"Kieran. Ouch! Kieran, please, stop for a moment, Kieran! -Juliana exclaimed, trying to get Kieram to stop him because she had had a couple of occasions where she almost fell to the ground because of how much he was pulling her.
They were both passing through the central square of Mesagoza, one of the busiest areas of the city due to its children's play area and the number of shops and cafes scattered throughout the area. It was undoubtedly the best area if you wanted to find a good place to eat or nice clothes, but Juliana knew that right now Kieran didn't have food or buying clothes on his mind.
"Kieran! Listen to me!" Juliana said, digging her heels into the ground, gaining enough resistance for Kieran to become a little unbalanced by the sudden stop.
Taken aback for a second, Kieran turned around to try to pull her back but then Juliana moved closer to her face and feeling her nose practically brush against him, he held his breath.
"Stop it for a damn second, Kieran!" She growled right in her face, causing the guy to remain as stiff as a stick and not move from his spot, just like a Lillipup whose owner had just given him a firm command. Juliana sighed. "Okay, good...thank you, now what bug bit you?"
Kieran blinked a couple of times before regaining his angry expression, but at least he seemed less dazed to not continue pulling her along and walking aimlessly. Juliana didn't know what Nemona had told him, but of course, it was something that which made him very angry, even to drag her out of the Academy for...she wasn't sure why, but she thought the best thing would be to help the guy to calm down
"Okay...you said before that you wanted to eat something, would you like to go to Go-For-Broke Grill? It's a good place if you want to try typical Paldea food," she proposed in a soft tone of voice, this time she was the one who took his fingers in a gentle way.
Kieran, although he still felt his anger turning his stomach, noticing her kindness in that gesture made him reduce the intensity of his emotions quite a bit. So giving a somewhat childish snort, he nodded. Juliana found that gesture amusing on his part, and this time she pulled him along, leading the way to the store.
On the way, Kieran was quiet, just watching the way Juliana's fingers held his. A gesture that, although tender at first glance, Kieran couldn't help but see as Juliana's way of being cautious, of being able to let go of him grip if she felt that something was going to go wrong at some point. Would something happen if Kieran dared take her hand? He was tempted to do it, but he was still angry, and he also felt insecure in case it would make Juliana uncomfortable.
They arrived at the store, Juliana spoke familiarly with the owner, from what Kieran could hear, Juliana went there often with her friends and the business benefited greatly from having one of the Paldea Champions as a recurring customer, so they were delighted, seeing that she was accompanied by a new face, they hurried to prepare a private space so they could eat in peace, free from prying eyes.
They both looked at the menu for a while while the waiter remained by their side to take their orders. In the end, on the recommendation of Juliana herself, they both ordered a paella as a main course and an escalivada as a starter.
"I see that being a Champion has its advantages," Kieran commented, watching the waiter leave with their orders, aware of the attention with which the staff showered Juliana.
"Hence the advantage of alternating between my natural color and dyes." she shrugged her shoulders "The good thing is that now I look normal, it will be rare for someone to recognize me."
"Then why have they seated us here?"
"You can imagine it..." she said in a slightly mocking tone, pointing at them both.
Kieran looked at her questioningly before realizing what she meant and he couldn't help a blush covering more of his cheeks. Juliana, seeing that he had understood, laughed.
Juliana had taken him to a place that she frequented with her friends, him, who was new to the region, whose foreign features were noticeable, and who had barely set foot outside the Academy and who was not wearing the uniform. .
The owner thought Juliana was having a date...
Although now that he thought about it...wasn't it easy to perceive this as a date? Kieran felt his blush deepen.
"Don't worry, you're not the first one this has happened to," she consoled. "At first they thought the same thing when I started meeting Arven here, at least until they also saw us coming with the entire group.
Kieran growled under her breath at the mention of Arven.
"Tell me something, are you and Arven something...?"
"Why do you care about something like that?" She questioned, surprised that he was precisely asking that.
"Please answer me..."
"No, Arven and I are nothing more than friends," she answered, although she knew she didn't have to explain to him. "Kieran, if this is because of what happened between us the other night... you can rest assured, I'm not I do this with my friends."
