Chapter One: Sunday Gifts
-Are you ready?
-Ready!
Somebody knocked twice at Jeremie's door. Jeremie was writing that email and invited the person that knocked the door to enter the room. But nobody entered the room. In fact, nobody announced that was going to enter. Intrigued, he saved the e-mail in drafts, turned off the screen, turned off the pc (which had no Lyoko data anymore), and opened the door. In fact, nobody was out there. He made one step to see if someone was hiding…
Nobody was. But there was a strange package, for Jeremie's surprise. Jeremie kicked this package when he made that step with his right foot. He was wondering what was inside it. It couldn't be a XANA trap anymore. XANA was dead a long time ago.
He opened the package, starting to think who could have sent it. When he finished of opening it, there was a perfume with a strange inscription written in pink color. It said:
"Would you give me the honor, please? I've bought it thinking in you. I would feel better if you use it… Do me the favor, and I make sure that everything will change."
No sign on it. Just the note was left with the perfume, which smelled good. Jeremie noticed that whoever who signed it, signed it with her perfume. Like if that told him something. He does not remember which person used this perfume; his nose told him that nobody that he could remember sent it. This girl could be playing with his feelings.
Jeremie was going to use it, and then, he thought about it twice. It could mean that he didn't smell well and this person was afraid of telling him that, and therefore the obvious gift was made. It could mean that somebody was trying to play with his feelings, using the note as a trap to make him fall for it.
Of course, he thought, if I use the perfume, whoever made the joke would use Milly and Tamiya to make me the Fool of the Year, the "Desperate Lover". But he didn't rule out something else: Someone give him that gift to make him see this girl.
After all it could be a sign, maybe he was not spending a lot of time outside and this person wants to talk with him. Reasons kept comings since he started to think about it. It was more of a feeling, feeling of hope. In his heart, there was a reason that he didn't want to hear for the moment.
Jeremie is shy, that has not changed, he could be less shy, but he still was shy. And he is not willing to risk himself to be the fool of the year and make everyone laugh at him for the rest of the year just because of an odd joke.
He left the room. He decided to ignore it until he could talk about it with someone. Besides, if there was someone behind him, why wouldn't that person come and talk with him? The answer could be short. Maybe the question Jeremie himself asked was not right. If he was shy, why wouldn't be this person shy also? If he is shy, why would this person be herself or would show the shy part of her personality to make contact with her?
He headed for the cafeteria. It was too much thinking, too much hunger for Jeremie. He felt like he was Odd for a second. Then he realized that his body didn't require too much food, he had skipped any eating course for 24 hours. He just had to think about someone. He felt pain, desperation, love, shyness. He had a mixture of feelings. His mind was about to collapse. He almost did.
The same people went to the girl's floor and left another package in Aelita's room. Yes. Another package, a little bit different. They knocked the door twice, they left the package and they ran away. It's Sunday, and Aelita was half awaken. But suddenly she heard the door. She opened the door, but, there was a package and not a person waiting for her.
She hold it, shook it several times to hear what was inside. It sounded like a cup, or a glass. She opened it, like a girl who received her Christmas gift, happy but anxious, and got surprised. It was a perfume with a letter, which was written in blue. It said:
"Since I saw your eyes, my days have been better, in return to that, please receive this gift, and don't wonder who is behind this, I know you are going to return me the favor. And I don't want that. In fact, if you are trying to meet me, don't do it."
It was worse. It raised Aelita's curiosity. She was very curious about who could be the one that was having better days since she came to Earth. She started to think who could be, but she did not come with a strong conclusion. In her heart, she was hoping that some blond haired boy gave to her such a gift. But, how could she be so sure that his beloved boy gave it to her? There was no real reason. She would bet that, if he was the one who gave the gift to her, he would have given him the gift by himself. She got illusions that Jeremie sent it. But those were illusions based in the fact that everything made no sense at all.
Another day started in Kadic, with the perks of a Sunday day. The students could wake up a little late and they could get their breakfast, some could go to the Church nearby without having to report themselves to Jim or any authority, yet they had to return to Kadic as soon as it finished. There were no classes whatsoever, and it is always seen as a good thing for the students. If some student wanted to leave to do something in the city, they didn't ask for permission. There was a tacit agreement between Jim and the students, as long they were in their rooms at the night. It was a day to relax. Yes. It was Sunday. But it was not another Sunday for Jeremie and Aelita.
