Como todas las mañanas, me despierto temprano para pasear a Sky. Esta vez me ha costado levantarme por el bajo ánimo de los mensajes de Nymos. Si él no me hubiera aplastado en la cama con sus grandes patas, era muy probable que siguiera ahí durmiendo, deseando despertarme hasta que finalmente Duskwood se hubiera abierto.
Dejo que Sky juegue con sus amigos en el parque de perros y recibo una llamada. Al ver el nombre de Macie me sorprendo un poco. Tras la reunión con ella ayer, no pensé en que volviera a ponerse en contacto conmigo de nuevo. Eso puede ser o algo bueno o algo malo.
—Hola Macie —saludo al responder la llamada.
—Hola Stephan —su voz suena alegre, debo asumir entonces que es algo bueno—, dime quién es tu prima favorita.
—Bueno, dado que eres la única que tengo, debo decir que nadie más.
Suelta una risa y aún espero a que continúe.
—Como Redlog Pines está cerca de Duskwood, decidí preguntarle anoche a Charlie si sabía algo de lo que había pasado en el pueblo.
Frunzo el ceño entre la sorpresa y la curiosidad. No me esperaba que ella fuera a ayudarme con este asunto.
— ¿Acaso no eres periodista que no sabes lo que ha sucedido? —Trato de bromear, aunque mis esperanzas son nulas por mucho que tuviera noticias. Si nadie sabe lo que ha pasado, no creo que ese amigo suyo tampoco lo sepa. Es imposible.
—Créeme, nos tienen totalmente prohibidos averiguar qué está pasando —escucho de fondo la cafetera avisándola. Tenía que haber traído una botella para ir bebiendo un poco—, solo nos dejaron informar del rescate de Hannah y nada más.
— ¿Nada más?
—Sí, porque agárrate a lo que sea, esto es interesante —en vez de agarrarme a algo, me siento en un banco, atento a lo que va a contarme—, al parecer, el FBI apareció de la nada en Duskwood buscando a un criminal que estaba ahí ¿te lo puedes creer?
Trago saliva con fuerza, recordando que no sabe nada. Si ese tal Charlie le ha contado algo que no debiera saber, estoy perdido.
—No lo entiendo ¿puedes seguir explicándomelo mejor?
—Claro, porque hay más —se aclara la garganta y continúa—. Toda la red de Duskwood fue apagada por ese criminal, para evitar que se comunique con alguien ¡Incluso todavía el pueblo sigue cerrado por él! Nadie puede entrar y salir sin permiso especial.
<<Así que es por eso por lo que me detuvieron aquella noche, estaban preparando Duskwood para encerrarla por completo.>>
Muevo el pie al ritmo de una melodía triste que se me acaba de aparecer en la cabeza, como si me estuviese dando una banda sonora para un momento dramático.
El FBI está tratando de atrapar a Jake por todos los medios, sin importar lo que opinen los ciudadanos de Duskwood. Deben de tener a todo el pueblo cabreado.
—Y espera, hay más —hago un sonido de interés, aunque es falso. Simplemente estoy triste porque hasta que no atrapen a Jake, no abrirán el pueblo ni habrá conexión de nuevo. Lo que significa, que no habrá conversaciones con Jessy. Gracias Jake…— al parecer, se murmura que sea probable que el criminal se esté ocultando con alguien.
Me incorporo en el banco, con miedo ante ese rumor. Solo espero que no se trate de mí.
Sky se acerca a mí con una pelota en la boca y le acaricio la cabeza, mientras que deja la pelota en el suelo para que se la tire.
— ¿Y se sabe quién lo está ocultando? —Pregunto mientras tiro la pelota para que Sky vaya a por ella.
—No lo sabe exactamente, solo que sea probable que el chico que estaba metido en la investigación del secuestro de Hannah —su forma de decirlo es casi intencionada a señalarme como culpable de algo. Y creo que sé de qué—. Stephan vuelvo a preguntártelo porque parece que cada vez está teniendo más sentido para mí… ¿Es Jake el criminal que están buscando en Duskwood?
Se me secan los labios al saber que sigo mintiendo por Jake para protegerla. Y más tras escuchar lo que me ha dicho, es mejor que siga sin saber la verdad. Se merece algo mucho mejor que un hombre que puede hacerla daño con sus desapariciones. No dejaré que mi familia se ponga en peligro por él.
—Y yo te respondo de nuevo que no es él el criminal —suelto un suspiro exasperado, fingiendo estar cansado del tema. Aunque no se me dé bien actuar, ella no puede saberlo si no me está mirando—. Mira, olvídate de él, simplemente desapareció cuando Hannah fue rescatada-
— ¿Y si también está encerrado en Duskwood? —Su pregunta parece esperanzada— Quizás por eso no se ha puesto en contacto contigo, porque no-
—No Macie, Jake no estaba en Duskwood —la corto al ver que parece feliz por esa teoría suya. Me duele, pero es mejor así—, rescatamos a Hannah y desapareció, debo asumirlo que solo serví para ayudarle, nada más.
Se hace el silencio al otro lado de la línea, ni siquiera oigo que toma de su café o come algo. Simplemente silencio.
—De acuerdo —finalmente responde, mucho más dolorida que antes—, entonces dejaré de preguntar por él, porque ahora veo el motivo de que estás tan enfadado con Jake…
—Macie, si él te interesaba, lo siento mucho-
—No, está bien —suelta una risa, pero creo que es más de incomodidad—, a ver, hablamos algunas veces, pero tampoco fue algo intenso ¿sabes?
—Mhm…
— ¿Por qué te estaré contando a ti esto? —Vuelve a reírse y noto cómo su voz se quiebra. Creo que sí la he cagado pero bien— Bueno, le dije a Charlie que tengo una amiga viviendo en Duskwood y se ha ofrecido a contarme más cosas si hay algo nuevo.
—Vaya, que… Amable.
—Sí, lo es —sé que está dolida por lo que le he contado. Solo espero que se le pase con el tiempo—. Bueno, debo de desayunar, que me tengo que preparar para trabajar.
—Claro, que tengas un buen día Macie.
—Tú también Stephan.
Cuelga y guardo mi móvil, sintiéndome peor por mentirla.
<<¿Estoy realmente seguro de que esto es buena idea haberla mentido?>>
Ya era suficiente que yo me arriesgué entablando esa amistad con Jake, aunque ahora ya veo lo peligroso que es por ver cómo están las cosas en Duskwood. Creo que lo mejor es mantener las distancias con el tema de Jake, tanto para mí como para Macie si no queremos ser investigados.
— ¿Y qué rumores son esos? —Me pregunto molesto— ¿Por qué iba a tener yo al criminal oculto? Habría que ser tonto como para hacerlo.
Realmente los rumores son una cosa bastante peligrosas. Menos mal que no he llamado la atención demasiado y estoy libre de cualquier sospecha.
Y espero que siga siendo así.
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Fue mientras estaba trabajando que había recibido un mensaje inesperado. Al ver a Thomas en la pantalla de chat, no pude evitar en gritar un ‘¿Qué es esto?’ bien alto, llamando la atención en los clientes.
Klaus incluso se me acercó para saber qué había sucedido, dejando a Peter, uno de nuestros empleados de la mañana con el cliente que estaba atendiendo.
— ¿Qué sucede, tío? —Me pregunta apoyándose en mi hombro.
— ¡Es Thomas! ¡Me ha enviado un mensaje!
—Ah, bueno…
— ¡No! ¡No lo entiendes! ¡ÉL-
Me corta una llamada entrante de él y respondo. La conexión es mala y aunque trate de responderle, no parece que llegue bien mis respuestas. Finalmente se corta en nuestra primera interacción.
Vuelve a llamarme y esta parece se empieza a arreglar.
—Tu conexión es probablemente mejor que la mía ¿verdad? —Thomas pregunta, con la imagen estabilizándose poco a poco.
—Es lo que pasa cuando estamos actualizados a cinco g —respondo con una broma—, pero me alegra de verte de nuevo Thomas.
— ¿Qué hay? Soy Klaus, amigo de Stephan —saluda levantando una mano.
—Disculpa porque estemos inactivos desde hace semanas, no he podido ir a cambiar de móvil —responde a mi broma con una risa—. Y encantado de conocerte, yo soy Thomas.
— ¿Hay señal? —Escucho a Dan de fondo.
— ¿Funciona? —También escucho a Cleo.
Parece que están todos juntos.
— ¿Lograste hacer una llamada?
Al escuchar la voz de Jessy ignoro por completo todo lo demás. No pienso en la alegría de ver a Thomas o escuchar a Dan y Cleo, sino mi preocupación por ella tras aquella noche.
—No solo eso, no vais a creer quién está al otro lado de la pantalla —la sonrisa de Thomas hace que me emocione al saber qué es lo que va a hacer.
Al darle la vuelta al móvil, veo a Dan, Cleo y Jessy en el sofá, seguramente viendo alguna película por las palomitas que él tiene.
Jessy se ahoga al verme y yo no puedo evitar en ignorar a mis dos amigos para fijarme en ella. Siento que no han sido semanas sin verla, sino años.
Dan dice que le hace un gesto a Thomas para que le pase el móvil y lo hace, colocándose Cleo a su lado.
— ¡Boyband! ¡Colega! —Exclama Dan tras terminar de comer las palomitas.
— ¡Ni hablar! —La sonrisa de Cleo también se amplia— ¡Stephan! ¡Cuánto tiempo!
Jessy aparece detrás de ella, con una sonrisa de emoción al verme.
— ¡¿Qué?! ¡Dámelo! —Dan le pasa el móvil, pero parece más que Jessy se lo arrebata— ¡Stephan! ¡¿De verdad eres tú?! —Puedo ver en sus ojos cómo brillan al verme, aguantando las lágrimas.
— ¡Jessy! ¡Sí, soy yo! —Veo que grito, llamando demasiada la atención.
Hago un gesto a los clientes y me largo al almacén para no seguir molestándoles.
—Te he echado tanto de menos —su sonrisa es más bien triste, pero lo entiendo. Hace demasiado tiempo que no nos vemos—. No saber de ti me estaba preocupando.
—Imagínate yo, pensé que habíais desaparecido para siempre.
—No podíamos hacer llamadas ni enviar mensajes por bastante tiempo —comienza a explicar, un poco más seria, pero finalmente vuelve a sonreír, junto con un suspiro—. Me alegra que hayas regresado…
—A mí también Jessy.
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El chat que había tenido con el grupo había sido tenso. Dan estaba furioso con Jake y Richy, mientras que Thomas y Cleo había tratado de calmarle de algún modo. Jessy se había marchado al hablar de Richy y Lilly me había preguntado si sabía algo de Jake. En fin, el caos seguía existiendo, pero al menos había algo positivo: Duskwood había sido abierta de nuevo. Ya no había más vallas colocadas a su alrededor.
Dan pensaba que era porque había arrestado y le di la razón. No abrirían Duskwood sin más is no fuera porque ya le tenían. Aunque Lilly, Thomas y Cleo no parecían creer en ello.
Quizás el tema de Richy fue más duro de hablar, el expresar el cómo me sentía, de que no me esperaba que fuera él, que me dolía verle así, porque me temía lo peor. Pero pensaba más en cómo Jessy iba a reaccionar.
No es que me hiciera feliz todo lo que Richy le había hecho a Jessy, pero tenía la esperanza de que al menos pudiera entregarse y hacerse cargo de sus actos.
Cuando la conversación terminó, no dudé ni un segundo en regresar a casa a grito de que tenía una urgencia familiar, dejándole a Klaus en cargo de todo.
Hice una pequeña maleta, busqué el motel de Duskwood e hice una reserva —La señora Walter se emocionó al escuchar que quería pedir una habitación—, le puse la correa a Sky y tomé mi coche para ir a Duskwood, sin importar algunos agentes que pudieran detenerme por ser quien era. No podía estar ni un momento más sin ver a Jessy.
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Llegué al motel a medio día, después de un par de discusiones con algunos agentes. Un tipo finalmente dijo que podían dejarme acceder a Duskwood porque ya era accesible. Le reconocí por ser el amigo de Macie, Brian, a lo que le di un pequeño agradecimiento por dejarme pasar. Creo al menos que sí puedo fiarme de él.
Guardé mis cosas en el armario y tomé la decisión de ir a casa de Jessy, mientras hablaba con Cleo por mensaje, avisándome de los nervios de Dan y la preocupación por la actitud de Jessy. No había avisado a nadie que había venido a Duskwood como sorpresa y quería que la primera persona que me viera era Jessy, así que le prometí que la trataría con mucho cuidado con el tema de Richy. Hoy pensaba en hacerla feliz, no en que llorase. Esperaría a que hablase conmigo cuando estuviera preparada.
Llamo a la puerta blanca de Jessy y espero, haciendo una señal a Sky para que no ladrase.
En ese momento, recibo un empujón —Abrazo— de Jessy que había abierto la puerta sin que me diera cuenta.
— ¡Stephan! ¡Estás aquí! —Sus palabras de emoción hace que quiera llorar. Ha pasado tanto tiempo desde que la abracé que poco a poco había empezado a olvidar el cómo se sentía.
—Estoy aquí Jessy —le devuelvo el abrazo con fuerza, mientras que Sky empieza a ponerse nervioso ladrando por nuestra actitud.
—Hola a ti también Sky —Jessy se separa y se agacha para saludarle.
Sky le lame la cara, haciéndola reír. Necesita esto, un poco de alegría para que no se sienta tan tensa.
Cuando se incorpora, me mira de nuevo, con una hermosa sonrisa.
Llevo mis manos a su cara, acariciando sus mejillas despacio.
—No sabes cuánto te he echado de menos… —susurro mientras froto mi nariz con la de ella, a lo que responde con una pequeña risa.
—Yo también —responde también en susurro y puedo notar una lágrima en mi pulgar—, por un momento creí que te olvidarías de mí.
—Jamás —me separo un poco, mirándola directamente a sus ojos—. No tienes ni idea de cuánto he pensado en ti, hasta he grabado un montón de audios de todo lo que quería decirte.
Veo que abre los ojos tanto en sorpresa que no parece que se lo crea. Puedo entenderlo, hasta creía que estaba loco haciendo todos esos audios.
— ¿Y me los vas a dejar oírlos? —Toma mi mano, dejándome entrar en la casa. Mira a Sky, haciéndole miradas de emoción.
—La verdad es que quería hacerlo —respondo mientras dejo los zapatos en el zapatero y después le quito la correa a Sky, dejándolo en el perchero—, pero ahora he recordado que sueno bastante lamentable y no quiero que te rías de mí. Dejémoslo como si fuera un diario que nadie puede escuchar.
Jessy asiente, volviendo a tomar mi mano y guiándome hasta su salón.
No sé por qué, pero siento algo extraño. Sé que es ella, es la misma Jessy que me enamoró, en cambio, hay algo diferente que me hace no reconocerla del todo. No quiero ofenderla porque sé que se trata de lo ocurrido con Richy. Ni siquiera sé cómo tampoco abordar el tema sin sentirme mal.
