#enstars eden x reader

[seangelfish]

A/N: A text-fic reuploaded from my old blog (if anyone remembers). This has just been formatted differently, but the texts are the same. The add-ons are the short fics underneath each text(s). I thought it would be interesting to write the aftermath of these break up prank texts!

PRANKING THEM WITH A BREAK UP TEXT (EDEN)

Featured characters: Nagisa Ran, Ibara Saegusa, Hiyori Tomoe, Jun Sazanami

Tags: (Mild) angst to fluff, textfic to fic, established relationships

Word count: 1,502

Prompt/synopsis: Pranking the Eden members with a break up text (with aftermath)!

➽ NAGISA RAN

When the two of you were at the museum, the atmosphere was a little too tight. Nagisa kept lagging behind, although at first you thought he was just taking his time admiring all the art pieces. Was he perhaps still upset over your prank? He was smiling at you softly when he picked you up from your house, but now that the two of you were alone together, you finally realised the tension that little prank of yours had made.

"Nagisa," you said gently, taking his hand in yours. "I'm sorry..."

He was silent for a moment before responding with, "You've apologised countless of times already, (Y/N)... I forgive you."

"...But you're still upset, right? I could tell... You haven't looked at me once."

And you were right. He didn't look at you at all. His eyes were glued at the paintings on the wall as he avoided your gaze.

"You can read me well," he said softly. "That's one of the reasons why I love you, (Y/N)... So, when you sent me that text, I felt like my world shattered."

He squeezed your hand.

"We've been together for a while now, and I can't see myself with anybody but you." He turned to look at you. "(Y/N), if you're ever unhappy in our relationship, I would like you to tell me. I am willing to do anything it takes for us to work out until the very end."

Your eyes stung. He was finally looking at you again. Nagisa was concerned with your reaction, so he lifted your hand up to his lips as he kissed your palm.

"I'm sorry..." you quavered. "I love being with you, Nagisa. You're the one I'll ever love... You've been nothing but good to me... I'm sorry for playing that prank on you. I should've thought about your feelings before I did it."

He didn't care about that anymore. All he wanted was to see you smile. He hugged you carefully and your arms automatically wrapped themselves around his waist.

"(Y/N), I love you. Let's spend the rest of the day smiling, okay?"

Now that the tension was lifted, the two of you resumed your visit at the museum hand in hand. Nagisa would tell you his thoughts on some of the paintings, but out of all the art pieces in the museum, Nagisa thought you were the prettiest.

➽ IBARA SAEGUSA

Ibara wasn't mad at you for pulling that prank on him, but it did seem like he was kind of irked about it. Still, he baked you your favourite cake when he arrived home. He even bought you your favourite juice to have with the cake.

"Wow, Ibara, this is beautiful!" you commented, eyeing the cake he had just baked. "Thank you so much! Let's eat it together!"

You hugged him tight and he hugged you back automatically, but for some reason, it felt forced. When you let him go, he smiled at you sadly.

"I knew it was a prank," he began. "But are you sure you're happy in this relationship?"

That caught you off-guard. "O-Of course I am!" you stuttered, confused at the question at hand. "Ibara, I didn't play that prank on you because I was second-guessing our relationship... It was just a stupid prank, I'm sorry."

He didn't seem so sure. When you tried to hold his hands for reassurance, he didn't seem so keen to hold yours in return. His arms felt limp too as if he didn't want you to hold his hands to begin with.

"I mean..." he began. "You wouldn't pull that prank on me unless you were feeling off about us..."

"No, Ibara–"

"(Y/N), I truly do love you. Life is worth living for you. I won't bear it if we ever broke up," he confessed. "If you ever have any concerns about what I'm doing or not have been doing in our relationship, please tell me, okay? I'd like to improve. All I want is for you to be happy − for us to be happy together."

His words were so genuine that it made you tear up. It was not every day that Ibara would confess his words like this. He was so vulnerable right now compared to the replies he sent you through text. It was just a harmless prank to you, but to Ibara, it was more than that.

"I am being serious when I tell you this, Ibara, but I am truly happy in our relationship," you stated. "Despite your packed schedule, you've always made time for me, you were always so attentive and loving too. I never want to let you go."

He smiled at this. Bringing you back into his loving embrace as he stroked your hair between his fingertips. "Hahaha, alright! Enough talking about this. I want to spend the day with my lover on a happier note!" he announced, going back to his usual loud self.

➽ HIYORI TOMOE

Hiyori pinched your cheek playfully, but you could feel the anger in his action.

"You were so funny today, (Y/N)!" he exclaimed joyfully.

Oh, he was mad. Hiyori picked you up at 3 o'clock so that the two of you could visit the new bakery. He was hoping to spend the day with you, eating the desserts the establishment had to offer, but when you sent him that text, his whole mood shifted.

The tension he created lingered in the air despite the bakery's cosy atmosphere and your boyfriend's smile on his face.

"Hiyori... I'm sorry for playing that 'prank' on you..." you said carefully so that the ticking time bomb in him wouldn't explode. "Are you... No, you must be mad at me... I'm sorry."

His annoyance dissipated once he saw how remorseful you looked. He sighed as he took your hand to plant a soft kiss.

"It hurt, (Y/N)..." he admitted, looking at you sadly even if he was smiling right now. "I was so sure that I did everything right in this relationship. I was hoping that I didn't annoy you or something. I was even thinking that maybe you hated the way I clung onto you... but that's only because I love you so much...!"

He continued, "I honestly did not know what to say when you sent me that message. I tried to play it off, but my heart ached when I sent those replies. I'm glad it was a prank, but it just wasn't funny–"

"I know and I'm sorry!" you cried. The love he had for you was beautiful and genuine. You felt incredibly guilty for even trying to play that prank on him. "Hiyori, I'm sorry. I love you so much... I never want you to change the way you love me either..."

He smiled, genuinely this time. "Okay, okay, I forgive you~" he began. "Let's eat our pastries now!"

You nodded, but before you could pick up one of the tarts, Hiyori said, "Just so you know... you're the best I'll ever have too."

➽ JUN SAZANAMI

But he met up with you anyway. He ran over to the entrance of Reimei, only slowing down once he saw you waving at him so happily. The audacity that you have, to be so happy like this when he was just crying in front of his lockers.

"Jun!" you exclaimed, spreading your arms out for him.

He sucked it up though. He accepted your invitation and brought you into his embrace. You hugged him gleefully, but he wasn't feeling the same. Although his face was buried in the crook of your neck, he didn't feel as happy as he usually felt when you'd visit him at Reimei.

"Jun...?" you murmured, noticing the tension in the air. "Are you still mad at me...?"

He let you go. Now that you were able to see his face clearly, you realised how red and swollen his eyes were.

"Jun?! Were you crying?" you sputtered. "I'm so sorry! That was so stupid of me!"

He smiled at you, but it was obviously strained. "When you sent me that text, I really thought it was over for the two of us. I thought I might've done something wrong... or that I wasn't giving you enough attention. I never wanted you to be unhappy..."

"Jun..." you began. "You've been nothing but sweet to me. You make me happy everyday... I love you so much, you don't understand... I'm sorry for playing that prank on you."

Before he could say anything, you brought him into a deep kiss. It wasn't long, but it was passionate. Jun wasn't ready for it especially since he doesn't like kissing in public, but for the first time in forever, he wanted to kiss you again like this.

He was now looking at you lovingly, smiling at you lovingly. He hoped that the two of you would continue to love each other for a long time, but now, he was going to give you what you asked and came here for: a kiss — well, another one.

Intro page | Ensemble Stars masterlist | Rules

#ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #ensemble stars #enstars #fanfic #x reader #enstars eden x reader #eden x reader #nagisa ran x reader #hiyori tomoe x reader #ibara saegusa x reader #jun sazanami x reader #nagisa ran x reader angst #hiyori tomoe x reader angst #ibara saegusa x reader angst #jun sazanami x reader angst #enstars fanfic angst

[lightbarebunnies]

summary: the kind of gift(s) you receive from your special someone at Ensemble Square! tags: established relationship, fluff, slightly suggestive at some points, gn!reader - you/your pronouns characters: the main cast, teachers, and anzu! a/n: I wanted to post something for Valentines, so here's a little headcanon sort of thing! If a character's name is in bold+italics that means I just think that's something they'd definitely do. I see other people do it with these types of post so why not :)

Something to Eat

(Purchased) Chocolates

It’s a classic, right? You’re their valentine, so you’re definitely getting Valentine's Day chocolate - there will be no objections! It’s something they picked out with your tastes in mind, even if you’re not the biggest sweets fan, they want to participate in the holiday festivities with you!

Aira | Chiaki | Eichi | HiMERU | Hinata | Hiyori | Hokuto | Izumi | Jin | Kaoru | Kohaku | Mao | Midori | Ritsu | Shinobu | Sora | Tori | Tsukasa

Something Homemade

Chocolate, cookies, maybe even a cake… or are sweets not your thing? No matter what your tastes are, they wanted to make you something with their own hands! While it might not be as tasty as something bought at the store, they wanted you to taste all the love and effort they wanted to put into this little gift for you!

Adonis | Anzu | Hajime | Hinata | Kuro | Madara | Mika | Natsume | Niki | Shu | Tomoya

Something to Wear

Purchased Jewelry/Clothing

It had caught their eye in the store window one day… and that night, they just couldn’t get it out of their mind. The way the piece would compliment your skin… it was meant to be yours. So they purchased it, made sure to wrap the box with care, so that you knew exactly how much thought went into this gift. The price doesn’t matter - you’re worth whatever it cost, and then some.

Akiomi | Arashi | Eichi | Hiiro | HiMERU | Hiyori | Izumi | Kaoru | Keito | Makoto | Mao | Tetora | Tori | Tsukasa | Yuzuru

Handmade Jewelry/Clothes

It could be a little Kandi Bracelet with beads that match your favorite colors, a knit hat to keep you warm for the rest of the winter, or maybe even an ornate pendant with a tumbled stone picked to specifically match your eyes. No matter what, it was made both with love and you specifically in mind. The joy of gift giving comes from the idea that you’ve gotten a piece of art that exists for no one but you - a little sign of just what you make them feel.

Anzu | Arashi | Hajime | Hokuto | Kuro | Mika | Nazuna | Rinne | Shu | Tomoya | Tsumugi

A Charm

Maybe it’s a bit cheesy, but this isn’t an unexpected gift. You had gotten the initial charm bracelet from them early on in your relationship - each new addition for a milestone or special memory that the two of you have shared. It doesn’t matter if you wear it… the bracelet is like a little memorial to your relationship, a timeline of how the two of you have intertwined together.

Aira | Anzu | Arashi | Hiiro | Hinata | Kanata | Keito | Mayoi | Midori | Natsume | Nazuna | Ritsu | Subaru | Tomoya | Yuzuru

A Piece from Their Own Closet

Is this a lazy, last minutes gift? Oh no, it’s anything but. There’s a sort of satisfaction from seeing you wear something that belonged to them. Maybe they’re a tad possessive, maybe they want you to know that you’re as much a part of their life that they view their own belongings as yours… All they know is that when they see that piece on you, it makes their heart beat a bit faster.

Adonis | Chiaki | Hajime | Hiiro | Izumi | Jin | Jun | Kaoru | Koga | Kuro | Madara | Mao | Mayoi | Mitsuru | Natsume | Rinne | Tetora | Yuta

A Plushie

Purchased

You can’t deny how cute it is… Whenever you’re feeling lonely, be sure to snuggle with your new friend - and imagine your beloved is there with you! Either one of your favorite animals, their pet name for you, or maybe one of your favorite fictional characters… I mean, who wouldn’t love a nui of their oshi, after all?

Akiomi | Aira | Kanata | Leo | Midori | Nazuna | Ritsu | Shinobu | Souma | Tori | Yuta

Won from a Crane Game

It may not be as perfectly tailored to you as something they went out to buy, but… they worked really hard to get you this gift! Taking you out to the arcade, proudly announcing that they won’t stop until that plush is in your arms, where it belongs… plus, you get the fun memory of your little arcade date as a bonus!

Anzu | Chiaki | Hiiro | Hinata | Jun | Kohaku | Makoto | Mitsuru | Natsume | Shinobu | Shu | Sora | Subaru | Tetora

Handmade

Even if it won't be the same quality as the commercial stuff, it's just as sweet! They even included a little embroidery with your initials, so that there's no mistaking that this plush is yours. Every stitch was filled with the love they feel for you - resulting in a plushie that there will never be another one of.

Hajime | Kuro | Mayoi | Mika | Rinne | Shu | Sora | Tori | Tsumugi

An Experience

A Shopping Trip

Giving a gift can be hard… and they’re the type who wants to give you something you’ll 100% want and use… so- they’re taking you out! Maybe it’s to buy an outfit that you get to pick out, or just a whole date where they’re spoiling you with everything you wind up being interested in… either way, they’re going out with you to buy you your gift this year.

Akiomi | Arashi | Chiaki | Eichi | HiMERU | Hiyori | Ibara | Izumi | Keito | Makoto | Mao | Mika | Mitsuru | Nagisa | Rei | Tori | Tsukasa

A Special Dinner

The way to someone’s heart is through their stomach… but why stop at chocolates? Either at your favorite restaurant, the most exclusive place in town, or a personal and private home cooked meal between the two of you… They’re the type who wants to give you something special, a memory to look back on even after Valentine’s Day is over, and maybe the start of a tradition for the two of you.

Adonis | Akiomi | Eichi | Hiyori | Ibara | Izumi | Kaoru | Keito | Leo | Nagisa | Niki | Tatsumi | Tsukasa | Wataru | Yuzuru

A Couple's Class

You're going to try something new together! It could be learning to cook a brand-new dish together, making some sort of pottery, or maybe painting something. Not only do the two of you get to experience something special, but you get to take something with you to remember the special day by.

