Chapter 26: Ema?

As Ema shook her head to tell me a no, i felt guilty after wanting to show the school to Evangeline.

Ema was in a very vulnerable state due to what happened the past days, so i thought she only needed some time to recover and return her normal self.

I looked at Ema , who was not feeling at ease and spoke to her.

"Hey? Come on, it won't take long, i promise." I said, while grabbing her hand.

She looked at me and sighed with an annoyed tone.

"Fine… let's go." She said.

Her behavior actually bothered me.

Ema was always the serious one, always smiling , and she always loved to meet new people… but in that moment, i only saw a spoiled child instead of her.

She was acting like i had to follow all of her orders otherwise she would've gotten angry.

Evangeline then spoke to us in a very friendly manner and grabbed Ema's hand too.

"Ema-Chan, let's be great friends , okay?" Evangeline said with a very sincere tone.

She was serious.

She really wanted to be friends with Ema.

My girlfriend looked into Evangeline's eyes, maybe with an annoyed or a disgusted look.

"Y-Yes. Let's do it." She said, but the falsity in her voice was to evident.

Evangeline pretended not to notice and smiled at her in a more friendly manner, like she wanted to reassure her.

"Don't worry. I don't want to ruin things between you and your boyfriend. He Ioves you a lot , you know?" She said, while still holding Ema's hand.

I blushed at her statement.

Evangeline was such a pure and gentle girl.

You could actually see all the joy and gentleness coming from her voice and her eyes.

Ema calmed down a bit, probably believing Evangeline.

"T-Thank you…" Ema said.

This sweet moment was interrupted by Benjiro who shouted proudly.

"Alright, guys! Let's go to show all this school to Evangeline !" He said while also raising his arm up like a hero.

"Yay! Let's do this!" Evangeline said while leaving Ema's hand and doing the same pose as Benjiro.

He almost cried after seeing someone that joined him.

Suzuki-San smiled warmly and spoke to Evangeline.

"So, Beaufort-San, let's go to-" Suzuki was interrupted.

"Please, no formalities. Just call me Evangeline, okay?" She said with a cheerful tone.

Suzuki-san nodded. "Okay, Evangeline. The first part of the school is going to be the cafeteria. Okay?" She said, while starting to lead the way. "Follow me." She said.

"Yes!" Evangeline replied.

She was full of joy.

She was happy to have met new friends.

Evangeline then looked back at us.

"You're coming with us, right?" She asked gently.

Me and Ema nodded in agreement.

"Yes, we're coming with you." I replied in a friendly manner.

Ema didn't reply. She just nodded.

Her unease was still too evident and she clung to my arm with a very strong grip.

She didn't want to let me go even for a split second.

Evangeline surely noticed her strange behavior, but for some reason she still pretended not to notice.

She just smiled at us and started to walk alongside Benjiro and Suzuki-San.

Arai-Sensei then waved at us and gave me a headpat.

"See you tomorrow, guys." She said.

Me and my girlfriend waved back with a bow and walked outside the classroom.

Ema didn't like that, for sure. In fact, her grip on my arm became stronger.

As we made our way through the school corridors, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that seemed to permeate the air around Ema.

Suzuki-San was talking and explaining everything about the school to Evangeline , who was listening very carefully.

Benjiro was making funny jokes and telling funny stories.

They were smiling and they were enjoying their time.

Suzuki-San was doing what i was supposed to do.

I wanted to be the one to fulfill my job but Ema wasn't giving me the chance to do so.

Her jealousy probably reached her peak.

I still didn't know why she became this jealous.

Her grip on my arm was almost painful, as if she were afraid to let go.

I glanced at her, noticing the tension in her expression, the furrowed brow and clenched jaw.

Something was definitely bothering her, something deeper than just a reluctance to show Evangeline around.

"Ema, is everything alright?" I whispered, leaning closer to her.

She hesitated for a moment, her gaze flickering between me and the floor beneath us.

Then, with a sigh, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, I just… I don't feel comfortable here right now."

I frowned, concern flooding through me. Ema had always been my rock, my steady anchor in the stormy seas of life.

Seeing her like this, so vulnerable and shaken, filled me with a sense of helplessness.

"We can leave if you want," I offered quietly, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

She shook her head, her grip on my arm loosening slightly.

"No, I… I'll be fine. Let's just get this over with," she muttered, her tone resigned.

I wanted to press her further, to understand what had rattled her so deeply, but I knew now wasn't the time.

Evangeline and the others were waiting for us, oblivious to the silent turmoil brewing within Ema, or maybe they knew.

With a heavy heart, I forced a smile and guided her forward, determined to see this through to the end.

As we entered the bustling cafeteria, the noise and activity washed over us like a tidal wave.

Evangeline's eyes lit up with excitement as she took in the lively scene, her infectious enthusiasm momentarily lifting the heavy weight from my shoulders.

"Wow, this place is amazing!" she exclaimed, bouncing on her heels.

"Don't you have places like this in France ?" Benjiro asked.

"Well, yes. But they aren't this beautiful!! I feel so comfortable here!" she said with happiness in her voice.

