Prompt: “This is gonna be so much fun!”
Story: Beyond What Can Be Seen
Seven years had passed and Bianca was again overseas. But rather than selling seashells, this time it was for her education. The boat docked in the familiar Placia Harbor, but her childhood memories had become distant over time as she focused on her responsibilities. She walked around the harbor by herself as she reminisced on her surroundings and the nostalgic memories of that mischievous day those years ago.
Bianca found her way to a public park in the town by her campus and decided to sit against a low brick wall to do some reading.
“How do you do, little lady?” She was startled at a voice over head. She turned to find a young man laying over the brick wall with one leg bent up.
“Um.. just fine,” she said as she turned back around to her book.
“Didn’t mean to startle you. I couldn’t help but noticed you share the same uniform as mine. Started the new year as well, have you?” He said in a smart-alec tone as he gestured to his clothes.
“I don’t believe that’s any of your business,” Bianca shot back.
“Now now I’m only curious since such a pretty young woman is sitting here all on her own. I thought she could do with some company and a possible new friend this school year,” he continued.
“Sorry but I don’t think I’d want to be friends with someone as peculiar as you,” Bianca remarked as she continued to look down to her book.
“Hey, what’s wrong with a little peculiarity? Isn’t that what makes living more exciting?” He asked but Bianca only chose to ignore him. “Ah, very well if that’s how you truly feel, I’ll leave you alone, Miss. Oh but before I go I find it only fair to pay back what I owe.”
“What are you going on-” before she could finish her response, the young man had flipped from his thumb a quarter that landed on her book. “-about,” she finished with an awestruck voice as she held up the quarter. Her eyes widened before she turned around to meet his gaze. He gave a bright nostalgic smile.
“Hello, Bianca,” he said with a slight redness flushing his cheeks.
“It- it can’t be… Runo!” She exclaimed as she jumped up and hugged him, managing to send them backwards off the wall.
“Oh! Bianca! You’re lucky the grass was here to break the fall,” Runo joked before hugging her close.
“Runo… I’ve missed you so much. I’m even ashamed to say the harbor was beginning to feel like a distant memory, even a dream. But the day I left and some years afterward you can be certain I thought of you everyday,” Bianca confessed.
“To me that day is as vivid as the very same day we lived it together. I’ve saved that very same quarter for you. It’s been a sort of luck charm,” he also admitted. Bianca propped herself up to look into his eyes. “That day you transformed the heart of that little boy, Bianca. In a way he wasn’t even aware of.” Bianca’s heart swelled at hearing his words as her eyes began to slightly well.
“What little boy!?” Bianca was startled again as her head shot up while Runo looked up with a playful smile. A little boy was standing by them with his hands balled into fists on his hips and his cheeks puffed out.
“Oh goodness,” Bianca said as Runo helped her to sit up next to him.
“I was talking about myself, boy. Don’t worry,” Runo said with a laugh. “Bianca, this is my boy.”
“Oh my,” Bianca began as she modestly put her hand to her cheek. “I hadn’t realized…” Runo playfully raised his brow before he burst into laughter as he scooped up the boy onto his lap.
“Bianca! I’ve been put in charge of looking after the little prince, Lassen,” he explained. “What were you thinking?” He asked in a more sly tone. Bianca’s face flushed as she swatted his arm.
“I- I- Runo! You know what you did!” She protested as he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Runo Runo, is this the lady you told me the story about?” Lassen cut in as he patted Runo’s arm. It was Runo’s turn to blush as he modestly glanced between Lassen and Bianca.
“I- um- yes, Lassen. I was a year younger than yourself when I had the funnest day of my life,” Runo said tenderly. Bianca smiled warmly. “I was finally able to pay back what I owed.” Bianca reacted and pulled out the quarter and showed it to Lassen.
“What? A quarter for this?” He asked as he pulled out the same small white shell from his pocket.
“That’s right. Times change, don’t they?” Runo said.
“I’ll say,” Lassen said with a shake of his head. Bianca and Runo laughed.
“So Runo, we must catch up don’t you think? You must tell me how you got to work for the royal family of all people. And how you got to meet this handsome little guy,” Bianca said as she lightly tickled Lassen.
“Surely. And I promised Lassen I would take him to the soda shop today. You still up for it?” Runo asked.
“Of course! This is gonna be so much fun!” Lassen said excitedly. Runo swiftly stood and picked him up, sitting him over his shoulders before he offered his hand to Bianca. She smiled and took it, standing up and interlocking their fingers as they all walked together.
