Five Months and Twenty Three Days

Leisurely basking in the sunlight, breathing in the clear air, sipping on a hot cup of freshly brewed coffee and wandering mindlessly relying only upon one's instincts...

What a wonderful day it was for him.

The difference in his plan down to the details during the day before and the current date was too cumbersome that a day unrolling the scroll with all its archive jotted down won't suffice.

The surviving condition of his own reversed to a twenty-four-hour ago notably was in a disorderly shape, being contorted from the prior jet lag.

A few nights after withstanding the aftertaste torture of travelling by air, he dared proudly assert that he'd challenged his fragile limit to the brink of shattering.

Not saying that he'd actually report this to his good-old friend (that would probably be happy enough to voluntarily rebuke him after hearing that) nearing the end of the day before.

Regardless, he reserved a full day from dawn to dark merely for the sake of visiting five big and well-established hospitals not for the illness this time, but an ill-tempered person.

Quite desperately, if words were sufficient at doing the explaining.

He sighed, not knowing whether to smile or even cry.

Despite the happy go lucky pretence he'd worn in face of anything, the deepest corner of his heart wasn't rubbed off with the bits of assurance his hands had dunked in.

His own hand wasn't able to reach the little corner that was hidden from his own sight, blindfolded by the restriction that squirmed for somebody to pat it in assurance.

The assurance it sought by chance had to be the hardest obtained. But it's fine, the time wasn't up yet.

...

Yesterday's sunset was beautiful.

The sky was painted with layered shades of oranges encircling its cores of light, the sun as it set in no hurry for the moon-escorted eve to make its greet.

The entrancing sunset through the glass window of the fifth hospital left him pondering with blank eyes that reflected the sunset pinnacle.

Just as the sun takes its time guiding its setting for the moon, he will also let nature takes its course as he treaded only the path that fates had threaded him.

It was by no doubt that little to no chance would ‘he’ pop out of thin air in front of him was he to spare not an effort on searching for him.

Despite him akin to searching a needle in a haystack.

He was well aware that resources such as hired investigator or a reliable mutual acquaintance would be a great moving gear for his fruitless search.

Though, he turned down such offers that would present him better results than his pointless that one could tell with one eye shut will end in vain.

He did collect trivial pieces of information related to him, one that he'd obtained from his friend who happened to be a mutual friend with ‘him’ although he'd never given out his address or even the city he made a home in.

‘He’ had erected a career in medical fields in recent years, realising his childhood dream into a dream come true.

Knowing this constantly bloomed a smile the owner himself didn't seem to notice.

A foolhardy plan and farcical approaches weren't the proudest decision he'd set in stone but it was an intention cultivated with his determination even if it sometimes was swayed by the strong wind.

This shaky branch that was more fragile than anything was his only will.

It might be the only ridiculous thing he could have ever accomplished in his life.

Even so, he's more than inclined to wager his everything on this gamble he'd set himself up to.

Luca zoomed into reality, consciously wandering around the town square to have his visions sanctified with the tourist attractions he'd pinpointed in advance.

The zestful attentions of his scattered like tiny grains traversing the brick walls of the streets into the smallest details of the fushia petals of the flowers wrapped in bouquets for sale.

And not to his surprise, he was bumped into by a stroke of not-so fortunate luck or rather, a not-so good-natured person.

Hosting the frail body he was, the nudge effortlessly tackled over him, causing soap-opera-like scenes where the daughter-in-law was slapped in the face by his disapproving mother in law into a side-saddle position.

Such sickly ill-fated moment he had to host undeviatingly after a relished day.

Talking about bad luck, Luca was showered by the coffee that he clutched onto as if his life depended on it, only for the weak lid of its cup to instantly peeled off and rush to him instead.

He... honestly didn't appreciate his favourite coffee returning to him that way that reeked him all over with the sharp scents of the coffee.

Certainly, it's one of the worst days to appear wearing a new white shirt... which he apparently did. Such a handmade masterpiece stained his white branded and newly bought shirt.

