Chapter 10: Making Conclusions

"Dude! I'd like to ask you a favor." Gray was talking to Cliff at their room.

"Sure. What is it?"

"My grandpa needs a basketful of ores to be turned into different materials for shipment. I thought I needed help in finding ores and in carrying stuff because when this basket gets filled, I won't be able to carry the tools along. I couldn't ask Claire because she told me she had a backache at Beach Day and that means she couldn't carry a very heavy load of ore in that condition."

Cliff looked a little confused upon hearing that Gray would have asked Claire to help him.

"Hey I didn't intend to burden her. I just thought she would also like to do mining works every once in a while. Of course I wouldn't let her carry heavy loads even if she's alright."

"Okay. I'll help you out."

"Great! Thanks!"

The two later went to the spring mine to find ores.

oOo

After about an hour and a half of mining in three floors, Gray thought that they found enough so they decided to leave the mine.

They were already near Gotz's house when Gray realized he forgot one of his tools on a corner of the mine.

"I have to go back to get them," said Gray.

"No, I'll get them. You just go to your grandpa so you he can start looking at the ores," Cliff said kindly.

"Alright. I owe you pal." And Gray went his way to Saibara's.

Cliff walked back to the mine. He looked for Gray's tool at the first level but did not find it there. Then he went to the second level. Still not there. He looked at the last level where they have been and there it was. Gray's hoe was at the northwest corner of the level. Cliff picked it and went back up and out of the mine.

When he was outside. He felt exhausted. He decided to walk towards the side of the spring to rest for a while.

He put down his bag of tools then stretched his hands. Then he leaned at the bamboo fence surrounding the spring.

Unknown to him, the fence was actually unstable because it was put there for quite a long time that its base had been weakened by ground moisture.

As he leaned, the fence went down in a domino effect.

To his surprise, Claire was actually taking a bath in the spring.

When the fence was completely toppled, they found themselves looking at each other.

"Eeeeek!" Claire closed her eyes, covered her upper body, lowered herself in the water and turned around.

Cliff immediately turned around as well. "I..I…I'm sorry. I..I didn't mean to..." Then he walked to exit the spring area. But then…

"No Cliff. Don't leave."

Cliff was shocked. But he stepped backwards, back to the side of the spring. He didn't turn his head.

He sat there and so they were sitting like back to back only separated by the rocks that make up the border of the spring. Their faces were both very ripe tomatoes.

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"Uh.. I helped Gray look for ores. We were on our way to Saibara earlier but he forgot his hoe so I went back to retrieve it."

"Oh. So did you find it?"

"Yeah. It's here in the tools bag now….Uhm..how are you? How's your back?"

"I'm feeling better now. I read in the library that the warmth of this spring will help ease body pain so I tried it."

"That's good to know.."

"Uh.. you wait here. Don't turn your head okay?"

"I'll cover my eyes if you like too." And Cliff did just that, making Claire giggle.

Claire stood up and went back to the dressing room to get dressed.

After getting dressed, she silently walked to Cliff who was still sitting on the ground covering his eyes.

"You can open your eyes now," Claire whispered to his ear.

He was shocked but nonetheless put down his hands and opened his eyes. He turned and their eyes met.

Claire was kindly smiling at him. "Come on, let's walk together back to town. I have things to do."

"Uh..yeah. But I couldn't go with you. I have to get back to the inn and wash myself. I smell like earth."

Claire giggled. "No worries."

The two walked to town together. Cliff brought back Gray's tools at Saibara's and left Claire there as he headed back to the inn.

oOo

Claire chatted with Saibara about the stuff he's working on.

Then, Gray asked her to come with him to Rose Square.

At the square, they met Ann who was checking out bulletin posts.

"Hi Ann!" Claire greeted.

"Oh hello Claire! Hello Gray!"

"Is there anything new posted today?" Claire asked.

"Yes. It's about Fireworks Festival. You can ask someone you like to spend it with you. Do you know about that Gray?"

"Well, yes. That's why we're here. I'll be talking to Claire about it." To this, Ann assessed that Gray would be asking Claire to join him in the Fireworks Festival. She thought of an ill plan.

"Will you also join us?" Gray continued.

"Uh..I'm sorry.. I'll actually be going back now. I might be needed at the inn. See you."

oOo

Ann left to go to Cliff.

