GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 1.5

When you are too nice

People start using you

Internally, he was regretting following her lead because now he was sitting on a couch in some random persons house. Probably hers. But she was still a total stranger so he couldn't figure out why he just blatantly stepped in, trusting her.

But then again she did save him and stopped him from getting arrested. On top of that, she got him out of the forest even though he ended up somewhere that he did not recognise.

"What are you doing?" Jeno flinched back into the couch as she suddenly bent on her knees in front of him. Eyes widening, his lips parted when she began to tie her hair up while softly smiling at him.

He wasn't sure what to say or what to do. Sweat built up along his temple trickling down as she got closer and held his joggers. But the girl furrowed her brows when he moved his leg away from her. Confused, she raised a brow pointing to him. "I need to see"

"I'm not pulling them down!" He instantly responded with a horror expression. Scrunching up her nose she sat down folding her legs. "You need to pull it up," she informed. "I don't care I'm not gonna - wait what?"

Did I hear that right? Up?

"I noticed how you were in pain while walking. Your knee is injured." she spoke out examining his right knee and lifting a finger before poking it on his knee cap. At the sudden pressure exerted he hissed and slapped her hand away. 

"What were you thinking?" she raised a brow cautiously noticing his cheek blushed red 

"N-nothing"

🝔

"What's that?" Jeno eyed the items in her hand nervously as to what she was doing. "Healing poultice" she muttered while carrying on with her work.

But clueless as to what she just said he questioned again. "What's that?" he hesitantly spoke out not wanting to distract her concentration. "You don't know what a healing poultice is?" Jeno simply shook his head well aware of the fact that she was shamelessly eyeing him. Like most girls, he thought that she was just captivated by his charm-full looks. But the boy was oblivious of the fact that she was actually judging his stupidity.

"A paste made of herbs, plants and substances with healing properties" she informed while spreading the paste onto a warm moist cloth applying it to his knee before he could even protest against it. "It will help relieve inflammation and promote healing" her hands were busy wrapping a bandage around his knee.

His dark orbs did not set off her hands that were treating his injury. Without realisation he muttered out a few words acknowledging her skill. "Quite talented" She wrapped the bandage perfectly giving enough space for comfort and movement.

Jeno averted his gaze from his knee to her face after hearing a small chuckle leaving her lips. The girl hauled herself up grabbing all the items to put them back on the shelf that was filled with medications.

"I am an herbalist so it would be terrible if I wasn't good at my job" she turned to face the boy. A small smile formed across her features, proud of her work. Zeroing his orbs on her, he avoided her eye contact staring out the window. She wasn't meant to hear that

Sighing lightly Jeno was about to thank her for her help but then a lady walked in. "I brought some food for our guest" she placed down the tray. "Oh no it's ok. I should leave now" he stood up, however he collapsed onto the couch again as a numbing feeling spread across his right knee cap making it weak and fragile. Wincing slightly he glanced up to see the girl and the lady looking at him with a blank expression.

"I guess he's staying" the girl spoke out but he could hear her teasing tone making fun of him. Clicking his tongue, Jeno looked back to find the older lady pushing the tray closer to him. "It's important to eat so that you can get better" she smiled sweetly.

"Mum, I'm going out to the co-" she stopped in between her words before glancing over to Jeno with a strange gaze swimming through her dusky brown orbs. "Going to?" her mother asked wanting her daughter to finish off. She knew that if her mother found out that she was going to the council she would get worried. For that not to happen she took a deep gulp before letting a sweet lie leave her lips.

"I'm going to give some of the parcels to my other patients. I will be back before nightfall. And you . . ." she turned, pointing at Jeno who was still sitting on the couch. "After you eat you can freshen up. You're all dirty" she looked at him up and down, gawking at his unhygienic state.

Glancing at his muddy clothes, a crimson tint raised to the tips of his ears out of embarrassment. Which was strange because he did not feel like this during the walk down at market earlier. "Don't be out too long! And take Roman" He watched as they waved bye to one another. A small smile lingered across his lips, finding their mother and daughter relationship comforting.

"What's your name?" The mother sat in front of him.

The boy glanced over to her. She doesn't know my name?

He wasn't sure if he should be happy or upset. Making a thin line with his lips he replied. "Lee Jeno'' he doesn't even remember the last time he told someone his name. Holding back the euphoric feeling that arose within him he bit his lip trying to refrain from smiling.

The older ladies' features fell apart at an instant. Eyes wavering and mouth agape. It was as if she saw some sort of ghost as her complexion became pale and frail. Jeno realised that she was not breathing properly which abruptly worried him. "Is there something wrong?" Jeno questioned as to why she looked so petrified.

Coming out of her daze she shook her head breathing lightly. Gulping down she put on a soft smile looking perfectly fine. "A handsome name for a handsome man" she whispered out in a delicate tone. Her smile looked genuine and her eyes glistened. He couldn't deny how it boosted his ego. He knew that people found him good looking but being told it sends a different sort of feeling. "Thank you"

"No no, I was merely stating facts." She spoke warmly. "I'm going to the garden now. Please make yourself comfortable and eat the food before it gets cold" She stood up and walked out leaving the boy alone.

Jeno flickered his eyes back down to the food cautiously staring at it

Its not poisoned . . is it?