"I don't think you're being honest, Princess."
It was 10 in the morning, on Saturday. Gisselle was at the dining room with the three other residents. She kept on stirring the bowl of cereal in front of her, though she had no appetite to eat. Muriel the maid was on the phone, calling off all the backups, explaining that Gisselle got home safely and that there is no need to search for the whole country, with guns, for her. Anthony was reading a novel, did not have anything left to say, but kept on glancing at Gisselle's direction from time to time. Julian, however, was staring at Gisselle intently. A mixture of worried and curiosity written all over his face.
"You can understand the current situation, don't you?" Muriel's nervous voice echoed in the room. "thank you. I can't thank you enough. And I'm so sorry for this inconvenience."
Silence fell right after Muriel put the phone down. Gisselle ate a bit of her cereal while the others could only watch her as they long had finished theirs.
Gisselle looked at Julian in the eyes, intending to let him see the fake honest look she tried to pull off.
"Let it rest, Julian. Come on, man," Anthony defended. "I believe in Gisselle. You should, too."
Julian looked defeated, yet offended at the same time.
Gisselle just came back about half an hour ago. The maid and bodyguards were worried sick about Gisselle, it added up even more after seeing Gerald and Bryant standing on either side of her in front of the gate. With Julian glaring at the two of them, Gisselle explained that she was totally not kidnapped and came willingly to Gerald's house in order to finish their lass-minute class project together. But as we all know, that did not make any sense. But she could not seem to find a more logical excuse. She could not tell them the truth. She could not possibly tell them that she was a wizard all along, with the power to heal, and that she was supposed to start involving herself in the wizarding community since two years ago.
Though Gordon had already explained everything to her, Gisselle still couldn't understand everything yet. All she knew was that the place that she was kidnapped to yesterday was a wizarding guild named Gordon's Squad. The guild was named after the guild master, Gordon Grey.
"You're the last ever healer to be living in this world. I'm guessing that that must have something to do with the reason that your mark never appeared." was what Gordon said.
Apparently, every wizard will get a mark that shows the way of the guild after turning 14. That so-called mark has the ability to let the wizards to be having the temptation to follow the direction to the guild. Gisselle thought it was kind of associated with something like mind controlling, which Gordon gravely unapproved on.
"Um, I c-can't heal," Gisselle remembered herself fidgeting. "I have never done it before... So I think I shouldn't be a w-wizard."
"What do you mean you can't be a wizard? You can't choose to be or to not be a wizard, lad," Gordon gave an insensitive chuckle. However, after a few seconds, his face expression turned grave. "you need to join us for your own good. Yes. You are actually very lucky that we got to you, first."
"What? Why? Are there any other wizarding community that's aftering me?" A hint of panicky in her voice.
"Loads more. Very dark wizards they are, too. I doubt it if they would let the last healer on Earth be wondering around, not giving them any benefit when they can easily grasp one or two."
Great, now I'm the most wanted in the wizarding community. Thought Gisselle after hearing that.
It had been a crazy day for Gisselle. Sometimes, she just couldn't make herself believe in what had she heard from Gordon. But then, remembering back the way Gordon used telekinesis to move the cup across the room, and Bryant's flaming fist that he attempted to punch Gerald with, earlier when sending her home, she just couldn't see why shouldn't she be believing them. Seeing is believing, they say. So if she saw magic, then magic is real.
💖
Julian sat casually on Gisselle's bed while Gisselle was brushing her hair in front of the vanity mirror. "You know, Gisselle. I know that you're hiding something."
"Oh yea? What's that?" Gisselle tried to fight off the butterflies in her stomach. Who wouldn't have one if her crush is in a room together with her?!
"I don't know, that's why I'm asking you."
Silence fell. Gisselle pretended to be busy smoothing out a few tangled strands of her hair.
It was just like yesterday... The day where Gisselle decided she will no longer tell Julian whenever people bully her, ever again.
