The Wind of My Life

…

After a few minutes walking through the Comercial Center, we ended up arriving in front of the Saint Jeanne Hospital, where Ian's grandmother is. It is even strange that a hospital as modern as this is in a medium-sized city like Creast Fall. Very modern physical structure, 5 floors with various medical services from normal consultations to an area for emergencies, equipment and transport of high quality, above average number of employees ... And to think that a millionaire from Madison had the good will to build a hospital that would serve even smaller towns in the region scare me even more ...

- (Stella) Alright. Listen,we are going to go up to the 3rd floor and go straight to the waiting room. No confusion until then, right?

- (Sebastian) Are you sure that talking about it would be just for us instead of you, Stella?

- (Stella) Shut up, Sebastian! Don't ruin my moment as an exemplary and well-behaved girl in public.

- I swear I'm not hearing this coming from you, Stella.

- (Stella slightly disappointed) Even you are going to leave me with a bad impression, Naomi?

- (Pointing discreetly at Sebastian) T-That's not it. I just never saw you like this, you know? Wanting to be like him.

- (Sebastian) Am I that well behaved?

- If it weren't, I wouldn't be giving you reason ~~

- (Sebastian) Eh… Thank you?

- (Stella looking alternately) You two are very strange ...

- I don't think so.

- (Another me) LIAR!

- (Sebastian) I agree with Naomi. Why do you think that?

- (Stella looking surreptitiously) Noooothing ... Just intuition. But forget that. Let's go and be quiet.

After this quick conversation, we ended up taking an external access staircase that connects to the upper floors, which will end up shortening our way to Ian.

* looking at Sebastian

As much as it has been a while since Sebastian said that about being part of his family, strangely enough, it never left my head. Since we met with Stella to come here, the 3 of us have had a quiet conversation about random things related to school or even Ian, but when I looked at Sebastian, he seemed to be restless. Like, it was said in the heat of the moment, but ... Why?

- (Sebastian) Naomiii!

Out of nowhere, I feel a slightly sturdy, warm hand holding my arm, and when I turn my gaze, I see Sebastian holding me with a look of curiosity as I climb up without realizing it to the 4th floor.

- (Stella being ironic and pointing) Eh… Naomi, if you count 3 floors including the ground floor, then…

- (Sighing) Ah ... I'm sorry. I.. was distracted for a moment.

I ended up descending back to Sebastian's side while he released me, and I see that Stella is entering through a glass door that leads to the 3rd floor of the hospital. From here I see a large hall with chairs and a few people seated and a corridor beyond that leads to some rooms where some patients are.

- (Stella) Huh, he is not here. You two wait here and I'll see where he is.

After that, Stella ended up entering and as she didn't find Ian right away, she went straight to that corridor just ahead, leaving me and Sebastian waiting here outside.

- (Sebastian sitting on the step of the stairs) I bet 5 dollars that he is in the bathroom.

- (Laughing lightly) I don't doubt that, but never that Stella would find him if that's the case.

- Don't even worry about it. It is difficult not to notice a hurricane when it passes. Even more so if it looks like Stella.

- Because of those comments she hits you both.

- As if it were necessary for me to say this for her to hit me.

- (Laughing lightly) Yeah, it makes sense.

Since I don't want to sit where people usually step and don't sit, I lean against the support of the stairs, next to Sebastian. But after I turn around a moment to see Sebastian, I realize that he is looking at me in a very unusual way, and when he realizes that he is looking at him, he just gives a light laugh.

- (grinning) Sebastian, Sebastian ~~ Why are you admiring me so much?

- (Sebastian slightly flushed) A-Ah… Eh, I-I don't…

- Calm down ~~ I'm kidding ~~ You need to understand this more.

- It's just ... I hardly see you in any other clothes besides your school uniform. So I was admiring you ~~

- (Slightly flushed) Hey-hey! I said it was a joke.

- (Sebastian smiling) I know, but you look so pretty I can't take my eyes off you ~~

- (Blushing a lot) S-Sebastian!

- (Sebastian laughing) Hehe ~~ How nice to be the target of teasing, right Naomi?

- (Flushed) Y-Hey, but it's more funny when it's with you! And another ... It's not funny to do that to a girl! It may end up giving the wrong impression, you know?

- (Sebastian laughing) Okay, I get it. Sorry ~~

- (Sighing) That you really understood!

