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Orion and Lucy, bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, ambled toward the Miniature Golf section. Their proximity meant their shoulders brushed occasionally, creating a bubble of intimacy amidst the carnival's hustle.
Lucy seemed unusually reserved, her fingers fidgeting. To break the ice, Orion teased, "Miniature Golf, huh? Fancy sport. Never saw the appeal. Thought it was for the top-hat-wearing elite."
Lucy halted, her azure eyes wide as they met Orion's. "You're kidding! I picked this thinking you'd be into it! I've always thought golf was... well, a bit pompous." She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I was worried I'd embarrass myself in front of you."
Orion chuckled, nudging her playfully, "Guess we're in the same boat then. But hey, at least it'll be an experience. We can be terrible together."
Lucy smirked, "How romantic. Two novices trying to figure out a sport that's essentially about hitting a ball into a hole."
"Sounds thrilling when you put it that way," Orion teased, winking at her.
They arrived at the golf area, a sea of green artificial turf dotted with colorful balls and obstacles. Picking up their clubs, they approached the first hole. Lucy eyed it skeptically. "This looks... deceptively easy."
Orion gave an exaggerated bow, gesturing to the hole. "Ladies first?"
Lucy rolled her eyes but took her position. "Watch and be amazed."
Her first shot went wild, causing the ball to bounce off a corner. Orion tried to stifle his laughter, failing miserably. "I'm watching, and I'm definitely amazed."
She pouted, giving him a mock glare. "Just you wait."
However, Orion's first attempt wasn't much better. The ball veered off in a completely unexpected direction. Lucy, now with a smirk, quipped, "Seems like I'm not the only one in need of lessons."
Orion shrugged sheepishly, "Seems so."
As they progressed from hole to hole, their technique (or lack thereof) didn't improve much, but their laughter grew louder. With each missed shot, they found something to laugh about, whether it was a ridiculous stance or a surprise obstacle.
At one point, Lucy tried a particularly ambitious shot, causing the ball to ricochet off a wall and head straight for Orion. He dodged, the ball narrowly missing him, and raised an eyebrow. "Trying to take me out so you can win?"
She giggled, "The thought did cross my mind."
As they reached a particularly challenging hole with a looping ramp, Orion leaned in, whispering into Lucy's ear. "If you make this shot, I'll... hmm... buy you any treat you want from the carnival."
Lucy smirked, "Challenge accepted." Taking a deep breath, she took the shot. To her astonishment, the ball navigated the loop perfectly, dropping into the hole with ease.
Orion's jaw dropped, "You hustled me!"
Lucy winked, twirling her club. "Never underestimate a lady."
Orion looked at Lucy, his face a blend of mock annoyance and genuine admiration. "So, Miss Hustler," he began, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm, "What'll it be? You've earned a treat."
She tapped a finger on her chin, feigning deep thought. "Hmm... decisions, decisions."
They wandered over to the food stalls, each scent wafting through the air more tantalizing than the last. Orion watched as Lucy's eyes flitted from stall to stall, her inner battle evident. She paused at a stand that served a dizzying array of ice cream flavors.
Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "How about the biggest sundae they have?"
Orion raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smirk. "Feeling greedy, are we?"
Lucy nudged him, "It's my prize. And besides, I might be persuaded to share."
Orion chuckled, ordering the grand sundae which, true to its name, was a tower of scoops from various flavors, drenched in syrup, topped with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry.
As they settled on a bench, Lucy scooped a generous portion, her eyes closing in delight as she tasted it. "Heaven," she murmured.
Orion watched her, captivated. There was an innocence about Lucy that was enchanting. It was in moments like these, when she let her guard down, that he truly appreciated their bond.
He scooped some for himself, the cold sweetness a delightful contrast to the warm afternoon sun. "This was a good choice," he admitted.
Lucy grinned, "Told you."
They continued to enjoy their treat, their fingers occasionally brushing against each other. At one point, Lucy playfully dabbed some whipped cream on Orion's nose, giggling at his startled expression.
