
After all the passengers came out one by one, Axel let go of his embrace.
Aluna then retreated her steps.
"Thank you."
Aluna smiled faintly at Axe.
"Hem."
Axel then cleared his throat.
"Let's get out, the bus attendant is waiting for us outside" Axel said.
Axel and Aluna then get off the bus.
Aluna smiled as she looked at the scene in front of her.
Currently they are in the area of Mount Vernon, one of the destinations in Skagit Valley.
"You like her so much?"
ask Axel.
"Hem.
I've wanted to go here for a long time.
But always hampered because of work.
And I'm so happy to finally be able to come to this place."
Axel saw a look of excitement on Aluna's face.
That girl must be really happy.
Aluna then walked away from Axel.
He explored every beauty of Mount Vernon.
Axel slowly followed him from behind.
Aluna ran small.
He found a stone so unique.
He immediately took a picture of the stone using his phone.
"Hey.."
Aluna looked to the side.
A man smiled at him.
Hiya.."
"I saw you before.
We were on the same bus."
"really?
Sorry, I don't recognize you."
"Are you here alone?
Or maybe you're with someone else?"
"Hem..
Actually I'm.."
Suddenly Axel came and immediately held Aluna's hand.
Axel then stood facing the man and covered part of Aluna's body.
Aluna was so surprised by what Axel was doing.
Even at this moment his hand was tightly grasped by Axel.
"He went with me." Axel told the man in a flat tone.
"I saw you on the bus.
You should have known that we went together." Axel added.
"Are you his girlfriend?" ask the man.
"Yes, I'm his girlfriend."
Again Aluna was so surprised by Axel's words.
"alright.
I will continue my journey.
It's good to see you guys."
The man immediately left Axel and Aluna.
While Aluna was silent behind Axel's body.
He was still trying to digest every action Axel took.
Axel removed his hand from Aluna and then turned his body.
"I did it because I didn't want anyone to mess with you.
Bad guys are everywhere.
You have to be careful.
Youunderstand?"
Aluna raised her face and then nodded her head.
Axel then leaves Aluna.
He understood Aluna must have been surprised by her actions.
Just like himself who never thought he would do something like that.
Honestly, although all this time he was sure that he would not fall a second time, he still could not.
Aluna slowly knocked down the fortress she had built all this time.
Aluna smilingly looked at the back of Axel who was walking forward.
He felt happy to hear Axel's words earlier.
--
Axel and Aluna walked side by side.
The wind blows over both.
Axel looked towards Aluna.
The cold must have penetrated the girl's skin.
Aluna noticed when Axel noticed her earlier.
He then turned his eyes to Axel.
The two halted each other's steps and faced each other.
"Sir Axe, thank you very much.
Thank you for saving me that day.
Sorry I haven't had time to thank you."
Axel stared fixedly at the two beads.
Aluna spoke the name to him again.
The name that Aluna used to use every time she called.
Axel moved his legs towards Aluna.
He then fixed the scarf and warm clothes worn by Aluna.
"Promise me you won't go anywhere without telling me again.
I was so worried that I had to follow you here."
Axel told Aluna the truth.
He came there because he was so worried about the girl.
Aluna smiled looking at Axel.
"Hem, I promise."
Suddenly Aluna's stomach rang indicating she was so hungry.
"You hungry?"
Aluna nodded her head while smiling amusedly.
"Alright, we're gonna find food around here."
The two of them then walked back.
They finally found a place to eat there.
A pretty big place with a simple feel.
A little while later, Axel came and brought food for Aluna.
"Eat."
Aluna looked towards the rice, soup and warm tea brought by Axel.
"You have to eat all that to keep your body warm."
Aluna smiled.
Axel knew that.
"My order has not arrived.
But you can't wait for me.
You have to eat first."
Aluna still hasn't eaten her food.
"You need to finish your meal soon Luna."
"Hem.."
Aluna obeyed Axel.
He slowly enjoyed the food.
Axel smiled and then crossed his hands looking at Aluna who was eating.
There was a sense of satisfaction in his heart when he saw Aluna eating so voraciously.
Yeah, of course you are.
Aluna has been hungry since.
After eating, Aluna and Axel came out of the place to eat.
Aluna stopped her steps.
His eyes stared at the lily flower arrangements sold there.
Axel realizes Aluna is not next to him.
Then he turned his body.
His eyes followed the view of Aluna who saw lily flowers displayed there.
Axel then approached Aluna.
"What's wrong?"
"It's okay.
Let's go back."
They then walked back to the bus that drove them.
"Aluna.."
"Hem.."
"I'll go to the toilet for a second.
You should wait for me here.
You can't go anywhere.
Youunderstand?"
"Yes, I'll wait for you here."
"Good."
Axel then walked away.
But he didn't actually go to the toilet.
Instead of going to a place that sells lily flower arrangements earlier.
Axel knew that Aluna loved lily so much.
He always bought it for Aluna.
Axel carried the lily flower arrangement behind his hand.
He wanted to surprise Aluna.
He then approached Aluna who was waiting for him.
"You waited a long time?"
"No.
I think Brother just left for a minute."
Aluna turned her face briefly towards the bus that had come to pick them up.
This time there were a lot of buses.
When his eyes returned, he was shocked.
He saw a lily flower arrangement in front of him.
Aluna raised her gaze on Axel.
The man was giving the flower to her.
"Forku?"
"Of course."
Aluna didn't know what else to say.
He could only smile at the flowers.
"You're going to let my hand go on like this?"
Aluna chuckles amusedly.
He then took the flower from Axel's hand.
Aluna smelled the lily.
Again he smiled.
Of course he was so happy.
Moreover, the flower is very special considering Axel who gave it to him.
"Thank you, brother."
"Hem.
You still really like that flower as it turns out."
"Don't you remember?"
Axel still remembers it.
The bad memories Aluna left behind made her completely yet to forget all about the girl.
Axel turned his gaze the other way and did not answer Aluna's question.
Aluna knew that.
He knew the question reminded Axel of their past.
And Axel must have really disliked it.
"Sir, Miss, are you coming with us on the bus?"
"Yes Sir.
We're gonna get on that bus."
"alright.
Please enter.
Everyone has been waiting."
Axel and Aluna then get into the bus.
This time there were plenty of empty seats.
Aluna then sat down on one of the chairs and Axel followed by sitting next to her.
After all the passengers got in, the bus then drove off.
Aluna held the flower in her hand.
He then looked towards Axel who was looking straight ahead.
"May I know why you gave me this flower?"
Axel stared at Aluna's bead that looked solemn.
"There is no specific reason.
I saw you keep staring at that flower as we walked out of the dining room.
So I think you want it so much."
"really?
Again, I thank you, brother."
"Hem.."
There was a hint of disappointment in Aluna's heart upon hearing Axel's reply.
He thought Axel still had feelings for him.
But all of that is just his hope.
He thought he was stupid for thinking such a faraway thing.
Axel does care about him.
But that doesn't mean that he still loves her.
Axel's goal to make her suffer crossed Aluna's mind.
In the end, they will never be together again.