Chereads / REAPER'S BALLAD / Chapter 121 - Episode 119: SWEET AND TENDER

Chapter 121 - Episode 119: SWEET AND TENDER

Red looked at her softly, now calmed down in his arms. It felt weird doing it, knowing that the next day he'd be gone from her life for some time. He may even have to stay there for years and years if this fairy is still not found. But it felt good. Good just being there, still. With her head on his chest. Feeling her breathe in and out. It felt a bit long than he expected that he found his fingers playing with his red hair. This time, they have truly grown so long. He smiles. And wondered when she'll cut it. He hoped not. He likes her better with long red hair. It looked better on her, he thought.

GABBY: You're...so warm.

Gabby then spoke up. Shattering the silence shared between them. Red only gave her a soft pat on the head. Making Gabby feel sadder. She'd surely miss him.

GABBY: If you were human, would you be with me?

RED: Yeah...undoubtly, yeah.

GABBY: But that will never happen, right?

Red felt his heart skip a beat.

Her...tone...is different. It was so...heart wrenching that he couldn't explain much of it.

RED: ...yeah, who knows? It...never happened before..

GABBY: How about if I die? Would that mean, we'll be together forever?

RED: Hey, don't...don't say that. It bugs me out. And don't even think about death. You have many years ahead of you.

GABBY: Ah, right...I wonder who I'll spend those numbers with.

Gabby said somberly, her fingers drawing circles on his chest.

RED: That...kinda tickles.

GABBY: Oh, really?

Suddenly, a much playful look appeared on her face.

GABBY: So, you're ticklish?

Red holds both her hand.

RED: Don't even think about it. I might kill you.

GABBY: Woah, sassy~~~

RED: Whatever. Your eyes are quite puffy now. Quit crying over me and stuff. Just eat cake.

GABBY: Yeah, whatever. It's your fault for being kind and hot.

RED: Kinda hot?

GABBY: "Kind" and "Hot".

RED: Ah...I see.

Gabby and Red were already broken in their embrace, that the reaper just felt like he wanted to travel a few seconds back to the moment. He felt embarrassed to ask her for the same thing again and all he could do was look at her in silence. She looks so pretty though, that he can't help but feel his hand reach to his neck as the other covers his mouth. Gabby breaks out laughing. While Red turned...well, redder.

GABBY: I find it quite funny that...I dunno, we've spent so many time together and we still...get like uh, flustered. And it's funnier when it's you.

RED: Quit laughing. I hate you.

GABBY: Oh, do you?

RED: Ugh, I can't wait to leave tomorrow.

Red covers his face entirely with his hands, praying that she'd magically forget it. It felt so embarrassing that she saw him do that live.

GABBY: Stop being a shy bean. I find it cute.

RED: Ugh, go away.

GABBY: Hey, what's with the fake tough act? You've confessed to me more than twice and just a little blush makes you embarrassed?

RED: Whatever.

GABBY: Whatever, whatever. You stop with the act and just admit it. You'll miss me so much! You'll think about me everyday!

RED: Tsk. You're really annoying. You know that you'd miss me more, right? You'll miss me so much that you'll draw me everyday. You'll listen to e-songs and paint your nails red. You'll even try to paint your walls red.

GABBY: Whatever.

RED: See? Not so funny when you're the one caught, huh?

Suddenly, Humility emerges out of nowhere.

A yawning Murasaki, followed soon after, accompanied by Hoshi, Deltha and Zefarih.

RED: Ah, so...how's the...uh, recruits?

HUMILITY: Good. Ursus, Miku, and Ao are definitely strong. But...I thought you'd follow soon after?

RED: Right...uh, I was...

DELTHA: Having a date with her?

RED/MURASAKI: NO WAY!!!

The two boys looks at each other for a moment, before looking the opposite ways. Both of them, pissed.

RED: Anyways, I just...spent a bit of my time with her because I'd miss her...

The group gives him a smug look, except Murasaki, who wished it was true.

RED: ...as a great friend and companion.

HUMILITY: Friend, huh? Nothing else?

RED: Hey, since when have you been this type of guy?

GABBY: Stop it guys. Anyways...I'm sorry for the holdup. I...I just thought of spending time with him. You...you guys want some food?

HOSHI: You have some fresh meat in your frdge or something?!

Hoshi exclaims happily, staring at her fridge already.

GABBY: Uh, no..? But we have pasta, chicken, macaroons, ice cream and cake, if you want that? Oh, and pizza and a salad dressing too.

HOSHI: Lame.

Murasaki punches his shoulders half heartedly.

HOSHI: *sighs* Yeah, I mean...sure. It sounds nice.

Storm walks up to Hoshi, wagging his tail and greeting him.

The demon licks his tongue, as his stomach grumbled in hunger.

This time, Zefarih was the one who punched his shoulder. Not half heartedly.

HOSHI: Ow! Hey!!! I can't help it! I just fought, of course I'll be hungry!

ZEFARIH: Control your urges.

HOSHI: And control your punches, sensei! That hurts!

ZEFARIH: Yeah, sorry about that.

Humility walks up to Red, whispering words to his ears.

HUMILITY: Are you still planning to make her forget?

RED: Ah, no, no. She refused.

HUMILITY: Hmmm, fine. Alright, then. Winter, (Rank 4 Yellow Reaper) will accompany her while you're gone, okay?

RED: Yeah. Sounds good.

HUMILITY: You sure you're okay? I think you're the one that needs the memory erase.

RED: No! No! Never do that, ever!

Suddenly, the crowd looks at him quite confused as to what he was yelling about.

He turned red again.

RED: It's nothing, swear! Just mind your own plate and eat!

GABBY: It's about me, isn't it?

Gabby said, a playful childish tone in her voice.

RED: No, now eat up!

GABBY: Whatever you say, red-cheeks.

RED: Shut up!

HUMILITY: It's okay to admit it's only her that gives that effect, you know?

RED: I don't care...ugh, you've been different nowadays, Humility. Since when have you been this annoying?

HUMILITY: Eversince you started blushing, Red.

RED: ...

RED: You're unbelievable!

HUMILITY: And you're funny.

HOSHI: Ah, the satisfaction from teasing your friends. I kinda wish I have one.

MURASAKI: Wow. Thank goodness, I thought you deem me one.

Hoshi shots him a pissed off glare while the others laugh in the background.

GABBY: MJ, you're a meany.

MURASAKI: Yeah, I'm proud.

HOSHI: Whatever, I am now bestowing you the curse of being single for life.

MURASAKI: Wow, I'm scared.

Murasaki says sarcastically, as Hoshi rages still, like a little child.

And by then Red wished, that things would remain like this...sweet and tender.

If only tomorrow won't come.