She faced her quickly. Strangely, nothing hints it belongs to the head of POD. The voice was younger, eliminating the single possible option left in this room which was an old hag.
Who else could it be? Another Fae?
Her mind was too drained to ponder about irrelevant matters so she proceeded walking as far as needed from the place. The moment she closed the door behind, her knees gave up on her. She was ready to land on the ground hard but before that happened, a pair of sturdy arms caught her.
"Oh!" she gasped.
A shocking realization hits her. Eli waited for her in the corridor!
Why does every time she's about to hit rock bottom, he comes to her rescue?
"Why are you here? Get lost!" she yelled.
Here she goes bitching out again! The words she spoke contradicted what she felt. It is a common scenario whenever she faced Eliseo Manaloto.
"Should I? You always wanted me around." he replied, unperturbed.
The way he delivered something smug without sounding smug irked her to the bones. Without thinking, she smacked his chest. It quite relieved her frustrations for some reasons thus her balled fist clung once more to violence. The second blow did not land. His hand seized her wrist fast.
"Stop your tantrums, Miss Perfect, unless you want some pampering like a kid."
Her whole face flushed red. The ideas she got from what he said are becoming dangerous for her own good!
"So annoying! I'll go my way so bye."
She broke free from his grasp then strutted in hurry. Almost out of reach, she cheered herself. Unluckily... no. In a matter of seconds, she bounced back to his chest. All it took was an effortless pull of her arm. His grip was firm but gentle as expected of a perfect gentleman!
"You're coming with me." he stated with finality.
He did not budge from her nth resistance. She gave him a you-don't-call-the-shots-here look.
"Use the student council's bathroom. Those harassments won't cease if I'm not there. Spare me a break, will you? I sprinted past a good four kilometers after the news reached me. Hence, quit being difficult and let me do my job."
Her eyes started to sting prompting her to lower her gaze before he noticed them teary. Earlier, she already accepted she was a lone fighter. Whether bruised or battered, she only had herself to soothe her wounds until he happened. It terrifies how tempted she is to depend on him.
She cannot help but inhale sharply as he enclosed her in his arms. He filled her with warmth thawing her make-believe invincibility. Thus, awakens the urge to whimper and just collapse on the floor.
"I felt your body shaking when I held you earlier and if I hadn't touched you, I'd never know. You're strong, independent and fearless, undoubtedly. However, we all need help sometimes, including you. Seeking help doesn't make you weak, Aragon."
She latched onto his shirt as though it served as a lifeline. Any more kind words from him and she will slip from the edge!
"Let's go." she begged, her voice nearly cracked.
Thankfully, especially for her, the SC quarters was empty of people she had enough of seeing today. She took a quick bath: effective to kill her cry urges but to no avail of easing her irritated nerves. The stinky feels on her hair won't be washed away either!
I need a HAIR TREATMENT, she internally screamed. UGH!
He lent her a change of garments belonging to sweet good Penny. She decided not to be picky considering the lack of options. BUT! If given the choice, she'd never wear old-fashioned outfits.
Now that she observed around. The SC room is pretty simple, reflective of the president's modesty. Boring, she might add. It was a typical office design with only an aquarium one could hardly call an adornment.
"Aragon." he called her attention, standing at the door entry.
It was time to separate ways. Her thighs suddenly weighed heavier; her chest tightening at the same time. Walking seemed a torture compared to listenign to her bashers' loads of bs.
"Avoid trouble as much as you can. You understand, right? Lie low." he advised sounding more as an order with the emphasis of the last two words.
She rolled her eyes, though still nodded. Underneath that indifferent façade lies a heart in frantic panic. Whose fault? Certainly Eli. The intensity of his stern gaze sent chills to her entirety, finding then burning each inch of her that screamed defiance.
"You tend to be very stubborn, Aragon. I hope you stay true to that promissory gesture." he even stressed.
Seeing him in crossed arms was her last straw.
"What are you, my father?" she snapped.
When he chortled lowly, she remembered how idiot she was for sulking not to leave. She stomped her feet as she marched away: her act of rudeness on full display. In spite of that, her ear picked on something odd: cute, faint sound tempted her to face him again.
"Wait, what was that?" she probed.
Discovering his eyes downcast, she was taken aback. He always maintains eye contact as if explicitly declaring he was the sincerest guy on Earth! For that unusual behavior, her suspicion sparked.
"I'm late. Gotta leave first." he bade goodbye.
She caught his wrist.
"Hey, that BRRR sound... was your tummy, correct?!" she exclaimed, nearly cackling, "Oh, you probably went to AU starving then completely skipped breakfast because you hurried to me! What irresponsible behavior for a so proclaimed responsible. Fine, lemme treat you to a meal!"
"I won't cut class," he argued.
Creases on his forehead affirmed his refusal. Barely enough to scare me, she thought. She clung on his arm akin to a snake wrapped around its prey. Guaranteed his struggle to break free is an apparent failure.
"Na-uh! Excuses don't suit you well, pauper. Plus, being hungry definitely makes you weak!" she pointed out mimicking the affection on his voice earlier.
We'll surely get unwanted attention if I resist further, he realized.
He groaned in defeat. And off they go in that manner: her arm around his while ambling closely side by side. Neither of them were conscious how personal space was invaded nor did they feel uncomfortable. In fact, the contact evoked their connection to unveil itself. Appearing for a brief moment, a glowing red string between Care and Eli.
If only Care paid attention, she would have seen it... the anomaly.
Since time immemorial, red string solely binds fated pairs. As to why when she held his hand before and nothing manifested while now it did was a question looming to be raised soon.
Was the method given by Gallus at fault or was she?