A/N : Ufufufufu...( ಥωಥ)
It was dark and raining. Her lover stood with her small blue umbrella, although she was tall and fair, although her eyes are blue and calm, and although her hair is bright and long, she looked fragile and may slowly crumble.
"Nozomi…" she called her softly.
Nozomi too only could stand on her own feet— which may also ruined in one touch. The turquoise eyes staring deeply into the depth of the blue, expecting for words which might be better to be left unspoken, she may never want to hear it anyway.
"Ericchi…." She called back softly.
"I'm sorry….." a soft whisper.
"We can't be together…" Eli continued.
"No…" Nozomi denied.
"I don't want this to be true…." She continued with painful cry.
"I love you, Ericchi….. I love you…. With all of my heart…." She added again, which only responded with a bitter grin.
"ERICCHI YOU HAVE TO BE MINE."
Nozomi's apartment, early morning;
Nozomi woke up in panic, she quickly turn her eyes around the room to look for what she wanted to see— her lover which isn't present since she is sleeping in her own apartment. She breathed heavily, her eyes open widely, and her hair messed up as if she just got a bad dream—well, it is a bad dream…
Nightmare…..
Nozomi thought. She takes a deep breath and trying to calm herself.
Old tricks!
She sighed heavily.
Whoever made me have that nightmare, I'm going to throw things at them and it will be hurt….
She placed her hand on her forehead; she carefully took her phone and sees the clock. She still has four hours before she have to go meet up with her parents in airport; perhaps it's better if she gets up and helps out at Shrine First?
She climbed down from her bed, placing her feet on the floor and walk slowly to the bathroom. She could see her own face— very pale like she just died or getting her blood drained out. She shook her head in denial and slaps her own face.
Cheer up, Non-chan! I can't greet them with this face!
She said to herself. Then she tried to smile— which clearly turn into the most fake smile she made.
There's nothing to worry about! Everything will be fine!
She said again to herself before she decides to actually take the bath.
The Shrine, early morning;
It's a snowy day, Nozomi quietly removing the snow pile from the path. The shovel wasn't as heavy as last year— maybe because her stamina has been trained well as she practices with the µ's. Scoop by scoop, she opened the path for the visitor. There usually none, but today she found a familiar looking person running in a perfectly paced steps. She arrived with her thick jacket and an mp3 player attached on her pocket.
"Ah, Nozomi… Good morning." gentle voice.
"Morning, Umi-chan…" Nozomi smiled sweetly to her before she continued with her work again,
"You're alone today, where's Eli?" she asked.
"She is busy, her parents are coming so she has to make sure they are feeling welcomed to the house…" Nozomi replied— without making an eye contact.
"What about you?" Umi asked.
"I'm going to meet up with them in a few more hours, I'm not a perfectionist like Ericchi, so I don't really care about welcoming greet…." Nozomi replied. Umi giggled softly.
"Sounds about right…" she replied.
[That's how Eli always be….] Nozomi could hear Umi's thought.
"You seem to take a shine on her…" Nozomi said.
"Ah, yes…. I really like her…" Umi said. That sentence suddenly itch Nozomi's ear. Of course she could be all jealous but it would be better if she remained calm to listen.
"You really like her?" Nozomi asked calmly.
"As a senior, yes, she is very reliable, I can't stop appreciating her works… everything is perfect, it's like she have no weakness…." Umi continued.
"Hmm… you're thinking too high, Ericchi do have a lot of weakness; you just didn't know it yet…." Nozomi replied as she continued with her work again.
"I believe so, nobody is perfect— but Eli is just looks perfect… She is tall, beautiful, strong, clever, and brilliant… I want to be like her…. I really envy her…." Umi said.
"Aren't you already like her?" Nozomi asked again,
"No, I am nothing like her yet…. Although I do get a lot of love letter in my locker like her already…" Umi replied.
"You got a lot of love letter?" Nozomi turned around to see Umi, she is resting her back against the wall.
"Yes, just the other day when I was looking for my Kyuudou uniform, I met Eli who just about to get her book from student council room. She greeted me kindly—and she saw one of the love letters on my hand…" Umi said before she drank her water bottle.
