But then they stopped when Silver Heart's neigh interrupted them as if telling them to get a room.
The two snapped back and opened their eyes before looking at the mare who was looking back at them.
Eli and Umi then looked at each other before chuckling.
"Sorry…" Eli apologized before standing up erectly and placing a hand on her nape in embarrassment.
"No, I should be the one who is sorry." Umi chuckled.
At that moment, Eli began to feel awkward. It made her smile drop.
'What was I doing? This is wrong… I have Honoka already…' Eli's mind reminded her.
'But I want that to continue.' Her heart whispered.
Umi then let out a sigh as she looked down.
'I am creating a sin, Honoka… Good thing Silver Heart stopped us before we kissed. That would be absolutely wrong…' Umi's mind warned her.
'But why is it that I want it to continue?' Her heart told her.
Eli then cleared her throat, "I guess we should go have you roam around." She chuckled and the blue-haired nodded in agreement, "You're right."
The blonde then put the new saddle on Silver Heart's back and faced Umi with a smile, "Ready?"
Umi nodded and then positioned herself in front of Silver Heart's body then firmly held onto the saddle and hopping up. With the help of the blonde's hold and lift, Umi successfully landed on the horse's back again. The blonde just stared up at her before she grabbed the reigns and gently led the way while Silver Heart walked alongside her.
Umi's eyes widened when she remembered her childhood. She remembered how Eli used to roam her around the ranch like this. Just exactly like this…
Eli looked up at her with a smile, "Remember how we used to be like this?"
Umi nodded, "You were still shorter than me back then."
"Hey! That's out of the topic! Jeez, don't ruin the opening!" Eli pouted at her and the blue-haired just released a soft giggle.
"It's true though!"
"Okay! I admit! I was shorter! But look how tall I am now!" Eli said.
Umi's eyes softened, 'You did grow up taller…' She thought, "Yep, you did."
"And didn't we make a deal back then?" Eli said and Umi blushed, of course she also remembered that silly bet they had made. Umi could not believe that Eli would take that too seriously. Knowing Eli for a long time, Umi knew that the blonde won't back down a bet that easily and will stay stubborn about it.
"Well, yes." Umi then looked away and Eli sweat-dropped.
"Did you forget it?"
"N-No! I can never forget such a thing!"
"Then, you do know what you are going to do. Anyone catching your eye lately?" Eli smirked teasingly and the blue-haired blushed furiously, still not bothering to look back at the blonde.
"W-Well…" Umi stammered shyly, she does not want to tell Eli that she is the one whom she was having a crush on.
"Well?" Eli raised an eyebrow.
Just asking such a question brought that pang inside Eli's heart. But within her mind, why would she think of that? She does not have the right to feel that way, right? She has Honoka… Though, just thinking about Honoka can also bring pain and a heavy feeling inside her. Why is she not happy thinking that she was already taken? Why was she feeling a lot of disappointment and longing for Umi instead? Those questions spread and swirled around the blonde's head and she does not know what to do with it.
She hates to admit it but…
Eli loves Umi…
So much that it hurts her…
"I do…" Umi smiled softly, "And it is not a he. But a she."
Eli's eyes widened, she felt her heart breaking into fragments. Umi finally found that one person that she wants to be with, "Really?"
Umi then looked back at the blonde and her eyes widened slightly when she gets to see Eli's face, she could see the pain in it. Why? Eli is taken right? She shouldn't worry about it, she even told her that she loves Honoka so much so why is Eli looking at her like she was truthfully hurt about what she just heard? Umi wanted to believe that somewhere within Eli's heart, she loves her but no, she couldn't think that, right? It'd be totally wrong if she allowed such a thought to enter her heart.
Umi's heart palpitated as she softened her eyes, she had to admit, she felt pity for the blonde and her heart has been telling her to just go for it.
The blue-haired nodded, "Yes."
"Man, she sure is lucky to have you." Eli replied and the blue-haired could feel the pain from that tone of voice. It is soft and it looked like it was about to break.
"But she is with someone else." Umi added.
The blonde's ears perked up like it gave hope to her, her eyes sparkled as she looked at the blue-haired, "Really? That's sad…"
But deep inside, Eli felt glad about it.
Umi nodded and sighed, "I had been admiring her from afar but she seems to not notice it, and then I only get to find out, she was already with someone else. But despite that, I am still hoping that one day, she'd get to notice about my feelings and return it. I had to admit that hoping such a thing is wrong but I just couldn't help it. It's what my heart has been telling me to do." Umi smiled sadly and the blonde just stared at her to listen intently.
"I understand." Eli replied.
"I love her so much, Eli… I am ready to face the whole world just for her… I am ready to witness the world turning its back on me just for her." Umi stated and those words came from directly from her heart.
The blonde felt that kind of love and just nodded, she wondered how it truly feels to love someone with all of her heart. True, she had loved Honoka but she felt that there is still something missing. She felt that Honoka was not really the woman she has been looking for.
"What about you, Eli? Do you love her?" Umi asked.
Eli just stared at her, "You mean Honoka?"
Umi nodded.
Eli then looked down, what should she answer? Should she say the truth or not? If she said the truth then Umi might get mad at her as well as Brenda, if ever she gets to hear this conversation.
Her mind is currently a mess, she does not know what to answer, she is stuck between yes and no. She wanted to say no but her mind is warning her to not to tell it. That she has to go to the safe way.
And there's already the answer that Umi had been searching for. Judging from that look, she knew that Eli didn't love Honoka and is completely confused.
The blue-haired then released a chuckle, "Silly… That should be obvious."
"Y-Yeah…" Eli replied.
"You know Eli… I had been thinking about what happened to us few moments ago." Umi then started another topic so then it won't let Eli dig deeper into her own thoughts.
The blonde stopped and stayed silent, looking back at the scenery in front of her. Silver Heart also stopped walking.
"Of what we were about to do back there… It was wrong, Eli." Umi continued.
The blonde just nodded, she understands. But her heart has been telling her that it was never wrong. That it was perfect…
The blue-haired felt disappointed to what she says and let out a sigh, she had to admit that she also felt that that was right but she had to prioritize her mind first. Not her feelings… It is for Honoka's sake, too…
"I'm sorry.." Umi apologized.
"You don't need to be sorry. You just said your opinion. You have a point." Eli replied.
"But…" Eli continued.
"That does not mean you are right…"
Umi blinked in confusion, "Why?"
"Because most of the time, we always let our minds do what they wanted. But do we even ask our hearts about it?" Eli asked.
Umi kept silent and listened.
'Eli…' Umi's heart whispered.
"Don't you think that sometimes, we need to follow our hearts?" Eli stated and that made the blue-haired's eyes widen and stare at the blonde.
The blonde then looked back up at her with a smile, "The path of life can be risky if we follow our hearts most of the times, but it's worth it."
Umi wanted to just throw her arms around Eli right now, but she is trying to control herself. Not yet… It is not the right time.
As their eyes met, the soft sun rays hit them and some of the light passed through the gap in between them. The wind sooner arrived and it playfully caressed their hair and clothes, along with Silver Heart's mane and tail.
There goes that kind of feeling again, the feeling of longing.
Umi softened her eyes and she could feel her cheeks heating up. The atmosphere around them is driving her crazy; it is driving her heart and mind crazy…
Eli is also feeling the same way…
A/N: Heeey guys! Supposed to be this chapter was to be published yesterday but I couldn't due to reasons! But I will publish two chapters today! So how's it going guys? Good? Good! Bad? Relax for a while and listen to some good music! High five everyone!