Loving You From Stars

Precious Childhood Friend

Gael's face was very pale when he opened the door for him.

"You must be hungry! I brought bread for you," Corale said, "it's not like in Eguisheim, but Vega makes it with love. I bet it's delicious~!"

“Uh…” Gael still hadn't fully woken up from his sleep, “Corale where are we?”

Corale turned around after placing the tray on the table, "You don't remember?"

"Remember?" Gael thought hard about what he had missed, "Sorry, can you remind me?"

Corale fiddled with her feet nervously. Although he liked the potion Vega made working, he didn't like lying to him, "We're at the castle where I live, and you're exhausted, sleeping since... yesterday." his voice lowered as he spoke yesterday.

Silent.

Gael's eyes widened.

Yesterday.

Yesterday ...

Yesterday!

"Eh!?" Gael was shocked, no wonder when he woke up the sunlight penetrated the room, not above his head indicating that it was daytime. He understood he was tired during the plane ride, but only to wake up the next day? No wonder his body felt so heavy, "Ugh."

Now he realized, his stomach growled loudly.

Gael's cheeks instantly turned red with embarrassment.

Corale smiled a little, "Shall we start breakfast together?"

Gael noticed there were two buns, "Of course." His body still hadn't fully recovered, but how could he waste his invitation.

Corale sat across from him, even though he suggested eating together, he wasn't really that hungry, his thoughts were filled with Vyrion, "You're here because of Vega, aren't you?"

"Yes," Gael took the bread that looked like toast, but he didn't know the filling of the toast, like beans? And again the scent... unique?

"How about I ask you to return to Eguisheim?" Coral asked.

"Corale, do you remember our promise?" Gael asked.

Corale remembered, thats why she felt guilty about it.

***

Flashback

***

Corale finally arrived at her quiet house, she went straight to the second floor of her room after finishing preparing snacks for Agnes, she laid her body on her bed which felt cold and fell asleep for a few hours and was awakened by a knock on the door from her mother who offered her dinner together

Her stomach rumbled loudly when she heard her mother make her favorite dish, but her body still felt heavy getting out of bed. She politely refused her mother's offer, lying that she had eaten the croissant she had taken from the shop.

Her mother understand, but still bring food to her room, begging for food because in the past week she had almost eaten only once a day or had not eaten at all.

Corale did not protest because she remembered what her adoptive father had said about her mother's condition. She had talked a little with Gael, although it ended painfully, her heart was somewhat relieved. It is time for her to slowly rise from her depression, not to make her parents worry anymore. She turned on the light in her room waiting for her mother to bring dinner. It was a habit for her, she glanced at her bedroom window which was still open, checking that the house next to her was dark, not a single light was on indicating life there.

Gael's heart must be so broken that he hasn't come home yet.

Corale bit her lower lip. The problem she was experiencing made her head spin even more, and she decided to climb the roof to clear her head. Another bad habit, even her mother warned her several times, but she was used to it, especially when the view of the stars was very beautiful above her head.

Corale closed her eyes, letting the cool night air touch her bare skin.

"I knew you'd be here."

Corale opened her eyes, "Gael ...?" She thought he wasn't home yet? Turns out he did.

Gael nodded slightly, "You're an adult but still enjoy sitting on the roof. Aren't you afraid of falling because of your weight?"

Corale was surprised to hear a joke escape Gael's lips, not criticism or frustration because their relationship ended. She didn't know what to say and ended up staring into his eyes intensely.

Gael did the same, except that his eyes were calm as if what happened between them never happened.

Corale ended her gaze, feeling awkward at Gael's overly calm behavior. She, who had been plagued with guilt for so long that she fell asleep, was confused.

"You OK now?" Gael asked.

Is she?

"Yes...?" Corale answered and asked herself at the same time if she had calmed down.

Gael also sat on the roof of his still-dark house without caring he was only wearing black jeans, ignoring the cold night air hitting every inch of his exposed upper body skin, "I hope you are honest because I'm happy my friend can get past at her lowest point."

Friend ...

Corale looked down glumly at her hands resting on her thighs. He says that then it's true their relationship had ended, there was no protest from Gael asking for more explanation as to why it had to end.

"Corale, I'm not being a hypocrite. My feelings are the same as you might expect," Gael said, "sad, broken, disappointed. It's all in this heart." He pointed to his bare chest.

"I'm sorry," Corale muttered apologetically.

Gael didn't respond but continued, "But it's okay. I understand why you want to end it. You don't want to be a thief's girlfriend."

"It's not like that," Corale protested weakly, "You know trust is hard to come by, right?"

"Don't give me hope, Corale," said Gael, "I'd rather you break up with us because I'm filthy. I don't deserve to be with a good woman like you."

Corale shook her head weakly, refusing to accept Gael's opinion. She would never see her like a filthy man. Never.

"I'm really lucky you didn't put me in jail, why should I be even more selfish by wanting to have you again?" Gael muttered more to himself sadly, "being friends should be enough for someone like me."

"Gael, stop ..." Corale begged weakly. She had heard enough of him blaming himself for the theft incident. She wanted to forget that and wanted him to do the same.

Gael took a deep breath, slightly carried away by his own empty and broken heart, "May I accompany you tonight, Corale?"