The three girls didn't expect the question, they were wondering if it really comes from Luffy because she usually isn't interested in those things.
"W-why are you suddenly asking us that, Luffy?" Nami uncomfortably asked.
"Hmm.. I'm just curious."
They didn't know how to react. Luffy is the youngest among them, but she's now of her right age to have a boyfriend too. That's why it's normal for her to be curious, but they really can't believe it. Luffy who doesn't care about those things actually ask this question? They thought.
"Luffy? What is your definition of a boyfriend?" Robin who's now curious about what the word means to Luffy.
"Boyfriend is a nakama! They do fun things together, like best friends and family." Luffy cheerfully answered.
The girls facepalmed in disbelief. They should've expected this kind of answer considering how innocent Luffy is. But they never thought she still didn't have any idea about those kinds of things until now when she's been sorrounded by her friends who have their own relationships.
"Luffy, that's not how it works... w-well you're partially right but..." Nami struggled finding the right words to say to Luffy, she herself isn't sure how things worked between her and her love cook boyfriend.
"Luffy, what Nami-chan is trying to say is that being in a relationship shares a bond more than friends do. You can only share this special bond with one special person. It is a friendship that has developed into a romantic relationship." Robin rescued, explaining in simpler words that Luffy's mind could easily understand.
"Romantic relationship?" Luffy hugged her pillow and inspected her fingernails.
"Yes, a boyfriend is more than just a friend, with whom you can share everything you want, be intimate, and share an emotional connection." Robin added.
"What exactly is that, Robin?"
The three girls sighed. It's really hard to explain things to Luffy at times and they know it more than anyone could.
Well what should they expect?
"It means you can kiss! Or do something more than kissing you ignorant!" Nami yelled on the phone.
"Eh?!" Luffy grimaced.
"Ugh. Let me ask you, do you have someone you imagined you wanted to kiss?"
Law's face suddenly appeared in Luffy's thoughts, she didn't feel bad when she imagined the guy kissing her. A flush crept across her cheeks.
Normally she would immediately answer no, but it takes a few seconds before she answered that raised her friend's curiosity.
"Oh my gosh! You have someone on your mind, right Luffy?" Nami teasingly asked.
"No! It's not what you think. I didn't think of kissing Torao!" Luffy responded defensively.
They know that she never liked someone romantically before. Even if there are several boys who asked to date her before she would politely reject them and in the end they would become Luffy's friends. Based on Luffy's simple-minded and childish personality, she doesn't feel any physical attraction or sexual interest towards others, so they concluded that she might be asexual. Plus the fact that she's being babied by everyone around her so things like dating doesn't actually interest her.
But now they are thinking they must've guessed it wrong.
Luffy heard her friends laughter.
"Luffy-chan, when you're someone's girlfriend, you share stronger feelings for them than just care. You're physically attracted to them but on the other hand you wish to support them through tough times as well as through the bright days. You cheer on their accomplishments and you truly feel happy for them." Kaya said, softly.
Luffy thinks about what Kaya said. She suddenly remembered how sad Law's eyes were and how she wanted to cheer him up. But the other guy never opened himself to her.
Sometimes she would notice that he might not even listening to her when she's talking. But she didn't mind that. She really wanted to see the guy smile, and she's good at making other people smile. That's why she needs to work harder. She cheered herself internally.
"Now, do you want to be this Torao's girlfriend, Luffy?" Nami teased.
"Yes!" Luffy absentmindedly answered, she immediately covered her mouth with her hand when she realized what she said.
"Nami!" Luffy pouted.
Nami's laughter almost broke her eardrums.
"Mind sharing with us who this Torao is, Luffy?" Robin chuckling.
Luffy didn't have any choice but to tell her friends about the new friend she met just a few days ago and stayed up all night telling them about him.
Monday morning, Law visits the pond again. As usual, Luffy was there. A warm feeling enveloped his heart at the sight of her waiting for him there.
They haven't met for the weekends and he's wondering if she was visiting the pond these past two days.
"Torao! Good morning!" Luffy greeted him as soon as he sat down one meter away beside Luffy, but Luffy stood up and sat closer to him, he noticed that she was holding a sketchpad and a pencil in her lap.
"Good morning, Chibi-ya." He greeted back.
"How was your weekend?"
"Good. How about you?"
"I stayed in the house and Ace forced me to do house chores but at night Sabo and I watched the movies he brought from the city!" Luffy explains beaming with joy.
They must be her brothers. Law thought. She mentioned him before that she has two brothers, one was strict and the other works in the city. Undoubtedly, they were them. It's not hard to predict who is who when Luffy is mentioning someone.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed your weekend." Law commented.
"How about you, Torao? What did you do?"
"Nothing much. I read a book and slept."
Luffy gave him a horrified look.
"That's very boring, Torao."
Law just shrugged. He's aware that some people may find his habits boring, especially to a goofy girl like her. They are totally the opposite.
Law opened his book and read it peacefully. Usually, when he's reading, Luffy will either talk (he didn't mind about it though, he can listen to someone attentively while reading) or sleep beside him, but now she's focusing on sketching. He just lets her be because it's unusual to see someone as lively as Luffy having a nice hobby.
Minutes passed and it's still quiet between the two of them. They can only hear the birds chirping. Law could somehow be happy about it, but he's not used to the silence anymore, especially when the girl who used to be so loud is around him focusing on something. He felt ignored.
Law peered at the girl who was now frowning while looking at her sketchpad. He curiously looked at what she'd been working on.
The corners of his mouth lifted when he saw what she drew.
"Pft. What's that?" Law asked biting his lips to suppress his laughter.
Luffy's face turned red and she immediately hid the sketchpad behind her back.
"W-what are you looking at, Torao? It's nothing!"
"Let me see that." Law extended his hands still visible the lopsided grin in his mouth.
"N-no!"
Luffy tries to hide the sketchpad, but her small hands aren't enough to stop Law's muscled and firm hands when he took the sketchpad away from her.
When Law finally had a good look at the funny looking polar bear Luffy drew, he could not stop himself from letting out a harsh bark of laughter.
"This is hilarious!" Law said, between his laughs.
Luffy's mouth fell open. Her eyes widened at the sight. She even blinked to make sure she was not seeing things.
'Torao... is laughing?' She asked at the back of her mind.
She stared at him in blank amazement. She can't believe what she's seeing. Law has never shown any other emotions other than his cold, lifeless stare that sends her chills down her spine. She's looking forward to seeing him smile, and suddenly there he is, laughing in front of her... He probably has the most beautiful smile she's ever seen.
"Oi, Chibi-ya?"
Luffy snapped back when she heard the older man call her with the odd nickname he's been using to call her for weeks now.
"You okay? Your face is so red." The older man asked with a concerned look.
"Uh, Sorry, I was mesmerized by your smile. It's the first time i saw you like that. You should smile more often, Torao."
Luffy blurted out her thoughts, which made Law flustered enough to blush and forget how to speak for several seconds.
Law turned his gaze away and gave back the sketchpad to Luffy.
He opened his book and pretended to continue reading when in fact, he already finished reading the book earlier. But the truth is he's cursing himself deep inside for what he had felt.
Damn, Trafalgar! How did a mere teenager make you speechless like that with just one cheesy line?