Chapter 133 Friends

Walking back and forth in a wooden corridor, Rose paced around, looking very anxious.

As the light of the mid-day sun reached her face, Miya came up from the stairs, looked at Rose for a few seconds before asking. "Umm, Rose?"

Turning her head, Rose's face was suddenly adorned with a smile as she said. "Ah, Miya, can I help you?"

"Uh, I was just about to ask you that. You have been like this since morning. Just look at the floor, Rose."

After listening to what Miya had to say, Rose looked down on the floor she walked on. The wood floor with a distinct line in the middle.

"Was that always there?"

"No. I'm pretty sure it got worn out by you."

"Ehehe..."

After hearing Rose's bashful giggle, Miya sighed as she asked. "The reason why you are like this... Is it Amber?"

Rose then slumped over, knelt on the floor before Miya as she asked with a pleading voice. "Miya, please, help me."

Looking a bit uncomfortable after seeing Rose kneel before her, Miya asked. "What can I help you with?"

Without leaving the ground, Rose then pointed at the door behind her, saying. "What else? Amber, of course."

Looking even more uncomfortable than before, Miya replied. "I already tried cheering her up yesterday, Rose. She said she needed some time with herself. So, I respected what she wanted. And, can you get up now? You're making me uncomfortable."

Clinging onto Miya's clothes, preventing her from getting away, and while still on the ground, kneeling, Rose pleaded. "Please, Miya. At least come with me inside. We got to do something about Amber."

While trying to get herself free from Rose's grasp, Miya stated. "Like I said, I respect what she said. Just give her some space, Rose."

Clinging onto Miya more tightly, Rose said. "Miya, please! I'm worried about her."

"If you're so worried, why don't you go and talk to her yourself? You were her friend far longer than I have. So, you should know how to handle this far better than I would. And please, let go of me."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Rose?"

"Uh huh?"

"Did you blank out for a second?"

"No, I was just, uh... thinking."

After hearing her answer, Miya let out another sigh as she said. "Come with me, Rose."

After saying that, Miya began walking towards the door behing Rose.

Rose, who was still clinging onto her, realized what she meant and finally let go of Miya. She walked next to Miya while dusting herself off.

After Miya opened the door, they entered.

As soon as they entered, Rose greeted. "Heyo~! Amber, me and-"

But before Rose could finish her sentence, she heard a door slam shut behind her, with no Miya in sight.

With a gasp, Rose stated. "You traitor."

After that, Rose reached for the handle on the door, only to be stopped when she heard a voice coming from behind her, saying. "Rose..."

After forming a pained expression, Rose moved her face closer to the door, wore a serious expression, before saying in a whispery voice. "Miya. I know you are on the other side of this door... But, just know. I will have my revenge, Miya."

After saying that, Rose removed her hand from the handle of the door as she turned around with an awkward smile, saying. "Hi~! Amber. How is it going?"

Amber, who is sitting down on one of the three beds that occupied the majority of the room, stared at Rose with her tired eyes.

Sensing her stare upon her, Rose removed the smile from her face as she walked over to her before occupying the bed right next to Amber.

Despite facing each other, neither of them initiated eye contact.

"..."

"..."

After staying in deep silence for a couple of minutes, one of them finally said something.

Rose, clenching her fist atop her thigh, asked. "Amber... I..."

With both of them still refusing to look at each others eyes, Amber stated. "You don't have to try so hard, Rose. I am fine."

Rose, looking uncomfortable, tapped her foot onto the floor multiple times, slowly inching her way towards the door.

But, just as she was on the edge of the bed, she stopped. And, a moment later, she returned to her original position, directly in front of Amber.

Showing a hint of confusion, Amber asked. "Why didn't you leave, Rose? Aren't you uncomfortable?"

"Maybe a little..."

"..."

"..."

"I'm sorry, Rose."

Looking a bit surprised, Rose looked up. But, she immediately looked back down once she realized Amber was staring directly at her.

Still trying to avoid eye contact, Rose said. "What are you apologizing for, Amber?"

"For being a spoiled brat."

With surprised looked on her face, Rose made a second of eye contact with Amber as she said with a slightly panicked tone. "D-don't say that, Amber! I would never call you that!"

After Rose said that, she immediately gazed to the side, avoiding Amber's gaze once more.

Amber, with a sigh, asked. "Rose, do you still remember what happened in Viridis?"

While avoiding Amber's gaze and still looking a bit panicked, Rose replied. "Viridis? Do you mean when we met Miya? You shouldn't blame yourself for that, Amber."

"No, that's not what I meant."

"Huh?"

"Go further back, Rose."

"Further back?"

While Rose still refused to make eye contact with her, Amber gazed to the side as she stated. "Rose. I know what you did with your free time back then."