—Ya sé que no debería preguntarlo, pero… Tengo curiosidad —Jessy se sienta en el sofá y da un par de palmaditas a su lado, a lo que hago caso y me siento, emocionado todavía— ¿Cuándo tendremos esa cita que me prometiste?
—Primero debo de acomodarme un poco en mi cuarto de motel —cuando Jessy me rodea con sus brazos, empiezo a ponerme nervioso. Se acerca más a mí y coloco mi mano en su espalda, dejándome medio tumbado en el sofá— y también saludar al resto del grupo.
—Mhm… Lo entiendo —Jessy asiente y noto cómo me acaricia el cabello ¿Lo está haciendo porque me echaba de menos o como alivio para olvidarse de todo lo demás? Por supuesto que debe de pensar lo mismo que yo, en querer besarla, pero… ¿No sería como aprovecharme de ella y de su vulnerabilidad?—, yo también tengo cosas que hacer.
— ¿De verdad? ¿Qué cosas? —Trazo líneas en su espalda, acariciándola con cariño. Quiero al menos que sepa que no me siento incómodo con este avance.
—No puedo decírtelo —me da un beso en la mejilla y se levanta del sofá, dejándome completamente solo y…
Trato de acomodarme como puedo, evitando incomodar mi estado.
—Mmm… Ahora tengo curiosidad —respondo mientras escucho mi móvil.
Cuando veo el mensaje de Thomas diciéndome que me debe una disculpa, se me baja por completo.
—Jessy, no te importa que salga un momento ¿verdad? —Pregunto levantándome del sofá, mientras que ella se detiene mirándome con una sonrisa— Parece ser que Thomas quiere hablarme de algo importante, y prefiero hacerlo cara a cara.
— ¡Claro! Total, voy a estar ocupada con mi plan —veo que Sky se acerca a ella y le acaricia la cabeza—, pero me quedo a Sky hasta que vuelvas, necesito un ayudante.
—Solo no le dejes cerca de los zapatos.
—Tranquilo, todos están guardados —vuelve a acercarse a mí y me besa de nuevo en la mejilla— ¡Pásalo bien con Thomas!
—Eso trataré —rio un poco nervioso, porque por el mensaje que me ha enviado, no parece que sea para algo divertido.
Me despido también de Sky y vuelvo a ponerme los zapatos, saliendo del apartamento. Quería quedarme más tiempo, pero como de momento me quedo en Duskwood, todavía vamos a poder vivir momentos juntos.
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La conversación con Thomas fue bastante bien, mejor de lo que esperaba.
Se disculpó por haberme obligado ir a la mina para rescatar a Hannah, pero no tenía por qué hacerlo, seguramente yo habría hecho lo mismo por Jessy si yo no podía ir por las mismas circunstancias de tener todas las ruedas del coche pinchadas y pedirle… No sé, a Klaus o al mismo Thomas que fuera también a la mina para ayudar a Jessy. Simplemente le dije que dejase de ser tan dramático porque podía entenderle. Creo que cualquier persona habría hecho cualquier cosa por recuperar a la persona que ama.
Después me contó que tenían un plan de buscar a Jake por los bosques de Duskwood —o más bien, alguna pista de dónde podía estar—, porque no creía que le habían arrestado.
Me preguntó si quería unirme a la búsqueda, pero tuve que rechazarlo. Quería, pero Jessy era la que más me necesitaba en aquel momento. Lo entendió perfectamente, así que me avisaría en el caso de que encontrasen algo de él.
Tengo pocas esperanzas de que encuentren cualquier cosa de Jake, con lo cuidadoso que es, no creo que se deje nada… Bueno… Excepto cuando me envió ese vídeo de Alan encontrando sus cosas ¿Por qué lo hizo? ¿No sabe que si usan perros pueden rastrearle por el olor? A veces pienso que por mucho que Jake parezca inteligente, hace tonterías como esas.
<<No sé por cuánto tiempo llevan buscándole, pero me parece increíble que por errores como ese no le hayan atrapado.>>
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Llamo a la puerta del apartamento de Jessy y cuando me abre, me tiende dos papeles de diferentes colores. Uno azul cielo y otro de un verde que me recuerda al color del césped.
— ¿Verde o azul? —Me pregunta mientras mueve ambos papeles.
Me quedo mirándolos mientras lo pienso detenidamente, aunque tengo clara la respuesta, quiero verla poner cara de exasperación por ver que no me decido.
—Azul —respondo finalmente, entrando en el piso—. Al cien por cien.
— ¿En serio? —La veo que mira el papel azul, haciendo una mueca— Mmm…
— ¿Mala elección? —Pregunto con duda, esperando que quizás no haya sido la respuesta que buscaba.
—No, está bien —dice finalmente, agitando el papel azul—. Sí, tienes razón ¡Gracias!
Se aleja y Sky se acerca a saludarme antes de volver a seguirla.
Los sigo a ambos y la veo de pie en la mesa con varios papeles en ella, examinándolo todo con mucha concentración.
Se recoge el cabello en un moño medio desecho, como si eso la ayudase a concentrarse.
Me apoyo en la pared, observándola. Realmente es preciosa cuando está trabajando, me gusta ver que pone bastante empeño en las cosas cuando algo le gusta.
Veo que coge otras dos hojas y se acerca a mí casi trotando, colocándose en frente de mí.
— ¿Cereza? —Levanta una hoja con la imagen de una cereza y después levanta otra— ¿O manzana? ¡Pero no tardes de nuevo! Sé que lo haces a posta.
—De acuerdo —suelto una risa y señalo la primera—. Cereza.
—Buena elección —me da un beso en la mejilla y regresa de nuevo a la mesa— ¡Genial, gracias!
Niego levemente con la cabeza, acercándome a ella despacio.
— ¡Maldición! ¡Me olvidé algo! —Exclama mientras me detiene y con disimulo trato de ver por encima de su hombro lo que hay en la mesa. Son varios papeles de artículos, comida, bebida… Hasta de globos de diferentes formas y letras ¿Qué es lo que está haciendo?— ¿Cleo o Thomas?
Arqueo una ceja con curiosidad, no entendiendo a qué viene esa pregunta.
Sin pensármelo dos veces, coloco mis manos en su cintura, atrayéndola a mí.
—Tú, por supuesto —respondo con una sonrisa encantadora.
—No, eso no es lo que he preguntado —me da un toque en el pecho, pero su sonrisa aparece—. Aunque gracias por pensar en mí.
Se aleja y me coloco a su lado, observando todo lo que tiene en la mesa mientras ella tararea felizmente.
—Vale, entonces… ¿Algún plan sobre aclararme de qué va todo esto en algún momento? —Pregunto mientras tomo una hoja de una tarta de tres pisos, decorada con lazos y perlas en ella.
—De momento no puedo contártelo —me arrebata la hoja, dejándola en la mesa. Se apoya en ella y me mira tratando de ser seria—, eso estropearía la sorpresa, y tampoco deberías estar viendo todo esto, que lo sepas.
—Pues me temo que ya es tarde —contesto mientras cojo una foto de un vestido floral—, aunque si no me lo vas a contar, me temo que no puedo ayudarte.
Hace un pequeño gruñido, aunque más de manera exagerada, casi bromeando que realmente con seriedad.
—Vale, está bien —suelta un suspiro, quitándome la hoja para colocarla en la mesa—. Estoy planeando una fiesta sorpresa —mueve las manos por toda la mesa y luego me mira—, para Hannah, en el Aurora —dice con una sonrisa bastante amplia.
Asiento entendiendo el motivo por el que lo hace. No hace falta saber que quiere volver a la normalidad. Así que, sin querer forzarla, le sigo el juego.
— ¡Vaya sorpresa! —Paso unos de sus mechones suelto por detrás de su oreja, viendo cómo me mira completamente emocionada— Seguro que le hará mucha ilusión que le prepares algo especial.
Suelta una pequeña risa, con sus mejillas empezando a colorearse de rojo.
— ¿Verdad? La pobre ha pasado por mucho y quiero mostrarla lo feliz que estamos de que esté con nosotros de nuevo —da una pequeña palmada y ladea la cabeza—. Y también quería que fuera una fiesta sorpresa para ti también —me mira con tanta seriedad que parece enfadada de verdad—. Pero ya puedes darte las gracias de que ya no vaya a serlo, te lo has arruinado tú solo.
Pronuncio un ‘Oh’ a modo de incomodidad. No sabía que también se trataba de mí. Ahora me siento mal por estropeárselo.
—Error mío, la próxima vez cerraré mi boca —hago un gesto de cerrarlo con una cremallera y Jessy suspira.
—Bueno, admito que es bastante conveniente que no haya funcionado, porque necesito tu ayuda —asiento y me cruzo de brazos, escuchándola con atención—. Te llevabas bien con mi hermano ¿verdad?
<<Ni de coña me llevaba bien con él, le odio por cómo te trata y cómo trata a las mujeres.>>
Por supuesto, no puedo decirle lo que pienso de él, pero tampoco sé de dónde habrá sacado esa idea.
— ¿Por qué piensas eso? —Tengo curiosidad por su respuesta, porque realmente no sé por qué cree que eso es cierto.
—Él me preguntó sobre ti una vez —responde pensativa—, eso lo recuerdo, aunque no exactamente sobre qué era —yo sí, se trataba de si estábamos saliendo—, pero parecía interesado en ti —evito poner cara de asco. Antes muerto que ese tipo tenga interés en mí—, igualmente-
—Oh no… —No puedo evitar en mirarle preocupado, temiendo en qué idea puede estar pasándola por la cabeza— ¿Qué es lo que pasa?
Jessy rueda los ojos, soltando un pequeño sonido de exasperación.
—Tranquilo, no es nada dramático —regresa a los papeles, mirando una comparación con otra—. Él no lo sabe aún, pero me dejará el Aurora esa noche —me sonríe mientras me muestra otros papeles de lo que parece diferentes guirnaldas— y ahora creo que estaría más dispuesto a hacerlo si se lo preguntas tú en lugar de hacerlo yo.
Me pasa las dos fotos y trata de apoyarse en mi hombro, así que me inclino hacia su lado para que pueda hacerlo.
Creo que no pasará nada por acceder a su petición, aunque no es como si Phil y yo nos llevásemos bien. La verdad es que ni siquiera quería hablar en su momento y de la forma de la que habló de Hannah me hizo ganas de querer darle un puñetazo. Me pregunto cómo se sintió Jake en su caso, dado que es su hermana, seguro que para él debió de ser peor.
—Bueno —inspiro despacio, mirándola—, puedo intentarlo si quieres que lo haga.
—Sí por favor, eso sería genial —vuelve a emocionarse y dice algo más que me sorprende—. Además, es importante para mí que tú y mi hermano os llevéis bien, aunque sea solo por mí.
Pone unos ojos de cachorro que hacen que me derrite. Si esto es lo que le hace feliz de momento, entonces continuaré ayudándola en la fiesta. Quizás ayude un poco a aumentar el ánimo.
—Pondré todo mi esfuerzo para no pelearme con tu hermano —trato de bromear, pero me lanza una mirada casi de advertencia— ¿Pero a qué venía la pregunta de Thomas o Cleo? ¿Esperas que alguno de los dos dé un discurso o algo así?
—Eso era para determinar quién tendría el deshonor de ser asignado como el conductor esa noche —mientras me responde, me apoyo en la mesa, dejando que ella me rodee el cuello con sus brazos, poniendo una mirada divertida.
—Ya veo —paso mis dedos por su mejilla, acariciándola despacio—, no queremos que Dan sea quien nos lleve sabiendo su historial con el alcohol y la conducción.
—Y no queremos que nos pase nada malo en esa gran noche para ambos —pasa su dedo despacio por mis labios y todo mi cuerpo se estremece.
<<Joder, deseo besarla más que nada en el mundo, realmente es lo más hermoso que tengo en mis brazos.>>
Suena su teléfono fijo y coloca sus manos en mi pecho, dándome palmaditas.
—Espera un momento, me están llamando por teléfono —se va alejando y vuelve a bromear—. A lo mejor es el mago que he contratado para la fiesta.
—Perfecto, siempre he querido ver cómo saca un conejo de la chistera.
Jessy se ríe, pero al momento esa risa se detiene.
La observo impaciente mientras el teléfono sigue sonando y ella no responde, como si se hubiera quedado congelada en el sitio.
Finalmente, la llamada se detiene y Jessy se giró despacio, con los ojos vidriosos.
—Era el padre de Richy —responde con lentitud, agachando la cabeza.
— ¿Y por qué no has contestado? Seguro que-
—Hay otras cosas más importantes de las que ocuparse ahora mismo —noto cómo su voz es fría y regresa a la mesa, observando las fotos y las muestras.
Su silencio me aterra, sé que el ánimo que antes tenía ha desvanecido.
Veo que toma dos fotos de dos tipos de telas con temáticas diferentes.
— ¿Temática de océano o de estrellas?
—Jessy… —tomo sus manos y las bajo, dejando las dos fotos en la mesa— No tienes por qué fingir conmigo.
— ¿Sabes? Esta fiesta es importante para mí —Jessy empieza a recogerlo todo, nerviosa.
—Sí, lo he notado —trato de ayudarla y le voy pasando algunas de las fotos, mientras noto que trata de ir a velocidad.
—Solo quiero que todo el mundo esté feliz de nuevo —noto un leve temblor en su voz, puede que ella no lo haya notado, pero es obvio que se está controlando por no llorar— ¡Y quizás no pensar sobre lo que nos ha pasado! —Junta las hojas ordenadas y les da un pequeño golpecito para recolocarlas, después me mira— Al menos por una noche. Eso sería suficiente.
Noto cómo le tiembla el labio. Sé que está controlándose por decir algo más. Sé que quiere hablar conmigo.
— ¿Quieres hablar del tema un poco? —Pregunto despacio, sin tratar de alterarla— Aunque sea porque te liberes de esa carga.
Jessy abre la boca, pero luego la cierra. Niega despacio, y veo cómo aprieta la mano encima de todas las fotos, molesta.
—No puedo —aparta la mirada, quitándose una lágrima que se le ha escapado.
Sin forzar demasiado, llevo mi mano a su barbilla, girándola despacio. Jessy baja los ojos, sin mirarme a la cara.
—Ey, Jessy, mírame —digo con suavidad y ella despacio me hace caso—. Sé lo fuerte que eres, sé que puedes hacer una fiesta y a la vez hablarme de cómo te sientes, estoy aquí por ti, para ayudarte en lo que necesites —le dedico una sonrisa, pero ella no la responde.
—Tú no has visto cómo todo esto iba hundiéndose —me quedo mirándola entre la sorpresa y el dolor por su respuesta—. No estabas aquí.
Me quedo callado, sin saber qué responder. Es correcto, no estaba aquí. No es que fuera mi culpa, podría haber venido, estar con ella, pero no pude, mi vida también en aquel momento estaba siendo caótica también.
Bajo la mano, colocándola al lado de mi cuerpo, quedándome quieto en el sitio. No sé qué hacer ahora salvo escuchar y dejar que hable.
