I apologize for the SUPER late update.


" Would you like some tea, Mei?" Yuzu said with a smile.

"Yes , please. That would be highly appreciated." Mei replied as she bowed slightly at the older girl's offer.

Yuzu couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at the younger girl's formality. Others might find the girl's attitude off-putting, but Yuzu found it comforting. Even after the years they spent away from each other , Mei was still the same.

Without further ado, the older girl excused herself and went to the kitchen to prepare tea.

Yuzu gave Mei a quick glance before she poured the tea into a cup. Her apartment was small and dingy, but seeing the raven-haired girl inside of it makes the space seem special . Nostalgia filled Yuzu's heart. It's almost as if they were back in the apartment they used to share with their mother. A smile spread across her face as she remembered the moments they spent like this. The older girl didn't know what was going through her mind when she invited Mei over but she doesn't regret her decision.

Yuzu carefully carried the cups of tea she prepared and emerged from the kitchen. She smiled at Mei who was seated at the dinner table.

" Here's your tea.~" Yuzu cheerfully said as she placed one of the cups in front of Mei.

The raven-haired girl thanked Yuzu before she wrapped her hands around the warm cup. The older girl gave Mei a small nod and sat across her. Yuzu sipped at her own tea as she happily watched the younger girl.

Mei was already incredibly pretty during their high school years, but she grew even more beautiful than she was before. Yuzu resisted the urge to gape at the other girl. In her eyes, Mei looked like a goddess.

Yuzu felt her face heat up when she noticed the blush that was covering Mei's face, the girl must've noticed the intense look that Yuzu was giving her. When their eyes met she immediately turned her gaze downwards, she felt too embarrassed to look directly into Mei's eyes.

Yuzu's breathe hitched when her eye caught the silver ring that was wrapped around Mei's finger. She almost thought that it was the same ring that she had given the younger girl , but of course , it wasn't. She could already grasp the meaning behind the ring with just one glance. In just an instant the bubble that the former blonde created burst. Yuzu finally snapped back into reality. She closed her eyes tightly as the realization crept into her. Mei was already married.

In the past, when Yuzu first heard rumors that Mei was already living with a man named Udagawa, she thought it was just a mere coincidence that he had the same name as her former manager, but as it turns out, they were actually the same person.

At first , Yuzu felt mad, she felt angry at her fate. She felt as if the heavens were playing her. But as time went by, her anger turned into relief. Udagawa was a good person. He's very earnest and thoughtful , Yuzu saw all that in the small amount of time that she worked under him. She knows that the man wouldn't do anything that would hurt Mei.

Yuzu slowly opened her eyes and looked intently at the ring. It was so beautiful , its engravings were simple yet elegant. It must have cost a fortune. The former blonde smiled sadly, the ring she gave Mei, even though she spent a whole month doing part-time job to buy it , was nothing compared to the ring that the girl was wearing now.

"Your ring, it's really pretty." Yuzu said. The comment bore no ill will but it sounded sour. Deep within her heart, Yuzu felt envious. She was envious of the fact that Udagawa can give Mei everything that she couldn't. The man can give Mei not only an expensive ring , but he can also provide the life that the younger girl deserves.

Yuzu bit back the tears that was about to come. She lifted her head up and looked directly into Mei's eyes. She watched the younger girl's face contort into confusion and then into shame. The girl immediately hid her hands under the table.

Yuzu swallowed the lump in her throat. It required a lot of strength but she tried her best to speak." Since when?" she said weakly.

She wanted to hear the girl say it. She thought that maybe , just maybe, hearing Mei say that she was already married with someone else would make her snap out of it, that it would finally make her stop loving the girl.

Mei turned her head downwards because she felt too ashamed to look at the Yuzu , but mostly because she couldn't bear seeing the look in the other girl's eyes. It was full of hurt and anguish. The raven-haired girl felt regret. She should've ran away when she heard the girl call her, she shouldn't have returned the girl's embrace. She let her emotions get the best of her , and that's the reason why Yuzu is in so much pain. The girl was just laughing earlier but now she was filled with sadness.

"Please tell me ,Mei. I need to know."

Mei winced when she heard the desperation in Yuzu's voice. She already made up her mind that she will tell Yuzu the truth but it was a lot harder than she thought. Hearing the truth will hurt Yuzu but she deserves to know , Mei had kept it from her long enough.

"We got married just a few months after I turned 17." Mei said, her voice barely audible.

'Just a few months after she.." Anger slowly rose up in Yuzu but it was dulled by the stabbing pain against her chest. The older girl knows that there must've been a reason why Mei chose to hide the truth from her but Yuzu felt betrayed. She never would have thought that the ceremony happened just a few months after the girl left.

The tears that Yuzu was trying to hold back fell." I-Is that w-why you left? You c-could've at least told me, Mei." The girl said in between her sobs.

"W-Were you t-that eager to l-leave me?" Yuzu said with a sad voice.

Mei's heart broke when she heard the girl's question. She turned her head upwards to face the older girl.

"No , Yuzu it's not-"

Mei didn't finish her sentence. She clenched her teeth and exhaled deeply.

"Yuzu , I told grandfather." she whispered.

"I t-told him about us." Mei's voice was starting to waver.

She covered her face using her hand as she felt tears form in her eyes. They slowly fell as she remembered how her grandfather ridiculed what she felt towards Yuzu.

" I-I told him everything. How I felt about you and how I felt about my engagement." The raven-haired girl paused and wiped her tears using the back of her hand.

Yuzu stared at Mei with disbelief. She never would have thought that the girl would tell anyone about their relationship, much so if it were their grandfather. Yuzu felt admiration towards Mei.

