Realize

"Let's stay here for a moment, Aki." Giovanni said as he sit on the bench next to her is Akisha.

"Don't you have anywhere else to go? We should go to an amusement park, mall or in a water park. Why do we need to come in Children's park?" Jace mumble but Georgina elbow him, gives a warn look.

"If you keep complaining, you're free to go anywhere you want."

She sits on the bench next to where Van, Aki and Jin while Jace sit next to her with a deep sigh—spread both arms at the back while cross both legs. They become silent again. All they can hear is the noise from other people around.

They are in the Children's park now. After walking around in the aquarium, watch some shows there and eat lunch, they saw the park that catch Aki's attention. Many children are here play together, their parents, either mother or father are watching or playing with their child on the playground. The weather is nice; the sun is already past its peak and about to go down in a few hours. They plant some trees around so it's not hot either, rather it gives more air to them. Leaves swaying around as the wind blows from east to west, birds flying in the sky together, or stay in a branch of a tree and you can hear a band perform near the park. It's quite peaceful than what she expects.

It's been so long since she felt this kind of warmth again. A family bonding like what those kids now is something she doesn't remember doing together with her family.

"Big bro, can I play with them? It looks fun." Aki asked her brother.

"Sure. Don't play too much."

"Hmm..."

She looks towards Akisha, who runs to those groups of children playing in a swing. Before she can even think right, her gaze turn to where Giovanni sits. He's looking straight to where her sister with a smile on his face. It's the innocent smile and care not the one he always gives to her since the first day. She looks away when he turns to where her side. Heart beats fast in nervous that he might catch her stares at him.

"Are you okay, Gina?" Jin blurted out.

"O-of course, why would I not be okay?" She gives a force laugh but a sudden shiver runs down through her spine when a hand caress her nape.

She look beside her and saw a playful smile of Jace. "You're easy to read, Hon."

"W-what?"

Both Jace and Jin try hard to restrain their laugh, but in the end, it came out. It made her annoyed, so she hit them in annoyance.

"How dare you laugh at me? I'm not lying when I said I am fine. Argh! Annoying." she hit Jace hard on his arm and glare. "You're annoying,"

"G-Gina, stop it, your hands are like an iron." Jin protested, blocks her hits.

"Deserve it. Both of you dares to make fun of me..."

"Argh! Stop it, Hon," Jace holds both wrists of Georgina and stares at her. She tries to pull out from his grip, but it only tightens.

"Stop what you are doing. Are you a child to play around?"

The three flinch when Giovanni raises his voice with full of authority. Even without looking in his direction, you can feel the menacing aura he gives from a short distance. There're no words came out from Georgina's mouth, only a sigh as her head bows down. It's not the first time she became speechless, it's just that she can't oppose whatever he said, though it will hurt her a lot.

"Tsk. We are not mature enough so, don't act like one." Jace broke the silence while he put down Georgina's hand.

"I don't need your opinion." Giovanni chortled as he stand and walk towards his sister.

A long silence came again.

"A-ah... I-I'll buy a drink for us. Do you want a certain one?" Jin stands up to scratch the back of his head.

"N-no..."

Jin nods his head and walks to the nearest convenience store in the area. Another silence came in between them. No one dares to talk, it's just the noise from their surrounding, laughs from those children who play, rustling of leaves from the ground and car's engine in the near parking lot.

"Is that the man you love? You're insane to love him until now, Hon." Jace broke the silence. She look at his direction but he's serious while both eyes stares towards Giovanni's direction.

She chuckled. "You're right. I'm stupid to still love him, but can you blame me?" She stops, heaves a deep sigh. "My heart still beating fast whenever he's near, even though how many times he acts rude to me."

"Use your brain. You're a Student Council President but you can't think straight because of a mere man? Your world doesn't revolve around him alone." She laugh on what he said as a tear fall from her eyes.

"Mr. Stealer, you're a joker."

"I'm not kidding. You should learn how to move on from the past so, it will lessen the pain. He's your ex, a man from the past. There's only a small possibility that the both of you will go back together." He said, tousle her hair but slap it away while wiping the tears from her eyes.

Jace chuckled and stand up with both hands inside his pocket. He looks up at the sky as he heard Georgina trying to stop herself from crying out loud. The force laugh she gives to hide the way she's about to choke from sobs. It's quite painful to pretend you're fine, though it's the opposite.

"Hon, I need to go. Tell it to them to me. Besides, I don't want to meddle with your business as long as I can." He's about to walk, but she stops him.

