Imaginary

"Naqi!"

A bit surprised, Naqi turned toward that voice. It was her.

She stopped in front of him and lowered her head. She seemed hesitant at first, but then she looked back up and found his face.

"...Naqi."

By then he was much more prepared.

"Yes...Fuu-chan."

"Naqi."

"Yes...Fuu-chan."

No matter how many times she called his name, he would always answered sotfly, gently, with love.

Yes, he loved her. And would always be.

By then her voice already became a whisper, but a smile was carved on her lips.

"Naqi."

"...Fuu-chan."

He returned it. She took a seat right beside him. The usual spot where both of them would sit together looking over the sea.

For a moment, they were silent. She seemed to be enjoying the sea, but he knew better.

"So how was it?" A gamble there, he didn't know what 'it' actually refers to.

".....mmm....uh-uh." She shook her head.

He was right. There was something she wanna say.

"Uh-huh." He nodded to show interest.

"Noisy." She was clearly disgusted. "Far too noisy until I feel like I wanna bomb them all."

"Gosh. That sure sound stressful."

"I just want some peace of mind and I couldn't find it!"

She wanted to say more on what happened last night, but as usual, it felt useless to continue.

"What the hell."

"...it can be difficult living in a place not of your own."

"...Yeah, I know."

Oh, only God knows how much he wanted to use that opportunity to invite her to stay in his house, but he knew better. He should let her let it all out first.

"...Want a hug?"

She turned to look at him. 

"Naqi."

They both knew they couldn't have it.

Two souls, longing for each other, but divided by an invisible barrier.

"Naqi." She mentioned his name again, this time gazing deep into the sea.

"Fuu-chan."

"Naqi."

"Fuu-chan."

+++

What was it?

What was it that was stoping them from being together?

It's not family matters, nor does it involves money.

It was...reality.

Reality is hard, there's no doubt.

Therefore she turned to the imaginary.

Yes, Naqi was imaginary.

She refused to say that Naqi was just her imagination. She would say that Naqi did exist, except that he couldn't get out of her mind.

...

So are you saying that if Naqi was real, she would definitely be with him?

...

She couldn't answer that.

+++

The second barrier is most probably...fear.

A fear to touch. A fear to love. A fear to be close.

She feared that if she got close, she would get burnt.

She feared that her expectations, and his expectations would not be met.

...

You can say that she has a hard time accepting imperfections.

+++

"Naqi."

"...Hmm...?"

"Come, take me away."

His smile couldn't be hid.

"...Over here, milady."