Anzu | Keito | Kohaku | Madara | Makoto | Mao | Mika | Mitsuru | Nagisa | Natsume | Rei | Rinne | Shu | Sora | Subaru | Tatsumi | Tomoya | Tsumugi | Yuzuru

A Trip to Somewhere Special

From the Art Gallery to the Amusement Park, you're going to be going on a special date at a place that the two of you will love. Looking at jellyfish at the Aquarium, attending the symphony, petting bunnies at the Zoo's petting zoo, or checking out the brand new archeological exhibit at the Museum… no matter what it is, it’s something to make your eyes light up and so they can see that perfect smile of yours.

Chiaki | Kanata | Kaoru | Koga | Leo | Madara | Makoto | Mitsuru | Nagisa | Natsume | Nazuna | Rinne | Shinobu | Souma | Subaru | Tetora | Tomoya | Wataru

#ensemble stars #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #enstars #.hyacinth writes #akiomi x reader #jin x reader #anzu x reader #valkyrie x reader #ra*bits x reader #undead x reader #ryuseitai x reader #akatsuki x reader #trickstar x reader #double face x reader #mam x reader #knights x reader #eden x reader #switch x reader #crazy:b x reader #fine x reader #alkaloid x reader #2wink x reader #ok thats all im going to tag i am very sorry o7

[twilightpentagrams]

hello hello!! if ur still accepting reqs can i please request nagisa and his fem!s/o getting caught? (specifically by eden) please and thank you (loved the arashi fic btw lmao)

NAGISA X FEM READER : getting caught by eden

CW: nsfw, semi-public sex, oral (nagisa receiving), getting caught/walked in on, slight teasing (not from nagisa)

A/N: this request is like a very nice cold sip of water ive been itching to write eden for forever. i might continue this with a part two if i feel inspired. thank you for this great request.

you two, for the most part, are pretty good at being secret. with nagisa being an idol in eden, of all units, it is imperative that he keeps up his reputation.

sometimes -- it gets hard though. frenzied fucking after an important live, after a long and boring photoshoot, it was easy to get caught up in the passion.

mostly, it was quick blowjobs or feverish makeout sessions. desperately grabbing and touching the other, unaware of any surroundings.

nagisa is a rather quiet and private person, but if his partner wishes to show mild pda (within idol standards, of course), he wouldn't mind.

light touches shared between the two of you in public, just intimate enough for the other to feel loved but not suspicious enough to raise any attention. just friendly gestures, to the public eye.

the rest of eden was unaware of the relationship between you two, it was private business, as far as you two were concerned. you both knew each member of eden had their own flings and relationships, but it wasn't shared information between the unitmates (besides hiyori, who announced everything he did).

nagisa is not one for public sex, but he does find semi-public sex as well as teasing to be exhilarating, he enjoys the thrill of getting you off in common-place areas.

you sat on your knees, obediently licking stripes up and down your boyfriend's cock. you hummed softly, feeling the warmth fill your mouth. a comforting hand was nestled in your hair, giving you gentle encouragement to take him deeper, to bob your head quicker, to suck his cock like it was a lifeline.

nagisa wasn't massive, but he was long and skinny. you pumped your hand over the parts of his cock that your mouth couldn't reach, eliciting cute noises from the boy sitting on the chair infront of you. you felt your knees begin to bruise and ache. these damn practice room floors, you cursed yourself for not wearing thicker pants to soften the hard wooden floor.

you mewled around nagisa's length, savoring the salty taste of his precum and sweat that mixed together like a cocktail -- intoxicating. enough to make you feel drunk and dizzy. your mind swam with thoughts, mostly consisting of nagisa's name, the word please and feverish want and desire. you needed him, it had been far too long. you hadn't been able to even spare him passing glances in the cosmic production office or during his lives or photoshoots.

it was torture. how did long distance couples do it?

you continued sucking nagisa's cock, whining everytime he ran his slender fingers through your hair. it felt like heaven, having him grip onto your hair and the back of your neck like he was going to die -- he was so desperate -- you couldn't help but find it to be adorable.

your usually composed and aloof boyfriend, crumbling in your hands (mouth?) all because of a single blowjob. so cute. you couldn't throw too many stones, however, you knew that you were just as desperate.

desperate to taste him more, to feel him more, to kiss him, to have him fuck you like you would die if he didn't.

it was symbiotic, and also beautiful.

to say the past week was a long week was an understatement. it had been a difficult week, both you and nagisa had busy schedules that never seemed to align. meetings here, paperwork there, planning and agenda writing became a routine. one long and agonizing week of being horribly pent up, unable to get yourself off but unable to see your lover. no matter how many times you tried, late at night in your room, fingering yourself and trying to use the toys you had bought -- no release came. it only made you feel more pent up. it wasn't until the climax of the week, just shortly before eden's latest live, that you two were able to have a rendezvous in the practice room.

it felt great being able to taste him and feel the tip of his cock graze along the back of your throat. your could feel his length twitch in your mouth, his thrusts growing more erratic and un-rhythmic with the bobs of your head.

the other three members had yet to arrive to practice (you and nagisa arrived methodically early, just early enough to have a quick moment of passion, nothing more.), the two eve members always arrived with starbucks and cute pastries in tow, fashionably late. you knew that you two had time to release each other's pent up lust. it was strategic; arrive 15-20 minutes before practice was set to begin, see eachother, then be out before any other member would have arrived.

a perfect plan, except for unaccounted for variables.

such as: the rest of eden arriving early, chit-chatting amongst themselves before looking at you sitting right in the open in the practice room. watching you in full view.

on your knees with nagisa's cock down your throat.

you saw your boyfriend's face flush red, a bashful expression taking over his face as he jumped a little, inadvertently ramming his cock into the back of your throat which made your eyes sting with tears.

your eyes were already tearing up, feeling embarrassment rise through your body as the stares of the other eden members burned through you.

your embarrassment was cut short, however.

"ahaha~ is our little nagisa-kun all grown up now, what splendid weather~!" hiyori cooed, setting his drink down to put his hands on his cheeks in an exaggerated manner. the other two, jun and ibara, looked away from the sight they had walked in on, trying to look anywhere but their unitmate being sucked off.

you honestly could die just then.

nagisa, whether it be out of shock or embarrassment, twitched in your mouth then you felt hot and warm liquid splash on your tongue. it was salty tasting, but not unpleasant, and you swallowed before scrambling to your feet. your boyfriend did the same, putting his now-soft cock away into his boxers and zipping up his pants. you mumbled apologies to nagisa, who looked like he might just spontaneously disappear.

your boyfriend's unitmates just watched you get facefucked by their unit leader. this was absolutely not the plan.

as you walked towards the exit, shame filling up your body like wet sand in a bag, you heard a jubilant voice whisper to you.

"next time, producer, feel free to put on a little show for us, hmm? you looked real cute!" hiyori smiled, gesturing to ibara and jun who were desperately trying to ignore what they just saw.

you just nodded, before scrambling out the door and trying to forget that ever happened. you shot nagisa a "sorry, hope they don't tease you too much" text before heading back to your dorm.

#nagisa ran #ran nagisa #nagisa enstars #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #enstars smut #enstars #ensemble stars #nagisa x reader #nagisa ran x reader #enstars x reader smut #nagisa ran smut #eden #eden enstars #enstars eden #eden x reader

[pipippizz]

been mega horny but… ur thoughts on a gangbang w/eden? i’m horn knee for everyone rn 💔

THIS IS SOME GOOD FOOD RIGHT HERE AW YEAH !!!! FUCK YEAH !!!

minors do not read or interact !!!!

gn reader — orgy , overstim , double penetration , praise , a little bit of choking and manhandling as a treat

so to start ; you are definitely not leaving the bedroom on your own two feet tomorrow. these four are gonna make sure you get the most of being the centre of eden's attention.

hiyori is surprisingly the most hands off, taking more of a leading role in making sure everything is going well and taking extra care to let you know just how good you are, how well you're taking everything, what a good little darling you are. he loves peppering your face with kisses and petting your hair, and if he gets to you first, he's stroking your sex until you're dripping enough to soak his hand (of course, he makes jun lick it clean).

jun himself is a lot more hands on. he loves to tangle his fist in the back of your hair and press your lips together, surprisingly more gently than expected. he's the one who cups your chest from behind and squeeze it while you're getting fucked, especially if he gets to be inside you. his groans are right in your ear so you know how great you feel for him.

ibara is the one who actually makes sure you're prepared for anyone to fuck you. he uses more than enough lube to stretch you out, taking his sweet time as the others warm you up. he starts with two fingers and moves up to four, the whole time pressing against your most sensitive areas so you're writhing beneath him. he won't fuck you himself, he prefers to watch while stroking himself, but that doesn't mean he won't kiss you so hard his tongue nearly goes down your throat when the others do.

nagisa is the base everything happens on top of. he's the first person to fuck you by letting you ride on top of him, bucking into you while guiding your hips with an iron grip. if you're lucky, maybe he'll pull out for jun to have a turn, but sometimes he won't. he praises you in turn with hiyori, more like idealizing you right in front of you while you're overwhelmed with pleasure.

what's most likely to happen is jun and nagisa fuck you at the same time, taking alternate turn thrusting while you straddle nagisa, jun firmly behind you. hiyori kisses your cheeks and neck while sometimes rubbing your sex, praising you the whole time and guiding you to stroke his sex. and ibara tangles his hand in your hair as he dominates your mouth with his, using his other hand to make you jack him off, too

#pipinons #pipiporn #enstars smut #enstars x reader #nagisa ran #hiyori tomoe #ibara saegusa #jun sazanami #i cant put my trans hiyori hcs here ( <- cant decide if hiyori is a tgirl or tboy ) #( shes both to me ) #anyway . probably not what you were expecting but this is all my brain let me think of #gods imagine fucking all of eden at once #thats some sorta status boost for sure #absolutely scandalous and nobody can know but everyone knows anyway because eden never hides their affection in public #cue trap for you all the ' i love you 's they say and ibaras feelings about nagisa calling him good boy

[yandere-daze]

Congratulations on the 3k milestone!! Your writing is so lovely, you completely deserve it ❤️❤️

Could I request Shu and Ibara with a male or gn s/o out on a date and they offer to buy every thing Shu/Ibara even just glance at in shops? And despite the idols’ protests, s/o bought a good half of the things for them anyways. And the next day after the date, they find the rest of the stuff on their doorstep. S/o is just absolutely smitten for them, but does put in actual effort to the relationship besides materialistic matters. Thank you!

Heya, thank you!! ☺️ Sorry for the wait, I hope you enjoy!

gn reader

no warnings

Buying out the whole store!

You´ve been dating Shu for quite some time and thus you´ve learned of Shu´s passion for the arts and anything that includes. You love watching him admire different fabrics in his favorite shops and listening to him rant about all the little details that make them special. You´re just happy seeing your boyfriend in his element and you can´t help but want to support him in his endeavors

Though Shu comes from a wealthy family, he doesn´t have a very good relationship with his parents and thus would hate having to call them up for any favors because he´s in need of money. Because of this, you would often have to watch him part ways with a certain piece of fabric he had been fascinated with or an especially beautiful antique doll that had caught his eye, muttering about how he would have to focus on what Valkyrie needs at the moment

You can see how painful it is for him to part with these things he clearly wants and so one day, you decide to indulge him as best as you can. You do have quite a lot of money to spend like this and there´s nothing else you would rather spend it on than making your boyfriend happy

So when Shu´s about to leave the collection of antique dolls that had been abandoned by their owners, shouting about how this is a giant tragedy? You pull him back by his hand and lead him back into the store, ignoring his little shout about why you´re pulling his hand like that

His eyes go wide when you walk up to the counter and cheerfully tell the store owner that you would like to buy all the dolls on display. He´s completely in disbelief, not sure that what he´s seeing is actually happening

He´s definitely happy to have the dolls, seeing as he really wanted them, but he will ask you if you really want to spend that much money on him. He´s a bit concerned but will utter that in his own Shu-way

"I cannot believe you bought all of these dolls just like that. Do you truly have enough money to be spending it like this? Well, I presume I am quite grateful that you would do this to me..."

He´s definitely blushing a bit when you reassure him that this is what you want to do with your money. You want him to be happy

He´s a bit awkward when he tells you that he would still love you even if you didn´t have this sort of money

Buying out the whole store!

If this had been anyone else, Ibara would have been very wary of the possible motives of buying him whatever he wanted. He would have taken as much advantage of the situation as he could while anticipating some kind of scheme the other person might be trying to pull. He´s well-versed in the business world and how crummy CEOs or investors operate and so he´s certain he would be able to see through a scheme like that. After all, who would ever spend a lot of money on someone without expecting anything in return?

You, apparently.

It had taken a long time for Ibara to come to terms with the fact that there were people who were looking out for him and wanting the best for him the goodness of their heart and not to get some sort of benefit out of it. Both Eden and of course you have become very important parts of his life, people that he could rely on and that he knows are on his side.

He doesn´t like to expose this vulnerable side to others though, his childhood in the military still making him averse to showing any kind of weakness to anybody. A weakness can be exploited.

And yet, when you walk up to him with a big smile on your face, telling him that you bought him the item he had secretly been eyeing all week, he can´t help but let a genuine smile slip as well.

The money wasn´t the issue. He would have been more than capable of buying it himself with the amount of money he had amassed running Cospro. But in this, it´s the thought that matters.

