Jonathan still ignored looking at her and remained to his place. He was no longer grooming his owl because his focus is now on this conversation they are having. Jonathan did say not to speak with her ever again but right now, speaking wouldn't really fix anything....... even though they're sort of not doing that at any moment. What was there really to fix? Over and over again, he somehow knows that this--- whatever this may be--- will never be fixed. To him that is. So for the next few moments, Jonathan glance his head back to his owl as he waited for Kurumi to react on what he said.

He knew that those words were very hurtful, hurtful enough for him to swallow more than Kurumi perhaps. He also knows that because of that one simple reply, this conversation will be longer than he expected. His eyes moved over to the door, it'd be easier if he just left right? Just like he did eight months ago.

Still he didn't. Both his feet were not charmed but he felt like someone glued them on the ground. He wanted to just walk away. Kurumi has no right to accuse him of this. NO. She's wrong. She's very wrong. He can't believe that she thinks of him in that way!

If you think this act is helping me...you're wrong.

Partly, she is right about him acting oblivious all the time but that was just Jonathan. He doesn't give out too much expression to people and even to her, not that he is going to admit this to her. He remained silence to her scolding. It didn't sound like one but it definitely looks like it is. WAIT! So she knows he is acting? All the while, Jonathan just thought his poker face is working. Or is it that he is putting much detail to what she just had said. Truth be told, out of the many people that became part of his life, Kurumi is one of those people that can read Jonathan like a book................... and sadly, he misses that part.

He then knelt on the floor as he opened his bag and just shuffled his things there for no reason at all. It was weird standing like that and the more silent they have to be, the more Jonathan can't stand it. Not even one bit. While fixing his things on his bag, Kurumi spoke once again.

Some people...don't change...

His head turned to her and then he saw that the gap between the two of them was nearer than before. But what alarmed him the most is the fact that she was still holding on to his necklace. The one she gave her before his father had to send him away. He still remembered about making a joke if ever she looses it. Only now, she can throw it if she wants.

Standing up, Jonathan's eyes were still on that piece of jewelry on her hand. Don't change... her words echoed through his mind. And without thinking, he just quickly replied "You changed while I was gone" and that's what he meant when he replied her earlier. His eyes shifted to her. "Don't point my flaws after our break up, Kurumi because last time I checked you cheated on me." his tone is now getting annoyed. "Are you returning that back?" he said pointing to the necklace. If she has no longer have any use of it, he can just throw it away.

While Kurumi had mainly been thinking about his up to this point when she had said that, his silence now was telling her that it wasn't just now. He was hiding something from her and now it was a matter of finding out if he would actually speak to her this time which, so far, wasn't happening.

Almost signing defeatedly, Kurumi's eyes widened just a bit when he was suddenly rummaging through his bag...and obviously not looking for anything in particular. He was fidgeting and Kurumi knew him well enough to know what that meant.

Kurumi was just about to speak again, say something regarding the necklace that she was clutching in her hand when he spoke first and his words once again felt like a stab to the heart. Change. No, he was a little wrong there talking about her having change. She hadn't changed. She had been so vulnerable then, even more so without him being there and her mother's illness taking a turn for the worse, that the change that she needed - they had needed - was impossible. Not that she entirely regretted that because something incredible had come from all this...pain and suffering.

Kurumi just regretted what it did to them. What it did to Jonathan.

Opening her mouth again to speak, Jonathan silenced her quite suddenly and she was back to chewing on her lower lip and averting her gaze while she continued to hold the necklace out. "I wasn't..." she replied softly. Unless his reference to his flaw was the act that he was still putting on. Her head suddenly snapped upwards at his next words, suggesting that she was perhaps trying to give it back to him. "I considered that," she whispered again, moving her hand away and clutching the necklace to her chest instead. "But I, unlike you, haven't stopped...caring. I can't give back gifts..."

Like he had done with the piano sheets.

