Chapter 475: Distance

'I knew it the moment I stepped in,' images of his friends flashed, '-things were not the same anymore. Time did what was due, it changed the people I first met at the Academy. Leonard and Jen were not the same any longer. He looks better and more mature in a way, the responsibility of having to care for another person must have spurred the mind to grow. No longer did he keep quiet or act smug, a truly good change. Jen,' as he thought her name; the glance nonchalantly turned to the living room. There, through the door left ajar, her sharp profile paused for a few seconds then returned. 'A lady in love is more beautiful, I heard that from Joe. I guess it's true. She's attractive, well, I have to distance my thoughts from her. The bigger the gap, the better it will be. I came here to meet friends – didn't expect this. Rena has feelings for Lampard, her flushed face is always hidden behind makeup. She desperately tries to convey her feelings, the attempt is both admirable and depressive. Love, why did it have to sprout, why did the bud have to spawn such a common desire, why did it have to fill the air. The room feels tight, my throat wants to close on itself, so tiresome.' A whiff of sparkling invisible goodness eluded the mild protection of the ajar door. The sense went full speed around the couch to twirl in the middle. A sniff had the stomach's growling, Rena's habit of drooling showed a most embarrassing scene. Lampard had cupped her mouth with tissues, '-stop it,' said he strongly.

"Leave me alone," pushed away, the ears warmed to a boil, "-thanks for the tissues," her head kindly lowered.

"Jen," voiced Leonard,"-is that really the Igna we remember?" wondered he wanting to open the kitchen doors.

"I don't know," said she frightful of what laid beyond. The 'super-bike' outside raised multiple questions. His coming felt uncomfortable, the moment the helmet lifted, the protruding half-smile gave a sense of uneasiness. The scene played on repeat;

"Hey guys, long time no see," said he as the breeze carried his hair.

"Long time no see," added a shocked Lampard, the group stepped onto the cold-moist grass.

"Nice ride," smiled Leonard, "-quite a rare model," said he quick to examine the body and engine.

"Thanks," returned he without much care, "-it's good to see you again."

"Good to see you," they hugged one-another tightly.

"You've changed," added Lampard, "-I don't feel nervousness or fear of the unknown."

"I suppose so," he shrugged and waved at the girls.

*Thud,* the way the wave and eyes made contact sent flutters down the body, '-impossible,' thought Rena glaring through the stretched eyes, '-why do I think he's handsome? Why the fuck do I find him kind of attractive, he's gone and changed so much. Why is he leaning on the bike as if an actor, what's the deal with him?' her fist clenched, '-and why is it Lampard and Leonard feel so hopeless by him?' 

"Rena…" added Jen softly, "-why does he seem so charming?" 

"I don't know. How did he become so gallant?" 

"It's not me then," she breathed to tightly hold Rena's hand, "-I'm scared. He looks charming and the way he speaks and laughs are alluring – still, I-I can't but be scared. Leonard lost his confidence, Lampard's just asking questions, the two are clearly overwhelmed."

"I KNOW," she turned to hide behind the curtain, "-I can't anymore!"

"Rena, you're so red," a chuckle broke the uncertainty, "-how is that humanly possible?"

"Shut up," she fired back, "-your ears are just as hot as my cheeks."

"Shut up," the lips froze, footsteps approached. 

"Nice mansion," said he taking off the shoes, "-don't mind the intrusion," the untied hair all but elevated the sharpness of his oval face. Brown eyes, tanned skin, and black hair with a tint of grey, "-have you guys eaten?"

"No."

"Got ingredients?" he paused at the partition separating the living room and hall.

"Yeah, we should be stocked, the kitchen's over there."

"Awesome," with a casual grin, "-I'll take care of the cooking. Set the table, I'll be done in thirty minutes or so," and so was his arrival. The uneasiness didn't once fade, it all but increased. Jen and Rena were scared to greet, Leonard and Lampard sat with face to the ceiling. 

"Igna's not weak anymore," voiced one of the boys.

"He's a man, the maturity in how he spoke, laughed, and acted. It doesn't come across as smug in the least, rather, it's gentlemanly."

"How do you suppose he got so?"

"Go ask him, Rena," laughed Leonard, "-I see his charm has worked on you girls too."

"What do you mean?" they turned with a closed fist and tense arms.

"He's awesome," added Lampard, "-I know what Leo means. Boys are stupid; we always idolize someone superior and want to help especially when it's a friend. A certain part of me wants to show-off and take the attention…"

"I get what you mean," added Leonard, "-I feel like he's a leader."

'Those idiots,' calmy stirring fried vegetables, '-don't they realize I can hear what they say?' Keeping a nonchalant expression, food was readied. 

"Leonard, Lampard," the slightly monotonous voice escaped the same ajar door, "-the food's ready." So, with plates in hand, he exited the kitchen to head for the dining area beside the living room. Here, a bar stood on one end and an old jukebox on the other, the table laid in the middle with hanging lights. Steam filled perfume of the fried rice had them limbo between mouthwatering and stomach growl.

"Sorry it's not elaborate," added he, "-since its night and all, figured a lighter meal might ease the hunger and not disrupt sleep." 

"T-thanks," nodded Rena avoiding his sight.

"It's good," added Jen with a more disingenuous tone. 