Sebastian was still laughing a little after that, but I couldn't laugh either. What happened to him that he is saying these things out of the blue? Not that I don't like to be praised, but for some reason, I feel that he is a little more restrained in their words… It doesn't make me uncomfortable, but it makes me… hopeful and nervous…

I look at him discreetly and he seems to have stopped laughing, but now he has a smile on his face ... A beautiful and unusual smile ... And the strange part of seeing this is that my "other me" is not reacting or making one of her comments. Why that?

* hospital glass door if opened

- (Stella) I found him! Come on!

After we heard that, I left the support of the stairs and decided to give Sebastian a hand to get up, without looking at him directly because otherwise he will see my flushed face and make some comment. I just feel his hand resting lightly on mine and he gets up, standing next to me.

- (Stella suspicious) Hehehehe ~~

- (Sebastian) Stella, don't start.

- (Stella) I am not saying anything. Just come now.

After that, the 3 of us enter the hospital and head towards that corridor where Stella had gone earlier, and when we turned on it, we ended up seeing Ian, sitting in a chair next to a room with the door closed. Ian is wearing a tight-fitting outfit, with a light black jacket and dark blue jeans. But what strikes me the most is that…

- (Ian raising his hand) Yo!

- (Sebastian) Dude, you look terrible.

- (Ian) Don't even tell me… And how rude to say that!

I can really see the tired expression and even the dark circles on Ian's face. Remembering that he has been here for almost 3 days, it is worth noting that he would be like this. Sebastian ends up approaching and shaking Ian's hand and I ended up approaching too, making him realize that I'm here.

- (Ian) Hello, Naomi ~~ I hope you are not being coerced or that you have been paid to come here.

- Hi, Ian ~~ And no, Sebastian wouldn't have all that courage.

- (Stella) I said blandly, Ian.

- (Ian) Let me have some fun. I need my daily doses to make fun of someone's face.

- Look, if that's the case, Sebastian is here for that.

- (Sebastian) Are you trying to recruit him now to participate in the alliance "Joking with my face"?

- (Ian) And do you have an alliance like that? Where do I sign up?

- (Stella) Less, Ian. Please.

After that, we sat on separate chairs by the side of the hall, with me and Stella facing Sebastian and Ian.

- Is your grandma better, Ian?

- (Ian smiling) Yes, she has improved a lot. She was even cursing me because I asked Stella to go home yesterday instead of keeping her company.

- (Stella) But also, right? He hardly left the hospital these days. If you overdo it, she'll have to keep you company while you're in her bed.

- (Sebastian chuckling) It's easier for you to be with him than for…

- (Stella looking menacingly at Sebastian) What, Sebastian?

- (Nervous Sebastian) N-Nothing!

- (Stella) Good!

- Okaaaaay… When will she be discharged?

- (Ian) Well, tomorrow morning. She had a heart attack about 4 days ago, so she came here and when she got better the day before yesterday, she was completely examined from there to make sure she was okay, and as my father informed me that this heart attack was only momentary, that they were going to release her, but as a precaution, she saw to be of observation until tomorrow.

- I understand. And is it your father who is inside?

- Yes. He said it wouldn't be good if I forced myself to stay here straight away, so he's staying today and sent me home today. I was just leaving, out of nowhere when I left the bathroom, I saw the chaos on Stella's face and decided to wait a little longer here.

Out of nowhere, Sebastian starts fiddling with his pants pocket, takes out 10 dollars and ends up putting it in my direction. Since I'm not that evil, I ended up taking out a $ 5 bill to make up for the rest.

- (Sebastian) I already know ... Don't invent to say these things without thinking ...

- I hope you learned your lesson ~~

- (Ian) Wow, I am feeling hurt by being the target of bets on my misfortune.

- (Sebastian) It is I who am losing money, not you.

- (Ian) Even so.

- (Stella) But are you going to class tomorrow, Ian?

(Ian ironic) Honestly, I wanted to spend the day with the old woman, just in case, but as I was missing you, I think I'll have to go.

- Seriously, I can't say which of you is the most dramatic anymore.

- (Stella and Sebastian) Ian, for sure!

- (Ian) Wait, what?

…

- (Stella) Ahem… So…

Stella ended up crossing her legs, slightly revealing her femme fatale side with that kind of hellish look directed at Sebastian, who even I was nervous about it.

- (Stella) Ian, did I tell you that Sebastian decided to kill himself at school?

- (Me and Sebastian) Less, Stella.

