A PAW'S WARMTH

"Chapter 2."

"You know, Asami. Your clothes don't compliment your beauty. They are too baggy."

"They are my comfortable clothes. I see nothing wrong with it," Asami nonchalantly said while typing down on her MacBook Pro without even glancing on the distaste look that Opal is giving to her.

Opal was her best friend since they were in senior year during High school. They met because of the connections that their parents have. Her father is the famous C.E.O. of SatoMobile, and Opal's parents are a well-known politician, but it didn't matter to them. They clicked pretty quickly.

They are in a fancy coffee shop, where not even commoners can afford the prices of coffee and desserts offered. Since she ran away from her father, she didn't become a fan of this kind of coffee shop, she learned how to value a single coin, but today is an exemption.

"My friend can't even wear jeans, not even sneakers! For god's sake." Opal said with conviction as she gestures her hand from Asami's head to foot" Look at you with your large sweatshirt and crocs! Who are you?! Give my best friend back" The bob haired girl forcibly lean back on the chair and cross her arms

A cup of coffee stops midair, Asami's mouth is slightly agape when she stopped drinking because of the random comment her friend gave. Opal is one of those typical rich women, who was fed with a silver spoon since birth and didn't care about spending a large amount of money in a single day. There are times that she acts so sassy, but she never meant anything to it. Opal was different. Her friend respects every person she met and tries to see them eye to eye. She values their friendship.

She saw Opal raising one of her eyebrows when Asami took her time to reply

"You are just exaggerating Opal" The woman laughed at her friend's antics

"But really, what happened?" Opal's voice shifts to a worried one "You won't even talk to me since you left your father's house, I just heard that you shift your program into Veterinary Medicine. What the heck Asami you want to become a dog's doctor?-"

"An animal doctor. Not just for dogs." Asami tried to intercept, but it failed.

"Then suddenly, you called me after two years to say that your back in your house and Engineering?"

Asami only sighed on this, Opal's persistence never fails to amaze her

"Opal –"

"Ah-Uh," Opal raised her index finger and moved it sideways "I am not yet finished."

She shrinks herself into her seat. She knows her friend, and she will never shut up until she was satisfied

"You love wearing daring dresses that show your strongest assets, and It can't be complete without those stilettos that enhance your body posture. So, where were you, and what happened to you? What did life do to you that made you into a person who wears sweatshirts and Crocs!"

"You are giving me the impression that you are furious on the fact that I am wearing a Crocs."

She's losing this fight. She doesn't have any choice but to explain everything to her.

It's not like she doesn't want to tell her friend everything that happened, it's just that she's not yet ready to talk about her experiences cause it'll open up her healing wounds. She knew that the decisions she made will be hard, but she manages to get through her everyday life and didn't regret a thing about it, in fact, she's glad that she saw different views outside the environment she grew up with her father

"You don't need to tell me the whole story, and I am not forcing you anything just…"

Asami saw Opal's expression as she sighs and smiles tenderly

"I want to tell you that I am always here to listen."

The raven-haired girl examines her friend's expression and couldn't find anything but the genuine sad expression that she's giving, This made Asami guilty, her friend has been worried for two years, and she can't even explain her action.

"It's because of my father-"

Asami told Opal everything except her dog. Her friend's ear was hers the entire time at the coffee shop.

Suite case ready, wallet check, passport check, ticket check

Asami stands in the middle of her room. A 4 times larger than her previous apartment and check her things, she scans her room looking for the things that she might need during her trip with Opal.

It will be her first trip after two years and, advantageously, she doesn't need to work just to earn money. It sounds convenient, but she always minds spending the money that she didn't make. Her relationship with her father is pretty much the same as before she ran away, they talk about small things, and their conversation will die in a minute, her father has never been a talkative and expressive person that's why she was always having a hard time deciphering his thoughts.

At first, Asami didn't know what to feel when she came back to her house, her studies are getting arduous each day, and she don't have time to work, she needed to sacrifice one of the two, and that's where she decided to swallow her pride and return to his father. She was expecting a slap on her face or a long talk with her mad father. Yet, she didn't expect her father to be the one opening the door for her and instruct the maid to prepare the things that she might needs. He returned the credit card that named after her, her room didn't change and were cleaned before she came back, their interaction is still minimal just like before, and both of them didn't want to talk about the biggest elephant in the room.

"You are just like your mother."