You had been paying attention to him, you had noticed what he had been interested in and you went out of your way to go back and buy it for him without expecting anything in return. You had truly spent a lot of money just now buying all these things for him, but for once the actual monetary value was not what mattered to Ibara

You had done that for him, not because of some ulterior motive, but because you wanted to do something nice for him.

It´s a foreign feeling to him, to know that someone genuinely wishes for his happiness every day, and the thought makes him feel weak.

But Ibara doesn´t mind feeling weak if he can be by your side

#ensemble stars #enstars #ibara saegusa #shu itsuki #ibara saegusa x reader #shu itsuki x reader #eden #valkyrie #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #gn reader

[tokusaatsus]

WHEN THERE’S A BUG IN YOUR ROOM

ft. itsuki shu, morisawa chiaki, otogari adonis, ran nagisa, saegusa ibara

© tokusaatsus 2022

warnings: bugs

Shu hears your call–Shu, can you come here, please–and comes to check on you, but you shouldn’t expect any help from him.

The minute he catches sight of the bug, he’s squawking indignantly. He’s not above using you as a human shield in this scenario. No matter how much he loves you, there’s absolutely nothing you can say that will convince him to go anywhere near that–in his words–disgusting insult to art.

Honestly, he’s just surprised you called him. His aversion to bugs might be even greater than yours, and that’s saying something.

He cowers behind you, and you’re trapped because now you have both a clingy boyfriend and a bug in your room and while your instincts are screaming at you to hide behind Shu, you still recall the piercing shrieks that came out of his mouth when you so much as implied placing him in the so-called line of fire.

In the end, the two of you end up calling Mika to take care of your little…‘home invader’, who’s unable to hold back his look of confusion when he enters your room and spots both you and Shu balanced awkwardly on a chair that was definitely not made to hold more than one person.

After hearing your call, please come quickly, I need your help, please, Chiaki doesn’t spare a moment before he rushes to your defence. Truly, he is embodying that heroic spirit he adores so much!

While he’s not usually one for bugs, finding them a little off-putting, he sets aside his fear in favour of helping you out. After all, a hero must be able to protect his loved ones to the best of his ability! And it’s true that he loves you very much.

Carefully, carefully, he scoops up the bug with a leftover magazine–his hands are shaking slightly all the while, but he refuses to admit it–and tosses it out the window.

When he’s completed his objective, there’s a moment of silence–he’s scouting to make sure the threat has truly left, so that you may relax in the knowledge that you are safe and secure once again–before he looks at you with a huge grin, clearly waiting for praise and affection. Wow, you were so amazing, Chiaki! My RYUSEI Red, my brave hero~ Once you say those magic words, he melts like ice-cream in the hot sun, a sappy look on his face.

Anything for his beautiful Y/N, of course!

Adonis is the kind of boyfriend that comes the minute you call.

He’s a little worried and concerned at first, because of how panicked you seemed over the phone. Your voice wavers at awkward moments, caught between a scream and a whimper. Adonis, please, come quick, I’m scared, I’m really scared.

When he shows up, however, and finds out that the cause of your distress is simply a small bug, he can’t help but feel slightly relieved. With the way you were acting, he was expecting much, much worse. Still, this is something he knows how to fix, and for that he is glad. Seeing you terrified causes an ache in his chest, and it is not something he would like to experience anytime soon. Adonis picks it up and deposits it outside, as easy as pie. When he returns, you tackle him in a hug and he runs a soothing hand down your back as you babble on about how terrifyingly huge the bug was and how close it was to you.

(In reality, it was rather small and barely anywhere near you, but if it makes you feel better, Adonis doesn’t mind playing along with this little white lie, patiently comforting you all the while.)

When you call Nagisa, he’s confused at first.

Of course, Nagisa would never say no to spending more time with you, yet you sounded strangely choked up over the phone, Nagisa, can you come over here, quick, I need you right now. He enters your dorm, surprised to find you cowering in the corner.

When you point out the perpetrator, he can’t help but smile at your antics. It’s an easy task for him to simply remove the bug from the premises with his bare hands, but you look at him with incredibly wide eyes when you watch him and he can’t help but bask in your attention. It’s always nice to have you look at him.

He returns to a hug and a tearful recount of how you were so scared. He soothes you, calmly patting your back as you ramble on and on. You go on to explain how you called because you always feel better when he’s around, and his heart bursts. You inform him that this may become a regular occurrence, and he smiles at you.

He’s not entirely sure what use he would be, yet it warms his heart to think that you would trust him with matters such as these.

When Ibara first hears your call, filled with barely concealed panic, he won’t deny the worry that surges in his stomach. Ibara, please, come quick, I… Oh, god, I can’t…I’m scared, Ibara. It only intensifies when your call is cut off with an abrupt scream of pure terror.

For a moment, he’s terrified that his worst fears have come true and you’ve been caught in the crossfire of one too many plots gone wrong. He spares not a single second, abandoning everything and anything from meetings to paperwork to go check up on you. Of course, when he finds out that all your drama was due to a simple bug, you can expect him to be the slightest bit annoyed.

There’s not a moment of hesitation as he squashes it, all the while looking at you with an unimpressed expression, as if to say, really? That’s what you were terrified of? Yet when he notices your tears, he is quick to calm you down, gently holding your hands to ground you as speaks rationally and logically to talk you out of the spiral you may have found yourself falling into.

My saviour, you proclaim him to be, and Ibara won’t lie to say that makes him feel the tiniest amount of pleasure when you say those words.

notes!

WC: 1k words

reze txt inspired by true events that happened to me yesterday evening. there was a huuuge bug in my room and me and my sister spent 20 mins panicking about how to get rid of it b4 it made the decision for us by simply. flying away :’) all the while i was thinking that i would reaaaally appreciate having a bf who could get rid of bugs for me and boom. fic idea.

taglist: @prpne​ @gabirii​ @kazemiya​ @engurishu​ @kkomaism​ @ophanem​ @mikctp​ @lilikags​ @lolthia​ @unwantedsleep (urls in bold cannot be tagged!)

#✒️...scribbles! #itsuki shu x reader #morisawa chiaki x reader #otogari adonis x reader #ran nagisa x reader #saegusa ibara x reader #enstars x reader #itsuki shu #morisawa chiaki #otogari adonis #ran nagisa #saegusa ibara #valkyrie #ryuseitai #undead #eden #enstars #esworks

[esidolmail]

To Ibara Saegusa:

"Thoughts on being called mommy?" -Aeri

For @enchantedmirage

#ensemble stars #enstars #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #ibara saegusa #saegusa ibara #eden #eden enstars #adam #adam enstars #ibara saegusa x reader #saegusa ibara x reader

[hasumilvr]

☆⠀𓈒⠀Eden. - Their love language.⠀⠀꒱⠀⠀ 🌷 ⠀

୨୧ Wc : 1000+

I actually really love ibara and Hiyori they are so silly. Need to wrap Eden up with fluffy blankets like burritos

Nagisa R. - Quality time

｡˚ Nagisa… still needs some time to understand the concept of love… But his heart feels fluffy and warm everytime he sees your angelic smile, and he can’t help but be a little selfish – he loves spending time with you. Maybe that’s love, he tells himself.

｡˚ He promised to stay with you during your highs and lows, and man sticks to his words. When you’re busy with schoolwork or dealing with the menacingly large amount of paperwork on your desk, he stays with you. There’s a comfortable silence between you two – he doesn’t want to interrupt your work, afterall, but the slow and light breathing makes you know he’s there, he’s there for you.

｡˚ Nagisa always makes sure his weekends are work-free if possible! He wants to spend more time with you, no matter watching a movie while holding hands on the couch, going for a late night walk accompanied by the quiet footsteps of yourselves or reading a book while sipping on coffee, he wants you to know that he loves you by spending all the time in the world with you.

｡˚ Of course, it’s not just you who enjoys the company of your significant other. Nagisa finds himself relaxed and his tense shoulders hurt less when you’re here with him. It’s always a relief to see you after an entire week of a busy schedule, because things always get better when you’re with him.

｡˚ He’s not very good at expressing his love verbally, but as he strokes your hand softly while you rest your head on his lap, you know he adores and cherishes you. Do return the sentiment by giving him a kiss on his forehead, okay?

Ibara S. - Gift Giving

｡˚ Since Ibara is well known as a workaholic who wouldn't give up on starring at his computer until his own body gives him up, he can't spend that much time with you (which makes him slightly sad, not like he will admit though).

｡˚ But does that mean he doesn't love you? Definetly not. Ibara tries to squeeze in breaks from time to time just to see you and leave a kiss on your forehead, and when he can't, expect to find a little something from the producer by your bedside in the morning, with a little note taped on it.

｡˚ ''Sorry I can't spend the weekend with you again. This is a pack of sweets from the gift shop in the place Eden went for the promotional event last week, and I thought you might enjoy it. Have a good week, producer dono. Salute ~☆ ( ・∀・ )ゞ" says the note, with "Ibara Saegusa" delicately signed at the bottom right corner.

｡˚ Geez... Ibara's such an idiot. It's not like you don't understand how busy he is, but he still feels sorry for not being able to be by your side. Next time, please tell him you love him for who he is, and even if work keeps him away from you, your hearts are still connected.

｡˚ With that said, Ibara is the type to buy you gifts from time to time to make up for his absence from your side! It's usually something small but sweet - sometimes it's an omiyage from the placce he last visited for work, and sometimes it's a bag of tea leaves or coffee powder, because he knows you're running low on them. From the snake who is still learning how to express love and affection, you deeply treasure everything he gifts you, no matter how tiny or silly it is.

Hiyori T. - Words of affirmation

｡˚ As expected from the prince of love and sunshine, Hiyori loves praising you and showering you with vocabularies of love! He compliments your hair and your outfit you picked specially for your date with him, which makes your heart does a little dance - just so you know, he sees how much effort you put in your outfits during your dates, and appreciates how much you value your time together dearly. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

｡˚ ''Oh, my lovely sunflower, you look sooo lovely today! Well, you're lovely everyday, anyways! I missed you so much... Hiyori demands cuddles from his darling, right here right now!" He's childish and selfish when it comes to you. In a good way, though.

｡˚ Oooooo he showers you with so much words of love oooooooo it makes you blush from head to toe like a strawberry everytime he does it ooooooooo (which just gives him another reason to call you cute. The pink shade of blush really compliments the color of your outfit today, making you look so cute he wants to kiss you so badly.)

｡˚ When you're upset, he tries to talk to you to cheer you up! Communication is the key to everything, and the same goes for expressing love and affection - that's what Hiyori believes. He doesn't like seeing you sad, and doesn't want to cross your boundaries, so instead of giving you a tight high straight away, he asks what's wrong first, before listening attentively to what you have to say. It's then that you feel Hiyori's warmth from his two arms wrapped tightly around you, and soft whispers of ''It's okay''s and ''I love you''s.

Jun S. - Acts of service

｡˚ Jun's way of expressing love is special. He loves doing little things for you. A massage after a tiring day from work? He has your back! It's nothing too touchy, but he just wants you to know that he loves you from his actions - that he deeply cares.

｡˚ Sometimes you feel like you don't deserve him taking care of you. Little do you know that he enjoys doing so! Running errands with you, for example, is a great way for him to spend time with you. He gets a break from his work, and sees his favorite person. When he helps you carry the heavy grocerries you collect from the supermarket, he adores how cute you are when you try your best to carry them all on your own, then give in and let him take one of the bags.

｡˚ Jun isn't that good with words too, so he depends a lot on ''showing'' instead of telling. It's the frequent help he offers you that makes your heart skip a beat... Jun has a very gentlemanly side, especially when he's with you.

｡˚ He just really loves doing small things for you to brighten up your day, so don't feel embarrassed, yes? He loves you deeply and geniunely, and he thinks you deserve all of his love and devotion.

#enstars x reader #ensemble stars #eden #eden x reader #nagisa ran #hiyori tomoe #ibara saegusa #jun sazanami #nagisa ran x reader #hiyori tomoe x reader #ibara saegusa x reader #jun sazanami x reader #(viv.writes) #esworks

[glazeflower]

So like what if

the dateables joined a unit in ensemble stars!

Diavolo

He would join Eden

I mean have you seen is UR card with the appel?

But tbh he would created a solo unit just like Madara

I mean he has the resources 🤷

Barbatos

I think he would be a producer of Diavolo but for the sake of the title.

He would join XXVeil

You cant tell me otherwise

Luke

As I stated in one of my previous post

Branco

He is schrunk

That whole unit are schrunks

Beef with tori but sweets buddys

Hajime and Luke are baking buddys and share recipes

Simeon

Just like Barbatos he would help produce Branco with you if you produce them

But again as the title

He would join Fine

I mean the theme just fits with him and so

Tori giving side eye to Simeon when he talks to Eichi

( can someone pls drawing him in the Fine live uniform?)

Solomon

Switch

100%

Him and Natsume wizard bffs

He would make lives more spectaculair with magic.

I'm too brain rot about this

#ensemble stars #enstars #obey me #enstars fanfic #obey me shall we date #eichi tenshouin #tori himemiya #luke obey me #obey me solomon #simeon obey me #obey me barbatos #diavolo obey me #switch enstars #natsume sakasaki #hajime shino #eden enstars #enstars fine #branco enstars #obey me x reader #obey me nightbringer

[amazinguu-sekai]

Jun and Izumi stuck on an elevator with reader

anon: Hello it’s nice to meet you could I request being stuck in a elevator with Jun and Izumi (separate) and how they would comfort reader hc’s bc reader is scared plz?

