The rain had long gone and they hadn't even noticed it yet. Nor did they know it was still raining during their conversation.
The room was now much darker then what it was when Gracie had asked the question earlier. What lit the room was a simple looking oil lantern that Gracie had lit just moments ago.
But what Akeno hadn't noticed was that the simple looking lantern had otherworldly brightness and lit the whole room leaving no dark spots and felt like sunlight, not fire.
…
…
…
Gracie: She leaned back on the couch with her arms crossed muttering something under her breath that Akeno didn't pay attention to, since she was in her own thoughts.
Her eyes couldn't focus on one place and constantly wandered around looking for a possible response to whatever Akeno may say, such as denial to answer… Though she found none. Or was about to.
Gracie glanced at Akeno and felt the silence was too long.
She clears her throat, "I told you the question would be strange. But again I'd remind you, you'll… Have to trust me with it."
And Akeno was still silent.
"Hmm" Gracie hummed softly as she was watching Akeno by the corner of her eyes.
[Why did I even expect her to answer? She even refused to say her full name when I asked this morning.]
Gracie uncrossed her arms and averted her eyes from Akeno and looked straight forward, but couldn't help herself to glance again towards Akeno.
[Why is she so silent…? Wasn't she always trying to talk to me? Why now that she's silent?]
She cups her neck with both hands and pinches herself.
[Stupid, an idiot I am. How would she be comfortable telling me anything? We just met this morning. I wasn't nice to her, refused any advances when she tried to get to know me, tried to push her away and… What else did I do that led to this awful situation?]
…
Her upper body was still and unmoving except for the twitching fingers and uneven breath… It had lost the rhythm it used to have.
On the other hand her lower body seemed to have its own thought, the toes twitching, and scraping off the smallest toe on the floor. Her thighs were rubbing onto another and knees clashing onto another.
…
Another glance at Akeno.
[Why is she so silent? Am I the only conscious one?]
Akeno: Beside Gracie sat, Akeno's back was slouched and was looking down at her feet while she was swinging back and front.
Her eyes moved with the rhythm of her swinging foot but weren't focused. They weren't swinging at the exact time nor the exact direction.
Her focus constantly shifted from the left foot to right foot or between them losing the focus entirely, then returning back to focusing on one.
Her hand had a gentle grip on the seat cushion of the couch. Was she seemingly in a detached position? Detached from the real world.
Her mouth hung slightly open. It closed from time to time but again it hung open as if she even forgot she had a mouth and that it's meant to be kept closed.
She was unaware of the fact that Gracie was watching her. The reflection of the oil lantern could be seen from Akeno's dull eyes.
Gracie: She had her eyes on Akeno watching her in wonder. She wasn't cupping her neck anymore, instead replicating the movements of Akeno with the focus Akeno seemed to lack.
[Why is she so silent…? Was I the same when Miss Alina took me in?]
She blows out air from her mouth and slightly shifts on the couch.
[I don't remember. Anything. From back then… Nor did I have a diary back then…]
She bit her lip out of frustration.
[Why do I not remember anything!? Aughh! She… She's also fourteen right? The same age Miss Alina found me. Was I also like this?]
She bit her lip harder and averted her eyes from Akeno while still mimicking the movements of Akeno.
[No. I'm not like her. I don't do that… Or that I no longer do that… I can't remember… Am I being Delusional?]
She recalls all of the moments she had before.
[Why did I push her away all this time!? I could've built some kind of trust or any kind of connection that might have led us to being comfortable around each other. Would've made our conversation easier… Stupid!... No. It's not worth blaming myself. Not if she is even trying to pay any attention to me.]
She sighs. Loud. In hope to pull some attention from Akeno but fails to do so.
…
[I should just say something or nudge her…]
She turns to look at Akeno. She was in the same state that Gracie had observed earlier. Seemed to be detached from the real world.
[No. I shouldn't disturb her. She's in deep thought… Seems like it.]
She coughed. Loud. On purpose. Trying to get attention from Akeno. Another failed attempt.
[Just call out to her now, Gracie. I'll probably regret it if I don't talk to her… What should I say…? It's getting uncomfortable and… Kinda boring.]
"Akeno!"
She said it too loud.
"..."
"Listen…"
Akeno still didn't seem to hear anything.
"Are you… Deliberately ignoring me?" This time her voice was lower. She leaned in.
"Akeno." She mutters.
[What is she thinking? She seems to have deep thoughts of something…]
Just then Gracie noticed something near the corner of Akeno's eye.
[Is that a tear?]
A tiny line of water at the corner of Akeno's eye that wasn't present there before. It appeared out of nowhere and glinted.
Akeno: Her eyes were wet just from the tiny tear. Her lips started to shake as more tears came. Her breathing started to get uneven as she felt something rising in her face.
Gracie: Her eyes widened as she saw the tears falling from Akeno's face.
[S–she's crying! What do I do?]
Her body didn't move. And she just watched Akeno as water lines appeared from her eyes.
By instinct her hand shot up and grabbed Akeno's shoulder.
[What do I say?]
She was unsure of what to make out of this sudden reaction from Akeno.
"Wh–why are you crying?"
[You were so quiet just now. What happened?]
She wanted to know why but words didn't come out of her mouth. At least once she wanted to ask.
"Tch!" Frustrated by the silence and tears from Akeno, Gracie aggressively grabbed Akeno's shoulder and violently shook her.
…
"Akeno!"