"So what am I to you?" It was the question that he had on the tip of his tongue, however, seeing how Juliana looked at him he refrained. He didn't need to ask, he knew that her expression alone spoke for itself.
Juliana and him were not friends.
On the one hand, Kieran was fine with that because at the end of the day their friendship lasted those two weeks that they were together in Kitakami, then Kieran started to see her as his nemesis and after that their relationship was left floating in the void, having just the memory of a short period of time when they got along well but did not become close friends. A camp friendship, one of those that was ephemeral. On the other hand, it hurt him to know that he didn't occupy any place in Juliana's life, it made sense, he was aware of it, but it hurt him anyway. Some part of his being, perhaps that shy boy that still lived inside him, had harbored the hope that he had been at least a little special to her to save a place for him in her life despite the years. But that wasn't how life worked.
After all, he didn't know Juliana beyond the surface. The image he had in his memories of her was much more powerful than what the real Juliana was. He didn't really know anything about her other than what he saw in their time together at camp and they were both just kids at the time. She was the Champion of Paldea, she was a student at the Naranja Academy, she lived in Cabo Poco, she loved Pokémon and the Pokémon loved her, and she had in her possession a very cool Pokémon that as a mount was a true all-rounder.
But he didn't know who her friends were, not at least until that moment, he didn't know what her beginnings as a trainer were like, he didn't know what she liked, if she liked the cold or the heat, if she preferred sunny or rainy days, if she had preference for a specific type of Pokémon, if she had any hobbies, if there was a television program that he liked, what type of music she listened to, what type of books she liked to read, what her favorite video game was. He also didn't know what her dreams were, what she aspired to in her life. Nothing. He didn't know the woman in front of him at all, and yet he had been thinking about her since he was a boy.
He looked at her, her hair so short and blue, and her eyes slanted and reddish. Without a doubt a totally different image from what he remembered. He wasn't even aware that she was hiding behind tints and colored contact lenses...
And with everything Nemona had told to him that they did in the Crater of Paldea, even more... It was things that Juliana never told him nor that he heard from anyone else until now. And that made him tremble, thinking about everything she had to go through in that damn crater. For what and why? What need...?
"Hey, Kieran, I don't know what happened between us has to do with whatever Nemona told you, but can you explain to me why you dragged me out of the Academy? And why were you so angry?"
"Nemona has told me everything..."
"What...?"
"Your excursion to the depths of Area Zero, the Pokémon Paradox, the other Koraidon, the death of Professor Saba, the AI that replaced her and the time machine."
Juliana remained speechless while she gradually turned pale as Kieran mentioned all those things.
"But...How could Nemona tell you all that?!"
"Let's say that I didn't need to make an effort to make Nemona interpret that I already knew everything beforehand so that she could start telling me about your journey."
Incredulous at this, Juliana covered her face with her hands and stifled a scream of rage, internally cursing everything that Mencia could think of. How could she do this to them?!
"No one outside of us and principal Clavell should have known this."
"So Clavell was also aware of this..." Kieran hissed, crossing his arms.
Obfuscated that something so important had been revealed, Juliana became defensive.
"Okay, you know. What are you going to do now? Accuse us with the Pokémon League?"
Kieran blinked in confusion. That was not expected.
"What...?"
"That's why you were so strange...are you coming to blackmail me? Or is it revenge for what happened the other night...?"
Offended by that accusation, Kieran growled. How dare she even insinuate that he...?
"What kind of monster have you taken me for, Juliana?!"
Seeing him so angry, Juliana understood that she had made a mistake. She should not have made such an accusation so lightly!
"Okay, I'm sorry, I went too far..." she admitted, lowering her tone of voice and trying to calm herself. "But then... Why...?"
"Damn it! I'm angry because I just found out how many times they almost killed you for that!"
"Oh, that..." she was surprised, as if she had never thought about something like that.
"No "oh, that", Juliana! Damn it!" the guy fumed, frustrated that she seemed to give it so little importance.
"I don't know what you want me to tell you..." she barely articulated, seeing how Kieran seemed to get more and more angry again "Seriously, why do you care...?"
