Chapter 45: misunderstanding
A helicopter.
Black. Sleek. Official markings.
Descended. Wind blasting the courtyard.
Trees swayed. Leaves everywhere.
Lilian stood up. Shielded her eyes.
What the hell?
Official helicopter?
Stomach dropped.
No. No no no.
Did Alex do something? Get in trouble?
This is her fault. All her fault!
Didn’t teach him properly. Didn’t watch him enough.
"Lilian, you need to do better!" She grabbed her hair.
"Oh my god, what did he do?!"
Mind raced. Worst case scenarios.
Fighting? Theft? Worse?
Helicopter landed. Door still closed.
She ran toward it.
"Alex! Alex, are you in there?!"
"Whatever happened, I’ll fix it!"
"I’ll talk to them! I’ll—"
Tears streaming down now.
"Please, he’s just a kid!"
"I’m sorry! Should’ve been stricter!"
"I should’ve—"
Inside the helicopter.
Alex sat there. Grinning like an idiot.
Eyes glued to his system panel.
[Believers: 83]
83!
Up from 60!
23 new followers in one night!
And not just any followers. Enforcement Bureau members!
Their faith was stronger. Way stronger.
He could feel it. Power surging through him.
Like electricity in his veins.
"Hell yeah!" He pumped his fist.
The pilot glanced back. "Hero, you good?"
"Better than good!"
More text appeared.
[Option Three Complete!]
[Reward: Potion Gift Pack!]
[Vine Potion x3, Teleportation Potion x3, Explosion Potion x3!]
[New Title Obtained: This is Art!]
[Effect: Explosion Potion damage +30%!]
Alex wanted to scream. Jump around.
Three Vine Potions. Perfect for feeding Pie.
More defense. Stronger vine skills.
Three Teleportation Potions. Lifesaving escapes!
And maybe... just maybe... accidentally teleport into a girls’ bathhouse.
For research purposes. Obviously.
And three Explosion Potions. With 30% extra damage.
He already saw what one could do tonight.
Now imagine three. All stronger.
Monsters wouldn’t stand a chance.
Cultists? Bye bye.
And speaking of monsters...
With his and Raven’s current strength, they could try the lowest level portal.
Actually fight real monsters. Get real loot.
"Man, today is awesome!" He stood up.
The helicopter door opened.
He jumped out. Landed in the courtyard.
"Yo! Lilian! You wouldn’t believe—"
He stopped.
Lilian stood there. Eyes red and swollen.
Tears streaming down her face.
Her hand raised. Moving toward his face.
SLAP—
But it stopped. Right next to his cheek.
Hovering. Shaking.
She couldn’t do it. Couldn’t hit him.
Alex froze. Stared at her.
"Lilian...?"
Lilian’s hand shot down.
Grabbed Alex’s ear.
"Ow ow ow!"
"You!" She yanked him closer.
"I knew it! I knew you’re still just a child!"
"From now on! You come straight home after school!"
"No exceptions!"
"And whatever you do, wherever you go—"
"You report to me first! Understand?!"
"But Lilian, I—"
She clamped her hand over his mouth.
"No buts! You reflect on your actions!"
"Mmmph!"
She turned toward the helicopter. Still holding Alex’s ear.
Walked over to the pilot.
Then bowed. Deep. Formal.
"I’m sorry." Her voice was serious.
"Whatever he did, I’ll help make it right."
"I’ll pay for damages. Handle complaints."
"Please, just tell me what happened."
The pilot stared. Eyes wide.
"Ma’am, wait—"
He scrambled to get out. Too fast.
Foot caught on the edge.
"Whoa—"
THUD!
Fell right in front of Lilian.
Face-planted into the grass.
Lilian blinked. "...?"
Oh no. Alex broke him.
Alex made this man stupid!
The pilot pushed himself up. Dirt on his face.
"Ma’am! No! You have it wrong!"
He stood. Brushed himself off.
"That kid—your kid—he’s a hero!"
Lilian froze. "What?"
"He just saved dozens of lives tonight!"
"Stopped a cult ritual! Destroyed their array!"
"Single-handedly!"
The pilot’s eyes were shining now.
"Captain Victor himself said it."
"Without Alex, we all would’ve died."
He looked at Alex. Genuine admiration.
"That explosion he created? Incredible!"
"The timing, the precision—"
"I’ve been in the Bureau for ten years."
"Never seen anything like it."
He saluted Alex. Sharp. Respectful.