—Sabía que tenía que ser yo quien te lo dijera, que él- —se detiene mientras su boca se mueve, haciendo sonidos de garganta. Siento que en algún momento se va a derrumbar— No sé por qué, pero era importante para mí —Jessy coloca sus manos en mi camisa, agarrándome con fuerza—. Así que te llamé ¡Una y otra vez! —Se le rompe la voz, mientras agita mi camisa— Pero nunca entró la llamada… Ya no estabas ahí más…. Y tampoco lo estaba él.
Tomo sus manos y acaricio el dorsal con mis pulgares, tratando de poder tranquilizarla.
—No quería nada más que estar con vosotros —hablo despacio y con calma, queriendo transmitirla tranquilidad—. Contigo más que nada —al ver que no responde a mis palabras, continúo—. Estaba tan preocupado que ni siquiera sabía lo que estaba pasando, quise poder entrar en Duskwood, pero no me dejaron, me detuvieron, Jessy, no pude entrar cuando sabía que me necesitabas, más que nada —toma aire con una pequeña dificultad. Noto cómo tiemblan sus manos—. Pero ahora estoy aquí para ti, finalmente estoy contigo, para lo que necesites.
Despacio, separa sus manos y mira sus hojas en la mesa.
—Yo… —Toma las hojas en sus brazos y comienza a alejarse— Tengo una fiesta de la que ocuparme.
—Jessy, por favor espera.
La sigo hasta su cuarto y me cierra la puerta. Voy a llamar y comienzo a escucharla llorar. Lo entiendo, no quiere que la vea derrumbarse de nuevo. Cree que no puedo ayudarla porque no estuve aquí, porque no vi lo que ella vio, ni escuché lo que ella escuchó.
Pero si lo hice, cada palabra que leí y escuché de Richy, el cómo trató de convencerla de que lo sentía.
Decido entonces sentarme en el suelo, al lado de la puerta mientras la escucho llorar. No quiero dejarla sola. No en este estado.
Sky se acerca a mí y se tumba a mi lado, haciendo un sonido como si hubiera hecho un gran esfuerzo.
Le acaricio la cabeza para tratar también de calmarme yo.
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Al final he tenido que dejarla sola porque Sky ya empezaba a saber que era la hora de su paseo de la noche. Pasé una nota por debajo de la puerta de Jessy, creyendo que quizás no quería escuchar mi voz porque era probable que le molestase. Porque no estuve con ella en el peor momento de su vida, quizás me odie hasta de verme.
Durante el paseo, vi que me salió un chat secreto entre Dan y Cleo. Había ignorado el de Thomas y Lilly porque no me parecía correcto espiarles de nuevo, pero al ver que se trataba de la búsqueda de Jake, no pude evitar en leerlo.
A Dan se le ocurrió que buscasen en una planta vieja planta de grava que antes iban a emborracharse y que está tan alejada que nadie iría ahí. Es donde pensó que Jake estaría oculto.
Según Cleo, Thomas le ha dicho que ese lugar es peligroso porque puede derrumbarse.
<<El sitio perfecto para ocultarse, ¿eh Dan?>>
La verdad es que no sé qué pensar, Jake puede estar en cualquier parte y a la vez es probable que algo malo le haya pasado desde que abrieron Duskwood.
Dejo el móvil y llamo a Sky que está jugando con nuevos amigos, decidiendo que es hora de regresar a casa.
<<Espero que Jessy se encuentre mejor.>>
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Dejo las llaves de Jessy en llavero que hay colgando al lado de la puerta y le quito a Sky la correa, para después acomodarme en quitarme la chaqueta y los zapatos.
Al llegar al salón, me encuentro que Jessy está en el sofá, sentada con la luz de la lámpara de pie iluminándola como si se tratase de una foto dramática.
Me acerco hasta ella y me siento a su lado, sin decir nada. Después de lo ocurrido, no quiero meter la pata de nuevo.
—Él me dijo que no tenía que preocuparme —la miro al escucharla hablar, pero ella se queda con la cabeza agachada, mirando sus manos cómo aprietan con fuerza su regazo—. Siempre que algo malo ocurría, eso era exactamente lo que decía —me acomodo un poco mejor a su lado, prestando atención a sus palabras—. A veces no le creía o no quería escucharlo —suelta una risa floja y continúa—. Otras veces realmente me hacía enfadar —observo que aprieta más sus manos con fuerza cuando dice aquellas palabras—. Pero él siempre sonreía cuando lo decía.
Alza la cabeza, mirando al techo y toma aire. No contesto, así que cierra los ojos y continúa.
—Y cuando Hannah desapareció, también lo dijo —veo que se le escapa una lágrima y su labio se curva—. Me abrazó y me dijo que íbamos a encontrarla, él dijo que estaba seguro… Y yo le creí —baja la mirada y me mira. Su nariz y ojos están rojos de llorar. Está en un estado peor de cuando fue atacada por Richy. Esta vez se trata de la verdad de que fue traicionada por su mejor amigo—. Y contigo a mi lado, realmente lo sentí —me toma la mano y aprieta con cariño. Aunque sea algo pequeño, le dedico una sonrisa a sus palabras, feliz de que la hice sentir de esa forma—, de que encontraríamos a Hannah y que todo volvería a la normalidad de nuevo —niega despacio con la cabeza, dejando que algunos cabellos se peguen a su cara por las lágrimas—. Pero no fue así… Y nunca lo será.
—Jessy-
—Richy está muerto —me detiene mientras se coloca mejor en el sofá para mirarme, subiendo una pierna para acomodarse— y es mi culpa, es mi culpa porque no pude hacer nada —vuelve a romper a llorar y verla así me destroza por dentro.
Acostumbrado a ver a una Jessy feliz, verla así de vulnerable hace que no quiera volverla a ver de esta forma, pero necesita desahogarse.
—No, por favor, no digas eso —acaricio sus mejillas con cuidado, obligándola a mirarme, despacio—, me duele que creas eso, Jessy.
—Me llamó para que así pudiera confesarse —su voz ya empieza a sonar ronca de tanto llorar, ya casi no tiene voz para poder hablar—, porque él sabía que necesitaba mirarle a los ojos cuando él lo decía —me mantengo tranquilo a pesar de que poco a poco, esa tristeza que sentía por Richy se está convirtiendo en desprecio. No pensaba que llegaría a hacerlo con alguien—, porque si no, jamás le iba a creer —asiento a sus palabras, entendiendo lo que quería decir—. Sé que podría haberlo cambiado, que podría… —Inspira profundamente, moviendo los ojos nerviosas— Tendría que haberle dicho que no se preocupase, ¡Tendría que haberle dicho algo más!
Se vuelve a desmoronar y la abrazo contra mi cuerpo, acariciando su cabello. Jessy se abraza con fuerza, empapando mi camiseta. No me importa, si ella lo necesita, que llore todo lo que pueda.
—Entiendo por qué te sientes de esta forma —le doy un beso en la cabeza, hablando con una voz suave—, pero nada de esto es tu culpa, él ya tomó su decisión-
—No, no es cierto, sé que podría-
—Jessy, ey, mírame —la separo despacio, colocando mis manos en sus hombros. Su expresión me destroza. Quiero poder hacer algo más que estar a su lado, más que ayudarla a montar una fiesta para aliviar su dolor—. Aún nos tenemos el uno al otro ¿de acuerdo? —Despacio, ella asiente y continúo hablando, esperando que mis palabras la calmen— y si crees que no puedes más y que estás a tu límite, entonces yo seré fuerte por los dos, ayudándote siempre que lo necesites —hace otro lloro alto, agarrándome con fuerza de los brazos—. Vine a Duskwood solamente por ti, Jessy, eres la razón por la que voy a estar siempre aquí, porque tú existes —se lame los labios, quitándose las lágrimas que le han caído de ellos—. Estoy aquí para ti y siempre lo estaré, jamás lo dudes.
Jessy abre y cierra la boca, como si quisiera encontrar las palabras exactas.
—No me dejes de nuevo Stephan, por favor, no vuelvas a dejarme —su voz ya es casi un hilo, no puede seguir hablando, pero sigue haciéndolo—, no sé qué podría pasar si ya no estás en mi vida, no… No podría seguir adelante, no vuelvas a dejarme sola.
—No lo haré Jessy —inclino mi cabeza, colocando mi frente en la de ella. Acaricio sus hombros con cariño y para relajarla, esperando que eso la ayude—, no puedo hacerlo porque te quiero —finalmente lo digo.
Aunque es algo temprano para decirlo, necesitaba quitármelo de mi interior. Jessy es alguien que me ha hecho ver que valgo para algo más que ser un accesorio de una persona. Jessy me ha mostrado que puedo hablar sobre mis problemas, compartiéndolos con ella y ella compartiendo los suyos, demostrando que una pareja está para apoyarse mutuamente y que mientras ambos estemos dispuestos a ser sinceros, nos veremos tal y como realmente somos.
En Jessy he visto que detrás de esa máscara de fortaleza, se esconde alguien vulnerable que necesita ser escuchada. Puedo ver lo fuerte que es, pero quiero que no tenga miedo de demostrar esta parte suya que no quiere mostrarse alegre, sino también la que puede estar triste o dolorida, la que se odia así misma. Porque yo estaré ahí para que vuelva a ver ese lado suyo que sabe que puede con todo, apoyándose en mí.
—Yo también te quiero… —Susurra y noto que frota su nariz con la mía— Gracias por haber venido… Yo… Realmente necesitaba volver a estar contigo y verte… Yo no… No sabía qué hacer sola, sin ti creía que me iba a hundir en cualquier momento.
—No te dejaré hacerlo —me dedico a besarla la cara y escucho cómo suelta un suspiro casi de alivio—, seré tu balsa para que te mantengas a flote, voy a apoyarte en todo lo que necesites.
Ella asiente y nos alejamos un poco.
Nos quedamos mirándonos y ella me sonríe. Una sonrisa triste, pero sigue siendo una sonrisa.
Acaricio su mejilla, y despacio, me voy inclinando hacia su cara, mientras ella se va aproximando.
El beso es lento, nada intenso, pero para mí… Es como si sintiera mi cuerpo vibrar de la emoción.
Nos separamos y Jessy se acurruca en mí, abrazándome. Decido tumbarme, dejándola encima de mí mientras acaricio su cabeza con cariño, dejándola descansar.
No sé qué nos deparará después de esto, pero espero que mejore nuestras vidas y que algún día olvidemos esta pesadilla que vivimos, para emprender un nuevo sueño entre los dos.
El móvil me vibra y despacio sin molestar a Jessy, recibo un mensaje de Cleo, diciendo que ha encontrado algo no en relación con Jake, pero otra cosa. Pregunto en si quiere que la acompañe y acepta, pero que no se me ocurra en enfadarme para cuando lleguemos. Le digo que no lo haré, pero que la veo en un par de minutos.
Termino la conversación y con cuidado, me quito a Jessy de encima, dejándola con cuidado en el sofá.
Busco en su cuarto alguna sábana y la coloco encima de ella, no sin antes de dejarla en acariciar su mejilla despacio.
—Cuídala Sky, ahora regreso.
Levanta la pata como si me hubiese entendido y voy a la entrada, preparándome para irme.
No quería dejarla, pero esto también es importante. Hasta que no se aclare todo lo que no se ha cerrado del caso de Hannah, no descansaremos como debemos.
Haré lo que sea para que Jessy recupere de nuevo su vida y algún día, la sacaré de Duskwood a vivir en donde ella quiera, libre de toda esta pesadilla.
Like every morning, I wake up early to take Sky for a walk. This time it was hard to get up because of Nymos's gloomy messages. If he hadn't squashed me in bed with his big paws, I'd probably still be there sleeping, wishing I could wake up until Duskwood finally opened up.
I let Sky play with his friends at the dog park and get a call. Seeing Macie's name on it surprises me a little. After meeting with her yesterday, I didn't expect her to contact me again. That could be a good thing or a bad thing.
"Hi, Macie," I say as I answer the call.
"Hi, Stephan," her voice sounds cheerful, so I have to assume it's something good. "Tell me, who's your favorite cousin?"
"Well, since you're the only one I have, I guess no one else."
She laughs, and I wait for her to continue.
"Since Redlog Pines is near Duskwood, I decided to ask Charlie last night if she knew anything about what happened in town."
I frown, a mixture of surprise and curiosity on my face. I didn't expect her to help me with this.
"Aren't you a journalist? Don't you know what happened?" I try to joke, though my hopes are slim, even if she does have some news. If no one knows what happened, I don't think that friend of hers knows either. It's impossible.
"Believe me, we're completely forbidden from finding out what's going on," I hear the coffee maker ticking in the background. I should have brought a bottle so I could have a drink, "they only let us report Hannah's rescue, and nothing else."
"Nothing else?"
"Yes, because hold on to anything, this is interesting," instead of holding on to something, I sit down on a bench, listening intently to what she's about to tell me, "apparently, the FBI showed up out of nowhere in Duskwood looking for a criminal who was there. Can you believe it?"
I swallow hard, reminding myself that I don't know anything. If this Charlie guy has told her something she shouldn't know, I'm doomed.
"I don't understand. Can you explain it better?"
"Sure, because there's more," she clears her throat and continues, "the entire Duskwood network was shut down for that criminal to prevent him from communicating with anyone. The town is still closed off because of him! No one can enter or leave without special permission."
<< So that's why they arrested me that night; they were preparing Duskwood to lock it up completely.>>
I tap my foot to the rhythm of a sad melody that just popped into my head, as if it were providing a soundtrack for a dramatic moment.
The FBI is trying to catch Jake by any means necessary, regardless of what the citizens of Duskwood think. They must have the whole town furious.
"And wait, there's more," I make a sound of interest, though it's fake. I'm just sad because until they catch Jake, they won't reopen the town or restore internet access. Which means no more conversations with Jessy. Thanks, Jake…" Apparently, there are whispers that the criminal is likely hiding with someone."
I sit up on the bench, scared by the rumor. I just hope it's not me.
Sky comes over with a ball in her mouth, and I stroke her head as she puts the ball down for me to throw.
"And do they know who's hiding him?" “I ask as I toss the ball for Sky to fetch.
"He doesn’t know exactly, only that it’s likely the guy who was involved in the investigation of Hannah’s kidnapping," her tone is almost intentional, pointing the finger at me. And I think I know what. "Stephan, I’m asking you again because it seems to be making more and more sense to me… Is Jake the criminal they’re looking for in Duskwood? "
My lips go dry knowing I’m still lying for Jake to protect her. And after hearing what she’s told me, it’s better she doesn’t know the truth. She deserves so much better than a man who can hurt her with his disappearances. I won’t let my family be put in danger because of him.
"And I’m telling you again, he’s not the criminal," I sigh in exasperation, pretending to be tired of the subject. Even though I’m not good at acting, she can’t know unless she’s looking at me. "Look, forget about him. He just disappeared when Hannah was rescued—"
"What if he’s locked up in Duskwood too?" Her question sounds hopeful. "Maybe that’s why he hasn’t contacted you, because he—"
"No, Macie, Jake wasn’t in Duskwood," I interrupt her when I see she seems pleased with her theory. It hurts, but it’s for the best, "we rescued Hannah, and he disappeared. I have to assume I was only there to help him, nothing more."
