Chapter Text
"Hello, Damian Desmond speaking."
"A pleasant afternoon, Master Damian." The man on the line greeted formally. "I have a message from your father, Master Donovan."
Damian gulped. "Go on, I am listening."
"Very well. I shall start.
Greetings, my son. I saw the reports of your performance at Eden Academy. While you are indeed passing in every subject, I saw the you earned not just a Stella — but a Tonito as well.
As it stands, you are currently a far cry to what Demetrius has done during his Eden years. I expect you to continue to do your best and push yourself to your limits.
Bear in mind that you are a Desmond. You are obliged to act like one.
And lastly, Demetrius and I will have matters to attend until the end of the month. You may do what you like for your birthday. I expect you to make your celebration grand for our allies.
That is all, Master Damian." The butler said.
Damian's jaws clenched. 'As though I expected something else,' he thought. Damian's welling tears bore mixed feelings of frustration, bitterness, hatred, anger, and grief. 'I've waited 6 months to hear from him and not a single acknowledgment. After all my hardwork...'
"Master Damian, do you wish to relay anything?" The butler asked.
Damian composed himself before responding. "Nothing." He said in a low voice.
"Very well, Master Damian. Please do tell me the arrangements you wish for your birthday. Allow me to mention however that Master Demetrius had a school-wide party during his first year in Eden."
"I see. Thank you for telling me." His fists clenched.
"You are most welcome, young master. Please, do have a pleasant evening."
As soon as the call ended, Damian jumped onto his bed and cried.
'As if I didn't work hard for that... As if I am not his son...' He cried his aching heart out.
~~~~~
Emile and Ewen excitedly walked to their bossman'a dormitory. It was a fine day and the two thought of eating their favorite food for lunch. However, what they saw made their heart sink.
"Bossman, have you eaten yet?" a worried Ewen asked. Damian shook his head.
'Seems like he just woke up,' Ewen thought.
"It's 11:00am. Let's order something for lunch and eat here. Are you okay with that, Bossman?" Emile asked.
"Fine," Damian responded in a low voice.
Ewen and Emile called Damian's chaffeur to buy their usual comfort food. After giving instructions, the two sat down on their friend while they waited for the food to arrive. They tried to reach out to him.
"Bossman, we don't want to force you to tell us what happened. But just know that we can see right now that you are not being your usual self and we can't sit idly by letting you wallow on your own," Ewen said.
"Yeah. If there's anything you want to do to distract yourself, just tell us," Emile added.
Damian looked at his friends with an expressionless face. "Thank you, you two."
Their food arrived an hour later. The three friends ate their lunch at Damian's room. Afterwards, they played on Damian's console. When he's feeling better, Damian finally shared what happened.
"Bossman, we're here for you. We'll help you plan your birthday party!" Ewen said.
"Your father will not be able to ignore soon. You have been consistently the top student in our class. We will surely see you in an Imperial Scholar cape in no time," Emile said. Ewen nodded on the background.
"Ah," Damian acknowledged.
"Let's keep doing our best, Bossman," Emile said.
"Yes! Let's show him, Bossman. We truly believe you can be even better than your brother!" Ewen said.
Deep inside, Damian truly appreciates how his friends tried to cheer him up. Yet, there is a cloud of sadness that would not leave him be. 'For now, the light of these two are enough for me. I'm truly glad,' he thought.
"Thank you, Ewen, Emile," Damian said as he struggled to smile.
The two stood and patted their bossman at the back.
"Alright, let's plan my birthday party here in school. I'm counting on you both," Damian said with a forced cheer.
~~~~~
The weekend flew by fast. The following week, a special gathering for Damian's birthday was announced in every class.
"Please mark your calendars for Damian Desmond's birthday party next Monday. The gathering starts at four o'clock in the afternoon in the Eden Academy Grandeur Hall. For the attire— just our school uniform. Food will be prepared by the Desmond group's elite chefs. There will be a live band and instrumentalists to serenade us while having a good time." Ewen announced.
There was an uproar in class. Everyone felt excited about the party except Anya and Becky.
"We are anticipating that the program will last for 3 hours. Therefore, if you are interested to come, you must tell your chaffeurs to pick you up at around seven in the evening." Emile explained. "Let's see, do you have any questions?"
The students in Damian's class did not have any questions.
"Bossman, do you want to add anything?" Ewen asked Damian. Damian responded by crossing his arms and looking down.
