Whew! How long has it been?

I'm sorry everyone, I hope you haven't forgotten about these people and this chapter could make it up!

Raelyn stepped down from the wagon just in front of the stone arch that clearly read: Welcome to Echo Town. She narrowed her eyes; the sun in Echo Town was more unforgiving than in Oak Tree Town. She took a deep breath, reveling in the air around her. She had almost forgotten how long she had missed the light, leafy scent mixed with the earthy scent of stones that this town gave. Now that she felt it, though, she could not lie and said that she felt completely satisfied.

Raelyn was about to start walking back when her nose caught a very familiar scent: fresh grass and cherry blossom, beaten up with the heated scent of sweat. The young woman looked up and saw a pair of fierce green eyes. Raelyn held her breath. In an instant, she went back to a little girl, one that worried about her mother's imminent scolding. "Mom…?"

"Lynn…"

"Raelyn…?"

Raelyn blinked a few times. "Oh! I'm sorry!"

Ibuki pouted. "I take it you weren't listening?"

The pinkette gave him an apologetic smile, rendering Ibuki unable to be upset at her any longer. He chuckled lightly and repeated his earlier question: "Are you still up for a walk?"

Raelyn looked at the sky. A few clouds started to form and the air temperature had been dropping steadily. She could also feel that her nose started to hurt. Nevertheless, earlier the weather forecast said that it would be sunny all day.

Her eyes shifted towards Ibuki. When was the last time they went on a date? It was not that they had not been spending time together; they were neighbors and fellow farmers, after all. However, Raelyn's memory was rather hazy with regards to the last time they spent some quality time as a couple. She knew Ibuki harbored some concerns about how they were drifting apart; this walk perhaps could alleviate that.

"Yeah, we could…"

"You're running away from something, right?"

Her mother was never one to beat around the bush. Raelyn cast her eyes downwards at her intertwined fingers that she placed on her lap. She tried to come up with reasons, all those things that had been floating around in her head as she packed her luggage. Yet, none came to mind and she was left with a weak: "Yes… although I don't think it's utterly wrong."

Her mother narrowed her eyes, proving that she was interested in her point. Raelyn took a deep breath and continued: "I… I'm simply putting some distance for now. I'll face it when I'm ready."

There was a moment of heavy silence before she heard her mother said, "Then… you wanna tell me about it?"

After wrapping up with their farm duties: all of the crops watered (although there weren't so many of them); the animals still blissfully grazing with the dogs herding them; and the makers working on the products they should be working on, they set out for the promised walk. It was nothing much, actually, just a walk from the mountain to the Piedmont, taking in the winter scenery. Raelyn decided to change her worn-out bandanna to a simple hair clip to keep her fringe neat and let go of her usual loose ponytail. Ibuki grinned approvingly when he saw her. "You look great."

She couldn't help but to blush a little. "Thanks…"

Elma, who had taken over her mother's occupation as the town's postwoman, arrived pretty early. When Raelyn caught her pixie-like figure, she dropped the basket on the field and ran over to her. "Elma! Is there any—"

"Nope, sorry, Raelyn… not today."

Raelyn stopped and hung her head low. "Oh, I see…"

"Someone you're waiting for in particular? I'll be on the lookout."

Raelyn thought of Klaus, but she quickly dismissed it. But then, whose letter she had been waiting for exactly? And why?

"Um… forget it. Sorry, Elma."

"How about stopping by at Raeger's? I'm pretty starving."

Raelyn put her hand on her belly and felt its subtle rumbling. She only had a glass of milk for breakfast and they hadn't had lunch. No wonder she started to feel hungry. "Sure."

Raelyn circled her arm around Ibuki's as they walked into the town. Just as they were about to enter the town area, they passed by Gunther and Corona. "Oooh, if it isn't our lovely farmer couple!" Corona greeted with jolly. "Are you on a date, too?"

Ibuki grinned sheepishly. "You could say so."

"Well, I wouldn't want to take too much of your time. Have fun, you guys!"

"You too."

