Mei wasn't feeling well to get up but the doorbell sound couldn't be stopped if he lay like that. He thought to open the door from here, from bed but that will only open the door of problems. He put off the blanket and sat down as it couldn't be helped. His feet felt cold as he placed them on the floor. More than half of his leg was naked as if he was wearing shorts. Each doorbell felt like hitting several hammers in the head.
He cursed as he opened the door, "Why the hell you have to…"
Mei and Noah both were shocked. Mei tried to stand as politely as possible but the shock in Noah's eyes were still there.
'You…' Noah couldn't speak more.
Mei hesitates while speaking, 'I'm sorry Sensei,I didn't check…'
Noah wasn't bothered by that but else, 'No...you…you are taller than…'
'Ah! Did I grow taller again!?' Mei looked at himself.
He is as the same as Joshua now but not tall as Reiji yet, "I guess this is why my body was aching so badly."
Mei stopped his inner chatter, 'Sensei, sorry I couldn't attend the class. As you can see how well I am…'
'Ya! I heard,here,some medicine for your fever.' Noah hands over some medicine.
Mei received them and thanked him.
'How come you are like this?' Noah got inside.The room was a mess.
'Because of rain. I don't feel well when it rains.' Mei cleared his nose.
'What kind of excuse is that?!' Noah frowns.
'I'm not lying though. Ever since I was a baby I would suffer or get severely sick when it rains. If you don't believe me, ask my dad.' Mei said.
'Ok! I will ask him…but why are you so disorganized!!' Noah yells at him.
Mei smiles, 'I wasn't feeling well...so...this is how it became.'
Noah couldn't stand the messed up room anymore, 'Ok..get fresh and don't be careless…'
Mei pouts, ' Sensei,Did you come here to scold me?
Noah composed his behaviour, 'I will help you clean your room so you go get fresh and eat something.'
Mei was grinning hearing that.
'Why are you smiling like that?' Noah frowns.
Mei told him that he doesn't have anything to eat because he always eats with Rei,but since Rei was not here and Mei was sick, Mei didn't eat, ' I forgot that I have to eat…'
'What…' Noah was about to punch him, 'Stop grinning like that.'
'Sorry…' Mei apologises.
Noah went out, 'You get fresh, I will get you something.'
Mei stops him, 'You don't have to Sensei. Wait for me, we will go out together.'
Mei went to shower and Noah picked up Mei's clothes that were still wet. He hung them on the balcony to dry and kept standing there. He lit the cigarette.
"He has totally changed. When we first met, his baby face was just like Mei. For a second I thought it was Mei. But slowly that disappeared ha! Seeing that how he has lost the similarity while growing up I feel like stupid to have hoped for that. It would have been better if he didn't lose the resemblance.'" Noah was immersed in thinking.
'You smoke Sensei?' Mei was surprised to see this side of Noah.
'Ah!..I..do…' Noah said.
'Isn't your world already filled with pollution! Then why do you need to shove down more pollution inside your body! Willingly at that…' Mei said.
Noah kept staring with utter disbelief, 'Huh!'
But what Mei was saying was true.
'Ya! True!' Noah put out the cigarette, ' Happy?'
'Nah!' Mei took a sniff over Noah's head.
Noah pushed him back because of that.
'You still smell like that.' Mei grabbed the hand that was on his chest and didn't let go.
'What are you doing?!' Noah was baffled at Mei's action.
'Nothing.' Mei said.
Noah can feel the heartbeat. It was slow, much slower than normal. But in a while it caught up the same pace with the rhythm of Noah's heartbeat. Both of their hearts were beating at the same rate now.
"What is this!" Noah couldn't help but think.
Mei's eyes were focused on Noah's expression, "How cute!"
'Are you..not feeling well?!' Noah removed his hand from Mei's chest, 'You still seem to have a fever.'
'I'm ok…Let's go!' Mei got out first.
Noah followed. While getting down he noticed Mei was silent.
"His hair has grown too." Noah sighs.
When they entered the restaurant,an employee bowed to Mei shivering, 'Young Master Ruan!'
Mei was surprised and stepped back to see someone bow. Noah was startled at that too as he was behind Mei. Noah couldn't grasp the situation why a manager would bow to Mei. Mei touched the back of his head as everyone was watching them and whispered, 'Are you..one of Re..I mean Master Ruan's followers?!'
'Yes, Young Master.I must assist…' The manager said.
'It's airtight and Stop calling me that here.' Mei's eyes were coruscant for a brief moment and the manager went silent.
Noah was unable to understand any of it so he went ahead and ordered for the food. Mei followed. Mei's mood was off for some reason even when eating.
'Will you stop that?' Noah said
Mei's expression changed to, 'Stop what?'
'You seem like you are gonna break Everything here.' Noah said seriously.
'Do I !?'Mei touched his own face to check, 'But I don't think I'm angry.'
'You are angry.' Noah focused on eating.
Mei was slowly eating and observing Noah, "What an elegant man! Even the way he eats gives off the vibe of classy. I want to eat him..ah!" Mei slapped on his forehead with frustration, "Shit!! again!?"
