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"Who… are you?" Arlecchino didn't even intend to come off as intimidating despite her squinted, calculating eyes and taller form looming over the shorter woman whose eyes widened in horror while she clutched on her luggage's handle—only for that character to break when her expression turned into a snarl, her brows furrowing and eyes rolling.
"Your new roommate, duh!" The shorter one says, trying to appear bigger by raising her voice. Her height was not helping at all because it made her look like a small, cute puppy trying to bark for the first time to protect it's owner. That image that went into Arlecchino's head almost made her slip a small laugh, but she was quick to mask it with a soft cough, as if clearing her throat.
How irritating… but entertaining. The taller woman thinks, so she hums softly before crossing her arms over her chest. "How am I supposed to believe you?" She asks, trying her hardest and best not to grin—she doesn't want to give away that she was just messing with this possible, new roommate of hers. After all… she was quite cute. It wouldn't hurt to play around… or is this going to ruin her first impression of her? Oh no… that can't be.
So before the white-haired woman with blue highlights could erupt—the imaginary smoke already fuming from her ears, Arlecchino cuts her off, "I'm jesting. You must be Furina, right?" She asks politely, her expression softening as she gives the other a small smile.
She really wears her heart on her sleeve, huh? was the conclusion Arlecchino made as the shorter woman's expression immediately relaxed after her eyes widening in surprise for a moment at the sudden 360 turn of events. But before Furina could even ask her how she knew, she responded, or rather added, "The landlord told me someone named Furina was moving in. Never know how you would look like, so I'm asking if my assumption is correct?"
Finally, the woman on the other side of the door smiles, extending her hand towards the taller one.
Oh… she is cute.
"Yes! Nice to meet you, I'm Furina!"
"Arle…" The already wasted woman mumbles while her cheek is slumped against her crossed arms on top of the table. The woman across her hums as an acknowledgement, finishing the drink in her hand before placing the glass down as soon as she downed it in one go. She patiently waits for the other to collect her words, remaining silent. "What do you do if the person you like already likes someone else?"
She must be talking about herself, no?
Arlecchino stays silent for a moment before humming, her fingers drumming against the counter while looking at her wasted roommate who was staring back at her. They continue to hold eye contact for a moment, none of them wishing to break it. The silence wasn't uncomfortable either as much as it stretched throughout the entire apartment, only the sound of the crickets from outside entering the quiet room. 'How does she know that she's literally asking the right person this question?' she thought to herself but never said it out loud. After a while, she simply shrugs, surrendering and claiming defeat in the staring contest as she finally breaks eye contact.
"Why are you asking me?" She asks in return, "I know nothing about how that feels."
Furina breaks into a fit of laughter at Arlecchino's response. The taller of the two furrows her brows as she looks back at the other woman who tries her best to contain it and finally calm down. Has she finally lost it? "Is it your hobby to deny things, Arle?"
"What're you talking about?" She rolls her eyes in response before pouring herself another shot in her glass. "Pack it up already. You're drunk."
"Haha, it's fine, Arle. I know… you're quite the horrible actor, you see?" The other mumbles softly as she watches the woman across her down her drink, watching her throat bob up and down as the liquor slides from her lips down to her throat. When Arlecchino places the glass down, her eyes meet Furina's heterochromic ones, squinting them.
"Know what?"
"I know… that… you like me." Silence once again fills the room. They both just stare at one another for quite a moment. Arlecchino just wishes the moonlight brightens so that she could see the reflection of whatever expression she was making in Furina's eyes. Was she shocked? How ridiculous must she look like? She thinks to herself as more questions start to fill her mind. 'How do you know? No one knows. Never even told anyone about how I feel. I was also sure that I wasn't that obvious. Why did you have to say that?' So many thoughts and questions suddenly rushed into Arlecchino's brain that her head suddenly felt heavy and her surroundings started to blur.
The alcohol must be hitting her too.
"You're really drunk to be spatting these nonsense, Furina." It's too late to deny it, no?
"Drunk words, sober thoughts." She responds as she smiles, sitting up properly. "Just admit it now, Arle…" She adds, shrugging after while maintaining eye contact with the woman across her—as if patiently waiting for an honest response from her. "You never know… I might give you a chance."
Give her a chance? Hah… she never stood a chance in the first place. How could she even give her one when she won't even win a game she'll never be part of anyway?
"You won't even remember everything you're talking about the next day."
"Oh I will remember everything." Furina says as she leans forward from the counter, pulling Arlecchino by the collar of her shirt. With that, the distance between their faces are now at such a close proximity that only the gentle breeze can pass through in between them. "So make sure that it's also a memory you also wouldn't forget."
"Arle, I'm sorry." Furina mumbles softly as she lowers her head, her tears falling directly onto her hands that sat on top of her own lap. Arlecchino sighs softly as she scoots closer, but she doesn't immediately bring the shorter woman towards her. She simply extends her hand out, waiting patiently before the other takes it—she uses this as a cue that the younger allows her, gives her the permission to hold her.
Thankfully, the other woman holds onto her extended hand which she uses to pull her onto her own lap while Furina hides her face onto Arlecchino's shoulder. The taller woman's other hand gently brushes her hair while the other one continues to hold the sobbing woman's hand, squeezing it gently as some sort of reassurance. "We don't have to continue this if you don't want to." She mumbles softly while her thumb gently brushes against the younger woman's palm.
"It… It's not that I don't want it…" She responds in between sniffles and soft apologies for wetting the other's shoulder, which Arlecchino didn't even seem to mind. "Then… what is?"
Furina stays silent for a moment before sitting up properly on Arlecchino's lap, attempting to meet her eyes but… it never did. Her head remained looking down, staring down at her hands which held Arlecchino's. "I… I can't use you any longer." She mumbles softly, raising the taller woman's hand and placed it on her cheek. She let's the woman on her lap lean against the palm of her hand, her thumb instinctively caressing them, wiping her tears. "It… it's not right… It's… unfair… to you, Arlecchino."
Ah.
Do I not fill in the emptiness anymore, Furina?
Do I no longer provide the warmth that only she can give you?
Do I no longer make you smile the way she can do?
It's… fine. It has always been… fine.. for me. But…
"You never used me, Furina… I… also wanted this, after all."
"Lynette, when you go out, can you drop this off at the mail?"
"Sure, uncle."
—
Greetings, dearest Furina.
It is my sincere apology that I wouldn't be attending your wedding today.
I have my own matters to attend to. However, I will be wishing you both from afar.
May you both have a fruitful marriage and spend the rest of your days happily.
Sincerely yours,
Arlecchino.
—
"Uncle, I thought you hated sweets?" Arlecchino's nephew, Freminet asks as they walk hand-in-hand together. She just bought him an ice cream earlier, but when she saw him frown how she didn't buy herself ice cream as well as she did with him—she couldn't say no and bought one for herself. I don't want to eat my ice cream if you don't eat one with me, uncle. was his argument and she was not that cruel to say no to her young nephew.
"Did I?" She teases him, pinching his cheek gently. "Well, it looks like I built one because I kept buying for you."
"Hm… but you'd usually get chocolate 'cause you said it was a little bitter. Why vanilla-blueberry?"
The question made her pause for a moment as she stopped her tracks and stare at the ice cream in her hand. It looks like… "Your ice cream reminds me of Auntie Furina's hair, uncle."
"Oh… haha, does it?"
—
Hey, Arlecchino!
Thank you for your sincere greetings.
We both have been well and I hope you are too!
I hope we can catch up soon.
Will you treat me ice cream again like we used to back then?
I will be waiting for your response!
Your dear friend,
Furina.
—
"I'm just... really happy that you're well, Furina."