"My free time? Hehehe... Do you mean when I go around and beat up some thugs?"

"No. I mean the time you use to protect me and my father."

After hearing that, Rose fell deep into silence, not moving an inch or making a sound.

Amber then continued. "I'm so sorry, Rose. I knew the truth about the peacekeepers, but it didn't occur to me that it had that much of an affect on you."

"..."

"I thought that you being that panicked when you see blood was just an odd quirk of yours. I'm so sorry, Rose."

As they continued to stare away from each other, a teardrop rolled down Rose's cheek.

Catching a glimpse of the tear, Amber continued. "I know no amount of sorries can help ease the experience you felt, Rose. But, I'm sorry, Rose."

"..." Even though she bit down on her lip as a few more teardrops rolled down on her face, Rose still remained silent.

Amber then continued. "Maybe... if I said something back then... maybe you wouldn't have been forced to drench your hands in that much blood. I am so sorry, Rose."

At this moment, Amber's voice began to waver as Rose's face continued to be greeted by tears.

Amber then stated. "I can't believe I called myself your friend."

At the exact moment Amber finished that statement, Rose looked at her, dead in the eye, with tears clouding her eyes, she stated. "Please, Amber. Don't."

Unsettled by the fact that her friend was now crying before her, Amber asked. "'Don't' what?"

With tears flowing freely from her eyes, Rose slumped forwards, saying. "I'm the one who should be sorry, Amber."

"W-why?"

After a bit of hesitation, Rose relented, saying in a wavering voice. "I'm sorry, Amber. I-I can't believe that thought even crossed my mind. I'm so sorry, Amber."

At that moment, Rose couldn't hold it in anymore and began crying and sobbing in front of Amber, who looks confused and genuinely concerned.

"Ro-Rose, what do you mean?"

"I'm so sorry, Amber. I'm so, so sorry."

"Wh-what did you do, Rose?"

"I'm sorry, Amber. I was being selfish. *sob*"

"Selfish? I was the one being selfish, not you!"

"I'm so sorry, Amber. I'm so sorry."

Inching a bit closer to Rose, Amber asked. "Rose, please, tell me what is happening."

"I'm so sorry, Amber. I'm sorry." Rose said, looking up at Amber's eyes with tear-filled eyes.

"Rose, what happened? Please."

As more tears came out, Rose then said. "I'm sorry, Amber. When you first invited me over, I figured out that you were a beastfolk. I'm so sorry, Amber."

"Wha- Ho-how... I-"

"You were always a heavy sleeper, Amber. I-I am sorry."

As Rose continued to break down in front of her, Amber asked. "But... what does this have to... what did you do with this information, Rose?"

Rose then replied, her voice still wavering. "Nothing, Amber. Nothing. I-It was the thing I was about to do with that information that I'm sorry about."

"Wha- What were you-"

"I was going to blackmail you, Amber. You and your father."

"What do you-"

"Back in Titan, it might not have been that big of a deal. A few glares here and there, but it won't hurt that much. But on Viridis..."

"On Viridis, their treatment of beastfolk are just... the worst."

"Rose, were you-"

"Yes, I was ready to throw you down your graves if you ever wanted to return me to Titan. I'm sorry, Amber. Please, forgive me!"

After saying this, Rose then knelt before Amber. Her body slumped over and weak. Her face unable to look at her friend.

"Amber, I'm sorry."

As Rose continued to beg before her, Amber just sat there in disbelief.

"Amber, please, forgive me!"

As Rose looked up at her with teary eyes, Amber merely giggled. "Hehehe!"

"Huh...?"

After hearing Amber just giggle to herself, Rose was forced to stop and just stare at her.

A moment later, Amber stated. "It seems... we were both unfit to call each other friends, aren't we?"

"Amber, I-"

But before Rose could finish her reply, Amber said with a bright smile. "Hello. My name is Amber. What is yours?"

Looking a bit confused, Rose replied. "I-I am Rose. Ni-nice to meet you?"

After hearing her reply, Amber continued with a smile. "Hello, Rose. Want to be my friend?"

After hearing what Amber just said, Rose couldn't help but cry before her as she tried to say. "Amber... I-I..."

And without saying anything more, Amber spread apart her arms, like she was going in for a hug.

Seeing this, Rose unconciously backed off as she continued to cry and say. "Amber... I... I..."

And without any further warning, Amber went and hugged Rose tightly.

Rose, unsure of what to do, just froze in place while still muttering. "Amber... I-I... I..."

And, with a smile, Amber whispered into her ears. "Rose, we are now friends, got it?"

With tears still flowing out of her eyes, Rose hugged Amber back as she replied with a wavering and slightly delighted tone. "I-I got it, Amber. We are now friends.