabo while we wait for each other to sleep. Koala fell asleep as soon as she hit the tent, making me toss and turn several times. Reflecting on today's events, I also succumbed to my exhaustion and eventually drifted off to sleep as well. It was a long day.
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-Sabo-
Little did Haru knew, Sabo was also troubled by the way he treated her. He couldn't stop thinking about the tone he used at her, followed by her expression full of regret and hurt. He was sure that after today, she would hate him. The entire time, walking through the thick forest, with that awfully dreary atmosphere, he couldn't stop thinking about her feet. She was probably enduring it as we kept on walking. He felt horrible, pretending to be oblivious to the fact that she was forcing herself to walk, all while being a coward, refusing to apologize to her. After an hour of regret and contemplation, he finally brought himself to tell the team to stop for the night. He was further haunted by a wave of relief on Haru's face when he said that, proving that she has indeed been forcing herself to walk all along.
To Sabo, these feelings are new to him. He was protective of his teammates, but he was especially protective over Haru. That was why he lost control when he snapped at her earlier. He pretended not to know what he's feeling. He kept convincing himself that it's because she is her important nakama, but in reality, he probably knew what was deep inside him. Every time Haru looked at him, he couldn't help but look away. Thank God Koala's with her.
"Maybe you should go talk to her?" Hack suggested out of a blue, a while after the girls had gone to sleep in the tent.
"Why would you say that?" Sabo tried to keep calm, but in his mind, he was startled by Hack's sudden statement.
"It's killing you, Sabo," Hack almost grinned, "it's literally written all over your face."
"Shut up," Sabo mumbled.
"Well, I'm going to sleep too." Hack stood up and went into the tent, leaving Sabo alone.
After an hour, Sabo also decided to get some sleep. He removed his hat and goggles, revealing messy blonde hair. Once he was inside the tent, he was flabbergasted at the arrangement. The four sleeping bags were arranged this way: Haru, blank, Koala, Hack. Goddamnit, Hack, Koala...he thought as he silently crawled onto the soft sleeping bag. He placed his pipe at the base of his sleeping bag and settled in. Hack snoring from his left, he turned over to his right in annoyance, as if to deafen the snores as much as possible. His gaze automatically turned towards Haru and her peaceful sleeping face. In a split second, he forgot all about the annoying snores. Making sure to not make any sounds, he listened to her breathing and observed her face with the little moonlight that shone through the tent's covers. He wasn't sure if he had properly noticed it before, but she was beautiful.
She has this porcelain skin and light brown hair that perfectly framed her face. Her bangs are certainly getting long, he observed, as he gently used his fingers to brush a few strands away from her face. For some reason, he wanted to stare at her face a little longer, though, he was getting embarrassed because of how inappropriate it suddenly seemed to be. Stalker much? A voice in his head piped up. He felt his face consequently heat up. I shouldn't be embarrassed, he suddenly argued back with himself. He's not the kind of person to be crazy over a girl, especially his important teammate.
But he couldn't help but wonder what is it that draws him so much towards her. He questioned himself repetitively but whenever he does so, his mind was already programmed to give an answer. He suddenly imagined her bright blue eyes that twinkled whenever she spotted him and her dimpled smile whenever he makes a joke. She's selfless, compassionate and honest. He has never been so obsessed with someone that much before. Even Koala...
He slowly closed his eyes and let the darkness take over. It has been a long day.
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Sabo's eyes fluttered open. Something was strange, he can sense it. He quickly sat up and tiredly squinted his eyes. But then, he noticed how dark it still was and realized that he must have awoken in the middle of the night. He heard the familiar annoying snores on his left and sighed. He subconscious glanced over to his right and was suddenly alarmed. Haru wasn't in her sleeping bag. He got up, grabbed his pipe and without making any sound, he pushed himself out of the comfort of his sleeping bag and out of the tent.
Sabo looked upwards and saw a beautiful full moon. The dark sky was lighted up by the shimmery moonlight and he was grateful for that. With the moonlight guiding his way, he left his flashlight in his bag and was determined to find Haru. He was plagued with thoughts that she had already left him because she was sick of him. But he quickly shook his thoughts away and climbed up the hill that was surrounded by the foliage of large thick trees. Where are you, Haru? Sabo thought. Climbing up, he felt his legs becoming slightly tired but he endured it. At the top, he encountered several more thick shrubs that were effortlessly pushed out of the way by his metal pipe. There, he arrived at a clearing and heard a voice he longed to hear, reciting something familiar to Sabo.
...
"You're a foolish person. There are dark clouds above your head, constantly raining daggers on you. You grow these sharp edges around yourself, absolutely refusing to let anyone in. I hate that and I hate you. I absolutely HATE you... but you are terribly the most real thing in my terribly false world that I cannot bring myself not to care about you." Her voice trailed away, and Sabo saw her sitting on the ground at the edge of the cliff, her wavy hair fluttering along the wind and the moonlight radiating against her fair skin. He could not make out the expression on her face. He stepped closer towards her. Instinctively, he recited back.
