Gabby and Red only stared at each other for a brief moment, before smiling and bidding goodbye. This is the closest and most they could do. They still need to be apart.
And Gabby knew that she may never step in this realm again, unless very necessary.
Winter looks at her and holds her hand, telling her that they should leave.
Red turns around, afraid that she'll see his worried eyes. To make things easier for her, he teleports back to the divine river. Where he inhales the crispy air. But...it never did make him feel any better.
Things felt slower in this realm. Unspeakable loneliness washing over him.
How sad it is to think that he'd have to spend his time here without doing anything. His purpose, stolen because of a rampaging fairy.
Even when he has to deal with witnessing murder over and over again, collecting them, and protecting the red head that stole his heart, knowing he won't be her final choice, he considers those everyday pain than being here alone, breaking the promise of always being the one to shield her from uncertainties and troubles.
He felt useless at the moment. And for the first time, he wondered if this was what Gabby felt when she's always mentioning about being so.
He sighed. Pitying Humility and the others that have to deal with the fairy's bullsh*t. Red doesn't even know just why bad things kept coming to him. And it all started when he met Gabby.
Fine. Is he just not allowed to be happy??
Is that what the Fates want?
Him, covered in unspeakable loneliness. Questioning his own existence?
If he could trade all power he has, for a day with her, he wish so hard it'd be possible. Immortality seems useless now.
He told himself, time and time again...please, please don't fall in love with her.
But...it was as if he feel into a slippery cliff with no way to get up.
If whatever force of nature doesn't want them together, why make them meet the second time? Why not just keep them far apart as always so he doesn't have to be this...this sad?
Why not...why not just...why can't things work out for him?
The odd eyed reaper pulled the notebook again, and flips the pages. He didn't know that there was a loose paper there and the wind blew it off, he tried to catch it but it fell straight to the waters.
It eventually got soaked and sinked. He never had the chance to know what it was for.
His eyes turned sadder.
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Humility watched his friend's misery. He wasn't sure if butting in was a right choice. It seems like he needs some time. Honestly, if only Red would allow, Humility was actually thinking of erasing his memories. So...at least he wouldn't feel too bad about leaving the mortal realm for a long period of time.
Humility was about to go, when Red turned around and eventually saw him.
RED: Did you checked up on Winter? Was he being nice to her?
His tone demanded answer.
Humility sighs. And then looks at him, his same bright smile he always shows everyone. Although Red could still point out if they're genuine or not.
HUMILITY: You always think about her.
RED: Well, for the most part, she's the only interesting part of my life. I'm a 158 being...living life for decades long and...still, I think she's all that made me love my life more. *chuckles* If...if you ever call this a life...or simply..existing.
Humility scratches his gray hair, while thinking of a thing to respond. But he couldn't think of any. Then he remembered the offer he thought of before. Maybe he could ask?
After all, seeing Red like this just...makes him feel quite depressed.
HUMILITY: Hey, I know you're lonely and all, especially thinking about her. But...what do you think of...erasing your memories?
Red looked shock. And he quickly shakes his head, both hands telling his friend to back off immediately of the idea.
RED: Look, I'm in pain but...but I like it, okay? I spent great memories with her, even the bad ones, no...I won't let you take them away.
HUMILITY: But, you'd never know when it'll end. What if the time you come back she's already...
RED: Married? I'm fine with that. If she moved on, I'm happy for her. But at least let me treasure the time when I felt like...I was hers.
HUMILITY: You...you truly suck at this. Just why do you have to fall for a human..
RED: I...
HUMILITY: Red, please move on. Please come back to your old self, the one that doesn't need anyone to please. I may have rooted for you before but...I hate seeing you like this. I don't want you to carry this pain in your chest for as long as we exist. Love...love had made you like this. It's not gonna work. Just give up.
RED: These are my feelings, not yours. Don't tell me what to do about them.
HUMILITY: I'm just concerned.
RED: Well, it's none of your concern.
Red's tears suddenly fell. But his face remained the same. Determined. Determined to keep on loving her despite the fact that he'd never be with her.
Humility wanted to curse. Yes, for the first time he wanted to explode and curse at his ignorant friend blinded by love. By her.
He doesn't understand just why he wanted to keep living with the pain knowing she'll be down there, and him, up here.
Isn't the goal of love be with the person you love?
What was Red's goal? What was he thinking?
He might have kept those words inside him, but his face failed to hide his emotions. Humility was frowning.
They stayed like that for 2 minutes, waiting for the other to break the ice. But then fireflies started to appear behind Humility, and the figure of Nhairon shows up.
RED: Hey, I think Nhairon wants to talk to you.
Red said calmly, pointing at the Rank 1 bluenett.
Humility turned around, and immediately bowed, showing his deep respect.
Nhairon knew they must be talking about deep stuff, so he apologized first for interrupting, before he continued to tell his purpose.
NHAIRON: Sorry Humility, but we have some tasks to do. Just give your friend whatever that mortal wanted to give him.
Humility exhaled his breath deeply.
Seeing Red so consumed by sadness before, he hated to give him Gabby's flower pin.
HUMILITY: She didn't give any.
He totally lied.
Nhairon was confused. He saw her hand Humility something. Was his eyes playing tricks on him?
NHAIRON: Why did you left, then?
HUMILITY: To tell Red this. She won't ever be yours so why love her?
RED: Because I can't stop. I tried but I failed. Do you think I haven't tried ignoring these feelings? Believe me I tried. I just can't.
Nhairon stepped aback, not sure what to feel, but they really need to go. He pulls Humility's purple cape and Humility only furrowed his brows at Red.
Then he turned around and vanished.
Was he being the bad guy now? Was it wrong to feel bad about your friend's state? He just wanted Red to live normally, like before. He'd rather have him feeling constant everyday than this...poor poor mess.
When he arrived at the training grounds(still located at the Divine Realm), where different kinds of reapers were waiting for him, he suddenly remembered the time when he and Red first met.
He was so confused.
His eyes were so done with everything. No spark of happiness at all.
He sighed.
How can he wish for his happiness? When things just keeps getting worse whenever he and Gabby are together?
Nhairon noticed the white reaper take a deep breath.
NHAIRON: Humility, is everything fine?
He said, a bit worried he might be unwell.
HUMILITY: Nothing's the matter. I...whatever, let's do this.
Nhairon felt a surge of darkness envelope his friend's aura. Was Humility not himself again? He hopes not. Things goes bad if he's angry.
NHAIRON: God knows what He's doing.
Nhairon assured the purple eyed reaper.
Humility nodded, then walked towards the reapers in need of training.
They all bowed in his presence, quite thrilled to have the handsome and fierce rank 2 so near to them.
Humility smiles back, which made the female reapers lose their cool. They'd cover their faces to hide the effect, but Humility seemed unaffected.
He then releases his whip. Then looked at the white reapers. Then the yellow reapers. Then the red reapers gathered around.
HUMILITY: You're just a few chosen fighters among all your kind. Please take this seriously. Especially you, the white reapers, whose number decreased the most.
His first phase of training was having them fight him one by one to attest their abilities himself, to know if they belong on the first row or second, and so on.
But as the first white reaper steps into the battle dome with him, he shivers a bit. Humility's friendly aura disappeared the moment they released their whips to fight.
At that moment, the reaper wished he'd somehow land atleast one hit. Since the rank 2's eyes, were fierce enough to paralyze him on the spot.
Just what caused him to have such aura?
NHAIRON: Okay, fight!
And the battle proceeds.
...