"Then she laughed at me for that. She teased me about that too. Saying that I have to reply so the fans know that I care about them…." Umi continued.
"That really sound like her, what did you say to her?" Nozomi asked.
"Well, she said I should make something like me already have someone special such as Honoka, written in Samurai's style letters, so I tease her back about it…. I said, so that's how you reply them? You said you already have someone special, a third grade named Toujou Nozomi…. she was all red after I said that…." Umi giggled.
"Nice! Good Job, Umi-chan!" Nozomi giggled too.
"We promised to never talk about it again, but since it's you anyway I don't think she will mind…" Umi added.
"She won't… what else do you have about her?" Nozomi asked.
"We used to bet on who have more love letter in a week. She won so I have to reply all of her fans letter. She said she doesn't care about what her fans think about her and she believes I'm not giving a prank reply to them either…" Umi said.
"You know, if you won the bet, you could torment me with a lot more work to do. I'm the one who reply her fans letter…" Nozomi replied.
"I guess that so. I've heard a few students say that their letters for Eli replied with Horoscope… they already knew it was you." Umi said before she giggled again,
"They are asking a question that even Ericchi couldn't reply, so that's all they get…" Nozomi replied. Umi laughed to it.
"Haha, seriously though, it was hilarious. They are like, how do she even know about my birthdate and what date I'm going to open this letter…"
"I'm good at guessing, I can even guess what I can't see…." Nozomi replied.
"Really, then guess what numbers I'm thinking right now…" Umi said.
[18972…] she could hear Umi's thought.
"18972…." Nozomi said.
"Wow, yeah, you're absolutely right…" Umi said.
"Anything else?" Nozomi asked.
"Who is the last person that called me last night?"
[Kotori…]
"Kotori-chan…" Nozomi said.
"Wow, just wow, you guessed that one right again…" Umi said.
"I told you I'm good at guessing…" Nozomi giggled.
"Ah, last question, who is the last person that I met before you…" Umi asked.
[Maki…]
"Maki-chan?" Nozomi said.
"Nice, that was awesome, Nozomi. It's like you read through my mind…" Umi said.
I am…
Nozomi just smiled at her then continued to work.
[I wonder if I still can ask her about her relationship with Eli… I seem to sense something different between them…..] Nozomi could hear her thought.
"Now it's my turn to ask you…" Nozomi said.
"Oh? I'm not very good at guessing…" Umi replied.
"It's not guessing, maybe more like thinking…" Nozomi said.
"Ah, then what is it?" Umi asked,
"If you have something that you really value, but you have to toss it away, what will you do?" Nozomi asked.
"Pardon me, I didn't get your question, Nozomi. I mean, why would I toss something that I really value?" Umi asked back. Nozomi remained quiet for a while.
"Maybe, because your parents told you to do so?" Nozomi said.
"Then I'm going to tell them that I'm not going to toss it away, because I really value it. No one can tell me to toss something that I really value because it is mine…" Umi replied. Nozomi smiled sweetly,
"You're right…" Nozomi said.
"But that mostly because I know the risk of keeping it, as if, if I already said I want to keep it, I will really do and will never let anyone to take it away from me… I will fully take responsibility of that." Umi added. Nozomi only could keep her smile; that answer surely gave her an idea of what she should do.
"That reminded me, Honoka used to want to keep a skunk on her house— I told her to not to because it could make her mother really angry, they own a food shop, shouldn't keep a stinks animal like that… yet she insisted… me and Kotori don't know what to do with her— we have to let her do and try to get that animal in…" Umi giggled,
"Guess what? Her mother was so angry by just looking at the animal. She forced her to toss that away or she will never be allowed to enter the house ever again…" Umi continued. Nozomi remained quiet, her smile faded.
"Since that, I learned that we can have something that we value— but we have to know that it has to be something that has any good, not just a stinks thing that will mess up everything like that skunk…" Umi giggled again. Nozomi faked a sweet smile to her.
It has to be something good…..
Nozomi thought.
Ericchi is good, so it shouldn't be a problem, right?