I got stuck in a elevator the other day and I get really scared in elevators as it is I was sobbing all by myself I was stuck for hour 30 not fun

kasumi: awihajsh i hope you're fine now anon! im not a claustrophobic person but i hope this lil (stupid) hc we did for you helps you! ALSO CARI WHAT IS THIS FAVORITISM ... WHY DOES SENA HAVE ANOTHER BULLET COMPARED TO JUN??

cari: anon are you /srs or /j (im dragging you down w me)

reader: (gn) ; requested: yes ! ; proofread: by cari ; type: headcanon ! ; wc: ~170 ; era: !!

tw; vague mentions of claustrophobia

Jun Sazanami 😹

poor man does not know how to comfort you. he's the one who needs comfort because hiyori is always distracting him 24/7 but if you're scared, he'll try his best.

he seems to notice that you're shaking and stuttering with your words. concerned, he asks what's wrong. as soon as you reply that you're scared and don't do well in closed spaces he gives you a hug and comforts you.

“...(y/n). I'm not the best with words but all those negative things inside your head will be gone as soon as we get out, alright?” he tries to comfort you with his words, and gives you a small kiss on top of your head.

after the small incident, he'll give you tons of cuddles, if you want to buy something he'll buy it for you (even though we know the money is from cospro), and anything you like in particular, he might even take you out for a date to cheer you up!~

Izumi Sena 😾

PANICS. tries to contact someone but suddenly realizes that cell phones don't work in elevators. he can't afford to get stuck in the elevator, he has lots of photoshoots to attend!!

doesn't even care about you because he has his own worries, until he snaps out of it and realizes how scared you actually are and needs comfort.

he asks what's wrong, although sounding a bit rude with it, and you respond that you're scared of small spaces.

“idiot!~ i'm here with you,” he scoffs and crosses his arms, “now, now, don't be scared.” he approaches you and slowly hugs you, your worry temporarily subsiding as he comforts you.

izumi may go overboard to cheer you up after that incident (definitely did not complain to the electricians). he might drag you to Florence and watch him do his photoshoots (conclusion; you fainted) and try out anything that interests both of you. <3

#kasumi writes ♪ #knights enstars #eden enstars #ensemble stars #enstars #ensemble stars x reader #anime and manga #jun sazanami #jun sazanami x reader #izumi sena x reader #izumi sena

[seangelfish]

Meet and Greet

Jun Sazanami x Reader ♡ Tags: Fluff, established relationship, romance, no mention of pronouns ♡ Word count: 864 ♡ Synopsis: An idol like yourself shouldn't be spotted at events like this. That's just too risky! But you're here anyway to not only experience what it's like from the fan's point of view, but also to surprise your boyfriend, Jun Sazanami from Eve. ♡ A/N: Had this in the drafts for a while and it is finally finished! I miss my Jun Sazanami phase~ I still love him and he will forever be my dream boyfriend.

Your hair was tied back with a black cap covering your head. Over your eyes laid a pair of dark shades and a mask to cover your mouth. This was the perfect disguise for you to go see your boyfriend at his meet and greet. After all, you were an idol at the same agency he was in, so you had to be careful about being recognised by his fans.

However, what you really came dressed in was not the disguise you should've gone for, but a casual outfit instead. Sure, you still covered your head with a cap, but your whole face was exposed which could lead to trouble.

You thought otherwise though because despite being a popular idol at Cos Pro, you were still going to attend a meet and greet for Eve, a unit that attracts all eyes. So, you didn't need to worry about being recognised as everyone's attention would be only on them. You doubted anyone would look your way if the Hiyori Tomoe and Jun Sazanami were in the same room as them.

You entered the line, awaiting your turn to meet Eve. For some reason, the idea of being here as a fan when you were an idol was absolutely nerve-racking. Maybe you should've gone in disguise? It was too late now as the line started moving forward, yet thankfully enough, as you expected, no one batted an eye at you.

And despite feeling so nervous, you felt a sensation of excitement brew in you. You were going to see your boyfriend from a different perspective! This is so exciting! you thought to yourself happily. I can't wait to see him!

You hummed a little tune to yourself as you watched fans squeal in delight as they readied themselves to shake their favourite idols' hands.

The venue was crowded with girls which wasn't a surprise to you since Eve catered towards that demographic, but a part of you couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous when Jun would dish out his attention to them. At the same time, you were proud of him. He looked so happy and fulfilled to be given such love for his hard work. It was his dream to become an idol, so seeing him smile so brightly like this only made your heart flutter.

"Thank you for supporting me and Eve," he said politely, shaking a fan's hand firmly. "I appreciate it so much."

"O-Of course!" they would bashfully reply, a slight blush appearing on their cheeks. "I will always be your fan!"

You sighed contently at this. You were nearing the front of the line now, so you readied yourself as you stepped in front of the dark blue-haired boy.

Before you could greet him though, his eyes widened at your figure in front of him.

"(Y/N), w-what are you doing here?" he hissed worriedly. "You're not even wearing a mask! Did anyone recognise you? I hope you didn't get harassed... I'll call security later to escort you out, but you shouldn't..."

Despite the shock in his eyes, you could see how they lit up when he saw you.

"Don't worry, Jun," you whispered back. "No one recognised me!"

He sighed but smiled. "Alright, let's get this over with. Take my hands."

You placed your hands in his. As expected, they were calloused and rough, but at the same time, soft. Your boyfriend shook your hands gently, but his grip was tight as if he didn't want to let you go.

"Thank you for coming here to visit me!" he exclaimed. "I appreciate your support so much!"

His usual lines. He really was taking this seriously so that no one would spot you.

You grinned, then said, "Jun, I'm so proud of you. Do you know exactly why I'm here? I'm here to tell you that you've been doing such a good job getting to this point. You've worked so hard and it's admirable. I hope that you keep at it, that life continues to treat you well."

He looked at you dazed, but his eyes glistened. He wasn't sure if it was the lights that had him squinting like this, but your words did take an emotional toll on him.

"And remember that you're loved," you continued.

At that point, he knew that it was you – the reason why his eyes started to water. Your words touched his heart, and hearing them from you made it all worthwhile that he was here, existing, as an idol.

"T-Thank you..." he stammered out. "I really am happy that you're here, (Y/N)–"

"20 seconds left!" reminded one of employees.

"My time's nearly up, Jun," you stated. "Have a good rest of your day. I love you."

You whispered the last part, but only for Jun to hear. Thankfully, he caught it amid chatter.

"I love you too," he whispered back.

"Next!"

You unlinked your hands from Jun's, then stepped away from the table to chat with Hiyori. Jun continued his job greeting the next fans in line, but from the corner of his eye, he kept looking at you, hoping that you, his lover, would have a good day too.

Intro page | Ensemble Stars masterlist | Rules

#ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #eden x reader #jun sazanami x reader #ensemble stars #enstars #fanfic #x reader #jun sazanami fanfic #jun sazanami x reader fluff #enstars eden x reader #jun sazanami x y/n

[s4egusas]

a/n : hi ! decided to rewrite my first request ,, having span bursts of energy flowing through my whole body rn ,, enjoy !

# REUNITED FEELINGS

jun sazanami x reader, koga oogami x reader

the cold breeze flows in the city late at night. it was when you and he are sitting together, not uttering any word — it's a brief silence.

the cold wind adds the tension and the loudness of your heartbeat, can he hear it? you can't stop thinking : 'does his heart feel the same?'

jun sazanami ;

it was when jun breaks the silence. it seems like he's lost in his own thoughts.

'ever since we drifted away from each other, there's this uneasiness and pain on my chest. is it because i lost a friend again? or is it because i don't want to leave your side?

i tried... to find you... but i stopped. i thought it will cause you inconvenience, and i don't want that to happen. i tried to forget you, but every time the sun shines, i remember our moment, our last summer — together. it reminds me of you. the way you shine, the way you smile — it pains me. but now that i saw you again, the pain turned to comfort. i am happy that you're happy, i'm happy that you're okay... i love you.'

koga oogami ;

'i never saw you cry, ever since we were kids. those sleepless nights in the hospital were the most painful thing i've ever experienced. i tried to confess that night, but i thought it was the wrong time. i waited for so long, even made a song — but it was enjoyable, at least. this time, this moment, i finally get to profess my feelings to you. all the times when we were together were the most beautiful thing that happened to me. i'm saying this to you as a goodbye or a new start. i love you. i hope you feel the same way, too.'

if you want to get tagged on my future writings, kindly send an ask 🤍

#ensemble stars x reader #jun sazanami x reader #koga oogami x reader #ensemble stars #enstars #enstars x reader #undead #undead x reader #eden x reader #dice.notes #forgot to edit LOL

[nazukisser]

manhwa titles & enstars characters ─── •

In this episode of "putting Qian's interests together" and coming up with something, we will be taking concepts from various manhwas and pairing them with enstars characters, along with a synopsis for a fic idea with them. (some may be altered a little)

cw: lots of death mentions (reincarnation)

who made me a princess | eden

fem!reader, drama, reincarnation, royalty!au, multiple love interests

you'd once read of a wonderful story of a princess who was adored by all, even turning an ice-cold emperor to a kind and caring one. however, she had a sister, one who had been slain at the hands of such an emperor, of which you find yourself in the body of. you promise yourself you must find a way to survive, in which you intend to seek the support of a mage by the name of hiyori, a wealthy merchant from a neighboring country, ibara, a duke of the empire, jun, and a knight from the royal guard, nagisa. as you fight for your survival and avoid the novel's storyline, the strings of fate start to weave a different path for you.

doctor elise: the royal lady with the lamp | rei

gn!reader, fluff, reincarnation, royalty!au

in your first life, you were a noble who had done many wrongs, labelled as evil and self-serving. you were surprised to have been given another chance at life, in the modern world, where you had decided to become a doctor to save people's lives, a way of atonement for the horrible acts you had done in your previous life. however, you've found yourself dead again, this time back in the body of your first life. this time, you've decided to continue being a doctor and helping people, finding a strange man with a seemingly impossible condition.

the abandoned empress | eichi

fem!reader, drama, reincarnation, enemies to lovers, royalty!au

you had been trained all of your life to become the empress, as the recipient of the prophecy. everyone had believed that it was the goddess's will for you to become the empress, and you had worked hard to become the empress that everyone expected, fallen in love with the emperor, eichi. however, as soon as a woman from another world descended from the sky at the royal palace's lake, the people soon turned their back on you, accusing you of the misinterpretation of the holy word and using the church to further your position in society, a misuse of the prophecy. Such allegations continued, and even the emperor could not defend his empress, and thus your execution followed soon after. you open your eyes to find yourself at an age years before your execution, and you swear to avoid becoming the empress at all costs to avoid your fate.

the emperor's companion | ritsu

gn!reader, fluff, royalty!au

prince ritsu, known for staying within the palace walls and his famous walks under the moonlight due to the curse of light, has been spotted several times, under the daylight, in the holy temple. away from anyone else he's known, you find him stuck to you, the temple's saint. in times of crisis and natural disaster, you're expected to gather the power of the goddess and assist the people of the empire, but how were you supposed to do that when the prince is always at your side?!

my life as an internet novel | trickstar & anzu

gn!reader, reincarnation, fluff, non-idol!au

the female lead of the novel, as well as the 4 male leads are gorgeous- so why are they so friendly to you? you were reincarnated as the best friend of the female lead, anzu, in a novel where the main character is surrounded by the four impossibly pretty male leads- subaru, hokuto, mao, and makoto. they're all supposed be obsessed with her, so why are they, even anzu, focusing on you?

the villainess flips the script | nazuna

fem!reader, reincarnation, fluff, royal!au

you regretted ever reading a revenge novel- if you hadn't, maybe you wouldn't have reincarnated as the aunt of the main character in a tragedy novel! as one of the first characters to die in such a novel as part of the main character's revenge due to making your nephew's life a living hell when he was younger, you try your best to make up for the horrible things she had done. you try to reconcile with him and avoid your death as you wait for nazuna, the son of duchess nito, to take him to the duchy of nito- however, you find yourself on the train to the duchy as well, and nazuna is nicer than expected to the woman who had supposedly used his brother's son?!

. i said i would do it. i did it in one sitting.

#ensemble stars #enstars #enstars x reader #ensemble stars x reader #eden #trickstar #anzu #sakuma rei #sakuma ritsu #sakuma rei x reader #sakuma ritsu x reader #idk how to tag this help

[redspaade]

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ - 𝟶.𝟸 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅs

ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴡʀᴏᴛᴇ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴀᴄᴋ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴄᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏғ 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸 ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ɪᴛ sᴏ ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪᴛ ɪs! [ᴀʟsᴏ, ɪ ᴘʟᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴏᴡ ᴏɴ!]

ᴘᴀʀᴛ ɪ

ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴄᴏs-ᴘʀᴏ ғᴏʀ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ᴀs ᴀ ғʀᴇᴇʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴇɴᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴘʟᴇɴᴛʏ ᴏғ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅᴏʟ ɪɴᴅᴜsᴛʀʏ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ. ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ sɴᴀᴋᴇ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴠɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋғᴀsᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀғᴇᴛᴇʀɪᴀ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɢᴇᴛ sᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʙᴜsᴛʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sɪɴᴄᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.

“ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ᴛᴏᴏ ɪ sᴇᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴜsᴜᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴄᴀғᴇᴛᴇʀɪᴀ ғᴏᴏᴅ.”

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜɴ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ sᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʜᴇ’s ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʙᴇᴇɴ ʀᴇʟɪᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀs ғᴀʀ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ.

“ʏᴇᴀ, ᴍʏ ᴀʟᴀʀᴍ ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ɢᴏ ᴏғғ sᴏ ɪ ᴡᴏᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ ʟᴀᴛᴇ. ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋғᴀsᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ.”