"Why?! Juliana, you almost...almost..." Kieran's voice trembled and the image of that disastrous day suddenly came to him. Juliana's body lying on the floor, not moving and he frozen in place no matter how much his mind screamed at him to run to her side.
"Kieran, not all of us have had an older sister who had our backs when we were little, much less have we had a Terarium Dome, a controlled environment, to be able to develop as trainers," she explained, seeing how Kieran seemed to get twitchy with the things that came the way his mind."Most trainers go on a trip when they are only ten years old, starting with a single Pokémon that is in its first stage, that by that time he depends on you more than you on him, they leave the safety of their home, to their family and end up alone in a world of creatures struggling to survive their daily lives...I have been in risky situations from the moment I began my journey."
He felt himself shudder at what he was hearing, that was something he knew but somehow he had never thought about it in depth, it was something more foreign to him because in Kitakami the trainer's beginning was different and just at that moment, it came to his mind a little Juliana, barely ten years old, alone in the world with only a little Springatito to protect her. How was it possible that they had allowed a little girl to be alone out there? How many times had she been in danger and there was no one to protect her? Who took care of her when she got sick or she got hurt? Where did she take refuge when it rained or when she had to spend the night outdoors? Kieran trembled just imagining a girl alone in the middle of nowhere about to be attacked by any wild Pokémon. That... was simply unacceptable, he couldn't imagine that someone would allow something like that!
"Kieran... Are you angry because... you're worried?" Kieran didn't answer that, however, she seemed to have hit the nail on the head."Oh Kieran..."
"I know we're not friends," the guy then spoke with his eyes lowered. "I know I can't ask you for anything, Juliana, but... finding out about this from Nemona's mouth and not yours... I don't know but it made me sitting like a kick in the stomach. You were in danger and I..."
"You wouldn't have been able to do anything, Kieran, all of that happened before I met you, and there wasn't much time or confidence for me to tell you the things that happened during my travels" Juliana also thought about the time she met Kieran, that shy thirteen-year-old boy who was hiding behind his sister Carmine, if she had told him any of her terrifying experiences from when she had just started her trip it would have been too much for the impressionable boy, she saw no point in scaring him by telling him that just to show off. "And this topic in particular is something that I cannot go on about."
"Why...? Why so much secrecy about it?"
"For Arven."
"Arven...?"
"His mother died, Kieran, she had been dead a long time before we reached the depths of Area Zero, and Arven was talking and receiving directions from an AI that only had the voice and appearance of his mother. If something like that came to light, do you know what it would mean for him? He would have the entire Pokémon League and the authorities on him in case he was hiding some of Professor Saba's research. Kieran, we're talking about a fully functional AI and a time machine that has been able to bring extinct Pokémon into our time! These are huge words and too heavy to fall on Arven's shoulders just because he is the Professor Saba's son! and even more so when he had just found out about her death!"
Kieran sank into his chair, shuddering as he thought of all the implications that could actually occur with something like that. No, he wasn't even sure if he was capable of imagining the extent of the consequences that all of this could entail if everyone found out.
"So that's why you were telling me not to go near Area Zero? Why is Professor sABA's time machine still there?"
"The time machine does not represent a threat, not at the moment at least. The AI was the only one who could activate it and she left."
"So there's something else down there that you're afraid I'll find...? Is it the other Koraidon...?"
"It is none of your business."
"Juliana..."
"I said it's none of your business, Kieran."
-Well it will be, Juliana, because I remind you that yes or yes I am going to go to the depths of Area Zero with teacher Briar, so if there is something that you don't want us to find, we will do it anyway."
"I told you at the time that if you knew what was best for you, you would stay away from Area Zero."
"I am here as teacher Briar's assistant, I have no decision-making power in this, Juliana. Even if I give up going, the teacher will continue going at her expense. You may think that this will save you time, but in the end the Blueberry Academy will send someone else to assist the teacher in my place, a person who will not do anything for you if it means going against a teacher at their school. And so what will you do?"
Juliana pressed her lips together letting out a tense sigh that gave Kieran the necessary response; She didn't know.
"You are lucky that you know me, and you know that if I can help you I will, but for that I need you to trust me."
Juliana narrowed her eyes, almost wanting to growl if it weren't for the fact that the waiter had just arrived to place their orders in front of them. They both kept neutral expressions until the man left.
