10

~Time skip: 1 month~

Corliss tucked her hair behind her ear as she wrote down notes. A plate was placed on top of her notes. The scent of seasoned eggs and bacon filled her nostrils.

"You've been working nonstop lately. You'll tire yourself out and might make a mistake." he said, taking the pen and putting a fork in her hand.

Corliss yawned as she moved her paper from underneath the plate. He took the paper as well.

"Eat." he said, glaring at her.

"Fine..." she said with a pout.

List chuckled heartily then kissed the top of her head. He sat across from her as she hungrily ate.

"So, you're going to love today's date." he said, looking at her fondly.

"Just being able to spend time with you makes me happy, especially since your schedule fluctuates so much." Corliss replied. "Where are we going?"

"You'll find out when we get there." he said, sticking his tongue out.

"Come on, tell me." she whined, cutely stamping her feet.

"I'll give you a hint. There might be a beach." he said, smiling.

"Eh... Today isn't exactly beach weather. The temperature did a nosedive today..." she said, remembering checking her phone. "Though, it's supposed to warm up sometime in the afternoon."

"You really pay attention to the weather don't you?" he commented.

"Of course. It'd be a shame to miss out on showing off my wardrobe." she joked, earning herself light laughter from him.

"Liss, I have something important to say." he said, a serious look on his face. She nodded in understanding. "I'm really happy and so glad to be dating you."

Corliss's movements halted, her fork full of eggs and bacon hovering in the air. She lowered her fork then looked down, hiding her face from his sight. List started to panic. Did he come off too strong? Was he moving too fast?

"I'm happy too..." finally replied Corliss, tears and deep blush now visible on her face.

"Liss..." he whispered, moving to give her a hug.

"Sorry, it's just... I still can't believe I'm dating." she said, still unbelieving.

"It's real, Liss. Now hurry and finish eating." he said, giving her a peck on the lips.

____

Illumi quietly worked on his computer then heard muffled sounds outside his office. He left his seat and poked his head out to see what was going on.

"Grab him!" an employee said as a child ran away.

"What's going on out here?" Illumi shouted, gaining everyone's attention.

The child looked then hurriedly ran over to him.

"Honjo? What are you doing here? Why aren't you at Sunny Side?" Illumi asked, wondering who was keeping poor watch.

"Ms. Steinbeck... she's changed. Do you know why?" he asked, confused as to what was going on. "Why is she becoming cold to us?"

"She's is...? Wait, that's not the problem here. I'm taking you back." said Illumi, grabbing his hand.

"No! I'm not going back until I know why my mom isn't herself!" he shouted, pulling back.

"Honjo, I couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. I don't know anything concerning her anymore." Illumi said, a frown occupying his face.

"Mr. Zoldyck..." Honjo said quietly. "What am I going to do now..."

Honjo started to wail, frustrated from not being able to do anything. Illumi pulled him into a hug, hoping to soothe him. Honjo held him tightly, rubbing his tear stained face against his shirt. The employees quietly watched the scene, wondering how their boss knew the child.

"How about this? I take you back and from there, I'll see if I can contact her, okay?" Illumi suggested.

"Will you? Will you really!?" he asked, looking up at him.

"Yes, I promise. It's important that we get you back to Sunny Side." said Illumi, offering him his hand.

Honjo took his hand and allowed him to lead him out. He quietly looked around, taking in his surroundings. He couldn't help but admire how pretty the place looked.

"Mr. Zoldyck, what do you do?" he asked.

"I'm an interior designer. There's a lot that we do, but we mostly make sure that everything is safe and up to standard while keeping it stylish." Illumi summarized.

"So you build houses and buildings too?" he asked, walking out the front door with Illumi.

"No, just the inside. Otherwise we'd be Zoldyck Constructions." Illumi said with a chuckle.

Honjo nodded. He looked at Illumi then straight ahead.

"Mr. Zoldyck, I like you." he said, holding his hand tighter.

Illumi looked at Honjo, wondering what he meant by like. Then again, he was young, so like only had one meaning.

"Honjo, do you know anything about that blonde man Ms. Steinbeck was talking to?" Illumi asked, wanting to know more about who that man was he saw long ago.

