A week later, after the wedding, they returned to their normal lives. Chihiro and Kotori already had gone to Paris for their honeymoon. Umi and Eli, on the other hand, were taking a break from another stressful yet successful wedding arrangement. Their workers continued their daily routines and works while the two of them were in the ranch. Some of the workers are there to take care of the farm animals and the horses while cleaning up the barn and such.
"Horses are good companions in alternative of a car. If you want fresh air then use the horse but be sure to keep the stables clean and better check its condition for any signs of injury or illness. You also need to check the hays and better not feed the freshly baled ones, and alternatively, you need good grasses to feed your horses. Be sure to give them fresh water that are not too cold." Eli's voice can be heard inside the stables, she was teaching Umi how to take care of a horse.
Umi just stared at the blonde intently, her eyes were shining in admiration while listening to her. One can never know if she is daydreaming or not. And one will not be able to resist the cuteness of her face right now.
Eli continued to explain and then turned to her with a smile after a few more minutes later, "So that's about all of it. If you have questions, you ca—" Eli did not finish her sentence when she noticed Umi's eyes and expression. The blonde blinked and found herself lost in Umi's sepia orbs for they are filled with life. The blonde then just unconsciously stared at the blue-haired's face, mainly focusing on her eyes then to her lips.
The both of them became quiet for a moment, their eyes meeting each other while they are glimmering; it added that kind of romantic atmosphere around them again. The sun's bright rays hit Umi's back, reflecting the light around like it is some sort of an aura. This added the soothing sensation to the whole spirit.
Eli mentally slapped herself and realized what she was doing, she then shook her head vigorously and smiled at the blue-haired, "So, is there anything on my face?" She asked with a gentle tone in her voice. It made Umi blush and shook her head as well before replying, "S-Sorry! I was too focused on something that it made you think I was staring at you!"
Of course it is just a lie; a white lie. Umi does not want to say it directly to the blonde and she cannot say those thoughts anyway for various reasons. One, Eli is already taken by her best friend. Two, she does not want the both of them to get awkward. And three, she just does not want Eli to stay away from her if she gets to find out about her feelings. Umi does not want that to happen. She will be heart-broken if that happened.
And she has no options but to just check on Eli from afar. It hurts to see that Eli and Honoka are being so sweet to each other but does she has a choice? She has to be happy for her best friend and her assistant and there's no need to be hurt like that but why is it that her heart says otherwise? She does not know but she just hopes she gets to find it out real soon.
The blonde smiled, that kind of smile that Umi has always wanted to see all the time, "Alright then. Just tell me if you have something to ask."
The blue-haired blushed slightly and nodded, "Alright."
'Why, Eli? I shouldn't feel this way towards you...' the blue-haired thought sadly.
The blonde softened her eyes and is about to speak but then Seth entered the stables and walked towards them, "Ms. Sonoda." Seth said and the two turned their heads to look at the black-haired.
"What is it, Seth?" Umi asked and the other gave a small, white envelope, "It's for you."
Umi blinked, "Must be from Chihiro and Kotori." She then took the envelope.
Seth then bowed with a smile, "I shall go back to my work now." She then turned her heels to walk away.
The blue-haired then looked at the blonde who looked back at her before they turned down to the letter. Umi then gently opened the envelope and took out a paper from it, unfolding it and reading its contents. After a few more minutes, her eyes widened.
The blonde blinked, "What is it?"
"This letter... It came from my father..."
Eli narrowed her eyes, she actually has disliked the other's father because of what he had done to her way back then., "What did he say?"
"Well..." Umi then looked at the blonde with her worried eyes, "He said he was surprised that I rebuilt the ranch."
"And then?" The blonde raised an eyebrow.
"And that, he was congratulating me that I get to rebuilt it."
Eli mentally sighed in relief. She will totally do something if ever that father will have to say anything bad about Umi. The obligation to protect her is still there despite of being together with Honoka. And the blonde does not know why.
"I guess that is great to hear." Eli then let out a smile.
But Umi just kept silent about it and let out a sigh, which made the blonde blink in curiosity, "Hmm?" The blonde hummed as she focused her eyes at the other, "What's wrong?"
"The letter looked sarcastic that's all. I know it is a little bad since he is still my father but I just couldn't feel any sincerity from this letter. I know that he will never forgive me if I ever rebuilt this ranch."
Eli just listened intently, there has been weighing on her mind ever since she found out about Umi's father, from how they had formed a bond up to how they had come to bad terms. However, she also has to put those aside and figure things out later, she wants to put Umi first before those things. Umi's emotional state comes first before resolving the past.
"May I read the letter, Umi?" Eli asked as she laid out her open palm and the blue-haired looked at it before looking up at the blonde with a smile, "Okay then." The blue-haired then gave the letter to her and Eli went to scan it, her eyebrows furrowing in the process, creating a crease on her forehead.
