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Being dragged into places wasn't a new thing to TJ, even more so if it's Lily who's doing it. It happened so many times in the past that it has become a thing between them at this point.
TJ didn't need to be dragged by the hand. He knows where Lily and her family live; he can walk there on his own or follow her just fine. He doesn't have any disability that will steer him away from the road if he's being held, yet somehow, Lily did anyway. She probably never thought about it much the first time, even less so now that it has become a regular occurrence.
The path they followed led near the commercial zone of the district. It's an area that has a lot of foot traffic and tons of common professionals buying or selling items or their services. It's a boisterous area, one that TJ usually steered away from because he found it too noisy most of the time.
However, this place also serves as the market for the district. Daily necessities, groceries, furniture, etc. All of them could be found here; some are even sold cheaply, depending on the day, of course.
Lily rambled on as they walked hand in hand. She told him about the place they went to this time; she described the things she saw there, what she bought, the friends she made, and so on. TJ nodded occasionally, indicating that he was listening. And he was; he really did. He would even ask her questions from time to time to keep the conversation flowing, of course, with mostly Lily doing the talking.
It's just that TJ's face was a little stoic and his eyes were dull, so one would have the impression that his mind was elsewhere. But really, he listens. He's one of the people who could endure Lily's barrage of words without feeling exhausted or annoyed; that's why they're friends.
"Hold on, wait, is that...?" Lily was talking about one of her female celebrity crushes when she suddenly paused and seemingly noticed something...well, someone more specifically.
TJ looked over to where she was looking and let out a soft "Ah!" because he too recognized the same person she recognized.
"Yohoo! Sieg! Over here!" Lily called out, waving her hand up high so that the other party could see them.
Someone, a six-foot-five-inch-tall man, turned around. He's wearing tight-fitting clothes, loose pants, and brown slippers. He gingerly held a straw basket in his hand filled with meat, vegetables, and milk. He also wore a backpack stuffed with so many items that it was almost bursting.
The man looked mean. He had long, spiky brown hair, narrow eyes, and sharp and angular facial features, and he was sporting a neatly trimmed beard. His skin was deeply tanned, and one could almost see his bulking muscles due to that tight-fitted shirt of his.
But don't be mistaken. This man isn't old. He's 16 years old, just like Lily and TJ; in fact, he's in the same class as TJ. That's why they knew each other. Why does he look like a grown man? Genetics, as both TJ and Lily learned. However, he never really explained it any further than that.
The young man named Sieg looked at them, and his eyes lit up. His face then morphed into a sheepish expression as he walked towards them. The way his expression switched from cold and mean-looking to kind and almost fawning, in a snap of a finger, once he recognized their faces, was actually impressive.
"Hi, you two. Are you also buying groceries? I can accompany you if you want." Sieg's voice was deep but gentle. He also looked as if he wanted to crouch down to their height for some reason.
"Ah, no!" Lily shook her head. "I met TJ when I was on an errand; my family just got back from our trip, so I invited him over for a meal. You can come too if you want, Big Guy!"
Lily showed not even an ounce of fear when talking to Sieg. She wasn't the slightest bit intimidated by his height or his body. And TJ knew that this was because Lily knew Sieg from the inside out. Sieg was a very gentle, soft-spoken, and kind person towards his friends and family. It's a stark contrast to his hulking physique.
"Oh, that must've been fun. I appreciate the offer, but unfortunately, my parents are waiting for me at home. I'm also running an errand, you see. Maybe next time."
"Aww, bummer!" Lily pouted, but only for a little bit before her expression lit up again. "But definitely next time, alright? Mom likes you a lot for some reason."
Sieg blushed, almost wanting to shrink until nobody could see him anymore. But he ended up nodding anyway.
After that, Lily and TJ continued on their way, parting with Sieg. TJ and Sieg didn't talk, but they silently acknowledged each other's presence. It's always been like that between them. They're friends too, just not the talkative kind; Lily has that covered anyway.
**
About two blocks away from the commercial street, located directly behind it and separated by thick and gated walls, lies Yellow Stone Lane, where Lily and her family live.
It's a subdivision area where rich people lived. No common professionals could afford rent here, much less even think of owning a house or a plot of land here. In this place, everything is premium and expensive.
Usually, TJ wouldn't be allowed to enter this place. He doesn't live here nor have any relatives here to visit, after all. But with Lily leading him in, he passed through the security with no issues.
When was it said that everything in this area was premium? That wasn't an exaggeration. This was already made obvious simply by breathing in here.
The air here was clean, crisp, and cool. It's the type that could make anybody sigh in comfort involuntarily; TJ was no exception. Furthermore, it also seems to contain some kind of stimulant that makes everybody feel energized and productive. It wasn't some foul drug and certainly wasn't too much that it's harmful.
The streets were clean; the noise from the outside couldn't penetrate this area. It was silent, serene, and calm. Even the colors appeared more vibrant here, for some reason.
Everything about this place was just better than what it's like outside. It's also much safer here. These are the reasons why living here was expensive.
'If only it wasn't too expensive to live in a place like this, I would've loved to be here as well,' TJ mused to himself as he continued following Lily to her home.
They weren't far from it. In fact, her house could already be seen from a distance.
It's a mansion that's seemingly made out of pure marble. It looked no different from a castle, even.
Considering that this was owned by a family of three, it does feel excessive. But TJ wasn't one to tell anyone how to spend their money.
Yes. Lily's family was rich. Very rich. At least to TJ's standards.
"Welcome back, young mistress."
A man wearing a black suit and tie with an iconic mustache bowed and greeted Lily as soon as they passed through the entrance.
"Mn! Thank you, Ellis. Oh, I brought TJ with me, by the way."
Ellis, the head butler—also an actual profession, by the way—of this mansion, nodded. He looked at TJ, smiled, and nodded once in his direction before returning to Lily.
That's as much acknowledgement as he'd get from him, for the head butler's main concern was his masters, not the strangers they bring with them. And TJ understood this behavior.
Ellis wasn't trying to be mean or dismissive; he's just being professional. He's on duty, after all.
"Lily!? Is that you, Dear?"
A mature and composed female voice called out from the hallway. TJ looked over and saw a lady wearing formal attire slowly and elegantly walking towards them.
"Hey, Mom! Yeah, I'm back. I brought TJ with me," Lily replied with a giggle, gesturing to the young man wearing a bland expression.
"I can see that." The lady chuckled at her daughter's antics. She then looked at TJ and said, "Hello, TJ. Long time no see. Are you doing well since last time?"
"I am, Aunty Beth. And please excuse my sudden visit; Lily's just...being Lily again."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?"
The lady laughed elegantly and said, "That she is."
"What are you laughing about? Why am I not included?"
A deep and grounding voice suddenly cut out from behind the lady. Her husband, Lily's father, emerged from behind her and looked curiously. When his eyes landed on TJ, his eyes lit up as if he suddenly understood why there's a commotion here.
"Oh, TJ! Welcome, kid. Come, come. Let's head inside and eat; I'm famished."
"Yes, Dad/Uncle," both Lily and TJ replied.
And so, TJ joined the Heartveil family at lunch, having generally easy and lighthearted conversations with them, with mostly Lily being the center of attention.