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"He hates me...he has every right to."
Mia sits at the table in silence, staring at her tea. Her head hanging down in shame.
"Why did I do that to him back at Mt. Aleph? I had more common sense than that."
The scene kept replaying in her head. She could've told him they were fine, but instead she mocked him. Mocked someone who was close to her, who went as far as risking his life to save her. She feels that she can not forgive herself for doing that to him.
At the time, Mia thought what she did something harmless. She was poking fun at the fact that Garet was being oblivious again. That if he just turned around, he would've saw that his family was alive and well. This wasn't the first time that Mia laughed at Garet's lack of common sense; she thought she was being playful. Under most circumstances, Garet would've known that she wasn't being malicious or anything.
This time, however, she really messed up. Garet genuinely thought that his family was dead, and he must've thought that she was laughing at his grief, that she was being completely uncharacteristicly insensitive. He would've expected this from Sheba as she was typically a smart-ass, but not from her.
Mia hadn't realized how cruel she was actually being then until Jenna called her out on it. When she did, Mia stood there in silence, realizing what she had actually done while Sheba tried to hold back her laugher. She knows what it's like to lose a loved one. Like her father and the people in Imil who succumbed to old age or sickness. Back in Imil, she was the one who would comfort the families through their grief, and if she didn't see Garet's family, she would've comforted Garet as well.
There was something different about being with Garet and the rest of the party. She was able to be herself and not play the role as this “Professional Healer” who was incapable of doing anything wrong. She was able to joke around and be snarky sometimes. All the while making her feel liberated. But at that moment, she could've assumed the role as the Angel of Imil. She could've handled the situation much more professionally. But she didn't and now she has to deal with the consequences of her actions.
Mia looked at the window for a moment. The sky was dark; there were no stars. She couldn't see the ruins of Vale and Mt. Aleph. She then let out a deep sigh and looked at her tea again. It was now cold.
"Even Alex wouldn't do something so heartless."
Mia felt a sharp pain in her chest. Her eyes started to water up. She genuinely thought that it was one of the worst things she has ever done. She couldn’t forgive herself for it.
Mia sat up and thought for a moment. Maybe she should apologize to Garet. How would he react to it? She saw how overjoyed Garet was when he saw that his family was alive, but maybe he was also feeling resentment towards her. He may now be holding a grudge against her, but doesn't want say anything.
Would apologizing be the right thing to do?
Is she only apologizing to make herself feel better?
What if he doesn't accept her apology?
What if he yells at her?
Mia lets out a deep breath and counted to ten. She'll do it! She'll apologize. Even if he doesn't accept it and gets mad at her.
Mia leaves the table and goes to Garet's room. She opens the door, making sure not to wake him up. Which ironically, is exactly what she's about to do.
"Garet...Garet..." Mia whispers while gently nudging him awake.
Garet groans and lets out a quiet "What is itttt?" while turning towards Mia.
Mia lets out a sigh.
"Ummm....Garet?" Mia stutters. "You know...back at...Vale earlier...this evening?"
"Yes?" Garet replies, not knowing what Mia was talking about.
"Remember when Sheba and I laughed at you when you thought your family was dead?"
"Yeah...what about it?" Garet replied. In Mia's eyes, she thought Garet sounded frustrated. But he could just be groggy.
"I shouldn't have done that!" Mia says, managing to muster up the courage to do so. "I didn't realize how insensitive I was being back then. It was downright cruel of me to do that and you have every right to be mad at me. I just wanted to let you know how I feel, and you don't have to forgive me."
Mia then looks down at the floor with tears streaming down her face.
"Mia..." Garet says, this time fully aware of what she was talking about "Why do you think I’m mad at you?"
"Because I was being very insensitive towards you." Mia then lifts her head up, looking at Garet straight in his eyes. "You thought you lost your entire family. I could've comforted you. I could've told you that your family was fine. I could've done anything aside from laughing at you."
"It's fine, Mia." Garet says, while sitting up. "Do you honestly think you're the only one who has said or done anything stupid?"
"But...but...Garet. I know how much your family means to you!" Mia replies in confusion. "If it were the other way around...I probably would have never spoken to you again!"
Garet replies, “But my family is alive. Everything is fine now."
Mia lets out a sigh, “You realize how serious this is, right? I even though I was just laughing about how you were not paying attention to your surroundings again...it really looked like I was laughing at your grief!"
Garet bluntly says, “Oh Mia! You get too emotional sometimes!"
"But Garet..."
Garet smiling at Mia, "I know how you would never actually say or do anything to hurt anyone. Please don't worry about it. Also...well...I really do appreciate you coming to me about this. And yes, I do accept your apology!"
Mia, now full of emotion, "...Thank you...Garet."