'Seriously! What is with you! Did the fever make you crazy?' Noah gets irritated.
Mei apologizes, 'I'm sorry...I was thinking…something.'
Noah saw the staff were more attentive towards them than others. The treatments were different too as Noah is a regular here he knows.
'By any chance,are you really a descendant from an imperial family?' Noah jokes.
'Who told you that?' Mei was surprised.
The ancestors of Lin's did belong to the imperial family in Russia. The fact they are Jinn could not be known,so the ancestor replaced his position with a human but that person could not control greed and his drinking habit made himself lead to a pathetic death. The Purebloods often do this. Sometime as emperor,sometime as magician or as an astrologer,many other forms are taken by them to exist in the human world. But in their world it's still steady because of the long life span and being able to return as a reincarnation has slowed down the change in position. The ruling system has been neutral since the truce with Pureblood. Even though non-pureblood Jinn are common and huge in number, Purebloods are still intact as the ruler because of their dominant power. Even though they are less in number, no mixed blood Jinn can overpower a Pureblood. After the infant phase, they can automatically gain the experience, knowledge, skills and power as their own ancestors. But as the Pureblood reign was greatly outnumbered because of certain cases they got extremely cautious and tried not to involve themselves with their normal clans unless it's necessary. Every clan has their own Pureblood ruler, territory. The Justice Association is the only common place for everyone, regardless of any status. No one is free from doubt so everyone is able to enter if eligible. But still as it is run by Purebloods they hold the utmost power. Some put a facade that they don't hold any opposition against humans or non-purebloods but in reality some do. Nobody is free from doubt after all.
'It's a rumour from some parents and students.' Noah asked with a worried face seeing Mei silent.
"I should find out the informer." Mei focused on eating right away.
'So?!' Mei saw Noah wanted an answer as his stare was demanding that. Mei ignored Noah and kept eating. Noah was astounded, 'No way!! So it's true…'
'Why should it matter? Not like it exists now.' Mei said.
Noah became curious, 'Who is that?What's the name of your ancestor?'
'No need to know.' Mei said.
'That's why your eyes are all different.' Noah asked.
'Our eyes don't have any significant meaning. We are born from Eastern roots too.' Mei said.
Noah found the story more interesting, 'From where? India?'
'Sri Lanka…' Mei laughs.
Noah almost had believed him. He was disappointed.
'Don't try to study about me just because of the rumours. Don't trust any source. They can be misleading.' Mei said to Noah.
'I wasn't…' Noah paused for a while then asked, 'Are you really or not?'
Mei laughs and stops eating, 'Sensei! Why are you so interested in knowing it?! Even if it were to be true we now have nothing.'
Mei wasn't looking at Noah, so he couldn't see that
Noah couldn't take his eyes off of Mei, "Is this kid really 15 years old…I can't believe my eyes how much he had changed from grade 7 till grade 9."
'Did Aki-senpai call you?' When Mei asked that Noah return to reality from his inner analysis.
'He didn't. He has a fever too. I will be visiting him at night.' Noah said
'Ah! No need...Rei is with him…'Again Mei looked by his side.
Noah noticed a few times, 'What are you looking for…'
Tanya,she was sitting with someone but Noah couldn't see the other woman's face. They were talking about something. Noah felt something was different in Tanya as her eyes seemed to be different.
"He knows her?" Noah looked at Mei.
'Do you know her?!' Noah's question made Mei startled, as he didn't think Noah would notice his gaze.
'My grand…I mean my mom.' Noah was shocked to hear Mei.
'Tanya??' He looked at Tanya then Mei with a baffled expression.
'Tanya? Who are you talking about?' Mei became confused.
Noah points out to Tanya, 'Aren't you looking at the woman with long hair?'
'No! I'm talking about the other one. With short silver hair.' Mei corrects Noah's misunderstanding.
'Ohh! She's your mother! If so, you can go talk to her.' Noah said.
'Give me a second then…I will go, greet them and come back at once.' Mei gets up.
'Sure…' Noah smiles.
Mei went there and the other woman looke to Mei.
"Wow! His mother's face is...just like Reiji-san. But why?! I'm sure Reiji was his uncle from his father's side..or I know wrong!?" Noah couldn't hear what they were saying but Mei looked like he was unstable, "What's with him today?! He is sick, I get it, but his expressions are totally different. The delinquent of our school being this much soft.. what's going on." Noah was biting his nails.
Mei was looking at Noah and forbade him to bite the nails. Tanya's eye met Noah. Her expression drastically changed. She bowed through eyes and nodded her head. Noah did the same.
'Why is he here with you, little X..Ruan?' Tanya asked Mei.
Sayo was stunned as she was about to call him that. She looked at Mei with disbelief then back at Tanya.
Mei answers, 'He is my homeroom teacher. Is she one of us,G.ma?'
Sayo couldn't answer first but composed herself within a second,'She belongs...from a different clan...one of western clans.'
Mei bent down to her face and whispered in her ear, 'G.ma she is the ex of Rei's lover. What are you doing with her?'
Sayo whispered with a smile as well, 'I know...but I'm here for another reason. She is also a photographer so…'
Mei understands, 'Oh!'