She gasped at her own words, her eyes finding his instantly and she simply stared at him for several moments while her chest heaved. "I'm not...I'm not over you...Jonathan...I told you I would never lose this necklace and I haven't...I never really took it off until recently..." She lowered her gaze to the fist on her chest and attempted to take several deep breathes to try and steady her breathing, but it seemed in vain.

The ironic thing about this situation, while Kurumi was mildly afraid of his tone and body language, Kurumi also felt...happy. Happy that he was speaking to her. Happy that he was showing emotion. Happy that he was actually expressing himself. Because he hadn't back then...he had just...given up.

At this point, Jonathan is just remaining silent but deep down the talkative part of himself wants to go out and set things straight with Kurumi once and for all. The other half of him, which is currently winning, just doesn't want too much commotion with this. Things happened a long time ago and she was right, partly. Jonathan tried his best to stop thinking about it. But stopped caring? This is something he wants to clear out to her. He didn't stop caring, he just.... Too late though, for the past months he had done nothing but ignored her. So whatever he may say against this accusation of her will mean nothing. She will still think otherwise. So of course there was nothing left to do but to keep quiet and still with his feet planted on the ground.

His eyes are locked on hers, not leaving it for now. She wasn't. Well it sound like she is. Why else would she bring up about him no longer caring about her and that silver necklace? Jonathan still felt crushed with this, she just simply thinks that he stopped caring because he's ignoring her.

Sigh...

Jonathan looked at the ground and took a deep breath and trying to stop himself for saying more things that could hurt either her or him, or worse the two of them. Jonathan didn't know.... NEVER knew that she still had that necklace on her or rather, with her. All this time he thought that she just put it away considering that right now, she has that new boyfriend. Yes, he still hates that Lewis guy and not in a million years he will forgive him.

Hearing her considering about throwing the necklace, widened his eyes a bit. Not that he was surprised, in fact, now that they're no longer a couple, she could destroy if she wants to. Then his eyes widened some more when she said it again.... Stopped caring. He hated that. He hated being told that he stopped caring. Following it is, I can't give back gifts. He knew what she meant....

.... the piano sheets.

So Lewis delivered them to her. Those piano sheets, she didn't know the story behind why he gave them back to her in the first place. It's not right that she is linking those sheets to him being able to stop caring about her. What was he suppose to do? Hand them over himself to her? "Then why did you give it to me?" he blurted out as his eyes looked at her once more. "You've given me enough damage from the start of the term, Hollingberry. Giving me those piano sheets is by far the worse" he added as his eyes flickered and looked away. It was like a slap in the face. If he had kept it, it would only break him more.

Hugging himself and leaning on the wall, he grew silent once more. Why was he suddenly just blurting out these things? He was suppose to keep his mouth shut right?

I'm not over you.

WHAT?!

Jonathan's head snapped back as his eyes locked on her. WHAT DID SHE JUST SAY? Not that he would argue with it but what is the meaning of this? Jonathan can't even begi--- Then his thoughts just stopped. Stopped all at once. "I find that hard to believe" Kurumi lied once, she can just simply lie about this again. He wanted to believe in it but he can no longer trust her. Those words just feel................ empty. It just feels harder to rely on those words.

And as for the necklace that she recently took off, "Do whatever you want with it." throw it away, burn it, discard it or destroy it. Then slowly his hands gestured to her, opening his palms wide "You can give it back if you want to, just like I did with those piano sheets" he swallowed. This is hurting him too. That gift is very sentimental not only to her but also to him.

Kurumi's body was noticeably trembling now with...something. Maybe it was anger. Maybe it was frustration. Maybe it was sadness. Or maybe it was some horrible combination of all of them. Whatever it was exactly, it hurt, it hurt a lot. It was a feeling that could only be compared to how she had felt when she had curled up in a ball on the pathways and watched him walk away.

A small part of her was still somewhat glad that, at least for right now, he couldn't ignore her. She had noticed the glances towards the door he had made earlier, but she wasn't going to let him just run away like that. For whatever reason, her clinging on to a hope, she was going to stop him and he would have to physically push her out of the way if he really wanted to leave. The Jonathan she knew would never do that to her...perhaps it would be a final test of sorts to see if that Jonathan was still in there.

