Jacob's voice was heard, "Harper, please leave."
Aria was as shocked as Harper upon hearing this. Jacob seemed to have completely changed after coming to the capital.
Harper's crying was heard by Aria. It grew fainter, and finally died.
Joseph: "Looks like you aren't as much of an idiot as I thought you to be."
Jacob: "What I was trying to tell you was that Aria and I have been together for the past seven years."
There was a shocked silence followed by Joseph's voice, "Are you trying to imply something? If you are, I do not understand it. Please, say whatever you are saying clearly."
Jacob: "We've known each other for seven years. I know her better than you. Amd I'm sure she would never associate with your kind."
Joseph: "Really? Well you cannot measure any relationship based on time. Aria and I, we're the only ones suitable for each other." After he said this, Aria felt his hand come dangerously close to her head.
Jacob began, "Don't you dare....." But he stopped when Joseph suddenly retracted his hand, a smile on his face.
Aria had apparently slapped Joseph's hand away before he could touch her head. She sat up and calmly looked at the two boys, her face showing no emotion.
Joseph smiled, "I knew you were only pretending."
Jacob was shocked, "Aria? You were awake the whole time?"
Aria nodded towards Jacob before turning her head to look at Joseph. She said, "Is there something I can help you with, Mr....Umm....Mr..." But she could not remember his last name. It was because the first name had been burnt into her memory due to it's importance to her, but she did not think the boy was important enough for her to remember his name.
Joseph did not angry upon this. He said, "Scott. Joseph Scott. You can call me Joseph by the way."
Aria: "So, can I help you with anything, Mr. Scott?"
Joseph's lips curled into a smile upon seeing how distant Aria was being. He said, "I came to visit you because I heard you fell from the roof."
Aria: "First of all, we do not know each other well enough for you to visit me. Second, I did not fall off the roof. And third, I think you have already overstayed your welcome here."
Joseph was still smiling, "Oh, have I? But I have barely talked to you."
Aria: "The way you talked to my friends did not make you welcome here. So, even if you stayed for a second, you were still overstaying. So please, I suggest you take your leave."
Joseph: "That's a pretty sophisticated way of chasing me out."
Aria: "Yes it is. And you seem to get it. So please excuse me while I talk with my friend here. Goodbye."
She then turned to look at Jacob with a smile. Joseph was a little hurt upon seeing that smile. As he got up and left the recovery ward, the only thing on his mind was, "I wish she smiled at me like that."
After Joseph was gone, Jacob said, "You did a good job chasing him out. Huh..... What's wrong?" Jacob had turned to look at Aria but the smile had vanished and it had been replaced by an angry look.