Her father said. Hiroshi Sato said

And then she learns what he meant and notices things that her father never did back then

Her mother was a free woman and never bind herself on a person that her parent whats her to be, she has her aspirations, and she likes to explore things that are new to her and Hiroshi realize this. Asami is like her mother, a little bird who is curious about anything. So freedom is what Asami needed the most, not his strict guidance.

Hiroshi Sato gave it to her, and Asami decides that she will continue her passion – Engineering. She chooses Veterinary because of her rebellious phase, she came to love it for Kora, but now she didn't have any more reason to pursue the degree.

"Ready?"

Asami didn't need to look up to see Opal standing beside her with a frappe that who knows where she got. They are both in Opal's private jet, and she caught Asami staring at the windows mind roaming full with her thoughts about her current relationship with her father

She hums in approval. Opal already stopped bothering her with questions and accepts the fact that her friend is an entirely different woman unlike before. The party-goer, spendthrift, bar, and club hopper Asami is long gone. Opal decided that a complete beach vacation would help her in rehabilitating at least her choice of clothing into the elite woman who wears nothing but heels. Asami sometimes thinks that Opal's only concern is her lame clothes

"I told you not to wear Crocs!"

Opal hates Crocs and Asami can't help herself to tease her friend because of her reactions

"Good Lord Asami. How many pairs do you own? You are wearing a different color yesterday."

"I have like ten pairs of them?" The emerald eyes finally met Opal's while waiting for the reaction that she's been waiting for

"Oh My God Asami" Opal is clearly expressing her disgust, "I thought you hate wasting money, a Crocs isn't cheap, If you want to spend, spend wiser not on that ugly rubber slipper."

Asami gave an amused laugh, that is the reaction that she's expecting.

"I told you this is the most comfortable footwear, and I am willing to lend you one so you can-"

"NO," Opal interjected before Asami finish what she's about to say "I. WILL. NEVER. TRY. THAT. RUBBER. SLIPPER."

"Fine. Fine"

Their conversation falls into silence as Opal brings out her mirror and look at it to fix her hair. Asami thought that somethings different from her friend today. She's fashionable as usual with the designers' clothes and accessories from head to toe. She's wearing a sundress, red lipstick, her sunglass was being used as a headband, yet she's unusually fidgety that she looks at her mirror every minute to check her appearance.

"Are you nervous?"

The mirror from her hand completely slipped from her grip. This made Asami's hunch correct

"We are going to the beach. Why would I be nervous?"

"And something's definitely on that beach," Asami's eyed her friend "because you were so persistent yesterday."

Opal was avoiding her. Her eyes can't even stay and focus

"You are so persistent because you don't want to go there alone."

Opal's posture has gotten stiffer than before

"Opal, I've been your friend since Highschool, and I know when you are hiding something."

And there she got the answers. They are going to the Air Temple Island, not because of the historical temple that the monks live in before. Also not because of the white sand that the tourist love, but because of a local and that is Opal's first boyfriend. They met online and been dating for six months, and this is their first meeting. Asami wanted to laugh at the Idea.

Opal has never been fond of the boys and often says 'men are trash' that made everyone tease her as a 'man-hater,' and here she is after two years.

"We are here!" Opal said with an evident excitement

Asami finally met the guy that Opal's been head over heels for.

He's not muscular and handsome like Opal wants. Though he's not ugly, the bad boy look can't be seen in his innocent face, and his hair can't be held up in a brush-up manner properly. Not to mention that he isn't rich like them. In short, Opal is dating a person completely opposite of Opal's Ideal boyfriend.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Bolin" The man gave a radiant smile to Asami while Opal is glued to him.

The scene in-front make her wanna puke, she really can't believe she's seeing her friend like a kitten totally smitten in her boyfriend

"Likewise, I am Asami, Opal's best friend."

"I'll be your guide during your stay here" Bolin's eyes can't leave Opal's "I'll make sure that your stay will be worthwhile."

Asami became invisible all of a sudden, the pair were caught up with their own worlds, and Asami didn't sign up to be the third wheel

From the port Bolin made an arrangement and rent a car, he admitted that he doesn't have the luxury to buy his vehicle but wanted Opal to be comfortable on her stay as much as possible which in Opal's part didn't care as long as she's with Bolin.

The ride from the port to the beaches takes one hour, yet the island's surroundings make Asami busy while the pair on the front seat is flirting. The smell of the trees, unpolluted air, and the smiles of the locals, it is utterly different from Republic City. Her bag with Opal was carried by Bolin when they finally reach the main island, and the lodging was minutes away from the beach.