Because right now...this person wasn't the Jonathan she knew. It was...but at the same time it wasn't.

Before she could even answer his first question regarding the piano sheets, Kurumi was silenced by what came next. Out of everything he could have said to her it was that one word that twisted the knife that was already in her heart. Hollingberry. The only people to ever refer to her by that name and in that manner were the ones that...hated her.

Kurumi ended up stumbling backwards for a few steps, her body shaking even more and her lower lip quivering as her eyes began to burn again. So, he hadn't stopped caring...he had started hating. Or was that just what he wanted her to think? Or was it the truth? Was she just being blind and naive now hoping that...but Kurumi didn't even know what she was hoping for anymore.

Her eyes moved towards the floor where she could easily see it dampening in small places due to the tears that were now streaming down her face. Which is why she didn't notice right away that he was hugging himself at the moment. His question forgotten at the moment, Kurumi nearly sunk to the floor as her body suddenly felt too weak to stand only her head snapped back up when he spoke again...once AGAIN not believing her words.

I find that hard to believe.

Her eyes back on him now, Kurumi swallowed and attempted to find her voice despite the tears. "I find it hard to believe that you are trying to make me hate you." Because he should know somewhere deep inside him that she couldn't do that. Not ever.

When his arms unfolded from around himself and he reached out a hand towards her, Kurumi's eyes widened and she ended up gasping softly. Eyes flickering between his hands and his face, Kurumi couldn't believe that this...this was happening. Her grip around the necklace still clutched to her chest tightened and she wondered for a moment if she should...maybe it would at least be a symbolic gesture for her moving on. For her letting him go... but at the same time it felt that if she did this...if she gave it back to him...that this was really it.

There would be no connection, there would never be one, and despite everything she didn't want that.

"Is that...what you want me to do? Give it back to you?" she managed to ask softly, her eyes still very much shimmering with tears as she rested her gaze on him.

Hollingberry...

Without realizing it, he called her by her last name for the very first time ever. He has not once called her by her last name, not that he could remember of but he's pretty sure he never did. This is bad. Jonathan has a habit of calling people by their last names when he is mad or well, getting there at least. He doesn't want to get at mad her, to be honest but she was talking about him no longer caring and that necklace she wanted to possibly give back or maybe throw away. That just made Jonathan somehow mad and he doesn't even know why it does. Now, he is just hoping that this won't get worse...

....................... he's wrong.

When he was about to look at her, she cried. The one thing he is avoiding from the very start of this conversation. He knew Kurumi would cry, he somehow expected that she would. The thing is, when she cried in front of it, his heart beat faster. He didn't know what to do. Normally, he would go and give her a hug. However, this time, he stared at her in vain. Gasping for his own breath because he himself couldn't take this one too. He has seen Kurumi cry countless of times but NEVER cried about something he had said.... Well, there was that time back at the fountain at Diagon Alley but that was not on purpose. He wanted to take it back or hoping that she wouldn't spot that Hollingberry error. It didn't..... It made things worse.

Kurumi trembling and taking a few steps back didn't go unnoticed to Jonathan. Jonathan is trembling himself. It felt like the owlery suddenly became too warm. Another thing that is worrying him is the fact that Kurumi is speechless. She didn't answer his question nor had given him a reply about her giving him those piano sheets. Jonathan stared at the ground and didn't look at her. It's better that way, right? That he couldn't see her crying like this? Because of what he said to her or what he called her, no?

The silence grew bigger once more as they both struggled to speak. Jonathan is finding it hard to make a sentence right now without the part where he hurts her.

I find it hard to believe that you are trying to make me hate you.