I was feeling really down since i wanted to be there to speak with them, but it was clear that Ema didn't want me to.

I glanced at Ema, hoping to see a spark of interest or even a hint of her usual warmth, but she remained silent and withdrawn, her gaze fixed on some distant point beyond the sea of faces.

It was as if she were here in body but not in spirit, lost in the labyrinth of her own thoughts.

Suzuki-san led us through the maze of tables and chairs, pointing out various features of the cafeteria with an enthusiastic flourish.

Evangeline followed eagerly, her eyes wide with wonder at each new discovery. Benjiro trailed behind, his usual swagger replaced by a look of quiet contemplation.

I stole a glance at Ema, feeling a pang of guilt for dragging her into this.

She was making me feel like i forced her to come with us.

But then, as if sensing my gaze, she met my eyes with a small, sad smile, and I knew that despite everything, she was glad to be here with me.

That situation was literally annoying me.

"This can't go on forever , i need to speak with Ema." I said to my mind.

I could notice Evangeline looking back at us during her tour.

She clearly wanted us to join.

Of course, here's the continuation:

As Suzuki-san continued her tour of the cafeteria, pointing out the different food stations and seating areas, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air.

Ema's presence beside me felt heavier than usual, her silence speaking volumes.

"Evangeline, have you tried the curry here? It's absolutely delicious!" Suzuki-san exclaimed, gesturing towards a steaming pot at one of the food counters.

Evangeline's eyes lit up with excitement. "Curry? I love curry!" she exclaimed, practically skipping over to the counter.

I watched her go with a faint smile, grateful for her infectious enthusiasm.

But when I turned back to Ema, her expression had grown even more distant, her eyes clouded with a sadness I couldn't quite decipher.

"Ema, are you sure you're okay?" I asked quietly, reaching out to touch her arm.

She flinched at my touch, her gaze flickering away.

"I'm fine," she murmured, but her voice lacked conviction.

I sighed inwardly, feeling the weight of her pain pressing down on me like a heavy cloak. Whatever was troubling her, it ran deep, deeper than I could reach with mere words or gestures.

But I refused to give up on her, not when she needed me the most.

"Evangeline seems nice, doesn't she?" I ventured, hoping to draw Ema out of her shell.

She nodded absently, her gaze fixed on a distant point beyond the cafeteria. "Yeah, she does," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

I followed her gaze, watching as Evangeline chatted animatedly with Suzuki-san, her laughter ringing out like a bell in the crowded room.

She seemed so carefree, so full of life, a stark contrast to the shadow that hung over Ema.

"We should… we should go join them," I suggested hesitantly, offering Ema a tentative smile.

She hesitated for a moment, as if weighing her options.

Then, with a resigned sigh, she nodded. "Okay," she murmured, allowing me to lead her towards where Evangeline and the others stood.

As we approached, Suzuki-san greeted us with a warm smile.

"Ah, there you are! I was just telling Evangeline about the school's history," she said, gesturing towards a display on the wall.

Evangeline turned to us, her eyes bright with curiosity. "

Oh, I'd love to hear about it!" she exclaimed, her smile infectious.

Suzuki-san launched into her explanation, her voice animated as she recounted the school's storied past.

But as I listened, my attention kept drifting back to Ema, who stood beside me with a haunted look in her eyes.

I wanted to reach out to her, to offer her some measure of comfort, but I knew that words alone wouldn't be enough.

Whatever demons she was wrestling with, she would have to face them in her own time, in her own way.

And until then, all I could do was stand by her side, a silent sentinel in the darkness, ready to catch her if she fell.

"Are you going to eat with us?" Evangeline asked to me and Ema.

"Mmh, i think that's a good id-" my voice was interrupted by Ema.

"I'm sorry, i'm not. I've changed my idea." She said with a cold tone while looking down on the floor.

Her grip on my arm loosened.

I looked at her with a negatively surprised expression.

"Ema? Didn't you say that-" and she interrupted me again.

"Yes. But I've changed my idea. I'm going home. Are you coming with me?" She asked.

Evangeline then entered our conversation.

"Eh? Ema-Chan? What's wrong?" She asked with a sad tone.

"None of your business, sorry." Ema clung to my arm again and pulled me to her with lots of force.

"You're coming with me." She said.

Evangeline, Suzuki-San and Benjiro looked at us with a very bothered and angry look.

Ema's behavior wasn't mature.

She was acting like a spoiled child, but she didn't want to tell me what was happening into her head.

Evangeline, Suzuki and Benjiro remained silent and looked at me, waiting for my decision.

I didn't want to leave Ema alone.

She was in a very vulnerable state, despite being the perfect girl this morning when we woke up.

Evangeline's presence and arrival really bothered her.

But on the other hand , i needed to teach Ema a lesson.

I couldn't be her toy , i have my own will and i want to take decisions by my own.

"What should i do…?" I said to myself.

Every answer would've led me to a road with no return.

The tension in the air was rising a lot and i couldn't answer.

Ema's grip on me tightened.

She even used her nails.

"Oh damn… that hurts." I thought.

I could literally feel her nails in my flesh.

That hurts.

"Oh… what should i do now…?" I thought.