- (Ian curious) What do you mean ???

- (Stella pointing at Sebastian) The idiot here decided to participate in a match with the "sports" room and almost had his neck ripped off when they hit him.

- Stela, you don't have to exaggerate. You know you don't ...

- (Stella) WHAT, Naomi?

- (Slightly nervous) N-Nothing! - Huh? What was this?

- (Ian curious) Sebastian, can you tell me what happened?

- (Stella) Are you going to ignore me ???

- (Sebastian) Why exaggerate? There was a match of dodgeball, we played, and when I was the last one, I ended up unbalanced, a ball hit my chin and I fell on the floor.

- (Ian chuckling slightly) It was easier for the ball to pop than to break his jaw.

- Wait ... What?

- (Sebastian) Here you come and burn my impression more, right, Ian?

- (Ian leaning on Sebastian's shoulder) Come on, man! If you were the last one, why hide that this feat is all your splendor this week?

- Eh... What are you talking about?

- (Ian still resting on Sebastian's shoulder) Is that Sebastian, this beautiful little boy from Dad…

- (Sebastian looking disgusted) It's getting weird, stop.

- (Ian) Ahem… Sebastian decided to start exercising again at the same frequency like the last year.

When Stella and I heard that, we ended up having different reactions. I ended up being surprised because I didn't realize it before and that explains why it is slightly different since that dodgeball match, and also ... in relation to this more manly image of him. But Stella doesn't seem to like what she heard…

- (Stella curious) Since when, Ian?

- (Ian looking at Sebastian) I thought you were going to tell them about it.

- (Sebastian) My sense of privacy is a scam and I just realized it now.

- (Stella) Sebastian, if you see…

- When exactly, Sebastian?

- (Sebastian) It's been 1 week. It made me want and I was, like, nothing abnormal about it.

- (Stella) Are you sure there is nothing abnormal?

For some reason, I feel that Stella's voice sounds a lot firmer than usual, as if she didn't believe it and decided to be pretty tough now, but after a second, she just sighed.

- (Ian) Stella, I think it's better ...

(Stella sighing) And you. Didn't say anything, right, Sebastian?

- (Sebastian) I don't know, I thought it was not necessary to tell that. As I said, there is nothing unusual about it.

As much as I wanted to say something to calm Stella, I decided to watch their reaction. In an unusual way of seeing between them, it was as if Stella was holding back to not start yelling at Sebastian, while he and Ian seem to be trying to smooth things over. It would be easier if Ian hadn't said that, but conveniently ...

"You can't keep quiet, can you?"

Damn… I need to do something…

- But are you taking good care of yourself, Sebastian? Like, having the necessary rest and eating well?

- (Sebastian slightly flushed) Eh… Y-Yes, I'm taking care of myself. Besides, Ian is also helping me with this, so I'm fine.

- (Ian) Yeah, I'm… I mean, I was taking care of this even before my grandmother came here, so I hope you didn't overdo it, Sebastian.

- Relax, Ian. If that were the case, Stella and I would have already punished him.

- (Sebastian slightly disappointed) Really, the pinch and the slap on my head were not punishments?

With that, Stella just sighed deeply and stayed on hers, hitting her leg discreetly on the floor. I watched this for a while, but she didn't stop it. That's weird…

…

Time went by and even with Stella's mood not collaborating for something more friendly between us, Sebastian and I kept talking to Ian, saying what happened at school, the graffiti from the Supernatural Studies Club and some random things , and Stella only agreed at one time or another, fiddling with her cell phone. This started to annoy Ian, because he always seemed to want to pull Stella into the conversation, but she refused or gave direct answers like "yes" or "whatever". I just found it strange and wanted to talk to her, but I didn't want to do this to them nearby, in case they intervene and make it worse. And with that ...

- (Ian quite calm) Is it okay to go with me? You know I can call Sebastian and he can keep you company better than me ~~

- (Slightly flushed) But you really have Stella's spirit, huh?

Ian ended up having to go down to get something to eat, but as Stella was not very calm, she asked me to be alone with Ian while she would talk to Sebastian. To make this seem more natural, we ended up doing a Jokenpo to decide who was going, and I ended up forcing myself to lose to go with Ian. But it will be good to know something that I was forgetting because of the time I spent more with Sebastian ...

After walking for a while, we ended up heading for a cafeteria outside the hospital. As there were not many people, we ended up sitting next to a path that leads back to the hospital's external stairs.

