Even though Jerome was caught off guard, he was able to shift his body away from Mayumi's assault. He grabbed her ankle and instead of helping her land on the surface, he let her form dangle from his hold.
The girl let out a string of curses glaring daggers at him.
"Put me down you jerk!" she angrily demanded while helplessly struggling in his hold.
Jerome couldn't help but sigh. He knew how stubborn and temperamental she could be, especially when she gets emotional so he had no choice but to accede to her demand.
After gently placing Mayumi on the ground, the girl immediately stood up and violently pulled down his collar. Their faces was only inches apart but he didn't feel any discomfort, as if her action was just a normal thing.
He smiled at her, letting himself be manhandled. Then suddenly, his eyes widened. He didn't expect that she would reach up to grip his neck and tug him down enough to bury his face in the crook of her neck. He was locked in place, Mayumi's other hand was steadily gripping the back of his head.
"I miss you." she whispered softly.
He knew, from the moment he heard her voice, he could tell that she was crying.
"I miss you, too." he hug her tight and closed his eyes.
She was trembling.
He tried his best to comfort her. His hands continously rubbed behind her back to calm her down.
He was very patient. They stayed in that position for ten minutes but he never once complained. He just let her cry her heart out and never utter a single word.
When he felt that her hold on him loosened, he realized that she lost consciousness. He carefully adjusted her on his back and started to walk into the forest.
*-*-*-*-*-*
The moment she opened her eyes, Mayumi abruptly sat up, as if startle by something. When her gaze caught Jerome's figure who was sitting casually beside her bed she relaxed almost instantly.
She thought it was all a dream. That's why she panicked from the moment she woke up. She was afraid that her best friend had disappeared and what she saw in the forest was just a figment of her imagination, an illusion that was created out of her desperation.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
She briefly looked at him before she answered. "Yes, it was a beautiful nightmare."
She noticed the man's faint smile. He must have found it amusing that she is quoting a song. Nonetheless, he continued to talk. "It's been a while. How have you been, Mayu?"
It seems that the man didn't expect that his casual greeting would incite an aggressive reaction.
"It's been a while?" her eyes narrowed yet she continued to speak with an incredulous tone. "Two years, Jerome. You've been in a comatose state for two years and yet when you finally woke up I found you enjoying your time inside a freaking forest. Do you even cared how worried your family is?"
"Mayu" he abruptly cut her off. "What are you talking about?" It was his turn to look at her incredulously, as if she was spouting something nonsense. "I've been an orphan all my life. Seriously, it's just been two years since we've seen each other. Have you forgotten my life history?"
His statement left her speechless. What the hell is happening? Why is he denying his family's existence. She couldn't believe all the things he said.
Suddenly, a female voice interrupted their conversation.
"Darling, did your best friend finally woke up?"
Jerome endearingly replied to that person, she could hear several footsteps approaching their destination.
She was both stunned and surprised of what she saw. The woman in front of her was breathtakingly beautiful, her elegant demeanor and slender form was so captivating, there is no wonder that anyone would be mesmerized by her appearance.
However, this was not the reason why she openly gaped at her, it was because this person possessed dark skin and two pointed ears.
The fudge!? It's a freaking Dark Elf!
She was completely shocked. She would have never expected to meet a dark elf in real life. Wait, is this even real life? Am I still on earth? Why is a fantasy character standing in front of me?
Despite her initial shock, Jerome continued to introduce the newcomer, seemingly ignoring her bewildered reaction.
"I know that it is a little bit late... " he lightly scratched his head in embarrassment. "... but let me officially introduce to you, my wife."
Wife!? When the hell did you even get married!?
She must have been showing a ridiculous face since she noticed that there is someone trying yet failing to stifle their laugh. She heard the sound coming from two little figures hiding poorly behind the woman.
When Jerome noticed her staring at the two adorable kids, he beckoned them to come and show themselves.
"These two are my children."
What!?
Mayumi thought that Jerome is trying to kill her, all of these revelations were enough to give her a heart attack.
First, a wife. Now, he has children. Don't tell me there's more.
She narrowed her eyes, preparing herself for his next surprise but it never came.
"Go ahead, kids. Bless with your ninang[1]." Jerome softly nudge them to her direction.
When the two toddlers came to her, she noticed that they were twins. Both the little boy and the little girl shyly reached out. They placed the back of her hand to each of their foreheads, displaying the basic tradition of paying respect to an elder.
In tandem with their cute expression and their semi pointed ears, Mayumi lost herself. She couldn't help the urge to hug and cuddle the elf twins. "Oh. My. Gosh! They're so adorable!"
After some quality time bonding with her inaanak[2], Mayumi was informed that they were leaving to the capital. They rode a simple horse carriage that was driven by Jerome. Since she doesn't want him to leave her sight, she chose to sit beside him outside the carriage.
On the first part of the journey, no one attempt to start a conversation. It was too boring. However, Jerome noticed something.
"What's with that face? Are you sick?"
"No. I just found it suspicious."
"Suspicious? What do you mean?"
"You... married? It's utterly ridiculous.
"Hah!?"
"How did you seduce her?"
"I did not!
"Really?"
"Mayu, that is so rude. How can you question my relationship with her?"
"I've known you for a long time Jerome. You're torpe[3]. You can't even approach a girl without my help."
"Spill it! What kind of voodoo magic did you conjure to deceive her?"
He looked at her with a scandalized expression. Then suddenly, they heard a melodious laugh coming from the carriage. He couldn't help but blushed out of embarrassment.
"You..." he wanted to argue back but he was interrupted by the scene playing in front of them. They were were almost at the entrance were a huge gate was widely opened.
Mayumi saw an army of knights marching towards them. She was nervous. She thought that they were going to attack the carriage but instead they spilt up, forming two vertical lines. Their actions were uniformed as each pulled their swords from their scabbard and raise it in the air.
Loud shouts echoed in the air. "Welcome back, Your Majesty!" the sound of a trumpet was heard followed by another cheer.
"All Hail King Jerome!"
What the f*ck!? When the hell did Jerome become a king?