This saddened him the most.... frustrated him too. She's still not convinced to this.... WHY? Jonathan is hugging himself again as his eyes lingered further to the ground. Staying it there still and wondering what else could he possibly do to convince her. "Then why not?" he eventually spoke. Why not hate him? He's been ignoring her the whole year, tried to make any conversations, stopped giving eye contacts and pretended to stop caring. Those things right there were motives enough for her to just start and hate him. "Because you still have that necklace?" that was stupid of him to say.

That necklace has been with her even after they broke up and it is what is keeping her from moving on. Quite frankly, if Jonathan was asked if he moved on with this? His answer will be a big n-o. It's hard to just forget about the past, about what happened. He couldn't just throw them all away and shove them in a box. Nope. He's not that heartless.

"I was mad at you." he blurted out again and his eyes are still looking at the ground. Perhaps, Kurumi should know that he was. And he has never done that as well.... him getting mad at her. He never did actually.

Is that what you want me to do? Give it back to you?

Of course, he doesn't want it back, because if she gave it back it would only mean that everything right now will mean goodbye. He already meant his goodbye the last time he said it to her and now, her giving him back the necklace would just mean the same thing as well...... and he doesn't want that as well.

"You decide on that." he told her. 'Decide' meant so many things. If she is willing to give that up, Jonathan would have nothing else to do. It is what it is, right? "I'm only suggesting it" But with whatever answer she will give him, he'll just have to accept it.

The way he had just said her name...her last name...was ringing in her ears so loudly that Kurumi felt as though she would go deaf if it continued. She had known he would be mad an d she wasn't about to ask him for forgiveness for what had happened - what she had done to him - because she wasn't that naive. But this...this was worse than she had expected and she was too blinded by pain right now to be able to see it any other way.

Which is also why she didn't see how he reacted to her.

Kurumi's fingers dug into her arms and she, for a brief moment, thought about just leaving. She was being stupid again and her conversation with Lewis came flooding back to her - which only made the pain she was feeling right now intensify. It wasn't like that. She wasn't trying to hold on to Jonathan because of romantic feelings - though some of those were still there deep down - but it was the connection she was clinging to. Jonathan knew Kurumi so well that, at one point, he had been able to read her like a book. He understood her insecurities and was able to be one of those people she could talk to about things.

And now...he hated her.

Then why not?

Kurumi lifted her gaze slightly when he spoke, chewing on her lip and not really wanting to speak. No, it wasn't about wanting to...it was more that she couldn't. Especially when he brought up the necklace again. Slowly, Kurumi shook her head. "Because...I still have feelings for you..." Feelings that were different from before yet also different from how they had been back before they had been a couple. She was still sorting them out as it were, as part of the healing process, but they couldn't exactly be ignored either. "I meant what I said that day," the day she had broken up with him, "you will always be an important person to me."

She swallowed again, looking down at the ground for just a moment. "And you are being too stubborn to believe that."

What he said next made her gasp while internally smiled. There. He had finally admitted something and it had been an emotion. So there still was some of the Jonathan she knew there, which somehow triggered something in the back of Kurumi's mind that told her that maybe, just maybe, he did actually care and was just putting on an act. His infamous poker face that she usually had a knack for seeing right through. Only now was a bit different and maybe it was because she was frightened to see through it.

Glancing down at the necklace in her hand, Kurumi chewed a little more vigorously on her lip as she slowly moved her hand out as though she were going to do just that - return it to him. Only she didn't and instead returned it to her pocket. Frustration taking over again, Kurumi looked at the ground when she spoke. "I never expected you not to be mad at me...Jonathan," she said softly as she practically whimpered his name. "But why...why did you give them back and...why did you make Lewis do it?"

Because a part of her still thought that that, making Lewis do it, was Jonathan's Slytherin side coming out - the side that had been dominate in their conversation until now - that had wanted Lewis to suffer.

Jonathan has been having one of his cold expressions right now. One that is blank and didn't show much emotion when in fact deep inside he's just broken as she is. He's also sad as she is. And he is crying like she is. It is still a common behavior that Jonathan can never fix, one that he is so frightened to share with someone... possibly. But that's just who he is. People need to know him more to be able to read him and his mind between the lines. He even admits it himself. And only a few people can really read his mind, with or without his silly poker face.... and one of those people would be Kurumi.

o_________________________________O?

