Chapter 10

AESOP

I woke up to find myself back in my room, with a huge blanket over me, covering it all the way to my chin.

Wow. I must have fallen asleep in the garden during that convo I had with Joseph.

Joseph.

That name had somehow carved its path deep down inside my head, and I can't help but recall everything that happened in that garden.

He had cried. He cried and kneeled right before me. All with remorse washing over him.

I lifted my right hand. I had written something on it as my way to thank him earlier, and there it is, still there on the gloves. But the thing that caught my eye is that another smiley face had been drawn under it, with an unfamiliar piece of crumpled paper on the nightstand next to the bed I'm lying on right now.

I opened it and realized that it was written by yours truly.

Thank you so much for having the courage to forgive someone so weird like me. I hope you feel better soon, and if you feel like talking then I'm the man for it!

-Joseph

I shook my head, laughter escaping my lips. He really is something, eh?

I stood out of bed and headed out of my bedroom. My head still feels like it has been pricked by pins and needles yet I somehow have no will to head back to dreamland.

It was nothing but pure silence as I made my way down the corridor, just exactly how I have always wanted it to be. It is midnight, meaning that everyone had tucked in for the night, leading to no chaos and yells.

Perfect.

I snatched a few slices of toast from the dining table and was munching on it when I noticed Emily helping herself to a glass of water.

Shit. Hope she doesn't notice me here.

My wish had went down the drain as she is now staring at me, her gaze locking into my eyes. She then sat herself on one of the chairs with her hands signalling me to take the empty spot next to her.

Damn. If only I wasn't this tall.

"Aesop? There's something I need to tell you."

I froze.

Did she actually find out?

Dismissing the uneasy feeling inside me, I took a seat next to her, trying my best to not let my anxiety run out of control.

I have never liked talks, even the private ones. They make me feel weird and think like everything is my fault.

"Hey. I'm glad you finally have someone you can open up to." She said, much to my surprise.

"Wait what do you mean?" I asked, pinching my left hip. Just something I usually do when I get nervous.

"I watched everything, Aesop. I was about to announce every survivor in this manor about a brand new match that will be coming when I noticed you weren't there for that. I asked everyone, even Eli and Naib about your whereabouts, but it was Kevin who told me you last went to the garden for a self calming time, so I went there and that's just it."

I sighed.

Come on, you don't have to be this detailed.

"And do you know that the photographer was the one carrying you back to your room and pulled all the covers for you?"

By now I felt like I had ran a thousand miles. Sweat had trickled my whole body despite the cold night.

Joseph? Making his way to the survivors' side? That idiot!

"He also told me to remind you that you should take your medications on time. Now that really makes me doubt that he's a hunter, seriously."

I said nothing. I just had my eyes gazing at the enormous curtain that separates the two sides.

"You must be tired now that you're acting off. Go back to bed, Aesop. See you tomorrow." Emily said as I stood up.

"Yeah. Goodnight."

Flashback

EMILY

Aesop Carl. He has been here with us for a few weeks yet he still acts like he had just came here.

I'm not saying that he is different in the negative way. He is good and does well whenever he is in a match. It's just his social issues that kinda puts up a barrier between him and the others.

He cannot even decode with others. He avoids any form of social interaction. And the one that tops it all, he never makes eye contact whenever someone is talking to him.

I know there are people his type in this world, but at the same time the feel of concern never stops building itself inside me.

What if he hates it here? What if everyone is against him?

That was when I noticed the grey haired embalmer all on his own in the exact place Kevin had told me earlier.

He was there, his hands holding a few stuff that seemed to be the meds I prescribed him.

That means he does take them! Thank goodness!

Words cannot explain the feeling that is going inside me. I still had it clear in my head the moment he got really sick and was in a lot of pain. Even with all that going inside him, he still had the energy to throw away those meds.

But now that I see it before my eyes that he actually takes them, I'm glad.

That was when someone in a blue attire with a camera in his one hand approached him.

