Disclaimer: I dont own Harvest Moon. (Arent you guys just bored of this? I know i am...)
III
Dangers of the Sea
"So Claire, you mind me askin' what is it you need from Cliff? Or better, how did you even know Cliff?" Zack started shooting questions, interrupting the silence on his boat.
"Oh…umm…we knew each other since we were young." Claire answered quietly, her eyes staring out into the open blue sea. Sheer silence took over again.
"I see, well since there's really nothing to do here, why don't you tell me how you met? I'd love to hear it." Zack's cheerful, masculine voice broke the silence once more. Claire glanced over at the captain of the boat and sighed, she wasn't really in the mood to talk, knowing that in a few hours or so, she's about to meet Cliff again. The only man she loved, and the one who broke her heart. It hurt a bit to talk about him, but it would seem rude in her opinion to decline the captain of the boat.
"Well, it was about…" She started.
17 years ago when I was about five years old and a half, there was this festival in the mountains. It's where we give sacrifices, mostly food, to the Goddess that protects the mountain. That was during the day time, but at night the people would have a night market with lots of food stands and game stalls. My parents took me to the festival and in a frenzy, chaotic moment, I got lost from my parents. I think it was said that that day was when most kids got lost. Anyway, back to the story, I ended up in front of a curry booth that Cliff's mom works at. So now, I was separated from my parents, I didn't have any money on me, and I was starving, so my stomach growled at the sight of curry. Cliff, who was seven at that time, noticed me from behind the stall, gave me free curry and he helped me find my parents. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be able to find my parents. From that day on, we became friends. He was never really talkative, but I liked him a lot. He was always caring and protective when other boys bullied me. We attended the same school together and when we attended high school, I blurted out that I liked him and we started dating. But then his mother never approved of me, she said that I was a nuisance and a distraction for Cliff and his future and that he will end up wasting his days on the likes of me. I didn't really mind at first but then later Cliff started acting weird, he made himself even more distant from me, he stopped talking to me, and he doesn't take me out on dates. We never really went out on dates in the first place since his mother forbade him from doing so, but he sometimes secretly snuck out of his house to see me at night.
"But then it was like the Cliff I knew just vanished in thin air one day, leaving only his empty shell. Then things got bad when I yelled at him…I shouldn't have. What kind of girlfriend am I to question his love for me? It shows that I don't trust him…I shouldn't have yelled. I was planning on apologizing the next day…but he was gone. His mother said that he took off. That's why I'm going to find him and demand an explanation." She finished, she sighed tiredly, brushing off a tear drop that was rolling down her cheek. Although she may look angry and frustrated with him, but she knew that he still lingered in her heart and that the old wounds from years ago were still unhealed.
"I see, well, I hope everything works out between you two. If this helps at all, he's still quiet, I mean, I don't see him talking to anyone at all but the priest." Zack gave her a comforting smile, patting her shoulder once.
Claire murmured a 'thanks'. Looking out of the boat, she noticed that it has already started to rain, did she talk that long without evening noticing the changing of the weather? It was hard to tell if the rain would get any worse since the sky was already so dark. She sighed, resting her head against her hand again before drifting to sleep.
The thunderous sounds of waves crashing and the booming screams of Zack woke her up. It wasn't long before she noticed that the drizzle has turned into a thunderstorm. Zack was still at the steering wheel, trying his best to take the both of them to safe land. The white flashes in the black clouds shrieked and sang as the light flashed in front of Claire's very eyes. The small boat was rocking side-to-side as the wave slapped over them, almost drowning her. She sputtered and chocked, managing to walk over to Zack, she shouted at the top of her lungs, "ARE WE ALMOST THERE??"
"KIND OF, WE'LL BE THERE IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR…IF WE CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE STORM!! I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, BETTER HOLD ONTO-" And before he finished, another wave drowned them. "-something." He finished. Claire coughed out as much sea water as she held onto a metal pole. It didn't seem like the storm was letting up, but only getting worse.
The boat continued to toss and turn against the tidal waves, as if it was a child having a bad dream, and the nightmares just kept on coming. Each wave was stronger than the previous, and the decks were wet and slippery from the attacks. Claire was giving it her all to just hold onto her metal pole. Even Zack was having a hard time just standing up straight.
With one last crash, the boat rocked hard to the side, crashing down into the sea. Claire screamed as she was shaken off, but it wasn't long before she hit the water and the liquid came slamming into her. The currents choked her with its taste, burning her open eyes, it swept her away from the boat and away from Zack. Just as he was about to swim after her, he fell unconscious when his head rammed into the boat, leaving him to float. Claire continued to struggle against the currents, but it was as if she was forbidden to go anywhere near Zack and the boat.
She swam for more than 20 minutes, trying to get near Zack, praying that he was still breathing. She could feel her eyes tiring and begging to rest, her arms and legs screaming to stop. Tears were starting to simmer from her eyes, she was so tired…she stopped moving, closing her eyes she allowed the waves to take her. Her last thoughts before she passed out completely were prayers that she and Zack survives, and one name.
Cliff…
Hey guys, so here's the third chapter, no Cliff yet, but he's coming in the next chapter, so hold on. :) Yeah, sorry about the last chapter, it was a little boring, but I can assure you that it'll get better. Soon. Maybe. Hopefully. XD
So guys, please review, I only got one review for the last chapter, so it must have been either very boring or this story just sucks. lol.
But thank you Gwendolyn368 for your awesome review!! ;) You deserve a cookie!
See you guys soon. ;) Please review!
