Fall 20

I shook from the autumn's chilly breeze, wrapping my cardigan around me tighter as I entered the clinic. Ray looked up from the desk with a small smile.

"Hello, Rosalind." He greeted.

"Hello, Ray. How's Yue?" I asked as he nodded.

"She, she's fine. Uh, do you need something today?" He asked, slightly blushing as I nodded.

"Yes, I have an appointment with your mother." I replied cheerfully.

"Oh, well…in that case, I'll let her know you're here." He said with a sigh, going towards a room as I pondered at his sudden mood change. He walked out a moment later, nodding his head.

"My mother will see you now." He said, going back to his desk.

"Ah, thank you, Ray?" I said, or rather asked in confusion as he nodded his head, going back to some books and documents. I didn't give it a second thought as I walked into the room. Natalie looked up from her clipboard with a smile.

"Hello, Rosalind! I see you've grown since our last appointment! Or rather, the baby has grown since our last appointment. How are you feeling?" Natalie asked, placing a stethoscope onto my abdomen.

"Ah, I believe my little cutie is doing okay. She moves a lot." I replied while giggling.

"Yes, I can tell that the baby is doing well, but I was talking about you, Rosalind! You need to think of your own health as well if you want a healthy pregnancy and delivery when the time comes." She took her stethoscope off, wrapping it around the back of her neck.

"Have you eaten today, Rosalind?" Natalie asked.

"Ah, yes! I had some fruit this morning." I replied.

"What time?" Natalie asked.

"Probably around 6 AM?" I guessed.

"Well, when you get home, I want you to eat something else. You're trembling, which is a sign of low blood sugar." Natalie ordered as I nodded.

"I'll have Cecilia make me something with protein." I replied as Natalie nodded.

"Good. Well, besides that, Rosalind, everything else seems to be fine!" Natalie exclaimed as I smiled.

"Thank you, Natalie." I replied, as she helped me out of my seat.

"I'm just doing my job." She said in farewell with a smile as I took my leave.

"Ah! Just as I was walking out of the general store, I became stunned by the most beautiful woman ever!" I turned my head to the left at Jack's smiling face making its way towards me.

"Is everything going well?" He asked as I nodded.

"It's going so-so." I replied as his face made a look of worry.

"I don't like that reply." He stated as I blushed.

"Ah, Clara is doing well! However, Natalie believes my blood sugar is low, so I'm going back home to get something to eat." I said in slight embarrassment as his expression changed to relief.

"In that case, I'll accompany you! I don't want you passing out on your way home." He exclaimed, wrapping his arms around my shoulder.

"Jack, I'm fine." I said in embarrassment.

"I'm not taking any chances." He replied, as I blushed and smiled, feeling a wave of safety over Jack's care.

Jack and I entered the dining hall to see Ceci in a seat, tapping a rag on Jake's face. She looked up and acknowledged us.

"Hello, Miss Rosalind! Jack." She greeted as Jake scoffed, turning to face us with his arms crossed.

"If you're looking to do it, I would suggest a bedroom." He said with a snark as Ceci's eyes widened.

"Jake!" Cecilia scolded as Jake turned his attention back towards her.

"What? Their child was conceived at the entrance of Trieste Forest! Imagine if someone walked up on them!" Jake exclaimed before shivering as Jack and I held red faces.

"Y-you know that much?" I asked, horrified.

"Ah, the sylphs can be a little too informative sometimes." Ceci admitted nervously.

"But…well, what did they say this time?" I asked, considering Jack and I only came in here to grab a snack from the kitchen. Jake turned his attention back towards us.

"Uh, nothing...they don't tell us everything." Jake said before his eyes widened.

"Oh my god! You were going to do it in the kitchen! Have some decency!"

"No, we...oh, it doesn't matter." I sighed as I noticed Jack's face held a look of concern.

"What happened to Jake's cheek?" He asked, "That cut looks pretty deep. Shouldn't you go to Natalie?"

"I don't need to go to Nat…" Jake began, however, Ceci interrupted him.

"Jack's right, you know? You should have gone to Natalie."

"Why would I go to a human?" Jake asked in disgust, "They don't know how to do anything except hurt others."

"Jake!" Ceci scolded.

"It's true, Ceci! You know it and I know it! I don't understand why you still want to get along with humans…especially after they hurt us."

"But we're half-human, Jake! If you hate humans, then…you hate yourself as well."

"Then I only hate half of me!" Jake exclaimed, causing Ceci to sigh in annoyance.

"And what about Tanya? And Roy, too? I know the real reason why you hang out at the blacksmith." Ceci snapped as Jake blushed.

"Th-that's because I think being a bla…"

"And don't even say it's because you believe being a blacksmith would be a worthy occupant. Egan told me who Tanya and Roy are to you two!" Ceci exclaimed as Jake blushed.

"You go to the blacksmith because, despite them being human, they're still a part of your family. And Egan told me you were once very close with Tanya's father and especially her grandfather." Jake made a scowl on his face as Jack leaned in towards me to whisper.