Finally, the blue-haired women sighed in surrender.
"I can't tell you much, but what I can tell you is that I know that what you are looking for in Area Zero is Terapagos, and it is precisely him who I don't want you to find."
"Do you know about Terapagos...?" Kieran questioned."You...why do you know about him?"
"I have with me a copy of the Scarlet Book of Heather, there it is referred to as the "Hidden Treasure of Area Zero"
"Terapagos" is the name that teacher Briar has given the Pokémon and it has not been officially told to anyone outside of Blueberry Academy. Why do you know that then?"
Juliana cringed in place, apparently realizing that she had taken for granted the extent of Kieran's knowledge, she looked away, searching for some excuse.
"Does this have anything to do with that trip you took to Alola with Arven?"
"Did Nemona tell you that too?" she hissed, this time angrier.
"Yes, and she also told me that whatever happened there, since you came back, you and Arven have been behaving strangely, you haven't told her or Penny about what happened there and that you spend too many hours consulting books. Which is demonstrated by the symptoms of lack of sleep that you are showing even now" Kieran pointed directly to the bags under Juliana's eyes, showing that she did not sleep all the necessary hours.
"And it seems that we were not wrong for not telling them, looks at how quickly she spreads private matters to anyone."
Stung that she had said he was "anyone," Kieran spoke up.
"She is only worried about you, Juliana, she is your friend."
"A carefree friend who almost got us into trouble for having talked too much," she hissed angrily. "Precisely to teacher Briar's assistant..."
"Juliana!" He called, taking her hand as soon as he saw her clenching her fists on the table. She looked him in the eyes. "What is it that scares you so much?"
Juliana's expression remained tense for a few seconds, until she finally gave a sigh.
"I told you, I can't tell you everything."
"Why not...?"
"Because you would take me for a crazy person..."
"Could it be worse than knowing about the existence of a time machine, the arrival of primitive Pokémon in our time or a robot with artificial intelligence so advanced that it can behave like a human to the point of being able to replace the real person?" He questioned a little jokingly or seriously, since all that was difficult to overcome.
But Juliana's look told him otherwise.
"Yes, it's worse than all that..."
Kieran remained silent, swallowing hard as he listened to her as thousands of questions came to his mind that could surpass all the crazy things he had heard from Nemona.
"Juliana..."
"You just have to know...that if you find Terapagos, teacher Briar will want to get hold of him for her research, she is obsessed with everything that surrounds her ancestor and will do whatever it takes to have Terapagos in her possession to find out everything what Heather could not. And Terapagos is too dangerous to take out of Area Zero, his power goes beyond what you imagine, Kieran. It is not a Pokémon that can be in the hands of humans."
Kieran pursed his lips, even with thousands of questions in his mind. How did Juliana know with such certainty that Terapagos was at Area Zero? The information in the Scarlet Book is supposed to be many years old, Terapagos could have escaped from the Crater of Paldea a long time ago just like Great Tusk did. Had she seen him? If she was like that and she was so scared that they would find him, why didn't she capture him herself and keep him hidden? And what does that have to do with what happened in Alola?
"Okay..." Kieran gave up, running his hand through his hair. "And what's your plan then? The Pokémon League has given its consent to be able to make expeditions to the Great Crater of Paldea; Nemona and Penny are acting as bodyguards and I am an assistant. What is your plan to prevent us from finding Terapagos?"
"I don't know..." she admitted, resting her forehead on her clasped hands, feeling tormented. "I don't even know where exactly Terapagos is, I know it's in the deepest part of the Crater, but even that deep part is huge and can be hidden anywhere and in the form of one of the many teracrystals that are there. Since I don't know where he is, I don't know what I will do to stop the teacher..."
"Why do you worry then that we are going to find him? We may never find it if the site is so big and Terapagos can take the form of any teracrystal stone" he asked, bringing his hand closer to her, wanting to convey some peace to her.
"Because I have seen how far someone's obsession can go to get what they want..."