Luca's not one to hold grudges nor was he fond of conflict, so he wasn't going to comment anything about the shirt, considering how he's partly to blame too for not paying attention.

“Ah, I'm so sorry... are you okay?”

His right hand nimbly collected back the emptied plastic cup that's supposed to be filled with his precious coffee just a moment ago.

By luck or not, his drink didn't even come in contact with the man, not a single drop.

*tssk *

The huge-physiqued man snapped with a toiling amount of dissatisfaction vividly portrayed on his gruesome grimace. “Watch it! What a jinx...” He whipped out a vexed eye roll.

Although startled by the shout, Luca sighed while shrugging off his pessimist impressions with an undefined smile.

Even if it's not him that had actually become the cause of the bumping, it didn't matter anymore.

Rather, he's quite fortunate that his coffee rain didn't even touch that man, even though it did lunge onto him.

Luca carelessly moved his arm causing him to hiss lightly. Some part of his arm and ankle throbbed in pain.

Did he accidentally twist his leg?

Luca hesitated... although it lasted only a second as he had proceeded to overlook his strained arm. His hands flailed around like a duck, struggling to stand up from the awkward slopped sitting position he's in.

“Excuse me, sir. Are you alright?”

Like the saint aid, a gracious voice called for him, lending a hand to Luca that's in a sticky position from the unintended coffee bath.

Needless to say, he was positively not alright.

“It's fine, I'm alright.” Luca was immersed in gratefulness for her thoughtfulness but he dared not bother her.

The polite smile he'd declined her thoughtful offers with stiffened as soon as their eyes engaged one another.

Luca was petrified into a corpse, a mummified corpse. Just how... and why exactly?

Met with this unappointed confrontation, he's about to make a run for it with all his might.

Out of the blue, a firm grasp hooked his arm, inflicting agonizing distress on the opened wound. Luca winced unconsciously when her touch landed on the wounded spot.

“Gah! Sir, you're bleeding!” Chaoticness pervaded the room.

Not precisely a room supposing that they were on the sidewalks. Regardless, two entirely offbeat sorts of uneasiness fused one another.

The young lady's knitted brows doubled, discerning the bloody red smears staining his shirt had mingled with the coffee stain apace.

She tugged him along with her force-haste to a location he knew nothing of.

‘??? What the---?’

This was logically speaking is a... kidnapping... right?

Everything happened so fast it implicated his judgement, lagged by the confusion of being dragged away without any sort of consensus.

Luca in the end was simply baggage-d away in a rather comical means.

***

The lingering dense smell of antiseptic wafted inside the pharmacy, the sense of familiarity embraced him with a feeling of melancholy deep within. Good experiences amidst this odour had never existed in his dictionary of life, that essentially was something others would surely agree to as well.

“Senior... you are Senior Luca, correct?” She insisted, as her hawk eyes bawling the captivated prey sat obediently.

Long story short, after being carried away by the lady who's extending her hand for assistance, he's brought to the pharmacy she's running and was provided with proper treatments and a soak too, freeing him from both the pain and coffee.

Currently, Luca was being thoroughly investigated in the middle of being treated with another shot of caffeine replacing his forfeited one.

“Haha...I've got that a lot lately but I'm sorry, you must be mistaken.” Managing the fact that he was busted, he foolishly decided to tread on that path of dishonesty by showcasing his fake laugh on the plate. How long will the plate endure prevailed ambiguously...

“Senior... how could I ever forget about you?” Evidently, if Luca was visually impaired that 'genuine' pleading from her will without a doubt worked but that wasn't the case.

Giselle Bianca, a young pharmacist from a reputable doctor lineage and Luca's close junior in their university years. The intrepid siren... was what they branded her blessed her fierce and bold behaviour plus her splendid voice tone.

Nevertheless, her apathetic stiff expression depicting IDGAF pretty much flung that out of the window.

“I...” Luca was flustered, baffled with his words fastened in his throat.

