บท 36: I'll leave you two ladies to it
As we made our way back to the dining room, I couldn't help but feel a bit more at ease, even though I still didn't quite understand what had transpired between Mira and me. But with the promise of delicious food and good company, I decided to let it slide, at least for the time being.
The table was laden with a spread of food that looked like it had come straight out of one of Mira's recipe books. There were steaming bowls of hearty stew, plates piled high with roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and colorful salads that would have made anyone's mouth water. A large pot of Mira's famous seafood paella sat at the center, its delicious scent filling the room.
As we settled down to eat, there was a comfortable silence that allowed us to appreciate the food. Elfman seemed to take his role as a big brother very seriously, eating with gusto while occasionally throwing concerned glances at Mira, who was quietly fuming beside me. It was a tad disconcerting, like eating dinner with a perfectly coiffed thunderstorm waiting to unleash its fury at any moment.
I cleared my throat, trying to think of something to break the silence. "So, Mira, this paella is amazing. You always manage to make everything taste so good."
Mirajane's eyes flicked up to meet mine, her expression softening just a touch, but there was still a storm brewing behind those iridescent eyes. "Thank you, Jade. I try my best," she replied, though her words carried a slight edge, as if she was trying to remind me of something I'd forgotten.
I continued eating, trying not to think too much about the daggers Mira seemed to be throwing my way with her gaze. Maybe it was just my imagination—or maybe I was about to find out why she had been acting so strangely since I got back.
As dinner went on, the tension remained. Elfman, sensing the awkward atmosphere, decided it was best to excuse himself. "I'll leave you two ladies to it," he said with a knowing grin, gathering his plate and disappearing into the kitchen before either of us could protest.
I watched him go, feeling somewhat abandoned as I turned my attention back to Mira, who was now staring at me like a hawk assessing its prey. I opened my mouth to say something, anything to break the silence, but she beat me to it.
"Jade," Mirajane said, her voice even but undeniably firm, "I couldn't help but notice that you had a rather... interesting evening."
"Yeah," I said, trying to play it cool despite the sinking feeling in my stomach. "It was pretty eventful."
She arched an eyebrow. "Eventful, huh? You certainly looked like you had a lot of fun with Lily."
The mention of Lily's name seemed to spark something in Mira. Her words were laced with an unspoken challenge, daring me to deny it. And it was then that it hit me. She was jealous—undeniably, spectacularly jealous.
"Uh, Mira, is there something you want to talk about?" I asked cautiously, unsure of where this conversation was heading.
Mirajane leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a sigh that spoke volumes. "Well, since you asked, why don't you tell me how your 'eventful' evening went?"
I blinked, slightly taken aback by her candor. "It was just a simple get-together. Nothing major. Lily's nice, but—"
"But what?" Mira cut in, her gaze intense and unwavering.
"But I'm here now," I finished lamely, realizing too late that I might have stepped into a conversational trap.
Mirajane sighed again, this time more dramatically, and stood up, her movements graceful yet deliberate as she collected the plates. "I see," she said, her voice clipped as she headed toward the kitchen.
I watched her go, feeling a mix of guilt and confusion. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more going on here, but I was hopelessly lost trying to figure it out. There was an odd tension in the air, a feeling that something needed to be said but was hanging just out of reach.
"Mira," I called after her, finally finding my voice. "What's really going on? You seem... upset."
She stopped in her tracks, her back to me as she took a moment to compose herself. When she turned around, her expression was carefully neutral, though I caught a flicker of something softer in her eyes.
"It's just... I guess I worry," she admitted, setting the dishes down and returning to her seat. "Sometimes it feels like you're caught up in so many things that you forget what's important."
I stared at her, trying to decipher the underlying message in her words. "And what's important?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Mirajane hesitated, as if weighing her response, before finally speaking. "Finding a place where you belong. People who care about you."
I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in. There was an honesty to what she was saying, something that resonated with me on a deeper level. "I appreciate that, Mira. Really, I do."
For a moment, we sat in silence, a comfortable quiet that seemed to bridge the gap between us. The air was thick with unspoken words, but somehow it felt like we had reached an understanding.
Then, almost out of nowhere, Mira leaned forward, her expression softening into something that made my heart skip a beat. "You know, Jade," she said, her tone lighter, "you should really check your cheek more often before you head out."
I blinked, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. "What do you mean?"
Mira gestured vaguely at her own cheek, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Let's just say you might want to be more careful about where you leave lipstick marks."
It took me a second to register what she was implying, and when I finally did, my face flushed with embarrassment. "Oh! Right, that."
She chuckled softly, the sound breaking the last of the tension between us. "It's okay, Jade. Just thought I'd let you know."
"Thanks, Mira," I said, feeling a mix of gratitude and amusement. "I'll definitely keep that in mind."
As we settled back into our seats, I realized that there was something incredibly comforting about being here with Mira. Despite the earlier awkwardness, it felt like home—a place where I could be myself without fear of judgment.
"So," Mira said, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "are you going to tell me what else you've been up to, or do I have to drag it out of you?"
I laughed, feeling the last of my unease slip away. "Well, if you really want to know..."
And with that, the evening slipped into a relaxed conversation about anything and everything.
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