Eujae continuously taps his forefinger on his study table as he stares blankly at the words in the book that he's been trying and failing to get himself into this past hour. Resigned, he leans back on his chair, head tilting skywards, and removes his prescription glasses to massage his tired eyes. He stares at the blurry image of his ceiling for a brief moment and feels the wound on his inner mouth with his tongue before he puts his eyeglasses back on. He turns back in front and notices his phone on the table light up.

Knowing he's received a reply from Ten-Ten, Eujae quickly picks up his phone and opens the message.

Ten2: hey to you too. why do i feel like we havent talked to each other in a while? anyway, i wont say that my blood pressure is up but before i received your message i was having an argument with my sister and it kinda made me irritated

Eujae smiles. That's true. A lot of things have happened this whole week that he also feels like he's not heard from Ten-Ten in a long time, although they've kept on sending random greetings and messages to each other on weekdays.

Gaele: Heh, so it's not about the guy you hate this time. Anyway, can't relate to having arguments with siblings since I'm an only child. But what were you arguing about, if you don't mind me asking?

Ten2: nah i dont really mind. actually, we were talking about her friend who also happened to be, yes, the guy i hate. i've ranted a lot to you about him right? but i don't think I ever mentioned that the guy is also friends with my friends. so our friends including my sister kinda want us to make up with each other which is crazy because i dont think thats ever going to happen. i guess they want us to apologize to each other

Reading the first part of the message, his brow raises. That sounds very similar to his and Poll's situation. It makes him realize that it's not pretty uncommon for enemies to have the same group of friends.

Eujae decides not to dwell on it as he is more interested in the last part of Ten-Ten's message.

Gaele: Apologize, huh? If only it was that easy.

Ten2: hm? you sound serious. I could be wrong but that sounds like you have someone to whom you want to apologize. wont you tell me about it? i mean, i dont wanna sound like i am prying too much about your personal life but you know, you have listened to my rants before, even now, and i know you said it was because you love listening but i also wanna listen to you if there's something bothering you. or am i jumping to a conclusion? you dont need to tell me if you dont wanna but I still hope you do

Eujae chuckles, reading Ten-Ten's long reply. Cute. It seems like he'd fumbled for words when he typed it.

A warm feeling creeps on his chest, knowing how concerned his online friend is for him. It is moments like this that he's grateful he listened to Nick's insistence a couple of months ago to try playing a game. And through the said game, he found this precious human being.

He wants to return Ten-Ten's eagerness and sincerity by being fully honest and opening up to him more but Eujae doesn't know where to start. He's only good at listening to people but he's not as good at talking about his own issues. And it sounds like Ten-Ten is already having personal troubles with the guy he hates. Eujae doesn't want to add more to his worries.

But maybe, Ten-Ten can help him answer this one thing.

Gaele: Can I ask you a question, Ten-Ten?

Ten2: wow deja vu. why is everyone asking me today if they can ask me a question when they're already asking me a question? but okay shoot

Gaele: Haha, who taught you to be a smart ass? So I want to know, what if that person whom you hate apologized for something terrible he did to you, is there a chance that you'd forgive them?

Ten2: hey you told me before there is this one person who hates you. could it be that you did something to them and you wanna apologize but you're not sure how it would turn out. you're not sure if they will accept it because they hate you?

Gaele: Why do you have to choose this day to be perceptive, li'l Ten-Ten? So, what's your answer?

Ten2: honestly i cant imagine it. i dont think that guy has it in him to apologize. a stuck-up guy like him? not gonna happen, bro

Gaele: But what if.

Ten2: i dont know. i mean how would i know if it hasnt happened? maybe i'd know if he actually apologized. but let me also ask you a question, gaele, are you planning to apologize to that person? do you want to tell them youre sorry even if you know there is a big possibility that they'd reject your apology?

Eujae pauses as he contemplates what to reply. Does he want to apologize to Poll? He knows he messed up big time and he'd be lying if he said the incident at Cloud's place isn't bothering him at all. He is perfectly aware that what he did was terrible. No, terrible is an understatement. But after all these years of arguing and saying unpleasant things to each other, wouldn't it be weird to say sorry now? And would Poll even listen to him?

Sighing, Eujae finally types his answer.

Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. Either way, it's not that simple.