Chapter 317: Girls talk?
Dhayun, Yverine, and Jiyeon were sitting together on the long couch with the quiet hum of the house surrounding them.
With a faint sigh, Dhayun leaned back, draping her arm over the cushion behind her. "Haa... yeah. It’s still hard to wrap my head around. We only learned today that Sister Charlotte has... different personalities like that."
"And it’s pretty insane to think that she actually threatened you to break up with him."
Upon hearing this, Jiyeon’s gaze lowered "Well, now I am happy... the misunderstanding is finally cleared, and I am back with Kael."
At her words, Eira and Yverine looked at each other and their lips curled into that same helpless, wry smile ’So... a new member now?’
Jiyeon, sharp enough to catch the silent communication, blinked at them suspiciously. "...What happened?"
The two sisters froze, their eyes darting toward each other again, as if deciding who should speak.
But before either could answer, Jiyeon finally realized and looked at Yverine "Thinking I really broke up with him, he moved on and started dating you, right?"
"I remember seeing you back in Japan with him..."
Her voice faltered, and she glanced down at her hands, her shoulders curling in slightly. "That makes things... complicated. H-He would have two girlfriends."
Dhayun simply sighed and looked away, unwilling to step into the middle of the storm forming in Jiyeon’s heart.
Yverine, however, leaned back casually and spoke "Complicated, yes. But not impossible."
Hm? Jiyeon glanced up at Yverine in confusion.
Yverine tilted her chin slightly with a small smile on her lips "You’re not wrong. He and I did grow close... closer than I ever expected. But do you really think Kael’s heart has room for only one person?"
Hearing her words, Jiyeon frowned slightly "Are you suggesting both of us can be his girlfriends?"
As Yverine was about to reply, suddenly the door opened "Brandon is here..."
The three of them turned to look at Eira pulling Brandon inside the room.
Brandon blinked at them, seeing their expressions "Hey. What’s going on here?"
Before he could step further inside, Yverine suddenly stood up from her seat "Wait a minute."
"Hm?" Brandon blinked, caught off guard as she closed the distance between them. "What happened?"
Without hesitation, Yverine reached out and curled her hand firmly around his arm and with a slight pull, she turned him back toward the door.
His steps stumbled slightly as she guided him back. "What happened, Yve?"
She pressed her palm against his back, nudging him gently "You leave."
"What? Leave? Why?" His gaze flicked toward Jiyeon sitting awkwardly on the couch, then to Dhayun.
Yverine pressed harder on his back, ushering him closer to the threshold. "Get out. We’re going to have a girls’ talk."
"Eh?" Brandon planted his feet, turning his head toward Yverine, silently asking for an explanation.
"Yve, seriously, if this is about Yeon, then I should-"
Before he could finish, Yverine suddenly leaned forward and pressed a swift kiss to his cheek.
Pulling back, Yverine’s gaze softened just slightly, "Brandon, leave. We need to talk with the new girl."
He stared at her, speechless, caught between confusion and reluctance "But-"
She cut him off, lifting her finger and gently pressing it against his lips. Her eyes narrowed faintly, "No buts. Be good. Leave this to us."
His gaze flicked again to Jiyeon, who was chewing nervously on her lip, then to Dhayun, who gave him a helpless shrug.
Sensing his hesitation, Yverine leaned closer and whispered "We can have sex later tonight."
With one last reluctant glance over his shoulder at Jiyeon, Brandon finally exhaled and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Yverine turned back "Now...where were we?"
Eira glanced at Yverine and asked "Sister Yve, why did you push Brandon out of the room?"
Yverine smiled dryly "To have a girls’ talk obviously and to welcome our new family member."
Upon hearing this, Eira let out a chuckle and sat beside Jiyeon on the couch.
Jiyeon glanced around at them and was a bit nervous, as the three of them had surrounded her now.
Yverine looked at Jiyeon and spoke "Jiyeon, first of all things... the four of us are Brandon’s girlfriends."
She dropped it like a bomb.
WHAT? Jiyeon’s eyes widened in shock upon hearing this and for a long moment all she could do was stare at them.
She turned her head toward Eira, who only smiled sweetly and nodded.
Then toward Dhayun, who gave a small shrug with a relaxed smile on her lips as if to say ’It’s true, you’ll get used to it.’
And then back to Yverine "What... is this a prank? You’re... you’re messing with me, right? This isn’t funny..."
The three of them exchanged glances, and then, in perfect harmony, they all broke into soft laughter.
"Do we look like we’re joking?"
Eira leaned closer, brushing a strand of Jiyeon’s hair back from her cheek "No, Jiyeon, we’re not joking. Think about it... why do you think we’re all here, living together with him under one roof?"
Jiyeon’s heart pounded in her chest. "So... so you’re telling me..."
She took a shaky breath. "All three of you are... with him? Romantically? Not just friends or roommates?"
"Romantically. Very much so."
With a sigh, Eira spoke "Seems like you need a flashback about Brandon after his breakup with you and about his powers."
---
Meanwhile, Brandon was walking slowly down the quiet hallway and he rubbed his temple, trying to ease the dull ache of stress that had been building all day.
Just then, the faint vibration of his phone buzzed in his pocket.
He reached in absently and pulled it out.
Seeing the name, he picked up the call bringing it close to his ear "Callista."
Her voice came through, "Lord Herald, you were right... it’s the same group, or persona, that tried to kill you that day."
Brandon’s steps slowed to a halt in the middle of the hallway "...Go on."
"We found similar crystals embedded in the deceased bodies. All of them, without exception, had their hearts pierced by these fragments. The signature is unmistakable."
Brandon closed his eyes briefly, recalling the battle "So, it wasn’t a coincidence after all."
Callista’s tone lowered "No, my lord."
With a deep sigh, he asked "Any new leads from this?"
Shaking her head, Callista replied "None."
Brandon had a thoughtful look on his face before replying "Alright, keep investigating. Update me if you get any leads."
"Yes, My Lord."
With that, he ended the call and looked at his screen blankly.
’Sister Yve’s power was very helpful in that fight... I need to grow even stronger to protect myself like that and people who are close to me.’
Naevora’s face appeared in his mind and he smiled ’i should go meet her tomorrow.’