Chapter 61 - Hut(house)

A long black sandalwood table, clean and polished so that it reflected everyone present.

The atmosphere was not easy, but it was definitely much better than it was in the hall minutes ago.

— I can't help but repeat. The situation is interesting. Coco said, not hiding a cheerful smile

Revie's brows drew together—Very much. Can you still get away from him?

Balalaika grunted, crossing her legs — Maybe you should do it? Not satisfied with the queue? You're foaming the most, even though we're already with him...

— That's enough. — Jack said in a tired tone, knitting his eyebrows a little menacingly — I'm tired of all this.

Valmet, Chiquita, Sophie, Coco and Revie all looked at the guy at once.

The "negotiations" had been going on for a couple of minutes, but it all came down to the fact that they were pulling him, like a crab swan and a pike, from one fable.

Revie leaned on the table—Yes. Tell them already that it's just me and you vm...

Jack's tired, discontented gaze fell on Revie, and she fell silent in mid-sentence.

The girl felt that it was better to be silent now so that the situation would not worsen and, although she hated it, she fell silent.

And anyway, she noticed that in the minutes that they sat at this table, Jack became more and more sad and tired.

And as strange as it may sound, in this state he seemed to her more masculine and adult.

To be honest, she really liked it, but she liked the smile on his face much more.

However, none of them seemed to her.

— I have made a decision. — Jack said calmly, sighing — I won't choose anyone...

Balalaika looked at the guy — It's not...

— Don't interrupt me. Jack lowered his eyebrows, measuring his Boss and mistress with a not very kind look

Sophie froze with her mouth open, and then, grinning, fell silent.

The guy's behavior was clearly different from the usual and it greatly interested the ladies present.

Chiquita stood out especially as the most over-aged and experienced woman. On the anticipating face, narrowed eyes sparkled and a smile played.

— You're pulling me like a doll. It's like I'm a kid and they're choosing where I'm going to stay this time. — Jack sighed and threw back his head, looked at the ceiling

Valmet blinked a couple of times — Isn't it because you can't choose?

- yes. — Jack calmly replied, looking at her — And I made a decision. Your decision. And whether it suits you or not... I don't care anymore now.

The women tensed. The guy was clearly not in the mood and it looks like they overdid it...

Slowly pushing back his chair, Jack stood up—I won't choose anyone. And I will not keep or observe any schedules, plans or anything like that. I am not following you, but you are following me. If someone is not satisfied with this, then I suggest we just stay good friends.

Balalaika and Revi frowned, and Coco, Valmet and Chiquita allowed themselves a little smile.

— I like you. Everything. And I like you equally. I am not capable of loving, and therefore this decision, although not without difficulty, is given to me. I have a life, plans and goals, which I am not going to give up for the sake of women.

Calmly saying all this under their surprised looks, Jack calmly walked to the door — You can sleep with anyone, but in that case, don't you dare talk about loving me. I clearly separate my lover and my girlfriend. The first is free and does what she wants, the second is not if she does not want to break off our relationship forever.

Reaching the door and grabbing the handle, Jack finally said — This is a selfish decision, but it seems that I have no other choice. And yes, do not even think of harming each other, considering that this way you can get me into "personal possession". I'm not a thing, and after that, I'm unlikely to even look at someone who dares to harm my loved ones because of love for me. I've said it all.

In silence, he opened the door and went out, gently closing the door.

— It didn't work out well. Valmet closed her eyes

"He may be sixteen, but he's a man. — Chikita chuckled, folding her arms on her chest with a smile and looked at the Balalaika with a Roar — You put too much pressure on him, and respect doesn't smell much.

Revie snorted, leaning back in her chair and folding her hands, thinking

— Yes, you create the most problems. Chiquita lifted the corners of her lips

Revie looked at her sharply with anger and reached for her holster.

— See? — Chiquita grinned — He just came out, and his words for you, apparently, are an empty sound.

Frozen, Revie grimaced and leaned back in her chair again and tried to cool the steam —Nonsense. Jack means a lot more to me than he does to all of you.

Coco tilted her head slightly — Maybe so, but you obviously have less respect for him than we do.

— Oh, really!..

— Calm down, two-armed. — Balalaika said calmly, thoughtfully tapping her finger on the table

Quickly turning around, Revie looked at Sophie, but restraining her ardor, she grinned, looking at all the women with her eyes — I don't respect Jack? Debatable. Very controversial. I just see right through you.

— Really?

- yes. You all coveted him just because of his appearance. He's just a toy for you, but not for me. — Revi confidently said — My intentions are the most serious, so I'm protecting him from you.

Coco grinned — The excuse that you are hiding behind is good, but you are most of all interfering with the "world" among us. I don't mind sharing it with the girls, the Balalaika too, and you seem to be too, but in every way you interfere with this.