Silence falls on the other end of the line. I don’t even hear her take a sip of her coffee or eat anything. Just silence.
"Okay," she finally replies, sounding much more hurt than before. "Then I’ll stop asking about him, because now I see why you’re so angry with Jake…"
"Macie, if you were interested in him, I’m so sorry—"
"No, it’s fine," she lets out a laugh, but I think it’s more of an awkward one, "I mean, we talked a few times, but it wasn’t anything serious, you know?"
"Mhm…"
"Why am I telling you this?" She laughs again, and I notice her voice crack. I think I've really messed up. "Well, I told Charlie I have a friend living in Duskwood, and he offered to tell me more if there's anything new."
"Oh, that's… nice. "
"Yes, he is," I know she's hurt by what I told her. I just hope she gets over it with time, "well, I should have breakfast; I need to get ready for work."
"Sure, have a good day, Macie. "
"You too, Stephan."
She hangs up, and I put my phone away, feeling even worse for lying to her.
<<Am I really sure that lying to her was a good idea?>>
It was risky enough that I took that friendship with Jake, though now I see how dangerous it is, given how things are in Duskwood. I think it's best to keep my distance from the Jake situation, both for Macie and me, if we don't want to be investigated.
"And what are these rumors?" he asked, annoyed. "Why would I have a hidden criminal? I'd have to be a fool to do that."
Rumors are a dangerous thing, indeed. Thank goodness I haven't drawn too much attention and I'm clear of any suspicion.
And I hope it stays that way.
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It was while I was working that I received an unexpected message. Seeing Thomas on the chat screen, I couldn't help but shout a loud ‘What is this?’ drawing the attention of the customers. Klaus even came over to find out what had happened, leaving Peter, one of our morning employees, with the customer he was serving.
"What's up, man?" he asked, leaning on my shoulder.
"It's Thomas! He messaged me!"
"Oh, good..."
"No! You don't understand! HE—"
An incoming call from him cut me off, and I answered. The connection was bad, and even though I tried to reply, my responses didn't seem to come through properly. The call finally dropped during our first interaction. He called again, and this time it seemed to be improving.
"Your connection is probably as good as mine, right?" Thomas asked, the image gradually stabilizing.
"That’s what happens when we’re upgrading to 5G," I reply jokingly, "but it’s good to see you again, Thomas."
"What’s up? It’s Klaus, Stephan’s friend," he greets, raising a hand.
"Sorry we’ve been inactive for weeks, I haven’t been able to get a new phone," he responds to my joke with a laugh, "and nice to meet you, I’m Thomas."
"Is there a signal?" I hear Dan in the background.
"Is it working?" I also hear Cleo.
It seems they’re all together.
"Did you manage to make a call?"
When I hear Jessy’s voice, I completely forget everything else. I don’t think about the joy of seeing Thomas or hearing Dan and Cleo, but about my worry for her after that night.
"Not only that, you won’t believe who’s on the other end of the screen," Thomas’s smile makes me excited to know what he’s going to do.
Turning his phone, I see Dan, Cleo, and Jessy on the couch, probably watching a movie judging by the popcorn he has.
Jessy gasps when she sees me, and I can't help but ignore my two friends to focus on her. It feels like it hasn't been weeks since I last saw her, but years.
Dan gestures to Thomas to pass him the phone, and he does, with Cleo joining him.
"Boyband! Dude!" Dan exclaims after finishing his popcorn.
"No way!" Cleo's smile widens too. "Stephan! Long time no see!"
Jessy appears behind her, beaming with excitement at the sight of me.
"What?! Give it to me!" Dan hands her the phone, but it looks more like Jessy snatches it. "Stephan! Is that really you?!" I can see her eyes light up when she sees me, fighting back tears.
"Jessy! Yes, it's me!" I realize I'm shouting, drawing too much attention.
I gesture to the customers and head back to the stockroom so I don't bother them any further.
"I've missed you so much," her smile is rather sad, but I understand. It's been so long since we last saw each other, "not hearing from you was worrying me."
"Imagine how I felt. I thought you'd disappeared forever."
"We couldn't call or text for quite a while," she begins to explain, a little more serious now, but finally she smiles again, along with a sigh. "I'm so glad you're back..."
"Me too, Jessy."
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The chat I'd had with the group had been tense. Dan was furious with Jake and Richy, while Thomas and Cleo had tried to calm him down somehow. Jessy had left when we talked about Richy, and Lilly had asked me if I knew anything about Jake. Anyway, the chaos was still there, but at least there was something positive: Duskwood had been reopened. There were no more fences around it.
Dan thought it was because he'd been arrested, and I agreed with him. They wouldn't just reopen Duskwood unless they already had him. Although Lilly, Thomas, and Cleo didn't seem to believe it.
Perhaps the topic of Richy was harder to talk about, expressing how I felt, that I hadn't expected it to be him, that it hurt to see him like that, because I feared the worst. But I was thinking more about how Jessy was going to react.
It wasn't that I was happy about everything Richy had done to Jessy, but I was hoping that at least he could turn himself in and take responsibility for his actions.
When the conversation ended, I didn't hesitate for a second to rush home, shouting that I had a family emergency, leaving Klaus in charge of everything.
I packed a small bag, looked up the Duskwood Motel, and made a reservation—Mrs. Walter was thrilled to hear I wanted a room—put Sky on her leash, and took my car to Duskwood, not caring if any officers stopped me because of who I was. I couldn't wait another moment to see Jessy.
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I arrived at the motel at noon, after a couple of discussions with some agents. One guy finally said they could let me access Duskwood because it was already accessible. I recognized him as Macie's friend Brian, to which I gave him a small thank you for letting me in. I think at least I can trust him.
I put my things in the closet and decided to go to Jessy's house, while texting Cleo, who was telling me about Dan's nervousness and her concern about Jessy's attitude. I hadn't told anyone I'd come to Duskwood as a surprise, and I wanted Jessy to be the first person to see me, so I promised her I'd be very careful about Richy. Today, my goal was to make her happy, not to make her cry. I would wait for her to talk to me when she was ready.
I knock on Jessy's white door and wait, signaling to Sky not to bark.
At that moment, I receive a push—a hug—from Jessy, who had opened the door without me noticing.
"Stephan! You're here!" Her words of emotion make me want to cry. It's been so long since I hugged her that I had slowly begun to forget how it felt.
"I'm here, Jessy," I return the hug tightly, while Sky starts to get nervous, barking at our behavior.
"Hello to you too, Sky," Jessy pulls away and crouches down to greet him.
Sky licks her face, making her laugh. She needs this, a little joy to ease her tension.
When she stands up, she looks at me again, with a beautiful smile.
I bring my hands to her face, gently stroking her cheeks.
"You have no idea how much I've missed you..." I whisper, rubbing my nose against hers, to which she responds with a small laugh.
"Me too," she whispers back, and I can feel a tear on my thumb, "for a moment, I thought you'd forgotten about me."
"Never," I say, pulling back slightly and looking directly into her eyes, "you have no idea how much I've thought about you. I even recorded a bunch of voice messages of everything I wanted to say."
I see her eyes widen in surprise; she doesn't seem to believe it. I can understand. I even thought I was crazy making all those voice messages.
"And you're going to let me hear them?" She takes my hand, leading me into the house. She glances at Sky, giving her excited looks.
"The truth is, I wanted to," I reply, putting my shoes in the shoe rack and then taking Sky’s leash off, hanging him on the coat rack, "But now I remember I sound pretty pathetic, and I don’t want you to laugh at me. Let’s just keep it like a diary entry no one can hear."
Jessy nods, taking my hand again and leading me to her living room.
I don’t know why, but I feel something strange. I know it’s her, the same Jessy I fell in love with, yet there’s something different that makes me not quite recognize her. I don’t want to offend her because I know it’s about what happened with Richy. I don’t even know how to bring it up without feeling bad.
"I know I shouldn’t ask, but… I’m curious," Jessy sits down on the sofa and pats the side of it a couple of times. I do as she says and sit down, still excited, "When are we going to have that date you promised me?"
"First, I need to get settled in my motel room," Jessy says, wrapping her arms around me. I start to get nervous. She moves closer, and I place my hand on her back, half-lying down on the sofa, "and I also need to say hello to the rest of the group."
"Mhm… I understand," Jessy nods, and I feel her stroke my hair. Is she doing it because she missed me, or as a way to forget everything else? Of course, she must be thinking the same thing I am, wanting to kiss her, but… wouldn't that be taking advantage of her and her vulnerability? "I have things to do too."
"Really? What things?" I trace lines on her back, caressing it gently. I want her to know, at least, that I'm not uncomfortable with this advance.
"I can't tell you," she kisses my cheek and gets up from the sofa, leaving me completely alone and…
I try to get comfortable as best I can, trying not to make my state uncomfortable.
"Hmm… Now I'm curious," I reply, listening to my phone.
When I see Thomas's message saying he owes me an apology, my mood completely deflates.
"Jessy, you don't mind if I step out for a moment, right?" I ask, getting up from the sofa. She stops, looking at me with a smile. "It seems Thomas wants to talk to me about something important, and I'd prefer to do it face to face."
"Of course! Anyway, I'll be busy with my plan," I see Sky approach her and stroke her head, "but I'll keep Sky until you get back. I need an assistant."
"Just don't leave him near the shoes."
"Don't worry, they're all put away," she comes back to me and kisses me on the cheek again. "Have fun with Thomas!"
"I'll try," I laugh a little nervously, because from the message he sent, it doesn't sound like it's for anything fun.
I also say goodbye to Sky and put my shoes back on, leaving the apartment. I wanted to stay longer, but since I'm staying in Duskwood for now, we'll still be able to spend time together.
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The conversation with Thomas went quite well, better than I expected.
He apologized for forcing me to go to the mine to rescue Hannah, but he didn't have to do it. I would surely have done the same for Jessy if I couldn't go because of the same circumstances of having all the car tires flat and asking... I don't know, Klaus or even Thomas to go to the mine to help Jessy too. I simply told him to stop being so dramatic because I could understand him. I think anyone would do anything to get the person they love back.
Later, he told me they had a plan to search for Jake in the Duskwood woods—or rather, any clue as to where he might be—because he didn't believe he'd been arrested.
He asked if I wanted to join the search, but I had to decline. I wanted to, but Jessy needed me most at that moment. He understood perfectly, so he would let me know if they found anything of his.
I have little hope they'll find anything of Jake's. With how careful he is, I don't think he'd leave anything behind… Well… Except for when he sent me that video of Alan finding his things. Why did he do that? Doesn't he know that if they use dogs they can track him by scent? Sometimes I think that as intelligent as Jake seems, he does stupid things like that.
<< I don't know how long they've been looking for him, but I find it incredible that mistakes like that haven't caught him.>>
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I knock on Jessy's apartment door, and when she opens it, she hands me two pieces of paper of different colors. One is sky blue, and the other is a green that reminds me of the color of grass.
"Green or blue?" she asks, waving both papers.
I stare at them, thinking carefully. Even though I know the answer, I want to see her look of exasperation at my indecision.
"Blue," I finally reply, stepping inside, "one hundred percent."
"Really?" I see her look at the blue paper, making a face. "Hmm..."
"Bad choice?" I ask hesitantly, hoping that perhaps it wasn't the answer she was looking for.
"No, it's fine," she says finally, waving the blue paper. "Yes, you're right. Thanks!"
She walks away, and Sky comes over to say hello before I follow her again. I follow them both and see her standing at the table with several papers on it, examining everything with great concentration.
She pulls her hair back into a loose bun, as if that helps her focus.
I lean against the wall, watching her. She's truly beautiful when she's working; I like seeing how much effort she puts into things when she's interested in something.
I see her pick up two more sheets of paper and practically trot over to me, standing right in front of me.
"Cherry?" She holds up a sheet with a picture of a cherry and then another. "Or apple? But don't take too long again! I know you're doing this on purpose."
"Okay," I chuckle and point to the first one. "Cherry."
"Good choice," she kisses me on the cheek and returns to the table. "Great, thanks!"
I shake my head slightly, slowly approaching her.
"Damn it! I forgot something!" she exclaims, stopping me. I discreetly try to peek over her shoulder at what's on the table. It's a jumble of papers listing items, food, drinks… even balloons of different shapes and letters. What is she doing? "Cleo or Thomas?"
I raise an eyebrow, curious, not understanding the question. Without a second thought, I place my hands on her waist, pulling her closer.
"You, of course," I reply with a charming smile.
"No, that's not what I asked," she says, playfully tapping my chest, but her smile returns. "Though, thank you for thinking of me."
She steps back, and I stand beside her, observing everything on the table as she hums happily.
"Okay, so… any plans to clear up what all this is about sometime soon?" I ask, taking a photo from a three-tiered cake decorated with ribbons and pearls.
"I can’t tell you right now, " she says, snatching the photo from me and placing it on the table. She leans on it and looks at me, trying to appear serious, "that would spoil the surprise, and you shouldn’t be seeing all this, just so you know."
"Well, I’m afraid it’s too late," I reply, picking up a photo of a floral dress, "but if you’re not going to tell me, I’m afraid I can’t help you."
She lets out a small grunt, though more in an exaggerated way, almost joking than serious.
"Okay, fine," she sighs, taking the sheet of paper from me and placing it on the table. "I'm planning a surprise party,"she gestures around the table with her hands and then looks at me, "for Hannah, at the Aurora," she says with a rather wide smile.
I nod, understanding her reason. It's obvious she wants to go back to normal. So, without wanting to pressure her, I play along.
"Well, color me surprised!" I tuck a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, watching her look at me, completely excited. "I'm sure she'll be very happy that you're preparing something special for her."
She lets out a small laugh, her cheeks starting to flush red.
"Right? The poor thing has been through so much, and I want to show her how happy we are that she's back with us," she claps her hands and tilts her head. "And I also wanted it to be a surprise party for you," she looks at me so seriously she seems genuinely angry, "but you can be thankful it's not going to be a surprise anymore; you ruined it yourself."
I let out an awkward ‘Oh’, I didn't realize it was about me too. Now I feel bad for messing things up for her.
"My bad, next time I'll keep my mouth shut," I say, making a zipping motion, and Jessy sighs.
"Well, I admit it's rather convenient that it didn't work, because I need your help." I nod and cross my arms, listening attentively. "You got along well with my brother, right?"
<< I never got along with him, I hate him for how he treats you and how he treats women.>>
Of course, I can't tell her what I think of him, but I also don't know where she got that idea.
"Why do you think that?" I'm curious about her answer because I really don't know why she believes that to be true.
"He asked me about you once," she replies thoughtfully, "I remember that, though not exactly what it was about," I do, it was whether we were dating, "but he seemed interested in you," I avoid making a face. I'd rather die than have that guy interested in me, "anyway—"
"Oh no…" I can't help but look at her worriedly, dreading what she might be thinking. "What's wrong?"
Jessy rolls her eyes, letting out a small sound of exasperation.