"You'll pay for that," Orion warned playfully, scooping a bit of ice cream and threatening to smear it on her.
She squealed, dodging his attempt, her laughter echoing around them. "You wouldn't dare!"
Their playful banter drew the attention of a few passersby, who watched their antics with amusement. In the midst of the vibrant Amusement Park, surrounded by the sounds of laughter and the clatter of roller coaster tracks, Lucy and Orion found themselves sharing a secluded bench. The cheerful atmosphere around them contrasted sharply with the somber tone of their conversation.
Lucy's laughter was still echoing around them when Orion's expression changed. A sudden, mischievous grin formed on his lips, making Lucy instinctively wary. "What are you up to?" she asked, narrowing her eyes playfully.
Orion leaned in close, his warm breath tickling her ear. "Remember our game on the bus? You owe me a secret." His voice was a teasing whisper, and Lucy felt her cheeks flush at the closeness.
Lucy feigned surprise, her hand on her chest. "Oh? A secret, you say?" She paused dramatically. "Which one? I have so many."
He chuckled, "I'll leave that to your discretion. But remember, it has to be something I don't already know."
Lucy leaned back, twirling a strand of her hair thoughtfully. "Alright, alright. Hmm..." She cast a sly glance at him. "How about a juicy one from my childhood?"
Orion's eyes sparkled with interest. "I'm all ears."
She took a deep breath, clearly enjoying the suspense she was creating. "Okay, so when I was about ten, I had this huge crush on my neighbor. And by huge, I mean I'd dream about us getting married and everything. Silly, right?"
Orion tried not to smile too broadly. "Go on..."
"One day, I decided to confess my feelings. So, I wrote a very dramatic and heartfelt letter, sealed it in an envelope and slipped it under his door." She paused, her eyes distant as she recalled the memory. "I waited for days, but he never mentioned it. I was devastated."
Orion leaned closer, his tone colder, "And?"
Lucy took a deep breath and sighed, her gaze distant. "And that is that," she began, her voice filled with a mix of nostalgia and melancholy. "He never said anything about it when we met years later. I still feel those emotions whenever I see him, as if he's oblivious to everything."
Orion's initial amusement from the rides and games dimmed as he listened. Annoyance bubbled up inside him, the bright lights of the rides around them suddenly feeling too glaring. First and foremost, he didn't like the idea that Lucy still harbored feelings for another man. More so, he was taken aback by her candidness in sharing such intimate emotions, especially given the flirty vibe that had been between them all day.
He wasn't a man who was arrogant or felt that every woman should fall for him. Orion prided himself on being genuine in his emotions, accepting the affections of those he genuinely cared for. He never felt entitled to have everyone's heart. But this revelation from Lucy, amidst their playful banter, bothered him. The mention of another love while she was so clearly flirting with him felt out of place, and it was hard for him to hide his irritation.
Then suddenly, a memory, long-buried, erupted in Orion's mind. As a person reborn in this world with a cognizant mind, he possessed the ability to recall every fragment of his past. And while he entertained the idea of Lucy talking about him, their previous encounters refuted that possibility. They'd met occasionally before high school due to living in the same neighborhood, but their interactions were always fleeting. Lucy's family was notably rich, resulting in her attending private institutions until high school. Each encounter he recalled was brief, like Lucy's mother coming over to speak with Selene or Elara, or just crossing paths on the street. Their lives hadn't truly overlapped, leading him to believe that he wasn't the focus of Lucy's old affections.
But as the gears in his mind continued to turn, a particular memory surfaced. He was ten at that time, the same age Lucy mentioned. He remembered coming home to find Luna and Aurora, deep in whispers, reading a letter. Their faces were a canvas of varying emotions – from amusement to sheer anger. When he'd approached them, they'd hastily concealed the letter, exchanging glances filled with concealed laughter and shared secrets. At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, dismissing it as another of their sisterly escapades. But now, as he pieced together the puzzle, realization hit him like a tidal wave. Could it have been Lucy's letter?
