Brady slowly stands up and begins to back away from the door, clutching his mouth to hold back laughter. "This is what Inigo has been keepin' a secret for so long, I think I'm gonna lose it," He uttered, doing his best to keep quiet.
Seeing him overreact like this was certainly a departure from his usual broodiness, while seeing this new side of him was nice I needed to keep focus. I continue looking through the cracked door.
"Cynthia do you know what might be bothering him?" The supervisor asks as Owain walked off to talk with Inigo, too far off for me to hear him.
"I'm not sure, he seemed to be a bit out of it during school, I think something is on his mind," Cynthia explained.
A thought suddenly entered my head. Earlier that day when Owain tried to talk to Morgan she acknowledged him, something she didn't do for anyone else, but continued walking. Lucina said Owain talked about her a lot, and everyone had already assumed they were dating. Maybe Owain was distracted because he didn't know why Morgan was ignoring him?
I got up and rejoined Brady, who finally seemed to calm down. "I think I finally know what's going on."
"Is that right? Anyway I can help? My Ma and Owain's Ma are like the best of friends, I can talk to him if you need me to relay a message." Brady says, unexpectingly offering his assistance.
"Thanks Brady, but I think once I tell it all to Morgan things should be fine," I reply with a smile, glad to see how quickly he was willing to help.
"Hm, well now that that's taken care of, you wanna head over to the archery club?" Brady suggests.
My eyes widen as I release a frightened gasp, this being the second time today I completely forgot about the Archery Club, knowing I must have already left a poor impression on Brady and the rest of the club. "I-I-I'm sorry Brady it slipped my mind again let's go!" I quickly utter, growing red faced as I embarrassingly start heading towards the Archery Club.
"Ay take it easy, I only joined this thing cause you wanted me too anyway, there's no reason for me to go if you ain't there," Brady explains. His words easing some of my worry, it did feel good knowing he really was doing this just for me. I'm glad to have him for a friend.
The two of us approach the Archery Club classroom with a note on the wall.
Dear Archery Club Members,
Due to a high workload on an empty stomach, I will have to postpone today's meeting until tomorrow, the schedule should be back to normal from that point on.
Sincerely,
Professor Stahl
"Heh, how convenient," Brady mutters, I agreed. At least this way I was able to help Morgan without missing anything.
"I-I guess we should both just head home," I reply, the two of us heading back to the front of the school.
"S-So how is the shoulder?" I ask as I carefully make my way down the steps.
"Hm? This sad thing?" Brady asks as he circles his arm. "Should be up to snuff again, hopefully that black board won't have to worry about anymore stabbings," Brady says, giving us both a laugh.
"Well we'll both be able to improve tomorrow," I say with a smile.
"As if you need it, you almost got a bulls eye last time," Brady says.
"I-I am sure I just got lucky, a bad ankle doesn't affect a bow like a bad shoulder does," I reply, myself surprised with how well I shot the arrow on Friday.
"We'll see tomorrow, don't sell yourself short so much Noire, well catch yuh later," Brady said as he began walking home.
I couldn't help but smile as he walked away; it was a new sensation to feel praise like that. I start to make my way home; it didn't feel right not having Morgan to lose arguments against as I traverse the streets. Once I make it in the house and after I greet my parents, I head straight for Morgan's room.
"Morgan it's me, please open the door!" I say as I knock on her door. No response.
"C'mon Morgan, it's about Owain," I say. Eventually I hear the sound of her lock unlocking. She never came out so I slowly open the door and poke my head in, "C-Can I come in?"
Morgan just nodded, she was sitting on her bed, her backpack thrown on the floor, her hair rather messy, and her usually contempt book collection a mess, this sight sent a shiver down my spine.
I take a seat beside my sister and say, "its okay, me and Brady did some snooping around after school, this has all been a big misunderstanding."
Morgan tilted her head, looking puzzled she asked, "What do you mean?"
"Owain and Cynthia were both just acting," I say, Morgan remained silent. "Y-You see that big room was for the drama club, and Owain and Cynthia were just reading lines for a play." I explain.
For a brief second, I saw that sparkle back in Morgan's eyes, she was becoming her normal herself once again, but just as quickly she buried her face in her knees once again. "Yeah right."
I was awestruck; I thought this would fix everything, "B-But Morgan, I'm telling the truth, I saw it today with my own eyes, I have Brady as a witness, they said the same words from Saturday, Owain even mentioned he didn't want to do the kiss, and was talking about how he had things on his mind. You see Morgan he was messing up his lines cause he was worried about how you were ignoring him today," I'll admit even saying all this out loud it did sound a bit like a hunch, but it all made sense and as smart and optimistic as she was I don't see how Morgan couldn't believe me.
"Don't you think that would have crossed my mind already? I should have known better, Cynthia and Owain hang out all the time, I never should have deluded myself," All of Morgan's words were pulling at my heart strings. "Noire I appreciate what you are doing, but I know what I heard and what I saw." She said before lying back down on her bed.