“Is a mole on a thumb easy to be duplicated?” Dumfounded, his expression said it all.

“Ha...you rather memorised someone's mole than their face, Elle?” Luca chuckled as he recalled the nonchalant dauntless attitude applied to her who everyone presumed was violent.

People use to assert that true love manifested one's demeanour discordantly. Imperceptibly his belief was yielded into that statement.

The content feeling one had when her usually dull expressions commissioned an impeccable flip had Luca's cousin, Charles Ceylon made his entrance was fulfilling.

As additional info, both of them are engaged to each other officially with a plan of marriage soon in mind.

“Senior, your platinum blonde hair with a gold line is too distinct to be imitated unless you dye it like mine.”

Giselle directed her gaze towards the rosy hue of her senior's natural hair that never faltered at enticing just anyone. Similarly, did she perceived it too once in the past on their first encounter...

That day when the autumn arrived and the beautiful rust-coloured leaves scattered on the ground from its original spot on the tree. A picturesque day to be treasured from days onward.

Among the reddish-brown background, stood out a beautiful silver glow that outshined the falling leaves. An intriguingly ambiguous appearance that served as a genuine affinity.

She's bewitched by the beauty with no sound voiced, her foot paced forward intuitively as if being drawn on by an unknown force.

*grab *

Her hands grasped the enchanter, little did she acknowledged her unconscious doings as if being drunken on the potion made out of the delusion enchantment.

“Eh?” Perplexed was to be anticipated as his response from being grabbed out of the blue. Huge red bold question marks should be visible all over his bewildered face, including those who encircled him.

“Can I touch your hair?” With eyes beaming of hopes, she requested straightforwardly thus inducing surprising titters from him who chuckled brilliantly.

“What?!!!” Again, the rest of them were bewildered by the overwhelming sense of honesty and frankness she expressed. Plus, it's the so-professed intrepid siren they're addressing now...

“...Pfft! Haha, you're a frank one... so my hair's that interesting, huh? But sure, little friend.” Luca gave his permission which also attracted others unusual glances.

“Pretty...” She muttered in awe. As if there a shining halo glowing over Luca who was gentle with his smile.

“Hmm??” Not understanding the situation, his response slipped with curiosity.

Others whispering were deafened at the moment limited in her hearings, it's not like she particularly paid any attention to those aspects, regardless, so...

Besides, others point of views had yet to benefit ever her whole life so why bother now?

That odd occurrence was the turning point of both their lives, bonding their relationship as the closest bud. It's hilarious how their relationship began but also was priceless.

As a hair expert from her meticulous explorations and studying for roughly a decade, owing to Luca's cooperation from lending his hair as a test subject, natural hair shed a distinctive impression as opposed to a dyed one.

His hair was delicate to touch and was to its finest, comparable to a cat fluffy furs.

Genetically speaking, he's born with a single braid of golden hues among that platinum hair of his that made an exquisite contradiction. Her sister had inherited the identical thing from their ancestors.

However, lately, his usual hair sparks appeared withering leaving a monotone grey behind. It looks like greeny plant leaves slowly withering and decaying.

Even the sweet husky voice of Luca have sounds hoarse and forced. Those obvious signs pained her right when they stumble upon each other.

“It is that obvious?” Admitting his doom at hiding, Luca removed his black cap that covered his hair, stroking them gently to tidy them that suffocated beneath the cap.

“You're like endorsing yourself. Say, senior...what are you doing in H city? It's not like you to be visiting a city impulsively when there's no special business here.”

The Luca she knew dare not committing something on the spur of the moment without decent planning or itinerary of his daily pursuits. He's that someone who had a proper disposition of everyday life and a perfectionist in essentially everything.

“Well... I'm here solely for leisure, a voyage so I won't be staying at a place long. I'm taking a vacation worth six months from the world, isn't that exciting?”

Luca optimistically declared with his hands motioning the winning gestures, before groaning in pain from dragging his plastered arms.

“Why so? Not that I disagree as you have worked all times but a vacation...for six months? I'm glad you are enthusiastic, but...”

