It was the last day before Julia was to leave Lucan's home. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard of the temple. The evening air was cool, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers from the garden. Julia had been pacing nervously near the temple's entrance, her heart pounding with anxiety.
This is my last chance, she thought, clenching her fists in determination. She had tried and failed to confess her feelings to Lucan before, but tonight, she was determined to make it happen. No more interruptions, no more hesitations.
She found Lucan sitting on a stone bench near the temple's garden, the white fox curled up beside him. The soft glow of the evening sun bathed the courtyard in a warm light, making it the perfect setting for what Julia hoped would be a heartfelt moment.
Taking a deep breath, she approached him. "Lucan… Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Lucan looked up, his calm, gentle eyes meeting hers. He smiled softly and patted the spot on the bench next to him. "Of course, Julia. Have a seat."
Julia hesitated for a moment before sitting down beside him, her heart racing even faster now that she was so close. She glanced at the white fox, which seemed to be dozing peacefully. Good, she thought. At least the fox isn't going to interrupt this time.
"Lucan, I… there's something I've been meaning to tell you," she began, her voice trembling slightly.
Lucan turned to face her, his expression curious but patient. "What is it?"
Julia could feel her face heating up, and she struggled to find the right words. She had rehearsed this moment in her mind countless times, but now that it was here, everything seemed to be slipping away. "I… I really…"
Suddenly, the white fox stirred, stretching out its paws and yawning before casually jumping into Julia's lap, snuggling up against her. Julia froze, her eyes wide with surprise as the fox nuzzled her hand.
"F-Foxy… What are you doing?" she stammered, her frustration mounting.
Lucan chuckled softly. "Looks like it likes you."
Julia's thoughts were in disarray. Not now! Not again! she screamed inwardly, trying to gently push the fox off her lap, but it stubbornly refused to budge. It looked up at her with innocent eyes, completely unaware of the tension it was causing.
Julia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Okay, just… keep going. "Lucan, what I'm trying to say is… I really like you. I mean, more than just a friend…"
Lucan's eyes widened slightly, his expression becoming more serious. He looked at white fox, hoping he would do something or else...
Julia felt her heart skip a beat. This is it… I'm finally saying it…
But just as she was about to continue, the fox suddenly leaped up, its ears perking at something in the distance. Before either of them could react, it darted off the bench and ran towards the temple's entrance, barking excitedly.
Lucan stood up, concerned. "What's gotten into it?"
Julia watched in horror as her chance slipped away yet again. "No, not now…" she whispered, her voice filled with desperation.
Lucan turned back to her, noticing the distress on her face. "Is everything okay, Julia?"
Julia forced a smile, trying to hide her disappointment. "Y-Yeah, it's nothing…"
Lucan nodded, "Maybe we should go see what's bothering the fox. It's unusual for it to act like this."
Julia nodded, but her heart wasn't in it. She followed Lucan towards the temple's entrance, her mind racing with frustration and sadness. Why does this always happen?
As they reached the entrance, they found the fox sniffing around a small bush, its tail wagging as if it had discovered something interesting. Lucan bent down to see what it was, his back turned to Julia.
Julia stood there, staring at his back, feeling a mixture of anger and sorrow welling up inside her. She had come so close, and once again, fate had conspired to keep her from confessing her feelings. She bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill.
Just then, Lucan turned back to her, holding a small, shiny object in his hand—a simple silver ring. "Look at this. The fox must have found it in the bushes."
Julia blinked, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. "A ring…?"
Lucan nodded, studying it closely. "It looks like someone might have lost it here a long time ago."
He stood up and walked over to her, holding out the ring. "Here, you should keep it. It's a nice keepsake."
Julia stared at the ring, her emotions swirling. She wasn't sure what to feel anymore. The moment had been lost, but Lucan's kindness, his obliviousness to her feelings, was both endearing and heartbreaking.
She took the ring from him, forcing a smile. "Thank you, Lucan."
Lucan smiled back, his usual calm and gentle self. "You're welcome. Let's head inside. It's getting late."
As they walked back towards the temple, Julia clutched the ring in her hand, her heart heavy with unspoken words. She knew she had missed her chance again, but maybe, just maybe, she could take solace in the fact that she had at least tried.
And as for Lucan, he was happy that everything passed.
As they reached the temple doors, Julia couldn't help but laugh softly to herself. Maybe next time… she thought, knowing that even if she never got the chance to confess, she would always cherish these memories of their time together. And she was relieved...
---
"Oye, that was ring I lost..." Maris looked at ring that Lucan gave it to Julia. This was ring she bought it to give Lucan but lost it. After she bought another one but it's still ring she got it for Lucan.
"Remember to get it back from Julia," Maris said to herself.