Thread of Fate
Chapter 11
(Lilianne)
"Ah, Jonah?" I stared at the young man a few meters away from me in this luxurious corridor. I am all alone now. And my siblings are gone. Gone by my own hand. Jonah was trembling, like struggling to regain his composure.
"O-oujo-sama?" There was fear in his voice. "Please... get away... now..."
"Jonah? What's wrong?" I was about to approach him when yelled.
"NO! STOP! GET AWAY!" He suddenly lifted his face, his eyes a red and a blue. He lifted his hands, carrying a gun. The very one I used to kill my siblings.
"J-Jonah?" I was confused and fear-stricken. "What's going on? Where are we? "
"I... I'm so sorry, oujo-sama!" Jonah yelled as tears streamed down his pale face. His eyes look as though they're malfunctioning, like flickering lights of blue and red. "Please run while I still have control! PLEASE!"
I hesitated for a moment, then started running away from Jonah.
BANG!
I gasped and yelled, "Jonah?!" My hand reached up towards the ceiling and I panted heavily as cold sweat ran down my face. A warm hand then took my outstretched one.
"I'm here, oujo-sama." said a voice and I looked beside me to see Jonah smiling gently while sitting on a folding chair.
"W-where...?" I trailed off, still struck deeply by my dream.
"In the school's infirmary." He answered so gently it seemed a whisper.
"Jonah..." I felt a pain in my chest, like I was really shot. The dream and the pain are enough to make me cry. I struggled to keep myself in control. "Jonah..." I repeated and caressed his cheek with my free hand, focusing my blurring gaze on his eyes. They're still the beautiful and protective blue that I oh so remember and cherish.
"Oujo-sama?" He was clearly puzzled by my actions but he placed a hand gently on mine and said, "You should rest more. Perhaps I could take you home now since you're fever is high."
"But... your classes?" My head's spinning.
"It's fine. I'd rather take care of oujo-sama. It's not like I can't catch up on what I missed anyway." He replied, still with a gentle and warm smile on his face.
Jonah has always cared for me and protected me from the monsters under my bed to the monsters in my everyday life. That's why...
"So can you stand?" Jonah stood up, my hand in his. I sat up and slowly tried to stand up but I was still dizzy because of the fever that I stumbled. It was a good thing Jonah caught me and supported me back on my feet.
"Ugh... Thanks, Jonah." I said, my head throbbing.
"Aww... Don't you two look terribly sweet. Almost like a couple."
The voice and mockery irritated me.
"We're going home, Chrollo. You can tell the teacher that I helped Ms. Rosette get home since we live close to each other." Jonah said sternly, still supporting me.
"Alright, alright." Chrollo waved. "Careful on your way. Lilianne doesn't seem to be straight on her feet yet."
"That's why I'm here." Jonah firmly held me and he felt warm against my cold skin.
I can sense the silent tension between the two of them. I couldn't bear it, not in this state. So I decided to break it.
"Jonah..." I called, bringing him back from wherever his mind wandered.
"Ah, yes."
Jonah helped me walk past Chrollo, out of the infirmary after getting some medicine from the nurse, and all the way back home. Actually, he carried me half-way since I looked like I was going to collapse any second. When I got home, Jonah stayed until he tucked me in bed and checked my temperature and had me drink my medicine.
"I'll come back for you later. I promise to stay here all night and until you get better." Said Jonah after I gulped down a glass of water.
"Thank you but you don't have to, Jonah. You have homework, don't you? I don't want you neglecting your studies because of me." I said as sternly as I could while lying down on the bed. I don't want Jonah to see me so weak or as someone who is weak.
"What are you talking about, oujo-sama? Of course, you'll come first, no matter wh-"
"No, you'll go to class tomorrow and that's an order." I turned to my side, my back to Jonah.
Jonah sighed in defeat. "As you wish. But you'll let me take care of you at least tonight, right? Auntie might worry if there's no one to take care of you when you take good care of her."
I nodded. "It's fine... But make sure to finish your homework before coming. You have the spare key anyway."
"Of course, oujo-sama." I heard him say and then I felt a shift of weight on the bed, then a hand and warm lips gently pressed on my head. "Please get well soon."
And he left, his quiet footsteps fading, and the light shutting of the door.
Jonah is such a good friend. I thought as my consciousness started slipping away.
I don't know for how long I was asleep but I woke up in the middle of the night with my mom and Jonah conversing by the door.
"You must be tired. Go home and rest. I can take care of my daughter."
"Ah, but you're sick too, auntie. Please, it's fine. I can take care of oujo-sama."
"Hah... Alright. Thank you very much, Jonah. You've always been such a kind friend to my daughter."
"Of course, because I love oujo-sama."
"Ahaha... You're a good kid, Jonah. I'm glad my daughter has a friend like you. Well then, good night. Make sure to get a wink at least. Lilianne will get mad at you if you spend the whole night taking care of her."
"Aha... Understood, ma'am."
Jonah closed the door, his slim figure dimly illuminated by the lamp. I just watched him and waited for him to notice that I'm awake. He approached me and took a towel from the basin on the sidetable. He twisted the water out of it and then gently placed the folded cloth on my forehead.
"I'm sorry for waking you."
I shook my head. "It's fine. I'll go back to sleep."
He smiled.
"Hey, Jonah?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for being such a good friend."
Silence.
"Oujo-sama... I'll always be by your side." He caressed my hair and said, "Good night."
(Chrollo)
I met Jonathan in the classroom. He looked a little haggard and was focusing on what I believe is our homework. I was about to stealthily approach him and then annoy the crap out of him when Scarlet attacked me with her morning glomp.
"Chrollo~!" damn her. Despite the fuss, Jonathan didn't seem to care and just continued doing his work.
"Ah, good morning, Scarlet." I greeted with a smile as fake as always.
"Good morning, darling~" Gods she did not just say that.
"Good morning, Jonathan." I called but he only replied with an 'ah'.
"So have you heard anything from your parents?" She looked at me eagerly.
"Well, they only told me about it but nothing as to which choice we are to make."
"Aww!" She shook my arm like a child not getting what she wants. "Convince them more! Nothing else in the world is perfect but the two of us~!"
"Ah... Right..." I think I want to die now. Just when I need it, my cellphone rang. "Excuse me for a moment."
I hurriedly left the classroom and answered the phone.
"Danchou?"
"Great timing, Shal."
"I found something on the person you're looking for. The one who helped the Vermeils studies at our school as well. It seems like this person knows you and your plan, danchou. Please be careful."
"Is there anything else?"
I heard Shalnark sigh. "The security's tight so I'll be skipping the first few classes. I'll update you by lunch time."
"Great. Anything on the Vermeils though?"
"They're perfectly stable with the help given."
"My only option's to convince my parents not to agree. To do that, we need to find loopholes in the Vermeils' companies and have their business plummet. If not that, at least some black smudge on their names that would make a big deal when I bring it up."
"Got it. Oh, and Ms. Pakunoda messaged me earlier. She said that Lilianne Rosette is staying home with a bad fever it seems."
"Ok, thanks, Shal."
I ended the call and pocketed my phone. I thought about Lilianne's condition and maybe visiting her won't be a bad idea. Then I remembered Jonathan's haggard and tired look as he went over our assignment. The knight in shining armor probably took care of her all night... and she allowed him to.
"I wonder what she looked like?"
With that question in mind, I decided I'm going to visit her as soon as possible and without Jonathan interfering.
