Note: ๐ผ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐ - Thoughts
-------
She was quick to retrieve the fallen sunglasses next to him. "This is nothing," she answered while putting on the sunglasses back. "I tripped and hurt myself yesterday."
"That's a load of bull!" Luc exclaimed, pulling the female's hand to stop her as she started to stand up. "You've given me the same excuses two months before for your swollen cheek and uttering total nonsense about your wrapped left wrist before the tour started a month ago! Have you forgotten about that time when you got bruises on your back when we're out at the pool with the band? Or when you're cradling your right arm like it was a fragile, made of glass Holy Grail a week before that? Do you really think I wouldn't notice any of those!?"
"โฆWhat?"
๐น๐ข๐๐. ๐ผ ๐ โ๐๐ข๐๐๐'๐ก โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก. He let go of her hand and look away from her scrutinizing-even though she's wearing a sunglasses Luc can still feel the stare pinned on him-eyes. "Iโ I just don't buy your excuses for that injury. There is no way a mere trip will cause your right eye to hurt like that."
There was an awkward silence after the brunette's outburst. His heart thumped faster than normal as he recalled his previous words. ๐ผ'๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐ฟ๐ข๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ค. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ธ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ถ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐๐. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐, ๐ โ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐. ๐ผ๐ก'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐๐๐ค โ๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ผ ๐๐๐ก โ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐.
"โฆHow did you know?" come the quiet voice of the female.
๐โ๐๐ก. ๐โ๐๐ก. ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐กโ! "Sorry, never mind what I said earlier," Luc answered as he purposely avoided her piercing stare by pretending to reach for the book next to him.
A pair of hands rested on the brunette's shoulder, pulling his attention away from the book in his hand. "I'm asking you how did you know all those things, Lucy! Did anyone tell you about it?"
"Wโwhat?" Luc was dumbfounded at her question. "What do you meanโ"
"Did Micheal told you something?"
"Huh?"
Eri shook her head as she tilted her head down, staring at the white, marbled floor and mumbling to herself. "No, that can't be true. Micheal doesn't socialize much with the family members from father's side. I don't think he and you is that close too. So why...But thatโฆIt's impossible thoughโฆBut heโฆ," her head suddenly shot up and leveled with the brunette's.
"Eri?" ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐? ๐โ๐๐ก โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐ ?
"Tell me, Lucy," she said as the grip on his shoulder tightened. "Tell me how do you know about the pooโ,"
"Baby brother!!" a sing-song voice startled the youngsters.
Both the brunette and onyx stone-haired turned to the opened door. The rest of the female's words were cut off as Gray entered the room with Haruka tailing at his back. Eri quickly retreated to her seat and adjusting the sunglasses she's wearing.
The pink-haired man didn't notice anything was off as he made his way to the bed, grinning all the way to the brunette. "Guess what? Uncle Haruka said it's okay for you to leave the hospital if you feel nothing else hurts. Since there is nothing we can do about your amnesia here, maybe going back at your own house can trigger some memories and you will remember somethingโฆor at least that's what Uncle Haruka told me on our way here," he cheerfully explained while patting the back of the brunette. His attention switched to the sitting female next to the bed. "Oh, hi there, Eri. You're here to visit Luc? I thought you're participating in your club's camping?"
Eri slowly nodded. "It ended this morning; I actually came straight from thereโฆand since I still haven't start unpacking," she stood up, brushing off her dress a little and flashed a smile to the older man in front of her. "I better leave now before it gets dark," she continued and turned to Luc. "It's good to see you're well, Lucy. I'll see you later. You two as well, Uncle Haruka, Gray," she said, bowing her head to them and made haste to the door.
The three men watched as she leaves and the door closed behind her. Luc's eyebrows narrowed. ๐ผ๐ก'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐บ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ก โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐; ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก 2 ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ ' ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐๐'๐ก ๐ โ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก?
"Do you think something is up with Eri?" Gray asked as he sat down on the bed, snapping Luc out of his reverie. "She seemed to be off ever since Aunt Emma, bless the good woman, passed away. Oh, she's her mother, Luc. She passed away in an accident when she was driving home after sending Eri to her part-time job."
"Poor girl must've still blaming herself for her death," Haruka who was keeping quiet before added. "Emma and her were very close. I suppose it's normal for the wound to take a long time to heal."
Luc balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ด๐ข๐๐ก ๐ธ๐๐๐. ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ. ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ โ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐ธ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐ธ'๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก'๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐. ๐ด๐ข๐๐ก ๐ธ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก. ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐. ๐ผ๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐ค๐๐๐. ๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐โ๐ก๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐ โ๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐.
"What's wrong, Luc?" Gray asked as he noticed the brunette is keeping quiet. "Are you hurting somewhere?"
"Ah, sorry," Luc quickly shook his head. "My mind is elsewhere," he chuckled to ease the tension. "Why are you back so early though? I thought you're coming here tomorrow with SteโI mean, mom?" ๐ต๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐.
The pink-haired man shrugged. "I was told to check on you since I'm not working today. You know mom. There is no way to calm her down when her worried mode is switched on," he grinned.
"A trait that never change ever since she was little," Haruka sighed before turning to Luc. "You just woke up this morning but I see no problem if you want to leave the hospital today. Your bruises are minor injuries; they'll heal after you put some cream-I'll give you the prescription later-on them. But it's up to you though if you want to leave now or tomorrow. Whichever is fine with me."
"You sure you're not trying to kick him out from here?"
"You're always that person who likes to be dramatic in everything, huh?"
Gray laughed. "I'm just kidding, Uncle. There is absolutely no way you're kicking out my baby brother when he is this cute, no?" he said as he gets closer to Luc and ruffled his hair.
"Stop ruining my hair!" the younger Shepherd complained.
"Your pout is so cute! There, there. My little brother is really adorable!" the pink-haired man's ruffling session and laugh intensifies.
"Wโwait. Stop!" ๐ด๐๐โ!! ๐ผ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฆ โ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐-๐ข๐!