Bab 33: Where is the fair in farewell
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As I was placing all my building materials into a chest outside my base, I saw Teles getting ready to head inside.
Part of me wanted to start my xp machine, but I looked back to what Richard told me, about simply taking a break now and then.
I know it's important to work towards my goals, but it's equally important to give the time of day to people who you care about!
I stopped with my project and walked up to Teles. She was right, if I want things to go better, I need to open up to her more. What better but to do it alone, I should probably give her a better apology for the scare....
"Hey Teles, you have any plans today?" I questioned
"Hmm? Not really, what's up?" Teles replied, still looking bothered by something.
"It's been a while, and we've been pretty busy lately, but how about we take a stroll around the nearby biomes, for old-time's sake?"
I could tell she was trying to contain herself, but I could see how much she lit up at my offer, "That would be wonderful!" Teles said eyes sparkling
This is a good call, I know the way I have been acting lately has taken a toll on her mindset too, but maybe just chilling and chatting, enjoying the beautiful scenery of this messed up world.
It's always important to save time for those who are important to you!
I know this is putting my project at a longer due date, but it's not like I have a time limit of how long I could be here. Sometimes the best thing you can do is sit back and smell the roses!
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Teles and I walked and chatted for hours and hours. We conversed, laughed, and simply enjoyed our time with each other, but part of me could tell she was still a little down, something troubling her...
"Hey Teles, something on your mind?" I asked
She jumped at my question, "Oh, it's nothing, or nothing really pressing at the moment, let's not stress about it, it can wait!"
I flashed a quick look of concernment at her answer. If she didn't want to talk about it, I wouldn't persist.
"Alrighty then..."
We continued to enjoy the rest of the day together until night fell, but thankfully thanks to Teles' ability to instantly teleport, we got back to my base in a nick of time.
"That was nice..." Teles said to me
"Yeah... you know, why not make this weekly thing? No work, no stress, just enjoy some peace ya know?" I offered
"I would love that!" Teles said while grabbing both my hands. "O-oh wait, maybe we should rethink this plan for the time being..."
"Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Just give me a second, I have some news I'll need to tell you..."
I watch as Teles looks a bit down and teleports to her room. I don't know what's gotten into her today, is she worried about me or something?
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I sit down on the couch and check my recipes as I wait for Teles to come back.
Despite Teles looking uneasy, I couldn't help but feel a bit better about today, I think I found something that can finally- OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!
I looked to see Mr.Doubt slowly clapping his hands next to me on the couch.
|Wow, so that's what you decided to do? The exact opposite of what I suggested?|
"Shut up! I haven't felt better since!" I shouted
|Takeo buddy, You've been pretty hard to talk to lately... Heck, you've been ignoring me ALMOST AS MUCH as the time you took those pills from that pharmacist!|
What he said clung to my brain for a second, of course! Those pills, I had some packed into my inventory when I got here, but I've run out of them... Wait a minute, I think things are coming together... Mr.Doubt continued his rant
|And now I notice you can hear exactly what I'm saying, yet at the same time proceeding to go against it, as your friend, that REALLY hurts my feelings ya know...| Mr.Doubt said
"Get out of here Mr.Doubt, I don't need you ruining the rest of my day right now!"
Mr.Doubt began to look irked at my response, he thought for a few seconds and proceeded to tell me one more thing.
|Soon you'll be coming back to my information, begging me for my advice. Of course, things are going well right now, so you feel you don't need me, but soon you'll-|
"I DO NOT NEED TO TAKE THIS!!!!" I shouted while interrupting him, but our conversation was put on hold when Teles walked back into the living room. Causing Mr.Doubt to instantly vanish as I went to open it.
"Umm Takeo, who are you talking to," Teles said concerned while carrying an ivory messenger bag on her side.
I didn't want to make her think I was crazy talking to someone who wasn't there because he ditched me the second someone else came.
"Oh umm, it's nothing, sorry to worry you..." I said trying to play it off
Teles paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and walked in front of me.
"Takeo, I have something important I need to tell you," she began.
I started to get a bit nervous, "What is it?"
"I've been thinking about this for a while now, but I decided, I'm going to leave the city."
"What!?!??" I jumped up from my seat, feeling a sudden rush of panic. "What do you mean!?!?
"I appreciate everything you've done for me, and I cherished every second you and I spent together, but I think it's time for me to leave so we can pursue our goals!" Teles said as she turned around heading towards the door.
"B-but why do you feel the need to leave in order to do that?"
