Dr. HEART STEALER

#28: Don't Ask

School Clinic

"Trafalgar-sensei", Shirahoshi slid the door open and saw him packing his things. The pink-haired understood what is happening from the box neatly piled outside. "We'll be left with no school nurse again", she pouted. "Don't worry. I head a female nurse will take over", he said without looking at the female student. 

"Then, sensei. Since you're already leaving, why don't you tell me about your thing with Airi", Shirahoshi smiled widely. Someone entered as well. The two turned and saw another pink-haired returning an ice pack. "One of my classmates caught some bruise during basketball game", she shyly explained. "What kind of players does your classroom has?", Trafalgar sighed and reached out to the ice pack. "Rebecca. You also want to know right? Why is it that sensei and Airi are arguing in the cemetery", Shirahoshi pushed Trafalgar on the edge. "Shirahoshi, sensei is preparing to leave. Why don't we go as well?", Rebecca tried to drag her outside but she was persistent. "Come on", Shirahoshi whined. 

"We happened to be in the same place. He was nagging me about my health", someone entered making Rebecca stiffen her shoulders. "Because of your absence, it'll be more peaceful to sleep here", Airi yawned. Rebecca looked at Trafalgar who is fixing piles of paper. "Don't you get sick, you brats", he said then shove the papers in his bag. Airi felt tight on her chest. 

Corridor

Rebecca followed him silently. "I can carry just that paper bag", Rebecca grabbed it from the top of the box. "Rebecca-ya", Trafalgar called her name. "Just a few more months, I can already see my grandfather out of the jail", she suddenly said. Trafalgar's tongue suddenly rolled back. "That's good to hear", Trafalgar nodded. 

"I made up my mind, sensei. I wonder if you also did", Rebecca pressed her lips together. 

"The reason why this marriage will be done is to control your family's influence. The moment he'll clear his name, he'll be reinstated as the chief. As soon as you are taken as our hostage, your grandfather will yield to our schemes", Trafalgar said with a straight face. Startled, she still maintained her composure. She knew that there was no cleaner way to fix the mess in her grandfather's name. "I don't mind being your hostage", Rebecca stopped walking.

Vivi and Tashigi happened to pass by. The two flushed and shook their head. "That's so wrong. Why can't you guys get some room?!", Vivi and Tashigi pouted in jealousy. They ran away leaving the two alone. "That was not-", Rebecca was about to explain but they're already gone. 

Trafalgar looked at Rebecca's flustered expression. He walked closer to the woman. "It'll be fine. I will do what I can to protect you", he assured. 

Clinic

Airi lied down on the bed and smelled the lemon on the sheets. "Are you alright?", Shirahoshi sat on a chair next to the bed. "I wish I could bat my eyes and ignore everything else", Airi burrowed her face on the pillow. 

"You know you can't", Shirahoshi chuckled. She leaned on the chair and looked up at the ceiling. "You're not the kind of person who would just sit and suck it up while someone is getting into trouble", Shirahoshi recalled things in the past. "You're just that kind of person", Shirahoshi smiled and brushed Airi's hair with her fingers. 

"She never said she needed me after I was born", Airi clenched her fist. "But whenever I look at her, I just couldn't help but understand that a person doesn't need to tell that they need something. In those parties where she will be left behind, I will always be standing next to her and watch the magical balls unfolds. I would be there to pick up the tissue papers she used last night as she drowned her pain in tears", Airi sat down with her hair all over her face. "If my father never loved her, why did he have to marry her?", Airi gripped on her arm. Shirahoshi looked at her with concern and pressed her lips together. "But when I look at those two, I somehow understood", Airi raised her legs and burrowed her face on them. Shirahoshi just stared dumbfounded with what Airi was saying.