MCL: Ken and Puku Part 2

Jade spun away from the scene and found himself out in the garden as he pressed a hand to his mouth, nearly puking from how faint he felt.

What-What was that? Puku and Ken...He'd always known, of course, but was their relationship really that strong? Had their connection really gone that far, that deeply?

He dropped his hand to his side, sighing as the pressure left his mouth. "Puku..." he breathed.

"Yes?" Puku asked from behind him.

He whirled around, his flustered eyes jumping up to meet hers. "O-Oh, you're here! So-Sorry, I didn't mean...Please, I'll help you with the ducks in a moment. Just-Just don't worry."

"Oh, okay. But you-you look pale. Are you-Were you throwing up?" she couldn't seem to help asking, glancing around at the plants right behind him.

"No, it's fine. I did almost. I'm healthy, though, don't worry. Just go back, please," he stressed, staring past her to see Ken at the open doorway with a concerned look on his face.

God, even Ken was worried for him. Jade hadn't looked that pathetic, had he?

"Well, o-okay, then," Puku said nervously, turning around and rushing back into the shed with her 'husband'.

No! Shut up! he shouted at himself. That was what really got to him! He felt as if his chest was about to burst from how restrictive and painful the quick pounding of his heart had been in the past few minutes. It felt like it was breaking. How was that even possible?

Calming himself, he stared down at his brown gardening gloves. Seeing them and reminding himself of what they were for always comforted him, and also knowing that he was in the garden. But now the thought of it did nothing for him! Why? Where was his usual self? His kind, patient, understanding, plant-loving self?

Puku—she'd changed him somehow. No girl or person had ever done so until her. Maybe he should change his mind, go inside and tell her right now that he didn't want to help her anymore. And then, if he couldn't get over her, he'd return to his school quietly and never come to care for the garden at Sweet Amoris again.

The thought nearly killed him. Jade didn't like where his mind was going, so he forced himself to return to the garden shed and peek inside. Ken and Puku were laughing as they held a couple of baby ducks and headed over to the cardboard box on the ground to place them in it.

It's my chance to run. Abandon them. Abandon the school and ducks entirely! Instead of turning back and walking off, though, Jade found himself stepping forward into the room and then again and again until he'd reached the two.

He cleared his throat a couple of times before he said anything, but even then words wouldn't come out of his dry mouth. Ken and Puku jumped to their feet and glanced at him, both their faces holding identical worried expressions, which only made Jade feel all the worse.

"Jade! Are you okay? You took a long time out there," Ken said, examining him from head to toe.

Puku, on the other hand, just stared at his face so intently it felt as if he'd explode on the spot because of her concerned attention.

"I'm-I'm-I'm-Ken, I'm fine. Sorry, I was just—yes, that's right, I was just thinking about possible places to take the rest of the ducks to. This is their only home for now, but I have to hurry and bring them out by next—"

"Next week, right," Puku interrupted with a nod. "I'm so glad you're all right. Are you gonna help us carry the box to my cousin's car outside? We have to hurry."

"I'm-I'm sorry, I-No, I can. I'll help," Jade said as he knelt and began to lift the box carefully, all the while berating himself for giving in again to her bright cheerful eyes.

Looking at her over the past month had been what had kept making him coerced to help her out whenever an opportunity presented itself. Tonight and now was no different than the last couple of weeks. Everyday he'd seen her, everyday he talked to her, every time she'd come to the courtyard and visited the garden. No, none of that was any different than now. He was pushing himself to do what she wanted just like all those other days.

That was when he snapped, having felt so pitiful that he couldn't take it anymore. He almost dropped the box in the process, but just in time he caught it again and started lowering it to the grass out near the courtyard.

"Never mind, I can't help you anymore. I'm busy, Puku. Remember? I have to go find the others a new home," Jade bit out to the girl as he turned to her, trying to sound as polite as he could possibly manage. "Now good night. Have fun playing with the ducks."

He turned away from them and strolled back to the tool shed, then shut the metal door after him. Leaning his back against the door and holding his head in his hands, he screamed obscenities and nonsense. Then, when he felt he was finished, he stared down at the yellow duck who had approached him and looked up at him from right by his feet, and he called out one last time. Imagining that the duck was Puku, he used four words that to the animal probably didn't make sense, and will likely never make sense—which was exactly why he did it. "I love you, Puku!"

I love you so, so much... At that point, he broke as suddenly as he'd snapped a moment ago. His tears couldn't be shut out even if it took all his will of a lifetime, or all the wills of millions of years.

Jade never even knew what he'd loved about the ducky-loving girl so much. Apparently not for the same reason as Ken's.

Later on he realized that he'd locked himself in the shed without the keys. Maybe living out the rest of his life trapped with the ducks and deluding himself to them being Puku wouldn't be such a bad idea.