"Honoka surely not know the risk of keeping that, eh?" Nozomi said.
"True-true, but at least after Kotori explained what that skunk can do or need to do— Honoka began to realize that its' better to set it free than keeping it uncared on her hand… so she did really set it free…" Umi said.
"I see….." Nozomi smiled sweetly again.
"Ah, by the way, Nozomi, I have to go. See you later!" Umi said before she ran again.
"See you, thank you, Umi-chan…" Nozomi replied as she waved at her.
Airport, Morning;
Nozomi waited her parents to be arrived. She was sure that their plane landed a few minutes ago, so they should be here anytime soon. Not so far from her, she saw a figure— female, tall, blonde hair, and fair, someone familiar that she know and she loved. She is wearing black coat and long trouser.
She decided to approach her.
"Ericchi…" Nozomi called.
"Nozomi?" Eli turned around.
"You're waiting for your parents?" Nozomi asked.
"Yes, they should be here anytime soon…" Eli said.
"Ah…." Nozomi replied, she awkwardly standing next to Eli, Eli too hiding her both hands on her pocket as if she is too also nervous.
[Maybe I should get a hot chocolate….] Eli said on her mind.
"Ericchi! You have to wait for your parents!" Nozomi said.
"Right…" Eli smiled shyly.
"Don't be so nervous, Ericchi, we will be fine…. Don't lose your focus!" Nozomi said,
"Did you ask your card…?" Eli asked.
"No, I haven't and I don't plan to. Not right now. I'm just going to do what I should do…." Nozomi replied.
"And what you should do?" Eli asked again.
"Support you! Sekkin—Shicha—e—Ton-Ton-To Tosshin!" Nozomi sang playfully, Eli giggled.
"Let's sing it together, Ericchi!" Nozomi asked cutely.
"Alright…" Eli smiled.
"Sekkin—Shicha—e—Ton-Ton To Tosshin!" The two sang together, it caught some people eyes, yet the two doesn't even care about that. They laughed together too.
"Whatever we will face, Ericchi, I'll tell you that I always-always love you…." Nozomi said.
"Me too, Nozomi, I love you and I will always-always-always do…" Eli replied.
"We should've kissed now…" Nozomi said.
"Nope, we can do that later, let's focus on this matter…" Eli replied.
"I know, I'm just kidding Ericchi. Who kissed in public anyway?" Nozomi replied. They giggled again.
"Ah! Elichika!" a shout from distance, Eli and Nozomi turned around.
"Mother!" Eli replied as her mother ran to her and hugs her. They began to speak in Russian for a while, Nozomi didn't understand a single word, though she guessed that it would be something about welcome home or something.
"Ah, Nozomi-chan, isn't it? You're much prettier than before…" her mother said.
"Thank you…" Nozomi gestured politely.
"You're still sticking with Elichika? I thought she already brush you off…" Eli's father said jokingly.
"Father! I'm not going to do that to her!" Eli retorted.
"But that's what Elichika always do to her friend…" Eli's mother said.
"Mother! I'm not going to do that!" Eli retorted again. Her parents laughed.
"Nozomi!" Another familiar voice, they all turned around. Nozomi's parents also arrived.
"Papa, Mama!" Nozomi said as she ran to them and hug the two. They both hugged her too.
"How are you, Nozomi?" They asked.
"I'm fine, Ericchi took care of me…" Nozomi said. Nozomi's parents turned to Eli,
"No-No! She is the one who took care of me— I'm just returning favor!" Eli said, trying to do it politely.
"Ah, thank you, Elichika… You're truly a good friend for Nozomi." Nozomi's mother said.
"No, I should be the one who thanked you two for giving birth to an amazing person like Nozomi…" Eli replied shyly.
"Don't be so modest, Elichika, by just looking at how happy Nozomi is, we know you really did a good job… Thank you." Nozomi's father said.
"My-my, maybe we should just celebrate Christmas together?" Eli's father said.
"Good idea…" Nozomi's father said.
"Then let's go hit the bar!" Eli's father said.
