After the collision between Aria and Holo by the plunge pool, Aria quickly stooped to retrieve Holo's fallen phone, a sense of courtesy compelling her to help even though the accident wasn't her fault. "I'm sorry," she said softly, handing the phone back to him without checking its condition. Holo accepted it, his lips curved into a newfound smile.
"Thank you," he said, the gratitude evident in his voice.
In return, Holo took a moment to apologize as well, admitting fault for the collision. "My mistake," he said with sincerity.
Holo rejoined his friends, buoyed by happiness. He wanted to share the news but hesitated, mindful of the superstitions linked to the nearby wishing well. Simultaneously, he contemplated the ideal date and time for his upcoming proposal.
Scanning the vicinity for a secluded spot, he settled on the wishing well, away from the others exploring the temple or relaxing near the pool. Holo approached the well, taking a moment to browse his phone. He accessed the calendar, considering dates for their first outing. After a thoughtful pause, he logged into Faceless and messaged Dora.
Luffy: Will the 4th of September, 7 PM, work for you? It's the upcoming Sunday.
Checking Dora's status, he noted she was offline. Disappointed yet hopeful, he closed the app, tucking the phone away in his pocket. Excitement thrummed through him, his hand involuntarily reaching for his phone, eager for a response.
After their exploration of Nebula Fall, Aria gathered everyone at the entrance of the temple as the visit neared its end. "It's almost 4 PM now," she began. "If we can descend within 2 hours, then we can catch the bus at 6 PM. Otherwise, we have to wait for the next bus at 7 PM."
"Descent is far easier than moving up. We will easily reach the base in 1 hour if we don't stop anywhere," chimed in one of the trekkers.
"Right. Now let's get ready. We will leave in 5 minutes," Aria promptly instructed.
Everyone efficiently packed their backpacks. Some seized souvenirs from the location, while others snapped a few last-minute photos. The descent began, and many seized the opportunity to take selfies and pictures they missed while trekking upward. Despite several halts, they reached the base before 6 PM. They waited for a few minutes, and soon, the bus arrived.
Everyone boarded the bus, arranging themselves just as they had in the morning. DJ, Cherry, and Aria settled in the middle row, while Holo and Joe sat a few rows ahead. Aria, once comfortable in her seat, pulled out her phone. The first thing she noticed was a text notification on Faceless. Though she expected a message from Luffy, she opened the app and found a text from Holo:
Luffy: Will the 4th of September, 7 PM, work for you? It's the upcoming Sunday.
She opened her phone's calendar and checked her plans for that day. Since there were no conflicting plans, she promptly replied.
Dora: Ok
Meanwhile, Holo held his phone, and as soon as Aria sent her reply, he received it almost instantly. He wasted no time in opening the message, his heart brimming with joy. He responded with a mix of joyful emojis, hands raised in excitement, along with some celebratory cracker and confetti emojis.
Amused, Aria replied with some laughing emojis in response.
Meanwhile, DJ and Cherry were so engrossed in each other's company that they didn't notice the genuine happiness on Aria's face. Similarly, Joe was deeply engrossed in finding information about Aria's copper coin, giving Holo and Aria the freedom to continue their chat without any disturbances.
Seated a few rows apart on the same bus, Aria and Holo were unaware that they were chatting with each other. They were both excited, looking forward to meeting the person who had brought so much joy into their lives.
As they exchanged messages, Holo began to prepare himself for the upcoming date.
Luffy: By the way, what's your favorite flower?
Aria thought for a moment, then responded.
Dora: Dahlia and Daisy.
Luffy: Noted
He finished with a thumbs-up emoji, and then they resumed chatting about flowers.
In the meantime, they reached their destination, and the bus came to a stop. Aria had to inform Holo.
Dora: Need to go
Luffy: Ok
Within a moment, Aria went offline.
Everyone disembarked from the bus, and Aria was the first to step off. She waited outside, encouraging all the participants of the trek to gather. Once they were assembled, she shared her closing remarks, saying, "Hope you all enjoyed today's trek."
"It was great," exclaimed one of the participants.
"There are very few who can take on responsibilities at such a young age," added another, prompting applause from the group.
"Thank you," Aria replied, her hands together and a genuine smile gracing her face.
"Let us know if you organize another trekking event in a new area," said the person who had applauded first, extending his hand for a shake.
Aria shook his hand warmly and affirmed, "Sure," with a smile.
Following that, the remaining four trekkers shook Aria's hand and bid their farewells. Soon, it was only her group left. "Girl, you are a pro," Cherry cheered, her enthusiasm building as she hugged Aria tightly, a broad smile lighting up her face.
Aria received praise from everyone before they parted ways. Like any other day, Aria and Cherry set off for their homes, in their respective scooters for some distance. By the time Aria reached her home, it was already 8 PM. She had informed her father about the trekking event, and he had taken the day off to prepare some of Aria's favorite dishes. Aria was looking forward to a delightful dinner. However, as she stepped inside, she couldn't smell the enticing aroma of the meal she had anticipated.
The dining table lay bare, devoid of any cutlery. A sense of disappointment started to creep over Aria as she ventured into the kitchen, hoping for something to eat. To her dismay, the cupboards held nothing. The good mood she'd entered the house with soured. The smile on her face vanished, replaced by irritation and frustration. She stormed out of the kitchen, finding her father lying on the sofa with a pillow covering his face.
"ARE YOU EVEN TRYING? YOU DRANK AGAIN. DIDN'T YOU?" she yelled, yanking the pillow from her father's face, her anger palpable.
However, her fury evaporated when she saw her father hesitantly smiling. "What happened?" she asked, concern furrowing her brow.
His eyes were swollen, and bruises marked his face. "I had a fight with my boss," he replied, exhaustion evident in his voice. "He fired me. He said I've become less productive and an alcoholic. I know he was right, but I couldn't control my rage, and then this happened."
Aria's anger shifted to worry. She went close to him, cupping his face and lifting it gently. "I'm glad that you're not drunk," she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Seeing his daughter smile, he smiled back and said, "Don't worry. I will find a new job."
"I know," she assured him.
Meanwhile, Joe continued his online search to uncover details about Aria's copper coin. Despite his efforts, he came up empty-handed, even after scouring through online coin ledgers. Doubts started to creep in, considering the possibility that the coin might be a custom creation within Aria's family. To get a second opinion, he uploaded an image of the coin on various social media platforms, asking, "Does anyone have any information about this coin?"