*Chapter 12: You Love Me?

Lunely's PoV

I let out a deep sigh as Leiro and I headed home after that disaster. That incident really broke my heart, and I feel like my world will be destroyed. Why do I have to experience this?! I hate my life! Huhu ...

Why didn't they stop it? Didn't they know that Leiro would be killed if I left even though I have no replacement for him? So what is it, Zion is more preferred than Leiro, right? Your selfishness is too much!

Suddenly, as I tried to hold back my tears, I felt something crawling from my back and into my right arm. It's so warm, and comfy. I didn't say a word as I knew it was Leiro wrapping his arms into mine and let me lean my head into his chest.

"U-Um, Lei? Can I ask something?" I asked in a soft, fragile voice. I closed my eyes as I'm still trying not to cry. Leiro just smiled as she started petting my head.

"Anything for you, lil' sis..."

"B-Why is the world unfair?" I immediately asked, as a laid myself into his chest like a pillow. Myghad, I can't take it anymore. Huhu... "Why does everything seem unfair to me?"

I felt my eyes starting to cry, as I slowly crumpled Leiro's black jacket enveloping him and started sobbing. Leiro, on the other hand, doesn't answer my question, but instead he started comforting me not just through petting me but also through his words.

"There is nothing unfair in the world, Lunely. Everyone is created equal. It's just, there is no perfect person in these cruel world. Everyone makes mistakes, and not everything you want will be yours. Sometimes, there are things you have to let go because you know you have a good reason, not just for yourself but also to everyone else." Hearing those words... Huhu... I couldn't stop myself as I finally surrendered myself and hugged him so tightly. I let a burst of tears out from me as Leiro surprised and asked me...

Leiro's PoV

"Um, Lunely?... Why are you like that?" I asked her slowly as I could feel her shaking. The sobs never stopped, as well as the tightness of her hug and those thoughts swirling into her mind. I tried to comfort her more, and she tried to speak once again.

"K-K-Kuya Lei ... Can I ask again ..." Her voice trembled like ripples disrupting across a peaceful water. She was still crying, as I just nodded in response to her question while started hugging her.

B-Brother... D-Do you, l-love me?"

Her words suddenly pierced my heart~

"Why, are you asking that, Lunely? Of course I love you no matter what happens and that's true!"

"N-n-no Lei ... That's not w-what I mean ... D-Do you love me, more than just a little sister?" I can see her face turned red, as I suddenly remembered all of the awkward moments Lunely and I had together inside the shopping mall.

Yep, that really lost my perspective as a brother...

But yeah, that way she's feeling right now, maybe it would be better to give her some heads-up.

"Look, Lunely. Remember this, okay?" I tried lifting her face up towards mine as I saw that she's still crying. Without any hesitations, I suddenly gave her a kiss on the forehead when she was suddenly shaken, as I saw her sparkling eyes and that wide smile from her face.

"If there's a woman I love the most aside from my mother, it's you, okay? Well, you want to know why?" I asked as I gave her another smile to brighten up her mood.

"Because you Lunely, you saved my life once. You gave me love and care and you filled the days without Liana by my side, and you've given me great memories to cherish. You've been a great person Lunely, you know that? And even though you're quite mature for a twelve year-old girl, I know that you still have a lot to learn and discover in this world. "

"This is not the time to give up Lunely, okay? This problem of yours is just a piece of cake if you just don't give up. Here, let me give you some words to cheer you up. Just think that I'm the reward for the problem I'm working on you now, got it? "

She nodded no as I just gave her a smile. "Remember this Lunely. Problems were not made just to pull ourselves down. Challenges were made to heave ourselves up. If you love someone, then you should do everything for him." Lunely smiled as she suddenly kissed my cheek, which made me really blushed. "H-Hey! That was fast!"

"Bleh! You were the first!" Lunely slowly wiped her tears away and smiled at me like a cutie. "And yes, if you're the only reward for what I do Lei, then I'm gonna do my best to get you. But seriously Lei, do you love me?"

I just smiled as I gently rubbed the tip on my nose toward her nose, which made her chuckled like a child. "I don't need to answer that. The whole world already knows how much I love you. And you know that right?"

"Brother Lei! I really want to hear the words that will answer my question! Hmph. I hate you!" Lunely quickly pushed me away from her giving me that crossed arms and rolling eyes and yep ... There goes the cutest pout I've ever seen in my life.

"Hayy... Okay, okay..." I just chuckled as I quickly cleared my throat and smiled towards her.

"I love you."

"Hmph. I can't hear you." She replied, while giving me that pout once again. I just chuckled as I slowly crawled near to her as she was surprised.

"I love you Lunely."

"Eek! You're so close Lei!" She suddenly pushed me out of shock as I just can't stop laughing. She was really blushing that time as I just went to her and pinched her pinkish cheek.

