Jerome kisses Delia York

Jerome leaned over Delia, who was lying on the bed, and kissed her tenderly on the cheek. But as soon as his lips touched the girl's velvety skin, her eyes immediately opened and Delia looked at him. Her gaze was calm, but there was some kind of play in it, something sly. Jerome froze, blushing, and began to look away, but her quiet voice made him freeze.

"Did you think I was asleep?" she asked with a barely noticeable smile.

Jerome blinked in confusion, trying to find words.

"Uh... yeah. You looked... asleep," he muttered, his ears burning.

Delia raised herself up on her elbows and looked at him intently, but there was no anger or embarrassment in her gaze. Only that same slyness.

"I just wanted some quiet," she said. "And..." she smiled slightly, "to be alone with you."

These words struck Jerome like a bolt from the blue.

"You... on purpose?" was all he could squeeze out.

Delia shrugged, her face calm but her eyes twinkling.

"Jo talks too much. Sometimes I need a break from her. And then," she paused, as if considering whether to continue, "you wanted this, didn't you?"

Jerome opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat. He felt his cheeks begin to burn again.

"Well..." he began, but Delia interrupted him with a wave of her hand.

"Relax, Jerome. I don't bite."

She laughed softly, and the sound seemed to him the most beautiful in the world. Sitting on the bed and swinging her legs, the girl looked thoughtfully at Jerome, who had settled down opposite her. She frowned slightly, as if thinking about her words, and then suddenly said:

"You know, Jo is too serious. And too formal."

Jerome chuckled but said nothing, giving her the opportunity to continue.

"She's worse than the kindergarten teachers," Delia added, rolling her eyes. "At least they have jokes sometimes, and this one..."

She theatrically raised her eyebrows, portraying a stern face, and said in a stern tone:

"Delia, be careful", "Delia, don't fall behind", "Delia, don't you dare do anything without my knowledge".

Jerome couldn't help but laugh.

"Well, that's her job," he said, still smiling. "She protects us."

Delia chuckled and waved her hand.

"Yes, yes, she does. But she thinks too much of herself. She thinks that because she's an adult and has a gun, she's cooler than everyone else."

She pouted angrily, but there was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

"And she also thinks that I should obey," she added after a short pause. "And I can't stand that. No one has the right to consider themselves above me."

Jerome couldn't help but laugh again.

"That's because you always want to be in charge," he teased her.

Delia, unabashed, raised her chin proudly.

"Naturally. I'm always in charge."

Noticing Jerome smiling again, she added with a sly smile:

"But you are different. You are ready to kneel before me."

Jerome froze, surprised by her words.

"Why is that?" he asked, feeling his cheeks begin to turn pink.

Delia shrugged.

"You don't argue with me, you listen when I speak, and you don't try to pretend that you're better or smarter than me. That's why I don't mind you, Jerome. But Jo..."

She rolled her eyes again, feigning displeasure.

"It's as if Jo is trying to prove that I'm smaller than her, worse than her."

Jerome smiled, feeling a warm wave inside.

"Maybe she just wants you to feel safe," he suggested.

Delia gave him an appraising look and chuckled.

"Well, maybe. But still, I don't like her very much."

"Do you love me?" Jerome blurted out before he had time to think.

Delia was a little confused, but quickly found her way.

"Of course I love you," she said as simply as if she were talking about the weather.

Jerome froze, then tried to hide his smile by looking at the floor. Delia said nothing more, but her sly smile never left her face. The boy leaned back against the headboard, trying to look casual, although inside he was seething with emotion. Delia's words echoed in his head:

"Of course I love you."

He played her phrase over and over again, as if trying to find a hidden meaning in it.

"What if she's just joking?" he thought, biting his lip. "She said it so easily, so carefree... Maybe she was just playing on my feelings? Or does she really not care?"

He tried to imagine her tone, her expression, the way she looked at him. But each time he came to the same conclusion: Delia had given him no clue as to how serious she meant her words.

"Why are you sitting there so thoughtful?" her voice suddenly rang out.

Jerome sat up straight, trying to hide his confusion.

"Nothing, just thinking," he muttered.

Delia snorted, clearly not satisfied with his answer.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, squinting.

"Oh, just... about the mission," he answered quickly, hoping to change the subject.

Delia smirked and crossed her arms over her chest.

"About the mission? Or about me?"

Jerome felt his face begin to turn red.

"Why did you decide that?" he tried to evade.

"Because you look like you're trying to solve a riddle," she said with a sly smile. "And I'm the biggest riddle in your life, right?"

Jerome tried to say something, but his brain seemed to have switched off. Delia, seeing his confusion, couldn't help but laugh.

"Relax, Jerome. No need to get so worked up," she said, shaking her head. "I was just telling the truth."

"The truth?" he asked again, looking her straight in the eyes.

"Well, yes," she nodded. "I love you. As a friend."

Jerome felt the ground slipping from under his feet.

"Like a friend?" he asked again, trying to hide his disappointment.

Delia nodded as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Of course. You're my best friend."