“ᴀʜ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜʏ.”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴏᴏᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʀᴅᴇɴ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇʀʏ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ sɴᴏᴡ ɢʟɪsᴛᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʙʀᴀɴᴄʜᴇs ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢʀᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴘᴜʀᴇ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ɪᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴘɪɴᴇs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴅᴇᴄᴏʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs ᴏʀɴᴀᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴏғ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀs. ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴡʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜɴᴋs ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴇs sʜᴏɴᴇ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ʟɪɢʜᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ғᴀɪʀʏᴛᴀʟᴇ.

“ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ, ɪsɴ’ᴛ ɪᴛ?” ᴊᴜɴ sᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ʜɪs ʏᴀᴋɪᴛᴏʀɪ ᴏғғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴍʙᴏᴏ sᴛɪᴄᴋ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ᴛᴇᴇᴛʜ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪs ᴍᴜғғʟᴇᴅ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀs ʜᴇ ᴀᴛᴇ ʜɪs ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇʀʏ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴀsᴛᴏɴɪsʜɪɴɢ.

ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏs-ᴘʀᴏ ᴏғғɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴘʟᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ɪʀʀɪᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴏɴ ᴊᴜɴ’s ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ʜɪs ᴍᴏᴏᴅ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ.

“ᴊᴜɴ! ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ!” ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴇxᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ, sᴇᴇᴍɪɴɢ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ.

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ? ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢs ɪɴ ʜᴀʟғ ᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ. ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛʜᴇɴ.” ᴊᴜɴ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ʙʟᴀᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ.

“ᴏʜ, ᴊᴜɴ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴɢʀʏ ɪ ɪɴᴛᴇʀʀᴜᴘᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏ/ɴ?” ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛᴇᴀsɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɴᴇ. ʜᴇ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀʟʏ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴊᴜɴ ғʟᴜsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ. ᴊᴜɴ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇᴇᴛ ʀᴇᴅ.

“ɪᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ! ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʏ/ɴ ᴀʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs!”

ʜᴇ ᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅʀᴀɢɢᴇᴅ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴏ sᴄᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛᴇᴀᴅɪʟʏ ᴛᴇᴀsɪɴɢ ᴊᴜɴ.

ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏғғɪᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ sʜᴏʀᴛ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴅᴏʟ ᴜɴɪᴛs ᴀᴛ ᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴘᴀʀᴛɪᴄɪᴘᴀᴛᴇ ɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴏғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ‘ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ sᴏʟsᴛɪᴄᴇ’ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴄʟᴜsɪᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ sʜᴏᴡᴄᴀsᴇ ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs sᴏɴɢs sᴜɴɢ ʙʏ ᴜɴɪᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴄʟᴜsɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡɪɴɴᴇʀs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟɪɴᴇ ʀᴀғғʟᴇ.

“ɪs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ?” ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ғɪʟᴇs ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇsᴋ.

“ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ sᴏʟsᴛɪᴄᴇ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴏʀɢᴀɴɪᴢᴇᴅ? ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ɪᴛ ʜᴀsɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ʏᴇᴛ.” ʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴍᴀssᴀɢɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇs.

ʜᴇ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ sᴛʀᴇssᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪs ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ, ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋs ɪᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀғғʟᴇ ᴏɴʟɪɴᴇ sᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴀs ғᴏʀ ʜᴏᴡ ɪᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ, ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ᴄʟᴜᴇ. ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴘᴏᴘᴜʟᴀʀɪᴛʏ. ᴀʟsᴏ, ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ᴘʟᴀɴs ᴏɴ ᴏɴʟʏ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ 𝟷𝟻𝟶 ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡɪɴ ɪɴ ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴅᴜsᴛʀɪᴇs. ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴀʟʟ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ sᴏ ғᴀʀ.”

ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴ sʜᴏᴄᴋ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀsᴋ ʏᴏᴜ. ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇɪᴄʜɪ sᴏ ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴀ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴀʙʟᴇ sᴏᴜʀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ.

“ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ? ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ɪ'ʟʟ ᴛʀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴀɴ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴄᴏs-ᴘʀᴏs ᴜɴɪᴛs ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.” ʜᴇ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs sɪɢɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ sᴀʟᴜᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏғғ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅɪɴɢ sᴛᴜᴅɪᴏ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ʜᴏᴍᴇ.

ᴘᴀʀᴛ ɪɪ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴄʟᴏsɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ᴛᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ sᴏʟsᴛɪᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇʟʏ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀssɪsᴛɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴅᴇɴ, sᴘᴇᴄɪғɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs ʙᴜᴛ, ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ʜᴀʙɪᴛ ᴏғ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ sᴛᴀʀᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ? ᴇᴠᴇʀ sɪɴᴄᴇ ʜᴇ’s ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇʟᴀx ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜɪᴍ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴊᴜɴ ᴄᴀʟʟs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ, sɴᴀᴘᴘɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ.

“ʜᴇʏ ʏ/ɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ’s ᴜᴘ? ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ ʟɪᴋᴇ 𝟻 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs.”

“ᴜʜ. ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ. ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ.” ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ sᴘᴀᴄɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴛɪɴᴛ ᴏғ ʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴀʙʟᴇ.

ᴊᴜɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴ ᴀᴡᴇ. ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴄʀᴜsʜ.

“ᴡʜᴏ’s ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜᴄᴋʏ ɢᴜʏ?” ᴊᴜɴ ᴛᴇᴀsᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ.

ʏᴏᴜ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴜᴍ… ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ.”

“ʜᴇʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ. ɪ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ ɪ ᴡᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ғᴜɴ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ.”

“ᴊᴜɴ, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ.”

“ɪ ᴡᴏɴ’ᴛ.”

“ɪ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴛɪɴʏ ᴄʀᴜsʜ ᴏɴ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs ɪɴ ᴇᴅᴇɴ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴏғғ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛᴇʀ.

“ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ɪᴛ’s ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ.”

“ɪᴛ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsᴇ.

“ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡʜᴏ..?”

ᴛʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ɢᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴅ.

“ʏ/ɴ… ɪᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ᴍᴇ. ɪs ɪᴛ?”

ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ sʜᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ.

“ɴᴏ, ɴᴏ.”

ʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʀᴇʟɪᴇғ. ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪs ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ.

“ʏ/ɴ. ɴᴏ. ʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʜᴜʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ʜᴇ ɪs ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ, ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ғᴀʟʟ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ.”

“ᴊᴜɴ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ. ɪᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.”

“ʏ/ɴ…”

“ɪ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴊᴜɴ, ɪ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ғᴀʟʟ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ. ɪᴛ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ sɪʟʟʏ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴄʀᴜsʜ, ɪᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ’s ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏғғ.

ᴘᴀʀᴛ ɪɪɪ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ɴᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴜᴛᴅᴏᴏʀ ʜᴇᴀᴛᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀʀᴇᴀ ʜᴀs ʙᴀsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ʀᴇʟᴀxᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ sᴄʀᴇᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ sᴀᴡ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴀᴅᴍɪʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴇᴡ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜsᴛʟɪɴɢ sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛs ᴏғ ᴛᴏᴋʏᴏ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ʟɪғᴇ ɪᴛsᴇʟғ.

ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀᴠᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ. ᴛʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴡ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀs ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʀᴇsᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏᴏɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ. ᴛʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ sᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡɪɴɢ.

“ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ʏ/ɴ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴡᴀʀᴍ sᴍɪʟᴇ.

“ʜᴇʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘᴀᴄᴋɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢɪɴɢs.

“ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀsᴋ, ɪs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ɪ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ?” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ.

“ɴᴏ, ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴇxᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴛʜᴜᴍʙs ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ɢʀɪɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀ.

“ʏ/ɴ ʜᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴜs ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ? ᴜɴʟᴇss ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴏғғᴇʀᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴀᴅᴍɪʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇʀʏ.

“ᴀʜ, ᴡᴇʟʟ sᴜʀᴇ. ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ, sᴏ ᴡʜʏ ɴᴏᴛ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴇᴀᴛ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴs ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴘᴏʀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴏʟsᴛɪᴄᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ғᴀsᴛᴇʀ sᴏ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ.

ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴘᴏᴠ

ɪ’ᴠᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴇᴇɴ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ʟᴏᴏᴋ sᴏ ᴄʜᴇᴇʀғᴜʟ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ. ʟᴇᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ. ʜᴇ’s ʙᴇɪɴɢ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ɪᴛ’s ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ. ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴀ ʜᴏʀʀɪʙʟᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ. ғᴏʀ ᴜsɪɴɢ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ sᴡᴇᴇᴛ ᴀɴɢᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs. ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ sᴇᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ғᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ᴛʀᴀᴘ. sʜᴇ’s ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴀɴ ᴇғғᴇᴄᴛ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ.

ᴛʜɪs ɪs ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ. ɪ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ғᴏʀ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ. ᴏʀ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ? ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ. ɴᴏ, ɴᴏ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ғᴀɪᴛʜ ɪɴ ʜɪᴍ.

ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴘᴏᴠ

“ɪʙᴀʀᴀ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴀɢᴜᴇ. “ɪ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ɪ sᴀɪᴅ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴏ ᴠɪsɪᴛ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ. ɪ’ʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴇᴀᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ.”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ. ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ sᴇɴᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴏғғ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ʀᴇʜᴇᴀʀsᴀʟ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.

ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀғᴇᴛᴇʀɪᴀ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ.

“ᴍʀ. sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ, ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴍʀ. ᴛᴇɴsʜᴏᴜɪɴ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ‘ғᴇsᴛɪᴠᴀʟ’ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀғғ ᴀᴛ ᴇs ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴛs. ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅ.”

“ᴡᴇʟʟ, sɪɴᴄᴇ ɪ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴇxᴄᴇᴘᴛ ғᴏʀ ʀᴇʜᴇᴀʀsᴀʟ ɪ ɢᴜᴇss ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏɴɪɢʜᴛ.” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ.

ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. “ᴡɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ?”

ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏᴛ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ғʟᴜsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ɪᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ? ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴsᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ sᴀʏ ʏᴇs.

“sᴜʀᴇ, ɪᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅs ғᴜɴ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ ᴛʜᴜᴍʙs ᴜᴘ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇʀ ʙᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏғғ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇ.

“ʜᴍ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ’s sᴏ ғᴜɴɴʏ?” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪs ᴛᴀʙʟᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ.

“ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ғᴜɴɴʏ ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɪɴᴛɪᴍɪᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ.

ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ sʜᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴀᴡᴇ.

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴘᴏᴠ

ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ ᴘᴜʀᴘᴏsᴇʟʏ. ᴡʜʏ ᴅɪᴅ sʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴏ ғᴜɴɴʏ? ʜᴇʀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ. ɪᴛ sᴜɪᴛs ʜᴇʀ. ᴡᴀɪᴛ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ? ɴᴏ,ɴᴏ,ɴᴏ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴍ ɪ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ? sʜᴇ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ᴘᴀᴡɴ. ɪ ᴡᴏɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴜsᴇ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɢᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇɪᴄʜɪ.

ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ sᴍɪʟᴇ. ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏᴇs ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs? ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ? ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss ᴏɴᴇ ʙɪᴛ. ʙᴜᴛ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ, ᴜsɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ, ɪ ғᴇᴇʟ ɢᴜɪʟᴛʏ. ɴᴏ, ɴᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴘʟᴀɴ ғᴀɪʟ.

ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴘᴏᴠ

-ᴛɪᴍᴇ sᴋɪᴘ- ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴅᴀʏ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇsᴋ ғɪɴɪsʜɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪɴᴀʟ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀs ᴊᴜɴ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ.

“ʜᴇʏ ʏ/ɴ.”

“ᴏʜ, ᴊᴜɴ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ?”

“ɴᴏ, ᴡᴇʟʟ ʏᴇᴀ, ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏɴɪɢʜᴛ?”

“ʏᴇᴀ. ᴡʜʏ?”

“ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ?”

“ᴜʜ, ʏᴇᴀ? ᴡʜʏ.”

“ʏ/ɴ…”

“ᴊᴜɴ, ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ.”

ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴡᴀʟᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇsᴋ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.

“ʜᴇʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ.” ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴄᴀsᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴘʟᴀʏᴇᴅ ᴏғғ.

“ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ?” ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ, ʀᴏʟʟɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs.

“ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴜᴄʜ, ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. sᴏ ʏ/ɴ, ᴡʜᴏ’s ᴛʜɪs “ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ”. ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴊᴜɴ.” ʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴀsᴇᴅ.

“ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ-“

ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴜᴛ ᴊᴜɴ ᴏғғ.

“ɴᴏ,ɴᴏ ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ, ɴᴏ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sᴏ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛɪᴠᴇ.”

“ɪʙᴀʀᴀ?” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴛɪʟᴛɪɴɢ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀᴅ.

“ʏᴇᴀ, ᴡʜʏ?”

“ʏ/ɴ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ? ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ?” ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ.

“ᴀ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ? ɴᴏ, ɴᴏ, ɴᴏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ. ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴏʀᴇ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ ᴇᴍʙᴀʀʀᴀssᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ.

“ʏ/ɴ…”

“ᴊᴜɴ ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ sᴏ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ. ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀʟᴋ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ʜᴏᴜʀs ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ʙᴏᴛʜ ɢᴏ ʜᴏᴍᴇ.”

“ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇʏ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ɪɴᴛᴇʀʀᴜᴘᴛᴇᴅ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪғ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ sᴀʏs sᴏ ɪᴛ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ.” ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴀɢʀᴇᴇᴅ.

ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟻 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇsᴋ.

“ᴀʜ, ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴡᴇʟʟ, ʟ/ɴ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ?” ʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴘᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴀᴛ.

