The day I met you [Joseph x Aesop]

Chapter XV- Mysterious conversation

Finally updating in ages, lol.

Anyways extra-long chapter for yall uwu

-晨光^^

Previously...

"Eli..." I signed.

"We should talk."

"Exactly what I had in mind." His face was blank as he patted the side of his bed. "Come sit."

I walked over and sat down slowly, avoiding the gaze of the Seer. I fidget nervously with the helm of my white gown and jumped when he put his hands on mine. I wince at the tenderness as he gently pulled my fingers apart, hanging loosely on the sides.

"Aesop. You mean a lot to me." Eli started, not removing his hand. "I know you're hurting, but I'm here to make it better." He cooned.

"H-Huh?"

"Joseph's betrayal was not unforeseen," Eli continued, mistaking my puzzled expression as masked pain. "I wished I could have done more to help, so you don't have to feel this way."

I have no idea what he's talking about, but the glee on his face was unavoidable. I love to see him happy, but this time, it's for the wrong reason.

He looks past at my face into the beige-colored walls, seemingly in another place. He was startled out of his daydream when I snapped my fingers in his face.

"What are you talking about Eli?" I growled. "Joseph did not betray me, where did you get that from?"

"I wish you would just let it go." He shook his head in exasperation. "The match! You can't tell me you'll still forgive him after that!"

The match. It was nothing but a dim memory now. I was barely aware of the pain but flitched at the venom in his voice when he mentioned it.

"It was just a misunderstanding...again." I protested weakly. A hint of Dija Vu hit me as my thought drifted back to that night, similar to this one, me defending Joseph from my persistent friend.

"Right, of course." Eli snorted. "I believed you last time, but look where it got us." A hint flush crept up his neck as he remembered what he said, expression silently warning me to not bring up the subject now.

I complied happily, wanting to discuss the past as much as he does.

"It really was just a misinterpretation. Joseph just...reacted more violently than I suspected." I winced.

"What could have been so bad that it triggered him to beat us half to death?!" Eli's voice shook with the strength to keep his anger restrained. "You look pale as a sheet, Aesop. If he truly loved you, why would he do something so horrible?"

Even with irritation towards Eli, I still couldn't help but feel compassion for my friend, defending me even though he got hurt because of me.

But that's it. He's just my friend.

"Don't call him that, Eli." I shrank away from him. Noticing my distance, his expression softened.

"I just don't want you to get hurt again." He whispered, leaning in. Eli gently tugged a strand of my grey hair behind my ears and looked at me with such tenderness I almost felt embarrassed.

"There's nothing wrong with me and...Joseph." I finally got the courage to speak his name out loud. Seeing the question in the Seer's face, I raised my hand to stop him and continued.