A two-second pause.

"You've known him since he was a child, Val," her mother tried to remind her, worried that Valerie might forget that fact. "Wouldn't marrying someone you already know be easier?"


It felt familiar, because Valerie had heard this before.

Hadn't the fighter--Pedro Viscout, said something similar?

"Mam."


"Decide soon, Val." It seemed that her mother was not calling to negotiate, because no matter how much Valerie refused, the question would always come. "Versa and Gosse also support your relationship with Pedro, isn't that enough to convince you?"

Valerie was silent.


Silence.

'Do you really support my relationship, Gosh?'

"What Go-I mean, they said so?" asked Valerie with her chest pounding. She couldn't explain it, but her heart was racing.

"Of course," said the voice on the other end of the line. "Gosse even said that Pedro was the right man for you. He regretted how stubborn you were for refusing the arranged marriage."

It sounded like just a string of words, but somehow it was so piercing for Valerie Genneth.

It crushed her.

'So this is how we ended up, Gosh? And you're telling me to marry someone else?'

"Val, are you still there?" Her mother's call snapped Valerie out of her reverie, causing her to gasp softly.

She tried hard to regain consciousness that had almost evaporated into the clouds, with the pain still palpable.

Even after all these years, it still felt the same.

"I'm still here, Ma." Valerie rubbed her forehead lightly, reaching back for the handle of the cup not far from where she was curled up. "I'll consider it one last time. Just give me some time, okay?"

Valerie couldn't see, but there was now a hint of a smile at the corners of her mother's lips at the hope that still remained.

At the very least, the youngest child of the Genneth family was willing to consider accepting an arranged marriage one last time.

It seemed that the great lady Genneth would have to pray a lot this time, for she and the whole family really wanted this long-ago arranged marriage to come true.

Although it had been postponed due to Pedro's disappearance over the past year, the two families were still determined to unite their two children.

"Right, Val?!" her mother's exclamation made Valerie smile briefly. It was obvious that the tone of the woman who gave birth to her was different now.

"Promise me you'll consider this with a cool head," she pleaded again. "There is no need to rush, and think again about your brother-in-law's opinion of Pedro who feels he is more than enough for you."

Valerie sighed.

"No problem, Val," her mother still tried to reassure her. "Even if it's delayed, it's okay. I'm sure Pedro came back because he was ready, don't you think? Besides, you and he seem to get on very well. Just give your mom a nice answer, okay?"

Of course only Valerie knew how hard it was for her to let another man in and say hello to her heart.

For a long time she chose to lock her heart tightly, because there was a big secret still hanging in there.

The fact that her heart was filled with someone who shouldn't be there scared Valerie, but forgetting someone is never easy.

"I'll think about it, Ma," Valerie said. "Is Pedro coming home?"

After Pedro's departure, Valerie no longer contacted the fighter. She sent occasional messages, but never with the intensity of two people about to get married.

"No, he hasn't come yet. Do you expect him to come? Or do you have to pay a visit to the Viscout residence, Val?"

"No, there's no need," Valerie quickly interrupted. Until she decided, it was best for their family not to make any moves. "I'll contact Pedro later. I'll call Mama when I've decided. Okay?"

She smiled even wider, hoping for the slightest opening this time.

"All right, Val." The voice lowered. "Take care of yourself, and don't skip meals. Come home if you feel lonely, hmm?"

"Yes, I understand, Ma. I'm fine."

"Then, Mama hang up the phone. It's quite late, get some rest."

Valerie took another sip of her coffee around the edges, unconsciously nodding faintly even though her mother couldn't see.

"You too, Ma," the woman said. "Take care of yourself, take care of your health."

"All right, Val. I'm closed, okay?"

"Hm mh."

Lowering the hand that had been holding the cell phone, Valerie let it rest on her thigh.

Glancing down at her coffee that still had a third of the cup left, she exhaled.

It was heavy, as if a boulder was holding her back there.

The grip on the flat device tightened, as Valerie's manic greenish gaze pierced the window.

'So, should I get married, Gosh?'

He laughed discordantly.

Bland.

'Do you think Pedro will be able to open my heart? Do you?'

Looking down for a moment, Valerie seemed to smile faintly.

"So, is this the end of this feeling, Gosh?" she murmured accompanied by a gust of wind.

A sentence that contained the only question Valerie could think of, with an answer she would never get.

Because in truth, Gosse Armor was still there.

In the recesses of her heart.