Running On Empty

Chapter 20~Jaylin (Part 1 of 3)

If only you could remain that way, Silya. I want you to always be happy even if it is without me.

I could only smile after a minute or so. Even if this moment was a quite one, it was indeed peaceful. It was because Silya was right next to me, not somewhere else. I wouldn't let go of her right now. Not when I finally had her to myself for the first time in a while.

"Jaylin," she said softly, "I'm sorry about earlier. It was not true. I don't want us to be friends...because right now I want something more. I want-"

On the other side of the room, the doors burst open with a loud bang and I see my father barge in with his face lit up like a tomato. My father grabbed Silya and pulled her off of the couch. He glared his eyes at me and then dragged Silya out of the room. Frica was in front of the doors. Her eyes filled with shock. My father threw Silya into Frica and demanded that Madeline closed the door.

Madeline who had been standing next to Frica from the moment she left the room walked forward and bowed her head before she shut both of the big doors. My father stood tall and firm in front of me. I could almost see the gears stop turning in his head. Maybe he had been at a loss for words at right now.

"Father, " I bowed slightly, "let me explain. You see-" SLAP!

My hands quickly touched my own face on instinct. What in the world just happened? A small area on my cheek really stung. It kept vibrating the hotness of his cruel touch.

"I will not have you make a fool out of me or Frica or her father. It was a mistake to let that girl become your teacher. She obviously has made you blind, my son! I will not stand here and let you ruin our reputation as the Hennery household! I have tolerated so much from you these last few days because I did not want you to feel embarrassed in front of your wife." He grabbed my shoulders and shook me, "You will do exactly as I say or prepare to say goodbye to the life you know."

Why was my father doing this? Was what I doing really horrible? Was it wrong to fall in love with someone for the first time ever? I was his own son. Didn't he want to see me happy? What did I really ever do wrong to have him do something like that?

"No, you are not in charge of me, as much as you wish to be. I love Silya. She is the girl that you just carelessly tossed out of the door. I know that you hired her to be my teacher, and she did a fantastic job with that because she has taught  me what it is like to love someone; to care about them. That is not wrong in any way."

"I see now, what a horrible thing that she has turned you into, you are defying your father's commands! I cannot believe this! How dare you! You are the next heir to the name of this house. This matter will not go unpunished."

He couldn't hurt Silya, I wouldn't let him. I would never let him get close enough to hurt her. He made me feel scared at that moment when I looked into his eyes.

"Leave her alone, please." I begged suddenly. I stopped, shocked at the way I sounded. "I will do anything you want, I'll let you mess with me."

My father's lips curled up into a wicked smile. "I think that you are going to have to make a deal that I won't be able to turn down first though. You do what I want, and I promise that I will not meddle in that girl's affairs anymore. Her mother will still be able work at the hospital and she will continue attending school. During that time for the next four years, you will be attending school in Japan to learn your manners and become a proper heir that will be able to represent the Hennery household name well. I will not allow you to have any connect with Miss Emerson and she is forbidden to see you or come to this house anymore. She has broken my trust with her in terms of business. I will have Madeline and Garrett look after you in Japan and they will give me a weekly report on how you are doing in school, I know well enough that you are intelligent, as expected from a son of mine. Do you want to make a deal with me?" My father held out his hand to me for the first time ever.

What would happen to Silya, to Frica? Would they be ok? They were my first and only friends. Why did something like this have to happen? Why was I really going to Japan of all places?! It was a completely different county! But, if I didn't Silya and everyone else that I care about would be hurt because of my father. I couldn't let that happen because I have come to love every moment I had spent with them.

I want everyone to be alright and happy. I want Silya to always keep on smiling even when I am not beside her.

"No! Don't do this Jaylin!" I saw Silya burst through the door, tears streaming down her face. She ran right into my arms, nearly knocking me off my feet! I regained my balance on my crutches and held her tightly. I felt her shoulders shake in my embrace.  I bent my head down and kissed her on the head. 

"I will never let you go, I'll never let you be alone, Silya." I brushed my finger across her soft cheeks to wipe the tears off her face. Seeing her upset never suited off. "You will be fine because I will not let you get hurt." She looked at me, her brown eyes taking a stake to my heart. 

After I let Silya go, I stood in front of my father. He seemed really impressed. "Now, you can have me at your mercy, Father."

I stretched out my hand to him and the deal was sealed.