Something Silly

[ For a Better Experience, Listen to 'Glassy Sky' by Yutaka Yamada with headphones while reading. Enjoy~ ]

Episode 2

(An Apology)

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The drive to the café took about half an hour, though it felt longer than it should have. As soon as I walked in, my eyes immediately found Sera, sitting at a table tucked into the corner. She was tapping her fingers lightly on the table, her gaze distant, fixed on the dreary, rain-soaked streets.

The café was almost empty. Its silence made everything feel more distant, including her. Still, I couldn't miss her—sitting there, as if she'd been waiting for hours. For some reason, a wave of nervousness hit me out of nowhere.

I didn't even hesitate when she messaged me. My fingers moved without thought, almost on instinct. In that moment, all I wanted was to see her. But why? Why, after everything, did I still want to meet her?

Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter now. It's too late to turn back.

"Haa~"

Cecilia sighed deeply, trying to steady her racing thoughts. She took a few steps toward the table where Sera was sitting, but the tension in her chest only grew.

Sera, who had been staring out the window, turned just then, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Cecilia. The moment she saw her, Sera shot up from her seat. The anxious look on her face melted away, replaced by something that almost looked like relief.

Cecilia froze in her tracks, her heart skipping, her eyes widening at the sudden shift in Sera's expression. It felt disorienting, almost unreal.

Am I imagining things?

Before she could process the thought, Seraphine quickly walked over, closing the distance between them. Cecilia stood there, rooted in place.

"Sister!"

Sera's voice was laced with an awkward mix of excitement and nervousness.

"Why are you just standing there? Come here."

She said, grabbing Cecilia's arm gently, and pulling her toward the table. Cecilia followed obediently, still unsure of what was happening.

"I ordered a drink for you."

Sera said, pushing a cup of Matcha Latte toward Cecilia.

"Ah, yes, thank you."

Cecilia replied, her gaze fixed on the cup as if it were an object of fascination.

"Go on, drink it." Seraphine urged, breaking the silence.

"Ah, yes."

Cecilia took a hesitant sip, then stopped abruptly. Her face reflected a mix of surprise and unease.

"Is it not to your taste?"

Sera asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, noticing Cecilia's reaction.

"No, it's fine." Cecilia said quickly, taking a few more sips. She managed a small, strained smile. "I was just caught off guard by how good it is." she added, though her smile barely reached her eyes.

"I see. I heard this is their most popular drink on days like this, so I thought it might be nice."

Sera said, her relief evident as she smiled back.

"..."

Cecilia stared at Sera, her expression reflecting a quiet confusion.

"Huh? Is there something on my face?"

Seraphine asked, her nervous laugh barely masking her awkwardness.

"Oh, no. I was just a bit surprised."

Cecilia replied, her gaze drifting away from Seraphine, searching for something beyond the café's confines.

"Hmm? About what?"

"It's just…"

Cecilia's voice trailed off as her eyes lingered on the cup of latte in her hand, her fingers tracing its rim absentmindedly. After a moment, she met Seraphine's gaze with a distant look.

"I never expected us to have such a casual conversation."

Cecilia murmured softly, her words hung heavily in the air.

Sera flinched slightly at Cecilia's calm words, her smile faltering as she looked away.

"Ah… Haha… I see…"

Sera responded with a forced smile, turning her gaze elsewhere.

"Hah…"

A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Cecilia's lips as she observed Sera's reaction.

"You don't need to read too much into it."

Cecilia said softly, taking another sip of her latte. Her gaze drifted to the window beside her, watching the raindrops slide down the glass with a hollow, detached expression.

An uneasy silence settled between them until Sera spoke again, her voice cutting through the quiet.

"Ah, did you have any trouble getting here?"

"No."

Cecilia barely reacted as she replied softly.

"I see. I'm sorry for calling you on such short notice."

Sera said, her voice laced with awkwardness.

"There's no need to apologize. It's fine."

Cecilia responded, her tone gentle.

"Thank you."

Seraphine said, looking away with a hint of unease.

"So… what is it?"

Cecilia asked, her gaze fixed on Sera with a detached calmness.

At Cecilia's question, Sera flinched, her expression faltering. "H-Huh?" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly.

"What is it that you needed to discuss so urgently?"

"Ah, That…"

Seraphine's gaze dropped to her lap, her demeanor betraying a strange sense of guilt.

For a moment, Sera was silent, her troubled look hanging in the air. Cecilia made no move to rush her. Finally, Seraphine spoke, her eyes still averted. "I… I wanted to apologize."

Cecilia's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her otherwise impassive face.

"I… I heard I said something silly when I was drunk at the last family gathering. I'm really sorry if it upset you. You know how I am after a few drinks—I, I wasn't thinking clearly."

Seraphine rushed out her words, almost in a single breath.

Cecilia listened in silence, her expression unreadable. She tried to speak, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. Her hands, hidden beneath the table, trembled so violently that she had to grip her dress tightly to keep them steady.

"To be honest, I don't remember much," Seraphine continued, her tone apologetic but distant. "I'm sure I never meant it the way you took it. Maybe— Maybe you misunderstood?"

Cecilia's eyes widened slightly, a hint of distress visible in their depths as her pupils trembled.

"...Misunderstood?" she echoed softly, her voice barely more than a whisper.

"Ah… Yes, so, I-I was just drunk, it wasn't really me talking. You know how I get when I've had a few too many."

Seraphine said, finally looking at Cecilia for the first time since she began apologizing, her gaze searching for a response.

"Ah… Yes… I know that…"

Cecilia murmured, her voice faint and detached. A slight frown flickered across Seraphine's face as she saw Cecilia's reaction. Taking a deep breath, Seraphine's voice took on a more earnest tone. "Anyway, I hope you can forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt you. Not really."