“ʏᴇᴀ, ɪ ᴀᴍ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜsʜɪɴɢ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ sᴀɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴏᴏᴅʙʏᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ᴇᴅᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ᴛʜɪɴɢs.

“ᴊᴜɴ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴀᴅᴅʀᴇssᴇᴅ.

“ʏᴇᴀ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ?”

“ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ?”

“ᴛʜᴀᴛ sʜᴇ ʜᴀs ᴀ ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀ ᴄʀᴜsʜ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ? ʏᴇᴀ. ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ sᴛᴏᴍᴘᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.”

“ɴᴏ ᴊᴜɴ. ʜᴇ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ.”

“ɴᴏ ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ɪs.”

“ᴊᴜsᴛ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴊᴜɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.”

“ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sᴀғᴇ.”

“ᴡᴇʟʟ ʜᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡᴇ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏᴏ, sᴏ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ sᴇᴇ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴs ʜᴍ?” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴏsᴇᴅ.

“ғɪɴᴇ.”

“ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜɴ! ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ!”

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇᴅ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ’s sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ. —————————————— ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟷𝟶 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏʙʙʏ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴅ.

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴀs ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪsᴛᴜʀʙ ʜɪᴍ sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғɪᴅɢᴇᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴜsʏ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.

ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟹 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴡ ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ᴇxɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴏʀ.

“ʏ/ɴ! ɪ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ.” ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ. “ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏ sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ…” ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ, ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ sᴏ ɪ ᴄᴏ��ʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟʏ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀɴ ᴏғғᴇʀ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ.” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ ʙɪᴛᴛᴇʀʟʏ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪs ᴛᴇʀʀɪғʏɪɴɢ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴜʜᴍ, ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ɪs sᴛᴀʀᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ. ᴡᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴇᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ.” ʏᴏᴜ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴsᴇ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ.

“ʏᴇs, ɪ sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʟ/ɴ.” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜsʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜɪs ᴄʜᴀɪʀ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs.” ᴇɪᴄʜɪ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғғ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ.

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴏғғ ʜɪs ɢʟᴀssᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴇᴀɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ᴄʟᴇᴀɴɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜ.

“sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ…ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅʟʏ.

ʜᴇ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ sᴇᴇᴍs sᴛʀᴇssᴇᴅ ᴀs ɪᴛ ɪs. ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴ ᴛᴏᴘ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀɴʏ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ.

ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʜɪs ғᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ᴜɴɪᴛ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀs. sᴏ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴғᴀᴍɪʟɪᴀʀ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇʟʏ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪs ᴡᴇʟʟ-ʙᴇɪɴɢ.

“ʏᴇs, ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴍᴇ. ɪ’ᴍ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢʟᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟʟ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ sᴏᴏɴ.” ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ. ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ᴜsᴜᴀʟ ᴛᴏɴᴇ. ʜᴇ sᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴛɪʀᴇᴅ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴇᴇ ʙᴀɢs ʙᴇɢɪɴ ᴛᴏ ғᴏʀᴍ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ᴀssᴜʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ғɪɴᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴍᴇʟʟ ᴏғ ғʀᴇsʜ ᴘɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴄᴏʟᴀᴛᴇ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ sᴄᴇɴᴇʀʏ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴇs ᴘʟᴀᴢᴀ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟɪɢʜᴛs. ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜɴᴋs ʜᴀᴅ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴏ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ғᴏᴏᴅ sᴛᴀɴᴅs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʙᴜsᴛʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇs sᴛᴀғғ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ᴀ ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴢᴀ ʜᴜɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴜɢᴇ ᴏʀɴᴀᴍᴇɴᴛs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴇᴇ ᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴏʀᴍᴏᴜs sᴛᴀʀ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀsᴛᴏɴɪsʜɪɴɢ. ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs ғᴏʀ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ? ɪᴛ’s ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ. ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴏᴜᴛᴅɪᴅ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ᴛʜɪs ʏᴇᴀʀ.

“ᴡᴏᴡ…” ɪs ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴜsᴛᴇʀ.

“ɪᴛ ɪs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ. ɪsɴ’ᴛ ɪᴛ?” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴀᴅᴍɪʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇʀʏ.

“ʏᴇᴀ, ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɪs.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ.

“ʜᴇʏ ʏ/ɴ! ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ!”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀɴᴢᴜ. ᴀʟᴏɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ.

“ᴏʜ, ʜᴇʏ ᴀɴᴢᴜ.” ʏᴏᴜ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ

ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʟᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ. ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴄᴏɴғᴜsᴇᴅ.

“ʏ/ɴ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴀsᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ.” ᴀɴᴢᴜ sᴛᴀᴛᴇᴅ.

“sᴜʀᴇ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɪᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ.

sʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀɢɢᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴀʀ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅs.

“ᴀɴᴢᴜ! ɪ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ. ɪ ᴀᴘᴏʟᴏɢɪᴢᴇ.” ʏᴏᴜ sᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ʀᴜsʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏɴᴇ.

“ɪᴛ’s ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ. ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.” ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ғɪxɪɴɢ ʜɪs sᴄᴀʀғ.

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɪᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴀɴɴᴏʏᴇᴅ.

“ɪ’ᴠᴇ sᴇᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ sᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ. ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏɴʟʏ ғᴏʀ ᴡᴏʀᴋ. sᴏ ᴡʜʏ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ? ᴏɴ ᴀ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ?!” sʜᴇ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ.

“ᴅᴀᴛᴇ? ɴᴏ,ɴᴏ ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀs ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇᴄʜɴɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴡᴏʀᴋ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ sᴏ…” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ.

“ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs! ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋ ʜɪᴍ?” sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀɪɴɢ.

“ɴᴏ, ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ. ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴɴᴇᴅ sᴏ ɪ’ᴍ ғɪɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴄᴀsᴜᴀʟʟʏ.

“ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ʏ/ɴ.” sʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ ᴛᴏɴᴇ. “ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ'ᴠᴇ sᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ᴏʀ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋ, ɪ’ᴠᴇ sᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ. ʜᴇ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴀxɪᴍᴜᴍ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ.” sʜᴇ ᴡᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅʟʏ.

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ‘ʜᴇ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ.’ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴠᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇᴅ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴄʀᴜsʜ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs. ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴀᴄᴛs ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ. ʜᴇ’s ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴜғғ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜɴ ᴀʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ ʜᴇ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ.

“ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴢᴜ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ.” ɪs ᴀʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴜsᴛᴇʀ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢsᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ.

“ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅɪᴅ sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ ɢᴏ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴛ.

“ᴏʜ, ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴀʏ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ.” ᴍᴀᴏ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀᴇᴅ.

“ᴏʜ, ᴜʜᴍ ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ. ᴡᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ɢᴏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɪ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ғɪɴᴇ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ!” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀssᴜʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴏғғ.

ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏғғ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ғʀᴏᴍ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ.

“ʟ/ɴ! ɪ’ᴍ ɢʟᴀᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ. ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴡᴀɴᴅᴇʀ ᴏғғ.” ʜᴇ ᴇxᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ ʜᴏᴛ ᴄʜᴏᴄᴏʟᴀᴛᴇ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴍᴜɢs, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴅɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴇs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍʙɪɴᴇᴅ ɪs ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ.

ʙᴜᴛ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴀs…sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ? ɴᴏᴛ ʜɪs ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ ɢʀɪɴ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇʟʏ sᴍɪʟɪɴɢ.

ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪs, ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟʟ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʟᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴜɢ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏᴜᴛ.

“ᴛʜᴀɴᴋs sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ! ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴇxᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs. ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ʀᴇᴅ ᴛɪɴᴛ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴇᴇᴋs. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇs, ʜᴇ sᴀᴡ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴄᴜᴛᴇ.

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴘᴏᴠ ɪs sʜᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ sʜᴇ’s ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴏʀ ɪs ɪᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ. ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀʏ, ɪᴛ’s ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴀᴅᴏʀᴀʙʟᴇ. ᴡᴀɪᴛ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ? ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ ᴡᴇᴇᴋ. ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴀᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs sʜᴇ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ? ɪ… ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴛʜɪs ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ? ɪ’ᴍ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ sʜᴇ’s ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ. ɪs ᴛʜɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ? ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴜᴛ… ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʀɪɢʜᴛ,ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ɪ’ᴍ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ. ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ɪ?

ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴘᴏᴠ

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴛs. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ᴛʜɪɴɢs.

ʜᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜs. ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ sᴛᴏᴘ.

ʏᴏᴜ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ. ʜɪᴍ sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴡᴀs ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ. ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡs ʜᴇ’s ғᴀʟʟᴇɴ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ sᴇᴇᴍ ʙᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ɪᴛ. ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ, ᴇɴᴊᴏʏɪɴɢ ɪᴛ.

ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟsᴏ ʀᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴇxᴛʀᴀᴠᴀɢᴀɴᴛ ғᴇʀʀɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟs ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴏɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ. sɪɴᴄᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴏᴘᴇɴ ғᴏʀ sᴛᴀғғ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ.

ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴛ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪᴍ.

ɪᴛ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴜᴘʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛs ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛɪʟʟ ʟɪᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄᴇɴᴇʀʏ.

“ʟ/ɴ? ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ? ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ…” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅʟʏ.

“ᴏʜ… ᴜʜᴍ, ɪ’ᴍ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴀғʀᴀɪᴅ ᴏғ ʜᴇɪɢʜᴛs…”

“ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡʜʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴏɴ?” ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴅᴜᴍʙғᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ, ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴇᴡ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ’s ɴᴏᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪ'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀᴇ ғᴏʀ ʟᴏɴɢ sᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ 𝟻 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ᴏғ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ʜɪɢʜ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴀᴅᴍɪʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏ ʟɪɢʜᴛs.

sᴛᴏᴘ.

ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴅᴇ. ɪᴛ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴇɪʀᴅ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴛ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ ᴏɴ. ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴇᴀᴋᴇʀs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ, ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ.

“ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴ ɪssᴜᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ. ᴡᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟸𝟶 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs.” ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴅᴇ sᴀɪᴅ.

“ᴏʜ ɢᴏᴅ.” ʏᴏᴜ sᴀɪᴅ, sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ.

“ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ʙʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ.” ɪʙᴀʀᴀ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴛᴀᴅ ʙɪᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ.

ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs. ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs.

ᴛʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ. ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs ғᴏʀ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴏʀᴋ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ғᴇʟᴛ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ. ʟɪᴋᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ. ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʙɪɢ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.

“ʜᴇʏ, ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ʙʟᴜʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ. ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴘᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴀᴛ’s ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ.

“ᴅᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ?” ʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇʀs ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғɪx ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴɢɪɴᴇ ᴅɪsɢᴜsᴛᴇᴅ.

“ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ. ᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ǫᴜɪᴛ ᴏʀ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏsᴘɪᴛᴀʟ ᴅᴜᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛʀᴇss. ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ’ᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴀʙʙʟᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴀʏɪɴɢ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀɪᴅ ɪᴛ.

ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ. sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇᴅ. ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀs ᴇᴠᴇʀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴍᴀᴢᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴘᴇᴀᴋ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴅᴀʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ.

“ᴡᴇʟʟ” ʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ. “ɪ ɢʀᴇᴡ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴀᴍᴏᴜɴᴛ ᴏғ sᴛʀᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ. ɪ ɢᴜᴇss, ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ.” ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ.

“ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴛɪʀᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ʜɪᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙʀɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ʙᴜᴛ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪғ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs. ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴏғғ ᴛʜɪs ʜᴏʟɪᴅᴀʏ. ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ sᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴛᴏ sᴛᴀʏ ɪɴ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ sʜᴀᴘᴇ ʙᴜᴛ… ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ sʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴏʀ ʀᴇsᴛ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ. ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴇʟʟ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇғᴛ ʜɪᴍ sᴘᴇᴇᴄʜʟᴇss. ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴡ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʜɪᴍ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ғɪɴᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ sᴏ ʜᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ.

“ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. ɪ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴇsᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ. ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ᴀs ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴘʟᴀɴɴɪɴɢ ᴀs ɪ ᴅᴏ ɪ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ sʟᴇᴇᴘ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ᴘʀɪᴏʀɪᴛɪᴇs.” ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ.

“ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜʏ…?” ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ. ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ.

“ᴡʜʏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ, sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.

ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ. ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍ sᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴏ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ɪᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛs ʏᴏᴜ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏs. ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴡʜʏ ʜᴇ ɢᴏᴇs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴠᴏʀɪᴛᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴛ ғᴏʀ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜɪᴇsᴛ. ʙᴜʏɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴀsᴋ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ. ᴀᴛ ғɪʀsᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ ʜɪᴍ? ʜᴇ ɢᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ᴛʏᴘᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴄʏ. ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss. ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴛʏᴘᴇ ᴏғ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴄʏ ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ.

“ʟ/ɴ. ᴡʜʏ? ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ғᴏʀ ᴍᴇ? ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴀsᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏs?” ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ, ᴛᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ.

“ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ, ɪ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴏᴡɴ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀɴ ᴏɴ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅs ʜᴇʟᴘ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ.”

“ʟ/ɴ…” ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ ɪɴ sʜᴏᴄᴋ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴡᴀs ɪɴsᴀɴᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴅ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ғʟᴜsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ.

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʜɪs ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ. ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ɢᴏ ᴜɴɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ sᴋɪᴘ ᴀ ʙᴇᴀᴛ.

“ʟ/ɴ, ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜʏ ɪ ᴀᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ɪ ᴅᴏ?” ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴜᴍᴍᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsᴇ.

“ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴛᴀᴋᴇɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴍɪʟɪᴛᴀʀʏ-ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴏʀᴘʜᴀɴᴀɢᴇ ᴀs ᴀ ʙᴀʙʏ. ɪ ɢʀᴇᴡ ᴜᴘ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ sᴇʟғɪsʜ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ. ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴜɴʟᴇss ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ғᴏʀ ᴍᴜᴛᴜᴀʟ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ. ɪ’ᴠᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʀᴜsᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ. ᴏɴ ᴛᴏᴘ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ɪ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍsᴇʟᴠᴇs ɴᴏᴛ ᴄᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴏ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɢᴏᴛ ʜᴜʀᴛ. ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ, ɪ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ, sᴏ ɪ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʏ. ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ'ᴠᴇ ғᴀʟʟᴇɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ɢᴜɪʟᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇᴅ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴍʏ ᴘʀɪᴏʀɪᴛɪᴇs ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴜᴛɪʟɪᴢɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴘʀᴏғɪᴛs ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ɪ’ᴍ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʟᴜᴄᴋʏ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴇsᴄᴀᴘᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇʟʟʜᴏʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ sᴏ-ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ‘ʟɪғᴇ’. ᴛʜɪɴɢs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀs, ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs. ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴄʟɪᴍʙᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ғᴀʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɴᴋs. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴘʟᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟɪᴍʙ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜɪɢʜᴇʀ.” ʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜғᴜʟʟʏ sᴀɪᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. “ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ.” ʜᴇ ᴍᴜᴍʙʟᴇᴅ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ʜɪs ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ.

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ.

ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴᴅ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ.

“ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ … .ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ. ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴘᴀsᴛ ғᴇᴡ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs.” ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ, sᴛɪʟʟ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴀʀɴᴇᴅ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ.

“ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ғᴀᴜʟᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ.

ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴡᴀs ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏɴɴᴀ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜɪs? ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇs ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴀɢᴏ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ғᴇᴡ ᴡᴇᴇᴋs ʜᴇ’s ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ?

“ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ,” ʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ sɪɢʜɪɴɢ “ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴡʜᴇɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɪ’ᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ɪ ᴀᴄᴛ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛʟʏ…” ʜᴇ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴜɴɪɴᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ.

“ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ᴄʟᴜᴇ ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴏʀʀʏɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴇ.”

ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ.

“ᴡᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟻 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs. ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛᴀʏ sᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ.”

ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴏᴛʜ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs. ʙᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ. ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs ᴏғ ᴊᴜɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴᴢᴜ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ.

ʙᴜᴛ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ. ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ‘ᴜsɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ’ ᴏʀ ᴇʟsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇ ʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ. ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴡ ᴏʀ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ.

“ᴡʜʏ?” ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ sᴘᴇᴀᴋ. “ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ, sᴀᴇɢᴜsᴀ, sᴏᴍᴇʜᴏᴡ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғᴀʟʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ‘ᴜsɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ’. ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇʀsᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘʀᴏᴠᴇs ᴍᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ! ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’s ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ sᴛᴜғғ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ғᴏʀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ ɢᴀɪɴ. ɪ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ɢᴜᴇss ɴᴏᴛ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɪғ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴇᴛᴇʀɴᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀᴛᴇғᴜʟ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʙʟᴜʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴀ ʟᴏᴛ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ sᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴛᴜғғ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ. ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ʀᴇᴅ.

sᴏ ᴡᴀs ʜᴇ. ᴀ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ.

“ʟ/ɴ…ɪ-“ ʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴜsᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ.

“ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ. ɪᴛ’s ᴡᴇɪʀᴅ. ɪ’ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪғ ɪ ᴡᴇɪʀᴅᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ…” ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴀɪʟᴇᴅ ᴏғғ ǫᴜɪᴇᴛʟʏ.

“ɴᴏ, ɴᴏ. ɪ- … ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀʏ.” ʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ғᴀᴄᴇ

ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴇᴍʙᴀʀʀᴀssᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sʜɪғᴛᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇʀᴠᴏᴜsɴᴇss.

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴀs ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇss ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜɪᴍ. ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ, ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏʀ ʜᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ. ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴛᴏ sᴘᴇᴀᴋ ʙᴜᴛ sᴀᴡ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ.

“ʏ/ɴ…”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀsᴛ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ ᴊᴜɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ʙʟɪɴᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ɪᴛ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ sᴘɪʀᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs.

“ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ɪ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ…” ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜɪᴍ sɪɢʜɪɴɢ ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴀɴᴛᴀs��ᴢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛʏ.

“ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ? ᴡʜʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ?” ʜɪs ᴅᴇᴍᴇᴀɴᴏʀ ɪɴsᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴏғ ʜɪᴍ.

“ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏғғ ᴍʏ ᴄʜᴇsᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴏᴄᴜs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ sɪᴅᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ʜᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ.

“ɴᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ɪᴅɪᴏᴛ, ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ. ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀɪᴅ, ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴛᴜғғ ɪғ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴛʀᴜsᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ sᴏ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏ ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɢᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ɪ, ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ʙᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇʜᴏᴡ ɪ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ᴇɴᴅ ᴜᴘ ғɪɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴀsᴋ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪғ ɪ'ᴍ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ɪ ᴅᴏ ɪᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ, ɪ’ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ sᴜʀᴇ ᴡʜʏ ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴍᴇ ɢᴇɴᴜɪɴᴇʟʏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ. ᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ɪ'ᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ, ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴄɪᴘʀᴏᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ. ʙᴜᴛ, ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴀs ɪ ᴅᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇ.”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇss ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ.

ᴏɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ, ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ɪɴsᴀɴᴇʟʏ ʀᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴀs ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ sᴛᴀʀs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs.

ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ғʟᴜsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜɪs ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴs ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇɢʀᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ʙɪᴛ. ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀ ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪsʜᴍᴇɴᴛ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴇᴀʀs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs, ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴛᴇᴀʀs.

ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʀʏ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀғʀᴀɪᴅ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ. ʜᴇ's ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅs ᴏғ ᴛʜɪɴɢs.

“ʏ/ɴ…”

“ɪ'ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ,… ɪ'ᴍ ᴊᴜsᴛ ɢʟᴀᴅ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴡɪᴘɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ sʟᴇᴇᴠᴇ.

“ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ᴀɴ ᴇʏᴇ ɪɴғᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ.” ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴘᴜʟʟɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅᴋᴇʀᴄʜɪᴇғ. “ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs.” ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ.

ʜᴇ ʜᴇʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡɪᴘᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ.

“ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ɴᴏᴡ,” ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ.

ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ʀᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛʟʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ.

“ɪʙᴀʀᴀ,” ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ.

ɪᴛ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴏғғ ɢᴜᴀʀᴅ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ɴᴀᴍᴇ. ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜɪs. ᴍᴀɴ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ.

“ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏ.” ʏᴏᴜ ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ.

ʜɪs ғᴀᴄᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴄᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ. ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇss ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ's ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs sᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴇʀᴠᴏᴜsɴᴇss ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ғᴀᴅᴇ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴇ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀɴᴇᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ʜɪs ᴀʀᴍ. ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇғᴜsᴇ, ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ. ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ sᴍɪʟᴇᴅ, ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇsᴛ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡs ʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴀᴅᴍɪʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ. ʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴛᴡɪɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴᴇᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴀᴡᴋᴡᴀʀᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ, ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ.

ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟹 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋᴇʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀ sʏsᴛᴇᴍ ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪᴅᴇ ᴡᴀs ғɪxᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡɪʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ sʜᴏʀᴛʟʏ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɢᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴀ ɢʀᴀᴛᴇғᴜʟ sɪɢʜ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ. ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ғᴏʀɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ, ᴅɪᴅ ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅ?

“ɪ’ᴍ ɢʟᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ's ғɪxᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ'ʟʟ ʙᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴀ ғᴇʀʀɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ.

“ɪ'ʟʟ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ sᴜʀᴇ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ʀᴇᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴍᴏʀʀᴏᴡ, ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴜɴᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ɪᴛ ɪs ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ.” ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴀɴɴᴏʏᴇᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴏɴ ʜɪs ғᴀᴄᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪs ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴄᴜʀɪᴏᴜs.

“ᴅɪᴅ ɪ sᴀʏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ғᴜɴɴʏ?” ʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ.

“ɴᴏ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ, ɪᴛ’s ᴊᴜsᴛ ғᴜɴɴʏ ʜᴏᴡ ɪᴛ ғᴇᴇʟs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ᴡᴀs ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴ ɪᴛ. ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ.

ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ.

“ʏᴇᴀʜ, ɪ ɢᴜᴇss ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ.” ʜᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ, “ʙᴜᴛ sᴛɪʟʟ, ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜɪs ʜᴇʀᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴀɪɴᴛs ʟᴏᴅɢᴇᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴsᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ғᴏʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ ɪɴ ᴀ ғᴇʀʀɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴍɪssɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴘᴀɪᴅ ғᴏʀ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʙᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ sǫᴜᴀʀᴇ ᴏʀ ᴄᴏs-ᴘʀᴏ.” ʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇʀʀɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴅᴏᴡɴ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʀᴀɴᴅᴏᴍ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴛɪʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟᴏɴɢ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.

“ʏᴏᴜ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ, ᴊᴜɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴀʀᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴜs ʀɪɢʜᴛ?” ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ sᴜʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇ.

“ʏᴇᴀʜ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪᴛ ɪғ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ sᴛɪᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ.” ʜᴇ sɪɢʜᴇᴅ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛᴛᴏᴍ. ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ sᴜʀᴇ ɪғ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʙɪᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴏɴɢᴜᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ sᴜʀᴇ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴀ ᴅʀᴇᴀᴍ.

ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ. ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ.

ᴘᴀʀᴛ ɪᴠ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜsɪᴇsᴛ ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ. ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴅᴀʏs ᴘʀɪᴏʀ ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴇʟᴘᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴀssɪsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʟᴀsᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴜɪɴ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ɪᴛ ᴀ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ғᴏʀ ɴᴏᴡ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴄʀᴀᴢʏ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴏᴜsᴀɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴏᴜsᴀɴᴅs ᴏғ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ sʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴜɴᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ. ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀʟʟ 𝟺 ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴɪᴇs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴏғ ᴘʀɪᴏʀ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇᴅ. ʙᴏʏ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜɪs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀ sɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ sᴛᴀᴅɪᴜᴍ ᴡᴀs ɪʟʟᴜᴍɪɴᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴡʜɪᴛᴇ ᴄʜʀɪsᴛᴍᴀs ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ ɢᴀʀʟᴀɴᴅ. ɪᴛ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ.

ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴜɴɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪᴄᴋ ᴏғғ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴜɴɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴇᴅᴇɴ. ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴛs ᴡɪʟʟ ɢᴏ ᴏɴ sᴛᴀɢᴇ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ sɪɴɢ ᴏɴᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ sᴏɴɢ ᴀs ᴀ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ sᴜʀᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴇʟʟ.

“sᴏ… ʜᴏᴡ ᴅɪᴅ ɪᴛ ɢᴏ ʏᴇsᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ?” ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ɴᴏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ.

ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ɢᴏ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴀʟʟ ᴅᴀʏ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ.

“ᴜᴍ….ɢᴏᴏᴅ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ…” ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴛɪɴᴛ ᴏғ ʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴇsᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ.

sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴄɪᴀʟ ᴇxᴘʀᴇssɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs sᴏ ᴅᴀʀᴋ, ʙᴜᴛ sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʜᴏᴡ ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ.

“ʏ/ɴ…”

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ?”

“ɪ'ᴍ sᴇʀɪᴏᴜs, ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇғᴜʟ ᴏғ ʜɪᴍ….”

“ᴀɴᴢᴜ, ᴡʜʏ?”

sʜᴇ ᴘᴀᴜsᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅs ʏᴏᴜ. “ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ‘ᴡʜʏ?’ʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴɪᴘᴜʟᴀᴛᴇs ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ғᴏʀ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ. ʜᴇ’s ᴏɴʟʏ ᴜsɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪs ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʟʏ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ-”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴏғғ.

“ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇʀ. ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ, ʏᴇs ʜᴇ ᴍᴀʏ ᴜsᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇɴᴇғɪᴛ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ, ɪ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ-…”

ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ. ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴀ ᴍᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ.

“ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜᴀᴛ?”

“ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ɴᴇᴠᴇʀᴍɪɴᴅ.”

“ʏ/ɴ…ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ɪ'ʟʟ ᴀsᴋ ᴊᴜɴ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏᴏɴᴇʀ ᴏʀ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ sᴏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ.”

“ᴀɴᴢᴜ, ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ.”

“ɪ’ᴍ ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ɪ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀs ᴍʏ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ.”

“ɪ'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴛʀᴏᴏᴍ.”

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ʙᴀsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴʏᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴛʀʏ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ. sʜᴇ ғɪɢᴜʀᴇᴅ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘᴜsʜᴇᴅ ᴀ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴏɴ sᴏ sʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏᴏʟ ᴏғғ.

ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇs. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɢᴇᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴛ sɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʜᴜɴɢʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ sɪɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇs ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ʙᴀsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴛʜᴇ sᴛʀᴇᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴀʙ sᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ sᴛᴀɴᴅs ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ᴄʀᴏᴡᴅᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏᴄᴜs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴀᴛ ʜᴀɴᴅ.

ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴠᴇʀʏ ʙᴜsʏ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀғғ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴀᴅɪᴜᴍ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴡᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ɴɪᴄᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴅʀɪɴᴋ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sɪᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇʀʀᴀᴄᴇ ᴀs ᴜsᴜᴀʟ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴏɴʟʏ sᴛᴀʏᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟷𝟻 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇs ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ɴᴇᴄᴇssᴀʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍɪss ᴇᴅᴇɴ’s ᴘᴇʀғᴏʀᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪɢ ғɪɴᴀʟᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ.

ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏᴛ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ʀᴏᴏᴍ sʜᴏʀᴛʟʏ. ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴊᴜɴ. ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀs ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴀs ɪғ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜ.