"Relax, it's nothing dramatic," she goes back to the papers, looking at one comparison next to another, "he doesn't know it yet, but he's going to let me borrow the Aurora that night," she smiles at me as she shows me other papers with what look like different garlands, "and now I think he'd be more willing to do it if you ask him instead of me."
She hands me the two photos and tries to lean on my shoulder, so I lean to her side so she can.
I don't think it'll hurt to agree to her request, even though it's not like Phil and I get along. The truth is, I didn't even want to talk to him at the time, and the way he talked about Hannah made me want to punch him. I wonder how Jake felt in his situation, since she's his sister; it must have been worse for him.
"Well," I take a slow breath, looking at her, "I can try if you want me to."
"Yes, please, that would be great," she gets excited again and says something else that surprises me, "besides, it's important to me that you and my brother get along, even if it's just for my sake."
She gives me these puppy-dog eyes that make me melt. If this is what makes her happy right now, then I'll keep helping her at the party. Maybe it'll lift her spirits a little.
"I'll do my best not to fight with your brother," I try to joke, but she gives me an almost warning look. "But what was the point of asking about Thomas or Cleo? Do you expect one of them to give a speech or something?"
"That was to determine who would have the dishonor of being assigned as the driver that evening," she replies. As she leans back on the table, she puts her arms around my neck, giving me a playful look.
"I see," I run my fingers along her cheek, gently caressing it, "we don't want Dan driving us, knowing his history with alcohol and driving."
"And we don't want anything bad to happen to us on this big night for both of us," she slowly traces her finger across my lips, and my whole body shiveres.
<< Damn, I want to kiss her more than anything in the world, she really is the most beautiful thing I have in my arms.>>
Her landline phone rings, and she places her hands on my chest, patting me.
"Wait a minute, I'm getting a call," she says, stepping back and joking again, "maybe it's the magician I hired for the party."
"Perfect, I've always wanted to see him pull a rabbit out of a hat."
Jessy laughs, but the laughter stops immediately. I watch her impatiently as the phone continues to ring, and she doesn't answer, as if she's frozen in place.
Finally, the call stop, and Jessy turns slowly, her eyes glazed over.
"It was Richy's father," she replies slowly, lowering her head.
"And why didn't you answer? I'm sure—"
"There are more important things to take care of right now," I notice her voice is cold, and she returns to the table, looking at the photos and samples.
Her silence terrifies me; I know the spirit she once had has vanished.
I see her pick up two photos of different fabrics with different themes.
"Ocean or star theme?"
"Jessy…" I take her hands and lower them, placing the two photos on the table. "You don't have to pretend with me."
"You know, this party is important to me," Jessy starts tidying up, nervously.
"Yes, I've noticed," I try to help her and hand her some of the photos, noticing she's trying to hurry.
"I just want everyone to be happy again," I notice a slight tremor in her voice; she may not have realized it, but it's obvious she's fighting back tears, "and maybe not think about what happened to us!" She gathers the neatly arranged papers and taps them gently to put them back in place, then looks at me. "At least for one evening. That would be enough."
I notice her lip trembling. I know she's holding back from saying more. I know she wants to talk to me.
"Do you want to talk about it for a bit?" I ask slowly, trying not to upset her. "Even if it's just to get this off your chest."
Jessy opens her mouth but then closes it. She shakes her head slowly, and I see her press her hand down over all the photos, annoyed.
"I can't," she says, looking away, wiping away a tear that has escaped.
Without forcing it, I place my hand on her chin, gently turning it. Jessy lowers her eyes, avoiding my gaze.
"Hey, Jessy, look at me," I say softly, and she slowly responds, "I know how strong you are. I know you can throw a party and still talk to me about how you feel. I'm here for you, to help you with whatever you need." I give her a smile, but she doesn't return it.
"You didn't see how all this was falling apart," I said, staring at her, a mixture of surprise and pain in my voice, "you weren't here."
I remained silent, unsure how to respond. It was true, I wasn't here. It wasn't my fault; I could have come, been with her, but I couldn't. My life was chaotic at that time too.
I lowered my hand, placing it beside my body, remaining still. I didn't know what to do now except listen and let her speak.
"I knew it had to be me who told you, that he—" She stopped, her mouth moving, making throaty sounds. I felt like she was about to break down. "I don't know why, but it was important to me," Jessy placed her hands on my shirt, gripping me tightly, "So I called you! Over and over again!" Her voice cracked as she shook my shirt. "But the call just wouldn’t go through… You weren't there any more… And neither was he."
I took her hands and stroked the back of her neck with my thumbs, trying to calm her.
"There was nothing I wanted more to be with you guys," I said slowly and calmly, wanting to reassure her, "with you more than anything," when she didn't respond, I continued, "I was so worried I didn't even know what was going on. I wanted to go into Duskwood, but they wouldn't let me. They stopped me, Jessy. I couldn't go in when I knew you needed me, more than anything," she takes a breath with a little difficulty. I notice his hands trembling. "But now I'm here for you. I'm finally with you, for whatever you need."
Slowly, she separates her hands and looks at the papers on the table.
"I…" She picks up the papers and starts to walk away. "I have a party to take care of."
"Jessy, please wait."
I follow her to her room, and she closes the door behind me. I go to knock and start to hear her crying. I understand. She doesn't want me to see her break down again. She thinks I can't help her because I wasn't there, because I didn't see what she saw, or hear what she heard.
But I was. Every word I read and heard from Richy, how he tried to convince her he was sorry.
I decide to sit on the floor by the door while I listen to her cry. I don't want to leave her alone. Not in this state.
Sky comes over and lies down beside me, making a sound as if she's just strained.
I stroke his head, trying to calm myself down too.
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In the end, I had to leave her alone because Sky was starting to realize it was time for his evening walk. I slipped a note under Jessy's door, thinking she might not want to hear my voice because it probably bothered her. Since I wasn't there for her during the worst time of her life, maybe she hates me just by looking at me.
During the walk, I saw a secret chat pop up between Dan and Cleo. I had ignored Thomas and Lilly's because it didn't seem right to spy on them again, but when I saw it was about the search for Jake, I couldn't help but read it.
Dan suggested they look in an old gravel pit where they used to go to get drunk, a place so far away that no one would ever go there. That's where she thought Jake might be hiding.
According to Cleo, Thomas told her that the place was dangerous because it could collapse.
<< The perfect place to hide, huh Dan?>>
The truth is, I don't know what to think. Jake could be anywhere, and at the same time, it's likely something bad has happened to him since Duskwood opened.
I put my phone down and call Sky, who's playing with some new friends, deciding it's time to go home.
<< I hope Jessy is feeling better.>>
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I leave Jessy's keys on the key ring hanging by the door and take Sky off his leash, then settle in to take off my jacket and shoes.
When I get to the living room, I find Jessy sitting on the sofa, the floor lamp illuminating her like a dramatic photograph.
I walk over to her and sit beside her, saying nothing. After what happened, I don't want to mess things up again.
"He told me I didn't have to worry," I say, looking at her as I hear her speak, but she keeps her head down, watching her hands clench tightly in her lap, "whenever something bad happened, that's exactly what he said," I shift a little more comfortably beside her, listening to her words, "sometimes I didn't believe him or didn't want to hear it." She lets out a soft laugh and continues, "sometimes it really made me angry." I notice her hands clench even tighter as she says those words, "but he always smiled when he said it."
She raises her head, looking at the ceiling, and takes a breath. I don't answer, so she closes her eyes and continues.
"And when Hannah disappeared, he said so too," I see a tear escape and her lip curl, "he hugged me and told me we were going to find her, he said he was sure… And I believed him," she lowers her gaze and looks at me. Her nose and eyes are red from crying. She's in a worse state than when she was attacked by Richy. This time it's about the truth that she was betrayed by her best friend, "and with you by my side, I really felt like it," she takes my hand and squeezes it affectionately. Even though it's a small thing, I smile at her words, happy that I made her feel that way, "like we would find Hannah and that everything would go back to normal again." She shakes her head slowly, letting a few strands of hair stick to her face from the tears. "But it didn’t… And it won’t ever."
"Jessy—"
"Richy is dead," she stops me, shifting her position on the sofa to look at me, lifting one leg to get more comfortable, "and it's my fault, it's my fault because I couldn't do anything," she bursts into tears again, and seeing her like this tears me apart inside.
Used to seeing Jessy happy, seeing her so vulnerable makes me never want to see her like this again, but she needs to let it all out.
"No, please, don't say that," I gently stroke her cheeks, slowly making her look at me, "It hurts me that you think that, Jessy."
"He called me so he could confess," her voice is already hoarse from crying so much; she barely has a voice left to speak, "because he knew that I’d have to look him in the eyes when he said it," I remain calm, even though, little by little, the sadness I felt for Richy is turning into contempt. I never thought I'd do it with anyone, "otherwise, I'd never believe him," I nod at her words, understanding what she meant.. "I know I could have changed it, I could have…" She takes a deep breath, her eyes darting nervously, "I should have told him not to worry, I should have said something more!"
She breaks down again, and I pull her close, stroking her hair. Jessy clings tightly, soaking my shirt. I don't care; if she needs to, let her cry as much as she needs to.
"I understand why you feel this way," I say, kissing her head gently, "but none of this is your fault. He had already made his decision—"
"No, that's not true. I know I could—"
"Jessy, hey, look at me," I gently pull away, placing my hands on her shoulders. Her expression breaks my heart. I want to be able to do more than just be by her side, more than help her throw a party to ease her pain, "we still have each other, okay?" Slowly, she nod as I continue, hoping my words will soothe her, "and if you’re at the end of you rope, that you've reached your limit, then I'll be strong for both of us, helping you whenever you need it," she lets out another loud sob, gripping my arms tightly. "I came to Duskwood just for you, Jessy. You're the reason I'll always be here, because you exist," she licks her lips, wiping away the tears that have fallen, "I'm here for you, and I always will be. Never doubt it."
Jessy opens and closes her mouth, as if searching for the right words.
"Don't leave me again, Stephan. Please, don't ever leave me again," her voice is barely a whisper; she can't speak anymore, but she keeps trying, "I don't know what would happen if you weren't in my life anymore. I... I couldn't go on. Don't ever leave me alone again."
"I won't, Jessy," I say, tilting my head and resting my forehead against hers. I gently stroke her shoulders, hoping it will help her relax, "I can't do it because I love you," I finally say.
Although it's a bit early to say it, I needed to get it off my chest. Jessy has shown me that I'm worth more than just being someone's accessory. She's shown me that I can talk about my problems, sharing them with her, and she can share hers, proving that a couple is meant to support each other and that as long as we're both willing to be honest, we'll see each other for who we truly are.
In Jessy, I've seen that behind that mask of strength, there's a vulnerable person who needs to be heard. I can see how strong she is, but I want her to not be afraid to show this part of herself, not the part that doesn't want to be seen as cheerful, but also the part that can be sad or hurt, the part that hates herself. Because I'll be there so she can see that side of herself again, the side that knows she can handle anything, leaning on me.
"I love you too..." she whispers, and I notice her nose brushing against mine. "Thank you for coming... I... I really needed to be with you again and see you... I didn't... I didn't know what to do alone. Without you, I thought I was going to sink at any moment."
"I won't let you," I say, kissing her face. I hear her sigh, almost in relief, "I'll be your raft to keep you afloat. I'll support you in everything you need."
She nods, and we pull back slightly.
We gaze at each other, and she smiles at me. A sad smile, but a smile nonetheless.
I stroke her cheek, and slowly, I lean closer to her face as she leans in.
The kiss is slow, not intense, but for me... it's as if my body vibrates with emotion.
We separated and Jessy snuggled up to me, hugging me. I decided to lie down, leaving her on top of me while I lovingly stroked her head, letting her rest.
I don't know what the future holds for us after this, but I hope it will improve our lives and that one day we will forget this nightmare we are living through, to embark on a new dream together.
My phone vibrates, and quietly, without disturbing Jessy, I receive a message from Cleo. She says she's found something not related to Jake, but something else entirely. I ask if she wants me to come with her, and she agrees, but warns me not to get angry when we arrive. I tell her I won't, but that I'll see her in a couple of minutes.
I finish the call and carefully lift Jessy off me, gently placing her on the sofa. I look in her room for a blanket and put it over her, but not before letting her gently stroke her cheek.
"Take care of her, Sky. I'll be right back."
He raises his paw as if he understands, and I head to the entrance, getting ready to leave. I didn't want to leave her, but this is important too. Until everything that remains unresolved in Hannah's case is cleared up, we won't get the rest we need.
I will do whatever it takes to help Jessy get her life back, and one day, I will get her out of Duskwood to live wherever she wants, free from this whole nightmare.
Hii! I've been reading your oneshots and I absolutely love them🫶 Not sure if you're taking requests but would you be interested in doing an NSFW alphabet for Jake
First of all: I'm so glad you love my oneshots! I really put a lot of love into them 😊✨
Secondly, I'm not very good at writing NSFW on request (I do better when I'm not under pressure), so what you'll read is going to be exactly how I imagine Jake with my MC, but I'll write MC instead of Macie because it's still that version of Jake I imagine
NSFW ALPHABET
EXCLUSIVE FOR ADULTS ONLY!!! MINORS DO NOT READ!! It doesn't matter if you've had previous experiences, this is not for you.
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A = Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)
After sex, Jake is completely attentive to MC. He tries to make her comfortable; if he sees she's tired, he'll lovingly caress her body, give her tender kisses, and make sure nothing bothers her.
If she happens to be still awake, he'll suggest a bath for both of them, with the perfect water temperature, her favorite soap, and her relaxing playlist, while they bathe together and he washes her hair with a massage.
In short, Jake will do everything he can to make her comfortable after they've been intimate.
B = Body part (their favorite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)
He doesn't have a favorite feature of himself, but if there's one thing that would catch his eye about MC, it would be her lips. Ever since he saw her in photos and met her in person, he couldn't stop thinking about what it would be like to kiss her, so when he finally met her, that's all he could think about. Especially if she use them on any part of his body, it will drive him crazy
C = Cum (anything to do with cum, basically)
With MC, it's the first time he's experimented with not using a condom at least once (unless they try to have children in the future). But he would always use one.
I really can't imagine anything special about semen, I'm sorry, I think the most I can imagine is what's in the letter 'J', so we'll just have to wait.
D = Dirty secret (pretty self explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)
He's even watched porn to try and understand what his friends find exciting about it, but he's never really understood it. He prefers movies with plots.
E = Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)
Okay, here I'm entering dangerous territory with headcanons. Yes, Jake has had sexual experiences, but upon realizing he felt nothing for that person, he gradually reduced the frequency of sex considerably, even though his ex wanted it.
I wouldn't say his experience was minimal, but it certainly wasn't satisfying once he realized he wasn't truly in love.
F = Favorite position (this goes without saying)
Any position where he can see MC's face. He needs to be in contact with her or have her in his line of sight to fully admire her. He even loves it when she's on top so he can admire her body and, before they begin, lovingly caress it. So, positions where they're both facing MC are his favorites.
