Chapter 2: Strings

"Mom! This is not right. They can't just leave on Sunday!" Mon exclaims.

"You brats! Get out. I don't have time for this," I say without glancing at the lords, who come to my office and rant about my decision to end the ladies' stay at the mansion.

I keep reading the reports.

"Aunty, please... I know you have that kindness in you. The understanding and the~"

"I'm not buying it, Ben. Shut up!"

"But--- one month! Give them one month!" Jay begs even kneeling in front of my table. The other lords do the same.

"That's enough!" I shout as I toss the papers on the table.

"Before living with you, those ladies already knew the rules... and they understood it."

"Besides, you will see them around. They will just transfer in their dormitories. It's not that you won't see each other ever again! So, stop that crap and stand up! You look all ridiculous!"

Still sulking, they stand.

"Mom, can I just say how lovely you look today?"

"Get the hell out of here! Can't you see I'm busy?!"

They raise their hands in surrender. Smiling playfully, they leave me enraged.

"Agh! Bastard!"

"We still love you!" they shout while Ron closes the door. I slam my table. They laugh.

Knock. Knock.

"What?!" I yell. Then, I immediately apologize when I see a terrified student standing at the door.

"Come in."

She hesitantly does. We talk about her concerns for about 10 minutes.

"Thank you, professor!"

I nod. She leaves.

Meanwhile, the lords are at the rooftop, planning their next move to convince me.

"You already know aunt Merideth! She isn't easily dissuaded," Ben says while eating his sandwich.

"Yeah. But... next week is too soon. Don't you think?" Leo replies while reading a medical book.

"If only there's someone who can---"

"Who can what?" Ron asks Jay, suddenly suspending his sentence.

"Him!"

They all turn to see Jason walking towards them. They exchange a mischievously smile.

"Zup?!" Jason greets as he sits down.

"Never better!" Leo grins.

"I don't like that look! What do you want from me?"

"Hey!" Mon shouts when Jason grabs his soda. Jason chuckles.

"Can you convince aunty Merideth to give the ladies at least a month, please?" Ben pleads.

He thinks for a moment.

"In exchange for what?" he asks.

"What?!" the lords ask.

"If I will convince the devil, what can I get?"

"Eish! You are really siblings!" Jay grunts.

Jason grins.

"What can you offer? Come on. Before I lose my interest!"

"Money~ how about a thousand bucks?"

"Not interested!"

"Uhm. Woman~ we can arrange a date for you!"

"Boring!"

"Damn! What the fuck do you want?!" Ron exclaims. Jason shrugs his shoulders.

"I don't know. Maybe, something more!" he simpers.

"Alright! A free trip to wherever you wanna go~"

"Too late. Sis already booked a trip for me!"

"We can be your slaves!" Ben blurts out.

"What?" the lords exclaim. Jason smiles wickedly.

"Say that again!"

Ben clears his throat and says, "We... will be your slaves!"

"The other lords seem uninterested!" Jason says while looking at the lords' seemingly doubtful expressions.

"No~ we are."

"Can you persuade her?"

"Hmmm... that depends on how long you will be my slaves~"

"One day!"

"Na. Forget it!"

"One week!"

"Alright~ I'll do it!"

"Whoa! It feels like talking to my mom!" Leo complains.

"She taught me a lot. Thanks to her," Jason chuckles.

They sigh.

"But... will you do it?" Jay asks.

He nods.

"Really?" they ask in excitement.

"Let's make it clear. I will persuade sis to extend your girlfriends' stay in exchange for YOU being my SLAVES! Right?"

"Yes. That's right!" they reply.

"Good."

Then, he plays a record of their conversation. The lords are flustered by his unexpected action.

"Just in case you change your minds!" Jason smirks. They just shake their heads.

"Who's that?" Mon asks while gesturing at a man smiling sweetly at Stephanie.

"Dunno. Maybe her boyfriend!" Jason replies before drinking. Mon kicks the can before it even touches Jason's mouth.

"What the~"

"Ooh! Someone's jealous!" Ben teases.

"What's your problem?!" Jason snarls.

Mon just glares at him.

"Oh! The special friend is buying her a snack!" Ron says as they watch curiously. Mon clenches his hands and holds his breath at the sight.

"Ooh....they look perfect!" Jay comments, obviously teasing Mon.

"Yeah! They look so happy~" Leo adds.

"Whoa... he even cleans her seat! Wow! What a romantic guy!" they exclaim while clapping their hands.

Mon has had enough.

"Fuck y'all!" he growls before storming off.

"Hi, Mon!" Stephanie greets happily when he passes by. He gives the man a deadly stare and ignores Stephanie as if she isn't there.

The lords laugh from a distance, clearly having fun at Mon's annoyance.

"What's wrong with him?" Stephanie mumbles.

"That's Lord Archie Damon, right?" Stephanie's friend asks. She nods.

"What did I do to him? Did you see how he looked at me? Seems like I have to count my days being alive!" he says, doing a sign of a cross.

Stephanie laughs.

"He's kind. He's crazy sometimes, but he's really kind," she assures.

After an hour...

"So~ you are Stephanie's SPECIAL friend!" Mon smirks as he walks around Stephanie's friend, who looks terrified.

"Y-yes--- she's a friend. A good friend~" he replies, trembling in fear.

"Hmmm... FRIEND?!"

"Y-yes! She is my friend!"

"Really? Why?"

"Steph is~"

"Steph?!"

"Stephanie---"

"Don't call her Steph. I don't like it!"

"O-okay! Anyway... she's my friend because she is caring and helpful and~" he says in a soft voice.

"Point taken!"

"Lord Damon~ don't worry. She's just like a sister to me!" he says nervously.

"Good," Mon smirks before leaving him to collapse on his knees, both feeling relieved and scared.

That night...

"What is this?" Stephanie asks, surprised by the boxes of chocolates Mon puts in front of her.

"Chocolate! In case you forgot its name~" he says in a cold tone.

"I know what it is!"

"Then, why are you asking?"

"I mean... what should I do with it?"

"You eat it..."

Stephanie takes a deep breath to calm down.

"Whoa! Someone's trying hard to be romantic!" Ben exclaims, teasing his cousin. Stephanie looks confused.

"If you don't want, give me and I'll just throw them away!" Mon yells, grabbing the boxes. Stephanie impulsively holds his hands, preventing him from throwing the chocolates.

Suddenly, Mon pulls his hands as if he has been electrocuted. Then, he storms off without even glancing or saying anything.

"What's wrong with him?" Stephanie asks. Ben shrugs his shoulders with a smile.