At the inn, she found him talking to Kai.

"Hello boys! What are we up to?"

"Hi Ann. We were just talking about the festival."

"Oh I see. I won't join in then. But if it could help, I saw Gray with Claire. He said he was about to talk about the festival with her. I think he's gonna ask her to go with him. That's all. I'll leave you now." Then she went to the family room.

Kai whispered to Cliff, "Gray's going to ask Claire? Is that possible? I thought he and Mary are.."

"Yes that's a bit odd. But will you excuse me for a while? I have to.."

Kai held Cliff's shoulder. "Dude, I know Gray wouldn't do that to you."

Cliff left without saying a word.

oOo

"So..are you going to invite Mary to the festival?" Claire asked Gray as she grinned and flickered her eyes.

"Huh? How did you know about that?"

"Oh Gray, I see how you behave when Mary is around. It's so obvious you like her. Hihi!"

"Alright alright. I was planning to tell you anyway. Now, uh..will you listen to what I prepared to ask Mary for the festival? I'm kind of nervous about how I should ask her," Gray told Claire.

"Seriously, Gray?" Claire laughed at him.

Gray turned red of embarrassment. "Oh come on, just tell me whether it's okay or not will you?"

"Okay okay, let's hear it."

"Okay.. ahem.. Uhm.. Mary, uh.."

"Hihi..you're stuttering. You're not talking to Mary yet. Relax dude."

"Okay.." Gray inhaled…exhaled.. "Okay let's try again… Hi Mary. The Fireworks Festival's in a week from today. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?"

"Hmmm.. I have no scheduled task for that day…soo.. Sure I'll go with you!"

"Great! I'll pick you up at your home at seven?"

"Fine by me."

oOo

"..The Fireworks Festival's in a week from today. I was wondering if you'd like to go with me?"

"Hmmm.. I have no scheduled task for that say..soo.. Sure I'll go with you!"

"Great! I'll pick you up at your home at seven?"

"Fine by me."

This was the conversation Cliff heard when he reached the north entrance of the Rose Square. He didn't actually enter the square but hid behind a bush.

After hearing Claire "accept" Gray's invitation, Cliff hurriedly walked back to the inn feeling bad.

On his way, thought he couldn't feel angry towards Gray, nor with Claire. Never with Claire. He rather felt remorse about himself because he thought he was bad at talking to people and he still hasn't found a job.

He recalled that Claire met Gray before she met him at the church and they seem to have close ties so it's not impossible they would get attracted to each other.

oOo

After "accepting" Gray's invitation, Claire clapped. "That was wonderful Gray! I'm sure Mary wouldn't say no to you."

"You think so? I'm still not sure. Of course it would still be different once I get to talk to her for real."

"I know so Gray. Just be yourself."

"Thanks Claire. Wait, speaking of the festival, has anyone invited you yet?"

"Actually, no one has asked me yet."

"Is that so? Hmm.. Maybe you just have to wait. Someone out there might also be rehearsing what he should say to you right now."

"If that's the case, we'll see. But it's okay if I don't get invited. I could go there by myself anyway."

"Don't think like that." Gray resolved not to hint Claire about Cliff as he wanted Cliff to move on his own. "Anyways, Claire, thanks again for your time. Good luck with everything."

"You're welcome Gray."

oOo

Cliff came back to the inn and Kai was there, waiting for him.

"What happened?" Kai asked.

"Ann was right. Gray did ask Claire to go with him to the festival…"

"And?"

"And she accepted his invitation."

"Woah woah woah.. That's totally impossible. There must be a good explanation to that. You must have not yet heard their whole conversation."

"I'm not sure Kai. But I don't really feel good right now. Excuse me. I have to go upstairs."

Cliff did go upstairs.

Ann followed him. Kai noticed she was moving sneakily and wondered what's with the weird movements. He suspected something was not right.

Upstairs, Ann found Cliff standing at the hallway, looking at the window.

"Hi Cliff! What are you staring at outside?"

"Oh, hello Ann. Well.. I'm just looking at the view."

Just then, they saw Zack pass by. He was carrying fireworks.

"The Fireworks Festival's going to be in a few days from now," said Ann. "It's fun to spend with a friend or someone special."

"Uh..yeah.."

"I wonder if I could spend it with someone."