— Because!..

— Your reasons are not important. — Coco interrupted her — Yes, we've heard them a lot of times in the last few minutes. What matters is that Jack is right. The situation is strange and unheard of, but it exists, and we became its participants. Put yourself in Jack's shoes... although no, no one will be able to do it. No one can understand his feelings, no matter how much he wants to.

Everyone looked at Coco and she smiled good—naturedly and said that He had made a decision and was unlikely to change it. Our choice is only whether we will "swim" with him or not.

There was silence after her words.

Each thought over the situation and the guy's words in her head.

And although some of them were not entirely happy with Jack's decision, they did not allow thoughts of abandoning him at all.

— I'm not capable of loving... — Valmet said softly. — What do you think he's talking about?

— Yes, strange words from him. — Balalaika said thoughtfully — Okay, more on that later. We will assume that it is said for beauty. Now we agree that we will not interfere with each other and especially Jack. Let him decide who he wants to go to, sleep with, or just visit. We really went too far.

Coco calmly and immediately nodded, and Revie, obviously not without difficulty, but also agreed with this decision.

— Great. Balalaika chuckled and looked at Revi

— What? Rebecca grimaced

— We have a meeting, it seems like she does not relate to Jack, but to you so exactly...

— Don't drink. Revie rolled her eyes, getting up from the table and walking out the door

— And so... talk about business?

— Yes, we'll talk.

...

After leaving the room with the women, Jack calmly went to his office.

— You look tired, Boss.

— Hiro... — Jack said quietly, watching the guy come out of Beatrice's room with buckets — A lot of work?

— Not really. — Hiro smiled happily and only this smile gave cheerfulness — Thank you again very much, for that pill. My head doesn't hurt at all! Now it has become quite easy to clean up! My head doesn't hurt even when I bend over!

Energetic words and his sincere kind look lifted Jack's spirits — It's good. I'm glad I could help you. — he smiled affectionately, patting the guy on the shoulder — Go have lunch. I must have forgotten again...

— No, Hiro didn't forget to have lunch. — the guy with the funny serious face "shook" his head— Hiro, that is, I, doesn't forget anything anymore.

— Okay. Then take a break...

- no. The work is still unfinished. — the guy shook his head - It's not for nothing that I get the bread I feed the birds, right?

— Okay, okay, but don't forget to rest. — Jack raised his hands — And I'm going to rest.

— Yes, I told you, you look tired. I really need to rest. — he nodded, and then smiled — And Hiro doesn't need a rest. Well-done work, delicious food and feeding of birds gives me strength!

— Lucky. — Jack grinned good—naturedly and gently patted the boy's hair, went to his room - Don't overwork just.

— All right, Boss!

...

Entering his office, Jack slowly walked to the bed and wearily plopped down on it.

"Someone's exhausted."

- "O'Dim, not up to you now..."

Gunther shrugged, "Did you think it would be easy? In a good way, you needed to gain strength before you found yourself in a similar situation. And of course it wouldn't hurt to have a much firmer selfish position."

Jack sighed heavily, lying face down in the pillow — "Will you still give me lessons? I already figured it out while I was in the room with them. It was all a bad idea..."

"No, you're on the right track. It's not for nothing that I made you a "flycatcher". You just don't have enough experience."

After a little thought, Jack got up, changed into sports clothes and began to study.

So he thought that he would be able to drive away thoughts and distract himself, but somehow not so.

"By the way, what are your plans?"

- "What are you talking about?" — Jack asked mentally, doing push-ups

"There, in the room with them, you said that you have your own plans and goals. Which ones?"

- "Well, it's like you don't know." — the guy grinned

- "Who knows. I want to hear it from you."

Frozen on his straightened arms during the exercise, Jack replied, "I want to change Ruanapur. Make this place livable. Every day I see emaciated children, bandits, beaten prostitutes, racketeering on the streets... Not an hour goes by that I don't hear the trill from the shots, and I'm still in one of the most prosperous areas of the city, if you think about it."

— "It doesn't concern you, Jack." — Gunther smiled weakly with sparkling eyes—"It would be better if you really gave up such a stupid goal and took care of your harem."

— "I don't have a harem." — Jack corrected Mr. Mirror — "My hut is not on the edge, but in the very center of this lost city. I need a goal anyway. Someone will become the ruler of the world, someone will become a villain, and I, for now, will limit myself to such a goal and when I fulfill it, I will set myself an even more difficult one. But first of all, I need to gain strength and experience, so in the near future I will just lead my usual life..."

O'Dim interrupted— "An "ordinary" life with five women."

"Yes, a 'normal' life with five mistresses."

— "The most ordinary life." — Mr. Mirror shrugged his shoulders — "Every sixteen-year-old guy has the same."

"...are you bored or something?"

- "A little." — grinned Gunther