You’re Here For Me

“It’s a 911! We’ve got to go!” Gabriel peeked down his window and saw Luc waving at him.”Quick!” His first instinct was always right when his brother became frantic. And his instinct told him that it has something to do with Emma. Being the loyal Guardian he was, Gabriel ran down the stairs without any question.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, as soon as he reached the door.

“It’s Emma. She’s having a major breakdown.” Came the reply.
“Again?”
“As she usually does. You really have to do something about this. It’s driving me mad, Gabe.”
“What choices do I have? We talked about this and the answer is no. I can’t tell her to stop loving someone. I can’t.”
“Then make those dumb jerks disappear. Whatever it takes.”
“It’s not right and Emma will hate me if I do.”
“Bummer.”

The two brothers rushed for Emma’s room, only to be halted by the Narrator. He was simply just standing there at her door, preventing them from entering. His eyes and Gabriel’s met and he snickered, his index finger pressed on his mouth. “I’m sorry but I can’t allow you in, von Drake, not while I’m here.”

“What are you talking about? I’m in whenever I want to so please, you’re in my way.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Not anymore. You see, you’ve taken care of her for almost 16 years. That should be enough. She doesn’t need one like you anymore, she needs me to tell her story. Not you.” Again, the Narrator snickered. Luc, always the rough one, struck him in the face. For a guy, he found the Narrator rather…wimpy. He fell to the ground with a loud thud.

“Hah! So much for that cool act. Listen, my brother may be nice and polite but I’m not him. So if you’re in our way, I’m doing the beating. And I’m not Mr. Nice Guy,” Luc found satisfaction in the eyes of the Narrator. His eyes full of fear. Meanwhile, Gabriel had entered Emma’s room to find her missing. In scenes like this, he hoped for not the worst.

“Emma? Emma, milady, where are you?” When no reply came, he began to worry. Certainly she had not think of hurting herself. She wouldn’t, would she? The silent room was eerie. It troubled Gabriel. Something had happened, perhaps not the best. And he was afraid of it. “Emma!”

There was a rustling sound. Water flowing. Thoughts rushed to his head. What if…what if she tried to kill herself in the bathroom? Humans favoured that kind of suicide, don’t they? Especially the females. Emma’s not hopeless but she’s still a human after all. A female one at that too. Gabriel decided to give one, hard push at the door and…

“Milady!”

…Emma was staring at him, covered in her towel. She looked surprised than relieved to see Gabriel. “Yes?”

False alarm.

*****

“Oh my, Gabe, what were you thinking? I’d never drown myself, silly.” Emma was amused when her Guardian went red upon discovering that she was actually showering, not committing suicide. She looed at him. He was speechless for a moment.

“Luc said it’s a 911… I thought you were…you didn’t answer me when I called for you,” Gabriel mumbled.

“I was washing my hair, idiot. I heard you. You’re such a worrywart, aren’t you?”

“How can I not be worried?”

“I’ll be fine. I know better than to end my life so quickly. I haven’t finished my Neverwinter Night 2: Mask of the Betrayer game yet. And I’m still waiting for what? The Sims 3? Don’t worry, Gabe.” Emma took his hand into hers. “As long as I have you, I’ll be just fine. By the way, what happened to the N?”

“Your stupid Guardians wouldn’t listen to me when I told them they can’t come in. And this, this barbarian punched me right here, in the face. He was going to throw me out the balcony, you know!”

The Narrator was obviously unhappy with Luc’s “friendly” gestures. However it made Emma laugh, even with the bruises under his left eye.

“That’s because you threaten them. They’re just worried about me.” Emma replied, trying her best to stop laughing. As always, Luc snorted, “You could have told us she was in the bathroom, wimp!”

The smile Emma had just now, the laugh, and the Narrator who was not as evil as they thought he was, they all assured Gabriel. He had nothing to worry about. Emma knew what she’s doing. She’s not stupid. She may undergo emotional breakdowns now and then but she’s not suicidal.

Emma turned to him. “Next time, try to knock, especially on the bathroom’s door. Glad you’re not human.”

“I’m still a guy.”

“That’s why, knock.”

“…”

“Gabe…”

“Yes?”

“I’ll be fine, you know. You’re here for me, aren’t you?”

“Always.”

“Then I’ll always be fine. I promise.”

Emma realized that the trio she conjured with her mind was becoming realistic. Their voices, she heard them. She felt their presence wherever she was. The N was a great friend, providing her sarcastic remarks on herself every time to her own amusement. Luc referred her crushes as jerks. Sometimes they were jerks so Luc was right. But Gabriel, it was him who had given her his shoulder to cry on, not lent it. Before Luc and the N, Gabriel was always there for her. She was glad.

“About Caine… I told him I’d withdraw. He needs time for himself. I’m giving him his space,” she blurted suddenly.

Gabriel sighed. “No sign you’re giving up on him, huh?”

“I’m not like the rest, Gabe. I love him, seriously. There’s no harm in waiting. I just have to give him time. If I leave, I’ll be just like the rest. If I’m persistent, I’ll really be just like the rest. If things don’t work out, I still have you. He’ll figure out what he wants soon. It’s not like he’s going to disappear from the earth. I’ll move on when it’s time.”

“Milady, you were never this…committed…”

“Caine’s different, Gabe. He’s not cold or snobbish. He just needs to have a clear time on his own goals. His decision is his. I’ll be there for him just as you’re here for me.”