I tried to continue to explain but she wouldn't have any of it, eventually I realized she went back to tuning out the world. It was a lost cause to continue so I finally left her room. Once dinner came around it was the same defeated Morgan who joined us, what I said seemingly having no effect on her whatsoever. Both Mother and Father's efforts were just as successful as Morgan returned to her room the second she finished her dinner.
As I lied in my bed I searched my head in what to do to prove to Morgan that what I was saying was true. I didn't possess my Father's nor did I have my Sister's brains, so this wasn't the easiest task, but I finally come to a solution. I would need to have Owain tell her himself.
The next morning I was planning to put my plan into action. This time around Morgan wouldn't even walk her usual pace once we left the house. She was dragging her feet along the way to the school, head hanging low once again, but of course either way I wouldn't leave her side.
Finally reaching school I saw Nah waiting for us, I stopping to greet her but Morgan stopping at nothing.
"Still the same?" Nah asks as we both chase the tail end of Morgan.
"Unfortunately, but I think I figured out everything, but Morgan doesn't believe me," I reply as I explain everything from the day before to Nah.
"You think she might be in denial?" Nah suggests.
"It's a possibility, so we need to have Owain talk to her himself," I say.
"Morgan!" Speak of the devil. Nah and I both see Owain running up to approach Morgan, once again the only person who could get her attention. "Morgan, there you are, I was looking all over for you," He says, as he pants lightly.
Just like before Morgan acknowledges him, but just as quickly continues walking.
"M-Morgan?" Owain mutters as my poor clueless sister continues to walk away, it was time to take action. Owain spots Nah and I approaching him.
"Noire, is something bothering Morgan, she's been acting distant since yesterday, I'm worried," Owain's concern seemed genuine.
"Owain, me and Morgan were both here on Saturday and…w-we both saw you kissing Cynthia," I try to explain.
Owain's eyes widen, "W-What school play!?" Not the desired reaction I will admit.
"Cut the crap Owain we both know you are a part of the Drama Club but right now that isn't important," Nah quickly took control of the conversation, grabbing Owain by the collar, forcing him down to her height. "Well do you care about Morgan or not?"
"W-What, of course I do, she's all I think about, I haven't even been able to focus in the drama club cause I was worried she was upset with me, I didn't know you guys saw me and Cynthia," Owain explained, my suspicions now confirmed.
"I believe you Owain, but she won't believe it from anyone but you, you seem to be the only one who can get her attention," I explain.
"Y-You're right, only the mighty Owain can set this straight, it's up to me to ease the pain of the girl I care about most!" Owain quickly returned to his normal self as he ran off to look for Morgan.
Nah and I fell silent as she shot me a look, "What?"
"Well are we just gonna stand here or are we going to follow him?" Nah asks.
"Nah, d-don't you think they would want to be alone?"
"Who said they have to know we are there?" Apparently arguing with both Morgan and Nah would be fruitless efforts.
Nah and I quickly chase after Owain's trail until we find him almost reaching a still distraught Morgan, both Nah and I stopping somewhere close, keeping quiet and peeking our heads over to listen, I seemed to be doing this a lot lately.
"Morgan, finally found you," Owain said as he huffed and puffed. "Please don't walk away!"
Morgan this time stopping to listen to his words, her face having a look of disbelief.
"Morgan, it has been brought to my attention that you may have seen something you may have misinterpreted," Owain says.
"Like you kissing Cynthia?" Morgan utters the first words in school since she saw them kiss.
"A-About that, that was nothing, that was…that was a part of the school play," Owain still hesitant to be so open with his newly discovered secret, "That was all it was."
"Was it now, or did my sister put you up to say that to make me feel better?" Morgan wasn't having any of it.
"All of my words are true, as a matter of fact, ever since you ignored me yesterday, I have been unable to keep my focus on anything else."
"Hm, and why is that?"
"I-I was worried about you Morgan, I don't like to see you down, and thinking you were upset with me, made me more worried."
"Well, you don't need to worry, I won't be bothering you anymore," Morgan was about to walk away.
"Wait!" Owain quickly grasped her arm, looking her in the eyes. Morgan had a gleam in her eye that I have never seen before, for once she had no words to say.
"Morgan, ever since I first laid eyes on you, a charge would course through my body with the electrifying force of summer lightening whenever you were around! You and I are fated allies, bound tight by the red string of fate since time immemorial!" I had no idea how Owain came up with these things, but Morgan had this look on her face like her just proposed or something.
"Do you really mean that Owain?" She asked, her voice in a state of bliss, her cheeks almost crimson.
"I-I'd do anything for the woman I love!" Owain's eyes widened as he grew silent, "D-Did I say that out loud," This time Owain growing red.
For the first time in what felt like ages, I finally saw Morgan smile, that smile quickly turned into laughter. "Owain all I ever wanted was to hear you say those words," She replied.
"Does this mean you…?" Owain eagerly replies.
"Yes you silly man, I love you! I've loved you for so long!" Morgan quickly jumped into Owain's arms as the two red faced ramblers spun around in momentary bliss. My sister was finally back to normal and now happier than ever.
Nah and I look at each other, both of us satisfied in being able to finally bring these two together and ease her pain. Once Morgan got back on her feet she said, "Okay you two can come out now!"
Both Nah and I let out an "Eep!"