"Huh? Haven't you been asked by anyone yet?"

"Well not yet..everyone's still probably busy..maybe sooner or later I'll get an invitation."

"Uhm.. would you like to go with me at the festival?"

"Oh..wait..you..you're inviting me?"

"Well..if you would like to come with me..we could.."

"Sure..sure! I'll go with you!" Ann jumped and hugged Cliff.

Cliff had a blank reaction though.

"It's gonna be exciting! We'll go there after dinner, will that be okay?"

"Huh? Uh.. yeah..sure…"

Kai was actually eavesdropping them from near the stairs and heard everything clearly. 'So that's the explanation,' he thought. He left his spot when he heard Ann come down.

oOo

Cliff lied on his bed early.

Kai decided to tell him what he think he is going on.

"Dude, I think Ann made this all up so you could go with her to the festival."

"Huh? What are you talking about, Kai? That's impossible. I clearly heard what Gray and Claire talked about in the square. Ann was right."

"What if you haven't actually heard everything? Look dude, Ann likes you. It's not impossible for her to lie to you. You shouldn't go with her, dude."

"Ann is a good person, Kai..and..and I cannot back out..I already invited her."

"But what about Claire?"

"I'm sure she's going to have a great time with Gray."

"I don't know, Cliff. I can't force you to believe me. But I'm telling this to you to make you aware, so would know what to do if things won't go well."

"Thank you Kai. If you'd excuse me, I need to rest now. I don't really feel good."

Kai looked at him worriedly.

Gray arrived late, unaware of Cliff's problem.

oOo

The 24th day of summer came. Fireworks festival day.

Claire has not been invited to the event, nor has she received even just a letter from an anonymous someone.

She has been thinking about this when she got home after doing farm work.

Lying on her bed, she thought, honestly, she was a little hopeful that that one brown-eyed, brown-haired boy with ponytail would actually invite her to the festival. But maybe he already invited someone else.

She tried to convince herself not to feel bad because if he was able to invite someone, that means at least he's gaining more courage to talk to people.

But there's this part of her that was just sad, hoping that he would knock on her door even on the last minute.

oOo

It was 7:30 p.m. Gray and Mary arrived together at the beach to watch the fireworks.

As they walked towards the dock, they spotted Cliff who was already at the shore.

"Cliff!" Gray called.

Cliff turned around when he heard his name called and his eyes widened when he saw Mary with Gray.

Gray continued, "What's up dude? Mary here is my date tonight. She accepted my invitation a couple of days ago…So where's your date? Where's Cl.."

"Cliff! I brought you something to drink!" Ann just came to Cliff's side. "Oh hi, Gray and Mary." Gray was shocked upon seeing Ann.

'What?! Ann? For real? Where's Claire?' Gray mouthed to Cliff, fortunately unnoticed by Ann who was chatting with Mary.

Cliff could only open his mouth but without saying a word nor making any sound.

At 8 p.m., Mayor Thomas announced that the fireworks display was about to begin. Gray invited Mary to watch from the dock. They left Cliff and Ann at the shore.

As the fireworks go, Cliff only stared at the water splashing on the shore and berated himself in his mind for hastily making a wrong conclusion about what he heard from the square before.

He briefly looked at Ann who was happily watching the show. He thought he couldn't leave her now, or else, she'll feel bad. But all the while, he could only worry about the girl with blonde hair and blue eyes who did not deserve to be alone that night.

The fireworks display lasted for 10 minutes.

oOo

Claire wanted to watch the fireworks display at the beach. But she thought she would feel…funny… that she would go there alone when there would be many couples there. She didn't like to feel awkward.

She had another idea instead. She looked at her clock. 7:30 p.m. There's still time.

"Come on Beethoven, let's watch the fireworks from another good spot!"

"Woof!"

She lit her lamp and walked with Beethoven to Mother's Hill.

They reached the summit in time. The towns and cities from afar have just started showing their fireworks displays.

Claire sat on the ground beside Beethoven. She wrapped her legs with her arms as she watched the colors burst in the night sky.

Later, Beethoven moved his head sniffing.

"What's the matter buddy?"

Beethoven turned and sniffed on the ground.

He stopped at the bush that was a few meters away from the summit and barked.

Claire rushed to Beethoven in worry.

She noticed the bush stirred.