"You’re amazing, kid. Seriously."
Lilian stood there. Processing.
"He... saved people?"
"Yes ma’am!"
"He stopped... a cult?"
"Yes ma’am!"
"He’s... a hero?"
"Absolutely!"
She turned to Alex. Slowly.
"Captain Victor will visit his school personally."
"To thank him. Officially."
Pause.
"Your son is incredible, ma’am."
Lilian’s face went red.
Bright red.
From her neck to her ears.
"He’s not my—I mean—"
She looked at Alex. At his grinning face.
Then at the pilot. At his sincere expression.
"Are you sure?" Her voice was small.
"You’re talking about this Alex?"
She pointed.
"This one?"
"Yes ma’am!"
Her face got redder.
She covered it with both hands.
"I—I see."
"Thank you for bringing him home safely."
Then she turned. Walked quickly toward the house.
Almost running.
"Goodnight!" She squeaked.
Disappeared through the door.
SLAM!
Alex laughed. Shook his head.
Waved at the pilot.
"Thanks for the ride, man."
The pilot grinned. Saluted again.
"Anytime, hero."
Climbed back into the helicopter.
It lifted off. Rotors spinning.
Then gone.
Alex stood there. Alone in the courtyard.
Still grinning.
Tonight was wild.
He walked toward the house.
Opened the door.
But he didn’t go to his room.
He went upstairs. Down the hall.
Stopped in front of Lilian’s door.
Knocked. Gently.
"Lilian?"
A weak sound from inside. Muffled.
"...Come in."
He pushed the door open.
A sweet scent hit him immediately. Floral. Warm.
Her perfume.
The room was neat. Organized.
Warm colors. Soft lighting.
A bookshelf against the wall. Cookbooks. Meditation guides.
And one more book. Spine facing out.
"Beyond Age: Stories of Love."
Alex’s eyes lit up.
Wait. Could it be?
Could it really be?
He grinned. Looked toward the bed.
A lump under the blankets. All wrapped up.
But he could still see her curves. The soft outline.
Full. Womanly.
He walked over. Sat on the edge of the bed.
The mattress dipped slightly.
Then he leaned in. Wrapped his arms around the bundle.
Around her.
So warm. So soft.
Her body heat seeping through the blanket.
He could feel her tense. Breath catching.
He leaned closer. Right next to her ear.
Voice low. Gentle.
"Thank you for worrying about me, Lilian."
His breath brushed her skin.
"I’m sorry."
Pause.
"Next time, I’ll let you know where I am."
"I promise."
The lump didn’t move.
But he could feel her heart. Racing.
Could feel her breathing. Shallow.
His arms tightened slightly. Holding her closer.
"You’re very warm." He whispered.
Still no response.
Just that rapid heartbeat.
He smiled. Rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"Goodnight, Lilian."
Then he stood. Slowly.
Let her go.
Walked toward the door.
"Alex—"
He stopped. Turned.
The blanket moved. Just a bit.
One eye peeking out. Face red.
"Alex..."
She paused. Swallowed.
"Can you... stay here?"
Alex blinked. "Stay?"
"Sleep here. With me."
Her voice was so quiet he almost missed it.
"I’m... I’m a bit scared."
"Really scared."
Alex walked back. Sat on the bed again.
"Scared of what?"
She pulled the blanket tighter. Face burning.
"I just... when you didn’t come home..."
"When I thought something happened..."
"I..."
She couldn’t finish. Too embarrassed.
Alex looked at her. At that one eye peeking out.
At how red her face was.
Then he smiled. Warm.
"Okay."
"Let me go shower first."
He stood. Walked to the door.
"Be right back."
The door closed.
Lilian lay there. Frozen.
Did she just...
Did she really just ask him to sleep in her bed?
What was she thinking?!
She sat up. Blanket falling off.
Hands covering her face.
"Oh god oh god oh god."
This isn’t what an auntie should do.
This isn’t appropriate.
What if he thinks she’s weird? A creep?
What if he says yes just to be polite but actually feels uncomfortable?
But she really... she really likes him.
Has liked him for so long.
Couldn’t hold it back anymore.
Her eyes drifted to the bookshelf.
To that book.
"Beyond Age: Stories of Love."
Heart pounding.
What if...
What if Alex is like the boy in that story?
What if he...
She shook her head. Buried her face in her hands again.
"Stop it, Lilian. Just stop."
But she couldn’t stop the hope.
Couldn’t stop her racing heart.