Hiding Secrets - Final Fantasy XVI

Brother, where did you go?

Clive is 17

Jill is 16

"Jill," Clive whispered through Jill's slightly opened window from outside. "Are you coming?" Quickly scattered footsteps and opening and closing drawers were heard from inside until the curtains from the window were drawn back and revealed to show Jill smiling as soon as she saw Clive.

"Of course, I'm going! We go almost every night, don't we?" Jill ushered herself out through the window, legs pushed up first, and landed on the ground.

"Yeah– I just...You were taking longer than usual, that's all." Clive scratched at his neck awkwardly as he moved back to give Jill room for her to stand.

"Oh, sorry about that! I was looking for something and I couldn't find it anywhere." Jill pulled a bag over her head and patted down at the fabric, relieved that it hadn't taken her hours to find.

"Looking for something? What is it?" Clive looked at the bag that hung low by Jill's thigh curiously.

"Well, I can't tell you now," She moved the bag out of his sight, "When we get to the scrapyard, I'll show you then. I think it'll surprise you." Jill starts to walk away from her backyard as Clive follows behind. She comes across a gate attached to the fence and opens the latch for the both of them that leads down a trail with a pond on the other side.

Jill and Clive met when they were fairly young, in junior high school. On the first day of school, Jill still visibly remembers when she had walked into her first class. She only had worried thoughts on how that day might go wrong but as soon as she walked through the classroom door, she saw Clive. 

There–He sat at his desk, pencil in hand with eyes that were in close thought almost as though he were in another world of his own. His black shiny hair hung down over his eyes, an earring that cuffed his left ear, and blue eyes that reflected the tropical ocean, clear as day underneath the sun and never bore.

Seconds felt like hours until Jill noticed Clive had seen her standing in the doorway looking like a girl that saw her prince for the first time with hearts in her eyes, not that Jill had sudden feelings because she'd never seen him before and she couldn't possibly fall in love with someone she just met, right?

Clive sighed, "You know I don't like surprises, especially from the last time."

Jill smiles to herself, "Oh you! It's nothing bad, I promise," Jill turns around, giggling, and shoves Clive playfully. 

Clive didn't comment but he rolled his eyes and smiled with her as they walked closer and closer to the scrapyard. Their footsteps crunched in gravel with each passing step, frogs jumping on lilypads with the water making a sploosh sound. "So, how's Joshua? I haven't seen him in a while nor have you told me about him."

"He's been...well..." Clive began to play with the zipper attached to his sweater that was unzipped.

"You don't sound too sure about that," Jill stops walking and stops in front of Clive, looking him in the eye with seriousness, "You know you can trust me, right? I'm here for you." Jill reaches out for his hands that still linger on his sweater and takes them in her own soft hands.

"Joshua–" Clive looks the other way, "It's been months," He whispers, "He's had this cold that doesn't seem to go away and I don't know what to do. Mother says it's nothing but I– I worry. His fever is high, he has this shallow breathing that's hard to ignore, and he rarely eats. Fuck ." Clive's eyes start to water after relieving what he's kept to himself for a while, now finally being let out.