loping along through the cosmos

36: JP FINALLY HAS HIS AVENGERS ASSEMBLED

JADE

Jade and Reverie went to school together on Tuesday.

The two of them agreed to meet Justin after school. If the boy manages to step out of his bodyguard duties for a few hours, that is.

At the end of their discussion inside Ira's room that day, Jade only agreed to let Justin join them because she had a feeling Astra wouldn't let her daughter's bodyguard leaving her injured daughter alone in their condo unit. Because that's how Leila acted when Jade woke up from her coma years ago. Literally, Kieran and Fino were guarding her even outside her bedroom as she slept. The overprotectiveness lasted for at least a month until her grandma Jane talked her daughter-in-law out to give Jade some privacy, she was just cooped up inside their mansion after all.

To Jade and Reverie's surprise, however, they met Justin in the cafeteria during lunch break.

"What the hell?" Jade asked, watching Justin slip between the table and bench beside Reverie. "Astra let you go to school?"

Justin nodded. "She's staying at home with Ira and the other bodyguards. I wasn't even planning to ask permission to go out until dinner. It was Astra who asked why I wasn't at school." Jade opened her mouth to speak but he raised a finger, knowing he'll get lectured. "I protested, of course, since I'm paid to protect her at all times. I know that I should be beside Ira especially now, but my mother called and said I shouldn't skip school."

"Your mother sure is one scary woman," Jade murmured, remembering that one time she met Justin's parents on her 10th birthday.

Yelena Hastings was just staring at Jade, as the child happily greeted her friends. Jade caught her looking and yet the woman still continued to stare - not even a small smile appeared on her face. Just a pure blank stare.

As Jade grew older, she realized Yelena Hastings was just checking her out - as in, checking who her son was going to protect in the next years. Until now, however, Jade doesn't know what Yelena thinks of her.

Reverie scrunched her nose and leaned to the table, gesturing for her friends to come closer. "Something's not right." She pointed at Jade. "Leila and Philip were super protective of Jade, during and after her stay at the hospital. That was one year after the accident. Why would Astra be so chill after Ira got shot two days ago?"

The three of them pulled away after hearing Rev's same thoughts as Jade's.

"Exactly what I'm thinking!" Jade automatically high-fived with her best friend, a proud grin on their faces.

Justin sighed at the sight. "This isn't exactly the right time to celebrate." It didn't surprise him, however, when the two girls ignored his statement.

The lunch break was over after another fifteen minutes.

Justin and Jade were on their way to their next class when they saw Atieno coming over to them with a smile.

"I'll go with you to that cafe later," he told Jade before looking at Justin. "Not working today?"

Justin knitted his brows. "What cafe?"

Atieno turned to Jade with a look of disbelief. "Theo hasn't told you, yet, huh?" Before any of the two could reply, he patted Jade's shoulder and left without looking back at them.

"He's the weirdest of the bunch," Justin said, eyes following Atieno's retreating figure.

"Nah, it's still Fino," Jade replied, opening the door as she spoke without looking at who was on the other side meeting her.

"Watch out!" one of their classmates alerted them but someone behind Theodore accidentally shoved him forward, accelerating his steps to the door, just as Jade came in.