"Wait a minute, we have Arisa…." Eli's mother pulled his ear,
"Aaa…right-right, we have Arisa…" Eli's father said as his ear getting pulled.
"Elichika! You have what I asked ready, right?" Eli's mother said.
"Yes, Mother…" Eli replied.
"Then, we should go to our apartment…"
Eli's apartment, afternoon;
Eli's mother decided to cook with Nozomi's mother. The two began to list the ingredients— the plan is, Eli and Nozomi will have to go buy everything in the supermarket.
"Hmm…what should we cook?" Nozomi's mother said as she stares at the menu.
"I want to try these Japanese cooking…" Eli's mother said as she pointed at some menu.
"Then, I'll do these Russian cooking…" Nozomi's mother said.
[Why do I get a bad feeling about this…] Nozomi could hear Eli's thought. Nozomi only smiled to it.
"Mama!" Arisa came by.
"Ah! Arisa!" Eli's mother greeted her, Arisa quickly jump to her and began to speak in Russian. It's probably something about what Arisa want to cook. She also knows that Arisa pointed to Eli a few times, Eli also responded in Russian. Nozomi feels like she is now just getting lost in a new country— what annoys her is, Nozomi's mother knows how to speak Russian too…
They spoke for long until they finally decided what they want Eli and Nozomi buy in supermarket. Eli responded again and doing a double check, but Nozomi doesn't understand a single word, still. She saw her mother giving money to Eli while Eli's mother giving money to Arisa. She still doesn't understand what actually happening here.
"Let's go, Nozomi…" Eli said.
"Ah, ok…" Nozomi replied, she is glad she finally understands someone.
Supermarket, Afternoon;
Eli and Nozomi tasked to buy ingredients— it's an easy task, though Eli made it hard. She wants to get all the perfect quality, or at least, best in the offer. They've traveled a few supermarkets to get what they need,
"Ericchi— you're over doing it!" Nozomi said.
"What are you saying, Nozomi, it's for our parents, we have to get the perfect quality! We are going to confess tonight, right?" Eli said.
"So you're planning to impress them?" Nozomi asked.
"Yes, we should, right?" Eli said.
Of course, Ericchi would think that way…. But I doubt this is how it supposed to be…
"Mm…Ericchi, we are going to travel to two more supermarkets, if we couldn't find a good mushroom, then we should just buy the one on the sixth supermarket…" Nozomi said.
"I think the tenth supermarket has better mushroom…" Eli said.
"That's not Japanese Mushroom! Your mother wants to cook Japanese food— so get her Japanese Mushroom!" Nozomi said.
"Uh…okay…" Eli replied.
"Also— you don't need basil or wine! No wonder your Japanese cooking taste like European!" Nozomi said,
"Uh… but your mother said she want to do Russian cooking, right?" Eli said.
"Then put it on my basket!" Nozomi said again,
"Alright-alright…."
Eli's apartment Dining Room, Night Time;
Eli and Nozomi returned a while back and they gave the ingredients to their mother. Their mother seems to be very enthusiast to cook the menu. Meanwhile, they played cards with their father, Nozomi still used her power to play and she absolutely never loses which impressed Eli's father.
"Hmmm, you have a really fine skill of card game, Nozomi… what's your secret?" He asked.
"Luck?" Nozomi replied sweetly.
"Aha! Then you must be the luckiest girl in the world…" he said playfully.
[I said that too…] Nozomi could hear Eli's thought.
"Hehe, thank you…." Nozomi replied again with the same manner.
"If you visit a bar, Nozomi, I think you will grab a lot of loot in one night…" Nozomi's father said.
"Uh…I don't think I will visit a bar…" Nozomi said.
"Huh? Elichika never take you to bar? What kind of friend are you, Elichika!" Eli's father said.
"I'm not really into drinking, father…. It's bad for health!" Eli replied.
"But you're the best drinker. Ask your mother, the first time you visit a bar, you drank about ten bottle in one night… you really drink it like a true Russian!" Eli's father said.
"Ten bottle in one night— wow, what are you made of…." Nozomi's father said.
