Chapter 25.2

"Well, regardless of the reason, Jason has never been able to keep a relationship for longer than a year. I think the only …" Alina stopped talking and shook her head while the others stared at her. "It's nothing."

"Only … what? C'mon, tell us," Asami asked while pushing Alina back and forth.

"All right, stop already!" Alina said and she continued only after Asami stopped swinging her. "He … when I still had my parents, he … he dated my maid for two years … until she passed away."

Silence enclosed the room as they all looked at Alina in surprise and waited for her to continue.

Emily was the one who was most surprised as Alina didn't seem to have an aura of a princess.

"I … our family was rich and me, being the only child, was pampered. I had a maid who was a few years older than me. She was my best, well only, friend and something like a sister," Alina's arms wrapped itself tightly around her as she turned her head away from them while she spoke, her eyes closed with tears. "When Jason showed up, the two sorta …

"After she passed away, he … changed," after the tears went away, Alina turned to look back at the others, only to see a pale Michelle. The latter realized that the maid in question was Katelyn and she recalled what happened earlier in the morning.

Alors, il se sent coupable de la mort de Katelyn, Michelle thought. Est-ce pourquoi ... Mais pourquoi est-ce que ça me dérange? [1]

"He … became more distant, more than ever, when it came to relationships," Alina continued while eyeing Michelle. "He stuck to one-nighters and stuff like that since then."

"Maybe he hasn't gotten over her?" Asami suggested and Alina nodded.

"Maybe," Alina muttered.

"Hey, guys!" Jason's voice could be heard from outside the room. "Breakfasts getting cold."

"Let's get going before he barges in," Asami said and the four left the room.

Standing in the hallway was Jason who was holding a groggy Alice. The latter rested her head on Jason's shoulder with a pout. Clearly, she wasn't a morning person.

"You guys need to hurry," Jason said. "It's way past seven now. Girls, they always take this long?"

"What was that?" Alina asked with narrowed eyes when she heard him muttering the last part.

"I said making breakfast took me so long," Jason fibbed with a smile.

"Liar," Alice muttered and Jason's smile faltered for a split second.

"Let's go to the kitchen," Jason said before dashing away with Alice in tow while the girls giggled.

All six sat down for breakfast and began eating while joking. Jason angered Alina by teasing her with her outfit; he told her that she didn't need the permission slip because she had a school uniform at home but was still wearing a normal outfit. He 'reluctantly' acquiesced with a smile and raised his hands when Alina glared at him.

"So, why are we eating here instead of downstairs at the dining table?" Asami asked. She was referring to the dining table that Jason placed in the faux living room.

"That's … a formal table that we barely use," Jason said. "We usually eat here. It's a lot more cozier and family-ish."

"True," Asami said after looking around. It was a rectangular table that wasn't long and formal like the one downstairs that had so much space between each sitter. "Jason, we need to talk about something serious now."

Asami spoke in a quiet and sober manner and everyone turned to look at her.

"It's about an important matter, one that will have major significance in the future," Asami explained and Jason nodded.

"Shoot," he said while taking a sip from his coffee.

"Add me to your harem," Asami said with a serious face and Jason choked on his coffee that threatened to exit from both his mouth and nose.

"I - you - what?" Jason asked through fits of coughing.

"I mean, it's obvious, isn't it? You have quite a few women near you and I bet you'll have more, so let me join in," Asami continued while everyone else stared at her in shock. "I might as well join your harem. That way, I can have both you and the girls. That's like getting two in one - ack!"

Asami was cut off as Michelle grabbed her from behind in a chokehold.

"Excusez-moi," Michelle said as she applied more pressure to her arms and Asami sputtered out choking sounds while smacking the table. "She's délirant."

Alice looked at Asami with bemusement, but Jason caught a glint passing through her eyes that no one else noticed.

"Clever girl," Jason murmured in a husky voice full of gravel as he smiled at Alice.

A light tremor passed Alice's hands as she turned to Jason with confusion before she smiled sweetly and Jason sent her a knowing look. After realizing that she was his daughter, he had been paying attention to her and figured that there was much more to her than what he knew.

"So, how are we gonna head to school?" Alina asked Jason, changing the subject while ignoring the background music of Asami dying. "You gonna drive us there?"

"Nah, not today," Jason said with a shake of his head. "I'm going to spend some time with Alice. You know, take her to the park or something ... what do you do with kids in the morning? Anyways, I'll figure it out. We'll probably reach your school at ten or so. You guys go ahead."

"So … the SLIDE then?" Alina asked and the other girls agreed while Asami collapsed after being released by Michelle. [2]

"Grandma, I saw my dead grandma," she muttered as she dragged herself up and followed after the other girls.

"Uh … Alle, you have a moment?" Jason called Alina over and away from everyone else.

"Yeah, sure. What's wrong?" Alina asked when she saw how serious Jason looked.

Jason shook his head and gathered his thoughts. He was going to tell her about Katelyn. Taking a deep breath, he opened his mouth but failed to say anything, the words died out in his throat as soon as he saw Alina's smile.

"I- uh ..."

"Hey, you ok?" Alina asked in concern.

Jason stared into her brown eyes, warm with worry, and his mind blanked. He tried to choke out the words he wanted to say, the confession he had been working on, but nothing came out as he lost himself to her eyes. Worry and fear, regret and shame, all came bearing down on him and Jason failed to express his words.

"Jason?" Alina asked.

"I - I just want you to know," Jason managed to blurt out. "I - I … I love you, kid."

Shame and anger at his cowardice filled his chest as he saw Alina smile sweetly at him despite her bemusement.

"I know," Alina answered softly while tilting her head in confusion; she didn't understand why Jason was reacting like this. "I love you too."

Jason hugged Alina tightly and kissed her head, her hair tickling his nose as he bent forward and brushed his lips against her hair.

"I will always love you, no matter what you think of me," Jason said quietly.

"All right," Alina said with a raised eyebrow. "... I'll love you too."

As she left with the other girls she couldn't help but turn to look at Jason again and her heart leapt to her throat. Jason was looking out the window, an aura of desolation and pain surrounding him as the wind from an opened window brushed his hair gently. A nagging feeling crept upon her, warning her that perhaps this would be the last time she saw him and she shook her head, pushing those strange feelings away before she gently closed the door.

[1] Translates to: So, he feels guilty about Katelyn's death, Michelle thought. Is that why ... But why does it bother me?

[2] SLIDE: a transport based on the real-life Lexus version: (https://www.wired.com/2015/06/lexus-hoverboard-slide/). Basically, it's a form of public transport used mostly by students. There are roads, separate from the roads for vehicles, constructed with maglev tracks that allow boards to hover from one place to another. Students can rent one and travel from one fixed place to another by following the roads.