Chapter 14.2

"No way, your luck can't be that good," Asami told Alina. "That wasn't Hyde, uh nuh, no way."

"You know anyone else that's a redhead, blind, and still be - oh - so pretty?" Alina asked.

"It could have been anyone that's blind! Or maybe a die-hard fan!" Asami refuted.

Alina and Asami were discussing on how the former met Elizabeth Hyde while Jared sat with crossed arms, his foot tapping the floor incessantly. His patience in waiting for Ms. Silvia to take him to Emily was wearing off very fast.

"Relax, you'll get to see your sister soon," Alina noticed his impatience and assured Jared.

"Sorry," Jared stopped his foot tapping while Ken who had been at his sister's side approached them with a large brown paper bag.

"Hey," Ken said to them but his eyes were on Alina who was silent. "Breakfast anyone?"

"Sure!" Asami grabbed the bag and pulled out a jam-filled muffin, tossing the bag to Michelle while taking a bite from her muffin.

"Nikki?" asked Alina, her voice tinged with guilt. Last night, Ken was a bit cold to her when she tried talking to him, but she understood how he felt and blamed herself for his sister's injury.

"She's alright," Ken said. "Can't stop talking about how awesome Michelle is though."

As Ken spoke he looked to Michelle, only to notice that she was holding the paper bag with a blank stare. She seemed too preoccupied with her thoughts as her eyes watched the hallway to Jason's room.

"Don't mind her, she's been like that since getting her first kiss stolen by Jason," Asami told Ken through her muffin-filled mouth. A rubber bullet hit her hand causing her to drop her muffin onto the ground and leaving her shrieking at the loss of her breakfast.

"Absurde," Michelle hissed as her cheeks turned red. "I did- that was not a kiss!"

"Uh, what?" Ken tried processing what Asami said but failed.

"It's complicated," muttered Alina.

"Is that ... legal?" asked Ken.

"Good question."

"How could you?! She was my favorite! Oh my little muffin," Asami ignored everything and continued lamenting on her fallen muffin before turning to the culprit. "Just cause I said you kis-"

A rubber bullet flew past her face, blowing her hair which was hanging in a side ponytail.

"Just cause I mentioned Jason grazing his lips with you- aah!" Asami corrected herself but Michelle still shot her before she finished. "Why?!"

As Asami lay on the ground asking Michelle weakly, the latter humphed and turned away.

Unfortunately, Alina happened to be beside her so when she turned her head, her blushing face was exposed.

"Uh …" Michelle didn't know what to say as she was avoiding Alina since the promiscuous event with Jason.

"It's his fault not yours," Alina sighed. "Just don't get too close to him unless you have to, alright? I don't want you falling for his charms."

"True, one look and you know he's suffering from the Bruce Wayne Syndrome," Asami butted in after picking herself from the ground. [1]

"The what syndrome?" asked Ken and Jared together.

"Uh, the Bruce Wayne Syndrome? Am I the only comic book fan here?" Asami stated as though it was obvious before muttering under her breath.

"Yes, you're the only Otaku here, now explain it," Alina said.

"It's when you sleep with more girls than Superman has saved but can count the number of serious relationships in one hand," Asami rolled her eyes as she explained but paused when she realized something. "Wait a minute, how do you know about otakus?" [2]

"That does explain his love life in one sentence," agreed Alina while ignoring Asami's question.

"No, seriously, I wanna know!" Asami insisted.

"Looks lively here," while they were talking, Jason had joined them in the reception of the private ward. "What?"

As soon as they saw him, Alina and Asami sent him strange stares while Michelle looked away. Ken still seemed confused while Jared, the only normal person, looked at him like a criminal.

"Something on my face?" Jason asked.

"You … don't remember?" Asami asked back carefully.

"Remember what? The fight? The bleeding? You gotta be a little more specific," Jason replied and Asami's eyes glowed as she turned to look at Michelle.

"If you don't want him to know, then you have to stop shooting m- aaggh!" Halfway through her blackmail, Michelle shot her again before turning to Jason.

"You harassed me. Harcelées sexuellement," Michelle said to Jason.

"I did?" Jason asked, stumped as he looked questioningly at Alina who answered by glaring at him. Jason turned to look at Michelle who couldn't look at him properly and had lowered her head.

"Did I … we … uh …" Jason tried forming a sentence but paused as he noticed Alina fuming with gritted teeth. "Uh, um, sorry. I don't remember what I did but I hope I didn't hurt you."

Michelle nodded, accepting his apology while Jason changed the subject in a hurry.

"Right. So, uh, I have something to do. The rest of you can take the day off and visit Silvie's place," Jason said. "You can check up on Emily and play with Alice, she'll be up in no time."

"Mind if I tag along?" Alina asked.

"Not at all," Jason replied, his eyes and smile turning gentle as he looked at her. "It'd be great to have some family time."

"I need to go and check on Nikki," Ken said while checking his watch. "She seems fine but the doctors wanted to do a check-up."

" … You know they're only doing that to draw her blood because of the poultice, right?" Jason looked at Ken strangely before telling him. "If she was still injured, she'd be nauseous, dizzy, and too dazed to be talking so energetically."

"Damn it all," Ken cursed as he jogged away. "I'll see you guys later!"

"And there he goes," Asami leaned on Michelle while talking. "So, guess the rest of us are heading to Silvie's mansion?"

"It's Ms. Silvia, Chiba," Silvia's curt voice came from behind Asami, causing her to freeze as cold sweat flowed down her forehead. Silvia on the other hand, glared at Jason, hinting that it was his fault that Asami was nicknaming her.

Jason shrugged before opening his mouth. "And that's our queue to exit. Quick, before she eats me!"

Jason whispered the last part to Alina in an audible voice as he dashed away. Alina rolled her eyes and sent an apologetic look to Silvia and then bade the others goodbye before following after Jason.

"Wow, that was … he's childish at times, isn't he?" Jared muttered. "Still don't like him."

"Que veux-tu dire par là?" Michelle asked before clarifying. "What do you mean?"

"My sister hasn't been the same for a while," Jared answered. "It was obvious she had a crush and I didn't realize that it was her teacher until today. So, that's why I don't like him. Not to mention …"

Jared turned to Michelle with a complicated stare, and Michelle realized that he heard how Jason nearly kissed her. Annoyance at the arm that was still leaning on her erupted, and she moved away, causing Asami to nearly fall.

"Alright children, that's enough playing," Ms. Silvia said. "Follow me, I'll drive you to my home."

"Aller. I won't be going," Michelle said. "I must see ma famille."

As the others walked to the hospital's main entrance, Michelle turned and walked deeper into the hospital, passing into the restricted military ward. She entered the reception and noticed a woman in a formal military outfit sitting on a chair and sipping some coffee while reading a file of papers.

"Mama!" Michelle's heart warmed at the sight of her and she ran to her with a childish smile that she never showed to anyone else.

"Michelle. It's good to see you, sweetie," Colonel Watson stood up and they both hugged each other. After a while, they parted and Watson looked at Michelle closely. "You've grown up so beautifully."

"I've missed you mama," Michelle laughed as she wiped her tears away.

"Me too," Watson said before hesitating. "If you're free … would you … are you hungry? Let's grab something to eat."

"Sûr!" Michelle giggled as she grabbed Watson's arm and the two headed out.