A small talk needed

"..." Pearl scoffed internally. Looking at his back in disbelief she sighed sharply. "Choose your words wisely."

He chuckled. Finally turning to face her he clicked his tongue with a grasping voice. "Okay… Umm… How about... We are sleeping together."

"..." She was left speechless. With an annoying look, she stared at him coldly.

"Stop giving me that look. I don't care."

"But I do."

"I know you are headstrong." Saying that Emmett turned and went straight to the room.

"You can't- You-" Before she could say anything Emmett had already entered her bedroom.

She wished to not enter the room, nevertheless, her dizziness didn't allow her to stand any longer. She would prefer to stay in the guest room. However, her blouse still had those bloodstains and stickiness from sweats. Calmly walking inside her room, she sat down on the couch.

To her surprise, he couldn't find Emmett anywhere in the room. With the thought of him using the washroom, she just took a rest from her busy day.

After a few minutes, Emmett came out of the closet. Pearl's eyes narrowed in disagreement. "What were you doing there?"

Raising his hand carrying a cloth he answered. "Taking out your nightdress."

"I can do it myself."

"I know you are not disabled. Now get up to show me your intact limbs." Emmett commented playfully. Passing her the decent and the easy-to-wear nightdress, he beckoned her to stand up.

Pearl, with uncertainty, looked at him. Even her grandfather never ordered her to do anything. However unknowingly she just follows his lead everytime. Rolling her eyes she closed it for a second before standing up as per his order.

"Why do I have to take care of your injuries so many times? In one month you are injured for the second time. You are too clumsy Noodles." He said and turned her body to face her back.

"..." Pearl said nothing in reply. Like an obedient girl, she followed whatever he was doing.

"I'll unzip your blouse and help you in taking out your injured hand. After that, you handle the rest on your own. But don't let me see your wounds getting opened.. Or..." He didn't continue after that.

In an accident, only her forehead and her left elbow got seriously injured. While changing into any dress the only problem will be the left hand. And that's why Emmett only tried to help her with one hand.

Pearl still said nothing in reply. With her right hand, she removed her hair from her back.

Emmett smoothly unzipped her blouse.

Seeing her white skin he couldn't help but gulp his imaginary saliva again. Inhaling deep he started talking to avoid the awkwardness he believed he would create.

"See, because of the ointment and cream I applied you got no burn marks on your back."

"Hmm." Pearl nodded slightly. After the 8th day of the funeral, Emmett regularly came to check on her wounds.

At first Pearl did think about asking any woman to apply that cream on her back. However, whenever Emmett asked her to sit so that he could apply the cream, she would obediently do as they did last time.

As Emmett had already seen her bare back, she found herself more comfortable around her than anyone else, who doesn't know about her wounds.

"Did it hurt earlier?" He asked while helping her undress.

"No."

"We have to change your dressing tomorrow too."

"Hmm."

"Talk more." He spoke again and again but Pearl's answer was making him feel more awkward.

"... You hold my shirt in place, I'll remove my hand on my own."

"No. You hold it in place." He preferred.

"Okay."

He politely handled her in undressing her first. Pearl held her blouse as Emmett gently pulled her arm out of sleeves. Once the injured hand was out Emmett turned his back to leave.

"Change your dress. I'll go down and check on your brother. After changing my attire I'll come back."

Pearl said nothing at first. Seeing Emmett walking towards the door, she held her blouse around her chest area as she turned to face him.

"Senior." She called him.

"Hmm?" Emmett turned back.

"Bring me something to eat." After taking her seat on the couch she felt better from dizziness. Being vigilant also makes her realize her empty stomach.

Emmett smiled and nodded his head in yes.

Going downstairs Emmett ordered one of the maids to prepare dinner for three people. Like them, Arush even hasn't eaten his dinner yet. Although he wants Arush to share his dinner with them, but knowing Pearl's mood to be disturbed he didn't tried that move for now.

Coming out of the dinning hall he went to the guest room to check on Arush. Emmett wouldn't bother himself with a kid if it wasn't related to Pearl.

Emmett by now, knows Pearl's nature, he knows how unknowingly Pearl is expecting a lot from a school kid. No matter how much she has been ignorant towards others' thoughts, when it comes to kids, one must compromise and try to understand their point of view. And right now, Pearl is ignorant of that part too.

Knocking once on the guest room door, he waited for the reply.

Within a few seconds, Arush swiftly opened the door. Seeing Emmett instead of Pearl, he instantly got disappointed.

With a little bow he invited. "Please come in."

"Even if you are disappointed, don't be so open about it. It hurts." Emmett playfully said and took his seat on the side couch of the room.

"Sorry for my impoliteness."

"It's okay. Come here."

Arush hesitated little but still accomodated. He met Emmett a number of times by now. But still he doesn't know what kind of status he holds in Pearl's life.

He wanted to know Emmett's relationship with Pearl. But right now even his own relationship with his sister is on a needle. He didn't dare to probe in their life much or he would be kicked off from the whole scenario.

Moreover, Emmett just helped him a while ago. He is grateful to him. And definitely need his help more for future aspects. He saw how his words matter to his sister Pearl. Being on Emmett's good side, won't bring him any loss.

Taking his seat beside Emmett he politely asked. "How may I help you sir?"

"Are you angry at your sister?" Emmett asked without beating around the bush.

Arush hurriedly shook his head in denial. "No. Totally not. I am no one to be angry at her. I am the one who did wrong. Came here unannounced and then tried to force my words on her."

"..." ' 'Witty' Emmett was surprised to see such a small kid talk so maturely.

He also felt bad for him. Knowing how much this kid matured himself before the time, he could guess his reasons. However what amused him the most was Arush having such characteristics and nature even after living with his family all this time.

Not filtering much to sugar coat his words to make him feel better, Emmett said. "Give your sister some time. She just lost her family. With her work and study, she has no time to entertain your family. I am sure you yourself know that your parents and your other sister aren't good news for her. She has endured a lot in the past anyway. You don't wanna add up more. I am sure she will come back one day. However, now is not the right time. Give her some time, she will come back, and will also accept you as her little brother."

Arush quietly sat there. He listened carefully to his every word. His words aren't giving him much hope. But it made him understand his Sister's point of view and help hi face the reality. Instead of deceiving nice words he would prefer reality check.

He pursed his lips with guilt. He always thought that in his family he understood his sister the best. However today he realised how wrong he was. Knowing how much their family hates Pearl, he still hoped for her to come back. He was doing nothing but being selfish for her.

Looking down to his finger, he disappointingly nodded his head. "I am sorry. I was being reckless and impassive towards her."

"It's okay. She understands you too. However, today because of medication she is a little moody." Emmett explained.

"... What happened to her?" He concernedly asked. After the first refusal, he had no guts to ask the same question again. But with Emmett he got little confidence and dared to ask again.

"Don't worry. Just a small accident. Doctor checked on her thoroughly, so nothing to be worried about." Emmett said and stood up to leave.

"Thank you for coming to me. I will mind my behaviour next time." Arush said as he followed him towards the bedroom door.

"Don't be hard on yourself. You reacted just the way someone would do for their loved ones."

"Thank you."

"Good night." Saying that Emmett left the room.

Arush sighed deeply. Right now he felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from him. Just ten minutes ago he felt so suffocated with all his feelings that those walls were burdening him. But after talking to Emmett, he got calmed.

He thanked him in his heart again.