Jonathan is even more speechless now that he was a few moments ago. I still have feelings for you? It was replaying on his mind. He swallowed the big lump on his throat and stared at her for awhile. Thoughts were just streaming through his mind that he doesn't know what to say.... REALLY! He has no clue. Every time he's sure enough what to say, some part of him just stops him. It's possible that it is not good enough.

The way she said it just broke him some more. What was she trying to say? He could no longer understand her like the way he used to. Why is she suddenly saying those things? Does she think that it doesn't affect him in some ways.

Then it is now followed by... I meant what I said that day.... then another.... you will always be an important person to me. Jonathan looked at her in a confused way. He's just super confused right now, he doesn't even want to over think this through. Is the thing she is saying the i love you bit the last time they talked? Was that it? Was that what she meant? It was bad enough that she insisted that they would break up 8 months ago and no she's saying this to him.... to his face?! How does he even begin to react to all of these?

"Are you toying with my feelings?" that was the only thing that came out from him. The emotions were mixed with frustration, sadness, and possibly anger. "This doesn't make sense, to me at least." he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before continuing. "Why are you just saying all of these things now?" his voice slightly raised "Because I'm sober? You saying that is torture" his voice sort of shivering but not enough to make Kurumi notice it.

His hands were shaking and his mind is no longer calm. He had been soooooo patient the whole term. This is just making him upset that he may lose the poker face he is wearing right now. As for the latter part "Sorry" he spoke as he shook his head slowly. "I don't know whether to still believe you." he continued, his eyes are not leaving hers. "I loved you. I trusted you." emphasizing the past tense of it. "...And you broke that so no. It's not me being stubborn, it's just me being cautious in believing you" he added.

At first, he has to admit that yes he is stubborn. But after awhile, he became guarded with it. With those 3 words. To Jonathan, those are still lies. She cheated on him first before saying those words. So why on earth would he trust her this time? He no longer could. No matter how much time would fix him there will always be a part of him that will always be guarded when it comes to Kurumi. A line that his emotions built himself after what she did.

Seeing as she didn't give back the necklace, Jonathan stared at her hands. The one where the necklace has been buried. So what's the reason behind this one? Is it linking to the one she just told him earlier? Or is it she is also aware that she knows what will happen after she gives them back to him?

As she spoke, Jonathan's eyes flickered away and tried tried to calm himself down with a different view. His eyes found the grounds outside the door. It looked a bit empty considering that tomorrow they will all be leaving for summer vacation. But for him, he will be officially leaving Hogwarts.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she suddenly mentioned about Lewis. The one name that he hates and the one person that he will never like or be friends with him. So does she think that he chose Lewis as a sort of revenge? That's another foul accusation of him. "You think that I intended Rasting so I could hurt you or your relationship?" his tone is getting annoyed again. "You think I would go that low?" he cocked an eyebrow. He is still in dismay that she would think of him in that way. "Bloody hell.... what else do you think of me?" by far that is the worst thing she had ever accused him of and it was not doing him any good of calming down.

He just wanted to leave........ NOW!

Are you toying with my feelings?

Kurumi gasped loudly at his words and in her surprise she dropped the necklace to the floor of the owlery where it made a soft pinging noise as it bounce forward a little and landed between the two of them. Almost directly in the middle. But Kurumi wasn't too aware of this. She was aware of some sort of noise and how her hand seemed to be enclosed around nothing but air all of a sudden, but her all of her attention was on Jonathan. On his face. On his eyes.

Her own flashed such a deep hurt that he would think such a thing of her that her body seemingly became smaller and more tears trickled down her cheeks. What he ended up saying next triggered something within Kurumi and she could feel the pit of her stomach and her face flushed some more. "Because YOU never gave me the chance to," she almost snapped back. "You kept pushing me away...making me chase after you...making me feel like it was my job to try and reach out to you...like I did with the piano sheets...and you threw it all back at me. So why now? Because you never gave me the chance before. Because..."

