Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is a fanfic written for entertainment only.
A/N: Finally an update after missing for a year and a couple of months. OTL I apologize. I'm back to now and after reading a lot of fics, especially Harvest Moon, I'm back to continue the fics that I've left hanging…uh, some of it though. OTL English's not my first language. Excuse me for the bad grammar and stuff… n.n;
Italic words – Thoughts/thinking
Underline words – Journal/diary entry
Dear You
Diary 2: Hate And Love At First Sight
"Damn it," I cursed as I glanced at my alarm clock. "I'm buying a new alarm clock after this," I tossed the clock onto my bed and hurried to the bathroom, taking a quick shower, brushing my teeth and then put on my blue jumper-I have plenty of the same clothes in my wardrobe, trust me-and reached for my backpack. "Hopefully Chelsea wouldn't be mad at me for turning up late," I muttered as I locked the door of my house.
I ran as fast as I can towards Illusen Farm. Damn my broken alarm clock. Now I'm an hour late of my time to work and being sleepy because my lack of sleep-I think too much about Chelsea and her wedding to Grumpy Man-last night is not helping too. It took me only a couple of minutes reaching the farm and I was panting hard when I reached my boss's property. I was breathing hard and my eyes scanned the farm, searching for the sight of my boss's signature of red bandanna that she always wears; be it during her working hours or outside of it. I wonder if she's going to wear it during her wedding day as well? Nah. Probably not. Seeing no sign of it after scanning the green field for a while, I concluded that she must be inside of either the barn or the chicken coop. I took a deep breath and feeling better than before, I make my way towards the barn, hoping that she will be in there. I was about to reach for the door knob when the door suddenly swung open.
"You don't have to worry about that," a voice was heard. Oh, shit. It's Grumpy Man. "I'll be helping you out after we get married," the voice continued. I swear Grumpy Man is blushing when he said that.
Vaughn appeared from behind the door, his face is somehow red. Bingo. He faced me and his blushing face immediately changes into shocked one, then it changed to annoyed after a couple of seconds.
Oh, jeez. It's Grumpy Man's trademark that he reserved only for me. The I'm-pissed-at-you face. Yay. "Hey," I said in monotone.
"You're late," he replied back in monotone. "You do know you start working at 6.30am, right?"
Screw you. "I know. My alarm clock broke and that's why I'm late," I answered him, resisting the urge to add 'jerk' at the end of my sentences.
"Hmph," he grunted. "I hope it's not just an excuse you made up to escape your punishment for being late."
"You-," I would've continue my words if Chelsea didn't suddenly appear behind Grumpy Man's back.
"Oh, good morning, Mark," she greeted me with her usual cheery smile.
"Good morning, Chelsea," I greeted and smiling at her back. "I'm sorry I'm late. My alarm clock broke," I explained to her. I can hear Grumpy man snorted.
Chelsea nodded, missing the sound of the silver-haired man's grunt. "Don't worry about that. It happens to me sometimes," she said and grinned.
I grinned back but immediately stop myself when I heard Grumpy Man's-fake-cough. I turned to him and I swear I saw him glaring at me for a second.
"Well then, Chelsea," I heard Grumpy Man said and saw him-purposely-wrapping Chelsea's waist with his right arm. "I'll see you later at the diner. Don't be late, honey," he added and kissed her left cheek.
Rubbing the fact that you win the game into my face, eh? Damn you. I turned my face away, not wanting to watch more the scene in front of me. Even though I don't have any kind of supernatural ability, I can feel Grumpy Man smiling-and blushing-in victory when Chelsea blushed again.
"Okay, Vaughn," Chelsea replied the silver-haired man. "I'll be there later after I'm done with my work.
Grumpy Man released his fiancée and walked away. I-once again-resisted the urge to call him 'jerk' and turned to Chelsea. "Looks like I'm going to eat lunch alone today," I said, pretending to be sad.
Chelsea chuckled. "You're welcome to join us, Mark," she said. "I'm sure Vaughn will be happy to have you with us as well."
Yeah right. Of course he will. "I'm just kidding, Chelsea," I flashed out a grin. "I don't want to bother you and your fiancé," I said, chuckling a little when I see her blushed at my words. "So," I continued, "Let's get this work done so you will not be late for your date."
…
"I wish that I'm a bird," I mused alone. I bet my life wouldn't suck like this if I were one. "I bet Grumpy Man is having fun on his date with Chelsea."
I stared at the sky above me and my eyes follow the movement of the clouds. I closed my eyes and my thoughts wandered to when I met Chelsea for the first time.
- Flashback –
So this is the place where the famous rancher lives, eh? I scanned my surrounding. Not bad at all. I wonder where the farm is? I walked deeper into the island. Diner. A house with white paint and purple roof. Whoa! Is that a fork? My eyes spotted a man coming out from a house next to the white-painted house. I should ask him.