That was like a direct blow to Kieran's face, who immediately moved his hand away from her as if it burned when he hadn't even touched her yet. Juliana didn't even notice the change in Kieran's expression as she was immersed in her chaotic thoughts about the teacher and Terapagos. She may not have even realized what she had said or she may not have even been referring to him but...
Kieran felt it again, that perpetually angry boy who still lived inside him, who now curled up in a corner to cry full of pain and sorrow, and he felt the urge to apologize, however, he didn't. Juliana wasn't there to address that topic, he had been clear that she wasn't ready to have that conversation and Kieran didn't feel she had the right to bring it up. However, like that boy, he also wanted to cry in pain...
"I don't know how to help you..." he said with difficulty, trying to overcome the lump that formed in his throat."... but I will do everything I can to prevent the teacher from getting Terapagos.
Juliana raised her head, surprised to hear him say that.
"You will do it...?"
"I am not your enemy, Juliana, that is not why I am here. If I can help you, I will, no matter what."
Juliana gave a sigh, apparently relieved at hearing that, breaking into a tiny smile. She seemed to want to say something but Kieran could tell she changed her mind at the last one.
"I've realized something, Kieran," she whispered, making the boy look up. "We met as a couple of kids but the truth is that we know little about each other."
"Yes, I know," he said regretfully.
"Do you want that to change...?"
Kieran raised his head, attentive and interested in what Juliana had just said, seeing that she had a light blush on her cheeks that seemed charming to him. He had the desire to touch her cheeks to see if they were as hot as they seemed.
"O...Of course...but"
"But...?"
"Don't ruin it, Kieran, don't ruin it, don't say anything inappropriate..."
"Don't you think it's a little late for that after we've gone to bed?"
"It's official, I am a chronic case of terminal stupidity"
But with a pleasure that he couldn't help but experience and without regretting it in the slightest, Kieran watched as Juliana's face turned in surprise to all the palettes of red.
"W-Why, of all the possible topics of conversation, do you have to bring up THAT ONE?!" Juliana exclaimed, totally embarrassed, while Kieran couldn't help but laugh at her expression.
"You know, it is the most recent and the one that is freshest in my memory. And I must say that it is not a bad memory."
"You're a...! And speaking of that..." she said just before bringing her hand closer to one of Kieran's locks and giving it a strong tug.
"AUCH! Why?!"
"How are you so stupid to walk around with your neck full of marks?!"
"Oh that? Why should I have hidden them? Didn't they look good on me" he asked in a provocative tone, making Juliana hit her forehead on the table, even more embarrassed, while Kieran felt like he was running out of air. Please! How could she be so pretty and funny when she was embarrassed?!
"You're a damn kid..." she hissed without lifting her forehead from the table, hiding from the world.
"Sorry, old lady, but who was it that left those marks on me? Because I think you were delighted when you made them for me"
"Kieran!"
"I even feel bad that you didn't wear the ones I left you, how perfect they looked on you, what a waste."
"Not that!" she exclaimed, ruffling her hair.
"Oh, come on, it would have been fun, but you were afraid of success."
"Kieran!" She exclaimed, about to throw the plate at his face while Kieran took a napkin as his only shield. "Stop laughing at me..."
"Take it as a little revenge for leaving me alone in the room, that was very bad!" he mocked.
"Wait...is that why you had that attitude in the cafeteria? Did it bother you that I left?"
A little embarrassed at having been exposed himself, Kieran tried to act offended.
"I'm not a fan of my lovers sneaking out when I'm asleep. It makes me feel used and that I have done something wrong to scare them away."
Understanding what he meant, Juliana regretted that.
"Oh...sorry, I guess. I just...I didn't expect you..."
"What...?"
"No, nothing," she denied, ashamed of what was going through your mind. "I didn't think that you... were one of those who prefer to wake up with your... your...
"Hook-up?" Kieran asked, a little offended by the use of the term, it left a bad taste in his mouth. "I'm from a small town, Juliana, but I've been attending the Blueberry Academy since I was little, I know what it's like to have hookups of one night stands and short-term relationships, and even so I prefer to wake up with my lovers and then let everyone continue with their day, but at least say goodbye. But I think you don't take that into account because you still see me as a kid..."
"Okay, okay, I understood, don't punish me anymore..." she begged. "Next time I'll keep it in mind."