"I'm going to check the beach. If it's fine with both of you."

"Sure Asami, just call me when you need us."

Asami didn't bother to look on the couple cuddling on the sofa. She can see the beach from the veranda, and It called her. The raven-haired girl isn't a fan of the beach during vacation, maybe because her father brought her too much on a different kind of beach when she's still a child that she got tired of them. But there is something different on this beach.

Asami walked towards the water and decided to remove her crocs to feel the sand. Its warmth makes her feet relax from the trip, and the sound of waves hitting the shoreline lullabies her. She won't come here if Opal didn't ask her, yet she's not regretting coming here. The place where Bolin booked them is slightly isolated, that there's only a small number of people. Quite different on the other side where the party is always being held.

She continues her stroll barefoot, and she loves the sand under her feet. Solitary walk saved her when she once hit the bottom rock, and she didn't mind doing it once in a while. The last time she did it was when she lost Kora.

The dog made an impact on her life. Every person wants to be their ideal person, and Kora helped her to become the person she is today. The Asami back then is long gone.

Here she is again thinking several "what if"

What if she didn't take Kora to walk that day?

What if she didn't get distracted by the earthquake?

What if she immediately holds Kora, so she didn't get scared?

What if Kora died from that accident?

"Come here buddy!"

Asami got surprised and it interrupted her thoughts. She immediately raises her gaze towards the voice.

The woman never thought the last "what if" because it will make her hope up

Emerald eyes saw a fluffy wooly dog, jumping midair to catch a frisbee. Asami is too familiar with how the pet jumped, how the saliva fell on its mouth while biting the toy, and how the pet run with excitement.

Asami will always know that it's Kora.

"KORA!"

She called the dog, not doubting herself if it's hers or not. The furry pet looks immediately at her like a reflex, and there was a lag on the dog's movement as if it's trying to remember who Asami is. The raven-haired attempted to take a step, but she couldn't because of the tension between the two of them.

Until the dog barks at her and runs with eagerness, Asami didn't think twice to catch the dog, and they fell backward when Kora tackles her using her speed and weight, but Asami didn't mind as long as she can hug Kora again.

Kora licked her with affection. The people who saw what happened can see how much the dog misses her owner. Kora's tail is wagging intensely and licking her face while pushing herself to Asami. The woman could only giggle at her dog's action, and she's laughing so hard that she already felt a tear fell from her eyes, Asami never laugh this hard since she lost Kora.

"Sorry about the dog, did she hurt you?"

The woman suddenly became aware of her surroundings. She's in public while showing shameful action with her dog. But she can't help herself because she never thought she'd see Kora again.

She gets up and sits on the sand as she tries to remove the sand on her clothes to make herself presentable. Kora, on her side, isn't helping her because she continues to lick at her face.

"I am sorry about that" Asami coughs, trying to avoid eye contact with the stranger, "I wasn't able to control myself when I saw my dog."

"So she's your dog?"

"Ummm…Yes." Asami had already embarrassed herself in public, and she won't let herself be humiliated in front of a stranger anymore " Stop licking me buddy"

"What's her name?"

"I named her Kora"

"Oh. I thought you are calling me earlier. I got surprised that someone I didn't know was calling me with so much passion."

This made Asami stop play fighting with Kora, and raise her eyes towards the woman talking to her. The stranger is standing near Asami as if she's towering her. Asami can't fully see the face of the woman because of the sunlight that she's blocking. Still, she notices the above shoulder hair length, muscular body that will make every man insecure, her tan skin that diverted Asami's definition of beauty. And lastly, the intensity of the stranger's gaze moreover the depths of her eyes that reflect a calm ocean will pull you into a reverie.

Asami felt familiar when she saw the woman's eyes. She suddenly got dumbstruck when she realizes how identical Kora's eyes to this woman.

"Are you okay?" The stranger asks when Asami took her time to reply. It is enough to awaken Asami from her thoughts.

"Your name is Kora. Like K.O.R.A.?"

"It's K.O.R.R.A, but I guess our names still sound similar." Korra smiled, more like she grinned, and Asami can't help to notice how her grin looks so genuine like she doesn't have any problem in life.

The lady on the sand suddenly had a fluttering feeling. She's too preoccupied with observing every gesture of the exotic beauty in front of her that she can't recognize anymore whether the uncomfortable feeling on her stomach came from the laughing hard earlier or because of the butterflies lingering on her stomach.

All she could fathom was that she's captivated by this woman's smile.

I hope you enjoyed reading this scrap