⫶ storage room

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ Neither relief nor indifference came over the male in response to her dropped offer. He couldn't tell what he felt. The Slytherin needed both the distraction but also the time to think to himself. He had a lot to think about, yet he had thought about it all week already. Maybe he could just throw himself into his books for next semester, allow himself to fully isolate until he felt that the feelings had passed. Or...at least until he knew what the proper answer was. "Right, that is a lot you have to pack. Don't forget that camera, right. You better use it. I didn't try to figure out online shopping for hours just for you not to make use of it, got it?" He tried his best to hide his confused feelings behind his playful threat as they exited the storage room, his head poking out briefly to make sure that nobody was around.

"Yeah, yeah I'll reach out if I need to." He may have said it to her, but he knew he probably wouldn't. This, it was a spur of the moment thing, something that he hadn't even expected that he would do quite honestly. Liandro had never went to anyone about his problems, not before the Hufflepuff that offered the option, thus coming to Emerald. It was definitely strange for him, especially when he had never felt that he was close enough to her to do so. Maybe the other prefect felt differently and Liandro would agree that he did trust her to an extent, but not enough so to go to her whenever he needed to rant. Especially after this whole controversy, he couldn't help but think about what he's done with her as well. He really had no shame. "Have fun on your trip. I'll bother you when you get back."

@－ ❛ s ❜：liandro kang。⁰⁴ If there was anything Emerald understood, it was the turmoil in his mind, the cloud of distress that darkened the bits and pieces of him that felt any form of contentment before chaos unfolded. There was fire in his eyes, a small flame, she saw it clearly, but it wasn't a fire of anger nor was it of passion, either. No, this flame had ignited to burn him from the inside, stinging where it hurt the most until it consumed his entirety in a blazing inferno. And as much as Emerald wanted to douse it, these flames were a wildfire that couldn't put out with just a bucket of water, which was all she could offer him. A pathetic little bucket of water that would hold no significance, could never compare to the size of the roaring fire. She saw it all. It was all in front of her, after all. Because, matter of fact, people were easiest to read when they're hurting. And Liandro was no exception.

"On the second thought," she murmured regretfully, her eyes kind as they looked at him with utmost sympathy. "I forgot, I haven't quite finished packing yet. Two weeks is a bloody long time, and I need to prepare." The girl paused, teeth digging into her lower lip as she wondered if the sudden retraction of her offer was too rash, too indecently inconsiderate, and she was afraid she'd offended him. She had thought to hang out with him to ease his mind, after all, and though he accepted the offer with an unconvincing smile, she hadn't the heart to force him to do the opposite of what he wished. "I should probably go," she murmured, already out the door the second he voiced his suggestion. "But Liandro? Text me. If you need to vent. If you need to let anything out, reach out to me."

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ She really could not understand what was happening with him. Even though he was unaware of just what she could see, Liandro had so much that weighed upon him. Who knew that he could feel even more like a failure than what he already had? There were reasons why he could be quite the perfectionist and why he was so careful when he completed the acts much like the one he committed with Eleanora. Was it because he was drinking? Did he somehow mess up when putting on protection? He had so many questions for himself, so many things that made him think ‘it could have been prevented’. And despite knowing full well that much of the act was his fault, he couldn't help but blame her. She knew something she hadn’t, something that would have made him stop and take a step back from it.

Although he said aloud that he was fine, he wasn’t. When was he ever, anyways? His fingers itched to tap against something, a habit he had developed to cope with stress, one of the many. “Yes, sure. I’m free,” he responded. He really didn’t want to. He wanted to tell Emerald that he still needed time by himself, that he really wasn’t in the mood to eat. Or to do anything for that matter. But if he told her that, it was admitting that he indeed was still allowing his thoughts to fester, that he was not alright. “Let’s get out of this closet before someone thinks we’re doing something we shouldn’t.” A smile, one that was quite obviously fake, pulled over his lips as he gestured and reached for the door.

@－ ❛ s ❜：liandro kang。⁰⁴ Liandro was absolutely devastated, and it didn't take a person with a gift like hers to determine that. He had reacted just like anyone would at their age, not knowing a solution to a problem that would fester over time, lest the problem would just magically disappear as quickly as it manifested. She didn't blame him, he had a right to be as upset as he was at that moment, at a loss for words, unsure of what the future would be like for him, because this was not just his own to handle. No, the burden fell on the girl who had laid in bed with him with reckless desire, and for a moment, she began to think about what the girl must feel. If only she knew the identity of this unfortunate girl. Whether she did or didn't, it mattered little. Just as she could do nothing but offer a shoulder to her comrade, she would only be able to do the same for her. She only wished she could do more. "I'm sorry, Liandro. Truly. I can't imagine what it must be like for you." A fib, her heart and soul knew it, because she had taken a peek of the terror clouding his mind, but the words were only uttered because she too, was left speechless. Oh, if only she had a gift of whisking away one's troubles. "Are you free today, though? Maybe I can take you up on that offer to grab some food at Hogsmeade?"

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ Of course the other had no idea what to say to him. What /could/ she say really? That it wasn't his fault? That, what she has already said, mistakes like this happen all the time? Nothing would really make him feel any better about himself, nothing but a negative test. But even then, just knowing the possibility of it happening once more would tear him apart. Or was it because he was terrified of just who would find out? Either way, he was distraught, nervous and confused. It was not like he had anyone in his family that would support him, if anything, if the girl did end up pregnant and wanting to keep the child, they'd just make some sort of snide comment about how he's proven once more that he didn't belong in their house. "Thanks. Just...just listening is enough for now, Emerald." His eyes wavered from hers, despite her gentle look. Despite how the expression she offered was not one of judgment, but something somewhat caring. "I really ed up. Why did it have to be /her/?" The question was more so for himself than anything. Honestly, he would have taken a pregnancy scare from anyone else. His face fell into his hands and he went into a silence before lifting his eyes to Emerald's once more. The typical bland expression on his face had returned. "I think I'm fine now. Thank you for taking the time to let me talk to you. I really appreciate it."