Raelyn bowed slightly as the older couple left. Subconsciously, her eyes followed them as they headed towards Piedmont. She heard from the townspeople that Corona was ten years younger than the carpenter. Corona was born and raised here; she was the daughter of the previous carpenter. One day, Gunther moved in as her father's apprentice and that was how they got to know each other. Since they were around each other most of the time, it should not be too surprising if they grew close to each other. Still, the news of their courtship shocked many—their age gap was just one of the things that kept the talk going around the town.

It was amazing that the couple seemed to be unfazed by it.

Raelyn's train of thought was interrupted when Ibuki tugged gently at her.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Oh, I was just wondering… what should we get at Raeger's. I'm starving!"

Ibuki studied her for a moment, but decided not to press her. He was starving, too. "First thing first, let's go there."

The pinkette nodded in agreement and they walked towards the restaurant, only to someone else: Klaus… with a female companion.

Raelyn held her breath as the two couples stopped at their track almost simultaneously. Klaus was the first to break the metaphorical ice. "Good afternoon to both of you."

"Hey, Klaus!"

She met his golden eyes for a moment, but refusing to hold his gaze for any longer, she bowed slightly. "Good afternoon, Mr. Klaus."

Today was the thirteenth day of Spring. Raelyn woke up to her family singing Happy Birthday to her. Just right after that, someone knocked on the door. It was Elma. "Hey, Raelyn, you might wanna see this—a letter from Oak Tree Town!"

Raelyn dashed over and took the envelope from the postwoman, oblivious to her father's dagger stare, her brother's I-know-it look, or her mother's cheeky grin. Raelyn flipped the envelope over to see the sender.

Ibuki Tanagawa.

From where she sat, Raelyn could clearly see what Klaus and his companion were doing. Chatting, mostly, and she couldn't make out their conversation. However, she could see the delight on his face as he spoke to her. It was something that she had almost forgotten.

"…lyn? Raelyn?"

Raelyn realized that she had been ignoring Ibuki and immediately apologized. He took it in stride, but they didn't talk much throughout their meal afterward.

They finished earlier than Klaus and his companion.

"Ibuki, I need to do something in town… just go back without me," Raelyn said as they walked out from the restaurant.

"I can accompany you."

"No, it's fine. I'll see you later?"

Ibuki looked at her rather skeptically. A moment later, he sighed and nodded. "Be careful, Raelyn."

"You too."

As the end of Spring looming closer and closer, there was still no word from him. No word at all. Raelyn pondered over whether she should send him a birthday card, but looking at how he didn't contact her at all, she was not sure whether that would be wise of her to do so.

What if he doesn't want to talk to me anymore?

Raelyn bit her lower lip, weighing the possibilities.

She gazed forlornly at the card on her desk. Something was already written on it:

Dear Mr. Klaus,

Raelyn took a deep breath and with one long stroke crossed the words out.

"…Raelyn?"

Raelyn turned around and found Klaus, alone. She rose from the bench placed at the park just outside his house and walked over to him. Even as she stood before him, she debated herself for the countless time on whether she should really ask him. The question she ended up keep to herself as they walked back together a few days ago, substituted by an apology. "Why…?"

"Pardon?"

She raised her chin and stared at him squarely. "Why didn't you write to me at all?"

This time, it was his turn to hung his head low. "I… I am not sure it would be wise for me to do so."

"What do you mean?"

"I clearly hurt you during our conversation before you went back. I do not wish to aggravate you by writing to you."

Raelyn was taken aback by his reply. "But I waited for your letter!" she blurted out. "I waited like a fool, thinking that… perhaps you care enough to… write to me."

His golden eyes widened in surprise. Nevertheless, he quickly regained his composure. "Did he write to you?"

There was no question on who Klaus was referring to. Raelyn nodded meekly as she tried to hold back her tears.

"I see. He truly cherishes you, that much is clear."

Raelyn clenched her chest, feeling the pain taking root in her heart. "You really don't care, do you?"

She watched his face suddenly turned cold and stern, and he did not meet her eyes as he told her: "Go home, Raelyn."

It seems like the miscommunication(?) has cost them dearly...

Stay tuned for the next chapter!

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