Few days later...
Umi was in the living room, writing papers as usual for the next project with Eli. She was too focused and didn't notice that Eli just left. Her sepia eyes were narrowing and her eyebrows furrowed, creating a crease on her forehead as she observed what she was doing. A new wedding design. She then sighed in dissatisfaction before she placed a hand on her forehead, rubbing it like she is having a headache.
After a few more minutes, Seth comes in while carrying a cup of tea then places it down beside Umi's papers, "You sure do look busy. Too busy if you'd ask me." Seth chuckled, not like she is not used to this but she just felt a different vibe around Umi.
"Well, the design is difficult to create without Eli around." Umi replied.
"Well, you are right about that. Eli gave a lot of enhancements with the past projects."
"Yeah... So speaking of her, where is she? Could you call her? I really need help here." Umi then looked up at the black-haired who then blinked.
"Oh, unfortunately, Eli left to go back to Healdsburg to get something." Seth answered.
Umi's eyes widened in surprise, "Eli didn't tell me that she will head back home."
Seth chuckled, "No worries! She will just be gone for a day! She even told me to say sorry to you for her!"
Umi pouted and then looked down at the paperwork, she felt anxious again and a lot of doubts began to fill every spaces in her mind. Eli should have told her about her day off so then she won't have to feel this way. What could be the reason why she left today? Emergency? Or something else... That something else feared her and she immediately began to feel unsafe.
The blue-haired let out a sigh and her face saddened, she is not used to this. Her parents may had left her but this is too different. Eli left without a word. Not only that, but Eli had become a big part of her in that special place of her heart. And just hearing such news makes her to go there and take the blonde back here. Is she getting too possessive? Maybe she is, but she just couldn't help but think that way.
Umi then let out a sigh.
Seth blinks and releases a soft chuckle, "Don't worry, she will come back soon."
"Alright..." Umi responded sadly.
Seth softened her eyes, she noticed that Umi and Eli had been getting closer; far closer than Eli and Honoka. It's like the two of them have this immense sparks between them that nobody else could ever see. Like they have their own world whenever they are together. The way they talk to each other, the way they move around when both of them are in a room. The way they care for each other and look for each other's backs. And the way they look at each other...
And it's not only Seth who noticed it but also Brenda and the rest of the workers. They find Eli and Umi couple-like and they could feel that the world changes whenever they are around each other. It felt like their smiles and laughs are all real and natural. Then, when one is not around, the once colorful world of the other would become monotonous.
Like right now...
That's not all, there is one question that has been plaguing around Seth's mind:
Why is it that Umi and Eli looked like they had already formed a deep connection way back before Eli applied here?
Seth then hummed, trying to think of a way to cheer Umi up and sooner come up with an idea, "Want to go to the Mirage Fields? It has always calmed you down and relieved your stress!"
Umi shook her head like a child, "I don't want to. I won't go there until Eli comes back."
"Well, want to grab something to eat?"
"Not hungry." Umi responded.
"Do you perhaps want me to get you some painting materials? You love painting."
"I don't want to paint while Eli is not around." Umi said.
Seth let out a sigh, she isn't expecting Umi to be this stubborn nowadays, but then she put her hands on her hips while smiling at the blue-haired, "Alright. I will tell you something interesting then."
"What could that be?" Umi asked.
"Eli has a surprise for you, which is why she went back home. That something is a surprise so you won't know what it is."
Umi's ears perked up and looked back up at Seth again, her eyes glimmering with excitement, "R-Really? I wonder what kind of surprise it is."
Seth blinked and sweat-dropped nervously. 'That was fast... Eli sure is a motivator for her.' She thought before she chuckled, "Well, I can't tell you since it is a surprise, you have to wait for her."
Umi pouted, "Fine, fine."
"But, you have to eat well and rest, okay? Eli won't like it if you are pushing yourself too hard on your work. Wait for her to come back and help you." Seth stated.
Umi then let out a smile and nodded like a little girl, "Okay!"
"Good!" Seth grinned and patted Umi's head.
"Alright guys, make sure to take her to the stables with great care! She is a senior horse!" Eli instructed to Umi's male workers who were guiding a mare with silver mane into the stables. It has been a day ever since Eli left to go back home to fetch a special surprise for Umi.
That is to take Silver Heart back into the ranch.
It has been a long time ever since Silver Heart left this ranch and it is only right to take her back into her real home. And Eli knows that the mare missed her home and her real owner.
A lot may had happened in here and it led her into taking Silver Heart. And a lot of good things happened to Silver Heart, even as she reached 34 years old.
Silver Heart has won many races but of course, when she has come of that old age, she is now retired and is now only good for walks.
After a moment, the male workers walked out and went towards the blonde, "We had let her into her stall."
Eli nodded with a smile, "That's good!"
Another male worker then rushed beside her, "Platinum is on her way here!"
"Alright, guess I just need to fetch Umi here!" Eli said and the workers nodded with smiles on their faces.
"Can I ask something, Eli?" A male worker then spoke and the blonde looked at him, "What is it?"
"Do you like Ms. Sonoda?"
Eli's eyes widened and blushed furiously, "W-What makes you say that?"
"Well, you two were being too close you know. Too close like you two are almost acting like a couple."
Is that really how they act around each other? Why is it that it makes Eli's heart flutter with joy? It is a pure joy more intense than when she is with Honoka and she could not deny that it is true. This kind of joyous feeling for Umi is real and natural.
