--
The Heartveil home was warm and inviting. It was just as beautiful inside as it was outside.
This wasn't TJ's first time here. He used to visit all the time to play with Lily here. In fact, there even came a time when he stayed here temporarily, but that's in the distant past now.
Although he hasn't visited as frequently as before, this place still looked just as he remembered it. The butlers and maids did a fantastic job maintaining the beauty and integrity of the home while the family was away.
Bethany Heartveil (née Evans), Lily's mother, did cook up a storm. There's definitely too much food on the table for just the three of them; even if the butlers and the maids were included, this will still be too much. She probably cooked enough food to feed the whole neighborhood.
She herself admitted that she might've gone a little too overboard, if it could even be considered as that. TJ kept his words to himself since he didn't want to sour the mood in the house.
If Lily's words before were to be believed, then she and her parents indeed just got home. If that's the case, then the madam cooked all of this just this morning. Mind you, the clock just reached noon, and yet somehow, Lily's mother cooked enough food to feed an entire army.
Had this been other people, TJ would've doubted the claims. But this was Lily's mother, and her profession was a 5-star expert gourmet chef. She used to work at a resort where she was in charge of the daily buffet menu, and she held that position for five years straight, every single day (except days off, obviously). She was a one-man army when it came to feeding people. All she needed was her tools and ingredients.
That's why TJ wasn't at all surprised about this. Feeding hundreds of people was literally second nature to her at this point. Fortunately, it's also because he knows that she's a chef that he's confident that even if they couldn't manage to eat everything here today, none of this food will go to waste.
And of course, the food tastes great. TJ expected no less from her. Even though he just ate breakfast, TJ's appetite was roused by the sight and scent of the food in front of him.
TJ ate at the same table as Lily and her parents. The flow of communication in this family was really great, so much so that TJ looked out of place because he's the only one who's not talking animatedly. Instead, he'd just nod from time to time and respond when he's asked a question.
Despite this, none of them pointed this out to him. They're used to it, after all.
After sharing a meal, Lily and Madam Bethany washed the dishes despite the protests of the maids. They said that it's their bonding time. Instead, they just asked the maids to clean up the table and store the leftovers so as to not waste them.
Of course, Lily didn't forget to pack some for TJ to take on his way home. The madam even added more, and as a result, TJ will no longer have to cook or worry about what to eat for the next week or so.
They won't take no for an answer, so TJ's choice was only to accept their generosity.
As the girls bonded by washing the dishes together, TJ accompanied Lily's father to the garden where he usually spends his time leisurely.
While Lily hid her intentions well, she failed when she decided to pull a fast one on TJ, who knew her since they were six years old.
Her act of inviting him here wasn't just to catch up. With how talkative and energetic Lily was, if she only wanted to tell him everything she experienced on their short trip, they could've done so in one of the many cafes on the commercial street. No need to take him all the way here.
Lily wouldn't admit to this even if he were to confront her on it. But the real reason why she took him here was to have her father perform a check-up on TJ. And she did because there's a very good reason to do so.
Now that he's alone with her father, there is no doubt that it's going to happen again.
Alas, just like many times in the past, some entities aren't too happy about this.
You have to run.
He's going to touch you again.
You're doomed.
He's a pervert; run!
This is a trap. Don't follow him.
You're an idiot for thinking that they like you.
TJ took a deep breath and focused. This little action of his wasn't missed by Lily's father, so he asked,
"Are they being too noisy again?"
Hearing the question caused TJ to momentarily go still.
Shame burned within him, but despite that, he found himself nodding and replying to the man.
"They're always noisy."
You can't silence us. Nobody can.
You're stuck with us forever. 'Til death do us part
Listen to us. Only we know what's best for you.
Why are you being all polite? That man does not like you! You're just an unwanted burden!
If you have any semblance of shame left on your body, you'd leave now and never show your face to them ever again!
"Can you let me take a look?" Lily's father asked.
TJ just nodded. He didn't really have high hopes, but this man had never harmed him before, so he let him.
Anthony Heartveil, the pillar of this household and a famous pro.
He's someone who had been fascinated by medicine at a very young age. With the support of his family and the people he surrounded himself with, he managed to attain the illustrious profession that is the [Medical Saint], propelling him to the upper ranks of District 13.
Not only does he own the largest hospital in this district, but he also occasionally travels to other districts for medical missions that built his reputation even further. Because of his skills, he had formed a network of connections spanning all over the place, securing not only his wealth but also his position.
Anthony pressed a palm on TJ's head. Shortly after, his hand glowed with a faint green light.
TJ's face initially twisted in discomfort because as soon as he felt the older man's touch, the voices he's hearing became unbearably loud, as if they're all taking offense to it. But when the hand glowed green, the loud voices were gradually muted.
They were silenced completely; TJ could still hear them, but they sounded more distant than before, and honestly, that's the best he could wish for in his current state.
When he opened his eyes, he found Anthony's friendly but rigid smile. TJ sighed to himself.
"It's okay, Uncle. I'm okay."
"...it shouldn't be like this. I'm sorry."
"Again, it's alright, Uncle. I'm used to it."
But despite his splendid reputation as a medical saint, Anthony still failed to relieve the ailment tormenting the young man in front of him.
This wasn't the first time he tried. In fact, TJ was once Anthony's personal patient. He had tried every method in the books, even some of the unorthodox ones, yet even with those, TJ's psychosis never went away.
At most, they could be muted close to silence. But that's only a temporary relief. Within weeks, those voices will return to their usual loudness, whispering lies and trying to drive TJ mad.
It's incurable. TJ was already convinced that this was the case. It's Anthony and Lily who refused to give up on him, so he couldn't bear to tell them this.
"When it gets unbearable, you come to me, okay? If I'm not available, call Lily so she can tell me. I'll come to you as soon as I can, understand?"
TJ said nothing, but he needed it anyway. Truthfully, he didn't want to trouble this family any more than he already had, but he also knew that Lily and his father wouldn't leave him alone, so it was better to seek a middle ground instead.
Eventually, Anthony shifted the topic and began asking TJ how he's been so far. The young man answered as truthfully as he could. Shortly later, Lily and her mom joined them.
Time flew by like that. Soon, it was time for TJ to return home. Lily originally wanted to walk him home, but TJ refused, quite adamantly, even. So, she could only back off.
TJ waved goodbye, and soon, he was walking out of the house and the subdivision.
Lily stood in front of the mansion gates, sending TJ away with her gaze.
From one of the windows on the upper floors of the mansion, her parents watched their daughter's worried and helpless expression, feeling quite distressed themselves.
"Still can't cure him?" Beth asked her husband.
Anthony could only sigh in defeat and shake his head in disappointment. Beth similarly sighed, looking at her daughter and the young man whom she could almost claim as her son as well.
"I really don't understand how the world can be so cruel to an innocent boy like him."