Cameron Trevor was running through the hallway with his half-unwrapped burrito on his beefy hand when Gisselle was too busy untangling her hip-length, golden waves of hair, to concentrate on what was in front of her. Noticing that Cameron was in a hurry, probably on his way to meet his little gang of friends, everyone made way for him, in order to not get themselves into any trouble. But not Gisselle. She gasped after bumping into Cameron, and gaped at the burrito lying on the floor.
"I'm s-sor-"
"MY BURRITO!!!!" Cameron roared, grabbing Gisselle harshly by the wrist. "You think it's funny?! You rich brat! One burrito for lunch costs nothing, is that what you're trying to say?"
Then he came out of nowhere. Gisselle remembered the flush of scarlet on Julian's face, his sharp glare, his clenched jaw, his showing veins, as he punched Cameron Trevor across the cheek. The punch sent Cameron's nose bleeding instantly. And the spot where Julian hit him bruised up so quickly, he fell lying on the primary school's ground. At that time, Gisselle was only 10 while Julian and Cameron Trevor, the bully, was 12.
"Julian!" Gisselle cried. Watching Julian stepping on Cameron's stomach. "stop it!"
Julian snorted. "Why shoud I?"
"Cause I'm okay! He didn't hurt me!" Gisselle was now pulling Julian by the arm. But Julian wouldn't budge.
"Only cause he hadn't got the chance to do so! He treated you badly! He disrespected you! I don't like it!"
"Julian..." Gisselle was half whispering this time. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't like it if you get into trouble."
Julian's cheeks turned red again. This time, not in anger. He grabbed Gisselle's hand and pulled her out of the crowd. "Let's just go home..."
Oddly, from that moment onwards, Gisselle had begun to realise her feelings towards Julian. She liked him. She liked him more than just as her playmate. She liked him more than just as a friend who's father works for her father. She liked him the moment he saved her from the bully. She liked him the moment she sees him in a suit on his 14th birthday. She liked him the moment he shed tears on his late father's funeral. She liked him the moment he promised her father to guard her with his life. She liked him then, she still liked him now.
"Hello?"
Gisselle snapped back to the present. A hand waving closely in front of her face.
She could feel her face getting hotter as she lowered her head. She had been spacing out in front of Julian.
Julian, however, smirked in amusement and snatched the hair brush from Gisselle's grip.
Gisselle went hotter in the face when she felt the hair brush brushing down her hair. Julian's fingers dancing between her tangled hair.
Hesitating, she let herself peeked at Julian's face through the mirror. He looked so calm. Not a hint of nervousness can be seen. This slightly disappoint Gisselle.
"Why is your hair always so tangled?" Julian muttered, trying to brush free the tangle. "remember when this tangled hair of yours got us in trouble once?" Julian's face expression changed for a second. He seemed regretted saying that.
"Y-yea," Gisselle tried to sound casual. And she was sure that Julian could be her soulmate, for thinking about the same thing as she just thought of. "you were so cool back then." she said without thinking twice, which she instantly regret on.
For a split second, Gisselle swore she could feel Julian's hand stopped working on her hair for a while. And to Gisselle's shameful delight, Julian blushed.
They fell into silence after that. The only sound that can be heard was the brushing of Gisselle's hair.
After what felt like forever, Julian strolled down the brush through Gisselle's hair for the last time. "There."
"Thank you."
"Hear me out, Princess."
Julian's voice was like an audio version of care and sincerity that Gisselle couldn't help but to turn her whole attention to him.
"Whatever happens, if it doesn't bother you, then I don't care. Okay?"
Gisselle smiled. This is the way of Julian saying that he cares. Again, without thinking, Gisselle took his hand into hers and place it on her cheek. She was relieved that Julian did not hesitate, but responded by caressing her cheek with his thumb instead.
"Gisselle," Julian began.
Gisselle's heart pounding wildly in her chest. "Yea?"
"I lo-"
The door flew open with Muriel's awkward face popping into the room. "Oops, wrong timing."