Jehan
1033 Words
"Hey," Johann brushed Jessica’s cheek with his fingers pulling her from her thoughts. "Don't look so glum. I'll come for breakfast," he promised as if reading her feelings.
This time, Jessica smiled sincerely, putting aside all the apprehensions and depressing thoughts.
"Okay," she said as she nodded.
"Don't worry Jessie, I'll come tomorrow too. Please cook chicken for break— " Julian wasn't able to finish his sentence because Johann pulled his ear as he walked towards the door.
"Stop calling him Jessie, Yanyan. Jessie is only mine to use. Stop eating chicken either since it makes you as noisy as those birds," Johann stated as he dragged his protesting younger brother out of the cottage. Before he went out though, he turned back to Jessica and gave her a wink.
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They were resting on top of the boulder near the spring, watching the vast estate below. They had been there since before sunrise, but Jehan would never tire of sitting there, holding his beloved against his chest.
The soft breeze blew Hannah’s hair and his fingers immediately caught the strands.
"This has gotten really long," Jehan commented as he leaned over to smell them.
Hannah looked up to him and smiled. When they first got together, her hair was only up to her shoulder in length. But three years later, her hair now reached up to her hips.
"Shall I cut it?" she asked knowing full well what her lover's answer would be.
"No," Jehan replied as expected. "I like it this long."
"But this makes me look like a mop," Hannah pouted and Jehan tweaked her nose.
"It's fine even if you look like a mop," the latter said, which made Hannah pout.
"If you like mops then why not just get one? Oh, wait— there’s a scullery maid at the manor with the same hair! You’re not fancying her as well for looking like a mop, are you?"
Jehan studied the stubborn expression on her face and sighed.
"I don't want anyone else. I'll only want you," he whispered as he tilted Hannah’s jaw so he could kiss her lips. "Even if I die and be born again, I'll only ever want you," he added and Hannah’s pout vanished as she returned his kiss.
"Hannah," Jehan spoke after a while, breaking their kiss. "I have to go to Paris soon," he announced softly and she turned her face away.
"Okay," she replied.
The news saddened her but she didn't want Jehan to see. She knew why Jehan had to go there. It was because of her. Since she had a weak body, Jehan wanted to become a doctor. She shouldn't be sad that he had to go.
He continued to stroke her hair as he talked. "Johann had convinced our father to let me study medicine," Jehan said with a smile.
It was really a miracle since their father had already refused to fund his studies, and the old man was more stubborn than a mule when he had already decided upon something.
Their father wanted Jehan to study taking care of the estate so he could assist Johann in the future. So when Jehan told him he wanted to study medicine he was enraged. Then again, Johann had opened his case to their father saying he'd feel more comfortable to have a doctor in the estate, and since it was Jehan he didn't have to bother going to town for consultation. With that being said, the old man had agreed albeit reluctantly, and Jehan had been really grateful to his brother.
"I told you that your brother is a nice person," Hannah stated, still not looking at him.
"I know," Jehan answered.
He had known all along that his older brother was a kind and caring person. It was just that as a son of their father, Jehan had yearned for paternal care also, and had resented the fact that their father loved Johann more than anyone else. He knew it wasn't Johann's fault. But he had been so hurt by their father's treatment that he couldn't bear to talk or be nice to his brother who got all the care and attention.
But things were different now. He was no longer that little boy who had craved for a father's love. He's a grown man of twenty-one. In between his brothers who he knew loved and cared for him, and Hannah whom he loved so much, he didn't need anyone else's affection.
For a couple of years now, with the help of his gentle lover, Jehan had been repairing the bond with his older brother. In fact, today, he would spend some time with Johann, teaching him how to shoot. His brother was the one who asked him to teach him, but Jehan knew that Johann was only doing it so they could spend some time together. It was no secret that Johann disliked guns normally.
"Will you go with me?" Jehan asked softly and Hannah turned to him with big eyes.
"Huh?" she asked, dumbfounded and Jehan had to chuckle at her expression.
"I asked if you would go to Paris with me."
"You want me to come with you?" Hannah asked as if she couldn't believe his words and Jehan nodded.
"I cannot bear to be separated from you. So come with me."
Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. "I want to," she said. "But my sister and brothers… "
"Johann and Julian will take care of them," Jehan told her.
He had already talked about this with his brothers and his brothers agreed. Everything would be taken care of. "So, will you come with me?" he invited again, his expression hopeful.
"Yes," Hannah answered with a smile. "Yes, I'll come with you," she continued and Jehan turned her around so he could hug her tightly.
Hannah placed her head against his chest, and Jehan kissed the top of her head.
"Don't worry mon amour, we will come back here in this paradise," Jehan promised with a gentle smile. "C'est le paradis. C'est notre paradis…"
Hannah nodded in agreement. They would come back here. Like what Jehan said, this place was heaven— their paradise.
- Writer