"W-where are you going?"

She heard a laugh escape from his mouth as he turn to her direction again. He expected to see her with a puppy cute eyes, but both eyes widened in surprise as those words came out from her mouth. She let go of his hand as soon as the reality hit her and look away in embarrassment.

"F-forget about what I said."

"It looks like you don't want me to leave yet,"

"Leave. I don't care either way."

Jace takes another step to close the distance between them. He corners her, lower his head to tease but Georgina tries to not look but you can tell see how stiff her body becomes out of nervousness.

On the other side, they didn't notice Giovanni looks at them with an intense gaze.

"W-what are you doing? There're many children here. Don't play around." She said without looking, both ears turns beet red.

"Remember what I said before. You're not a type of person you need to take pity, rather a type of person you need to take care for a long time."

"Y-you're making me damn crazy, j-just go away, will you?"

He raises her chin, moves it to face him. "I'm glad you're crazy for me, Hon."

"W-what? When did I say those words?"

"A little while ago," he chuckled and stand up properly. "Anyway, I hope you understand what I mean. Maybe I am playful, but I will never lie in serious things,"

"W-what?"

"It's all up to you to follow your heart than your mind, but sometimes it's better to use your mind than our weak heart." He turns his back to her again and takes a step forward. "Hon, there are many people better than your ex. Open your eyes and you'll see it."

Jace raises his right hand to wave without turning back. Those words made her speechless. It's like a bomb he throws before the war starts. She didn't know the playful, clever and annoying stealer she knows can say a decent word. It made her heart realize how painful it was to lie to herself for the sake of others.

Few minutes passed, Jin came back, but she stay silent with heads down. She came back to her senses when Akisha came towards her and hold both hands.

"Sis Gina, are you not feeling well? Where's your friend go?" Akisha said, looks around.

"He already left before. He has something important to do."

"Let's eat first," Giovanni said, walk ahead of them.

"Gina, you sure okay?" Jin asked with a worried look, but she smile and nod her head as they follow Van's leads.

***

It's already past six o'clock in the evening, when they went to the mall to buy some stuff since Akisha suggest coming there. They first went to an arcade and play there for almost an hour, eat in a fast-food chain for dinner and now, they are looking around the area to buy. It's quite tiring. The three felt it even before going to the mall, but the child still has an energy left to spare.

They are inside a shop that sells a lot of different stuff toys for men and women. Most of the people inside are children picks the stuff toys they want. Even though it's wide, they can still hear the noise even from the child crying on the opposite side of where they stand. Georgina looks around while waiting for Akisha to choose what she wants.

"Sis Gina, why don't you pick up what you want? Big bro will buy it for us." Akisha said in excitement.

"N-no, I'm not intere—"

"Just choose anything so we can go home." Giovanni said with annoyance at his tone.

She gulps and follows what he wants.

She looks around with Aki. The truth, there are many stuff toys inside her room so, she didn't want another one but even those truths she can't dare to say in front of him. Instead of thinking anything, she looks around and chooses something on the displayed stuff toys. Until she saw a Stitch stuff toy, it resembles a blue koala.

"Sis Gina, it's cute. I'll choose the other one so, we have the same."

"Are you done?" She jolted out, made the stuff toys slip away from her hands in shock when she heard Giovanni's voice behind.

"We want this blue koala, Big bro. Buy it for us."

"Okay, wait for me outside with Jin."

Georgina didn't turn to him and walk outside with Akisha. They wait for him outside the shop before going to the parking lot where the car park.

Without Akisha, the car might freeze in coldness. She's the only one talking between them while Georgina keeps nodding her head and simply taking a glimpse at the rear mirror where she locks eyes with Giovanni.

It takes almost half an hour before they stop in front of her house.

"Thank you for hanging out with us Sis Gina until next time." Akisha give her a kiss on cheeks and wave both hands with a smile on face.

"I had fun. You should take a bath and sleep early, okay?"

"Hmm..."

"I-I'll go ahead. Thanks for bringing me home and for this one. Take care on the way home."

"See you on Monday, Gina." Jin said.

She looks on the rear mirror again but saw him look away so she went outside the car in silent and wait for them to leave before going inside.

It's too silent, as if no one is around when she came inside the house. She called Warren and Marga's name, but no one answer. Instead of wondering where they are, she heads straight to her room—lie down with her stomach facing the bed.

"I'm tired," she mumbles, close both eyes.