"I'm serious, you see, we can give her one bottle and she will drink it like drinking regular water…" Eli's father said.
"Nozomi, you shouldn't lose from her, go drink!" Nozomi's father said.
"I'm…not into that…" Nozomi replied.
"H-hey now, why are we talking about drinking…." Eli said.
"Hnn, Elichika, you shouldn't be stingy like that. Take your friend to bar and have some fun…" Eli's father said.
"N-No! What if she got drunk or something! It's bad for her health!" Eli retorted.
"You'll protect her, right? You're her best friend! Beside, you are not going to be drunk with just a bottle or two… she need to taste the sensation of alcoholic beverage!" Eli's father said.
"True-true, go take Nozomi drinking sometime…." Nozomi's father said.
"No! I'm not taking her there!" Eli retorted again.
"Now-now, any of these man need nipple twist?" Nozomi's mother came by with a big plate of Russian Cuisine.
"You twist your man, I'll twist my man…" Eli's mother said as she also brought a big plate of Japanese Cuisine.
"What twist?" Arisa asked, she is carrying the rice.
"N-No-no-no!" Their father said as they protect their chest.
"Don't be a bad influence, silly! Nozomi is still pure and Elichika is protecting that!" Eli's mother said as she put down the plate on the dining table.
"You need to learn from Elichika! She is a good influence for Nozomi— unlike you!" Nozomi's mother said to Nozomi's father as she put down the meal too.
Nozomi and Eli looking at each other, they start to wonder if those may change after they confessed about what's happening between them. They decided to remain quiet for now.
Eli's apartment Dining room, Night time;
They just finished with their meal, Eli and Nozomi still remained quiet. They don't know when to jump in to confess since for some reason, they don't think they want to ruin the mood.
"Hahaha… so you basically brush him off with the fact about your daughter?" Nozomi's father said.
"Seriously, yes, he was totally arrogant, saying that he could drink more than anyone in the bar while he barely beat my daughter record… he is already down after five bottle!" Eli's father said. They laughed together,
"Is she really can drink that much?" Nozomi's mother asked to Eli's mother.
"She can drink a lot, yes, for some reason she is drinking them like drinking the regular water…." Eli's mother confirmed it.
"I never really see someone that can drink that much in one night…" Nozomi's mother replied.
"Why are we talking about that, we shouldn't be a bad influence!" Eli said.
"Come on, Elichika, you and her are old enough to drink… it's what most adult do…" Eli's father said.
"No!" Eli retorted.
"Even Arisa already have her first time drinking and she can have two bottles, why are your friend here can't? It's going to be embarrassing!" Eli's father said again.
"Come on, there! Don't be a bad influence for Nozomi-chan!" Eli's mother said.
"But, honestly, I do think Nozomi should at least try it once and see how she do with it. Most of adults celebrate something like this with it, if she never tried at least once, it would be far more dangerous for her…." Nozomi's mother said.
"Mmm..not you too…" Eli's mother said.
"Well, it's not exactly something that can ruin her, I would say no to smoking or drugs, but drinking is not going to be bad as long they're not over doing it… We also did but only in special occasion like meeting with client or celebrating a party with the other adult." Nozomi's mother said.
"Yup, if Elichika take her drinking at least once, Nozomi can know how much drink she can take— so in the future, she don't need to guess how much she can take …" Nozomi's father said.
"You hear that, Elichika? Take her to drink…" Eli's father said. Eli sighed,
"Only once, ok? Only once…"
"Anyway! I heard Elichika and Nozomi-chan joined an idol group?" Eli's mother said.
"Yes they are! The name is µ's!" Arisa said cheerfully.
"They're pretty popular, yeah, they are going to compete in Love Live!" Nozomi's mother said.
"We've been watching you all, you know…" Nozomi's father said.
"They're amazing! Their latest song, Snow Halation is so good! They're all pretty too!" Arisa said happily.
"Really?" Eli's mother said,
"Yup! Here take a look!" Arisa showed her the video on her mp4 player. Eli's mother watching it intensely, she watched for a while and her face looks getting more serious,
"Elichika!" she suddenly called.
