Roger changed the topic of the conversation. "Ivan, you were telling about a child dying right in front of you."
Ivan looked at Roger, who now wore a pleading face. Ivan understood the assignment, but he was appalled about recollecting the memory. For god's sake, it just happened today, Ivan lamented in his thoughts.
The change in Ivan's mood was obvious. Daiyu seemed to be touched the most by his mood change.
She asked, "Ivan, what happened?"
Ivan sighed. He expressed that he didn't want to tell them about the event, but he had to talk, or else it would become a burden on his mind. He recounted the events of the street flood and the subsequent alien attack. Just like what he recounted for Roger, he left out the part where he found Black Riot and the heroic acts he accomplished with the S-rank weapon.
As he recounted his story, he couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't seen any video or rumour about someone going on a heroic crusade during the attack. He guessed it was such an act that it wasn't a novelty to people. People were used to seeing powerful special characters intervene during such calamities.
A second guess Ivan had was that Merlin_13's phantom had tampered with people's gadgets and surveillance cameras on the street; hence, there were no circulating videos about him. Ivan's third guess was that the government were actively censoring videos about him while they secretly watched him. This last thought caused a chill to run down his spine. He wasn't comfortable with that reality.
Daiyu hugged Ivan with his head resting between her bosom. She said to him, "Awn, don't be too sad about it. Things happen that we can't control."
Chioma controlled herself from obviously expressing her shock with Daiyu's act towards Ivan. She was quick to catch that Roger struggled to hide his shock. However, Daiyu and Ivan were oblivious to their friends' reaction.
Presently, Ivan felt comfort in Daiyu's hug. The hug and word of encouragement were what he needed to ease his mind of guilt. On the other hand, Daiyu had developed feelings for Ivan over the course of their friendship. Ivan kind of had feelings for her, but he couldn't make a move because she was too open. She had many guys starting up a relationship with her and leaving in a short time.
It was not her fault. She was just vulnerable to her feelings that she couldn't identify when she was being used for pleasure. She liked men a lot and was ready to fall in love with anyone who came her way. This scared Ivan, and so he bottled and tucked away in a corner of his mind the emotions he had for Daiyu.
Chioma's and Roger's eyes met. Chioma used a head and eye gesture to ask Roger, 'What is Daiyu doing? Is she making a first now? Is this so wrong?'
Roger replied with a quick shrug and hand gestures that translated to 'I don't know. Leave me out of this.'
Chioma scowled at Roger, which was her calling him a Roger.
Chioma cleared her throat and said, "Guys, I want to use the bathroom. Daiyu, I need you to escort me."
Daiyu didn't move, the same with Ivan, who seemed to have entered a trance from the comfort.
"Daiyu?" Chioma called.
Ivan moved away from Daiyu's embrace. He whispered to her, "Thank you."
Daiyu held his head between her hands and whispered, "It's nothing. I just want you not to feel so guilty about what happened. It was not your fault. It was the child's parent's fault. You are a kind-hearted person full of love."
"Daiyu, what the hell is wrong with you? When did you go full therapist?" Chioma wasn't having it with Daiyu's sudden over-caring attitude.
Daiyu left, escorting Chioma into the restaurant to use its bathroom.
When the ladies had gone into the restaurant, Roger asked Ivan, "Bro, did you notice anything unusual about Daiyu?"
"Huh?" Ivan had a big frown on his face.
Roger understood that Ivan was angry with him over coercing him to remember and recount the traumatising event that he witnessed earlier today.
Roger audibly whispered, "I'm sorry, bro."
Ivan looked away and shook his head, not sure of how else to react.
In the ladies bathroom, there were just two visitors: Chioma and Daiyu.
Choima pushed Daiyu a little in the chest and asked, "Girl, what's wrong with you?"
Daiyu said, "I don't understand."
Chioma rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Don't give me that crap. The overcaring attitude – it's obvious that you are making a move on him. I'm not against that, but this is the wrong time. Ivan is obviously traumatised. I bet you that right now, Roger is getting the heat for making him remember the trauma."
Daiyu's emotion flared up. Her eyes became misty. She raised her, "Was I wrong to express how I feel to Ivan? I just want someone who loves me. I have been used too many times."
Chioma sighed. She felt guilty about the manner in which she confronted her friend. But she was doing it for the best. She didn't want to see her hurt again. If Ivan had caught a whiff that Daiyu liked him and wanted them to start something, he may accept her in his current state of emotional unrest.
But what would happen if Ivan made a sudden quick recovery? There was a high probability that he wouldn't want to continue the relationship because they were friends to begin with. And they were not just the regular kind of friends, but they were like family in this game. They were their own siblings in this lonely reality.
And having an intimate relationship with someone who was considered a sibling was disgusting if thought about.
Chioma said, "Daiyu, what you did isn't wrong, but the timing is. Ivan is clearly emotionally unstable. He needs to heal to an extent before you two can consider starting up something together.
"By the way, Daiyu, you heart… oh my gosh." Chioma shook her head, scared about Daiyu's reaction to what she was about to say. "You and your heart are too open to love. That is why heartless men have come into your life and dumped you. Just try to be tough. People are not nice."