Chapter Eight~

He held my chin upwards so I could have eye contact with him. I was extremely flustered so I awkwardly looked away.

"Aesop. Look at me." I heard Joseph's deep voice command me. I sighed and stared at him straight in the eye.

However, he brought his face closer to mine and kissed my forehead before sighing to himself.

"Aesop... If I wasn't there what would happen to you?" Joseph stared at me in the eye before sighing again.

"You're making me unusually worried..." Joseph said. "If Jack saw you..." Joseph added before shrugging and patting my shoulder.

"I-I got lost..." I said before hearing Joseph chuckle.

"Why? You shouldn't be here, it's dangerous." Joseph said while ruffling my hair.

"Also, why do you look distressed? You looked pale a while ago." Joseph curiously asked.

"Ahhh, that... I..." I said while stuttering.

"Hmm? Are you hiding something from me?" He said while sitting back down on the couch beside me.

"N-no..." I tried lying but I guess I'm bad at it as Joseph quickly shot me a million questions.

"Are you ok? Did you get hurt? Did you get sick? Are you not feeling well?" I heard Joseph ask with a face that looked like he was worried.

I was shocked upon hearing Joseph worry about me and I subconsciously said something. "It's Vera's fault..." I mumbled but before I realized it, I spilled the beans.

"That Perfumer again?! I knew it!" Joseph blew up upon hearing me.

"Ahhh, no it's because she was talking bad about yo-" I suddenly stopped talking and became flustered upon realizing what I told Joseph.

Joseph suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at me dumbfoundedly.

"Really?" I heard Joseph ask.

"Y-yea..." I said while slightly blushing.

Joseph's thin lips suddenly formed a slight arch before hugging me in his embrace.

"I didn't know you cared about me." Joseph told me while whispering in my ear.

His voice made me shudder. It was an extremely deep and soothing voice which made me want to listen to him more.

My face turned bright red when his hOt breath came in contact with my ear.

I slowly hugged Joseph back as I didn't know what else to do besides that.

A few seconds later, Joseph finally let me go and I saw him smiling widely at me.

That smile...

It was...

Perfection...

I subconsciously smiled back at him and when I was about to say something, there were loud knocks on the door.

Joseph's smile was suddenly replaced with a frown and it made me chuckle at his sudden change in mood.

"Joseph? You in there?" It was Jack.

I panicked and was about to say something when Joseph suddenly pulled me into his embrace and put a finger near my mouth which was still covered by a mask and made a gesture to not make any sound.

I looked at Joseph then nodded at him.

"Joseph? You there?" Jack knocked again and after a few seconds, I heard a sigh and some loud footsteps which was slowly getting lighter.

I heaved a sigh of relief and suddenly remembered I was still in this position.

"J-joseph?" I said.

"Hmm?"

"I-I... This..." I was still extremely shy and couldn't say what I was supposed to say.

Joseph then leaned in and whispered in my ear. "You're cute when you're shy~" Joseph jokingly said.

I lightly pushed Joseph away when suddenly, my stomach growled.

Joseph looked surprised then suddenly laughed. "You hungry?" Aesop lOvInglY asked.

I embrassingly nodded and Joseph just laughed then proceeded to go to a mini kitchen I haven't even noticed actually existed.

A few minutes later, Joseph came back with a silver tray with some pastries and tea.

"Earl Grey?" Joseph asked and I just nodded.

Upon seeing me nod, Joseph smiled and gave me the tray which had the tea and pastries on it.

I breathed in the delicious aroma of the Earl Grey and smiled when it smelled like how I would make my tea.

"How did you know I drink Earl Grey?" I curiously asked Joseph while taking a sip from the tea.

"I also drink Earl Grey~ It seems like we have another thing in common~" Joseph said then smiled at me while standing near the couch.

I just smiled and ate my food when Joseph asked me. "So. Mind telling me how you came in here? Or is it because you missed me?" Joseph tEasInglY asked.

I sighed and gathered all my courage to tell Joseph everything that happend.

A few minutes later I stopped talking, Joseph looked at me looking surpirsed and dumbfounded.

"That kid actually called me stupid and idiotic?" Joseph asked me and I just nodded.

"Hmph. She better watch out." Joseph annoyingly said.

After a few more seconds, Joseph held my hand and said. "Soo. Wanna get out of here?" Joseph smiled while asking.

I nodded and he brought my hand to his face and kissed it gently. "I'll see you at Duo Hunters then~"

After saying that, he gave me a series of direction and made me repeat what he said just in case I won't forget.

"Remember to go left as that hallway is rarely used by us alright?"

"Alright..." Joseph then kissed my forehead and said. "Be safe..."

I nodded at him and he then carried me out the door and ruffled my hair as he put me down.

I smiled then waved at him and left through where he told me to go, and sure enough I was back in the Survivors side of the manor.

"Joseph! For goodness sake! Where were you?!" Emily's voice suddenly popped out of nowhere.

"Ahh, I was..." With Joseph I thought.

"You were where?" Emily asked me in a strict voice.

"Uh... Well I... I accidentally went to the... Uhm... The... Hunters... Side of the man-"

"WHAT?!" Emily suddenly shouted "You were there?! No wonder we couldn't find you!"

I just awkwardly looked away and then asked Emily.

- End of Chapter 8 -