In her beliefs, spending all of his free times travelling without any devising wasn't a good idea but his actual reasoning broken her heart, conceding her into agreeing as well.

That's the reason she remained reserved, nodding to him as her fingers motioned stirring the tea in faked serenity.

“Why not? I'm craving the pleasure of travelling around huge cities. Finally, I was able to dump all of those demanding struggles...” Luca's utterance whipped Giselle with a realisation and his unbeatable composure pushed her to the verge of sentiments.

* plip *

*hic * *hic *

“Luca... Sorry, sorry...I'm so sorry... I-I...” Giselle sniffled as tears flooded her faces. Her conscience went speechless witnessing the empty smiles he formed.

Unbearable... it's excruciating and wordlessly stifling to that she felt horrible of being able to do absolutely nothing to her adored senior that's currently facing a tough obstacle.

“What are you sorry for? It's not like it's your fault, Lil' Giselle. Seeking for our love till the end of one's breath sounds romantic, no?” His hand patted her head as his words reassured Giselle that had snap out of her usual persona.

* sobs * *sobs *

“Y-you're a h-hopeless romanticist, senior...sobs.” Luca extended his arms, tugging her into a hug, hushing the rift of feelings that the two souls weren't able to bear.

The only exception was that one was made a secret while the other was made apparent.

“It's alright, Elle... At least the remaining journey will grant us the chances of a mere encounter. That alone is enough for me to live on.” Luca muttered.

He wondered when will fate allowed the second encounter in between of 'he' and himself, or truly will fates ever allowed for one?

***

After the massive tears-shedding floods, they both returned to Elle's lodgings that she's residing at after wrapping up the pharmacy for the day.

“Senior, I've decided. I'm departing along with you!” Her voice screamed determination as she yanked her belongings and stuffing them into gigantic black with violet striped luggage.

“Hold on...Where to?” Luca instantly clutched the fast-paced hand of his junior that was in the haste of packing.

“Your vacation. I can't leave you travelling alone... Luca, two head is better than one.” Her expression gradually darkened and with an unravelled tone she withdrew her hand from his that got in the way of her packing.

“I appreciate your thoughts, Elle but any more than this, I won't be able to repay you. I'm sure that there are also lots of others that need you, here... more important than me.” Her insisting on following him will just weigh more cons than the pros for her.

It's fairer for her not to as this journey was long meant for him alone without the company of others. Allowing her will merely conclude with her soon being wallowed in blues.

“B-But senior... I won't get in your ways, nor will I stop you so please, just bring me with you...” Giselle refused to shift her request despite apprehending the truth better than others how those words held great validity behind them.

The apologetic weeping face she made prompted his hand patting his hard to coax sister's head again.

Patting her hair like this evoked him of the past.

Giselle used to have naturally blonde hair but in her sophomore year, she went gangsta and had her hair dyed with strawberry blonde highlights.

“Elle, instead of accompanying me, how about fulfilling me a promise instead, will you?” Luca proposed, making clear of his intention of discarding the ideas of her coming along behind.

It's not that she's a burden by interfering with his expedition, no, but it's because not all tales ended with a happy ever after one. But of course, even he was oblivious in regard to the future.

“Luca, you... what is it?” That gesture of him ascertained her to give in. And so, with a frail refusal, she regarded to his whims.

“Elle... first, you must assure me not to abruptly dump my brat of a cousin, yes? Charles will certainly be wailing till the end of the world if you did.” Luca poked teasingly at Giselle that reddened from the impromptu mention of her beloved one.

“Senior! Be serious, would you?” Giselle snorted sheepishly, flustered as she flouted over the gloom earlier.

“I need you to properly look after yourself, never date scumbags who make your eyes puffy from being dumped that applied on Charles as well, of course...

You must quit that unhealthy habit of binge eating when you are under the weather and bravely faced them, yeah?... No more again staying up late just to watch your dramas just because I'm not here to warn you, hmm?