Sayo noticed Mei's pale face, 'How are you feeling? You seem a bit unstable.'
'I'm feeling a bit nauseous but I'm healing myself well. I will be fine.' Mei said.
Sayo asked, 'Is Re not with you?'
'He is with his lover…' Mei smiled looking at Tanya, 'He has forgotten me ever since he fell in love with senpai.'
'You cheeky brat!!' Tanya smirked.
'Silence! Mei! Go back! He is getting curious I'm sure. I don't want to greet him so leave before we are done.' Sayo didn't want any unnecessary involvement.
'Yes! Yes!'Mei got back where Noah was.
'Are you done Sensei?' Mei asked.
'Hm! Won't you finish?' Noah asked, noticing how little Mei ate.
'Excuse me!' Mei called the waiter but the manager came as well, 'Please parcel the rest of the meal.'
Noah couldn't understand why he was doing that. Whatever he had eaten was neatly consumed. Usually kids of his age mess up their whole plate, don't maintain table manners, and don't bother. But Mei definitely was neat in them. When the parcel arrived, they left the restaurant. They kept walking and after a while Mei gave the parcel to a homeless guy who was sitting there with his dog.
"Oh! So this was why…" Noah was pleasantly surprised.
Mei patted the dog and gave the man some of his money. Noah was watching all of it with a very kind smile, "This kid surprises me with his every move."
They were walking silently. Mei was walking ahead.
'Oi! Slow down! I can't walk much after eating.' Noah was slowly walking.
Mei became frustrated, 'I have a name Sensei and what are you!? An old man? Who can't walk after eating?!'
'Yes, I'm an old man. What do you expect! Me! stay young forever!' Noah mocked.
'I wish you could.' Mei did slow down a bit.
When they were at a coffee shop with seatings on the outside as well, Mei pulled out a chair from one table and offered Noah to sit, 'Here! Rest for a while.'
'Sorry for being old.' Noah mocked himself again.
Mei was smiling a little bit. They ordered coffee. Mei was spaced out while mixing sugar. He kept the circling movement going on for a while.
"Strange! What's the issue with him? He is really not being himself today or is he like this." Noah found Mei really distracted.
'Oy! Stop already. How long are you going to keep mixing?' Noah says.
Mei frowned and looked at him, 'Sensei! My name… Ah! Leave it.'
Mei was frustrated because of repeating the same. Noah understood. Mei took a sip. A girl came and slapped on Mei's back of the head. Both of them were surprised.
Mei looked at her, 'Risa!!'
The girl seemed older than Mei. This girl looks so pretty when she smiles.
Mei's expression changed, 'What are you doing here?'
Risa smiles, 'I came here on a tour.'
'Why your office always sends you on its tour! Don't they have other employees?' Mei jokes.
'I came here to see my little fiance.' She messes up his hair.
'Ahh! Don't!' Mei didn't like the touch.
Noah was in a awkward situation
'Who this gentleman might be?' Risa asked about Noah.
'He is Ishida Noah Sensei.' Mei said.
'Ohhh! So you are Sense…' Mei kicks Risa's leg as she tries to approach there but accidentally falls over Noah.
'Sorry Sensei!' Risa apologises.
'It's ok! Are you ok?' Noah asked with a concerned face.
'Yes.' Risa smiles.
Mei slapped on his forehead. He meant to stop her. Mei gets up and separates the two.
Risa tried to show excuses, 'Oh my! I really didn't mean to…
'Enough! Be gone.' Mei shoved Risa to leave.
Then got back to his seat and mumbled, 'This girl really doesn't want to quit.'
Noah smiles seeing Mei irritated, 'Your friend?'
Mei took a while to answer, 'Kind of…'
'What's with the fiancé thing?' Noah asked.
Mei hesitated. Noah lowered his eye on the cup and thought of the possible reason.
'She is...not only my friend…' Mei stopped there and Noah's heart started beating fast.
Mei could hear the change. So he said, 'I'm really… her fiancé.'
Noah's heart skipped a rhythm. Mei felt as if something was broken inside his heart. Noah forgot to blink for a while and kept looking at Mei.
"So he is engaged to somebody. Is this how his family works? But it's good that they are happy…so why am I thinking about it." Noah tried to take it casually.
'She is very pretty. You two look great together.' Noah's eyes were confused on what to say.
'Do you really want to congratulate me?' Mei frowns while he observes Noah.
Noah didn't expect that question, so he smiles, 'Of course, why won't I?'
'Sensei…' Mei was about to say something but Noah didn't let him, 'I'm getting late for the cram class.'
Noah got up and went inside.
Mei couldn't understand the meaning of it. He tried to read Noah. Noah was blank. He came out and asked Mei to get back by himself. Then Noah didn't waste a second. He went ahead. He smiled sadly and kept walking. Mei was following him from a long distance.
"What would it have felt like if Mei were to say that she got engaged with someone else?" Noah lets out a breath holding his heavy heart.
Noah got in the school dormitory building. Few minutes later Mei saw Noah getting out in his car.
"You still keep thinking about her. Why can't you understand your heart Sensei." Mei didn't like the feeling, Noah loving someone else.