A silent "Oh" was all Aoi could utter, running a digit around the rim of her glass. Thinking. She's currently having a mid-morning refreshment at a coffee shop near the A.H.A building with her friend, who she hasn't seen this troubled since; Shizuru had just told her what happened, and this is the first time she sees the smart and collected woman looking like a trainwreck. It doesn't appear in the way she carries herself, she still looks elegant and beautiful of course, but her eyes were freaking out.
"So... does this mean your straight again?"
"Aoi..." Shizuru whined.
"Sorry, I mean..." Aoi paused, thinking where to start. "What exactly is the problem? Yasu-kun came back, the one you were waiting for, and you chose him. And Nat-kun loves you, so she was only doing what you want - to stop seeking for you. Shouldn't everything be fine now?"
"Exactly..." A sigh escaped Shizuru's lips for nth time this morning. She feels like a zombie having a cup of tea and slice of cake. "I'm under the impression that you're rooting for Natsuki. Don't you think I'm horrible? "
"...well, yes my money's on Nat-kun. But I can't think you're horrible. The way I understand things, you really love Yasuda. Why else would you reject Natsuki the moment he showed up, right?"
And bam!, that struck a chord. The red-eyed goddess doesn't look so good anymore and at that point her chest starts to feel too tight inside. She silently took a long breath, rubbing the ache that elevated to her head, hiding her eyes behind her hand.
Sympathetic, Aoi reached for her friend's other hand when she noticed a slight quiver in her lips. Thankfully, they are sitting in quite a secluded spot. "Shizuru... I know it hurts... and you know why...but in this situation, someone will get hurt." she clasped the hand between hers, holding it firmly. "How about this, give it some time... They're obviously both important to you..."
There was small sniff, and Shizuru pinched her nose, eyes misty. "but I made my decision Aoi." she pointed out under her breath. "What do I have to give time for?"
"Your heart!.. It's obviously messed up. You have to give it some time to figure out what it really wants and not what your mind thinks!"
"How do I do that Aoi?! Natsuki's leaving me!"
Aoi leaned back, creasing her brows. But slowly her lips closed in a smile watching her friend in distress. 'I see...' . "Look, just forget about everything else for now; the engagement,.. you rejecting Nat-kun... and all your worries. Let yourself be free, open your heart and let the answers come to you. Don't trouble yourself about choosing who's best, or what's wrong or right, but rather... find out who you can't live without and who's regret you're willing to take." she raised a finger, indicating another point. "It won't be easy, but, again, you just have to be honest with yourself"
The Kyoto beauty blinked back the tears and exhaled deeply. Pondering.
"Now, to help you out, I'm inviting you to a charity event two days from now which will be held by my company, and I'd like you to come, with your choice of escort. You can start by deciding who you want to bring that night" she grinned, happy to see her friend smile even just a little.
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Intense pair of emeralds behind the open black tainted visor of her helmet looked around the whole track; calculating. Fellow racers are also straddling their own monster bikes, being flocked by good-sort feeme-fatales; cheering or flirting. She wish for the lights to turn green soon and get on with it. She only wants to have fun like she's supposed to, and get rid of the stares fixed on her and her company. She knew it's because of a pretty red-head Kruger standing next to her, playing as the muse because she refuse to hire one, despite her sister's willingness to pay through the nose for a hot chick.
One of the beer belly bald coordinator yell through the megaphone, reminding the players to gear up. They're about to roll. A hard pat in her helmet threw her head forward twice.
"Good luck mutt! Make us some money!" Nao cheered her younger sister, who only smirked before closing her visor.
Seeing a little life back in her sister's face, Nao stepped back and went to sit on the nearest upper bleachers, putting on her Bvlgari diamond sunglasses. Two men wearing a simple buttoned shirt and pants sat an arm away from her on both sides, and another two at the back, all wearing the silver ear-cuffs. Just as the race began, one of them casually placed a hand on the barrel at his waist, eyeing a beige haired woman walking towards his mistress. Nao noticed her man's apprehension and traced where he was looking at. She can afford to take her eyes from the race at the moment; the outcome is already predictable. A crease formed on her brows, squinting her eyes behind tinted glass at the blonde in white quarter-sleeved top, tattered skinnies fitting down to ankle high white Chuck Taylor.
The stranger noticed the suspicions from the men surrounding her old friend so she removed her Bently Platinum glasses to reveal electric blue eyes.
"...what in the world is the red-spider doing in this tawdry arena?"
Jade eyes widened, beaming. "Sei?!" She raised a hand for her men to stand down and meet Sei Satou in a fierce hug. "...have you become a saint already?"
"nah... Mary would cry if that'll happen." Sei teased back, making her friend smirk. "So, who are you betting for?" she asked as she sat next to her friend.
"the best of course."
"There's only one I know who wins your confidence in this field."
"and that's right." Nao casually replied, watching a blue and white Ducati Streetfighter make a deep break on a tight curve with a red 1098 two seconds behind her. She fist pumped when the first bike widened the gap in lickety split as soon as it got out.
"no way..." the blond whispered in disbelief. "She's here?! Since when?"
"She's studying here, slowpoke."
Something in her friends' tone made the blue eyes to narrow. Nao looked hurt watching the race go on. "Something wrong?"
Nao scoffed, rolling her eyes to the sky. "The young pup... is bruised again. I brought her here to have some air."
"...oh... I see... anything I can help?"
Nao only twisted her lips, watching the streetfighter pass through the finish line. If only she knows what could help. She looked at Sei then back at the race track when suddenly something crossed her mind. Jade eyes sparkling, smiling at her friend. "actually, want to grab a drink and catch up on old times? I need an ice breaker"
That sinister smile gives Sei a faint guess what is running around inside that pretty red head, and she has a feeling it would be something fun. She mirrored the smile and turned her eyes on the brunette winner at the podium. "hmm... I think I'd like that."