Whenever Yuri read one of those "obsessive love" type of novels, she always felt that it is a bit cringey and over the top. Not like she has experience when it comes to any forms of love or relationships in general, but she just doesn't understand how someone can become so IN NEED of something in their life that badly....other than money. But she understands now. His existence became her source of awareness and livelihood. His eyes that looks at her softly, his warm lips that kisses her gently, and the warmth of his touch that eased onto her cold skin, she felt more than just alive. She felt like she was finally living.
Yuri is very aware to the fact that her feelings are extreme, but so what if it is....
If her feelings are what people call "things that should only happen in fictions and not in real life", than her whole 25 years of living from her last life was the cherry and sprinkles on top.
Ever since the beginning of her existence, she felt like if God or any sort of "higher beings" do exist, they made her life as a joke for them to watch. Like one of those soap opera drama that people are so obsessive over with. The ones that are overdramatic to catch people's attentions, making them all excited for next week's episodes. However, one day, that drama that people were excited for suddenly went on a long hiatus. Long enough for people to forget about it and moved onto the next drama that just came out. Almost like Yuri's last life. Where her life began with soap opera, but as it continues, it just became a nothing in the end.
Back when Yuri was still living at her other world, she had parents that were well and alive, but she treated them like they were dead, after all, they treated her like she never existed. Back when Yuri was still a kid, her so called "family members" and "acquaintances" have never failed to mention to her that she was born out from a wedlock.
"It was an accident" or that "She was a mistake".
The reason why her so called parents still kept her around was because of their parents, Yuri's grandparents belief. It's the same older generation beliefs where, since the "accident" already happened, they needed to at least let "it" finish happening, but quietly, or else their family's pride will be in danger. In addition to that, Yuri did heard a bit about the family being famous in the public eyes, but that's all the knowledge that she has about the family. However, as much as family's name was on the line, not long after she was born, her parents got divorced and that was start of Yuri being passed around like a luggage. From one family member to another, Yuri doesn't know how many times she had been passed around, but one thing for sure is that there were too many times to be counted...but diabolically, seeing her parents in her whole 25 years of life can be counted with one hand.
Living her childhood like someone's extra baggage had made Yuri understood that if she could live like she was dead, that will be a great luxury for her, but instead, she had to live like she never existed.
When someone is dead, people that were still alive would have remembered that the deceased has once existed in this world, because they were once part of their lives, but living like you have never existed, means that you couldn't and shouldn't become part of anyone's life.
The "accident" that brought shame to the family's name can never be afloat to the surface. If any more people knew about the "accident", everything that they had done for the family to be in the current position that they were in, would be gone within a second. Those were the reminders that the family members told each other when they were passing the "luggage" to the next one. Over time, the "luggage" eventually got used to avoiding peoples sights, since that was what everyone hoped for.
Once Yuri reached 14 years old, they told her that she will start living by herself in one of old houses that the grandparents left over when they died couple years ago. That old house that they threw her in, was not in a good condition. Insulation was bad, too cold during the winter and too hot during the summer. When it rain, certain corners of the roof started to mold, and the exterior of the house was also falling apart. Plus the area of that house is quiet isolated from the heart of the city and public transportation, where 20 min of walking was needed in order for her to catch a bus to reach he city. Thus, no one in the family wanted the house, so they made it into a "luggage" storage instead. It was a chance for them to finally leave the extra baggage somewhere where it won't hinder them anymore. It was a two bird in one stone scenario for them. Bringing her to that house was actually the last time that Yuri has seen anyone that were part of her "family". Afterward, she has been by herself. They helped her out with high school tuition, but after high school, there were no more funds. Which made Yuri discontinued her education to college, and instead she took on several part time jobs that helped her pay the bills. Work, eat, then sleep, and when she wakes up, the next morning was already here. Yuri lived not because she wanted too, it was purely because she was still alive.
Back when she was still very young she did feel sad, but eventually time washed away that sadness, and gave her seclusion and independency as a way for her coup with her present and future. She's not angry about it, nor sad, nor annoyed, she just...doesn't care. But now its different. He is here. He gave her the warmth that she never felt, the gentleness that was never given, she felt like a long missing piece has finally been found. As much as her obsessiveness is extreme, she doesn't want to let go of this long missing piece, and she believes that he feel the same way towards her.
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Yuri sat down near a big rock, away from others as they were taking their short break from the carriage ride. The trip has been pretty smooth, no sudden emergency breaks or bandits lurking around. Though have been some wild animals running around and blocking the roads, but those soon became groceries for their next meal, so it worked out anyway. Yuri enjoys her short meal break as she watches the trees leaves move as the wind blows. Not sure if it was because they are going up the mountain, but the winds are getting colder by days. Her body that was always slightly on the colder side, became even colder. She shivered a bit from the chill, which made her missed him a bit more, especially his warm touches. Yuri looked over her shoulder, and she saw the couple holding each others hands as Sabrina leans over to Lumens shoulders.
Yuri rolled her eyes and sucked on her teeth quietly as she turned her head back to her original position. After a few more minutes, Lumen called out and stated that its time to leave. When he asked the coachman how much longer until they reached the temple, he stated if everything goes smoothly, then they will reach before the sun completely sets.
---Sigh~~~finally---
Yuri sighed a relieve as she was getting tired from the bumpy ride. She felt like she had bruised her tailbone from riding the carriage. When she was about to get up she saw something between the corners of her eyes. She looks down, and saw a red flower hiding at the corner of a big rock that is next to her. She looked over the rock to take a proper look at the flower. Even though the rock was overshadowing the flower, the flower still grew up beautifully. The red petals flared up elegantly with a tint of orange-goldish color under the sunlight. But when it is under somewhere darker, the red looks like fresh blood, almost like his.
Yuri gently pulls out the flower from the ground. She made sure that the roots of the flower comes together with it, so that she can grow it once she reaches the temple. She then wraps the flower gently with her handkerchief before putting it in her pocket.