But Kurumi couldn't speak anymore because of the tears and the way her body was shivering again. Lewis had been right and she had just been in denial this entire time. There was nothing here - or nothing that he wanted - and his unnecessary emphasis of past tense only solidified this more.

Now Kurumi just wanted to leave. It had been a mistake sticking around and speaking to him, trying in one last desperate attempt to try and save whatever strings were holding the connection they once had together. But it was pointless. Even if she could subconsciously see through the act he was putting on, the pain she was feeling right now, constricting her chest and her breathing, was making it almost impossible to read him like she usually did. Like she sort of had been up to this point. It was...it was almost as if she had just given up...on him...on them.

Just like he had done that day in the pathways.

Kurumi knew she was going to hit a nerve by mentioning Lewis name, and maybe it was because her own emotions were sort of all over the place right now that she just didn't care. That and the fact that he was getting a reaction, showing her some emotion that made her do it. It was almost like she was trying to break him to prove to herself, and perhaps to him, that he still had feelings for her. That he didn't want to lose a connection either.

Only perhaps the Gryffindor was being too naive and living in an idealistic world where everything just happened to have a happy ending.

"I don't know what to think about you anymore, Jonathan," she said, her voice laced with pain. "I don't know what you would do anymore." She bit down on her lip and looked at the floor. "It was like...you were tearing my heart out by not respecting me enough to at least give them back to my yourself..." Kurumi shut her eyes tightly and looked at the ground, which was when she finally spotted the necklace lying there lifelessly between the two of them in almost a symbolic way. "We both have two very different lives...and I understand now that you don't want to have any part in mine..." The words were hurting her to say the, but what else could she do? "That's...that's what you want, isn't it? For me to just stop trying to include you in mine...because you don't want me to play any part in yours..."

She gasped again, eyes on the necklace briefly before looking back at him and almost wishing that she hadn't asked that question because, well, she was terrified of the answer.

. . .

This wasn't right. None of it was. Why is it that every single time he goes somewhere to do something very productive it ends up being...... well, exactly like this. It happened during his talk with the Hufflepuff and now it is happening again with Kurumi. It just feels like ending the term tomorrow is the best way to go. He could no longer have anything to do with this. However, it wasn't fair. Even for him. He knew that things with Kurumi should be settled once and for all. They did have a messy break up and they both end up hurting each one a lot. So this conversation is sort of a closure to the two of them. Where do they now stand? How do they sort this out?

Fact is, Jonathan himself can't even answer those questions. He literally has no idea on it. Kurumi blaming him on certain things is not making him even better. Times like these that he gets frustrated at himself as well, for not being to able to show much more than a blank face and answer. No, there needed to be done.

He saw Kurumi cry and once again he looked away, avoiding those tears running down her face. It's awful, to see her cry and to see him barely putting up with it. It's not fair.... not fair at all. Then his eyes snapped back as he heard the necklace on the ground. The beat on his heart palpitated faster, he wanted to run over and catch it, only he didn't. He just stood there, watched it bouncing and watched her staring back at him.

NO!!!!

Before he could even move nor say anything, Kurumi is once again talking back He gasped for air and tried so hard to keep his calm. This is not fair! To him, it's not. "I was mad, okay!" his voice is now raised once again. He was, and possibly, Kurumi knew that too. "I was gone for 6 months Kurumi. 6 months and you kissed someone you barely knew." which probably triggered his anger towards her the most "I wasn't even dead to begin with." he continued "Okay. I'm sorry, I never wrote back to you. I didn't send you flowers or sent you any response about me still breathing on the other side of the globe..." his voice is now louder "---What do you think I would feel about this?" it's the first time that his voice was this loud and to Kurumi too. He needed a chair or water to calm himself down. He didn't want this to happen but it just did. It hurts him, the fact that he is irritated and is raising his voice at her. It is frightening him right now.