G = Goofy (are they more serious in the moment? are they humorous? etc.)
It depends on the moment. They might start playfully, with some jokes and tickling, gradually slowing down until they realize they can't stop and decide to continue, or they might simply begin intimately. What's important to Jake is how determined MC seems to be to do it.
H = Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes? etc.)
Okay, I have to be honest here… I don't usually imagine body hair because it's just not something I care about, and besides… I'm not good at drawing it when I do fanart, so I just leave it out of the question.
But if we're going to be serious, I'll say that Jake would keep his body hairless only because he doesn't want to leave any trace of DNA (paranoid), but I also can't imagine him being completely hairless because I picture him horrified at having to shave down there, especially if he wants to do it in a way that leaves no visible trace (like using wax).
So, I really don't care if he has hair or not. That said, I also don't care if he looks like a bear with not a single speck of skin.
I = Intimacy (how are they during the moment? the romantic aspect)
In intimate moments, he's incredibly romantic. Jake does everything he can to always start in a way that makes MC feel comfortable, gently caressing every part of her body and kissing her slowly. He already knows everything she likes and dislikes, where her limits are, and how to proceed if she doesn't stop him, complain, or say no. He makes the moment special, even sharing words of admiration about how beautiful she is and how lucky he is to have found her.
He makes her feel like a goddess every single moment.
J = Jack off (masturbation headcanon)
It's important to remember that in those four years, Jake likely lost all desire to feel any emotion; he preferred being alone. I think that includes his sex life. I don't see him as someone who has that need to masturbate, or at least someone who would try to do it on his own, but something was missing, something to make him feel that need. And that something was MC.
I feel he would enjoy it more if MC were the one touching him because he likes the feel of her hands on his skin. That really turns him on. So I think it would excite him even more because he would be looking at her while he did it, making him even harder.
When he reaches climax, MC tempts him even more by licking his semen clean with her tongue, provoking thoughts he never imagined having with anyone. Only she can make his mind swoon with every daring thing she does.
K = Kink (one or more of their kinks)
He'd be incredibly turned on seeing MC in one of his t-shirts or sweatshirts. Especially if he's not wearing pants and is just in his underwear.
Another kink, though, is that even though Jake and MC are both switches, seeing her in control really turns him on (he's completely at MC's mercy), so he wouldn't mind if she tied his hands while she drove him wild with kisses and caresses. He only gets turned on with her when he's not in control.
L = Location (favorite places to do the do)
Always somewhere private. Whether it's at MC's place alone or in a motel room, but never in a public place.
Of course, passionate kisses are a small exception, but only if everyone else is forgotten and MC is the focus. However, it will never go any further in public.
M = Motivation (what turns them on, gets them going)
MC's caresses on his body. I imagine Jake is quite sensitive to her touch, in the sense that if she caresses him one way, it makes him want more. If MC kisses his neck, it's another point of no return. Anything intimate she does to him with her hands and lips. He's addicted to her.
N = No (something they wouldn’t do, turn offs)
Threesomes. Sorry, Jake is very monogamous; he wouldn't accept another person in bed. He only wants MC and no one else, and he'd never let anyone else do it.
He also doesn't like sex games that cause MC harm. He can't stand the idea of it seeming like he's hurting her, even if he isn't.
O = Oral (preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc.)
Both.
Let's start with receiving them. As I said, he's crazy about MC's lips, so receiving oral sex from her would send him to heaven. He wouldn't look away and would even try to stroke her hair while she does it, not grab her, but massage her while he moans from the sensation of her tongue playing with his member.
When Jake gives them, he doesn't start directly. No, he has to begin by giving small kisses before starting, looking her in the eyes and seeing her nod for more. It could pass for consent, but it's more about him wanting to know how much she desires him. She rarely begs him because he's always asking for more, so it's the perfect moment to see her lose her mind. Jake makes sure her legs don't even fall off his shoulders, holding them tightly because he knows they tremble with every kiss, and every movement of his tongue makes her lose consciousness. The best part is when he looks up, staring into her eyes with a penetrating gaze while he licks his lips, savoring what's left of her on his lips.
P = Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual? etc.)
The thing is, I can imagine it both ways, but more the second. Let me explain.
For example, the first time, and every time they're intimate, Jake always starts slowly, carefully exploring every inch of her skin, every kiss, and every word they say in the moment. He wants it to last, he wants it to never end, he wants to be able to hold onto it in his mind. Every hip movement is gentle yet penetrating, wanting her to feel everything about him. He listens intently as she says his name. Of course, he does the same, in a whisper, telling her how perfect she is when his moans allow it.
If, for example, they go fast and rough, I can assure you it's on the first night after months apart. They lose control because they missed each other and needed to have skin-to-skin contact again, their kisses leaving them breathless.
But his favorite is to go slow and sensual.
Q = Quickie (their opinions on quickies, how often, etc.)
No, no, he needs to enjoy her and every kiss and caress. Something quick won't do; he needs to feel her completely.
R = Risk (are they game to experiment? do they take risks? etc.)
Unless MC begs him several times, it's a firm no. As I've already said, he would never do anything to hurt her without first giving her full information. Besides, if he saw that it left any permanent marks on her, he would feel even worse.
S = Stamina (how many rounds can they go for? how long do they last?)
It depends on how they see themselves. We know Jake doesn't have trouble sleeping; he probably has more stamina than he lets on.
T = Toys (do they own toys? do they use them? on a partner or themselves?)
If MC wants to try them, why not? Although I imagine her favorite would be the vibrating ring; while he's slowly penetrating her, the ring would "torture" her until she begs him to go faster.
U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)
If he's working on the computer and MC slips her hands under his shirt, caressing him while kissing his neck and then leaving, he's going to have a terrible time. He'll be unable to concentrate, constantly replaying his girlfriend's touch and lips in his mind.
He'll have to drop everything to run after her and beg for more. Of course, she'll play dumb, pretending not to know what he's talking about, until he tells her exactly what he wants or picks her up and carries her to bed.
V = Volume (how loud they are, what sounds they make, etc.)
He doesn't raise his voice too much during sex or when MC masturbates him; he usually controls himself quite well.
However, he moans a lot if she provokes him enough, which makes it delicious for her to hear him because she always sees him so calm, and she loves losing control.
W = Wild card (a random headcanon for the character)
-Jake isn't someone who sees sex as the main focus of his relationship. He can live without it; he and MC can simply be relaxed in bed or on the couch, enjoying each other's company.
-The first time will be very romantic and slow, as I said, figuring out what he can and can't do, observing every moan or whimper MC makes.
-He's had sexual dreams about MC, of course, before confessing his feelings. Naturally, that embarrassed him to the point that he was afraid to talk to her about it, because he can't control his dreams.
X = X-ray (let’s see what’s going on under those clothes)
Starting with his physique, he wouldn't be particularly thin or muscular. Explanation: The Jake I imagine has been doing parkour since he was 13, and I also think that during the years he was on the run, he would have occasionally exercised because he felt that need to be prepared for anything at any moment.
Regarding his member, I admit that I don't think about it much either, I mean... I'm not someone who thinks too much about size. But erect, it would be about 14 or 15 centimeters. I'll leave it at that.
Y = Yearning (how high is their sex drive?)
He doesn't yearn sex; he yearning being with MC. As I've said in my headcanons, he doesn't see it as a priority; he just wants to be with her. So, his sexual desire isn't that strong until they've reunited after months.
Look, of course he misses seeing her naked body again, but it's more than that; it's not like seeing her as a sex object, but as someone he needs to be by his side more than anything.
Z = Zzz (how quickly they fall asleep afterwards)
He takes longer to fall asleep than she does. Jake watches MC as she sleeps beside him until he slowly falls asleep himself, seeing that she's perfectly fine and needs nothing more than to rest afterward.
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And that's it! I hope you liked it, anon. If not… well, I tried. It's how I imagine Jake, and there's nothing I can do about that. Everyone has their own vision, and I'm sorry if it wasn't what you expected.
ive always said to my friend that MC fell first then Jake started catching feelings too what episode do you think Jake completely fell for MC (Looking at it now mf is whipped asf XD)
Hey Anon!I hope you're having a good day or night 😊
It really seems to be true that MC was the first to fall for Jake because sometimes there are responses saying that we like the hacker/Jake
But in Jake's case, he was already interested in her, although he didn't show it because of his situation
In episode 3, he asks MC if she's seeing anyone; clearly, he wouldn't ask that if he wasn't already in love/interested 🤭
Another example would be in episode 2, where if we ask Jake if he trusts us, depending on the answer, he says that Jessy isn't the only one who felt an immediate connection with her
So, we could say that Jake might have felt something for MC, as we see in episode 4, where he doesn't understand what he feels for MC, but it's clear that he does, but he doesn't allow himself to love her because MC would get hurt in the relationship
In short, I think Jake was the first to fall in love, but he didn't show it, thus leaving the "She fell in love first, but he fell harder" scenario
I'm always honest about this, and despite the situation, I would have liked to see more romance at the beginning, sometimes I feel like there are a lot of things missing to make the romance work properly, to see Jake gradually fall in love through more premium interactions. It wouldn't have required adding private information about him, but small things that might have shown him interest in her. I don't know if that makes sense
And yet, I love their complicated romance because we know it's not easy for him
I can honestly say I'm a little disappointed there isn't an option to agree with Dan that Jake was probably arrested. I really enjoyed playing as Stephan and agreeing with Danwhen it came to not trusting Jake. I would have liked to stick with that and be able to agree with Dan that Jake was probably arrested; at least for Stephan, that would make sense 😅
Again, I like Jake, but for other types of MCs, options like that would be great. Not everyone is the same, even if we don't want to think that way. But for me, it would feel more right to say those things as Stephan.
It would even make Carla agree with Dan; Macie is the only one who would deny it
All I can do now is use the options that seem most romantic to make the interactions romantic 😭 There's not a single moment when playing with the romance code with Jessy that mentions he likes her 🥹💔 It's all Jake Jake Jake...
Which is great and all, but I think if you don't have a romance with him, there are options that shouldn't be there or that you shouldn't put so much effort into
I feel like Jessy is left out with her romance code and I'm afraid that in the end I'm going to have to make a lot of romance content in the future because there won't be any 😔
It hurts that there isn't a special option if you have the male MC code with the ending where you confess your feelings to Jessy. Okay, I understand, it's not the best moment, but a romantic support option wouldn't hurt 🥹💔
*Oneshot basado en la primera conversación con Jessy, por supuesto, con cambios añadidos.*
El día de ayer había sido extraño para Stephan. Una chica secuestrada llamada Hannah Donfort le había mandado su número de teléfono a su novio y luego le había metido en un grupo completo en el que parecían demasiados tensos queriendo su ayuda para encontrarla ¿Qué sabía él de investigaciones? Por eso había decidido meter a su prima en un grupo con aquel hacker que luego se había puesto en contacto con él para que le ayudase en encontrar a Hannah —lo que en realidad no quería admitir era que le daba miedo aquel hacker, no queriendo estar solo con él—. Claro, se había enfadado, pero la excusa de que quería a Macie como 'un tutorial' para que le aconsejase cómo hacer las cosas, había funcionado —aunque tampoco es que a su prima le gustó la idea de meterle en el asunto, le hizo prometer que no la metiera demasiado y solo la buscase para tener alguna duda.
Lo positivo era que había logrado sacarle un poco de sus casillas cuando los tres hablaron sobre qué llevarían a una isla desierta, pregunta que le sorprendió viniendo del hacker. No supo si ofenderse o estar aliviado cuando se burló que era raro de llevarse a una isla sin conexión a internet el ordenador y que no le iba a invitar a él, pero sí a Macie cuando a ella le pareció divertido esa imaginación. Aquello le pareció más sospechoso, siendo que la persona desaparecida era una mujer, creyó que Macie sería su próxima víctima.
Y ahí estaba al día siguiente, en su tienda de música tratando de aparentar de que no había sido hackeado y metido en la investigación de un secuestro.
Se encontraba en el almacén haciendo inventario mientras que sus dos empleados atendían a los clientes, necesitaba un poco de tranquilidad.
Su móvil sonó, avisándole de que tenía un mensaje. Quería ignorarlo porque estaba trabajando, pero recordó que entonces ese hacker podría hacerle algo, como bloquearle su cuenta del banco o dejarle sin dinero haciendo comprar sospechosas.
Con aquel miedo irracional, sacó el móvil del bolsillo de su pantalón, observando la notificación y la foto de la chica. Jessy. La chica del primer chat secreto con aquel tipo raro llamado Dan. Se sintió incómodo tras haberla espiado ¿Cómo iba a interactuar con ella sabiendo que la había leído?
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Estaba acostumbrado a saludar siempre con aquel emoji ¿pero era correcto hacerlo en aquel momento? Si pareciera que se mostraba demasiado amistoso, a lo mejor parecería sospechoso con ella, si se mostraba distante, también parecería sospechoso. Las dos formas de hablar era algo complicado para él y al fin y al cabo, se suponía que debía espiar al grupo de parte de aquel hacker.
<<Como lo odio... Creo que trataré de ser yo mismo, así no pareceré extraño.>>
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Estaba preocupada de que pensaras mal de mí por cómo me marché del grupo ayer 🙈
Tenía que pensarlo todo, sabes?
Stepan
Ah! No pasa nada!
Es bastante comprensible
Y más cuando soy un completo desconocido 😅
Jessy
La situación es extraña, verdad?
Pero ahora quiero conocerte mejor 😁
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Aquellas palabras le puso nervioso ¿Por qué quería conocerle mejor? No es que estuviera ahí por gusto, estaba siendo obligado.
Sentía un poco de pena por ella, porque no quería encariñarse con aquel grupo, sino olvidarlo todo una vez que Hannah apareciera. Por desgracia, aún tenía que seguirle el juego y de momento, no veía que fuera una mala persona, entendía sus palabras.
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Stephan
Eh?
Conocerme mejor?
Jessy
No pienses mal 😜
😊 Jeje
Tengo un poco de tiempo para hablar si quieres
Pero te lo advierto: Estoy trabajando
Y si Richy viene, tengo que dejar el móvil
Stephan
Pues estamos igual, también yo estoy trabajando
Jessy
Entonces no le diré nada a tu jefe 🤫
Stephan
Eso será fácil
Soy el jefe 😂
Jessy
Oh
Pues entonces, no le diré a tus empleados que estás vagueando hablando conmigo 😚
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Stephan se rió, sentándose con cuidado en la escalera, procurando que no se tambalease. Esperaba que nadie entrase y le viera realmente vaguear. Nunca había pausado su trabajo hasta la hora del almuerzo. Haría una excepción en aquel momento.
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Stephan
Y dónde trabajas?
Jessy
En 'El Garaje de los Roger'. Es la tienda de los padres de Richy, pero lo lleva él
Bueno, todo el mundo lo llama 'El desguace'
Yo me encargo de la ''oficina'' (el teléfono, los post, las facturas...)
En otras palabras: Cualquier cosa que Richy no puede hacer por sí mismo 🤭
Stephan
El trabajo soñado
Jessy
De verdad piensas eso??