"Do you know anything about this?" He asked as I leaned towards him.

"No clue." I whispered back as we noticed Jake was looking at us with his eye twitching in annoyance.

"Do you mind not whispering? You could start a rumor." Jake snapped in disgust as Jack and I blushed over the fact that Jake noticed us whispering.

"Well then…I'll ask out loud, how are they part of your family?" I asked as Jake crossed his arms.

"I don't think that's any of your…"

"They're his cousins." Cecilia admitted in interruption as Jake's face flushed a deep pink color.

"Ceci!" Jake exclaimed in embarrassment.

"Why are you embarrassed? Egan told me how much your mother loved you."

"If she loved me then she would have known better than to bring me into existence!" Jake snapped, with tears flowing down his face.

"It was so difficult for me and my father. She aged so quickly while we stayed young. The pain she put us through…along with the pain my uncle and cousin put me through…how could she have believed that was a good idea?" Jake's tears rolled out faster.

"Jake…" Ceci began compassionately.

"A-and that boy you liked! Nicholas…he hurt you by marrying another woman!" Jake exclaimed as I saw Ceci's face hold a look of hurt.

"See? Humans only know how to make others suffer." Jake replied, looking down. It was silent for a moment. I wasn't sure what to do or say to release the tension.

"Jake…" Ceci began, cupping his face to have their eyes meet. Jake's cheeks flushed.

"What was your mother's dying wish for you?" She asked as Jake's eyes widened; I could see tears forming in his eyes as he went down memory lane.

"W-why would that matter?" Jake asked in embarrassment.

"Because, I want to hear it from you." Ceci replied, Jake's tears streamed down his face.

"To…love myself. And to find beauty in even the ugliest of situations." Jake covered his mouth to muffle his sobbing.

"Your mother was a wise woman. How do you think she would feel if she saw all of the hatred in your heart?" Ceci asked as Jake began to shake; trying so hard not to let his emotions out.

"You're allowed to have emotions, Jake. When my dad passed, it hurt; but I never resented him, because he loved me! And when Nicholas married the other woman, it hurt, but I believe that was a sign that someone better would come along!" Ceci exclaimed with compassion as Jake's cheeks flushed.

"Your mother loved you, Jake! Tanya's grandfather, your uncle, was obsessed with you! You feel obligated to keep an eye on Tanya because you were close with her father, your cousin." Ceci stated as Jake sighed, tears rolling down his cheeks faster as he wiped his face.

"Damn, you're good. And I hate that you know a lot about me from my dad." Jake admitted, before smiling at Ceci.

"Well, I'd love to hear more about you from you." Ceci replied sweetly, causing Jake to blush. I smiled at the sweet moment.

"Wait, Jake's older than Tanya?" Jack asked in shock as I looked at him in wonder at how he thought that was important.

"Eh, yeah? Were you not following the story, Jack?" Jake asked in bewilderment.

"I-I guess I don't understand. How are you so young looking?" Jack asked as I realized the story wasn't being put together in a way that made sense.

"Well, elves, or anyone with elfish blood, tend to live longer than humans." Ceci explained as my eyes widened. I knew Ceci, Jake, and Egan moved to Alvarna when I was in my teenage years.

Egan and Jake moved into the old building that was next to the manor and renovated it to an inn, and a year after that, Cecilia took over for our previous maid. I had never thought to ask much about their past; I had assumed they were the same age as us.

"So, can I ask how old you two are? Or would that be rude?" Jack asked nervously.

"I'm a hundred and…" Jake began confidently before pausing for a moment with a look of horror on his face.

"Ah, actually, you know what? I'm just going to say I'm in my twenties because for a human my real age is that of a grandpa." Jake said while shivering.

"Fair enough." Jack replied. It was silent for a moment.

"So, what do you think about humans now?" Jack asked as Jake gave him a small smile.

"I still have some resentment…but the ones I've personally met and known, really aren't that bad." Jake said sincerely. It was silent for another moment.

Ah, so…what did you two need in here? Or was it really to do it in the kitchen?" Jake asked nervously as Jack's face turned white.

"Oh my god! We came in here to get Rosalind some food because of her blood sugar being low!" He exclaimed, turning his attention towards me, freaking out.

"And you've been standing this whole time?! Sit down, Rosalind!" Jack commanded in horror, forcing me into a seat.

"Jack, I…"

"How are you feeling? What do you want? I'll go grab it!" Jack exclaimed, still freaking out as I sighed.

"I really hope you don't act like that if we ever have kids." I overheard Ceci whisper to Jake as I noticed Jake becoming flustered.

"Wait, what…did you say?" Jake asked in hope as Ceci's cheeks became red.

"Ah, f-forget that I said anything." Ceci replied, lifting herself from her seat, quickly making her way towards me. Jake was still sitting in his spot, a look of hope twinkling in his eyes.