Things were so different weeks ago. Now graduation day was coming, her career had just started (the perk of being Reiss: nepotism at its best!) and suddenly she ran into Eren's older brother two blocks from the office.
Historia was speechless while Zeke observed her like a doctor examined his patient.
"Try some sleep. You look like a ghost."
"A ghost?" Historia's eyebrows shot up.
"There's nothing, really. Just stress from work," she assured him.
Her mouth was smiling and her eyes were somewhat blank; Zeke thought Historia was a terrible liar.
"Forgive me to assume everything was alright. Is there anything I miss?" he inquired.
"Well..." Historia inhaled deeply, considering to cast off her pride or go mental. It felt like a long while before she made up her mind.
"Maybe Eren didn't tell you, but things weren't always good between us...
Because I was afraid to do the right thing, I ended up hurting him. He's a proud guy, and I am too. I didn't even realize how broken hearted I was until he has just disappeared without a word.
Now it's too late... I don't know anymore what's the right thing to do..."
Suppose he had gone away imagining that she picked Erwin over him, wouldn't that mean she really messed up for good?
Realization came hit Historia and she began to fret like a child. But then Zeke did the most unexpected thing...
"What was that for?" She stared aghast at Zeke who had just flicked her forehead.
"Silly little Historia," he said in scolding manner. "You can always try. If there isn't a little pain, how can you call it romance?"
Friday night came
The phone rang.
She wearily glanced to the alarm. 02:15.
"Hello, Historia speaking," she said with as much annoyance as she could muster.
The speaker on the other line stayed silent to her chagrin.
"I'm going to hang now. Good night."
"...Historia."
She sank further on the bed.
Was she dreaming?
"Eren...?"
There was a rustle. She could imagine him adjusting something, phone kept between neck and shoulder.
"It's too early to call, right?"
A sharp intake of breath.
"Where are you?" she demanded.
...
Historia quickly slid down her path to the empty park across her apartment building. Her red hoodie starked ablaze in the quiet darkness. Despite knowing what to be expected, her heart still did a somersault when Eren came into her field of vision.
"Hey," he drawled, his head tilted up towards her.
Historia had wanted to hug him, to slap him, but couldn't really make up her mind. The combination of late hour and his sudden appearance had drained her will. Everything almost didn't feel real.
"I wanted to see how you were doing," he said after awhile.
Historia blinked tentatively.
"I wish you did that sooner."
"I wish I did, too," he repeated.
Historia wordlessly stared at her shoes, prompting him to come and lean down to her height. Their eyes met and without knowing why, she started to cry.
"You said we needed to stop playing the game. And then you left me..." she said at last.
It hadn't been easy for him. But when he realized he wasn't the only one who felt that way, it gave him hope.
His fingers brushed some tears off her face. His head got clearer.
"I'm sorry," he hadn't had the courage to say it before, but now he did, "It's going to take time. But once I'm there, I'm going to take you with me. Can you wait?"
Historia didn't answer right away and instead she scrutinized him.
Still in his working suit and tie, Eren looked dishevelled and tired. Probably had been driving non-stop—"Six hours by car," Zeke had summed up the reason why he wouldn't see Eren anytime soon—just to be here, while he could just ring her.
There was never going to be a big house with a yard. But she supposed that he loves her anyway, to keep coming back after the pain she had put him through. Her feeling also told her that they would be very, very happy together.
And so Historia closed her eyes and hoped for the best.
"I'll be waiting for you."