The gang arrived at the cafeteria to have their breakfast. First, Odd and Ulrich arrived. Odd was there first, he was hungry like he never was. Ulrich was awake, but he was walking like a zombie. He started to drink his coffee and he noticed that Jeremie and Aelita were there, but he noticed something weird, to say the least. Neither Jeremie nor Aelita were having breakfast. It was weird, because they always have breakfast, they never reject the opportunity to have breakfast, even in Lyoko times Jeremie had breakfast! Suddenly, Odd broke the silence and said:
"What's wrong with you two? You are not having breakfast, must be the end of the world as we know it. And the end of my breakfast too, as I can't have yours… What a day. Great"
Odd was almost ignored. Jeremie was thinking who could send him the perfume. Aelita was thinking how she could bring the conversation topic. She thought: "Yumi, she could help me, but she won't be coming school until tomorrow. I will pay her a visit; after all she will want to talk with someone. I know that Sundays are boring for her. Yes! That's what I'm going to do!"
"I have something to do, see you soon guys!" Aelita said. She walked away, ignoring anything else happening in the school, even the fact that Jeremie was not using his glasses. She needs and wants to know. And Yumi may have the answer.
Aelita run away, heading right away to the Ishiyama's house. She was running but there was no hurry, the boys were in the cafeteria, and… well, there is not any kind of virus that takes possession of a person or an animal that follows her. So she tried to calm down herself, but she wanted to hurry, she wanted to talk with her friend about the gift she had today. Finally, in a long time she got something. And it was important to her. Or it could mean something important. This is what she wanted to know.
"Oh, here it is." Aelita exclaimed when she saw the Ishiyama's house. She ran and knocked at the door. "Coming!" was heard from the inside.
Finally the door opened, and for Yumi's surprise it was Aelita. She tried to dissimulate the surprise, and finally asked:
"Hey Aelita, what are you doing here? I thought you were sleeping, please come in, I'm alone in home, Hiroki is ill and my parents brought him to the medic. I don't think he is ill, mostly I could say he was acting, he is fine, I can bet. In fact, if I made a bet I would win!"
Aelita and Yumi laughed, and they entered the house and went to the dining room. Yumi was finishing having breakfast, when Aelita came she was cleaning the table. She tried to help, but Yumi didn't allow it. Aelita took a seat and started to share the reflections that crossed her mind in that moment.
- Today is a different day to me. Something happened to me.
Aelita lost the grin she always had in her face and Yumi turned around, looked at Aelita and said:
-What happened to you Aelita? Whatever it is, it must be causing trouble to you. Your face has just told me that.
-Yes, it is. Something made my feelings shake. I felt like I was alone. I have you, Ulrich, Jeremie and Odd. But I'm alone in the other meaning. And I've got a gift from somebody. A gift in a day I never expected something to happen. But it made me think, and I need your help. I need to cope out with my feelings. I need someone."
-Care to elaborate a little more, please? You got what? A gift? From who?
-If I knew, I would handle it by myself. Of course, I would tell you, but whoever sent it was too shy, or even worse, coward! This person sends this perfume and a note without signing it.
A tear fell in the right cheek of Aelita.
-I know what you need, Aelita. You need something, that is. Relax Aelita. Breathe. Stop for a little while. We will figure it, right? Please, stop. Give yourself one minute to stop and think. Why are you annoyed with whoever sent it? You should be thankful. At least I would be grateful if someone gives something to me.
-That's right Yumi, but I really, really want to figure out who was him.
-I know what it is wrong with you, you know? It's called love. Yes, it is called love. You have been alone for a long time. And I know who could have sent it.
- Who is? I need to know now!
- Aelita, you do not want to see it. Are you blind? The reason you want to know it's because you are hoping that Jeremie Belpois sent it. Yes, the glass boy that saved you from Lyoko, the one who freed you. Who loves you? I don't see why you both aren't together, of course, you are shy, and so he is. If I were him I would have sent you a lot of gifts. Maybe he is finally making the first step, and you should be happy, not sad. Smile, because this could be the day where you and he could be taking another step to be together. Forever. Like the song.
- Which one?
- Together Forever, sang by some English guy, ah yes, Rick Astley. It's a shame you never heard the song, you could find the lyrics on Internet, you know.
- What should I do?
- Give him a surprise, like another gift. I know something you could give to him. What if we work on it?
Aelita smiled and agreed. Yumi raised her hopes. Maybe, in the very end, Jeremie was behind the gift.