"Next time...?" Kieran questioned, moving his eyebrows suggestively.
"I DIDN'T SAY THAT!" She exclaimed, suddenly embarrassed by what she had just said.
"Oh, come on, Juliana, you have nothing to be ashamed of..." Kieran crooned, with every intention of annoying her. "We both know you couldn't resist my charms."
"I said I didn't say that, and if you say one more word, you'll swallow your fork!" She threatened in a demonic voice, making Kieran retract what he was going to say.
"Well, let's leave that settled... for now!" he laughed at the murderous look she gave him "So where do you want to start getting to know each other more? You know...about knowing more about each other."
"Oh... First of all, how are Carmine and your grandparents?"
Kieran seemed to like that question, as his eyes lit up at the mention of his family.
"They are very well. My grandparents are behind me and Carmine so that we can give them great-grandchildren as soon as possible. My sister is doing a postgraduate degree at the Blueberry Academy of Psychiatry. She wants to work as a doctor specializing in mental health."
Juliana felt a drop of sweat run down her forehead as she imagined the unstable Carmine yelling and intimidating her younger brother, wearing a doctor's coat... what a danger. Even more so if she thought of Carmine in a maternal role.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Yes, everything you're thinking I think too." Kieran laughed, amused to see her expression.
"Yeah...and what are you studying? Or are you working with teacher Briar full time?"
"Oh, no, I am studying a degree; that of a researcher"
"Researcher?"
"You already know that since I was little I was in love with the story of Ogerpon" Juliana shuddered upon hearing that name. "But as I grew up I also became interested in many legendary Pokémon and the role they have in our world."
-Does something like Sinnoh Champion Cynthia do?
"Yes, exactly, she is my greatest reference in the area," he exclaimed with admiration. Arceus, how he adored that woman! Every lecture she had given had been seen! "But you should know that I am also learning my grandfather's trade."
"Oh really? Are you making masks?"
Enthusiastic, Kieran nodded proudly and glad that she remembered that detail.
"It is a craft that is being lost but is still highly appreciated, maybe I don't make a living from it but it would be a shame if this art were lost after so many generations that it has been feeding my family."
Moved by this, Juliana smiled sincerely at him.
"Your grandfather must be very happy that you follow in his footsteps."
Kieran nodded, delighted, remembering the excited face of his beloved grandfather when he asked him to teach him the trade.
"How about you...? What are you studying?"
"Oh, you might be surprised, but I'm studying to be a Breeder."
"Breeder...?"Kieran asked incredulously, of course he had never thought of Juliana exercising that job.
"During my travels I have seen all types of Pokémon and learned that there were thousands of ways to breed specific Pokémon for battles or contests. The way of training, the diet, the genes, the species of the parents... all of this plays an important role in having a Pokémon specialized in combat or exhibition. I want to be the person who helps trainers have their ideal Pokémon."
From there, their conversation was pleasant while they enjoyed their food. The communication suddenly became fluid and both were immersed in it, totally trapped by what the other was saying. That is until Kieran confirmed that Nemona had indeed made no exaggeration that he had not set foot outside the walls of the Academy.
Juliana took that as sacrilege and as soon as they finished their food and paid, she acted as his guide.
She showed him the old part of the city, an area that enchanted Kieran and made them walk around for hours while he asked hundreds of thousands of questions about the history of the area and Juliana answered as best she could. After that, she took him some stores where he could find various objects such as Delibird Presents or Chansey Supply where Kieran took the opportunity to make some purchases for his team. They also visited museums and sports centers where friendly fights took place between the people of the city, Juliana even took Kieran to see and participate in a small fair that was taking place in the center of the city.
They both had a good time, in the end they had a very fun day!
"Oh, wait for me here," Juliana indicated before leaving his side and going to talk to the seller of a small mobile sweet store.
A moment that Kieran took advantage of to stretch and breathe deeply, feeling full. He had gone out with Juliana totally angry but in the end they had spent a good day together, and Kieran had gotten to know things about Juliana that he hadn't been able to ask her before. He felt that now he knew her a little better, however, he had that bitter feeling that she still had things to hide from him.
And Kieran found himself wanting to know everything about her...
