Irida gently wiped Ian's tears "Ian you're back now, that's all that matters. Thank you for coming back to me"
"Thank you for waiting for me" Ian said "so how have you been these past three years that I was away?"
"It was hard adjusting and getting used to not being protected by you.... Uhm I also got a boyfriend last year" Irida said whispering the last part with guilt. Looking up, Irida could see Ian's cold eyes and the hands holding her waist was clenched
"I ... I.... Uhm,.... I just agreed to date him because they wouldn't stop bothering me" Irida quickly explained as she peaked at Ian's dark look "I didn't even allow him hold my hands" Irida frantically moved her hands
"Calm down peach, I'm not angry at you, I was angry at myself" Ian sighed heavily "you have every right to be in a relationship, it was I who left and couldn't keep my promise to you"
"Since you're back, I'll break up with him" Irida said with resolve, causing Ian to chuckle
"Don't do that peach, don't be impulsive. You can't break up with someone you like because of me" Ian said patting Irida's head helplessly
"Who says I like him" Irida retorted with a scoff. She puffed her cheeks and turned her head in annoyance "I only agreed to date him he was easy to control"
"Then keep him. Let him keep being your boyfriend" Ian reasoned "you'd be graduating next year and I don't want you to have any issues till you graduate. If he doesn't initiate the break up or does nothing that warrants a break up then just leave him be"
"Whatever you say" Irida said with a sigh, she leaned more comfortably into Ian's arms "as long as you're here"
"I'll always be here peach" Ian assured
*********
It had been almost a month since Ian got back and everything had settled back to normal. Ian, Irida and Elini were always seen together, with the two girls clinging to Ian and them being almost inseparable.
Jake didn't seem to like the new addition and was mostly hostile to Ian , but Ian seemed to be indifferent to his antics and taunts
"Ian....." Irida whined as she swung Ian's arms as they walked to class "what time is your match starting today?" Irida asked
"5pm" Ian replied, as he gave Irida a smile "Elini will take you home first, you girls would eat and freshen up before coming to the stadium"
"We could get something at the diner along the way" Irida said with a pout
"Yes, we don't need to drive all the way home first" Elini chimed in
"Even if I want say otherwise I know I can't argue with you girls and win" Ian said with a voice filled with extreme doting "but don't get anything with a lot of calories or I'll force you both to run every single morning from tomorrow"
"Yes daddy" Irida and Elini said in unison as they giggled
"Irida" Jake called from behind and the three people walking came to a halt and turned towards him
Jake really knew how to pick moments, for the past month, Irida had avoided him as much as possible, most times she pretended like she didn't even know this person. Ever since Ian came back, Elini had also been more unhinged with her sarcasm whenever they saw Jake but Jake never seemed to take the hint. He would always appear and pester them everytime, chirping behind them and being so annoying
Elini glared at him and scoffed
"Yes Jake" Irida replied
"Can I have a word with you?" Jake asked
"Can't you see we are heading to class?" Elini said as she rolled her eyes at him
"How about later after class?" Jake asked again
"We're gonna b...."
"We can talk about whatever it is tomorrow" Irida said cutting Elini off
This pissed Elini off and made her glare at Jake more angrily. Gosh she really hated people who don't even know how to read the room, he's so unwanted and he still keeps sticking to them like a dog skin plaster, Elini really wished she could hit him a few times. Maybe when Theodore comes back again she can pester him to reach her a few self defense moves
The thought of Theodore made Elini smile
Irida looked at Elini's changing expressions and shook her hair helplessly
"Let's go" Irida said as she led Ian and Elini away.
Irida was truly helpless about Elini, she has never learnt to control her mouth, always saying whatever came to mind. Ian glanced an Elini and smiled, at least Irida won't be bullied with Elini by her side
If only Ian knew the kind of person Irida truly was, Irida smiled, she'd always be an innocent and somewhat naive person