"Yes, mother?" Eli replied.
"Harasho, this is not amateur dance… you must be the one who arrange it, right?" Eli's mother said.
"Yes, mother…" Eli said.
"But is still far from perfection…. Don't be happy!" Eli's mother said again to her.
"Yes, mother…" Eli replied again.
"I wonder though, has the idol got a man with her?" Eli's father said teasingly.
"Oh, right, has Nozomi got a man with her too?" Nozomi's father asked teasingly too.
What to do, Ericchi?
Nozomi couldn't reply them.
[This is a chance…] she could hear Eli's thought.
"Actually, we want to talk about that with all of you…." Eli said.
"Oh! So she do have a man with her!" Eli's father said teasingly.
"No, but a girl…" Eli said. Their parents turn quiet, then they said all together.
"A girl?"
"Yes, a girl…. I'm in love with a girl…" Eli said. Their parents began to look at each other.
"Elichika?" Eli's mother asked, her face doesn't looks good.
"Don't tell me, Nozomi is the girl you're talking about…." Nozomi's father said. Eli sighed, she was then walk to an empty space,
"Yes, I'm sorry. I'm in love with her— I know this is too late, but I want to ask your permission now…" Eli said as she kneeled in front of the parents.
The room becomes quiet and awkward. No one said anything until Nozomi's mother break the silence,
"Nozomi, what are you saying about this….?" She asked, Nozomi walk to the space next to Eli.
"I'm sorry, I'm in love with Ericchi too… and I want to ask permission too…" Nozomi replied as she also kneeled.
[What they think they are? They should've known the risk…] a familiar voice, Nozomi might know whose voice is that. But does it matter? She just knows that she has to answer that.
"I know the risk— no, we know the risk of being hated, discriminated, bullied by some, but we promise— we will deal with it. It's a risk that we should face, because this is a real world… not a heaven…" Nozomi said.
"Elichika!" Eli's mother said highly.
"Yes, mother?" Eli replied.
"What can you tell me about your future?" Eli's mother asked.
"I'll be taking care of her, mother, no, I'll be taking care of us. I'm willing to work for our own if you're planning to dump me…" Eli replied.
[Arrogant…] Nozomi could hear someone in the room said it.
"Ericchi… You can't…" Nozomi said. Eli was so surprised,
"Nozomi? What are you—…."
"You can't take care of us yet. You will still really need your parents…. We are just about to enter our college, we are not ready to walk on our own yet…." Nozomi cuts in.
[Interesting…] Nozomi once again can hear someone in the room said it.
"But— I've tried to calculate it, if I—…."
"No, Ericchi! Trust me, you can't live on your own feet right now, there's only 24 hours in one day— that too not all the time you have to work. You need rest, you need to eat, you need to have fun—I can't possibly let you work like that…" Nozomi said.
"But— Nozomi, how do I make them sure that I will truly take care of you?" Eli replied,
Nozomi couldn't answer it. She doesn't know what to say about that either— and she don't even think about it before!
"See what you've done, Nozomi… now how do I tell them that I really will take care of you and myself… You basically just denied all my thought….." Eli said.
Nozomi still can't have an answer coming up on her mind. She tried to listen— listen to anyone in the room, but no one is saying anything on their mind. It's empty, it's nothing, there's nothing to say.
"We have nothing, Ericchi…" Nozomi said. Eli's face turned pale, she was pretty confident before Nozomi just suddenly denied her thought that she have planned before.
"I know this might doesn't help with what you're thinking, Onee-san…" Arisa said. Everyone's eyes turned to her.
"But I know something. Onee-san and Nozomi-nee-san truly love each other— then what good is, they aren't just loving each other, they also learn how to love each other and anyone around her…" Arisa continued.
"Mother, remember the first time Onee-san meet with Nozomi-nee-san? She was so angry because someone named Toujou Nozomi just beat her in running…" Arisa said as she cutely turned to Eli's mother.
"Then she go on and on about how Nozomi-nee-san become a rival to her— then she gets more motivated to make perfection…" Arisa continued again.
[You can't feed with love…] Nozomi once again hear someone in the room said it.