@－ ❛ s ❜：liandro kang。⁰⁴ Emerald had known Liandro for months, yet had seen nothing of what she witnessed at that very moment. The person that she normally saw was always confident in his stride, and a strict leader if he wanted to be. He rarely showed emotion, except for irritation, and sometimes, just sometimes, a smile of jest whenever he wanted to fool around with those he had grown mildly comfortable with. But she had never seen him as multi-faceted as she saw him now, with the desperation and anguish that was painted on his face, and she knew that this was him, unfiltered, without the guise that many people, like herself, saw on a daily basis. And while she wanted to help, she didn't know how to. This was his and this unknown girls' problem. If she had a solution, she would offer it, but all she could offer now was a shoulder for him to lean onto. Taking a step forward, she carefully placed her arm on his shoulder, eyes gentle as she looked at him. "Maybe. Maybe not. This stuff happens," she murmured, lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't know what to say, honestly. But I'm here for you, Liandro."

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ She was right, he couldn't know for certain that it was him. But the timing, it was too perfect and the fact that this person had already lied on his behalf, it only made it seem even more obvious that he was the only option. "S-she doesn't seem like the type to sleep around, Emerald. That'd make it much simpler right? Much easier to think it's not me. But they're generally quiet, I think. I don't..." He'd gone off again, just rambled due to his nerves getting the best of him. But the option that she offered made him hold his breath. "I won't offer that option to her unless she says it herself." If the girl wanted to keep the baby, then who was he to say no. It was his own goddam fault for not keeping it in his pants for once in his life. "I ed myself over big time. Didn't I?"

@－ ❛ s ❜：liandro kang。⁰⁴ Emerald did not know what to expect when Liandro Kang had messaged her that day with desperation heavy in his request. He had asked her to meet, and she knew that he wouldn't have asked unless the circumstance was as dire as he made it sound. But what he had voiced out was none that was on her mind, if she even had any suspicion of what he would tell her. Maybe, she thought, he had broken a major rule. Or maybe he had accidentally gotten a student injured. But a pregnant student? It was bizarre, even to her ears. "How do you know for sure it's you?" She began slowly, her brows furrowing with visible concern. There was no solution to think of, really. She had never been in a similar position, and if she did, there was nothing anyone can do about it. Unless, of course, abortion is an option, but she didn't know who the girl was. "...would they be willing to get rid of it?"

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ "Someone told me they're pregnant." He blurted it out. There was no holding back, not when days had already passed with him not truly reacting to it. "I don't know what to do. I," he paused to look away from the other's attentive eyes. It was embarrassing to nearly fall apart in front of her, especially over something that should have been controlled. "I thought I was fine. But I think I was just too busy with exams that the moment I had down time...I don't know what to do. And what's worse is that I know they're upset with how I reacted. I just, I wish they thought of the wrong person but there could only be one person. I'm so ed, Emerald." He had never spoken so much to the other prefect and he was not certain why he did now. Possibly it was because she was the closest person to him due to their duties or maybe he hoped she was the type to keep shut.

@－ ❛ s ❜：liandro kang。⁰⁴ Emerald studied his visage, taken aback by the agitation etched on his features. He was normally unconcerned, stoic just as she usually was, however the apathetic demeanor had since disappeared to give way to genuine distress. It was an unusual sight, even for the prefect who shared duties with him day in and day out. It was concerning, really, and although she wanted to find out on her own, she waited, patiently, for him to to tell her on his own accord. It was only fair, considering that he was willing to entrust her with what troubled him, rather than going to the person he normally confided in. Closing and locking the door behind her with a confirmed 'click', Emerald faced him, silent where she stood, but only for a brief moment. "What happened, Liandro?"

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ The sound of the door made him jump a mile, his head whipping in its direction to see who was there. Hopefully, it was just another student if not Emerald, as Mr. Filch would prove to be quite the nuisance. "Oh. It's just you," he breathed out a sigh of relief. Finally, his pacing had stopped, but a hand ran through his hair as his nerves continued to eat him up. "Can you...close and lock the door. Just in case?" Filch wouldn't be able to open it with his being a squib, something that benefitted the Slytherin right at that moment. "I'm sorry you had to come here, in pain. I just, the person I usually confide in. I just /can't/ tell them. I'd rather die Mera."

@－ ❛ s ❜：liandro kang。⁰⁴ A soft groan had escaped her lips as soon as she saw the storage room door, trudging along the corridors with her arms wrapped around her chest. She had gotten out of bed five minutes later than she should have, but can you blame her? Her body ached, most particularly her lower half, and all because of that bloody thing that comes once every month. Nonetheless, she didn't complain. Though she wanted nothing more than to stay in bed, Liandro, who has never come to her for consolation, had approached her with matters that seemed far more pressing than his message implied. She had approached the door with concern etched on her visage, glancing around once to see if there was anyone lurking about. And once there was confirmation that the coast was clear, she had opened the door, slipping in through the small crack that was big enough for her frame.

@－ ❛ s ❜：emerald de lisle。⁰⁴ Liandro found himself in the storage room before the other prefect. And for some reason, it made him all the more nervous and antsy. Typically, he was good at hiding his actually feelings about things and he was doing fairly well the past few days. But with the exams being over and his having time to allow his thoughts to fester, he couldn't take it anymore. He paced in the small room, wanting more than anything to take out his, what may be his sixth cigarette of the day. However, he was out and Emerald would be there any minute, he hoped.