- Eh ... I'm going to order something to eat. Will you want something, Naomi?

- Yeah, can you order a bottle of water? I pay you.

- Okay, but you don't have to pay.

With that, Ian went to ask him for something and left the table. I just watched him from a distance, and after a few minutes, he ended up coming back, with a salty and two bottles, one with orange juice and the other with just the water I ordered.

- (Ian giving me the water bottle) Here.

- Thank you, Ian ~~

- Have it ~~

A silence stayed over the table until ...

- (Ian laughing) You really are creating an alliance with Stella, right?

- No ~~ This is ...

- I'm not talking about the "Joking with Sebastian's face" alliance, but about her asking you to come here with me.

- You twlo know each other so well that they should get married ~~

- (Ian slightly flushed) Um ... Even you, Naomi? I did not expect it.

- Look, it's not just Sebastian who supports you and Stella being together. I'm also in the crowd ~~

- (Ian laughing lightly) Hopefully I want to receive this energy of positivity to achieve this impossible feat.

- I wouldn't say impossible. Just ask her out and kiss her, because she's already so into you.

- Are you seriously going to play Greg for me, Naomi?

- Sorry, but I couldn't help it ~~

- Yeaaah…

…

- I didn't want to ask you that, but why did Stella stay that way?

- It's her way. She's not as sincere as you or Sebastian, but after a while, you can see that she always finds a way to demonstrate certain things that she doesn't want us to know, like worry.

- Wait ... Was she worried that Sebastian was exercising a lot?

- So it is. Strange that she cares about someone's life while she is hanging the person.

- Horrible comparison.

- I know, but there is no way to improve or soften it by the raw way she is sentimental. It's a chaos that only Sebastian and I understand, at least for now.

- Got it ... But ...

* abrupt silence

- But?

- I don't want to be intrusive in this group of you, but ... Why didn't Stella like the idea that Sebastian is working out?

- Even you would be curious about it, right?

- Inevitably yes, and Sebastian's way kind of made me… nervous…

- He courted you, didn't he ~~?

- (Slightly flushed) Yeah ... sort of ...

- (Ian laughing) Ah, just as Stella is rough, Sebastian is more calm.

- I understand…

- Look ... If I tell you, do you promise you won't tell Sebastian that I told you?

- Well, I already keep some secrets from them, so what's more 1, isn't it?

- Hmmm ... So there goes one ... Did you know that he keeps talking while he sleeps?

- This is new ... and strange.

- (Ian slightly scared) Yeah. Once, I slept at his house and he was talking while he slept, but that night, he must be having a very crazy dream because he was talking about going back in time and fixing a car… Maybe it was that movie from Back to the future, you know?

- Tell me you have it on record.

- Yes, I'll pass you on later ~~

I just laughed about it, but after a few seconds ...

- (Ian composing himself) Okay… Back to the subject… It just doesn't count, okay?

- Okay. Go ahead...

…

- Well, you knew that Sebastian was part of the Athletics Club last year, right?

- Yes I remember. He was one of the best in the club for what the professor said.

- I don't like to brag about him, but he was one of the best. But like any kid in high school, he was not the best just because he wanted to, but because he wanted to get someone's attention ...

- And that person was?

- Allison Stermeyer ...

When Ian told me that name, I already figured out where it was going.

- Allison ... It's that girl that Sebastian was in love with, right?

- Yes. She was our classmate and it was only a matter of time before we met, especially Sebastian. As the two were close because of their studies and did work together, they got close and it was not long before they were both intimate.

- Intimate? Did they date?

- No. They were as close as you and him now.

- OK I understand. But did he fall in love with her?

- The innocent way he was, of course he was. And she still encouraged it because she liked his presence and she felt free with him. You know, best friends ...

- I know how it is. So the reason he joined the club was because he wanted to impress her?

- Yes. At the time, he, Stella and I were already starting our friendship and Allison was even part of it for a while. And in one of our conversations, she ended up saying that she liked boys who had excellent physique, you know? Typical teen girl dream. And Sebastian, hearing this, did not think twice and entered the Athletics Club. Funny because he didn't have the standard required to participate in the club, but even so, he did physical training, started to take more care of his health, changed his eating pattern ... Because of Allison.

- But did it work?