😵
La verdad es que lo encuentro aburrido
Stephan
Lo decía en plan broma
Yo también hago lo mismo porque mi amigo a veces me deja colgado cuando se lo pido 🙄
Jessy
Ah, entonces me entiendes 😅
Ahora mismo no tengo nada que hacer en este momento
Richy no debería verme usar mi teléfono 😆
Stephan
Entonces ten cuidado de que no te pille 😆
Jessy
Lo tendré. Confía en mí 😁
Um. Ok. Ahora que sabes algo sobre mí. Es tu turno 🙃
En qué trabajas?
Stephan
Llevo una tienda de música 😄
'LoveLiveMusic'
No es una tienda grande, pero bastante popular en donde vivo 🙃
Jessy
Wow! Entonces estás todo el rato escuchando música de todo tipo? Sin ninguna excepción?
Stephan
De alguna manera hay que atraer a los clientes 😎
Respeto los gustos de la gente, sin importar lo que sea
Mientras a ellos les guste la música, a mí me hacen felices 🙂
Jessy
Jo! Has dicho que te hacen felices! No que te alegra que te den dinero
Eso es dedicación a lo que amas 🥺
Stephan
La música es mi pasión
Sin ella estaría perdido
Jessy
Aw...
No nos conocemos mucho, pero ya me pareces lindo en la forma de hablar de tu pasión, eso me gusta 🤭
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El joven notó cómo sus mejillas empezaron a arder. Quitando sus amigos y Macie, nadie le había alagado de esa forma. Por supuesto, Sophia le había alagado anteriormente, pero no de aquella forma, ella había resaltado más sus vídeos con la música que le había compuesto más que el sentimiento.
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Stephan
Oh, vaya, gracias 🙂
Pues ahora supongo que te toca hablar de ti, no?
Jessy
Bueno, pero te advierto que no hay nada interesante que contar sobre mí 😅
Me gusta mucho viajar
Estuve en París el otro día
[IMG-20211001-WA0004]
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Observó la foto que le había enviado, en donde salía con la torre Eiffel. Algo que notó era que no trataba de fingir ni de que ella destacara, que era natural, nada artificial. Se veía pequeña al frente de aquella torre, como si quisiera que fuera eso que destacara.
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Stephan
Hala! 😮
Debió de ser un viaje divertido
Jessy
Jeje, lo fue 😊
Pocas veces puedo permitirme estos viajes, pero cuando puedo, tengo que aprovecharlo al máximo! ✌️
Y qué hay de ti? También te gusta viajar?
Stephan
Me encanta!
Pero es lo mismo, cuando puedo viajar 😅
Suelo ir con mis amigos y acompañados por Sky
Jessy
Sky?
Stephan
Es mi perro
Si no es en la otra punta del país, cogemos la caravana y conducimos a nuestro destino
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Por muy ilusionado que lo escribiera, no recordó la última vez que tuvo un viaje así. Siempre que iba a proponerlo, Sophia le cortaba diciendo que ella le necesitaba presente en algún vídeo que necesitaba grabar, aunque él no saliera. Por supuesto que él accedía ¿Cómo iba a negarse a su novia? Ella quería que todo fuera perfecto y él debía de ser perfecto. En todo. Sin excepción.
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Jessy
Entonces nada te detiene en venir a visitarme!
El corazón se le detuvo por un momento, con el pensamiento de que había hecho algo malo hablando con ella, como si le hubiera dado un mensaje equivocado.
Se alivió cuando dijo que era una broma, no queriendo que Jessy se llevase una mala impresión de él.
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Stephan
Oye Jessy, por un momento me he asustado
Es que tengo novia, sabes?
Jessy
Ay! Perdona!
No quería hacerte sentirte incómodo 🙁
Stephan
Está bien, no te preocupes 🙂
No lo sabías
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Vio cómo Jessy comenzó a escribir, pero luego borró, quedándose en un pequeño silencio.
Sabía que la había hecho sentir incómoda él y no al revés, haciéndola creer que buscaba algún interés con aquella conversación.
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Y si continuamos la conversación como si nada hubiera pasado?
Jessy
Vale 😅
Bien. Mi turno de preguntarte
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Jessy comenzó a escribir y al instante, borró. Esperaba que no fuera por la incomodidad que ahora no sabía qué contestar.
Al menos, cuando vio lo que envió, se alivió.
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Grr ya viene Richy
Tengo que desconectar
-----Jessy se ha DESCONECTADO-----
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Guardó su móvil y continuó con su trabajo, con una pequeña sonrisa en la cara. De momento, Jessy se había comportado bastante mejor de lo que esperaba, siendo ella la única que le había hecho sentir cómodo de momento en el grupo.
—Ya casi es la hora del almuerzo —la voz de su amigo se hizo presente en el almacén. Logró escuchar sus pasos acercándose a él mientras terminaba de contar el último contenido del pedido de CDs que estuviese correcto— ¿Te vienes?
—Lo siento Klaus, creo que vas a tener que pasarlo sin mí —respondió el joven, apoyándose en el estante—, tengo que pasar el inventario al ordenador y luego he quedado para comer con Sophia.
— ¿Otra promoción de las suyas? —Klaus se apoyó en la pared, mirando a Stephan con una sonrisa— Me alegro mucho que la apoyes en su carrera, eres el mejor cuñado que podría tener.
— ¿Promoción? No, no es una promoción —Stephan negó con la mano, sonriendo—. Es para comer juntos, ha decidido tomarse un descanso-
— ¿De verdad? Porque he visto su última publicación diciendo que vais hoy a un restaurante nuevo de un chef famoso.
Stephan parpadeó confuso, para después sacar su móvil y buscar el instagram de su novia.
En efecto, su amigo tenía razón. Una de sus historias llevaba a la publicación del nuevo restaurante que habían abierto en el pueblo de manera inesperada.
—Bueno, pasároslo bien —Klaus le dio un golpe en el hombro, saliendo del almacén.
En cuanto se quedó solo, no dudó en llamar a su novia, queriendo saber por qué debía de trabajar de nuevo. No recordaba la última vez que salieron juntos sin la necesidad de estar grabando ni sacando fotos para ellos mismos solo.
— ¡Stephan! —La voz chillona de Sophia se escuchó al otro lado de la línea— Me estoy preparando para nuestra comida.
— ¿Por qué no me habías dicho que se trataba de otra promoción? —Su voz salió lastimera. No le gustaba tener que poner aquella voz, le había salido sola. Esperaba no quedar ridículo ante ella— Pensé que se trataba de algo informal.
—Y lo es cariño —la escuchó hablar de manera extraña, se la imaginó aplicándose el pintalabios frente al espejo—, solo que me van a pagar por promocionar el restaurante y hablar de él.
—Pero entonces no es una comida juntos, es un trabajo-
—Stephan, cielo, seguimos comiendo juntos, solo que debes grabarme y sacarme algunas fotos comiendo —hizo una pequeña pausa al otro lado de la línea y luego cambió su voz a una más seria— ¿O acaso no puedes hacerlo? Porque puedes ¿no?
—Mhm, claro, puedo... Puedo hacerlo —una sonrisa incómoda apareció en la cara de Stephan, imaginándose lo de siempre.
Iban a estar un par de minutos, grabando el lugar, sacando fotos, después pedirían algo. Las fotos que sacaría sería de ella como si estuviera comiendo, para después marcharse tras dar un simple bocado, dejando el resto en el plato. Alguna vez se lo había señalado, pero ella ponía la excusa de que tenía una dieta muy estricta que a él le preocupaba. Por supuesto que no se lo reprochaba, si ella hacía su trabajo, confiaba en lo que hacía.
—Y después necesitaré que me hagas una composición nueva —Stephan asintió y Sophia continuó—. Como el restaurante tiene un aspecto rural, algo de granja estaría bien, ya sabes, con sus banjos y cosas así de campo.
—Veré que puedo hacer-
— ¡Perfecto! Nos vemos luego cariño, llevaré la cámara cargada, besitos.
Sophia colgó y se quedó mirando el móvil, pensando en si alguna vez harían algo normal como cualquier pareja en vez de parecer un negocio. Ya había incluso hablado sobre que su boda tenía que ser algo grandioso, con muchas cámaras y un montaje para sus redes sociales. Todo lo contrario a lo que a él le gustaba. Aunque le gustaba cantar y hacer pequeños conciertos, no quería vender su vida privada como ella.
Soltó un suspiro, guardando el móvil. Debía de ponerse a trabajar si no quería enfadarla por llegar tarde.
Mientras que escribía todo el contenido que tenían y hacía las cuentas de lo que había gastado, escuchó el sonido de chat secreto.
Vio a Thomas y Cleo hablar sobre que él le había pasado las fotos de Hannah y que no había encontrado nada raro en su comportamiento ¿Qué era lo que iba a decir? Si se suponía que estaba ayudando, claramente no iba a quedar como un insistente pidiéndole fotos de su novia, todo lo contrario.
Así que, para Thomas y Cleo, no sabían qué rol tenía Stephan en el secuestro de Hannah o en por qué ella le había enviado su número.
Entendible, tampoco él lo sabía.
Envió un último email pidiendo unos bajos cuando recibió un mensaje de Jessy. Parecía haber terminado de hablar con Richy. Se preguntó si de trabajo o de él, dado que parecía que todos estaban curiosos por su aparición misteriosa.
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Jessy
Regresé!
Entonces 🤭
Maldición, me olvidé lo que quería preguntarte 😤
Stephan
Que mal 😔
Tenía curiosidad por lo que querías preguntarme
Había algo en Jessy que le parecía extraño y a la vez curioso. Claro, no la apuntaba con el dedo como la culpable, pero que estuviera alegre mientras su amiga estaba secuestraba, le preocupaba un poco.
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Stephan
Puedo decirte algo?
Pero no te lo tomes mal!
Jessy
?
Por supuesto 🙂
Stephan
Es que si yo fuera tú, estaría más preocupado por la situación
Ya sabes, tu amiga ha sido secuestrada y eso 😕
No estás algo abrumada por la situación?
Jessy
Mmm... Creo que sé lo que quieres decir 😕
No sabes ni siquiera cómo me siento
Hannah desapareció hace tres días
No me malinterpretes, por supuesto que estoy preocupada!
Pero no puedo hacer nada
Estoy harta de que los demás siempre tengan la necesidad de meterse en medio
Para eso está la policía. Pero los otros actúan como si pudieran hacerlo mejor
Y yo soy la mala por decirlo en alto?
Stephan
Mhm
Entiendo lo que quieres decir y lo entiendo
Si hacen algo que perjudiquen en la investigación del caso, Hannah podría salir perdiendo
Yo también lo dejaría a manos de la policía, y más porque sin quererlo podrían parecer sospechosos si arruinan pruebas 😩
Jessy
Oh, entonces me entiendes
Aunque parecía sonar algo diferente hace unos segundos
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Era bueno ver que ambos entendían lo difícil que era aquella situación. Aunque no conocía a Hannah, Stephan se preocupaba también por ella y no quería que por su culpa corriera peligro ¿Acaso el hacker no lo entendía? ¿O el resto de sus amigos?
Pero ver que Jessy lo hacía, que meterse demasiado en aquella investigación ilegal no era algo bueno. Si cometían un error, podrían acabar todos en la cárcel y era lo menos que necesitaban. Era agradable al menos que una persona del grupo pensase como él, así lo hacía más soportable aquella situación.
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Stephan
Por eso he dicho que no te lo tomases mal 😅
Jessy
Lo sé, es solo...
No quiero que quiero que tengas una mala impresión de mí 🙁
No soy una persona negativa
Stephan
Somo dos entonces!
Tampoco quiero ser negativo, me gusta pensar que todo irá bien
Porque entonces las cosas irán a peor
O al menos es lo que siento a veces 🤔
Jessy
Jeje, me alegra mucho que nos estemos entendiendo bien 😄
La verdad es que me preocupaba de que incluso los demás ya se quejaban bastante de ti
Stephan
Puedes decirlo de nuevo! 😒
Quiero decir, es molesto que me hablen como si tuviera algo que ver o si como conociera a Hannah de manera acusatoria 🙄
Si supiera algo de ella, habría dado cualquier información al instante
Jessy
Verdad?? 😩
No todos tienen que ser sospechosos!
Y hablando contigo, eres lo menos sospechoso que he visto
Stephan
Gracias por el cumplido 😊
Jessy
😊
Bien
Hay una cosa más que quiero preguntar
Me encuentras sospechosa?
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Aquella pregunta se le hizo bastante extraño ¿Qué si la encontraba sospechosa? Solamente un sospechoso haría esa pregunta ¿O quizás estaba preocupada todavía por dar esa mala imagen de ella por lo que le había contado?
<<Creo que también yo haría esa pregunta si me hubiese mostrado como primera imagen de mí mismo no queriendo saber nada y mostrándome alegre.>>
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Stephan
Nah
Realmente no me pareces sospechosa
De momento has sido un alivio para toda esta locura 😩
Porque creo que aún sospechan de mí la mayoría 😕
Jessy
Oh
Bueno, por mi parte no eres para nada sospechoso 😋
Me has caído bastante bien Stephan, espero que lleguemos a ser buenos amigos 😄
Stephan
Yo también lo espero! 😁
Siempre es agradable conocer gente nueva
Aunque estas circunstancias no sean las buenas
Jessy
Ni que lo digas 😅
Bueno, tengo trabajo que hacer por aquí
Qué vas a hacer tú?
Stephan
Había terminado de trabajar e iba a almorzar con mi novia 🙂
Hay un nuevo restaurante y ella quería ir a probarlo
Jessy
Aaaw! Qué monos! 🤭
Pásalo bien Stephan
Hablamos luego, vale?
Stephan
Por supuesto 🙂
Adiós 👋
Jessy
🙂
Adiós
-----Jessy se ha DESCONECTADO-----
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Se sintió un poco más calmado tras hablar con ella sobre la situación que estaban viviendo, como si un pequeño peso se hubiese desaparecido. Si Jessy iba a estar en el grupo, esperaba que la investigación fuese menos estresante, incluso divertida si se mostraba con aquel humor positivo que le agradaba.
Despertando de aquellos pensamientos, se dio cuenta en el ordenador de la hora. Estaba llegando tarde al restaurante con Sophia, primera vez que no iba a llegar a la hora. Un pequeño miedo apareció en su cuerpo, ya había visto a Sophia enfadada en otras ocasiones con otras personas, era siempre cruel, no dejaba pasar ni un pequeño error.
Esperaba que por un par de minutos no fuera a molestarse, al fin y al cabo, era su novio, quizás si le explicaba que había estado hablando por el móvil con una amiga que estaba preocupada por su amiga desaparecida, lo entendería.
