NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Chapter 10: POV Hestia
"Kaen-kun~…"
My hand's feeling around the bed... or more like... this cramped sofa.
Nothing.
Let me try the right side.
Empty.
Left?
Still nothing. All I found was this thin blanket that somehow slid down to the floor god knows when, and the morning air coming through that broken window's starting to sting my skin like it's being tickled by fine feathers... so annoying.
"Hmmh... Kaen-kun... don't go far... hmm..."
My mouth's mumbling random stuff while my hair's all messy like seaweed that's gone on strike. Some strands even got in my mouth. Ughh... Getting a taste of your own hair first thing in the morning is NOT pleasant!
With one lazy movement, I opened my eyes. The light from the window was blinding. I winced while rubbing my eyes and puffing out my cheeks.
"Something's... weird..."
Shouldn't Kael-kun be here? But now... it's empty. Silent. Quiet.
"Kaen-kun~?"
I sat up, my hair hanging down on both sides of my face. I called again... nobody answered. No "Yeah, Hestia!" or "I'm here!" or "Good morning, Hestia!"
Silence.
My half-closed eyes immediately shot wide open.
I got up from the sofa, yawned once—nyooohhh...~ and scratched my head. With zombie-like steps I walked toward the bed... planning to go back to sleep. Maybe... he's out buying something. Or... or... or he's training... right?
But then... my eyes caught the wall clock hanging crooked like my luck.
The numbers... showed... 11:15.
I froze.
My body went stiff like a statue.
My brain blanked out for three seconds...
Then...
"EEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?"
My scream bounced around the empty church.
The birds that usually perched on the roof immediately fled in panic because they got startled by the loud noise.
I... I overslept!?
Usually I wake up at ten! I woke up past eleven!?
ONE HOUR!
ONE WHOLE HOUR, HESTIA!!
"Aaaaaaah! Aaaaah! No! This is bad! This... this is worse than when I had nothing to do for two days!"
In panic I tied up my hair, it's like my daily ritual. But since my hands were shaking from panic, my tie slipped and hit my ear instead. I bit one ribbon, then quickly tied my black hair up like a ponytail. Even though it's a bit messy, whatever. As long as it looks decent.
Cold sweat ran down my temples. My brain started imagining terrible things...
Kaen-kun... maybe... maybe he ran away?
He probably realized that I'm... just a lazy, poor goddess living in a run-down church with a leaky roof when it rains. He knows I don't have anything.
I can't give him armor! There's no trainer either! Heck... I even borrow money from my friend just to eat!
My eyes widened.
"No... no... Kaen-kun... he wouldn't leave me... right...?"
My hand immediately moved to open the church's front door and—WHOOOSH!—I ran as fast as the wind!
---
I ran around district after district.
Like looking for a pet cat that escaped, I looked left, right, up at the rooftops, down under merchants' stalls.
"Kaen-kun! Kael-kun!!"
I searched around the Tower of Babel, the market, even took a peek toward the alley where adventurers usually buy cheap potions. But... nothing.
Kael-kun... wasn't anywhere.
My steps started getting weak. My breathing was ragged. My heart was beating fast.
Not because I was tired, but because... I was scared.
Tears started welling up in my eyes.
I stood at the side of the road. People walked by. Nobody cared about the little goddess who looked like a kid who just lost her allowance money.
"Am I... being left behind again...?"
I held the blue ribbon on my chest. My heart felt... heavy.
I just got a family. But now... am I being abandoned again?
I'm alone.
Alone... alone... and... always alone.
And Kael-kun... he... was the first person to accept my falna after so long. The first person to sit with me. Eat with me. Sleep under the same roof as me.
Don't go... please... don't leave me too...
Right when my steps started moving away in gloom, I heard a familiar voice...
"I'll pay for it myself later, Eina-san. I promise. I have my own money now."
I quickly turned around.
My eyes widened.
That... that... voice...
"Kaen-kun!!"
My voice came out loud, really loud.
People immediately looked over.
And I didn't care.
Because over there, Kael-kun was standing. With a woman. Brown hair. Pointed ears. Guild uniform.
Eina.
I remember her. An adventurer consultant at the Guild. Someone who tends to be too serious sometimes.
But I didn't care about that woman right now.
All I could see was... Kaen-kun.
I immediately ran. Dust flew behind me. My steps were fast, as fast as possible!
"KAEN-KUUUUUUN!!"
---
Kael turned around. His eyes went wide when he saw me.
"Hestia Go—"
DIDN'T FINISH.
I immediately jumped.
"UWAAA!!"
My body crashed into his. And we both BOOM! fell to the ground.
He got knocked backward, sweeping the air. I crashed into him like a living bowling ball.
I didn't care about people's stares. Didn't care about the laughter or snide comments.
I... I just wanted to hug him.
Because he didn't leave.
Because he's still here.
"Kaen-kun... Kaen-kun...!"
I hugged his neck tight, pressing my face to his chest. Tears had already spilled and I... I rubbed my head against his chest like a kitten that just found its mother again.
"Don't leave me... don't leave me...! I woke up and... and you weren't there... and I thought you left... and I was scared...!"
Kael went silent. His body was stiff. Maybe... because my whole body's clinging to him?
But I don't care!
"Kaen-kun's mean! Didn't leave a note! Didn't wake me up! You think I wouldn't worry, huh!?"
Whispered voices could be heard from around us.
"Is that Goddess Hestia?"
"Look, she's hugging her adventurer in public!"
"That's the new kid who was with Eina-san earlier, right?"
"Lucky bastard..."
"I wanna be in his position."
"Why's she hugging that kid? Dating? Secret marriage?"
"The Guild should make rules against PDA in public areas..."
I could only hug Kaen-kun tighter.
Because now... I know...
He didn't leave. I'm... relieved.
Even though my tears haven't stopped, my heart's already at peace.
Thank god Kaen-kun didn't abandon me.