"He tells us to call him List. He often brings us books and toys. He gave us sweets two... three days ago." said Honjo then remembered something. "I remember hearing them talking. Ms. Steinbeck called him boyfriend. I don't know what that means."

Illumi blinked rapidly as he drove. Boyfriend? He was happy for her, but how long did she know him for? Had she met any of his friends? How much did she know about him? He slowed down behind another car as it was a red light. He was mighty concerned about a person he was no longer friends with.

"I see. So he's been nice to you all?" Illumi asked after a long silence.

"He's nice when mom is around. When she's not he doesn't pay us any mind." said Honjo, finding the behavior weird. "He doesn't talk nicely either."

Illumi gripped the steering wheel tightly. Scum was the only word Illumi thought of. Using the kids to look good in front of Corliss, he didn't want to imagine what else he had done behind her back.

____

Corliss smiled happily as she walked on the sand. Waves pushed their way onto shore only to recede back into the vast blue world. She would've loved to swim a bit, but her fears came rushing in, preventing her.

"Beautiful." said List from behind her.

"It really is." she said, eyeing his swim trunks.

"I meant you, silly." he said, nudging her.

"That's so cliche." she complained but still accepted the compliment.

"You're not going to swim?" he asked.

She shook her head and stepped back. She wasn't ready. Not yet.

"Is it because you don't know how?" he asked, wondering if he could help.

"I do know how... it's complicated." she said, sitting down.

"Is it something you don't want to talk about?" List asked, sitting beside her.

She nodded, resting her head on her knees. List rubbed her back and decided to stay with her. He pulled her closer and had her lean against him.

"You know, I used to hate going to the beach." said List quietly.

"Why?" she asked with piqued interest.

"I didn't know how to swim and was jealous of my cousins and friends who could." he explained.

She listened as he recounted memories of his childhood. It was then her phone started to vibrate.

"Oh? Who is it?" asked List. "Zoldyck? Why is he calling?"

"List-" she said as he took her phone.

"Corliss-" Illumi started but List was quicker.

"Corliss is busy right now. I would appreciate it if you'd stay out of her life like you have been." said List.

Corliss snatched her phone back and hit List square on the cheek for what he did.

"Illumi! Ignore him. What were you going to say?" she asked while walking down the shore.

"Maybe I should just leave a message at the orphanage." Illumi replied, sensing he wasn't wanted.

"No, please. Tell me. He was just joking." she said, hoping he didn't take it to heart.

"Your son escaped and found his way to my office. He's worried about you. He said you were changing towards him and the kids." he explained looking at Honjo who stared at him with big eyes. "Stop worrying your kids."

"Tell him I'm beating his behind when I come in on Monday." she said angrily before calming down. "Is he still at your office...?"

"I brought him back on the premise that I contact you and find out what's wrong. He also mentioned you have a boyfriend now." Illumi said, sitting down.

"Now he's eavesdropping? I must not be teaching him well..." Corliss sighed, noticing she had walked pretty far. "I'm at the beach. The view is really nice."

"Well, enjoy yourself. That's all I called to say." he said then moved the phone from his ear.

"Wait! Don't hang up!" she shouted. "Don't..."

"What is it?" he asked, waiting.

"It's about time we make up... I miss our nightly chats." she said, looking out at the ocean.

"I apologize for not considering your feelings and pushing unnecessarily." said Illumi, looking at Honjo.

"I apologize too for jumping to conclusions and accusing you. I'm short tempered aren't I?" she joked, laughing softly.

"Friends again?" he asked, a small void being filled.

"Of course. Let's grab dinner together Monday night. I don't work then." she said, kicking the sand.

"I eagerly await our feast, m'lady." Illumi joked, feeling a strange surge of happiness.

"Don't start with the nicknames." she warned, despite not hating it. "I'll give you special privileges and let you call me by a more endearing name instead. Lin."

"Lin? How does it relate to your name? Unless it's the n from Steinbeck?" Illumi reasoned.

"It is from my name, but that's something I'm not ready to go into." she responded. "Ah, List found me. I'll see you Monday."

"See you." Illumi responded, then looked at Honjo who was close to tears. "I told you I'd keep my word."

Honjo hugged him tightly, feeling a familiar warmth he felt with Corliss. He preferred this over the not warm hugs he got from List.

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