ONE SUMMER NIGHT'S

I just need some time

"Are you going to keep going like this?" jeane asked when she found Ruel, who was still sitting in the music room, when it was late at night.

"Ruel, what are you doing here. We're all looking for you everywhere" Gray continued, while Ruel just fell silent not answering. He even hoped not to be found by anyone now, hoping that no one would see and ignore him.

"Why just shut up? Are you really going to be like this?" jeane asked, losing patience.

Ruel raised his head, looking at Jeane who was now standing before him, before turning his gaze towards Gray.

"Can't you just ignore me?"

"ignored you?"

"Why don't you guys just go?"

"And let you stay here?"

"I don't think it's a big deal."

"Not a big deal you say? You ...."

"Enough Jeane," cut Gray.

"What?!" jolt Jeane looked at Gray, before turning back to Ruel who was still sitting in the same position.

"Don't argue anymore" replied Gray who really did not want any more debate between them.

They have been arguing a lot lately. With Ruel ending up disappearing again, and he does not want it to happen again now.

"I think that's enough, Ruel. Stop acting crazy and be aware. You are not this kind of man before, who will let yourself continue to fall and be hurt, grieving for a long time. You're not the one who's going to do something in vain, you're always even telling me and Gray. What's wrong with you now?"

"Jeane, let him."

"Until when?"

Gray let out a long sigh before slowly chugging it away. Actually, he himself also did not know what to do to persuade Ruel, and returned it as before, feeling that he did not know Ruel anymore. The man changed quite drastically, became very shy, did not talk much and was very sensitive, even he almost never saw a smile on Ruel's face again.

"Ruel, I beg you. Stop making us keep worrying about you" Jeane folded her knees before Ruel before hugging the man tightly with tears in her eyes.

Everything had changed since then, and he really missed the old Ruel, who had always ignored anything, never looked sad and kept silent as he was today. He even misses Ruel's annoying attitude, misses Ruel who always irritates him and screams all day just because of his silly behavior.

"You have us, we're always together, there's not even a day without us. But why would you prefer to be alone with your pain. Do I and Gray mean nothing to you anymore?" jeane cupped Ruel's face, looked into both eyes that were filled with sadness, and it hurt her enough.

"I'm sorry, Jeane."

"If you feel guilty, then stop acting like this. Please, I even feel like I've lost you. Can you forget your pain and go back to how you used to be? Gray and I will help you, we will do anything for you" Jeane said, hugging Ruel.

Ruel simply fell silent without answering, before being seen letting go of Jeane's embrace and moving from his seat.

"I'm leaving."

"Are you going to run again?"

Ruel went back silent saying nothing. Maybe that was all he could do, keep running away so that no one would see him continue to grieve and cry like a stupid man.

"Stop running and hide, Ruel. Stop being a coward and face all your problems, Gray and I will always be by your side."

"Maybe you're right. I've turned into a coward now, I'm even more comfortable if I keep hiding. Can you just let me?"

"Ruel's."

"This time I really don't know what to do, I feel so sick that I almost go crazy. My chest would explode if I ate it all up. Even the more I tried to forget everything, the more hurt I felt, I ran out of sense."

Jeane's tears came back. He had never expected that Ruel would be this destructive, never expecting that Ruel's feelings would be this deep for Sea.

"Did you really love her so much?"

Ruel was silent not answering.

"Have you turned crazy now for loving her?"

Ruel took a deep and powerful breath. What his confession still means if he shouts to the world if he loves Sea so much. Maybe everyone will consider him stupid, consider him unreasonable, and maybe crazy because of his feelings. However, he felt very lost at this moment. Sea is not only the figure of the woman who is loved, but he also felt if Sea is a figure full of warmth that is the same as his mother, can be a friend, Brother, and Mother for him.

"Thank you, Jeane, for worrying about me."

"Then?"

"I just need some time."

"Will three months be enough for you?"

Ruel remained silent for a few seconds. It might take a long time, or maybe a lifetime to forget about Sea.

"Now then, I don't know when to forget it all, either" replied Ruel, visibly patting Gray on the shoulder before stepping away.

"Rabuel ... Ruel!"

"Enough, Jeane. Let him go," Gray grabbed Jeane's arm as he was about to catch up with Ruel.

"Why do you always keep me from holding him back, and keep letting him go?"

"Because I don't think there's any point in talking to him right now. His feeling is still very hurt. And telling him to forget all will make his heart hurt even more because it is not easy. Don't you understand it? It's her first love, and Miss Sea is not just the girl she loves, but also as a sister, friend, and mother to her."

"I know, but we can't possibly let it go on like that, right? Want to get to when? Soon we will face the final test, and Ruel never does anything. Are we going to keep leaving it like that? I could not bear to see Brother Eden who continued to seek his existence, continued to worry and grieve, even to the point of ignoring his own work just for that."

"Are you worried now about Sis Eden?"

"Gray!"

"Yes. I'm just asking, why did your reaction get like that."

"I'm just upset ...."

"Hi, Jeane," said someone who stopped Jeane's sentence immediately.

Even directly reversing the body when feeling someone is now standing behind his back. While Gray was just speechless, looking at the figure of Oskan who was smiling as usual.

"Are you upset right now?"

"I don't think it's any of your business, Oskan. And what are you doing here, in music class?"

"I just accidentally saw you, and couldn't stand not greeting you. Is that a problem?"

Jeane rolled her eyes lazily. Why should Oskan come and further ruin his already bad mood before.

"Hi Oskan, was your day fun? We've already greeted each other, haven't we? What if you leave now?"

"Ah, what a disappointment. I really want to talk to you."

"Just tell me what you want and stop convoluted," continued Gray finally made a sound after being silent since.

"Oh come on, why is your reaction so flat and cold. Did something happen?"

"It's nothing."

"really? I barely even saw Ruel with you guys again, I think there's a pretty serious problem."

"I don't think it's any of your business."

"I know, it's just that I feel something's weird. You've always been together all this time" Oskan replied with a smile that adorned his face.

"Ah, I'm quite tired" said Jeane who immediately stepped away, reluctant to serve Oskan.

"I always see him with Ken."

***