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[Iris]: No way!
I pleaded Ms. Hailey.
[Iris]: I can't show you right now. I'm sorry. I'll be sure to let you know later, so please do me a favor.
I didn't want to hurt Theo anymore after being hurt by an adult. I liked and believed in Ms. Haley, but I'm not sure whether she will act the same as the others.
The teacher nodded softly as she looked up at me.
[Ms. Hailey]: Yes. Because you're not a kid to play with these things. But the wound may be severe, so you must bring him back after first aid, ok?
[Iris]: Yes, thank you. Oh, and perhaps....
I hesitated. I wondered what she will think after hearing my question.
[Ms. Hailey]: What is it?
[Iris] "By any chance, where do you think of when you want to hide?"
She looked at me for a long time, as if trying to figure out what I meant.
[Ms. Hailey]: Well. Behind the Hyllis nursery is an abandoned forest, so when I want to be alone, I go there.
But she soon sincerely told me what she thought. She caressed my cheek for a moment.
[Ms. Hailey]: Iris. I don't know what's going on, but for now, calm down. Wouldn't that kid
hiding while injured be more anxious when he saw you now?
[Iris]: .....Yes.
I nodded at her words. Surely I was visibly nervous.
[Ms. Hailey]: Yes. It's going to get dark soon, so come back as soon as you can. If it's too late, I'll go find it right away.
[Iris]: Thank you, ma'am.
The teacher's kindness calmed me down. After receiving medicine from Ms. Haley, I
headed straight to the back mountain of the nursery.
It was a small hill that could hardly be called a mountain, but it was surrounded by dense forests.
'You're going to be very scared.'
The thought of Theo hiding alone in the dark made my heart ache.
How long had he wandered in the woods?
I found a cave made of rocks from a distance. In front of me, small footprints and blood trails continued like a road.
'Theo....'
Here will be Theo. I tried to get rid of the nervousness and smile. There was a lot of grass on my hair and clothes, but this was unavoidable, I hoped Theo would let it pass.
As I walked slowly into the cave, the sun was completely set and the round moon was rising overhead.
[Iris]: Theo.
As expected, Theo was crouched inside a small cave. He flinched in surprise at the sound of my voice.
[Iris]: I came to pick you up.
At that, Theo slowly raised his head. In the moonlight, his face was stained with tear tracks.
My heart throbbed at that, but I smiled as brightly as I could. I crouched in front of him and wiped away Theo's tears.
[Iris]: "How can you believe that that standard is wrong?"
I asked while unfolding the pills I had received from Ms. Haley. I began to treat the wound on Theo's forehead.
[Theo]: Actually, I didn't believe that the standard was wrong. I just trusted you.
[Iris]: Me?
[Theo]: Yes.
He smiled and nodded, and I saw tears welling up in Theo's eyes.
[Theo]: The devil doesn't jump in to save other people, and he doesn't try to protect others by just talking harshly.
The day I approached him, I remembered Theo, who tried to hide me from the eyes of the other children.
'He tried to protect me from the cracks.'
[Theo]: But I... If you stay with me, you're sure you'll keep getting hurt.
[Iris]: Because you're sinister?
[Theo]: Why was the thing on the ceiling on fell on the top of your head...."
It was ridiculous.
[Iris]: Theo, do you think you're a demon?
Theo didn't answer right away. Instead, clear tears streamed from his eyes.
[Iris]: Are you really the devil?
I asked again and this time, Theo shook his head. He replied faintly, choking down.
[Theo]: No.... I'm not....
Theo's voice grew louder like he was shouting at someone.
[Theo]: I'm not the devil!
I smiled at Theo like that. I hugged and reassured him.
[Iris]: Yes, I trust you. I'll take your word for it.
Even if everyone in the world calls you the devil, I promise to trust you.
[Iris]: Well, that's it.
Having clumsily treated Theo's wounds, I took a step back from him. But there was something I had forgotten.