'I'll head home after this,' thought he focusing on the meal, '-we can't return to normal. Eight months is too long to keep any semblance of hope. They say one thing and mean another, Leonard was courteous in keeping the atmosphere friendly, Lampard tried hard to not let the girls speak, what a shame.' Mild chatter went around the table from Leonard to Lampard, from Rena to Leonard, from Jen to Lampard. They ignored or rather, felt uncomfortable speaking. 'Group C is better off without me,' the chair pushed back sharply. "-Thanks for the invitation," he smiled, "-I'll head home now. Have fun during the Winter Festival. See you at the academy or something."

"You're leaving already?" wondered Lampard. Throwing a side-eye at the table, Rena felt relief and Jen had tightly locked herself to Leonard, "-stay awhile, come on."

"I'm fine," he stared the front, "-what's the point of staying a place where I'm not clearly invited. Thanks for the polite reception, Leonard. I think we ought to carry on our own paths from today forth. May group C achieve greater things in the future," the footsteps felt heavy and lonesome, the front door opened.

"Let's see him off," voiced Leonard trying to stand, "-let me go!"

"No," she shook her head, "-I can't…"

"You too Lampard, don't see him off, it's for the better," added Rena.

"Shut up," they pulled to dash down the hall, "-you girls are nothing but idiots!" screamed Lampard. The front-door barged open, "-Igna," said they panting, "-thanks for coming man, I'm sorry you felt left out."

"Leonard, Lampard," the helmet rested in his lap, "-don't worry about it. I'm glad to see you in good spirits. Jen's ease when speaking to you is a pleasure for my eyes. Congratulations on being a couple. Lampard, you're strong my friend, very strong. It takes a lot to try and be ignorant about a girl who deeply loves you. Don't get too tired. Anyway, drop by the town square, I'll be working the afternoon at Loron."

"Man, Igna, I'm sorry for all this, I never meant for it to get this uncomfortable."

"Stop," he wrapped an arm around Leonard and the other around Lampard, "-we'll always be friends. If anything ever comes up, give me a call, I'll come to help," the brotherly touch felt peaceful. Dark-massive gates opened to allow passage. 

"What a guy," said Lampard sitting cross-legged, "-I'm happy you called him here."

"I know what you mean," said Leonard laying on his back, "-the sincerity is still there. Remember how you used to hate him for being weak?"

"Yeah," a chuckled broke the windy murmurs, "-I hated him, but now, it's the opposite. The hour we spend together feels like years."

"He feels like a big brother," on that sentiment, the front door opened.

"Leonard, Lampard, come in else you'll catch a cold."

"Jen," came a disappointed voice, "-why did you girls do that?" the warm inside gave comfort.

"Do what?" pleaded Rena, "-what are you insinuating?"

"Please, don't be so obnoxious," added Lampard, "-this isn't an argument, we want to know the truth. Why reject Igna? Jen, you were more excited out of anyone to see him. Why such a change of mind, are you serious?"

"I second Lampard, why treat him as if an outsider!" 

"This is why," added a somber Rena, "-Group C doesn't need Igna."

"He doesn't belong in our friend group," added Jen, "-I thought of him as a good friend until he arrived. I can't, something inside me says to run away. I refuse to let him in between us. Can't you see?" her soft pupils reflected the amber lights, "-I didn't want to lose you, Leonard."

"Lose me?" the truth in her voice reduce the seed of doubt, "-why?"

"Cause, I love you. Igna's an intruder, Group C will always be us four."

"We're group C," added Rena, "-without Igna." They sowed another seed, one of mistrust. The would-be bond crumbled. They conspired to exclude he who had made them so uncomfortable prior. Blind in love, Leonard's mind thoughtlessly agreed with the false narrative of, 'Igna's trying to break us apart." Lampard kept his head and watched, he agreed to see the clearer intent. Put into words, it didn't sound so bad until one realized the mind of two girls was involved – the never-ending labyrinth of confusion and mixed feelings. 

'What a shame…' thought he faced with a direct feed of the mansion. Éclair took the liberty of sneaking into their security system and redirected the unfolding scene. Words behind walls were naught but mindless effort. 'I knew something was wrong the moment I walked in. Jen and Rena aren't the same, they feel more scheming. Leonard and Lampard are tied to their whims… or so that's what I'd like to believe. Truth is, they're being protective of 'home'. I'm an intruder now, they don't want to allow anyone to break the well-formed circle. I can't fault them for thinking so, I'd fight to protect my circle given the same position. Suppose I'll have to continue as before, no regrets nor bad-feelings. Good-bye Group C.'

At that moment, the hard wind against the body felt close to a hug, the pressure soothed the mind. A bullet across the streets of Juei. Tough as he might have acted, the woe in losing comrades stung. They lived for months until the departure for Rosespire. Who could he blame, time, the human heart, or, those trying to make him better? No matter the inner-emotions, the debt incurred from so many people's help gave a bigger goal than petty disagreements. Ignorance of the unknown came as a heavy mist, a lonesome road appeared holding no landscape. The perpetual struggle of knowing oneself, a tinkling orb spawned in form of a quote, "-people lose friends when one gets serious about a goal. Those baseless relations are best forgotten, face the front, and don't stop. In the end, the one who stands at the top has seen what happens to those at the bottom. Only they are allowed to rest, for the never-ending struggle will follow till the grave." Foggy and muddy to clear, the happening of earlier secluded to the far reaches of the abyss, 'Move on.'