Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility.

Chapter 2: My Best Friend

"For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease."
Job 14:7

When I'm in the forest is when I'm finally myself again. It's the place where I can take comfort from my surroundings and let myself go. I suppose it's the pine scent or the deep shadows that the trees cast that makes me feel at ease. So, here, in the Praline woods, is where I can forget about the brown-haired rancher and her existence.

It's been exactly one month since Angela left the island – since she left me without saying goodbye. I knew Angela was leaving since she even mentioned the precise date and time when she would board the ship. The rancher told me so I can be there for her to wish her farewell. But I didn't go. I was too busy working on the new construction of a barn at the Brownie Ranch Meadows. At least that's what I keep telling myself – that I was too busy. But truthfully, the reason I didn't go was that I couldn't bear to see Angela board that stupid ship and leave. Because at that moment, I would've broken down and cry right in front of her. I couldn't do that. My ego wouldn't allow me to let those inferior emotions show.

Just thinking about all of this makes me realize how stupid I am! I should have been there to see Angela's departure. I should have been there to comfort her, no, for her to comfort me in the moment of sadness. I let my pride get in the way, and now I will forever suffer the consequences.

"Luke! Luke, you're thinking again. Stop it!" A hear a distant voice calling out to me, but I don't want to respond, not when I'm in deep thought. "Luke, snap out of it!"

"Huh? What?"

"Luke, you stopped working and were standing there without moving. I know when you do that, it's when you tend to think … of stuff that you shouldn't... think of."

I turn to the direction of the voice to see whom it belongs to and see Bo standing five feet apart from me, holding a small ax in his hands. He stares at me, waiting for me to respond, but instead, I nod my head. Once more, I grab my ax to swing at the pine tree that's in front of me, although I stop mid-way. I let the ax fall to the ground and turn to face Bo, who is also staring at me with a worried look on his face.

"Bo, I need to ask you something: did Angela tell you anything before she left?"

"Luke, we already talked about this before she –"

"Well, I need to hear it again! I need to know!" I state sternly, walking closer to Bo as I close the gap between us. "Maybe Angela told you a clue on the real reason why she left Waffle Island."

I stare intently at Bo's face, studying his facial expressions. Maybe Bo secretly knows why Angela left and didn't want to tell me because he doesn't want to hurt me. I mean, that makes sense because that's the type of person Bo is. He's very protective and caring for his loved ones, so, understandably, he doesn't want to confess to shield me from harm. Because the truth is, there's no way that I believe that the reason Angela left was because of her "dying" ranch. When Cain went to her farm to grab ahold of her livestock, he said that all of the animals were perfectly fine and in good health. And when Anissa and Craig went to harvest the last of Angela's crops, they both said that their value was perfect and shining, growing out of top quality soil.

Bo sigh before he continues, "Luke, we already had this conversation a million times before. The last time I spoke to Angela was when I was at Dale's workshop working, and she stopped by looking for you. All we spoke was a greeting, telling her your whereabouts, and said goodbye. That's all!

"I just can't believe this, Bo. Why should she left all of a sudden and leave me as well? Her best friend?"

When I mention the words "best friend" to Bo, his worried face turn into full of skepticism. However, I don't understand why. Angela indeed was, no, is still my best friend, so, when she was living on the island, nothing of romance happened between us. Although, the whole island thought otherwise – that we were secretly dating. Sure, we were super close; but dating? Nope. I couldn't understand why people would state that.

"What are you talking about, Bo? You, of all people, know that nothing happened between Angela and me. We were … I mean are … best friends. That's all."

"Sure, if that's what you keep telling yourself."

I decide to ignore Bo since we had this conversation before, and all we did was go in circles. So, there's no point in doing that again, mostly since I'm already behind on my work for today. So, I exhale a deep breath and walk to pick up my old ax from the ground to once more chop down the massive pine tree. Fine, if Bo doesn't want to tell me, that's fine by me. I don't care anymore. Angela can do whatever the heck she wants, and Bo can go can fall in a pitfall in the mines for all I care. As these thoughts go through my mind, I feel anger rising inside of me. Each swing that I hit the trunk with my ax is more violent than the last, taking my rage out to the stupid pine tree.

When I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder in which makes me stop in an instant. I turn to see Bo next to me with a sad smile. I lower my face and slump my shoulders in shame that I let my anger get the best of me and to avoid Bo's pity. I notice that the forest's shadow has deepened, so I assume it's almost sunset now. I raise my head, still avoiding Bo's gaze, and throw the ax to the ground once more.

"I'm done working for today," I merely state, not caring if I finish today's work as I walk away from the carpenter apprentice before he questions where I'm going. "Don't wait on me and tell pops that I'm going to be home late if he asks."

I walk away from Bo and the forest. For some weird reason, I didn't feel at ease anymore. The security that the Praline woods typically offer me is not enough, and I need to escape. I put my hands in my pockets as I walk, thinking about the rancher again. If she didn't leave, would our relationship as friends stayed the same or perhaps evolved into something more? No, there's no way possible that would ever happen between us because one night, when we were sitting together on her fields, enjoying each other company, she randomly said that she was developing feelings for Chase. Chase of all people!

When those hurtful yet straightforward words came out from her mouth, I didn't know what to say or do. Mostly I was shocked and pained, but I didn't understand why, though. Angela was free to developed feelings for anyone, even if it was to the sissy boy from the Inn. However, I thought that perhaps she would develop feelings for … me instead. But that didn't happen, so instead, I gave her my biggest smile and casually stated, "awesome! You both will make a cool couple." After I said those words, it was the last time she mentioned her feeling for Chase. That event happened three months before she left. Not even Chase went to see her departure – at least that's what I heard from Kathy.

I shake my head side to side, making my bangs cover my eyes, and I move them swiftly back in place. I'm thinking way too much of the past. I need to let this go and move on. So, on any other night where my mind is jumbled up with words of the past, I decide to erase them. And the best place to do that is with a strong alcoholic drink at the Sundae Inn.

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