Umi's right, it does looked sarcastic:
Dear Umi Sonoda,
I just want to write this letter to check up to how you are doing but then I also get to hear that you had finally rebuilt the ranch. Our ranch that is. And I am surprised that you got the guts into putting it back to normal. Hope you get to have new memories along with your friends and new family there, and with your spouse (If you already have one.). Congratulations in putting yourself right back on the track, Umi. I am very proud of you as a father.
Sincerely Yours,
Your dad.
The blonde narrowed her eyes and let out a deep breath, recomposing herself and trying to not go find her father and smack this letter on his head, "You're right. Just reading his congratulations made me think that he is just trying to provoke you."
Umi sighed, "He has never said those words to me you know. He rarely says congratulations to me ever since I was a kid. And if he did then it was his sarcastic remark that I did something wrong. I could easily notice what that mistake could be. And to be honest, I felt glad that he is not here anymore, or else, I will face a lot of scolding."
"Does he scolds you the bad way?"
"Worst." Umi then looked down, "Whenever he gets mad like that, he tends to say so many awful things to me and my mom. Like calling us prostitutes."
Eli's eyes widened and put her hands on her sides, balling her hands into fists and gripping the letter tightly in the process. No one... No one should call a woman like that.
No one dares to call Umi like that.
The blonde took a deep breath, she should not let loose right here, she then eyed the blue-haired, "How did you and him get into such bad terms?"
Umi then softened her eyes and looked away, "Long story..." And after that, she just went silent, trying to avoid the topic. The blue-haired does not want to talk about it for now. Not in this place. Moreover, she only wants one thing: Eli's embrace.
The blonde then softened her eyes, she understands and she will not force her about it. Without hesitation, the blonde went near the other and wrapped her arms around Umi's waist, pulling her into a tight and warm hug.
Umi then smiled, it is what she had wanted. It is what she had always wanted. Eli's warmth never failed to satisfy her and it absolutely washes all the coldness in her body away. Not only that, but it could send those tingles inside her whole being, in which it can easily make her knees weak but she tried to make her legs stand steadily.
The blonde then closed her eyes and stayed still. Umi's warmth is far different from Honoka's. It felt perfect for her. And Umi's small frame perfectly matched her own height. It's like they are really meant to be perfect. Everything felt completely right when she had embraced the blue-haired.
"Everything will be okay, Umi." Eli stated with a soft tone in her voice and that made Umi soften her eyes and eventually closing them, slowly wrapping her arms around Eli's waist and pulling her close, "Thank you, Eli..."
Umi finally gets to sniff Eli's aromatic cologne and it is more than enough to arouse her. She blushed slightly at that fact and she could not deny it. To cover up the arousal, she just buried her face on Eli's chest. She felt that immense heat just entered into her body and it just made her heart beat faster and louder. There is one more thing that she finds weird and that is the intense feeling down there. Her blush deepened and wanted to bump her thighs against Eli's but she couldn't and she must control herself. However, despite that, she still wanted to do it. She had to admit.
She wants Eli and she is madly in love with her.
The blonde softly caressed Umi's back and her face revealed a warm smile. A smile that seems to only show when Umi is around. She does not know why but every time she is with the blue-haired, she felt like she is on cloud nine and just by embracing her, she could feel her heart palpitating with joy and pure love. The blonde felt that she does not want to let this girl go. But of course, she could not admit that feeling for the blue-haired. She doesn't want to hurt Honoka or Brenda will kill her. And she doesn't want to make Umi feel awkward towards her. And just by thinking about it saddens her.
They then just stayed like that for a while. And to how long they had been embracing each other, they don't know...
"So, as I was saying yesterday, we should buy a new carpet! Our carpet was ruined thanks to Brenda's so-called 'cleaning the house' routine! I know a good place for that!" Honoka's cheerful voice could be heard in the air as she and Eli were strolling around the city streets where there are different stores side by side.
Eli was walking beside the ginger-head and had been staying silent. Honoka noticed that and pouted while turning her head to look at her, "Eliiiii!" She called out and raised a finger to poke her cheek.
The blonde blinked and finally came back to reality, she then looked down at Honoka and smiled, "Sorry, sorry. I was thinking about something."
"Something? What could be that something huh?" Honoka kept her pout.
"Well, about Umi and her dad. And I want to ask you about them."
Honoka's pout faded out and blinked, "What about them and why?"
Eli then placed a hand on her nape and rubbed it, "Well, we received a letter from Umi's father yesterday and Umi said that the letter looked sarcastic."
Honoka then stared and hummed, "I see..."
Eli then stared back, "So did something happened between them? I find it really weird that the two of them were once having a good father and daughter bond but now... It looked like the bond had been broken for years now."
"Well, something did happen way back then, Eli." Honoka smiled sadly and let out a sigh, "It was worst for Umi. And good thing that it had been buried into the deepest ground forever... Or so we thought..."
The blonde's ears perked up and the two of them stopped walking. Eli then looked around, "Alright, let's not talk about it here. Let's go to the park?"
"Sure thing." Honoka just giggled.
Eli nodded and then led the way to go to the park with the ginger-head, they then looked for a bench to sit and once they had found it and sat, the blonde then focused her eyes on her lover once again, "Now Honoka..."