Wait. Isn't that the hunter who spared him in that last match? The photographer?

I watched the hunter's every move as he stood before Aesop, just in case if something happens. There are some rules in this manor that states about the prohibition of interaction between hunters and survivors out of matches, but why are those two...?

Most of all, why is Aesop asking him to stay?

The scene played before my very eyes. Aesop, now standing on his feet, had made a direct eye contact with the latter.

That's where it hit me.

Aesop does not make any direct eye contact with anyone.

So what makes him act this way?

It can't be that hunter, right?

The sound of someone's back hitting the wall was then heard. The ear-splitting sound, which snapped me out of the huge weight of thoughts running in my head.

Much to my dismay, it had came from those two. Aesop had been pinned towards the wall by force, and the one that makes my heart cry out was that he broke into tears.

Right in the hunter's grasp.

"No!" I let out a yell.

I know I had to act quick and get him, but something inside told me that I should just let those two handle the situation on their own. Though those two are in tears, it was... different.

It turns out I had made the right decision, since they are now in a decent conversation and I noticed how the hunter made Aesop smile, as if he had been the one the embalmer needed.

By now it had gotten dark, but those two are still there. I myself didn't realize I had been standing up the whole time now that my legs feel like they are on fire.

I didn't hear what the hunter said but the intense aura from earlier was no longer there, and the moment I looked towards them happen to be the most heart-warming sight I have ever encountered my entire life.

Aesop had fallen asleep, his head resting on the photographer's shoulder, with the latter pulling the former into a big hug, overwhelmed with tears of joy.

I got so heartwarmed with the sight that I had teared up as well.

All those worriness about Aesop's safety is for nothing after all.

I stood up and was about to walk back when I heard my name being called.

"Hey, you're the doctor of the survivors' side, right?"

I turned around, facing the photographer, calling me with his tone in a whisper. He still is not budging from his position as if he does not want let the embalmer to jolt awake.

"It's fine. I won't hurt you. Hey, can you show me the way to get to your side of the manor? Aesop here needs his rest. Oh and by the way, no one is awake at this hour but you, right?"

I nodded. Everyone had tucked in, even the "troublemakers" Eli and Naib.

"Okay, great! Please do!"

He then slowly carried the sleeping embalmer into his arms, holding him bridal style. I noticed the spark of pure love and happiness coming from his eyes as he did that. The creases forming on his forehead as he tried his best to figure out the best position for Aesop's neck so that he will not have cramps once he wakes up, I noticed everything.

His action shows full love.

"I'm sorry he had to go back so late because of me, Miss Dyer." The photographer said, his eyes staring at me.

"No. It's okay. In fact? I wanna say thank you, um..." I said, feeling awkward. How do I say a proper thank you when I don't even know his name?

"Joseph. Address me by my name. That's fine."

I stared at the greenery as he told me his name. I gotta admit his name is the best out of the hunters here.

"Miss Dyer, can you please tell me what those meds Aesop is supposed to take?" Joseph asked as we made it to the dining table where I had an announcement to share earlier.

I adjusted the grip on my syringe. I totally understood how he felt from the way he spoke.

He was worried. He was concerned.

"Oh.. those are antibodies. He has a very weak physical energy and immunity that he needs them on a daily dose. Now, Joseph, there's no need to worry. I keep track of his health progress. He's fine. I know he is."

Joseph's gaze went back to Aesop's sleeping form in his hands. We had made it to the third floor where Aesop's room is.

"Well, tell him to take them whenever it's time. Don't let him get sick, Miss Dyer. I'm begging you. Please."

I smiled.

"I am, Joseph."

I let out a sigh of relief as the photographer placed the embalmer on the bed, pulling all the covers all the way to his chin and turned off all the lights.

"Joseph?" I said to him as we are now back in the lobby where he will be heading back to his side of the manor.

"Thank you. I really thank you for making him happy."

He then let out a smile and left.