"Excuse me!" I called out, walking faster towards the man. "I'm sorry for disturbing. Would you happen to know where the farm is?"
The pink-haired man looked up. "Huh? Ah. Are you a tourist?" he asked, adjusting his glasses.
I shook my head. "Oh, no. I'm the new villager of these islands...Well, sort of anyway," I grinned. "I'm here because I heard that the rancher of the islands is looking to hire a person to help out it the farm."
"Ah, I see. You're here because of the advertisement then?" he flashed out a smile. "If you don't mind, I can escort you to the farm."
"Really? I'd very much love that but I don't want to trouble you."
The pink haired man laughed a little. "Of course not. I'll be happy to show you the farm myself, uh..."
"Mark," I said and extended my hand to him. "I'm Mark Wellington."
The other man nodded. "Elliot Kouji," he said and reached out for my hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mark," he added and shake hands with me. "Excuse me for a while. I'll go tell my grandpa about you and that I'm going to escort you to the farm."
"Yep, sure. I'll be waiting here," I nodded at him. "Take your time."
Elliot turned around and entered the house through the door he just came out. I continued to look around me. I spotted a sign not far from my standing spot. Verdure Island, eh? Not a bad name. I continued looking around the area and smiled at how peaceful the surrounding is. I wouldn't mind living in a place like this for the rest of my life. I was so absorbed in my thoughts and didn't realize that someone was walking from the bridge near the island's signboard.
"Move. You're blocking my way," a voice brought me back to the present time.
"O-oh," I stuttered, backing away to make way to whomever it is that said that. "So-sorry about that. I didn't mean to block your path."
I turned around and saw a man in black shirt, brown vest and black cowboy hat. Oh, a handsome man. And nice outfit, dude. He was carrying a couple of green big sachet. That looks heavy.
"Hmmh," the other man grunted and started to walk again.
"Oh, hey. That looks heavy. You want a hand?" I asked, trying to be friendly to him. Well, if I'm going to live here, I'm going to have to know the other villagers as well, right? And having them as my friends is not such a bad idea. You're so smart, Mark. I know, I know. Hehe.
The man paused and turned to face me. His amethyst eyes pierced through my emeralds. "Mind your own business, whoever you are," he snapped. "I don't need anyone's help so fuck off," he added and walked away, leaving me stunned on my spot.
I stared at the man's swaying silver hair as he entered a building next to-from the sign I've read-the shop. W-what! What the heck was that? What's his problem? My eyebrows narrowed. I've decided that I do not like that other person. Grumpy Man is grumpy. That's why people always say not to judge a book by its cover. Who could've thought that a good-looking guy can be such an ass? Blah. I continued cursing the other man silently until I heard the door clicked shut. I spun around and saw the pink-haired man.
"Sorry for the wait, Mark," Elliot said and walk towards me, smiling. "Grandpa will come to see you later on today, if you don't mind."
I shrugged away the thoughts of the silver-haired man I've met before. "Of course not! I'll be happy to meet other people in this island," I replied, smiling in the process. Please don't notice my foul-thank Grumpy Man for it-mood.
"Haha. I'm glad," the pink-haired man nodded, oblivious to my changed mood and gestured me to follow him. "Grandpa's previously a very successful farmer so you might've learned something useful from him if you wanted to work in a ranch.
I tagged along the other man. "He was? Neat! I'll be sure to ask him tons of things later on," I gleefully replied.
"You do that. But I'll remind you that Grandpa is...uh, strict," Elliot added, sweating a little.
"Oh, I'll bet," I said. He couldn't be stricter than that bastard anyway. "I'm pretty much used dealing with strict-type people so I'll be fine."
Elliot just smiled an apologetic smile. He must've been pretty scared of his Grandpa. We crossed the bridge north of Verdure Island and arrived at another; Rancher Island written on the nearest signboard.
"Here we are; Illusen Farm," Elliot announced. "Chelsea runs this farm."
I stared in awe at the scene in front of me. W-whoa...
"Wow. This place is huge!" I made my first comment of said farm. "Does the rancher, Chelsea run this place alone?"
Elliot nodded. "Yes. My sister and I do come once in a while to help, but since we're also busy with our jobs, she's been tending the farm all by herself."
She? "She?" I raised an eyebrow.
Elliot turned to me. "Haha. I bet you think that Chelsea's a guy."
My cheeks redden from embarrassment. "Uh, sorry. It's just...taking care of a farm is a tough job and one this big...all alone...I'm not being sexist though," I shrugged. "Wow. She must be a strong woman." I just hope that she won't wrestle me down to the ground if I make any mistake in my job...I'm not a weakling, but I'm sure not going to win against a buff, muscular woman...Hell, I can't even think of hitting a woman no matter how buffy she is! Ahh! Should I run away?