In the meanwhile, the cafeteria was almost deserted. It was the perfect time for Jeremie to talk about the gift he received today in the early morning. Jeremie usually keeps his personal life in his own room. Only that Einstein poster knows what happens to him and God knows what else. This is one of the days where things went different. He felt he needed to talk; the situation was starting to make him feel in desperation and love.
It's now… or never. He thought, and then he gathered some courage. He looked around. No Sissy. No Milly. No Tamiya. Everyone was half awake, so this was the moment.
- Ulrich, Odd. Guys. You two. Wake up, will you? I have something in my mind, Jeremie started.
- Yeah, that's not new. Spit it. What's wrong? Or else, which is your new idea? Had you told me that one year ago, it would be something about Lyoko, Odd said.
- I WISH it would be related to Lyoko. It's something else, so I need a couple of people that are experienced in love and the like.
- And the like? Ulrich started to talk. C'mon, its love you want to talk about. Let me guess, it's… your contacts!? Jeremie, where are your glasses?
- And we are talking about… hey; my favorite Einstein has no glasses anymore, Odd noticed after eating one croissant.
- Will you guys hear me or you will never know what it is about.
- Believe it or not, we already know about it, Einstein, Odd said with a smile in his face.
- So you know about the gift?
Ulrich and Odd looked at him and then they looked at themselves, launching cautious looks. Since they were in silence, Jeremie understood that they didn't have a clue and proceed to explain what happened earlier, in the same morning.
- I was awake, I could not sleep well, and hence I destroyed my glasses. Then I heard that someone knocked on the door. I invited the guest to come in, but nobody entered. And fearing that person did not hear me, I opened the door by myself, but nobody was out there. Someone left me a package, with this perfume and the weird letter. Whoever who wrote that letter needs to improve it writing skills. It was utterly bad written. In fact, this person sent me a letter where this person would feel better if I used this perfume I was given. I don't really want to think, I'm afraid this is a trap.
- And how do you come into this conclusion? , Ulrich asked.
- Do you think I really know who sent it? If I knew, sooner or later you would know, Ulrich, but I just… don't. Had this person have real interest in me, I think this person is a coward. That's happening to me.
- I'm very sure that this involves Aelita's feelings. When will you admit you love her and run to meet her? All what you are doing is to miss the opportunity of your life to be happy. Tell us when you were happy. When she came here, you were happy; you had something that made you feel better, Ulrich said convinced of it.
- I don't really think you are the appropriate to say that I should recognize feelings.
Jeremie attacked Ulrich, without wanting to, but in the end he said what he thought. Odd laugh was heard by everyone. He just didn't ever expect that Jeremie made such a statement in that way. Jeremie and Ulrich looked at Odd, and then he just stopped laughing. Then Jeremie said:
- Ok, I admit that I could feel something for her. And yes, I want to run and see her.
- That's the first step, Einstein, now we have to go, Odd exclaimed.
- Where to? Jeremie face stated to show fear.
- To your room, both said to the unison.
- And to do what?
- You need the expert advice, that's why you talked with us, Einstein. We are going to surprise Aelita. We are going to make her come to you. And you will never be alone…
-We will help you all along the way; Ulrich finished the phrase that Odd started
Jeremie regretted himself why he had to open his mouth. What if he has done the worst thing he could ever do?
Jeremie was lost, because he started to think about it. And now, he was undecided. He had his denial and his hope talking for him.
- You have done something wrong, Jeremie. You are in big trouble now. I don't really think we could be together.
- At least you could try, it would be good if you, at least tried to do something for her.
- So… you never did something to her? You made her return to Earth. You freed her from that damn virus. You made her feel she was important.
- The whole group did a space in their hearths for her.
- And you didn't?
- It's the same for the rest.
- Same for the rest? C'mon! Hear yourself, that's a lie. A big lie if you ask me. In your heart, your friends and family remain. But we all here know that Aelita Schaeffer is not part of your friends or your family. She is your beloved one, Einstein.
- I wish that was true.
- You wish she could love you. In fact, she loves you, damn it. When will you face the reality? You know, there is a saying, and it says "There is no worst blind as the one who doesn't want to see. There is no worst deaf as the one who doesn't want to hear." That's you.
- Why do you tell me all of this, I see this going to nowhere.
- Rely on Ulrich and Odd. We will talk later.
- I see nothing to contradict that.
Jeremie was more disconcerted. But he didn't care anymore. For once, he decided to take a step forward. His denial told him the opposite thing. Is it right?