- Strangely, yes. Me and Stella knew he did it for that purpose, and I think Allison did too, but instead of judging him or being honest with him, she started supporting him. Well, Stella and I also started doing the same thing because, like it or not, he went from being a boy who didn't physically stand out to being a popular sports boy. And even though he got the attention of a lot of people, including some girls who started to see him differently, he only had eyes for Allison.

*silence

- Well, in the meantime, Sebastian ended up being seen by some students in this way that we know. Helpful, studious, hardworking at the club, basically the requirements for a popular student. And that made Allison start looking at him not just as a friend, but as a possible boyfriend, since they were close and he liked her and didn't hide it. But that was exactly what made her distance herself from Sebastian ... Because he is becoming someone popular, she was disappointed that he was kind and helpful to those who asked for help. She said this to Stella saying that if he was more selfish or paid more attention to himself, things could be different, but that was impossible since he hasn't changed that until today.

- Alright...And that's when she met Tommy, wasn't it?

- Yeah... 3rd year Tommy Harigart. I don't know when, but from what some friends told me, they started to be together 2 weeks after Sebastian joined the club, and what it was like very strange since he was 18 and she was 15, they couldn't just have a relationship at school, so it was to be expected that the two would stay out of school.

- Did Sebastian never know about that?

Well, there were rumors, but he didn't even care. Blind in love that he was at the time, he didn't even have the pleasure of believing that, but...

- I sent the message to him ...

Yep ... When Sebastian found out, he realized what a mess he was getting into, and if it weren't for you ... I don't think anyone would have warned him. Stella and I thought it was just rumors and that it was nothing serious, but then ... Things changed ... We moved away from Allison and she started to change a lot. We didn't know her as we used to, but she became the arrogant, reckless and rotten girl that would be hell to deal with. Of course, she made Sebastian's life hell, doing indirect, causing problems for him in relation to the school, but he kept moving away…

- And the club?

He stayed there for a while longer. For him, the club was his refuge ... Even the interclass tournament ...

- What was there?

- It was a dodgeball match between our class and Tommy's class. It was the final. The two were there in their teams, playing, while the one watching supported their favorite class. Of course, as members of the same room, we will cheer for our team, and that captivated Sebastian ... Until Allison screamed cheering for "her love".

- Oh no ...

- Sebastian broke at that moment. I remember that he froze and it was only the quick moment that they hit him. Of course, without the best player, our room lost and Allison went there to celebrate with Tommy. When it was over, Stella and I went after Sebastian, who didn't go to the classroom or the changing room, but we found him behind the court, sitting alone, looking at the sky. When we approached, he turned and…

*silence

- He was never sad. Whenever something happened that upset him or hurt him, he would smile and say "It's okay" ... But at that moment, he turned his gaze and said ...

"It's okay… but why… Is it hurting so much?"

- It was the first time that Stella and I saw Sebastian cry a lot. That face swollen with tears streaming down his sad and tired eyes. As if reality had finally made him realize that he could not have everything he wanted ... It took a while until we let him be as acceptable as possible to return to the classroom, but some students noticed and tried to comfort him. Of course it was good, but to know that after that day, he would still have to look at Allison every day with that arrogant look of hers… One hour, things would explode…

- So he left the club after that?

- Yes. Tommy decided to spend time at the club and Sebastian left so he wouldn't have to see Allison's face. Of course it took a while for him to compose himself, having to move away from this type of exercises that remind him of that time, but Stella and I did what we could to make him smile again ...

*silence

- You know, when he started talking about you to me and Stella, we were worried because we didn't want everything to repeat itself. But now ... I am happy to know that just as he changed because of Allison ... He is changing because of you for a better person. Of course, we couldn't get him to take care of himself anymore and have dreams and other things, but having you around when Stella or I aren't around, I just ask you to make him smile ~~ Okay, Naomi Yuhkana?

* serene silence

- (Smiling) Don't worry about it ~~ I'll do my best ~~

As strange as it is to say, Sebastian became my support when I needed it most, and I will be his support when he needs it most. Because even if I don't know exactly how I feel about him ... He won't be deceived by me.

- (Ian placing his hand on my arm) Anyway ... welcome to our little group ~~

- Thank you, Ian ~~

- I think we better get back. Stella must have already filled him with all possible arguments for him to stop looking hot.

- Ian, in addition to the comparisons, your way of talking about him is also horrible and strange.

- Do what right? When you have a friend like me, who needs an enemy?

What a weird little group ... What a good thing I am part of this finally...