"Really? We are?" Eli asked, trying not to sound too happy about it.
"Yep. We all began to notice it after we rebuilt the ranch. Well, you two looked so happy around each other that time and it just kinda added the fact that the both of you are having your own world whenever you guys are together." The male worker said.
He is right about that and Eli could not explain why she is acting all happy around the blue-haired, is it okay for her to feel that way? It felt unnatural for her to feel such a thing towards a co-worker and owner. Plus, she has a girlfriend! She is faithful to Honoka and won't do such a thing just because she liked Umi romantically.
Though, just by thinking that, it made Eli's heart feel heavy. Deep inside her heart, it is whispering for the blue-haired's name and she does not know what to do now that it has come to that point.
"I see..." Eli just replied simply.
"You know, Eli. Love requires a lot of things such as sacrifices and honesty. It can also mislead you and deceive you. But when you fall in love, you won't feel anything special towards other people no matter how beautiful they are or how rich they are." The male worker said.
"I agree. And we know that you aren't following your heart. You were being forced because of the SoulDream phenomenon." The second one added.
Eli's eyes softened and placed a hand over her left chest where her heart is, "But what should I do?"
The third worker walked nearer to her and patted her back, "Follow your heart." He answered.
Eli's eyes widened and gritted her teeth, she felt her heart being torn to pieces, crying for Umi's name. It is urging her to go to her and find her. But she can't because she is in a relationship with Honoka. She does not want to hurt that woman, Honoka also did a lot of great things for her and returning it with pain is totally unfair. But her heart is stubborn, it kept saying Umi's name but her mind is telling her to go for Honoka.
"It is difficult right now because you are still tied up with Ms. Honoka, right?" The male worker asked and the blonde nodded.
"You know... I could see Ms. Honoka being so happy around Brenda." The second worker commented and the blonde looked at him, "Really?"
The worker nodded, "Come on, can't you see? Brenda looked deeply in love with her. We also noticed that they got their own world, also."
Eli stayed silent, she should be jealous but she felt relieved instead. Like she was being given hope that she can turn things around without hurting anybody. The only question is...
Will things stay the same?
The third worker patted her back again, "Come on, we will fetch Platinum. Better fetch Ms. Umi now."
Eli nodded and watched as the three workers left. The blonde then looked at the stables before she walked into it. Upon entering it, she looked around with a smile and then her eyes became fixated on Silver Heart, which was eating hays gently. She then walked towards it and watched her eat.
Her eyes softened, remembering those days to how she got Silver Heart.
A flashback then occurred...
A young Eli was looking around the wide stables in awe, her mouth was wide open and her eyes were sparkling when she gets to see a lot of horses. Some were resting and some were eating. She then stopped by behind her father who was talking to Umi's father.
Eli then just watched her father talk with the other male.
Without noticing that a young Umi was peeking from outside the entrance, her eyes were fixated on Eli. She wants to make friends with her but her shyness is urging her to just stay where she is and wait for Eli to make the first move.
Eli does not seem to notice her for she was too busy watching her father.
And after a moment, Umi took a step back and accidentally stepped on a dry leaf, creating a crunching noise.
Eli's ears heard that clearly and turned around to look at the peeking Umi, who then flinched and quickly hid away.
Eli blinked and tilted her head before she rushed out of the stable and looked to the side. There, she could see Umi leaning her back against the wall, while looking down at the ground and her hands were clamped together.
The blonde let out a bright smile and spoke cheerfully, "Hello!"
Umi flinched and faced the blonde, "A-Ahhh..."
"What's your name?" Eli walked towards her but Umi stepped back.
"B-Back off." Umi said and Eli blinked.
"Why?" Eli asked.
Umi flinches and then she tried to put on her strict face, "Just do it!"
"Ehhh? Aww..." Eli's eyes softened and looked down sadly.
Umi blinked and flinched once again, immediately feeling guilty of what she just did. She then let out a sigh, "I'm sorry. I... I was too nervous that I tend to say things out of the blue. I hope I did not make you feel too bad..."
The blonde's ears perked up and looked up at Umi happily, her eyes are sparkling with joy again and she is wearing that bright smile once again, "It's okay!"
Not to mention is that, Eli is smaller than Umi.
Umi then sighed, "Thank you for your understanding."
"Of course! I'm Eli by the way! Eli Ayase!" Eli grinned happily, as she laid out her open palm towards the blue-haired, who then looked at it and looked back at the blonde.
The blonde just stared at her, trying to capture her interest in friendship by showing and maintaining her welcoming smile, "Nice meeting you!" The blonde added cheerfully.
Umi blinked and then gently extended her hand towards the blonde, slowly taking her hand and shaking it, "I'm... Umi... Umi Sonoda."
"You sound lifeless. Come on, tell me your name again!"
"Ehhh?! But you heard it right? I could tell that your ears are sharp!"
"Yep! I even heard that noise you made earlier!"
"Then you had heard my name!"
"Really? I didn't. Because your voice is too low." Eli grinned as she stubbornly answered.
Umi sighed and then repeated, "Umi Sonoda. Happy?"
"Yep! Of course! Nice meeting you again, Umi!" Eli said.
"Nice meeting you too, Eli." Umi then began to smile happily.
Eli nodded.
"That was the first time I met her..." The Eli from the present said.
A/N: Heeey guys! This is the latest chapt! Hope you guys liked it! Votes and comments are deeply appreciated!