"The sad truth is, my dear Felicia, I am everything you said." Sabo's voice startled Haru as he stepped closer and closer towards her. "I am broken in many ways. Afraid in a hundred more. My heart is worn out. But I won't walk away from you, knowing that I can never go back if I do. Despite wishing otherwise, I love you." he recited his dialogue perfectly and the next thing he knew, Haru was standing in front of him, staring right into his eyes. Unlike that evening, neither of them looked away.
"The Aesthetic Nightmare," she said, breaking the silence in a voice almost too quite for Sabo to hear, "you've heard of it before."
"I-I'm not sure how I know this poem..." he said, "I've heard of it somewhere before."
"It's not a poem, Sabo, it's a play," Haru said, pausing. Sabo noticed how surprised she looked. He had just noticed her expression now. Then, her voice quivering, she said, "Have I met you before, Sabo?"
"What do you mean?" he was as confused as ever. Her serious expression made him nervous. He waited to hear what she had to say.
"That play was written by my grandmother before she passed away. Since then, it has only been performed once. That was 8 years ago, in Eria Kingdom, where 50 noble families from around the world were invited." Haru slowly explained, "Sabo, you told me you lost your memories when you were 10 years old. I think that you were a noble."
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A long silence followed the two of them. Sabo exhaled and sat down at the edge of the cliff, motioning Haru to do the same.
"I don't know how to react to this." he said, "whether that's the truth or not, I don't particularly care. The me now isn't some noble living in luxury and imposing my status to get whatever the hell I want. I'm Sabo, of the Revolutionary Army."
Haru paused. Then, she suddenly laughed, surprising Sabo.
"That's a good answer," she laughed, "oh my god, and here I was, being serious for nothing." She wiped off her tears in laughter. "I sure thought that it would have been, like, a key to unlocking your lost memories." She doubled over, laughing uncontrollably. Sabo's grim mood faded away. Man, I was worried for nothing.
"Thanks, Haru," Sabo said, "you always seem obliterate all my worries away. Anyway, listen..." he stared seriously at Haru who has already calmed down. "I'm really sorry about today. I didn't mean you snap at you and I'm really, really sorry for my terrible attitude. I know you hate me and I totally understand. I was inconsiderate about you and even though you hurt your footー" Sabo babbled off until Haru pinched his arm, "ーOW!"
"Oh my god, please shut up for a second," Haru said, "I could never hate you, Sabo. And it's fine. I understand why you did that. Koala told me all about it. You were just worried about me, right?"
Sabo nodded sheepishly.
"My foot also doesn't hurt anymore," Haru said but Sabo kept guiltily looking down at his dangling feet off the cliff. Haru gently pushed Sabo, scaring him and giving him a sudden jolt.
"I almost fell!" Sabo protested, goosebumps all over his skin.
"Good!" Haru said nonchalantly, "now, do I have your full attention?" She cleared her throat and began speaking again. "Anyway, I'm sorry for putting myself in danger today too. I know I'm still very inexperienced and possibly a burden to you. But I really, really hate that silent treatment. In the future, can you please just talk to me if things turn bad again?"
"..."
"..."
"You're not a burden, Haru," Sabo said.
"What?"
"I said, nobody thinks that you're a burden. You're an important teammate." he stared right into her eyes as he said this. He meant it and he wanted to convey it to Haru.
"Then, promise me you won't ever give me that silent treatment again."
"I promise."
"Good." Haru laid her back onto the ground, staring right at the moon. She patted the grass beside her, "join me." He did. His eyes met with the most spectacular scenery of the night sky. The moon was in the center of it all and he couldn't think of anyone more special to join with him.
"The moon is very pretty today." Haru hummed a gentle, melancholic melody after she said this. Sabo laid beside her, just enjoying her company.
"So, what's the play about?" Sabo tried to make conversation to distract himself from just staring at her face.
"The Aesthetic Nightmare?" Haru closed her eyes for a second, "well, it's about a lady who fell in love with an assassin. I suppose the thing that struck me the most about this story is the theme of forbidden love. A terribly real thing in a terribly false world... that's such an amazing thing to say to someone," Then, her cheeks suddenly became red as she realized that she may have just accidentally implied something to Sabo. She hastily turned towards Sabo who was still observing her carefully and listening to her. As quickly as her shyness came, it disappeared. She suddenly felt comfortable to speak and babble whatever's on her mind again. She thought about her grandmother and in delight, her face pressed closer to Sabo's. Not realizing the faint blush on his cheeks, Haru continued on.
"And do you know what the most fascinating part is?" Haru's eyes twinkled with excitement, "I heard it was a true story. Apparently, Grandma really did fall in love with an assassin."
"That sounds like a fun love story." Sabo replied, enticed by the sparkle in Haru's eyes as he said this. He grinned at her, feeling a flush of happiness just being able to listen her talk and smile at him. As Haru babbled on about other things, relieved that both of them are finally back on good terms, Sabo found himself unable to concentrate on what she's saying. At that moment, he realized something about himself that he finally was able to admit. He was afraid to, at first, but now, things were different. He wanted to cling on. The reason why he was so protective of her, the reason why he was so haunted by her sad expressions, why he was so obsessed with her... He can't help it.
Haruna Lacie, you are terribly the most real thing in my terribly false world. Despite wishing otherwise, I love you.
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