Is this destiny?

Monday, June 8

4:42 AM

Oni woke up and listened carefully. It's quiet. She peeked from under the blanket and her eyes widened when she saw Jesse sleeping on the floor with his head on the bed by her side.

She observed his sleeping face for some time. They did many missions together, but she never saw him sleeping.

At this moment, Oni wished to have a superpower which will enable her to look into his mind and to figure out what is going on in there. Why did he barge into her room through the balcony? Why did he say crazy things which insinuated that he cares about her? Why is he still here?

She remembers when Jesse joined them with the rest of the kids from Sierra Leone. He was rather skinny at first, but that didn't diminish attractiveness of his face. She observed that he does not talk much and that often he gets lost in his thoughts while staring into the distance. She watched him train and eat and study and teach others… He taught her German and how to pick a lock and how to use a pocketknife for anything from opening cans to starting a fire.

From the beginning, Oni saw Jesse like an unreachable existence, an idol of some sort. And then they had that joint mission at the White Mansion where they went as a couple and that evening he called her 'an attractive young woman'. It might not be much to someone, but for her it meant the world: the man she admired from the shadows for months called her 'attractive'! At that point, the dam of her feelings broke and the only thing on her mind was to be close to him.

Since then, they went through numerous missions together and they watched each other's back and their relationship was getting stronger by the day… or so she thought.

Her illusion shattered when she saw Jesse with Marija because she realized that Jesse has other needs and that her feelings and her concept of romance for him are probably… silly.

But… what is with his behavior tonight? He was acting out of character. Completely. Oni has no idea what to think of it.

Oni remembers that as a child when she was trapped, or hurt, she imagined fairies who would come to give her company and heal her wounds and she was aware that it's just her imagination and not real, but at that time it was the only comfort she had so she went with it… This must be the same thing. Figment of her imagination which is trying to heal her broken heart. But she is not sure if it's healing or just… confusing.

Jesse's face twitched few times and he groaned softly. Oni wondered if he is having a bad dream. It sure looks like it. She thought of giving him a hug or a gentle touch or something… but she gave up on that idea. Instead of comforting him, she will probably just wake him up and then he will see her close and it will be super-awkward.

Oni sighed while thinking how the real awkward thing right now is her idea of comforting a man who broke her heart and made her feel the strongest pain ever. She looked at his handsome face and wondered, will she ever be able to get over him? In some of the novels she read, the heroine never forgot her first love and that is what Jesse is to her: her first love.

Oni dispersed those romantic ideas. They are silly because things are not like that between them. It is all in her head. Oni tried getting back to sleep but the image of him sitting on the floor and sleeping was in front of her closed eyes.

Oni took a second blanket and put it over Jesse before turning to the other side to sleep. There is no point in thinking about anything. She is probably imagining it anyway.

…

Monday, June 8

9:46 AM

Oni woke up and saw that Jesse is not there. Did she dream that he slept next to the bed and she covered him up? The blanket she put on him was neatly folded on the side chair, confirming that it was real.

She looked at the time and frowned. They were supposed to go for their scouting at 9 AM. Why didn't Jesse wake her up? Why didn't the alarm wake her up? Oni is confident that she had an alarm set for 8 AM. She double-checked before going out for dinner with Robert.

Oni closed her eyes and images from yesterday flashed in front of her eyes. Jesse uncharacteristically stopped by before heading out for his mission, and she had dinner with Robert, and they went to a club and then sat at the bank of The Main river and chatted until it was time to head back. Oni remembered what happened in her room… How embarrassing. Why did she cry so much? How is she supposed to face Jesse and act like everything is fine after last night's meltdown?

She took a deep breath to calm her raging emotions and told herself that the folded blanket on that chair is a coincidence and she imagined everything or maybe it was a dream and there is no need to get so excited…

"Good morning!"

Jesse's voice which came through the slightly open door startled her, and she bolted into a seated position. What is he doing here? Oh, God! The last night was real! Did Jesse jump over the balcony again or he didn't go to his room at all?

Oni blinked few times while observing Jesse who is walking into the bedroom with a tray in his hands. With food. He got her a breakfast in bed!? She never had a breakfast in bed.

Oni was confident that she is dreaming because that is the only logical explanation for the incredible scene in front of her.

Jesse propped two pillows behind Oni and gestured for her to scoot back and lean on them.

"I got your favorites…", Jesse started talking while placing the tray in her lap. "…toast with butter and strawberry jam. I was not sure if you would rather have the milk or orange juice, so I got both. The milk is room temperature and the orange juice is chilled. Just how you like it."

By the time Jesse finished his explanation, he was sitting at the edge of the bed.

Oni was confused. Why is Jesse talking so much? Is that a smile on his face? Why did he bring her breakfast? Nothing makes sense.

Another thing was bugging her: "What about the mission?"

Jesse shook his head and looked at her with concern obvious on his face. "You are injured. The mission can wait."

Oni narrowed her eyes at him. "Who are you and what did you do to Jesse?"

"Michael.", Jesse said.

"What?" Oni heard him but she can't believe that he threw this bomb at her.

"Michael.", Jesse repeated and explained: "My real name is Michael Kamara. Jesse is an alias I started using when I joined Sarah and Aiden and other than the two of them, you are the third person from the Cliffside villa who knows my name."

Actually, Sarah and Aiden would not know his name if they didn't use the truth serum on him but that is a nine months old grudge which is slowly fading from his mind. Slowly.

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