"I wanted to at least tell you first before I left, I didn't want to cause you to panic over my disappearance," Teles concluded
I can feel my fists tighten at that half-***** excuse. There was clearly a more vital reason that she wasn't telling me here. I grabbed her shoulder before she reached for the door.
"Teles, there's more to it than that. Tell me what's really going on," I said firmly. "Why don't you tell me the REAL reason you're leaving!!!"
Teles stopped in her place, but she didn't turn back around.
"I've been living in Minemore for quite some time now, I've never been happier than to just be around others again! Sure I can't win the trust of EVERYONE, but I'm still content with the few people I was able to befriend!"
"Well... That's at least reassuring to hear..." I responded "But why do you still feel the need to leave?"
She hesitated for a moment before finally admitting the truth.
"It's because I love you Takeo, I don't want to see you hurt!"
"What?" I exclaimed, my heart pounding in my chest. "But I thought we were already-"
"Ever since you went out of your way to visit me, You were kind, supportive, and best of all, treated me with respect as if I was completely human. If I didn't like you like that, I probably wouldn't have moved in with you to begin with!" Teles explained
I let her words sink in. I mean I already knew about these feelings of hers, but I didn't expect her to feel THIS strongly about me!
"It seemed like every day my affection for you grew more the longer I was around you! Sometimes to the point where I can hardly think about other things at night, but I never let it get to an unhealthy obsession, because I felt deep down that things aren't going to work out!"
I felt worried, "So... Is that the reason you felt like leaving?"
"No... There is more to it..." Teles responded
"Please, tell me everything that's on your mind!"
She nodded at my response, "You see, because of this love I've felt, I always wanted to make sure I wasn't making life for you any harder than it already was. I was well aware of the speculation you were receiving from the locals.... And I know I was the reason for it!"
"You knew about it too huh?" I said in a quavering tone
"At first I thought it wasn't such a big deal, but part of me thought I could get this off your back by leaving the city, that way you'd stop being talked badly about."
Teles' eyes flickered with pain as she continued to speak.
"Sure I was able to make it work after a long time, but the longer I stayed, the worse your reputation got because of me. My deciding factor was the situation at the pub. I really appreciated what you did for me, but you still felt the need to beat up the mercs because I was still living here!"
She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I know that my presence, being around me all the time, is ruining your reputation. I don't want to ruin something you worked so hard to build up. This is why I finally decided to leave... I hope you understand!" Teles concluded looking a bit down.
I finished listening to her explanation. Part of me understands where she was going with this, and it's not like I couldn't tell that I was getting talked about behind my back.
I felt like my past was repeating itself, was I going to be alone again just because of what other people think?
Teles was one of the most important people in my life, and the thought of losing her was gut-wrenching. Part of me lost my composure and I talked without thinking.
"SCREW MY REPUTATION!!!!" I quickly snapped at her offer.
Teles looked back at me in surprise.
"What's the point of working hard for something, if I can't have things I want in return!!!" I continued ranting "If no one else in this city can see you more than just a demi-monster, then they're stupider than people who pick the lame option in community mob votes!"
"Wait... So you mean..."
I paused for a second. "My previous life... It may not have been as dangerous as this world, but there were still many ways I could've gotten hurt or killed... Wanna know how I survived?"
"How?"
"Just like with the city, I built a wall, but I'm not talking about a physical wall! I distanced myself from everyone. 90% of the time I preferred not to talk. I spent most of my life alone, even though there were thousands of people around me!"
"T-Takeo...." Teles reached out to grab me, but I motioned her to let me finish.
"I don't know why... But I was so focused, so worried about what others thought of me, that I practically made it IMPOSSIBLE for anyone to think anything of me! Because of my insecurity, my pointless anxiety, my bearing doubt.... I made the terrible mistake of letting what others think dictate my life! Sometimes I always wondered... 'Would my life be better if I stopped caring about what others think so much?'
"You were just surviving, but not truly living huh?" Teles replied
"Yes! Coming to this world changed my life, despite going out of my comfort zone, I couldn't be happier with how it's going now!" I said, "There is one more thing I need to say to you though!"
"Yes?"
"Please... Don't let other people dictate your way of thinking! Don't make the same mistake I did in my previous life!" I said softly
"What choice of yours will make both of us happy?"
She looked straight at my face, she looked a little distraught, but her eyes shone with hope. "I... I... I WANT TO STAY HERE! STAY WITH YOU! NO MATTER WHAT THE OTHERS SAY!!!" Teles confessed
"Now that's a decision we can all agree on!"
Teles let out a relieved sigh and threw her arms around me, hugging me tightly. I held her close, sensing the fear draining from her body as she clung to me. We sank down to the floor, both of us laughing with joy and relief.
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Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone