Chapter12
"Your pledge is to serve your master well. If you broke it, may you go astray and never go back as you have failed your duty."
"If you were to switch your lane once you did, there will never be any other option."
"Serve a life or be gone forever."
___
"Lily, we're going off now!" The older sister shouts as younger one just finished putting on her shoes, right hand is already on the knob.
"Hmm!" The said bear just hums. Weird, they thought. Usually Lily would just stand on the corridor with a grin or just lay on the floor sleepily. She just hummed, which they had confirmed that the bear is very awake, plus, she's not standing in the corridor.
"Ugh. I better go check first if she had set the living room on fire." Jennifer groans at Lily's lack of response. "What are you doing?" She asks even before she came to her sight.
Lily's currently laying on her stomach, legs waving childishly, and writing? All those tutorials Emma showed her had really paid off. Jennifer was trying to peak on what she's writing but Lily's face was too close to the paper.
Putting her nose on others' business is the last thing she wants to do but she can't help but to wonder what Lily, who is like a new-born cub, is writing about. She's unpredictable. Jennifer always thought Lily doesn't think before she acts. What could be running in her mind?
Finally, her curiosity lost (and time is running) Jennifer lands a light kick on Lily's waist, earning a flinching bear. "NO!" Lily suddenly shouts, hugging the paper along.
"What?"
"Lillian is not finish! Jennifer can't see it yet!"
"I don't even-"
"Sis! Come on!"
With a groan, Jennifer makes her way. "Where are you going?"
"To school, remember?" She manages to peek through her shoulder. Lily is now standing, holding the paper close to her chest while tilting her head. Jennifer would think she's cute but the level of denseness in the latter is fogging her mind.
"Ah" Lily finally remembers. See?
"Oh and don't burn the house." Her daily reminder didn't go unsaid.
As well as Lily's daily goodbye kiss.
And a punch on her guts.
____
"OH MY GOD OH MY GOD-"
"Oh, there she is." Isabella points with her chin when she hears the familiar spat along with her rapid footsteps.
"Ayo, why are you so late? I almost drink your precious banana milk." Mia frowns once Jennifer took the said boxed drink away, drinking it as she was dehydrated for 712178 months already. "Omg, CHILL YOU WOMAN!" She shouts when Jennifer almost choked.
"What's going on?"
It took a few moments for Jennifer to regain herself before speaking but is still panting, "You guys remember William, right?"
"William Jackson ?" Isabella answered and Jennifer nodded. "That stinkin' ex-crush of yours?" Mia continued.
"STILL." The latter corrects her before shoving The Satan's shoulder, "And he is not stinkin'!"
"OW! How am I supposed to know, you haven't talked about him since forever! And he cock-blocked some of my pranks before which is not cool!"
"Hold up, Jennifer has a crush on our Student Council's assistant? WHAT-" The chipmunk peeks over.
"Ahh yes, you haven't been that long with us..." Mia pats Bella on the head, "Yes, mate. She'd been head over heels for that stin- guy over 1234 years, she got it hard, I thought you were already over him."
Mia shifts her head uninterestedly over Jennifer who's blushing hard. "W-why would I talk about him all the time? It's not like you're gonna listen!"
"Exactly." She rolls her eyes.
"Okay, what about him?"
"HE SPOKE TO ME-" The latter spazzes, shaking the boxed drink almost spilling it all over. "
"We don't dig."
"Ugh. My calculus paper accidently slipped off my hand and it landed on his feet and- heeeeehehe- He picked it and compliments my knowledge!" She giggles, imitating the guy's response. "Maybe you should teach me sometimes!"
"EW. This is like one of those Korean dramas I hate." The satan scoffs.
Isabella taps her fingers on the table with a scrutinizing expression, "But what about Lily?"
"What about her?" The cat turns blank, not a single care was shown upon the statement. Both of her besties can only heave a sigh.
____
Jennifer went home alone that day with an ear to ear smile which she had been sporting since that William guy spoke to her. She spent the whole class daydreaming, well half of the time because her studies are prioritized.
It didn't go unnoticed by her besties.
"I'm hooooome!" The said girl shouts throughout the living room.
"Oh that's rare." Her sister peeks over Lily's shoulder, she's currently doodling with the bear on the floor. "Did something happen?"
"Jennifer!" It's Lily's turn this time to react, standing up her feet to cling but Jennifer is swift to avoid, walking to Emma.
"Guess what?" The oldest beams.
"Jennifer~"
"What?" Emma just looks up.
"Jen!"
"I said guess!"
"Jennifer!"
"Lazy."
"Jennifer!" Poor bear.
"You know William Jackson right? "The said Student Council's assistant is really distracting her current mind, she doesn't even realize Lily is back-hugging her trying to get her attention.
"That ex-crush of yours?" Her Sister claims with a frown.
"STILL OK." Jennifer began telling her everything about her interaction with him and that one key that brings out the delight in her, the question. "Can you believe that???" Emma nods at everything, but something about the guy in her topic makes her feel uncomfortable,
"Well you I haven't heard you talk about him in ages."
"Mia said the same thing."
and her instinct never fails her.
"Jennifer!" The frustrated bear slightly shakes her, earning her attention for the first time since her arrival. "Oh what do you want?"
"Lillian," She runs back to Emma to pick the paper she'd doodle on to show her, but by the time she turns around, Jennifer is already out of sight, skipping her way to her room. "Later, Lily! I need have to prepare something!"
Lily's smile falters. "There's always next time, you can show her tomorrow!" Emma side hugs her, "Now go shower, you've done too much ostrich run."
___
Wrong.
So wrong.
It has been two weeks.
The tomorrow you can show her your doodle never happened.
The day Jennifer sees Lily's doodle never came as Jennifer keeps dismissing her with the exact same excuse since Jennifer started hanging out with William.
"I need to finish this for William, he said it'll be a very great help!"
The pencils and papers had become her companions most of the time, but she didn't mind.
Lily's papers had been piling, but she didn't mind.
The amount of response Jennifer gave Lily throughout those weeks can be counted with fingers, but she didn't mind.
Lily is just a baby who needs attention, but she didn't mind.
She had always believed that the tomorrow Emma claimed does exist. It's just... not today.
Emma couldn't do much either, since her exams are also nearing. She did her best to accompany the bear. However, it's not her attention that Lily wanted.
No, Lily is not having a mental breakdown.
She understands exactly that they're schedules are tight. Her smiles never left when she tells Emma to go study. And it works.
It had also been weeks since her bestie came to visit them, since their midterm is nearing. They can only connect with Lily through Jennifer. Though she had started interacting with the guy, she'll always spare her time with her besties.
"How is baby bear?"
"Hm...She's fine."
It's always like that. Though they hang out together, it's always like that. Through her actions, Isabella and Mia knew too well that she was unaware of what she just said, or the said girl's condition.
Which is why both of them currently standing outside the Sisters' house, knocking on the door.
Surprisingly, Lily's the one who fetches. "Bella! Mia!"
"Baby bear!" They both greets back in unison, giving a peck on the bear's cheeks.
"I miss you sooooo much!" Isabella hugs her tight like her life depended on her while Mia just messes her hair.
"Lillian misses you two more!" She hugs her back, but lingers, nuzzling her head on Isabella's shoulder.
"What's wrong?" the latter asks when she realizes Lisa had been quite since they arrived.
"N-nothing."
"Where's Emma and Jennifer ?" Lily pulls back at the question, "Emma is staying at a friend's house for a group study, and Jennifer-" she turns to the stairs, "is studying.." which is partly true.
"So what are you doing all by yourself?" Mia throws herself on the couch. The two then follows.
"Umm...Play with Wally?"
"How surprising." The latter laughs.
"Other than that, Lillian just watch tv and draw or write something- Oh!" Lily claps her hand when something just crosses her mind, making the other two jumps on their place.
Lily runs to the shelves at a side of the living room to search for something, Isabella and Mia only looks at each other in confusion.
After a few seconds of struggling Lily finally pulls out what seems to be two pieces of paper. She then runs back to them. "What are those?" Isabella asks once Lily settles herself on the floor.
With a huge grin, she gave a piece to each of them.
"This...it's a chipmunk!" Bella exclaims in wide eyes.
"This one is a bunny! What about these?" it's Mia turn to be surprised.
"It's Mia and Isabella!" The bear flashes a toothy grin.
"Wha- do I really look like a bunny-"
"Did you draw these?" She nods childishly. "They're so cute!!!"
"Thank you, baby bear!" Isabella throws herself to Lily while Mia just stares down on the drawing in her hand. "But why a bunny- you've watched too much cartoons, really"
She pouts but breaks into a fit of laughter when the latter just blinks innocently at her. "Thank you, Lily." They were just mere drawings but somehow it felt special. It was the first time that day Lily felt less lonely since a few weeks ago.
"Did you draw something for the siblings too?" The laughter died down when Mia threw the question. Lily just hums.
"Lillian already gave Emma hers, but Jennifer.." she sighs, spreading her body completely on the floor. " Jennifer is too busy...It's okay though!"
Both of them heard her bitter chuckle, making Isabella rest her head on Lily's belly. "Sorry that we're too busy with school, baby bear."
"Oh no, it's okay! There's always next time." Lily raises her head a bit to give her an assuring smile. Though she doesn't know when that specific next time will be.
It didn't buy Mia as she sits up and looking at the bear, face full of worries. "It was that William guy."
"Yeah, Jennifer was never like this whenever we have exams or midterms...She's smart for God's sake!" Isabella's right.
There were silent for a moment before Lily finally spoke, "Guess he had doubled Jennifer's works..." she unconsciously pinch Isabella's face, unaware that he girl below is struggling from her hold. "Lillian wish Lillian can go to school too..."
"Hold on a minute," Mia sits up "Maybe you can!"
"Lillian can?????" It's Lily's turn to sit up causing Bella poor head thrown aside, God bless her forehead. Amen.
"We can't stay here though... I'm staying at Isabella's house today." She bits her lips before turning to Isabella who's gasping for air. That's when it hits her.
"Lily, sleep over at Bella's house today!"
"B-But Jen-"
"I'll text her and Emma, since we all know she won't be coming out any time soon."
"But, what about school stuff?" Isabella finally recovered.
"I'll handle if it's expenses."
"Wow, where did you get all the money? Did you steal or- oh yeah, you're rich."
"Not rich, but loaded. "The Satan winks. "Plus, Lily is just an exchange student, having one in our class won't cost much, am I right Lily?" She averts her eyes to Lily
"What is an exchange student?"
"Well...This may take a while."
🧸.
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