The Black Swan Behind (Beauty of Fire)

318 This Is The Last Time

Emma realized clearly that her heart never wanted Levi to let her go. She knew that her heart wanted him. Hearing that Levi gave up on her directly from his own mouth sent a throbbing pain inside Emma’s chest, because, it meant that she also had to let Levi go with all her feelings for him.

For Emma, letting Levi go was like a bitter pill. She had to force herself to swallow it in order to recover from her illness.

“I’m sorry. But I really can’t do it under these circumstances. I hope you understand,” Emma said while gently pushing Levi’s chest.

Levi lowered his hands and then took a step back to give Emma space. Then he nodded. “I understand. From the start, I should have. It was my stubborn and selfish mistake. I made you feel uncomfortable, yet continued anyway,”

Emma was still looking at Levi sorrowfully. Was it all over? Would they split up at all? To be honest, she didn’t want it that way. However, she would give the final decision to Levi. If for Levi, the way to forget her was to never see her again, then she would do that.

Emma ran her hands to the back of her neck. She took off the necklace with the star pendant that Levi had just given her. “Give this beautiful pendant to a more appropriate person, Levi.”

Staring at the necklace for a moment without touching it, Levi smiled faintly and took it.

‘Looks like he’s really going to stay away from me after this. I hope it will make him feel better and get over me as soon as possible, and so do I.’ Emma thought inwardly.

However, Emma was surprised when Levi stepped very close to her again. Then he circled his hands around her neck again, making her able to smell a scent that for some reason she really liked from a Levi – The scent of soap mixed with cologne and very faintly of tobacco.

.....

When Levi released her, Emma immediately reached for something that was hanging below her neck. The star pendant was twinkling there again. Emma looked at Levi in confusion.

The man smiled warmly. His two grey eyes were like a cloudy sky that was able to give peace to some classes of people. And apparently, Emma was in the group.

“The only woman who deserves to wear it is you, Emma. Therefore, I beg you with one request. Never take this star off from there. And, please stay as my best friend,” Levi said with a sad smile.

If only Levi would open up about his life to Emma, if only Emma was the only love in Levi’s life, if only there was nothing hidden between the two of them, she must have chosen him a long time ago. In fact, if Levi had never asked Emma to be his girlfriend, she would have been the one to ask him first because she was the type of girl who would fight for everything that she wanted.

Emma smiled with a slight chuckle. “Those are two wishes,”

“Oh... Sorry, I corrected my request. Make it two. How?” he asked hopefully.

Then Emma raised her right hand in front of her chest. “This is our last agreement,”

Even though his heart wanted to scream, Levi still put a smile on his lips and shook that soft hand. Really, he still hoped that this hand was the one he would hold for the rest of his life until he was old. However, life was cruel to him, and he had to accept it even though it felt unfair.

“Deal,” He said.

Once again and for the last time, Emma and Levi made a pact that they would remain on friendly terms. Levi had also admitted that he had given up on trying to get Emma, so he would no longer deliberately take romantic actions toward her in order to make her accept his love.

At the very least, Levi would try to treat Emma fairly if he remembered that. Of course his instincts would make him protect what he cared about. Maybe he would accidentally be sweet to Emma, but he would try not to.

The two of them walked around the amusement park in silence. They didn’t even pay attention to the street so they kept walking aimlessly.

Emma was still clutching the pendant on her neck. She did like the star-shaped object decorated with small crystal stones that made it twinkle when exposed to light.

Suddenly, Emma’s eyes caught a small shop selling a variety of unique knick-knacks. She immediately entered the shop door made of wood that was a bit rickety. The shop was run by an old woman with thick glasses. She greeted them in a friendly manner.

Since childhood, Emma always liked to enter shops that sell knick-knacks. Buying things that she didn’t need was her favourite thing to do.

“You like stuff like this?” Levi asked with both hands pinned in his trouser pockets.

Emma nodded with a big smile on her lips and her eyes twinkled exploring the various things in the shop. “There are so many unique items here. Do you like them too?”

“No. It all looks like trash to me,” He answered with a disinterested look.

Emma glanced sarcastically at him. “This place is cramped and you are too big. Since you can’t appreciate the unique items here, you might nudge them out of caution. So-”

“I’ll wait outside. Don’t take too long,” Levi said, cutting Emma’s words. Then he got out through the shop’s glass doors.

Emma snorted with both eyes still watching the figure that was now standing outside and took out a box of cigarettes from inside his coat pocket. “It seems that there is a good point in me rejecting him,” she muttered.

The small shop had two shelves in the middle which display lots of unique and pretty items. Then on the side of the wall was a shelf that displayed larger unique items.

Emma wandered around and picked up three items that caught her eye and might prove quite useful. She also did not forget to pick up some accessories for the girls. But then, her eyes caught an accessory that stunned her for a while.

It was a bracelet made of black laces with a flat round silver ornament. On the silver ornament was engraved a picture of the moon which had a frankly odd shape. But, although weird, Emma somehow could recognize that it was a picture of a moon.

Emma took the bracelet, and then glanced at the large window of the shop to see the figure of Levi standing while smoking.

Suddenly, Levi’s eyes also glanced inside until their eyes met. Emma was a little taken aback, but managed to cover it up well. She showed her palm and said ‘Wait’ with lip movements.

Then, Levi took off the cigarette stuck between his red lips. He said ‘Hurry’ with a lip movement while blowing out smoke from his mouth. After that, he threw his short cigarette butt into the trash. It was a sign that Emma had been in the shop long enough.

Emma immediately went to the cashier. She placed the small bamboo basket containing her items on the counter.

“You are my first customer today,” The woman said with a warm smile.

“Am I? This park is indeed quiet. Maybe because it’s a working day,” Emma replied. Though it was almost meet sunset, she was the first customer. Wasn’t it sad?