"It's true, Arisa-chan, thank you, but we're dealing with another case right now. We're dealing about how they will survive in the society…" Nozomi's father said.
"That's why we need to support them, right?" Arisa said. Their parents smiled at her,
"You're still a kid, Arisa, you may not understand what we're actually dealing with…" Eli's father said.
"The society is cruel— they don't even care if you're truly loves your partner or not, they will just think that you're disgusting, and us, as parents, wouldn't want our child to be falling down like that…" Nozomi's mother said.
"This society you're talking about— are they really a whole society?" Eli said with a little hint of anger. Their parent eyes turned back at her,
"What we've done to them until we are hated? We're not terrorizing them, not even do harm to them— we also keep things down, we're not even kissing in public…" Eli said, her voice getting higher,
"Does it even matter to them anyway? We do something good. We keep our decent attitude. We help them who need. We work for what we need and we make people smile… just like anyone else!" Eli continued again.
"But the truth is, society doesn't like your kind…" Eli's father said.
"Then this society you're talking about— they just need to open their eyes, we do good because we want to, so we will keep doing it until they accept… it may be a painful struggle, but we will…" Eli replied.
You're the one to speak, Ericchi….or perhaps you really learn that from someone?
"So what can you promise to me, Elichika?" Eli's mother asked.
"I promise, I will make a name— one that you can be proud of, so you don't even have to worry about my life. But please, let me have Nozomi with me. I need her… I love her and I will always do. I don't want a man to pamper me, I want Nozomi to support me." Eli replied.
Eli's mother and father looking at each other, then they turned to Nozomi's father and Mother.
"What about your daughter? Can she do anything good for her own?" Eli's father asked.
"Let's see…" Nozomi's father staring at Nozomi.
[Hey Nozomi, I know you can do something like mind reading…] a familiar voice.
"Papa?" Nozomi turned her eyes to her father.
[You don't need to really answer, but I tell you what, I can do it too…] Nozomi heard her father's voice.
Papa, how did you even do that…
[Hmm…Spiritual Power? You can't possibly think you're the only one with that…]
Nozomi remained quiet, everyone in the room staring at her and her father, wondering why they haven't start a conversation yet.
[I know everything already, even when we're far away, I know what have been happening between you two….] her father said.
You do?
[Not really, but I can see it through your memory…]
You can do that?
[Of course, you just need to reach higher tier with your spiritual power!]
You're scary, papa
[Said the one who can read mind, but anyway, I know you can't explain what Elichika has done for you…]
Yes, papa, I don't know what I can do for Ericchi too.
[Huh? Didn't she tell you already? You are just going to support her, that's all you need to do. You don't have to find another path than her, you can just follow her…]
That's not what Ericchi want though, she used to tell me that…
[Really? Why would she tell you that?]
Because Ericchi loves me and she doesn't want me to just follow her, she want me to be able to stand on my own too— so that we could support each other, not just me supporting her…
[Wow, you're very sure about that. Maybe that's why Elichika love you? Because you're so easy to be used….]
What do you mean to be used?
[Hmm…how do I explain it, but tell me anyway, do you know why Elichika love you?]
I….I never ask.
[Then how could you be so sure that she loves you? She seems to be very ambitious… she might be just using you right now, but toss you away after you're useless…]
That's…
Nozomi remained quiet again, she stare around the room, their parents, Eli, and Arisa looking at her, wondering why she hasn't say anything yet until now.
I can't answer that…. I don't even know why she loves me….
[Then why do you love her? is it because she is sweet, clever, beautiful— and good on bed?]
P-Papa! What do you mean by that!
Nozomi blushed madly.
[I'm just asking, why do you love her?]
I just love her, I can't tell you why!
[You should be able to answer that… a lot of people already told you it]
Nozomi tried to jog her memory again,
Because, it's naturally happen…. We don't create love… we just love… love already existed in everyone's heart….
[There you go, now tell me, are you not be ashamed of it? You and her— having what people call as a forbidden love….]
Nozomi believe someone already answered that before…
No, there's nothing to be ashamed of… because it's true.