Above all, treat yourself like a queen and make sure others do too, Giselle Bianca as you truly are one like you always love to claim before, hahaha.

You know, just as I am precious to you, you too are likewise is very precious to me. My best friend, my little sister, my family.

The one who encourages me regardless of the whispers, the one who supports me without judgement over my actions, the one who corrects me when I'm in the wrong and always is the one who never fails to be there when I need you most.

Elle, really...thank you. Forgive me, cause this time, I'll have to disobey your order, Your Highness. I hope Charles can take care of my little queen here properly and not to starve her.”

Luca grabbed Giselle's palm and gifted her a frozen treat wrapped in plastic packaging, one that others crave during mid-summers.

“Luca...this? Popsicle ice creams???”

Giselle whammed waves of laughter with her back turned on Luca as she repressed the bitterness that welled her heart at his speech.

Giselle grasped the chocolate-flavoured frozen treat that Luca set on her hands after finalizing his words. What's with that horrible timing?

Still, the thoughts that it's a typical thing he would do for sure was bringing smiles to her face...

“Yeap, I bought one for myself too. Doesn't this bring back memories?”

Luca's word passed by carrying a hefty silence as both preserved their unintended gazes towards the busy streets, recalling all the past that passed by the door of their remembrance.

“Luca... you're being too cruel. If you want to profess at least do it more romantically, you hopeless romanticist.” Giselle subdued theirs hushes with a rigidly defined giddiness.

They would rather not touch the sensitive topics but was inescapably running closer and closer as the conversation flows.

“Eh---- It's a rare treat from your senior, you know. I don't just treat anyone.” Luca countered her words with a simple grin.

Those chocolate-flavoured popsicles are the exact ones they would consume after an exasperating day, especially in the blazing summer season.

Memories kept being replayed in their minds without fail, giving a heart-wrenching sensation... endlessly scouring both mentalities.

“Eh---- Aren't you being too stingy over a cheap popsicle, prudent senior?” Elle conventionally being lumped into that luminous laughter of his.

Once, she had this unfaltering impression if he was actually a holy being, an angel possibly. Frankly, it's amusing to have reminisced back.

“Heh, I guess this hush money doesn't work too?”

Luca ripped open the popsicle's plastic wrapper, start eating the cold appetiser that left a chill on his palate. Giselle too did the same before her emotions strike a breakdown.

*tears up *

“...I still can't believe it, senior... life is so unfair, why just why... Forgive me, Luca...” Giselle broke into tranquil tears, no longer whimpering but her stream of tears is unstoppable.

It's morosely overwhelming despite her not being the one been put under the pressure.

“There, there... don't blame yourself over something that isn't your fault, alright? It's an inevitable fate of mine, so no more self-accusing. Did that lousy-mouthed Charles told you of my ‘excursion’?”

Regarding his journey, his decision was only known to his close family members and several appointed employee, so it's understandable that he perceived it too.

“Yeah... you're so despicable, Luca. Why didn't you tell me anything about it? Am I that unreliable in your eyes?” Giselle looking glum again, reflecting herself as her visions directed to the floor.

“Hmm... I planned to tell you one day but fates sure are unpredictable, huh? Also, I see no reason as to why would I trusted someone unreliable with all my secrets before, Elle.”

He had the intention to but it's never was made reality as Giselle now was living in a separate city and they're both busy chasing after their own pacing life.

“Geez, as if that one day will ever come... Hey, can you turn around for a sec, Luca?” Giselle requested and Luca knowingly turned his body fronting away from her way.

“Sure.” His response was concise.

“And oh, close your eyes too.”

“Eyes closed.” Luca shut his eyes with both his hands, anticipating the incoming.

The air she inhaled was breathed in deeply, accumulating nature's force for the strength she's seeking to put her concerns into words.

“Senior Luca, you said that I'm the one who assisted you most but to me, senior it's you, the one who supports me during all my hardships. I likewise wish that I could help you with your struggles, so just know that I'll be here listening to you even if I'm impotent in this fight.