Honoka also kept her gaze at the blonde, ready to open up the topic.
"Tell me everything." Eli said as she put on her serious face expression and those fierce-looking eyes are back.
Honoka narrowed her eyes. She knows those eyes and she knows that not telling everything will only make Eli more stubborn than she already is. She had already been like that while maintaining her sweetness and kindness. But of course, if someone made Eli reach the peak of her patience, all hell will break loose.
"Promise me to not tell Umi about it? She really doesn't like sharing her past." Honoka said and the blonde nodded.
"I promise."
"And promise to let Umi open it up and pretend that you don't know?" Honoka asked again and Eli nodded.
"I will."
"Alright." Honoka then smiled, she deeply knows that Eli is not the type to break promises. Not ever, "I will now tell you about Umi's past then."
Eli then gulped for a bit and focused her eyes on the ginger-head.
"It is a long story though but please bare with me..." Honoka giggled and the blonde nodded.
"So here goes, let's start with how they had used to have a good bond." Honoka sooner began to initiate the conversation.
"You see, Eli. The two of them had been a good team and had always been working hard together in the ranch. That ranch became their second home and they always ride horses. Umi's dad even gave Umi her own horse, namely Silver Heart."
Eli just kept silent as she listened intently.
"But then, something happened that made Umi's dad's behavior change. Long story short, the reason why is because Umi's dad thought that she betrayed him by keeping one secret. Only one." Honoka said while raising her index finger up on her chest level.
The blonde nodded, intrigued about that secret. Secrets may always reveal themselves in due time but Umi should have a good reason why.
Honoka then smiled and sighed, "You know Eli... Umi experienced being told terrible things by her father. Making Umi have trust issues and anxiety towards people. Because at first, they would act so close with her but then after some time, they would change how they treat her. Which was why I asked you before, when you first came into our lives if you were reliable."
Eli nodded, her eyes softening as well as her heart. She felt sorry for the blue-haired that she had to go through all those humiliations.
"After that secret had been revealed, Umi's father began to change to how he treats Umi and her mother. He suddenly became a perfectionist and will scold Umi in every single mistake that she does. Not only that, but her father became cruel towards their past workers."
Eli nodded. 'No wonder she was too strict when I first met her. And it was no wonder why Seth said that those workers had retired.' She thought.
"My dad and hers were in good terms wayyy back then but since that kind of thing happened, my dad cut ties with hers. In terms of businesses and friendship. Fearing that his sudden change will also influence me." Honoka chuckled, "He even told me to not go near Umi's house to play."
"But I suggested to dad that Umi should come to our house instead and he agreed in the end. I fought for her until the end." Honoka said.
"Mhmm..." Eli nodded.
"But when Umi's parents separated and she became the owner of the lands, my dad retrieved her ties with the businesses and we helped her out." Honoka stated.
"I see... I'm glad." Eli smiled softly.
But of what I find it weird is that Umi's dad will send a letter to her all of the sudden. I do wonder what could be the reason behind it though." Honoka added and the blonde blinked, "Really now?"
Honoka nodded, "Umi's dad never sends letters to her, let alone having the letter includes checking up on her since he didn't care about her anymore."
Eli narrowed her eyes, "That's too cruel. He disowned her?"
"You could say that." Honoka said, "And I had been looking out for her ever since we were kids. She looked like a little sister to me." She giggled.
Eli's eyes immediately softened, "I see..."
"But speaking aside, we'd best be cautious about our surroundings. There's no telling what her dad might do. He still has a lot of money despite the separation."
"You are right about that." Eli replied.
Honoka smiled and caressed Eli's cheek, "I don't want you to be in danger... And we'd best keep an eye for Umi's safety, too."
The blonde released a light chuckle before she leaned down to plant a kiss on Honoka's lips, "I can take care of myself. You should be the one who needs to be careful. You're Umi's best friend, there's no way that he will not try to do something to you."
Honoka giggled and responded to the kiss by returning it, "I have Brenda so no worries."
"She'd better do a good job as your bodyguard too. When I am not around, she should keep an eye on you." Eli pouted.
"No worries! I'll be fine!" Honoka grinned.
"Then that's good. I don't want you to be in danger, too."
"Right, right. I know that, honey."
Eli then let out a smile, "Do you want to eat lunch somewhere? I'll treat you!"
"Really?! Sure! I am starving!" Honoka cheerfully replied.
The blonde nodded with a smile before she stood up, "Shall we buy a new carpet after eating?"
"Yep! So then we won't need to come back and forth!" Honoka giggled.
"I agree with you." Eli grinned.
Honoka then stood up and clung onto the blonde's arm, pulling her arm close to her chest, it made Eli blush slightly before letting out a light chuckle, "Jeez, you are getting clingy huh?"
"Well of course! I love you!" Honoka replied happily.
"Right, right. I love you too. Now, come on." Eli stated before the two of them started walking out of the park and went out to the city streets again.
A/N: Heeyyy guys! Here is the new chapter for you! Votes and comments are always appreciated!