The Thousand Year Dynasty
<3. Rafa Story: Taste
"What's wrong, Miss Rafa? Are you not feeling well?" Livia asks when she finds Rafa who looks silent daydreaming.
The Seithr girl stared as if through the book before her. And looked surprised when he heard Livia's question.
"Ah, no. I'm fine, Livia" replied Rafa who resumed her work. Write something in his book.
They were in the front room of the printing house. Preparing a new book on arithmetic. It will be expanded for the needs of the school.
"But lately you seem to be out of focus, Miss Rafa" said Livia, looking worried.
"Be, really?" Rafa seems to be misbehaving. Like someone he was trying to hide.
"If there's something, you can talk about it with me, Miss Rafa" Livia said.
"Livia? Are you done?" Suddenly Fla emerged from another room and cut off the conversation of the two girls. "I want to take you out to eat together" he added later.
"Little bit more, Fla. But I think today I'm going to have lunch with Miss Rafa" Livia replied to Fla's invitation.
"No need, Liv. I'm doing fine. Anyway, I have an appointment to see Mr. Dirk at the bar" said Rafa hurriedly preventing Livia.
"Well if that's the case" Livia looked at Rafa for a while, before turning to look at Fla. "It's in a couple of hours" he said later, signalling Fla to leave immediately.
"alright. I'll wait in front ya" replied the young man before disappearing behind the exit.
"Back again. You can tell me everything, Miss Rafa" said Livia again who began her work to mark the book that had been written by Rafa. "Maybe I won't be much help. But at least I can give my view on your problem, Miss Rafa" he added later.
Rafa looked like he was breathing a long breath. "Lately I have been having a hard time sleeping" Rafa said later
"Is there something you're thinking about, Miss Rafa?"
Rafa was silent for a moment. "Do you like Fla?" Suddenly asked.
"Eh, why are you suddenly asking like that?" Livia is surprised to hear a question from Rafa, instead of the answer to her question.
"I'm just curious" Rafa replied quickly without changing his expression.
"Yes. I like Fla. I love her" Livia said quickly.
"Did she know you loved her?" Tanya Rafa is connected.
"Yes, he knows it. I also know that she loves me too" replied Livia who looked a little blushed.
Rafa sighed once more. "I pray you're happy always with Fla" he said later in a desperate tone.
Livia looks silently watching Rafa's face. "Are you in love, Miss Rafa?" The question then seemed to surprise Rafa.
Rafa answered with a stern answer. "I-I guess, that's natural, right? When we fall in love?"
"It's very natural, Miss Rafa. But thank God, if your anxiety is because you are in love" said Livia who looks relieved. "And if I may know, who is the lucky one, Miss Rafa?" Follow it with questions.
Rafa was just silent with a face that looked like he was in distress.
"If you don't want to tell me now, that's okay. And whoever it is, I will always support you, Miss Rafa" added Livia who did not want to force Rafa who seemed not to want to answer her question.
Rafa was silent. Then an awkward smile looked at Livia's sincere smile and went back to work.
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Rafa appears to be living inside Pietro's bar, after his meeting with Dirk was completed a while ago.
He sat down at the bartender's table with a glass of alcoholic carbonated drink in front of him. Aksa once called the drink Sparkling Wine.
As Pietro and Luna call it, Red Star drinks. Because of the small bubbles in its liquid it looked like a star in the red sky. To make it more familiar and attractive to buyers.
"Lately you've been looking tired. Are you sleep deprived, Miss Rafa? Did your master Aksa hire you so hard?" Katarina asked who was sitting next to Rafa.
"No. It's not so, Miss Katarina. Lately I have been having a hard time sleeping" Rafa replied later.
"Nightmare?" Suddenly Luna asked from behind the long table of the bartender.
"Oh, no. I have no nightmares, Miss Luna" replied Rafa.
"That means you're thinking about something. Is there a job you don't manage? You have to talk to Mr. Aksa or princess Lucia" Luna said again as she was busy wiping the glasses on the shelf behind her.
"No, miss Luna. My work is all smooth" Rafa replied quickly. The girl is always serious when it comes to work matters. He does not want people to assume that he is not capable in his work.
"Then, tomorrow I will send the herbal tea potion that I used to drink when I had trouble sleeping, to your place" said Katarina.
"Meaning if it's not a family issue, it's definitely a love issue" Luna cut off Rafa's words to thank Katarina.
Rafa momentarily held back his words, then stared at Luna. His face was doubtful.
"Why? Is there anything you want to ask?" Luna asked then after finding Rafa just silently staring at her.
"I'm sorry if this is sudden. You may not answer, but I want to ask you both" Rafa said suddenly. "Have you both ever been in love?" Her impact did not surprise Luna and Katarina too much.
The two of them could already guess what was troubling the young girl.
"Obviously ever. I got married not because of dignity and social standing" replied Katarina who was stung to underestimate Rafa's question.
"Yes, I've been in love" this time Luna replied. And then ask back. "Are you in love, Miss Rafa?"
Rafa looks silent for a moment. Like being in doubt. "I think it's like that" he replied later with a bit of embarrassment.
"Who is that man, Miss Rafa?" Katarina asked who sounded curious.
"Yes...but what I want to ask is, will the feeling of falling in love be disturbing like this?" Rafa avoided Katarina's question with another question.
"You mean, what makes it hard for you to sleep?" Ask Luna later.
"I've also become unfocused in doing things lately. Is it really like that? And how do we stop all this?" Rafa seemed to really want to get the answer.
"That's because you didn't reveal it. Then the feeling will always interfere with your concentration" suddenly a voice came from behind Rafa.
"Oh. You surprise me, miss Diana" Diana seemed to be sitting at a table not far from the bartender's long table.
"I'm sorry, I'm not willing to steal your hearing or to interfere in your affairs, Miss Rafa" said Diana, who apologized immediately, if it offended Rafa.
"I think I need a lot of input, Miss Diana. And can you explain what you just said?" Rafa asked who this time was sitting on his back to Luna, facing towards Diana.
"Yes, that's because you're still curious. Are the feelings you have reciprocated or not? Therefore, it will always disturb your mind. Different if you already know the answer" Diana explained from her seat.
"I agree with Miss Diana" said Katarina.
"What if it turns out that my feelings are unrequited? Or what if the relationship we had before became awkward and not the same anymore?" Rafa looks really worried about the problem.
"That's a problem to think about later. Your problem now is to know the answer. We can't walk forward if we think about a lot of things that will happen, even before we step foot" said Diana "And every choice must have a risk. But if you do not dare to do this, then you must be ready to feel the disturbing feeling until you do not feel it again" he added at length.
It looked like Rafa was digesting Diana's words.
"In my opinion, it never hurts for you to express your feelings to someone first" this time Luna said.
"Is that so? I will consider it" replied Rafa who appeared to be floating. He still could not decide with certainty.
"And whoever that man is, I don't think twice about accepting your love, Miss Rafa" said Katarina, who tried to encourage Rafa.
"Thank you, Miss Katarina. And also Miss Diana and Miss Luna. I am very happy to hear the opinions of you all. It seems like it is time I have to go back to printing. So excuse me first" said Rafa who then rushed to leave the bar.
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