I hope for this journey of yours to become the joy peak of your life we all held invaluably.

Please, please... remember that I'm here for you always and I... also treasure our memories when we're both ignorantly playing around so, senior, don't worry about me and others too... be more greedy and do the thing you are only best at, by being happy.”

She gasped out of breath after the confessing but Luca's reaction concerned her rather greater than her missing breath.

She admitted, as someone who seldomly confessed her genuine sentiments, expressing one's embarrassing compassion was the definition of difficult on another whole level.

Nevertheless, this awkward and tear-jerking profession was better than regretting and lamenting the following day.

“Alright. I will... So here, my last gift before your bachelorette titles being replaced. I want to escort you walking under the aisle but I'm sorry if by any chance I...” Luca paused his words, leaving it hanging with a smile.

He placed emerald-carved earrings shaded in a golden coating on Giselle's palm.

“No! You'll be the one to witness my wedding, the one to send me to my partner with a smile. So promise me, Luca, that you will or else I'm strangling you right here and now.”

Giselle grumbled in exasperation with her eyebrows heavily scrunched as she went on with fussing displeasedly.

“Hahaha,I see... then, these earrings here will serve as my replacement until I return, will that do, Elle?” He dodged the commitment swiftly as ever.

It's much notable now that his silver irises reflected no sign of wavering waves, tranquil and serene almost as if the silver hues was slowly fading away, leaving no trace of that longing gaze.

“Well...fine, I suppose...” Giselle sighed seeing how he's running away again.

It terrified her as it constantly concerned her because Luca always seemed waning away unnoticed... as if he could just be gone unknowingly.

“Farewell.... and best wishes, Luca, my good senior.” Giselle smiled adoringly.

The truth was that her heart still was unable to accept what's going on. Still, it's a hunch of her but, accepting his decision by rooting for him might be her most effective efforts for Luca that required it most rather than preventing him.

He's persistent regardless, nonentity was to deter his thirst of accomplishing his desires and she aspired to be part of that too by encouraging him behind the scenes.

“Goodbye and I too wish you the best Elle, my good sister.”

It sounds cringe, one couldn't deny that but it had removed a huge burden from their chest altogether.

Giselle did hesitate to accede to his decision at first but now, she's glad how Luca resolved to be true to his feelings. His determinations of travelling were part of the proof that her senior will be acknowledging his feelings and be authentic to himself.

This senior of her infrequently spoken of his true perceptions which some might not notice due to his habit of going along with others wish.

She despised it when others seized advantage of him but it seemed like he had a change of heart that might be because of ‘that’ still, she's happy for him.

“Please be happy forever, Luca.”

Her utmost wishes for Luca depicted in one word would simply be that.

She clenched her hands, recalling the earrings Luca gifted her earlier. Giselle removed the earrings she's wearing and replaced them with Luca's gift briefly.

As expected it suited her perfectly, plus, the simple yet elegant design truly was her style and to her liking too.

He certainly knows everything...

“Hey...Elle.” Luca suddenly appeared again by her front door with a guilty smile and eyes evading the fiery stares by Giselle that was jabbing holes on his face.

“Luca? I thought you...?” Giselle thwarted, predicting the ensuing statement that his lips would utter with a silly grin.

“Umm...can I sleep over here? I...kinda forgotten my bag somewhere... hehe,” Luca scratched his head with a pleading smile almost like a small puppy begging to be taken home by its owner.

“Senior! Oh my goodness...” Giselle exclaimed in disbelief as she shook her head repeatedly.

Only now did she noticed, that there's only one single thing, one thing that was wrong with this perfectionist... he's, literally clumsy at the poorest timing feasible. Additional mentioned it was not his first time misplacing his thing.

Giselle ultimately cracked up that her laughter came with tears of relief. Perhaps, she would retrieve her words back as he was too just an ordinary individual, not inferring every bit of everything that was needless to.

“Come on in, Luca.”

“Welp, I guess no one is perfect after all...”

•To be continued...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***