[Iris]: Oh, right! There's still one left.
I stopped Theo's hand from trying to touch the wound and grabbed his forehead. I blew
a small blow using my mouth.
[Theo]: What did you do?
[Iris]: Nothing hehe
Theo's face became strangely sullen at my answer.
[Iris]: What's wrong with your expression?
It made me enjoy the best service in my own way! This stuffy guy.
Theo tilted his head and said.
[Theo]: No, because all of a sudden, the wound seems to be fine.
[Iris]: That's all the effect of 'ho,' Sounds good, right?
[Theo]: Uh-huh.
Theo rubbed his forehead with his hand in embarrassment. I reached out to Theo.
[Iris]: Come on, get up. Let's go back before it's too late. I need to show the wound to Ms. Hailey quickly."
[Theo]: Didn't you cure everything?"
[Iris]: But I have to show it to her. What I did was literally first aid.
[Theo]: I see.
Theo and I walked through the woods hand in hand. He walked after me in silence and spoke to me cautiously.
[Theo]: Thank you.
I stopped at his words and looked back at Theo. Then I saw his face flush with embarrassment.
[Iris]: "Good, but why are you suddenly turning around?"
I said with a wide smile, and Theo's face turned bright red. It looked like a cherry tomato in the middle of summer.
[Theo]: What, what
[Iris]: After hearing all the thanks to you, we're really friends now, right?
[Theo]: A friend?
[Iris]: Eh? So we're not?
I asked, keeping my face close to Theo's.
We did this and we're still not friends?
How the hell can I get the title of 'Theo's friend'!
[Theo]: Hey, get away!
[Iris]: Tell me why! What's the reason?
Theo walked down the dark road, taking the lead past me, who was doggedly following me. I walked over to see what made him so angry, and it felt like the ground was ringing.
[Iris]: Wait, I have to come with you!
If anything has changed though, it was that he slowed his steps and waited for me.
[Ms. Hailey]: It's amazing.
She examined Theo's wounds for a long time. Then she muttered softly.
[Iris]: Is there something wrong?
I asked, walking closer to Mrs. Haley.
Maybe there's something wrong, right? If that's the case, I'll never let that William bastard go!
But the teacher smiled awkwardly and shook his head.
[Ms. Hailey]: Nope. Rather, he was in a good condition. I think it was definitely a deep tear, but I think it healed a little bit in that short time.
[Iris]: Healed?
Ms. Haley nodded. However, when the atmosphere became a little heavy, she quickly smiled and said:
[Ms. Hailey]: I think Theo has a great recovery, so I don't think you're going to have to worry about it.
[Iris]: Nice!!
Finally, Theo nodded reluctantly.
But Theo's face darkened.
'You wouldn't want to be a little different.'
[Iris]: It's all because I said 'ho'! Go ahead and thank me.
Theo crossed his arms and looked pathetically at me as he shrugged.
[Ms. Hailey]: Anyway, that's good. If it stays like this, it will heal completely in no time.
"What? Why is Iris walking around with him?"
"Hey, isn't that the devil's blood?"
"It's really gross when you actually see it."
The next day, the restaurant was bustling from the morning.
It was because I and Theo, who had opposite colors (personalities), appeared side by side.
[Iris]: Eat deliciously!
[Theo]: Do you have to eat at such a crowded place?
Theo muttered disgruntled. But I smiled and nodded firmly.
[Iris]: What's wrong with us that we can't even eat on time? We have the right to regular meals.
I patted my chest and said, and Theo looked at me with a strange face.
[Iris]: What's wrong?
[Theo]: You don't have to.
[Iris]: Huh?
Theo turned his head forward, avoiding my eyes.
[Theo]: Without me, you don't care if you eat at irregular times.
I couldn't say anything.
He was clearly a little kid, but Theo sometimes seemed overly grown-up. His words were so sharp that I sometimes had a hard time figuring out what to say.
Thank you for reading! Please don't repost!
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