"Irida, Elini come quick Ian is getting beat up" a frantic voice rushing towards Irida and Elini
"What happened?" Irida asked as she pulled Elini and ran towards the place. Getting there, Irida saw Ian being surrounded by some boys, he was outnumbered and badly bruised.
"Jake what are you guys doing?" Irida yelled as she pulled one of the boys away
Irida grabbed Jake by his shirt "I thought I warned you. I'm gonna make sure you regret this" Irida threw him to the side and quickly bent towards Ian
"Ian" Irida called as she checked Ian's body "Elini come"
Elini bent on Ian's other side "let's get him to the school clinic"
Irida and Elini supported Ian gently and guided him to the clinic
Getting there, they watched the nurse laid Ian gently on the bed and cleaned his wounds, Ian was also given something to help him sleep
"He'll feel better once he wakes up" the nurse assured Irida and Elini whose faces were etched with worry
"You girls should go back to class"
"Thank you nurse" Elini and Irida replied in unison "we'll be back immediately after class" Irida added as they walked out of the school clinic
*******************
Ian didn't know when he fainted or how he even got to the school clinic. Sitting up slowly, he examined the bruises on his body then he leaned his head on the wall with a sigh
He regretted it now, he really shouldn't have allowed someone like Jake the chance to be around Irida. Remembering his decision once again, he felt really stupid. It was around the time that Jake came to the school. Irida was already in her second year, he could barely spend much time with her, coupled with his own family always having to be on the run at any time. He didn't know when he'd have to leave again and Elini was also a girl, there was only so much she could do. So he wanted to have someone that could help him watch over them, someone he could feel assured handing the girls over to.
Ian observed all the guys in their grade and only Jake seemed a bit assuring and reasonable and although Jake also had a crush on Irida, he had never mindlessly pestered her. So he got close to Jake and made friends with him. Ian would always talk about Irida to Jake, making the young boy more infatuated. That day he could remember how he pulled Jake to a corner and talked to him seriously
"I know you like Irida" Ian said seriously. He noticed how Jake tensed, he noticed the subtle change of expression on Jake's face but he still continued "you're the only person I can trust to watch over her if one day I'm not here anymore"
"Ian" Jake called "although I really like Irida and I don't mind protecting her, she wouldn't even look me in the eye or talk to me, she never lets anyone asides you and Elini near her" Jake explained
"I know" Ian said as he pat Jake's shoulder "I'm not asking you to date her or anything, and besides I'm still here so you really don't have to worry. All I'm saying is if, there's ever a time when I can't be here to protect her, I hope you can do that in my stead. I'm sure Irida would warm up to you if she knows how friendly you are" looking at Jake's changing expressions Ian knew he understood his message
"Remember, don't get close to her unless I'm gone" Ian said as he walked away
Remembering that particular conversation, Ian felt even more bitter. Jake was normal and quite smart and responsible then, who knew that the bastard would get corrupted and rotten to the core within the space of three years. If he had known Jake would turn out like this, he wouldn't have talked to that bastard even if it meant killing him.
Ian understood his feelings for Irida and he knew exactly how she felt about him, he wasn't stupid enough to make someone who also liked Irida date her, but he felt a bit stupid for expecting someone who had feelings for Irida to protect her the way he did
Ian never wanted to clear things up between he and Irida because he never wanted to hurt her. If they got into a relationship and he left the way he did without even a word of goodbye she'd be too heartbroken and with Irida's personality, even an explanation wouldn't make her forgive him easily, so it was better this way, he wouldn't loose her and even if she felt a bit agreived she'd still be more understanding.
So until he was sure that he would be by her side forever and won't have to ever leave again, he'd just continue to be her shield and protect her silently. Even if it hurts, it was better than nothing
And as for Jake, Ian had more than a thousand ways to make the bastard pay for talking badly about his peach, and the bruises, Ian was going to return it a million fold. Jake wasn't even someone who could l...
"Ian" Irida said shaking Ian again as she finally pulled him from his thoughts