'Sy-on boy... is acting really odd lately.' Anya thought. She tried listening to Damian's thoughts.
'Just get it over with. No one truly cares anyway.'
Surprised by what she heard, Anya looked toward Damian. She saw him looking down with crossed arms. Anya felt pity for the boy.
When class was finally over, Anya saw Damian, Ewen, and Emile leave the room without a word again. Anya chased him by the door, but Ewen stopped her.
Anya heard Ewen's thoughts loud and clear. 'Not today, Anya. Please.'
Anya took her hands to her chest and nodded.
For the first time, she felt Damian strangely distant— so distant she couldn't even have a word. If they were sworn enemies, that should give her peace of mind.
But Anya realized that she'd rather deal with Damian's words and be mocked rather than be ignored like this. Yet, he saw the sincerity and sadness even in Ewen's eyes when he stopped her from approaching him.
Anya's eyes started to well in tears. She felt so... heartbroken.
"Anya..." As Becky called her friend's name, sadness pierced her through.
"Becky..." Anya started sobbing. Becky hugged her friend until she calmed down.
When Anya has finished sobbing, Becky asked her to stay put.
"Anya, let me just check something. Can you watch my things here for a while?"
"Al-Alright," Anya replied.
Becky went outside the classroom to the telephone booth. She passed by Emile and Ewen and overheard them.
"It's sad how bossman is right now, isn't it?" Emile said to his friend.
"Yeah. He's so lonely that he seems to be isolating himself further," Ewen replied.
"I prefer him being preoccupied with Anya than this," Emile said.
"I feel sad for the both of them, really," Ewen said.
'So Damian is going through something? Well, he does show that vibe today. I would even bet he cried over it, I mean, his eyes looked like it. Must be something major.' Becky thought.
Meanwhile, Damian went into the washroom to calm himself.
'I hope I can at least freely talk to Anya...' But as he thought about her — a commoner, a klutz — he felt sad.
'I am a Desmond. I have big shoes to fulfill. I can't be seen engaging with someone like her. I... I won't do anything that would sully our name.'
He took a heavy sigh.
'I-It's time to stop nurturing this stupid feeling.' Damian felt a strange pain across his chest. He was feeling heartbroken for the first time.
Outside, Becky finally reached the telephone booth. She spoke shortly to a few people then went back to the classroom.
'Anya must be picking up on Damian's feelings too... but given their situation and how clueless she is, she probably wants to reach out but doesn't know what to do exactly. Poor girl.' Becky sighed.
She passed by the washroom where Ewen and Emile seemed to be waiting earlier but they were no longer there.
Becky finally resolved something to herself.
'Alright! Anya's bestie to the rescue! She may not realize it, but this is exactly when she should be asking for my help!' Becky stormed the classroom and approached Anya with a determined look in her face, to Anya's surprise.
"Alright, Anya, let's go!" Becky said.
Anya was stunned. "Er? What do you mean? Aren't you supposed to go home already, Becky?"
"Oh! No, no, I won't be going home yet. I just arranged something a while ago." She saw Anya's puzzled face.
"You see, I called my mother who told me to be home by 6pm, then I called — Mrs. Forger — and she told me that her daughter can be home a bit later than usual. I offered to bring her home and she was okay that she strolls for a while," Becky said as she winked at Anya.
Realizing that Becky will be staying with her a while longer, Anya's gloomy face began to brighten.
"Thank you very much, Becky!" Anya said, her cheeks and nose still a reddish after sobbing.
"Well, you're looking better already! How about that!" Becky pulled her hand and led her to her car.
~~~~~
Becky brought Anya to a nearby a premium restaurant in a upscale shopping mall. Becky ordered ice cream cone for both of them. The two girls sat on an elegant couch at the far corner of the restaurant.
"Wow, these are really good, Becky!" Anya said while she joyfully ate her ice cream.
"You're welcome," Becky replied. "This is my favorite ice cream— and also one of my favorite restaurants. It's a bit expensive here so most people avoid it. So it's nice and private. Look around, it's just us here." Anya did and saw that indeed, there was no one in the beautifully-adorned halls but them.
"I see. Uhm, Anya is sorry for suddenly crying earlier," Anya apologized.
"You need not sorry about that, Anya. You can cry on me anytime you need to," Becky smiled at her.