"But he … He didn't accept my pleas. Grandfather was so outraged that he moved the ceremony into an earlier date. He even ordered me to stop associating with you and Mom."

The older girl's admiration quickly turned into disappointment.

She scoffed." You left because gramps told you to?"

Yuzu looked at Mei angrily" You just blindly followed his order without even think-"

"You don't understand , Yuzu!" Mei shouted before Yuzu could finish her sentence.

Something inside the former blonde snapped. She stood up and raised her hand to slap Mei.

But when she saw the girl close her eyes to brace herself , Yuzu retracted her hand. She bowed her head while tears fell from her eyes.

" I don't understand? Is it because you think I'm dumb and stupid? Or is it because you think that a lowly commoner like me would never comprehend the life of an Ojou-sama like you?" Yuzu said with a low voice.

The older girl raised her head and grabbed the collar of Mei's shirt. Yuzu pulled the girl up from her seat. " Do you even know what Mom went through when you left? It wasn't only me who got hurt Mei , you also hurt Mom." The girl said weakly. She felt furious , but she didn't have enough strength to raise her voice.

"You left without as much as a goodbye. You just… you just disappeared. Do you know how much that hurt?" Yuzu said as she weakly pushed Mei away. She remembered the first months when Mei left, how miserable she was during those times. The older girl felt her heart squeeze in pain. She recalled how hard it was for her to act normal when deep inside she was torn apart. The nights she spent crying and the days she spent waiting and hoping that the girl would come back, she remembered all the pain she went through when Mei left.

Yuzu gritted her teeth. "Was it really that easy for you to just leave?" Tears continue to fall from Yuzu's eyes. She tried to stop them from coming but it was useless.

" Is that how you perceive me to be?" Mei said as she took a step back from Yuzu, it was apparent in her voice that she was hurt.

The raven-haired girl pursed her lips together. She tried to stop the words that was about to come out of her mouth but she couldn't.

Mei clenched her fists and stared at the floor. " Do you really think that I found it easy to walk away from you and Mom?" she said with a stern voice.

" Leaving you behind filled me with agony, I never wanted to turn away from you." Mei put her hand on top of her chest. She gripped the ring that Yuzu gave her.

"If I could, I would have stayed by your side! But , I…. I didn't have a choice, Yuzu!" Mei shouted as she clutched the ring tighter.

Tears pooled in her eyes once again. Her grip on the ring loosened, she let her hand fall to her side." I didn't have a choice…." Mei repeated softly as she broke down into tears. A thud echoed in the small apartment when the girl's knees gave in. She drew sharp breaths , she was crying too much.

Yuzu's eyes widened when she saw the girl fall down. All the emotions she felt were replaced by concern. The older girl immediately ran towards the girl and sat down beside her.

She didn't know what to do. She wants the comfort the other girl, she wants to ease the pain that the girl was feeling but she doesn't know how. Yuzu slowly reached out and gently caressed the raven-haired girl's back. She can feel how hard Mei was shaking through her palm. Her heart sank, she hated seeing the girl like that.

"M-Mei , are you okay? Are y-you hurt? Do you need anything?" Yuzu asked in a panicked voice. She waited for the girl's reply but it never came. Yuzu grew more restless, she couldn't bear seeing Mei in that state, and she hated the fact that she couldn't do anything to help the girl.

" I'll g-get you a glass of water." Yuzu said as she clumsily stood up. She was just about to step away from Mei, but the girl weakly grabbed her wrist.

Yuzu turned her head back to look at Mei. The girl was directly looking into her eyes.

" I was happy, Yuzu." Mei said as she let go of Yuzu's wrist.

The girl looked at Yuzu lovingly." Every moment I spent with you filled me with warmth. They are my most cherished possessions."

Along with the pain that Mei feels was a sense of contentment. In spite of everything that she had lost, she knows that she would always have the memories that she and Yuzu shared.

Mei gave Yuzu a geniune smile." As wicked as I am , you still gave me love. You restored my relationship with my father and you taught me what it means to be truly alive. I cannot express how grateful I am for everything that you've done for me, Yuzu." the girl said tenderly.

The smile that was plastered on Mei's face slowly disappeared. " Despite all these , I..." Guilt flashed across her eyes.

" All I ever did was to cause you grief. And I... I couldn't give you the kind of love that you deserve." Mei said with a voice full of remorse. She can never forgive herself for causing Yuzu that much pain.

Mei shut her eyes and turned her head downwards. Droplets of her tears fell on the floor.

" Yuzu, I deeply apologize for everything. I'm so sorry.."

The raven-haired girl's eyes opened wide as she felt Yuzu's arms wrap around her. The former blonde's heart melted when she heard the girl's sentiments.

" Mei, don't apologize." Yuzu said. She held the girl's nape and pulled her closer.

" There's nothing we can do about it. I guess some things are just not meant to be." The words that came out of her mouth tore her apart but it was the truth. No matter how much it hurts , it was the reality. There is nothing they can do to change it.

" Yuzu.." Mei whispered as she buried her face against the older girl's neck.

Yuzu tightened her embrace when she felt the dampness of Mei's tears against her skin. Before she even realized it , tears were already falling from her eyes.

Yuzu and Mei didn't exchange words but they held onto each other for what seems like hours, they were both afraid to let go.

Their hearts twisted in pain as they slowly accepted the fact that there's no hope for the love that they have for each other. They cried until their tears ran dry as they whispered their farewell to the future wherein they were by each other's side.

The dream they both have where they got married, built a family and grew old together faded into nothingness.

.

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I know this chapter is sad but please don't kill me. I'll try to update this in a week or two. See ya.