“ʏ/ɴ!” ʜᴇ sʜᴏᴜᴛᴇᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏ ʜᴏᴘɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ.

ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ.

“ʏᴇᴀʜ?”

“ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ! ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴡᴀɴᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴀsᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ.”

ᴏʜ ɴᴏ.

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʏᴇsᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ? ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇʀʀɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ᴡᴀs sᴛᴜᴄᴋ sᴏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴛ?”

ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏɴɴɴɴ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ғʟᴜsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ. ᴛʜɪs ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴊᴜɴ sᴇᴇᴍ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀɪᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ.

“ʏ/ɴ? ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ?”

“ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍᴜᴄʜ,…”

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴜᴘᴘᴏsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴀɴ?”

“ᴇxᴀᴄᴛʟʏ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅs ʟɪᴋᴇ.”

ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡʜᴏʟᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ. ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴇɴᴄʟᴏsᴇᴅ ᴄᴀʀᴛs ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ sᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ.

ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜɪᴍ.

“ᴊᴜɴ, sʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡs ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ɴᴏ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ɪɴ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʜᴇʀ. ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴀs sᴀɪᴅ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴛᴀʏ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪᴛ’s ɢᴏᴏᴅ ғᴏʀ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀʏ.”

ᴊᴜɴ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪs ғᴇʟʟᴏᴡ ᴜɴɪᴛ ᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ.

“ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴋɴᴇᴡ sᴏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ɪɴ ᴅᴇɴʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴄᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀɴɢʀʏ ᴀᴛ ᴜs ᴘʀᴏᴠᴇs ᴍᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ..” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ.

“ᴡʜᴀᴛ?”

ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ sᴀɪᴅ,

“ʏ/ɴ ʜᴀs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍ ғᴇᴇʟ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴡᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʀᴜɪɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ. ʜᴇ ɪs ɢᴀɪɴɪɴɢ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ’s ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇss ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʜᴇ ʜᴀs ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡs ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ sᴘᴇɴᴅ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇs ɪᴛ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ. ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴜsᴇ ʜᴇʀ. ᴇᴠᴇʀ. ʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢɪɴɢ ɪᴛ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ.”

ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ.

“ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ?” ʏᴏᴜ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴀʟʟ ғʟᴜsᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ.

“ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜɪs ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʟɪғᴇ.”

ᴛᴏ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ғʀᴏᴍ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ʜᴀs ᴛʀᴜsᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ sᴏ ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ɪᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅ sᴏ ʀᴇᴀʟ. ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ sᴀʏ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʏᴇsᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ ᴄᴏɴғᴇss ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ɪᴛ.

ᴊᴜɴ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ,

“ʏ/ɴ, ɪғ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴs ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ ᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ғɪʀsᴛ.” ᴊᴜɴ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ sᴄʀᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ɴᴇᴄᴋ , ᴇᴀʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ.

“sᴜʀᴇ ᴊᴜɴ” ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴏᴋᴇᴅ.

sᴏᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ sᴀᴡ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ.

“ɪ ᴡᴀs ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜɴ, ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴡᴀɴᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴏғғ ᴛᴏ!”

ᴊᴜɴ ʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs.

ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴛʜᴇɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ

“ʏ/ɴ, ɪ'ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜᴏɴᴇsᴛ, ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴛᴏ ғᴀʟʟ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ǫᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ.” ʜᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜᴇᴅ.

“ɪ'ᴍ ɢʟᴀᴅ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ. ɪᴛ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ.

-ᴛɪᴍᴇ sᴋɪᴘ-

ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴇᴄᴛᴀᴛᴏʀs ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀɴɪᴠᴀʟ ɪɴ ғʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sǫᴜᴀʀᴇ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟsᴏ ɢᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴇʟʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴏᴡ ʜᴀᴅ sᴏʟᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴍᴀᴢɪɴɢ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʜᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴀʀʙʏ ᴄᴀғᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴɢᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴏʟ ᴅᴏᴡɴ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢᴀᴛʜᴇʀɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇs ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴀɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴇᴅᴇɴ.

“ᴏʜ ʏ/ɴ!” ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ ᴇxᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ, ɢʀᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴇxᴀɢɢᴇʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ.

“ʜᴇʏ ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ.” ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʜᴜᴄᴋʟᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪs ɢʀᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ.

ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴀs ɢʟᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪs ᴛᴀʙʟᴇᴛ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ.

ᴏғ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀʟᴋ ɪɴ.

“ʜɪʏᴏʀɪ, ᴊᴜɴ. ɪ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴡᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɢᴏ sᴀʏ ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ.” ɴᴀɢɪsᴀ sᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ɪɴ ʜɪs ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀʟᴏɴɢ.

ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʟʟ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ.

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴsɪᴅᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴍᴘʟᴏʏᴇᴇs ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ʟᴇғᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴇɪᴄʜɪ ᴡᴀs ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴇᴍᴘʟᴏʏᴇᴇs. sᴏ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴊᴜsᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴇᴅᴇɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋsᴛᴀʀ. ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴢᴜ.

“ʜᴇʏ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ!” ʏᴏᴜ ᴇxᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɢʀɪɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀʀ.

ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ʙᴀsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ. ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ʏᴇsᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇʀʀɪs ᴡʜᴇᴇʟ ʙᴜᴛ, ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ's ʜᴀᴅ ᴀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇ ɪs ғɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ғᴜʟʟʏ ᴀᴡᴀʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴛ sᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴅᴀʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴀɴʏ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ.

ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʙᴜᴛ sᴍɪʟᴇ.

“ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ʏ/ɴ.” ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ sᴡᴇᴇᴛʟʏ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ sᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴɪsʜ ᴜᴘ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʟɪsᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ. ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴍɪɴᴅ. ᴡᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴛɪʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍsᴇʟғ ʙᴜᴛ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅ sᴀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғɪɴɪsʜ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ sᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʟᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ʙᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴡᴇʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴏғғɪᴄɪᴀʟ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʏᴇᴛ. ʙᴜᴛ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴡᴏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ's ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ.

-ᴛɪᴍᴇ sᴋɪᴘ-

ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴀɴᴢᴜ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ. sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʏᴏᴜʀ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇʟᴛ sʜᴇ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. sʜᴇ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇsᴛ ᴀᴛ ғɪʀsᴛ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʜᴇʀ ғᴇᴇʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴀs ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ғɪɴᴇ.

ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴄᴏɴᴠɪɴᴄɪɴɢ ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴏғғ ᴏғ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴍɪʟʟɪᴏɴ ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛs ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇsᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ. ᴀs ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴀs ɪʙᴀʀᴀ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴄᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀғᴇ, ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ. sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢʟʏ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ’ᴛ ʜɪs ᴡᴏʀᴋʟᴏᴀᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ sᴏ sʜᴀᴍᴇʟᴇssʟʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ ʜɪs ‘ᴘʀᴏғᴇssɪᴏɴᴀʟ ɪᴍᴀɢᴇ’. ʏᴏᴜ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ, ʟɪғᴇ ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴀs ᴀɴ ɪᴅᴏʟ, ᴍᴀɴᴀɢᴇʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴄᴇ ᴘʀᴇsɪᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴄᴏs-ᴘʀᴏ. ʙᴜᴛ, ʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇᴅ ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴍɪʟᴇ.

ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀғᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴀᴄʀᴏss ᴀɴ ᴇʟᴇᴄᴛʀᴏɴɪᴄ ʙɪʟʟʙᴏᴀʀᴅ. ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ sᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴄᴏᴄᴀ-ᴄᴏʟᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴄ ᴅᴏɴᴀʟᴅs ᴀᴅᴠᴇʀᴛɪsᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs. ᴅᴇsᴘɪᴛᴇ ɪᴛ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇᴇᴍɪɴɢʟʏ sᴍᴀʟʟᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪʟʟʙᴏᴀʀᴅs, ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴛʀɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴄʜᴏʀᴅ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ.

‘ɪᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 𝟶.𝟸 sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅs ᴛᴏ ғᴀʟʟ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ.’

-ᴇɴᴅ-

#ibara saegusa #ensemble stars #enstars #fem!reader #ibara x reader #eden enstars

[yandere-daze]

PQFJSOFJSODK HAVE YOU SEEN THE TRAP FOR YOU MV? YEAH IMAGINE THE IDOL PLAYER IN THAT LIKE, SINGING THAT W THEIR FAV OR SKMETHING LIKE THAT OWJFOSJRD I- GOD LFEJFOWJFOWJFLEJ

Fun fact, I actually have two separate anons in my inbox that sent in something about Trap for You (understandable) at around the same time so I hope I managed to pick out your asks correctly! Please do tell me if I accidentally picked an ask that wasn´t sent by you in there!

You can indeed by airabu anon, it´s not taken yet ^^ ( Also side note but for the past two days I´ve been thinking about a yandere Aira so there might be something coming along those lines)

DON´T WORRY THOUGH!! I understood what you were trying to say in the first ask no problem☺️

gn reader

tw yandere

Idol! Player singing and performing Trap for You with their favorite character

That´s such a good and valid idea though. Like you´ve already gotten pretty popular as an idol and you thought that it might be a good idea to pull a stunt like that to gain even more fans ( and of course to make the idol in question very flustered)

Imagine all the idols standing in line to try and get a chance to perform that song with you once they catch wind of you wanting to do that, only to be disappointed because you´ve already decided on the person you want to sing the song with from the very beginning.

They´ve all wanted to have a live concert with you since forever and have begged you to collaborate with them but now the competition is even more serious. I mean, there´s at least one kiss live on stage with you included in the performance! And the way you would gently stroke their face so lovingly too? Oh, it sounds like absolute heaven! They all want to be close to you and this would be the perfect chance to act like a couple in front of thousands of fans. It would also get the public talking about the two of you as an official couple with various media outlets already theorizing that you might have been dating in secret behind the scenes all along.

It´s such a lovely thing to think about! But I think how well this goes would depend on the character in question.

Jun and Hiyori both feel kind of entitled to be performing Trap for You with you. I mean, it´s literally their song so it makes sure that they would be the ones singing it with you, right? They also already got all the moves down perfectly and don´t have to learn the lyrics either. It´s clearly the most logical conclusion, right?

And then there´s someone like Rinne that would not let go of you once after you leaned in for a kiss in the beginning. It doesn´t matter if you actually wanted to go for the kiss or just wanted to pretend you did, he´s going to pull you in and kiss you right on the lips as he wraps his arms around you. He kind of ruins the entire performance because he just boldly makes out with you on stage while the music goes on in the background. He just doesn´t care at all skjflbfl

#yandere ensemble stars x reader #yandere enstars x reader #yandere jun sazanami x reader #yandere hiyori tomoe x reader #yandere rinne amagi x reader #ensemble stars x reader #enstars x reader #eden #eve #crazy b #hiyori tomoe x reader #jun sazanami x reader #rinne amagi x reader #ensemble stars self aware au #yandere self aware ensemble stars au #yandere self aware au #gn reader #airabu anon #yandere #cw yandere #yandere x reader

[tokusaatsus]

r. nagisa — cupid’s arrow

warnings: some violence, minor suicidal thoughts (?)

Nagisa doesn’t understand why people are content to believe in the myth of Eros and his bow.

Eros is a fanciful creature. He flies as he pleases, releasing his arrows helter-skelter. It should be a warning sign. Love is painful. It is blood dripping from cut palms, an overwhelming emptiness when your heart shatters like glass.

But people are so content to let themselves be shot, to let themselves be driven into a despair that wears the name ‘love’.

Eros and his bow is a horror story. Nagisa doesn’t understand why people are willing to give up everything for the sake of love.

That is—until it happens to him.

Oh, but what is he to do? The arrow has been released, shot on the fly. It pierces into the soft, welcoming flesh of his heart. The seed has been planted and it bursts into full-bloom when confronted with the warmth of you as you are. There’s nothing special about this moment, a casual everyday occurrence, an innocuous chance, just a simple meeting of gazes and yet.

And yet, and yet, and yet.

All of a sudden the world seems brighter, more beautiful. But it still pales in comparison to when his eyes land upon your figure.

Words rest upon the tip of his tongue; I think I might love you, but he swallows it back, because the feeling he’s currently experiencing is disorienting—dizzying in a way he finds hard to grasp and he fears that if you look at him, he may end up doing something unexpected.

It is not something scripted, nor would he expect it to be. It’s an action he doesn’t think anyone would associate with him, an impulsive decision. He thinks love is terrifying, and Nagisa wonders if letting himself give in to it is a good idea.

The arrow has left a mark, and its poison has seeped into his bloodstream. His body is full of toxins, thousands of tiny pinpricks of pain and pleasure. He could kiss you if he wanted to. He could do it right now.

He could rip the arrow out of his chest, metaphorical as it is. He could destroy and be destroyed in turn. He could become one with you. He could cut his heart out of his chest and hand it to you, become a part of you until there is nothing left with him. He could, he could, he could. No longer human, and he would find peace in that emptiness.

But your smile is so very lovely, and Nagisa thinks that perhaps now he would mind not being human as much as he used to.

© tokusaatsus 2023

wc. 480 words

reze txt. i am always thinking about one (1) ran nagisa... ueueue i love him sm <3

taglist. (fill out the form or send an ask to be added!) @prpne​ @gabirii​ @kazemiya​ @engurishu​ @kkomaism​ @asbestieos​ @mikctp​ @lilikags​ @lolthia​ @unwantedsleep @hasumilvr​ @head-full-of-empty​ @pr3tty-jennie​ @narumika​

#✒️...scribbles! #ran nagisa x reader #enstars x reader #ran nagisa #eden #enstars #esworks