Alliria: Fulfillment of Dreams

PACE THIRTY FOUR: Moment of Confessions

“U-um, Xannia...” I mumbled her name, making her stop walking. “Can you go inside the Castle without me?”

“Huh? Why?” she asked with a confuse look on her face.

“I just want to... check the other places here in Baryn alone... Don’t worry, I’ll come back here after an hour or two.”

“B-but...”

“O-okay, goodbye; see you later.” I lastly said, quickly stepping towards the direction where I’m hearing the sound of the flute.

Before I even used my fast speed ability, I heard Xannia called my former name repeatedly, but I payed no attention to her and just continued on.

After, maybe, almost five minutes, I finally reached a little grassland where a lake could also be seen---a clear, clean lake...

Close to the lake, I saw the girl with the familiar back view; her ash-blonde hair’s wavering by the fresh breeze. It’s a little long than before, but I’m sure it’s her...

A second later, she stopped playing her flute, turning to my direction like she suddenly sensed my presence.

As a breeze wavers our hair again, our gazes met and I saw how her eyes widen the moment she realized it’s me.

My heart skipped a beat and it started pounding too hard, it felt like it’s going to burst out of my chest.

I almost gasped for air, feeling mixed emotions that I couldn’t even figure out what, anymore...

When I intently look at her, it seems like she’s having a hard time breathing, too.

After a second, I walked closer and closer to her like my feet moved on its own...

“A-Amey...” I mumbled her name when I finally reached her, about two feet away from her.

“You are just an illusion... right...?” she whispered, closing her eyes for two seconds. Then, she opened it again. “N-no... Y-you are real...”

It’s just a matter of seconds when her eyes welled up with tears...

Does that mean she’s seeing an illusion of me...? Does that mean she’s missing me...?

She took a deep breath, saying, “I-I need to go, now.”

She tried running away from me again, but this time, I didnt let her... I instantly grasped her wrist and pulled her into a tight hug.

I closed my eyes, savoring that warm feeling I was yearning for the past month.

“W-Winter... N-no...” she mumbled, trying to push me away, but I didn’t let go of her.

Please, don’t push me away this time, Amey...

“I... miss you very much...” I whispered at her ear while my eyes were still close. That’s when I felt a tear fell down from my eye. “I miss you so much...”

I heard a sniff and a sob from her...

And a second later, I felt her arms around my back...

S-she’s hugging me back, now...

“Truth to tell, I miss you, too, Winter...” she whispered that made me open my eyes and break our hug.

“D-Did I heard it right? You did say you miss me, too, right?” I asked while I couldn’t stop myself from smiling.

She didn’t reply and just looked down, seemingly embarrassed to say it again.

“Amey, does that mean you’re feeling the same way about me...?” I asked again. “Do you love me, too?”