Hello Readers! I am pleased but sad to report, but we have made it to the halfway point of the story! I'm grateful for everyone who is still reading this as I have started this story back in 2013 and then took some time off. All great things must come to an end eventually, and with that, since I'm not using any of my OC's, onto the story!

Princess Pride paces back and forth in her room wondering if she just read the message that her parents sent her: We are coming down for a quick visit. Be ready at 4. She been texting Lan for the passing hour and calling his office, but there has been no response. After yesterday, she just wants to rekindle with Lan for making him feel bad, but she understands if he chooses to ignore her. A few minutes she hears a knock on the front door. She walks out of her room to answer the door to be face to face with her mother

"Where's Dad?"

"I told him to stay at home while I come. You didn't sound too happy from the video message we received from you"

"Lan and I disagreed yesterday about the girl I was telling you about"

"Maylu, right? Well you did knew it was a touchy subject to press against him"

"I know, but I got the answer I was looking for"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's take a drive. This might be a minute" Princess Pride said as she locks the door and enters the car with her mother. The car takes off as she fills her in on everything that has been happening the past couple of weeks as she monitors her mother's facial expressions. After a couple of minutes of silence, her mother grabs her hand and looks straight into Princess Pride's eyes with a look of regret.

"Sweetie, I think it might be time to consider the suitor that you have waiting at home"

"But Mom, I don't want to marry him. I want to pick who I get to marry"

"And I believe based off of everything that you have told me, you SHOULD pick the suitor at home. Lan still has a soft spot for Maylu. Sure physically he is over Maylu, but emotionally, I highly doubt that"

"So why do you think those two didn't date at all?"

"Risks. As you heard, they already acted like a couple, they just didn't have the label to make it official. All friendships are different. When friendships evolve into relationships, they probably don't carry the label because they don't like titles"

"I don't understand"

"They value their friendship a lot. Moving into a relationship have to be something that they're ready for. The biggest fear is that if they break up, their friendship would never be the same depending on how bad the breakup is. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried dating"

"Do you think they still have feelings for each other?"

"Probably, but only they know. Besides, that Maylu girl is married. She is not going to tell anyone but that blonde girl who is her best friend."

"I want to know for myself, but he's not going to tell me"

"As he said, it's their business, not yours. Just think it over before this month is over. I will be back at the end of the month waiting for your answer" Her mother said as the car makes it way back to the Hikari's residence. Princess Pride steps out of the car as her mother grabs her wrist, "3 more weeks or else". Her mother's car pulls off as Princess Pride enters the house. She comes in to see a sleeping Lan passed out on the couch with papers in one hand and his phone in the other. With a smile, she walks up to him but suddenly stops before touching his face in fear that he was still mad. Grabbing a blanket, she gently places it over Lan as she returns to her room in wait for him to wake up

Yai's Mansion

Yai and Maylu were chilling in Yai's room as Maylu said she needed a place to relax before heading home from work. Yai saw something strange in the way that Maylu stares off into space. With her right hand, she slightly shoves Maylu in the shoulder, bringing her back to reality.

"What's bugging you?"

"Nothing Yai"

"Don't lie! What's up? Is it about when that Pride girl questioned you about Lan?"

"No, well not this time since that still bothered me, but, it's Dex"

"What about him?"

"Well, I don't know, but it's like we are kids again with my friendship with Lan"

"In what regards?"

"That I'm spending way too much with Lan than him. I just run into Lan when I get off work or when I'm on my lunch break and we just chill for a bit. He wants me to spend more time with him instead of 'going straight to Lan' when I have free time"

"It's not like y'all plan to meet up right?"

"We don't. I told him he had nothing to be jealous of. I knew he was just getting mad with just mentioning our names together"

"He doesn't, but speaking of Lan, how has it been?"

"It's been fun catching up and everything, but this whole wedding arrangement is bothering him deep down"

"How do you know?"

"He doesn't know what to do. He does like her, but not enough for marriage. Starting a relationship with her isn't bad, but he doesn't know he can through with committing the rest of his life with her just by being together for just 2 going on 3 months. He feels bad that he might have to break her heart"

"I see. Is it strange that Lan trusts you enough to tell you all of this?"

"At first yeah, but I think he just needs another listening ear besides Chaud. I like the fact that he can still tell me whatever is on his mind"

"That he's willing to share that is. I believe there's something more to it than that"

"Yai, it's not that"

"Well, how do you know? This subject is very touchy for both of you so you will never know. I think he still likes you"

"I don't. I believe he just sees me as his best friend just like I see him as my best friend"

"Maylu, I gave you plenty enough time to ponder this. Why didn't you two ever went official with your relationship?"

"...Yai"

"Don't Yai me?! I'm not asking for the story, I just want a simple reason, nothing in-depth"

"We were afraid. I was going off to school and he stayed here and long-distance was something that we both had to commit too to make it work, but it was the day before I left we decided to stay friends because we figured could last longer than trying out for a relationship. And well, you see where we at now"

"Maylu, I feel like long-distance could've worked between the two of you"

"I thought so, but somewhere during my second year away I stopped receiving messages from him and none of my messages were reaching him, so I slowly started to give up on the fact and just went with friends. Friends don't have to talk/message each other day"

"That's very strange, even for Lan. Do you still have the phone that you used around that time?"

"Yeah, but back at home. I have been meaning to scrap it for a while now, but I just keep putting off and just decided to keep it as a memento"

"Another memento. I know you kept some stuff from high school behind Dex's back"

"Don't say it like that. He wanted me to throw out everything with him and me together, but I couldn't do that. That's saying throw away my high school memories"

"I hear you, but you're still keeping stuff behind his back"

"Speaking of keeping stuff behind people's back..."

"I'm not saying a word"

"I'm just saying when I play never have I ever, I won't lie about 'hanging out' with someone to spare the death stare"

"I was surprised at some people honesty"

"Same, but what I do is avoid eye contact with the person I know it's going to bother"

"I will tell him the truth if we become official"

"You two could already be together if the both of you wasn't so difficult"

"When he finally admits that he did in fact flirted with her when we were younger I will happily accept him," Yai said as her phone rings. Maylu laughs as she quickly swipe the phone before Yai could get it and answered

"Hey Chaud"

"Oh. hey Maylu. What's up?"

"Just chilling with Yai, but I can let the happy couple chat as I take a nap"

Maylu laughs as she can feel how embarrassed Chaud is when he didn't retort with a snarky remark. She hands Yai the phone and rolls over to take the nap that she well deserves

Well, that's the end of this chapter. R&R and see you in the next chapter