[I see…]
An awkward silence, everyone keeps staring at Nozomi.
"Nozomi…." Nozomi's father said.
"Get out of here…" he continued. Nozomi stood up,
"Nozomi!" Eli called her in worry.
"You too, Elichika. Get out of here…" Eli's mother said.
Eli bit her lips, giving a wry smirk and turned to Nozomi. Nozomi quietly walked away from the room along with Eli.
"And don't come back before I tell you…." Eli's mother said again. Eli nodded weakly.
Papa...
[Hmm….?]
Are we going to be fine?
[I don't know… we have to discuss first…]
I'm counting on you papa….
Eli's apartment hallway, night time;
Eli sighed heavily; she gazed into the snowy night sky with her lover embracing her tight. Nozomi wouldn't want to release her right now— she really wish to be able to get together for the future, though if their parents discussion might turn against them, then this might be the last time she could feel her warmth.
"Ericchi…." Nozomi called lovingly. Eli didn't make a respond.
"Can you kiss me now? It may be the last time I could feel it…" Nozomi whispered. Eli turned to her,
"Nozomi…." she called back weakly.
"I don't mind if we have to break up— I don't mind if we have to only stare at each other painfully… as long as I know that you love me and you know that I love you too…." Nozomi continued, she began to sobs,
"But please kiss me now…. I want to feel it…. Once more…." She begged, Eli couldn't help to see it, the painful smile, the painful cry, all she could think of is to grant what she wished— she kissed her deeply.
The tender lips, the warm touches, it may be the last time they could feel from each other— perhaps, the next time, they only could stare into each other painfully, wishing to be able to embrace tightly, just like what they are doing right now.
Their playful tongue brushing against each other inside their mouth hungrily, they wanted more and more of each other until their time to face reality— whatever it may be. Tears coming out from their eyes, hands locking on each other, they don't want to let go of each other— they want to stay like this a little longer.
This may be called as desire, but it just one form of love that they may not be able to have anymore. Maybe next time— it's only a friendly wave, or just simple greeting, or worst case scenario, Nozomi will be taken away from Eli while Eli have to return to a place that she may call as homeland. They may have to marry a proper man with decent personality, one that truly loves, and they may also have to forget that they ever love each other in the same regard as their new man.
They may have to make their own family and might as well never meet again, to say that they are truly over with each other. Could they do that though? Nozomi doubt she can. It's true that Eli is her first, she is not experienced with a second romance yet— but who needs a second if she is more than happy with the first?
Nozomi pressed her lips further, she gets hungrier of her love, she wanted more and more—she began to touch the part where she might not be allowed to touch again, rubbing her hands gently as she keep going on with her kisses.
"I guess I'm coming in a very wrong time…" a familiar voice, Eli and Nozomi quickly stopped and turned around to the voice,
"Maki…." Eli said.
"You can't make me unseen that…." Maki said again.
"What are you doing here?" Eli asked.
"I was looking for Nozomi in her apartment, wanted to give something for Christmas present… but she isn't there so I thought she must be here…" Maki replied.
"Christmas present?" Nozomi asked. Maki took out a CD with decent purple case, she handed it to her. Then she took another CD with decent Blue case, she gave it to Eli.
"It's µ's Song Collection, also added one special song for you two— but it doesn't have a lyric yet, I can't ask that to Umi, but you two should've got some skill to write one…." Maki said.
Eli and Nozomi staring at the CD for a while,
"Merry Christmas…" Maki said as she turned away.
"Thanks for everything up to this year, I'm looking forward for the future…" Maki continued as she walks away.
"Maki-chan…" Nozomi called. Maki stopped,
"Thank you…. Merry Christmas too…" Nozomi said. Maki just quiet and continue on moving.
"Merry Christmas, Maki! I'll send your present through the chimney!" Eli said as she waved to Maki who quietly walks away from them.
The two staring at the CD once again, wondering what kind of song that Maki made for them.
"I guess, we can make a love song— even if we have to break up?" Eli asked,
"We can…Ericchi…we can…."
A/N : To be continued...
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2 more chapters to go!