"Eh? But I thought you can't hear me?"

"W-W-Well, that's not the point!" She suddenly jumped into me when the driver suddenly stopped her driving. As he turned around, he suddenly saw Lunely into my lap sleeping secretly, as I just stroked her head as if nothing had happened.

"Sir Lei! Is there anything happened-"

"Shh ... Lunely's sleeping. Just lower your voice, manong driver. And don't worry, nothing's happening here. Maybe you're just imagining it." I chuckled as if I was just joking when the driver just scratched his head and apologized. As he started driving the car once again, I just giggled when I noticed that Lunely was fast asleep.

I slowly removed the jacket I've been wearing and covered her body. It seems like she was exhausted so I just don't mind it.

I continued stroking her hair as I gazed silently into the half-set sun. Its shine resembled as Lunely's face, always shining vividly even when overshadowed by trouble. I wanted to ask her about her problem, but it seems like she won't gonna tell about it so I just gave her some comfort.

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Lunely's PoV

It was a clear night sky tonight. The stars twinkled endlessly like sparkling diamonds in the night sky, the quarter moon shone faintly and the crickets chirped peacefully into those thick bushes. It was a splendid night to watch, and any person could feel the cool breeze here.

I took my smartphone from my pocket and opened it. Suddenly, messages popped out from Yusarine and Briella. I tried reading them, although I'm still angry at them.

"Sis Lou, we're really sorry. We don't really like this. We all know how much you love cuz Lei, but let's remember that we work to help all ESCD patients, not just focusing on one person."

"Lou, although this really hurts but this is life. Even against your will, you have to do it. Not in all cases, Leiro is just there next to you. We sometimes let go of people we love."

~

I suddenly became silent when a new message popped up from my message box. It actually came from Prof. Seth, so I suddenly opened and read it.

"Ms. Lou Nylei Damandre, can I ask you a question?"

Huh? What kind of text is this? And it's from Prof. Seth... Oh well, even though he was involved in this problem I'm not angry at him. He is the reason I am in this life now- as an assistant commander and as Leiro's aid against his illness.

I was about to reply him when she called me, so I just answer it without any hesitations.

"Assistant commander Damandre, reporting for duty sir!" I answered immediately, as Prof. Seth somehow chuckled.

"No need for that, Lou. I just want to ask you some questions. Do you have some free time?" Prof. Seth asked, which made me really curious...

"Yes sir... Go ahead."

"Answer me honestly, Lou. Do you really accept the fact that you'll be going to United States tomorrow?"

I became speechless... I wanted to say no, but it seems I don't have any reason to refuse. "W-W-Well, I don't have any choice, Professor..."

"I see... But, if you had given a chance to choose, will you stay here with your current patient or go-"

Of course I'll stay here Prof. Seth! I want to stay here!" Tears suddenly bursted out as my started sobbing. "I want to stay with Leiro! I want to be with him! I promised to him that I will be beside him always! I want to spend more and more days with him Professor! I really wanted to..."

I just kept crying as Prof. Seth just spoke as if he wasn't affected by what I was saying. Well, if he is really serious about his decision that I go to the United States so I really have no right not to say no anymore ...

"I see... So Yusarine's right. I had no doubt. But you know Lou, our mission is to aid all ESCD patients not only on our country but also on other countries..." He kept on talking and talking yet I continued on crying.

"Don't worry, you won't be staying there for long. After two weeks you will go back here, back to your own life. Don't worry, I'll double your salary as soon as you'll finished aiding your next patient, okay?"

I just nodded yes since I don't have a choice for that. Prof. Seth just hanged up his phone immediately, as I just stopped crying for a while.

I smiled faintly as I suddenly looked at a video posted in my gallery, and this was the moment I heard Leiro say 'I love you' to me. It really touched my heart...

Like Leiro, I'll be living with Zion temporarily while we're still looking for a replacement for me just like my crush. But what I hated most is that, one month is what we talked about and then one week I'm leaving? What kind of promise is that?!

Tears started to fall from my eyes once again as I watched that video outside Leiro's veranda. Well, everyone's asleep except for me, and I just finished packing up my things for tomorrow.

"Lei... Lei why you..."

I didn't finish my speech as I tried to calm myself but I couldn't. I'm still crying, as I leaned my whole body into the glass window of Leiro's veranda.

I know I couldn't hide this anymore... So I just suddenly went inside Leiro and closed the veranda. I placed my phone on his drawer as I slowly crawled towards Leiro's bed.

I wiped my eyes as I saw Leiro sleeping peacefully. I just smiled faintly as I covered my body with a blanket and suddenly kissed Leiro's cheek for five seconds...

"Please, never forget me, Lei. I'll be back soon enough..."

"I love you Lei. So much..."

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