CHAPTER TEN : FAINT HOPE

Unedited. Will so soon.

...

~Lilibeth~

I was at the farm the next afternoon. I came there to visit my ol' good friend, Violet the white horse with light brown tone.

It was something I tend to do during my afternoon break and as much as I would enjoy having a dog or cat to keep me company, my circumstances do not allow me so I find companion in Violet.

She loves it when I brush her long hair and she would make a low, breathy whinny sound whenever I brush her neck area.

I didn't even realise there was someone behind me until a voice surprised me in the quiet stable.

"Didn't think I would see you at this time of day, Lili."

I turn around screaming when I saw Jeddy laughing at me.

"Jeddy! Oh, God, Jeddy! You almost made me pee!"

I was laughing when I say that but when I see him much clearly, my smile drops and I felt a tinge of disappointment at the clothes he wore.

The curly brown hair boy has turned into a man much taller than me, smooth face and skin tan as usual. Though I enjoy seeing him growing up and doing well for himself, its saddens me that he wore a black short right now.

Jeddy frowned at me. Even turning back to make sure I was looking at something else and not him.

"What's with that 'oh'?" He say and I pointed at his shirt.

Even Violet snorted and I almost smile.

She gets me.

"Your shirt."

"Don't tell me you still have that negative stereotype on black shirt. You know I'm good, Lili." He spread his hand and turned around to prove his point.

I never realise his upper back was so wide and big due to his tied up bun hair. I felt my cheek heats up a little.

I sigh and continue to brush Violet's hair.

"If only you know what I know." I speak under my breath.

"What's that?" He lean further and I turn back to him.

"Nothing. I haven't seen you around for so long. Where you've been?"

"Farm business. I'm suppose to finish everything out before moving to the manor."

He grinned and crossed his arms.

"That way I can see you more, Lilibeth."

My eyes fall as I replied sadly at him. "I'm afraid, not. Grandma and I are leaving in two weeks."

"Two weeks? What? How?" Jeddy almost yelled and he looked certainly shocked.

"Well, she say that she paid all of our debt, already. We can leave now. You know how much grandma don't like Aryan or the Dollhouse."

Jeddy was quite for awhile. I can see he was thinking hard.

He suddenly took a notepad from his pocket and flip through a few of the pages before finding one to focus on.

After flipping the book closer, he replied. "I'm sorry, Lili but being a Black Shirt means I am given permission to see the flow of money and financial situation for every orphans in this manor including our bosses minus Aryan and according to your and Lady's account, you two still have a couple of years to finish paying your debt."

My heart sinks at his statement. "That much?"

"Yeah. So, if Lady actually found an oil mine or something to pay all the debt, then it is impossible."

"Sh..she won't tell me how she done it. She just told me she paid for it so.. I don't know."

Jeddy must've notice how worried and scared I look. I hear him sighing and felt his hand cupping ny shoulder.

"I'll go and check, alright? Don't worry. I'll make sure everything will be alright."

"You know how happy I am for you if you two did bought your freedom and stayed away from this place but, you know how Aryan can be, right? That much debt and you two leaving? If something is not right, he will do something like God knows what."

I swallowed deeply and nodded. Flashes of Joseph dead body. "I know."

I turn to Jeddy and smiled.

"Thank you for helping us out, Jeddy. God knows how much we need it."

"I know, Lili."

He puts back his notepad and look at me with an intense gaze.

"There's ugh... something I wanted to tell you, Lili"

"What's that?" I replied

"You know how Black Shirts are given an opportunity to pick any Dolls as their... wife, right?"

"Yeah..." A part of me kind of know what he was about to say but a part of me also hope I would've been wrong.

"You're 18 soon. I ugh... I want to court you."

"What?"

"Court you, Lili. We've spend so much time together. You must know how I feel about you right?"

He pulls my hand gently and held them in his. Even thought the tan i could see him blushing and awfully nervous. Something i have never seen him doing the whole time I grew up with him.

"I always did, Lili. I worked so hard to be in this position so I can ask him for you. Ever since we were a kid. Ever since you tried to sneak on one of our pony, I knew I wanted to make you mine."

"I don't know what to say..." I truly don't.

"The moment you turn 18, I will propose properly. I promise that I will take care of you and Lady. You two are precious to me. YOU are precious to me."

"Hurry up, Jed! Boss lookin'!" Yelled a sound not far from us and we both turn to the direction of the voice.

" Yeah, I'm coming!" Jeddy yelled back. He then turn to me once more and spoke again.

"Look, just think about it first okay. I know we're going to workout somehow. "

He later jogged away from me before turning back and smiled at me. He looked so excited and happy like nothing in this world could ever hurt him right now.

I'm afraid I will be the one doing that later.