"Anya, there's nothing wrong with letting your worries out. You looked really sad, you know. Can you please tell me what worries my dear friend?" Becky said softly.
Anya looked down. "Yes, I-I'm sorry Becky. Anya can't help but feel affected by certain— things around us."
"Not a thing, but a person. It's Desmond, is it not?"
Anya nodded. "Anya is not sure why, but when I saw him very lonely, it felt so heavy inside. I wanted to ask him what's wrong. But he's always in a crowd, he's never alone, or... his friends stop me from coming near... so I can't approach him." Anya's eyes are again welling with tears.
She continued. "A-Anya... W-Wants to cheer up Sy-on boy... A-Anya... Doesn't want to see him so lonely." Finally, Anya's tears fell once more.
Becky gently put Anya's face on her shoulder. "It's okay, you can cry on me. Just let it out," she assured her.
After a minute, Becky spoke again, "I also noticed that Desmond's been very gloomy lately. And that he's also ignoring us. I never thought I'd ever wonder why I am not bickering with anyone." Anya slightly smiled. "Maybe bickering with him everyday means our lives are normal, yeah?" Becky said.
Anya nodded.
"I think he really is going through something, Anya," Becky said. "Let's see... Maybe a fight with his family or something? I think that can really make someone upset for a time."
"Maybe..." Anya remembered Damian's thoughts. 'Could it be his father?'
"I overheard Ewen and Emile. They're also pretty worried. I'm sure they're just doing their best to alleviate Desmond's burden," Becky said.
"I see," Anya said. "I was also wondering if I ever did something that upset him lately."
"Don't worry, for sure you didn't do anything wrong, or else Emile or Ewen would have gone to us already," Becky said. "Plus I overheard them that they'd prefer it if Desmond's just being preoccupied with you. So I guess it's not you, Anya. My intuition says it really is his family."
Anya sighed. "I see. That made me feel much better."
"Don't overthink it, silly! It doesn't suit you," Becky said. The two of them laughed.
"Say, Becky," Anya said. "What should I do to help him?"
"Well... I think you should figure it out on your own." Becky said. "You have a special bond with him now, don't you?"
Anya looked at her friend. Indeed, Damian and Anya were enemies initially. They both got tonitos on their first day at Eden. Damian mocked her a lot and even called her 'Shrimp'. He told her in her face that he will never forgive her for punching him. He even walked out on her with face reddened by anger.
Yet, all those no longer matter to Anya. What she remembers are how Damian helped her several times, how he saved him during dodge ball, how he taught her for the exam, how he cheered her up when she was sick, and even occasionally gave her peanuts. Anya realized that Damian is someone important to her now.
"I- I think maybe," Anya said, lightly scratching her cheek.
Becky chuckled. "It's a wonder how you guys progressed from being enemies! But look at you now. You and Damian have gotten really close."
"Really?" Anya asked her friend.
"Uh-huh. The way he cared for you shows you're someone important to him now." Becky pointed out. "I still remember how he humbled himself to ask me to give you his care package. Oh and how he was as red as tomato when he gave you the flowers! And about tucking flowers on a girl's ear? There's something there really. At the very least, he cares for you a lot... I saw it myself! Which is why the way he's ignoring you now puzzles me greatly."
Anya nodded. "Yes... I wonder why too." Anya sighed.
"Alright, that's something Anya needs to find out from him." Anya said. "Sy-on boy should not ignore me like this if I didn't do anything wrong. It's time he stopped acting weird."
Anya turned to her friend.
"Becky, I think I'm feeling better now. Thank you very much for being with me in this." Anya beamed and hugged Becky.
"I'm just here, dummy! You should be telling me things like this, you know," Becky said. "I'm supporting you all the way!"
Becky and Anya took off their arms from each other. Becky looked at her friend with sharp eyes. "Show me your conviction, Anya. Are you ready to face Desmond and punched him again in the face so he'd wake up from his nonsense?"
Anya took her fist to the air. "Yes!"
"If that won't work, then let's plan something else to cheer him up!" Becky said. "How about we try a romantic one from the novel I am reading right now—"
"Okay if that's all about friendship!" Anya replied.
"I said the word romantic, didn't you hear?"
Anya and Becky bursted into laughter.
'I'm bringing you back, Sy-on boy.' Anya thought.
~~~~~
Next Chapter: The Scion's Birthday
~~~~~