Chapter 27 Hitting You vs Smiling For You

It was already dinner time when Stefani and Jonathan arrived at the Hill Residence. Jonathan decided not to intrude on Stefani's space and just watched her stare at the clover leaves a while ago. When Stefani stood up, without a trace of any single tear, Jonathan thought maybe Stefani was just holding it in. Then she heard her shout, all of a sudden.

"Mom! I don't know where you are but I'm here to say I'm doing fine! Don't worry about me and tell the clover fairy to stay healthy and bring more luck to the people in this place, okay? I miss you, ma!"

Then, as if she was waking up from a long deep sleep, he watched as Stefani smiled. Under the bright sky, an angel who tasted the bitterness of this world continued to move forward, spreading her wings as she kept her loneliness away. She had always been like that - always moving forward no matter what difficulties life may give her.

That was when Jonathan realized - this Stefani was no longer the Stefani before. This Stefani no longer needed anyone to face and accept death. This Stefani no longer needed to run and hide from everything. This Stefani no longer needed to cry over a tragedy she knew she couldn't do anything about. Because this Stefani grew up. He guessed he underestimated Stefani's strength after all.

Without speaking and letting himself be discovered, Jonathan followed Stefani on her way back to the village.

They were already finishing dinner while laughing over a story Emerald shared when Mr. Han suddenly spoke. "Ah, that's right. Dear, can you get our alcohol stock from the back? Jonathan and I are going to drink tonight."

"Oh, right, right. Wait here I'll get it," Mrs. Hill said and stood up.

Jonathan looked at Mr. Han and sighed. He couldn't say no to his man now, could he? Just then, he glanced at Stefani and found her staring with an angry face.

"What? He's the one who offered," Jonathan mouthed to the younger. Why was Jonathan suddenly feeling guilty? He didn't do anything wrong.

"Are you out of your mind?" Stefani mouthed back, giving a dissing look to Jonathan. "Just decline, stupid monkey! Stupid stupid stupid!" she added in a whisper.

"Are you fighting, Big brother?" Emerald asked innocently, noticing the couple exchanging looks at each other.

"Ah, no, of course not, Emerald," Stefani gave the little girl a small smile. Then she immediately gave a death glare to Jonathan when the young girl turned her head in the other direction.

They had previously talked about not doing anything risky and this includes drinking. Plus, they heard Mr. Ten, the driver of the vegetable and fruit transportation, would come early tomorrow morning. If they miss him because of Jonathan's drinking time tonight, they will be doomed.

When Jonathan went to wash his hands, Stefani immediately followed and directly hit Jonathan's arm.

"Ow! What was that for?!" Jonathan asked, rubbing his arm. It seemed like the dreamy Stefani a while ago was just his imagination. The real Stefani was here. The real sadistic Stefani was standing before him.

Stefani repeatedly hit Jonathan's arm and even pinched it hard, "Why are you so stupid?! Did you forget Mr. Ten is coming tomorrow?!"

"Ow, stop it!" Jonathan tried to protect himself but got hurt even more as he tried to do so, "I know, okay? But, ow! Hey, stop it!"

"Stop? You're the one who should stop this nonsense! You can't drink tonight!" Stefani shouted, hands ready to attack Jonathan again.

"I SAID STOP! Stop hurting me right now! I will go and talk to Mr. Han, okay?" Jonathan said in a louder voice this time. He couldn't let this continue to happen anymore. Just a while ago, he saw Stefani's beautiful calm face smiling under the bright sky. Now, all he could see was a raging kid who kept glaring at him as if she was ready to murder Jonathan.

Stefani glared at Jonathan, her eyes almost killing Jonathan just from her hard stare as she uttered, "I'm going to drink too if you did."

Jonathan couldn't believe it. For him, those were the most immature words one could ever say. He opened his mouth, ready to speak and scold the kid before him but his mind went blank.

Still failing to find the words to say to the teenager, he watched as Stefani said in a harder tone, "I'm not kidding... uncle," then she sassily turned around, proudly waving her big attitude banner on Jonathan's face.

Jonathan looked at Stefani in disbelief. What did Stefani call him? "U-Uncle? M-me? Whoa, this brat- Is she being serious?" Jonathan's mouth opened, then closed, suddenly feeling insecure of his age and looks. “Stefani! Get back here!” He tried calling the other but she only gave a dismissing glance at him then turned around again.

“Wow, I can’t believe this,” Jonathan shook his head and sighed. Did he look that old to him? Did he- Suddenly, he felt helpless to even try to guess how Stefani’s mind worked. He felt stupid for thinking Stefani had grown up and matured even for a split second.

Stefani was still the same.

She was just a kid and she, much to Jonathan's disappointment, still hates Jonathan to the core.

The moment Stefani turned her back to Jonathan and walked away from him, she quietly fished out a four-leaf clover from her jacket's pocket. She tried searching for this leaf for hours but still failed to find one. However, when she returned from a potty break before dinner, she found a four-leaf clover beside her plate. When she glanced around, about to ask who was it who placed the said leaf, her eyes stopped at Jonathan and noticed a few grass remnants and leaves hanging around his clothes.

Holding the clover up, Stefani looked around. Knowing no one was around, Stefani stared at the leaf with eyes full of sincerity, and only then Stefani, secretly, gave out a smile.