I heard Elliot laughed. "That's one of a...comment, Mark," he said, trying to stop himself from laughing more. "But yeah, she's quite the woman, if I do say myself. You won't believe the state of the farm when we first came here. It's a complete...mess. But now the weeds were replaced by grasses for the livestock and the field's full with growing crops. It's quite a sight, really."
"Beautiful," I added, smiling as I scanned around the farm. It reminds me of home."Though I have no chance in seeing the original state of the farm, I must say I'm impressed by all these," I turned to the cows near the fields of green grasses.
Elliot nodded. "I agree," he said and turned to the same direction as me. "I think Chelsea's in the barn since the cows are outside. Let's go meet her now, shall we?"
"Sure," I answered and followed him from behind. Uh, I'm getting nervous...
We arrived in front of the barn after walking passed by the patches of now-mature corn. I scorned at the sight of the yellow crops. Not that I hated corns, but corns reminded me of a certain bastard back at home. Shit. I don't want to think about him. Not now, not tomorrow, not anytime. Never. Elliot was about to reached for the handle when the door swung open and a figure emerged from behind it.
...Mother? No, that's... I could've sworn that I saw Mother for a split second when the figure fully being revealed and shut the door behind her.
"Oh, hey there, Elliot," came the cheerful voice of said figure. "What brings you here?" she asked, wiping her hands on a yellow handkerchief.
"I'm here because someone's interested in your farm's advertisement," the pink-haired man replied, moving a little to make a way for me. "Chelsea, this is Mark. He wanted to take on the job," Elliot turned to me. "Mark, this is Chelsea, the rancher and owner of Illusen Farm."
I took a step forward. Okay. She's definitely not buffy and all. Then I guess I don't have to run...Hehe... "Mark Wellington, Miss Chelsea," I said and extended a hand. "I'm really interested in farming and will be very glad if I'm offered the job." She's actually...a pretty girl...
The brunette rancher stared at me for a couple of seconds, scanning me from head to toe. Uh-oh. Did I messed up somewhere? Don't tell me that she can read minds! Eeks! "Nice meeting you, Mark," she finally replied and took my hand, shaking it. Her hands are somewhat small compared to mine... "Oh, and please, no need to be all formal with me. Just call me Chelsea," she laughed a little. Once again, the image of Mother crossed my mind. I wonder why? "Mhhm. Nice grip, Mark," she continued and looked down at our joint hands. She looked up back at me after a while. "Well, I hope we can work in harmony together," she smiled and released my hand.
"E-eh?" I was surprised at her words. "Do-does that mean I'm hired?"
Chelsea laughed again. "Of course! I can see your passion in farming from your eyes and the strong grip of yours told me that you've got experience in farming. Am I wrong?"
"N-no. I did, actually, work at a farm before...not for long though," I answered her. I bet fortune-telling is her favorite free time to do. "I hope you wouldn't mind my lack of experience in this field though..."
"Hahaha. How did one gain any if he doesn't get any chance to practice it?" she winked at me. "Anyway, I'll be counting on you now. Can you start working tomorrow at 6.30am?"
My face brightened. "O-of course! Yes!" I replied enthusiastically. "I'll do my best helping you out, Chelsea!" Mother, I think I'm already falling for this girl. She's...
- End of flashback –
"...The type of girl that I wouldn't mind spending my life and the rest of it with," I muttered quietly. "Sadly, I won't be spending any with her now that she's going to spend hers with another man."
I sighed and continued my gaze at the sky. I really do love Chelsea. The brunette passion in farming and her cheerful attitude are some of the points that attracted me to her. She's just like a certain woman that I've known; gentle, kind-hearted and her love in farming will not lose to any farmer. Said woman will never give-up even in her hardest time. I really miss her. Her cooking, her voice, the relaxing smell of lavender when she hugs me, her smile...Gosh, I miss everything about her. If only...If only that fucking bastard...
"Whoa-shit, shit," I cursed when the image of said bastard appeared in my mind and quickly switched to sitting pose. "Stop thinking about him!" I slapped my cheeks with both hands. "Don't you ever, ever think about him again, Mark," I muttered to myself. I switch my stare to the sea. Blue. The color of that bastard's eyes and... "Gah! Stop it, Me!" I slapped my cheeks-harder-again. "That ruined the mood. Damn that bastard," I grunted and rose, wiping away the sand on my jumper. "Well, back to-" I was about to turned and leave when I heard someone's voice.
"Ah-uwahh!" the sound of something fell onto the ground followed the scream. I turned to the direction of the voice.
It was her. As expected. "What was she doing?" I raised an eyebrow, sighed and changed my course; walking towards the woman who fell down onto the ground of sand face-first.
A/N: I really enjoy writing in Mark's POV. XD Next challenge is to write said woman's dialogues. 8D