"Here!"
Juliana's voice woke him up from his reverie and he looked at her, finding that she was holding out a caramel apple to him.
"I remember when we went to the mask festival together, you told me that you loved caramelized apples but that you didn't eat them often, except on special occasions. Do you think that a first outing for us is a special enough occasion?"
With a sinking heart and eyes shining like two suns, Kieran accepted the apple, taking it in his hands. Of course the occasion was special enough! It was very special!
"You don't have one..." Kieran appreciated when she saw that her hands were empty.
"If I'm honest, Kieran, I like caramel apples but I can't eat a whole one so...if that's okay with you..."
"...Do you want us to share?" Kieran offered, now holding out his apple to her, giving her the honor of being the one to take the first bite.
Delighted, she reached out and took a small bite, savoring and licking her now candy-stained lips. Kieran felt his mouth go dry at the tantalizing image.
"Very good, but I know that if I eat more than three bites it will give me an attack of diabetes. Thank you, kid," she joked, winking at the guy before setting off again, oblivious to the furious blush that had now settled on the guy's cheeks.
That...had been on purpose, right?
Their return to the academy was silent, simply enjoying the fall of night while the candy apple gradually disappeared from their hands. Upon entering the school grounds again, all the students were on their way to the cafeteria to have dinner but none of them felt like going into the bustling cafeteria, their stomachs were still full from everything they ate throughout the day. day, so they decided to go to their respective rooms.
"You don't have to accompany me," Kieran said.
"Please, what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn't make sure you returned to your room safe and sound?" She said with a melodramatic tone.
"You...? A gentleman?" he asked jokingly.
"Well, okay, forget the gentleman thing, but I'm still older than you, kid, and it's my responsibility to make sure you're safe."
"Do I have to remind you that we only have a difference of two years?"
"And I make sure you never forget it," she said with a mischievous smile pretending to sound evil. Kieran rolled his eyes in amusement. "Well, the princess arrived at her castle."
Kieran stopped when he realized that they were indeed right in front of his room. When had they arrived? He didn't even notice. He was then startled when he noticed that she took his fingers between her thumb and her index finger.
"I had a great time, Kieran, it was a strange and uncomfortable start but in the end I was very comfortable with you," she admitted with a soft voice and a sincere smile, making Kieran feel a pinch in his heart. "I'll repeat it another day, there are still things about the city that I haven't shown you and I think you'll like them."
"O...ok..."
Kieran then felt a biting cold as soon as she released his fingers and found his entire body clamoring for her warmth.
"Good night, Kieran".
"Good night..."
Juliana turned around and began walking towards the female dormitory area, while Kieran felt his head spin as he watched her get further and further away and a voice fiercely shouting not to let her go. His arms shook and he felt a drop of sweat slide down his neck.
"Why are you letting her to leave?! I don't want her to leave!" that boy inside him being screamed desperately, feeling as if he were clawing at the walls of his body to go after her himself.
He didn't want to be separated from her, not yet. He even wanted to have her company for longer, that outing had been great and he wanted to prolong their time together. His entire being screamed it. He still had more questions, there were still many things he wanted to know about her, there was not enough time for him to feel satisfied, he wanted to be with her!
"Don´t go..."
When he wanted to notice it, his legs moved on their own and the second he had Juliana trapped between his arms, with her back against his chest, holding her back and preventing her from leaving to nowhere.
"Kieran...?!"
The guy only intensified the hug when he heard her say his name, in a silent plea, noticing that the woman remained still at the moment. Feeling bold, Kieran placed a lingering kiss on the top of her head and snuggled his face into Juliana's neck, saying nothing, hoping that would be enough for her to understand what he wanted.
Then, Juliana took her right hand to caress Kieran's cheek and a few strands of his hair, a moment that he took advantage of to take the other person's hand and kiss her palm.
Their eyes connected and in them they said everything.
Slowly, Kieran slid his hand along Juliana's left arm until he intertwined his fingers with hers and, just as gently, pulled her along, guiding her into his room.
Juliana, dazed by his beautiful golden eyes, followed him obediently and, as soon as they entered the room, she closed the door.
TO BE CONTINUED...maybe.