<<Veremos si no duermo en el sofá por llegar un poco tarde. Tendré que hacerle la mejor música para su vídeo a modo de disculpa.>>
*Oneshot based on the first conversation with Jessy, of course, with some changes added.*
Yesterday had been a strange day for Stephan. A kidnapped girl named Hannah Donfort had sent his phone number to her boyfriend and then added him to a group chat where everyone seemed overly anxious, wanting his help to find her. What did he know about investigations? That's why he'd decided to add his cousin to a group chat with that hacker who had later contacted him to help find Hannah —What he didn't really want to admit was that he was afraid of that hacker, not wanting to be alone with him. Of course, he'd been angry, but the excuse that he wanted Macie as a "tutorial" to advise him on how to do things had worked—, although his cousin wasn't exactly thrilled about being involved either. She made him promise not to involve her too much and only contact her if he had any questions.
The positive thing was that he'd managed to get under his skin a bit when the three of them talked about what they'd take to a desert island, a question that surprised him coming from the hacker. He didn't know whether to be offended or relieved when he scoffed that it was weird to take a computer to an island without internet access and that he wasn't going to invite him, but he would invite Macie, when she found that idea amusing. That seemed even more suspicious to him, given that the missing person was a woman; he thought Macie would be his next victim.
And there he was the next day, at his music store, trying to pretend he hadn't been hacked and dragged into a kidnapping investigation.
He was in the stockroom taking inventory while his two employees served customers; he needed some peace and quiet.
His phone buzzed, alerting him to a message. He wanted to ignore it because he was working, but then he remembered that the hacker could do something to him, like block his bank account or leave him penniless by making suspicious purchases.
With that irrational fear, he pulled his phone from his pocket, looking at the notification and the girl's picture. Jessy. The girl from that first secret chat with that weird guy named Dan. He felt uneasy after having spied on her. How could he interact with her knowing she'd read it?
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He was used to always greeting people with that emoji, but was it right to do so now? If he seemed too friendly, he might look suspicious to her; if he was distant, he might also look suspicious. Both ways of speaking were tricky for him, and after all, he was supposed to be spying on the group for that hacker.
<< I hate it so much... I think I'll try to be myself, that way I won't seem strange.>>
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I was worried you were thinking badly of me because of how I left the group yesterday 🙈
I had to think over everything, you know?
Stepan
Ah! It's okay!
That's perfectly understandable
Especially since I'm a complete stranger 😅
Jessy
This is a strange situation, isn't it?
But now I want to get to know you better 😁
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Those words made him nervous. Why did she want to get to know him better? It wasn't like he was there by choice; he was being forced to be.
He felt a little sorry for her because he didn't want to get attached to that group but rather forget everything once Hannah appeared. Unfortunately, he still had to play along, and for the moment, he didn't see her as a bad person; he understood her words.
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Stephan
Huh?
Get to know me better?
Jessy
Don't get the wrong idea 😜
😊 Hehe
I just have a little time to chat if you want
But I have to warn you: I'm at work
And if Richy comes, I'll drop the phone
Stephan
Well, we're in the same boat, I'm working too
Jessy
Then I won't tell your boss anything 🤫
Stephan
That'll be easy. I'm the boss 😂
Jessy
Oh
Well then, I won't tell your employees that you're just goofing off talking to me 😚
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Stephan laughed, carefully sitting down on the steps, making sure they didn't wobble. He hoped no one would come in and see him actually slacking off. He'd never stopped working until lunchtime. He'd make an exception this time.
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Stephan
So, where do you work?
Jessy
At 'The Rogers' Garage'. That's Richy's parents' workshop, but he runs it
Well, everyone calls it "The Junkyard"
I take care of the "office" (the phone, post, bills...)
In other words: Anything Richy can't do by himself 🤭
Stephan
Dream job
Jessy
Do you really think so??
😵
Honestly, I find it boring
Stephan
I was just kidding
I do the same thing because my friend sometimes leaves me hanging when I ask him to 🙄
Jessy
Ah, so you understand 😅
I got nothing to do atm
Richy still shouldn't see me using my cell 😆
Stephan
Then be careful he doesn't catch you 😆
Jessy
I'll get it. Trust me 😁
Um. Okay. Now that you you know something about me. It's your turn 🙃
What's your job?
Stephan
I run a music shop 😄
'LoveLiveMusic'
It's not a big shop, but it's quite popular where I live 🙃
Jessy
Wow! So you're constantly listening to all kinds of music? Without exception?
Stephan
You have to attract customers somehow 😎
I respect people's tastes, whatever they may be
As long as they like the music, it makes me happy 🙂
Jessy
Wow! You said they makes you happy! It's not that you're happy to get money
That's dedication to what you love 🥺
Stephan
Music is my passion
Without it, I'd be lost
Jessy
Aw...
We don't know each other very well, but I already think you're sweet the way you talk about your passion. I like that 🤭
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The young man felt his cheeks begin to burn. Aside from his friends and Macie, no one had ever complimented him like that. Of course, Sophia had complimented him before, but not like this; she had focused more on the music he had composed for her videos than on the sentiment behind them.
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Stephan
Oh, wow, thanks 🙂
So now I guess it's your turn to talk about yourself, right?
Jessy
Well, but I warn you there's nothing interesting to say about me 😅
I really like to travel
I was in Paris the other day
[IMG-20211001-WA0004]
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He looked at the photo she had sent him, in which he appeared with the Eiffel Tower. One thing he noticed was that she wasn't trying to pretend or make her stand out; she was natural, not artificial at all. She looked small in front of the tower, as if she wanted it to be the tower that stood out.
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Stephan
Wow! 😮
That must have been a fun trip!
Jessy
Hehe, it was 😊
I can rarely afford these trips, but when I can, I have to make the most of it! ✌️
And what about you? Do you like to travel too?
Stephan
I love it!
But it's the same, when I can travel 😅
I usually go with my friends and Sky
Jessy
Sky?
Stephan
He's my dog
If it's not on the other side of the country, we take the camper van and drive to our destination
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As excited as he was to write it, he couldn't remember the last time he'd taken a trip like that. Every time he was about to suggest it, Sophia would cut him off, saying she needed him to be present in some video she had to film, even if he wasn't in it. Of course, he agreed. How could he refuse his girlfriend? She wanted everything to be perfect, and he had to be perfect. In every way. Without exception.
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Jessy
Then nothing will stop you from visiting me!
Stephan
Huh?!
Jessy
😉I'm just kidding
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His heart stopped for a moment, the thought that he'd done something wrong by talking to her, as if he'd sent her the wrong message.
He was relieved when she said it was a joke, not wanting Jessy to get the wrong impression of him.
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Stephan
Hey Jessy, I was scared for a second
It's because I have a girlfriend, you know
Jessy
Oh! I'm sorry!
I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable 🙁
Stephan
It's okay, don't worry 🙂
You didn't know
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He watched as Jessy started typing, but then deleted it, falling into a brief silence.
He knew it was he who had made her uncomfortable, not the other way around, leading her to believe he was seeking something from the conversation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What if we continue the conversation as if nothing happened?
Jessy
Okay 😅
Good. My turn to ask you
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Jessy started typing and then instantly deleted it. She hoped it wasn't the discomfort that had left her unsure of what to reply.
At least, when she saw what she'd sent, she felt relieved.
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Grr Richy's coming
I'm afk
-----Jessy is now OFFLINE -----
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He put his phone away and continued working, a small smile on his face. So far, Jessy had behaved much better than he'd expected, being the only one who had made him feel comfortable in the group.
"It's almost lunchtime," his friend's voice echoed through the warehouse. He could hear his footsteps approaching as he finished counting the last of the CDs in order to make sure they were correct. "Want to come?"
"Sorry, Klaus, I think you'll have to make it without me," the young man replied, leaning against the shelf. "I have to transfer the inventory to the computer, and then I'm meeting Sophia for lunch."
"Another one of her ads?" Klaus leaned against the wall, looking at Stephan with a smile. "I'm really glad you're supporting her career. You're the best brother-in-law I could ask for."
"Advertisement? No, it's not an advertisement," Stephan shook his head, smiling. "It's so we can eat together; she's decided to take a break—"
"Really? Because I saw her last post saying you're going to a new restaurant today, run by a famous chef."
Stephan blinked in confusion, then pulled out his phone and checked his girlfriend's Instagram. Sure enough, his friend was right. One of her stories linked to a post about the new restaurant that had unexpectedly opened in town.
"Well, have fun," Klaus said, giving him a playful nudge on the shoulder as he left the storage room.
As soon as he was alone, he didn't hesitate to call his girlfriend, wanting to know why he had to work again. He couldn't remember the last time they went out together without needing to record videos or take photos just for themselves.
"Stephan!" Sophia's shrill voice came through the line. "I'm getting ready for our lunch."
"Why didn't you tell me it was another advertisement?" His voice came out plaintive. He didn't like having to use that tone; it just came naturally. He hoped he didn't look ridiculous in front of her. "I thought it was something informal."
"And it is, honey," he heard her speak strangely; he imagined her applying lipstick in front of the mirror, "It's just that I'm going to get paid to promote the restaurant and talk about it."
"But then it's not a meal together, it's work—"
"Stephan, honey, we're still eating together, but you have to film me and take some pictures of me eating," She paused briefly on the other end of the line, then her voice became more serious. "Or can't you do that? Because you can, right?"
"Mhm, sure, I can... I can do that," an awkward smile appeared on Stephan's face, imagining the usual routine.
They would spend a couple of minutes filming the place, taking pictures, then they would order something. The pictures he would take would be of her eating, then leaving after taking a single bite, leaving the rest on her plate. He had pointed this out to her before, but she always made the excuse that she was on a very strict diet, which worried him. Of course, he didn't hold it against her; if she did her job, he trusted her.
"And then I'll need you to do a new composition for me," Stephan nodded, and Sophia continued, "since the restaurant has a rustic feel, something farm-themed would be nice, you know, with banjos and country stuff."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Perfect! See you later, love. I'll bring my camera charged. Kisses."
Sophia hung up and stared at his phone, wondering if they'd ever do something normal like any other couple instead of it all seeming like a business deal. She'd even talked about their wedding having to be something grand, with lots of cameras and a setup for their social media. The complete opposite of what he liked. Although he enjoyed singing and doing small concerts, he didn't want to sell his private life like she did.
He sighed, putting his phone away. He had to get to work if he didn't want to upset her by being late.
While writing down all the information they had and tallying up their expenses, he heard the sound of a secret chat.
He saw Thomas and Cleo talking about how he had sent them the photos of Hannah and how he hadn't found anything strange about his behavior. What was he going to say? If he was supposed to be helping, he certainly wasn't going to come across as insistent on asking for photos of his girlfriend; quite the opposite.
So, as far as Thomas and Cleo were concerned, they didn't know what role Stephan played in Hannah's kidnapping or why she had sent him his number. Understandably, he didn't know either.
He sent one last email ordering some bass guitars when he received a message from Jessy. She seemed to have finished talking to Richy. He wondered if it was about work or about him, since everyone seemed curious about his mysterious appearance.
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Jessy
I'm back!
So 🤭
Damn, I forgot what I wanted to ask you 😤
Stephan
That's too bad 😔
I was curious about what you wanted to ask me
Jessy
Yes 😑
If it comes to my mind, I'll let you know
There was something about Jessy that struck him as both odd and curious. Of course, he wasn't pointing the finger at her as the culprit, but the fact that she seemed cheerful while her friend was being kidnapped worried him a little.
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Stephan
Can I tell you something?
But don't take it the wrong way!
Jessy
?
Of course 🙂
Stephan
Well, if I were you, I'd be more worried about the situation
You know, your friend's been kidnapped and all that 😕
Aren't you feeling a little overwhelmed by the situation?
Jessy
Hmm... I think I know what you mean 😕
You don't even know how I feel
Hannah disappeared three days ago
Don't get me wrong, of course I'm worried!
But I can't do anything
I'm so sick of the others always felling the need to butt in
That's what the police are for. But the others acts as if they could do it better
And I'm the bad guy for saying it out loud?
Stephan
Mhm
I understand what you mean, and I get it
If they do anything that jeopardizes the investigation, Hannah could end up worse off
I'd also leave it in the hands of the police, especially since they could unintentionally look suspicious if they ruin evidence 😩
Jessy
Oh, so you understand me
Although it sounded quite different a few seconds ago
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It was good to see that they both understood how difficult the situation was. Even though he didn't know Hannah, Stephan was also worried about her and didn't want her to be in danger because of him. Didn't the hacker understand that? Or the rest of her friends?
But seeing that Jessy did understand, that getting too involved in that illegal investigation wasn't a good thing. If they made a mistake, they could all end up in jail, and that was the last thing they needed. It was nice to at least have one person in the group thinking like him; it made the situation more bearable.
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Stephan
That's why I said not to take it the wrong way 😅
Jessy
I know, it's just...
I don't want you to get a bad impression of me 🙁
I'm not a negative person
Stephan
Me too!
I don't want to be negative either; I like to think everything will be alright
Because then things will get worse
Or at least that's how I feel sometimes 🤔
Jessy
Hehe, I'm so glad we're getting along so well 😄
The truth is, I was worried that even the others were moaning about you enough already
Stephan
You can say that again! 😒
I mean, it's annoying when people talk to me like I have something to do with it or like I know Hannah in an accusatory way 🙄
If I knew anything about her, I would have given them any information instantly
Jessy
Right?? 😩
Not everyone has to be suspicious!
And talking to you, you're the least suspicious person I've ever seen
Stephan
Thanks for the compliment 😊
Jessy
😊
Right
There's one more thing I have to ask
Do you find me suspicious?
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That question struck him as quite odd. Did he find her suspicious? Only a suspicious person would ask such a question. Or perhaps she was still worried about giving a bad impression of her because of what she had told him?
<< I think I would also ask that question if I had shown myself as the first image of myself not wanting to know anything and showing myself as cheerful.>>
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Stephan
Nah
I don't really find you suspicious
For now, you've been a relief from all this craziness 😩
Because I think most people still suspect me 😕
Jessy
Oh
Well, as far as I'm concerned, you're not suspicious at all 😋
I really like you, Stephan. I hope we become good friends 😄
Stephan
Me too! 😁
It's always nice to meet new people, even though these aren't the best circumstances
Jessy
You can say that again 😅
Well, I have some actual work here
What are you going to do?
Stephan
I had finished work and was going to have lunch with my girlfriend 🙂
There's a new restaurant, and she wanted to try it out
Jessy
Aww! How cute! 🤭
Have fun, Stephan
We'll talk later, okay?
Stephan
Of course 🙂
Bye 👋
Jessy
🙂
Bye
-----Jessy is now OFFLINE-----
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He felt a little calmer after talking to her about their situation, as if a small weight had been lifted. If Jessy was going to be in the group, he hoped the investigation would be less stressful, even fun if she displayed that positive sense of humor he liked.
Snapping out of those thoughts, Hw checked the time on his computer. He was running late for the restaurant with Sophia, the first time he'd ever been late. A small fear gripped him; he'd seen Sophia angry with other people before. She was always cruel, never letting even the smallest mistake slide.
He hoped that for a couple of minutes she wouldn't get upset. After all, he was her boyfriend. Maybe if he explained that he'd been on the phone with a friend who was worried about her missing friend, she'd understand.
<< We'll see if I don't end up sleeping on the couch for being a little late. I'll have to make the best music for her video as an apology.>>