Orion turned to face Lucy, his azure eyes searching hers for any trace of recognition. "Lucy," he began, his voice a whisper, "Was the boy you had a crush on...me?"
Lucy's cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink. She looked startled, her sapphire eyes darting around, as if looking for an escape route. "Wh-What makes you say that?" she stammered.
Orion leaned in, his voice low, "Because I think my sisters found your letter. And I never got to read it."
Lucy's heart raced, the sound echoing loudly in her ears. A whirlwind of emotions swept over her. Relief was the most overpowering – the knowledge that Orion hadn't callously ignored her feelings. He had simply never received the letter.
But then, anger bubbled to the surface. Aurora and Luna. The memory of those two, always protective, sometimes overbearingly so, of their brother, came to mind. Their youthful jealousy had robbed her of an opportunity. Years of wondering, doubting, and feeling rejected could have been avoided. Yet, deep down, Lucy recognized that they were merely children back then, acting out of possessiveness for their beloved brother.
As the weight of realization hit her, Lucy's gaze flitted downwards, embarrassment flooding her. There was that one sentence in her letter, which now, in retrospect, felt childish and overly dramatic, "I will take you away from your house, and we will live in our mansion forever." She mentally cringed at the memory of those words. It suddenly became clear why Luna and Aurora never delivered her letter to Orion. The idea of their brother being 'taken away' would have certainly ruffled their protective feathers.
In the midst of this newfound revelation, there was a tangible pause. The bustling noises of the carnival seemed to grow quieter, replaced by the soft thud of Lucy's heartbeat, amplified within her ears. She now felt glad that Orion never read her letter, though it had cost them eight years.
However, Orion's next question once again made her heart race. "Lucy," he began, his gaze piercing into hers, "I'm flattered, and I would have loved to connect with you, but our past interactions were limited. I don't remember us exchanging more than ten words before high school. Why did you have a crush on me?"
Lucy sighed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Well," she began hesitantly, her eyes shimmering with a mix of vulnerability and nostalgia, "one of my powers is feeling hearts. I can sense people's emotions when I focus on them. Whenever I'd watch you playing with the other children in our neighborhood, I could feel how genuinely happy they all were around you. It felt like your presence was the very link that connected them in joy."
She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing, "I was alone most of the time, admittedly because of a bit of arrogance and my family's status. I felt like you could bring that same happiness to me. And to this day," she took a deep breath, her gaze unwavering, "I still feel that same emotion in everyone around you."
Orion's gaze never wavered, absorbing every word that spilled from Lucy's lips. Her vulnerability, her raw honesty, all of it spoke volumes. He understood what she'd experienced, the weight of loneliness juxtaposed against the desire for genuine happiness and connection.
In a single, fluid motion, Orion stepped forward, pulling Lucy into a comforting embrace. The warmth and strength of his arms encased her, drawing her in. Lucy's initial shock melted away as she buried her face into the crook of his neck, her arms looping around his waist.
"Lucy," his voice was a gentle whisper, his lips brushing her ear, "I've lived by a simple rule. I always give back double what I receive. It's my way of making sure everyone feels appreciated, especially those who appreciate me."
Lucy nodded against his shoulder, her emotions a whirlwind. She felt heard, understood, and most importantly, not alone.
"And secondly," he continued, his fingers gently tracing circles on her back, "you're never alone. Not anymore."
Lucy's breath hitched, tears that she'd been holding back now spilling freely. The weight of her past feelings, the years of misconceptions, all seemed to crumble in the face of Orion's comforting words. She clung to him tighter, finding solace in the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
"There, there," Orion murmured, gently cradling her head. "I'll always be here for you. Whenever you need me."
She pulled back slightly, her teary sapphire eyes locking onto his azure ones. She whispered, her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you, Orion. That means more to me than you can ever imagine."
He gave her a gentle smile, his thumb brushing away her tears. "Always, Lucy."