The Firefly

38°

I closed my suitcases while Jake listened to my movements sitting on the bed. I sensed his tension, felt his longing to go back to San Francisco.

The environment there was oppressive, taking his breath away. -Don't forget anything.- He recommended me, I walked around the room a couple of times to check that I hadn't left anything lying around.

-Did the house tour meet your expectations?- I already knew it was a rhetorical question, I could tell by the tone he used.

Despite this, however, I went over in my mind the morning that had just passed. It had been Gwenda who had taken me all around the facility; of So-min I had seen not even a shadow.

The girl had tried to tell me some interesting facts about the house, but she certainly could not know everything. -Pretty much.- I affirmed.

What I was curious about was to know more about that family's past, Jake's, but I had to settle for that.

-Come on, let's go.- Jake gripped his white cane as I reached out to grab one of the two suitcases.

-Leave that one here.- Jake was aware that there were many servants ready to carry them for us. Not surprisingly, as soon as we opened the door, a servant, never seen before, rushed into the room grabbing them for us.

Mr. and Mrs. Hale arrived just as Jake and I stood at the threshold of the large front door.

So-min approached cautiously, and I thought I saw her eyes glaze over as she looked at her son.

After a moment of silence, she approached him and, as if she could take no more, threw herself into the latter's arms.

From the bewildered way he touched his mother's body slowly and respectfully to see who it was, it suggested that he knew full well that it was a woman who was hugging him.

He wrinkled his forehead doubtfully at first, and when he finally understood he seemed to freeze on the spot, almost terrified.

His mother held him a little more in her arms and when Isaac's hard gaze fell on her he seemed to soften a little.

-I will miss you Jake...- Tiny tears appeared in the corners of the boy's thin eyes. He held her in turn without saying a word, shocked by what was happening.

They remained close to each other for a few moments, saying nothing. The woman stared at me with her two dark pearls.

-Thank you for bringing him here.- She murmured, I felt the tips of my ears redden.

Isaac looked away, but when So-min turned away from her son I saw him approach. I held my breath as he stood in front of the boy before grabbing his hand and shaking it.

Unlike how he had done with his mother, Jake did not return the squeeze.

 He quickly wiped away the tiny tears at the corners of his thin eyes and then turned his face toward me and forced an imperceptible smile.

-Let's go now.- His voice trembled, but he tried to hide it by immediately clearing his throat. I nodded, offering him my arm, which he immediately leaned on with inhuman grace.

-Thank you for your hospitality.- I thanked the two parents, turning around and giving a somewhat awkward bow with my head. When we finally got out a huge weight seemed to lift off from above me.

Liam's car was already in motion in front of the gate ready to leave, but there was no sign of Liam driving; he was probably spending Christmas with his family.

Another man was sitting in his seat ready to leave. He had dark skin and thick curly hair, dressed very smartly he seemed to be Mr. and Mrs. Hale's driver.