Chapter 335: Izumi’s Choice

The three of them were silent after Izumi’s little reveal.

"I’ll give you the ledger if you assure me you won’t just hand it over to them." she said after a while.

Yohan raised his head, completely shocked by just how cooperative Izumi was. It was like she had completely forgotten the fact that he was her grandfather’s killer.

Now he was starting to feel bad for coming on too strong.

"You don’t have to do that just yet..."

He tried to apologize, but she cut him off.

"Just answer me. I’m tired of living a life that revolves around my grandfather. I don’t care if I lose all the things he acquired using his blood money. Maybe all the people he had wronged would find a place in their hearts to forgive."

She handed him the book before turning away with a sigh.

"You two should leave this place now that you’ve gotten what you wanted."

Yohan was ready to move, but Jenna hesitated. She gave her friend a second look.

"Izumi, who was that man back there? Are you really getting married?"

"It is what has been arranged." she replied flatly

"But is it what you want?" Jenna’s voice was full of concern.

"Of course. Do you think I’d agree to it if it wasn’t what I wanted?"

"What about your sweetheart, Freddie Michael?" Yohan asked from the side, a bit playfully.

"How is it any of your business?" she shot back.

"He happens to be my good friend, so I’m just curious to know if he has any idea that you were getting married so soon. I’m sure he’ll be heartbroken,"

"You think I don’t know what you’re doing?"

Izumi stepped closer to him.

"You’re trying to act like you’re not affected."

"Affected by what?" Yohan wondered

"That I’m getting married, that you’ll never get to see me again and that..."

She was just about to scream out the last part when she caught herself.

Her voice became calmer.

"Just forget it. I want you both gone first thing tomorrow morning."

As she walked away, Yohan was left wondering just what was up with that reaction. It almost seemed like she was mad at him, and this time it was for a different reason.

"What’s wrong with her?" he wondered.

"How do you expect me to know?" Jenna replied with a shrug.

Something about the way she said it made him feel like she at least had an idea but had no plans on telling him.

"You two are best friends. You should be able to read each other’s minds by now."

"Who said that kind of thing was possible? And what good would that even do? It’s not like I can go and solve all her problems. There are some things you just can’t have."

She gave him a deep look, one that was probably supposed to mean something.

"I don’t think she’s happy here," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

Jenna sighed. She could tell he still hadn’t grasped what she was trying to say, but she couldn’t make it any more obvious for him. The only reason he wouldn’t understand that Izumi had actually fallen for him was because he didn’t feel the same way about her.

’If he had told her he cared about her, even a little, he could have possibly changed her mind.’

There was no way to be sure, but Jenna knew Izumi had always been prone to making decisions based strongly on her emotions. That was why she hadn’t told them that Yohan killed her grandfather. She was trying to protect her own interests.

’She must have fallen head over heels for him, and was to ashamed to tell him’

"What?" He caught her gaze lingering on him. "Do you think we should do something to help her out?"

Jenna’s face turned into a frown. "Don’t think about causing any trouble. Izumi says she trusts these people, so we’re nothing but their guests."

"I know. You don’t have to tell me like I’m some kind of problem child. Forgive me for worrying about your friend." He hissed as he turned his head away.

They walked quickly to catch up to Izumi before she led them to a single hut for the both of them to share.

"Are you sure you want to stay out here? You can come inside the big house if you want..." Morgan came rushing over to ask Jenna.

"It’s enough for me. I can manage as long as there’s a roof over my head." She smiled softly, holding eye contact for more than a few seconds.

"Okay, then..."

He found himself standing closer to her, making him blush before he quickly shifted his gaze.

"In that case, just send any of the villagers to call for me if you need anything."

He left together with Izumi, back to the big house.

A short while later, they were brought some food by two women wearing warm, curious smiles. They waited through the meal of beef stew with pork chops, followed by rice, vegetables, and fish.

They asked Jenna a few questions about her skin and health routine. She simply told them about her workout schedule, and they became very excited.

’I don’t know why I’m surprised to find that they speak good English,’ Yohan thought as he stuffed another piece of food into his mouth.

Everything he ate tasted so fresh. The women explained how they farmed everything themselves while the men hunted the animals.

It reminded him that there were still people who survived by hunting in this day and age.

"What about electricity? Do you guys have that?"

"I heard there’s a generator back at the storehouse. They use it to preserve the products, but only the men are allowed outside the gate, so I’ve never actually seen it with my own eyes," one of the women answered.

"Wait, you people don’t leave the gate?"

"Unless it’s a medical emergency," she answered with a cheerful grin. "The Clan Father built the gates to keep us safe from outsiders."

"Wow... that’s..."

Yohan was freaked out by this news, but he tried his best not to show it.

"That’s crazy."