Gasping for more air, Jonathan leaned against the wall and calmed himself down by looking at the necklace. His thoughts were off somewhere, nothing in particular. He hated this, every single part of it.

It's really affecting him that she thinks that Jonathan purposely handed the Hufflepuff those music sheets to gave them back to her. That was not it. Rasting was the only person he could trust to deliver them safely to her. It's not like he could ask Louisa because that would just be dumb. Those two were his only options. He had no choice. However all the things that she is saying has officially made Jonathan speechless.

He admits it, she's right. He should have handed those sheets himself but his pride wouldn't let him. He knew those would only hurt her but still he did it. That was selfish of him to do so.

We both have two very different lives...and I understand now that you don't want to have any part in mine...

By far, that is the most hurtful thing that Kurumi had said to him and he can't even say anything about it. Arguing with her didn't make points for either one of them. Plus, it's not even doing any progress to any of these. Jonathan swallowed the big, hard lump on his throat. This made him sad, it made him want to weep.

Without thinking about it, his feet dragged him to slowly take took a few steps to her, ignoring the necklace. His face is still blank but his eyes looked sadder than ever. He couldn't even open his mouth to answer her anymore, it was like she already said the things that hurts him the most and he accepts it. Then all of a sudden, Jonathan just reached out and hugged her with his head buried on her shoulder. Both of his arms hugged her tightly that even if she struggled to let go, she can't.

It's what he wanted he right now......... a hug. The one thing that he has been wanting for the past months. And for the first time, he slowly whimpered followed by a few tears.

The sound the necklace made when it hit the ground echoed through Kurumi's core, but she just couldn't move from where she stood nor avert her eyes from Jonathan's. When he began to speak all Kurumi did was chewed on her lip fiercely to stop herself from interrupting him. He was speaking to her now and she didn't want to break that - even if each word it said felt like a stab to her heart. "I never thought you were dead," she murmured more to herself than to him. That wasn't the problem, that wasn't what had broken her and he had to know that. "I wanted you, Jonathan." She didn't want any flowers or gifts, she had wanted him. "I...I needed you..."

And he hadn't been there and she had lost faith in herself, in him, and in them all because of her insecurities. She knew there was no one to blame for what had happened besides herself, and her eyes were relaying that message to him now as tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Sure, they could point the finger at his father for taking him in from school in the first place, but that was pushing the real issue under the rug and ignoring it.

What do you think I would feel about this?

Kurumi bit down on her lip even harder at these words because...she really didn't know. Not until now at least how he really felt about it all. That day in the pathways he had worn his mask, the face where he tried to remain void of emotions and wouldn't let her see how he felt about it. It told her that he didn't really feel anything. That he had given up.

Kurumi's thoughts were swimming now, unsure of what to say next. Her throat felt dry and scratchy, like she hadn't had anything to drink for months. Her body was trembling a bit as well, but it was hard to tell from her perspective since the owlery was seemingly spinning.

And the spinning both escalated and stopped with what happened next.

Kurumi simply froze the moment she saw Jonathan take a step towards her, gasping softly as he did. Her eyes were still on his and what she saw there both shocked her and broke her. There was an unfamiliar sadness reflected in them...and it surprised her. But not nearly as much as when he reached out towards her and before she could react, recoil as her instincts were telling her to do, his arms were around her and holding her in place. Kurumi's entire body went rigid for a moment simply because she was in shock. Shock that he had taken a step towards her. Shocked that he had reached for her for the first time in eight months. Shocked that he was hugging her so fiercely, so desperately.

"Jonathan..." she murmured softly, her tone questioning and her body still a bit rigid under his touch while her heart pounding in her chest as though it were about to break right out of her chest. Her shoulders relaxed somewhat, but no other part of her moved. She just couldn't and not just because she felt as though someone had hit her with a Full Body Binding Curse, but because he was holding on to her THAT tightly.

And then...her heart both skipped a beat and broke.

The whimper that came from Jonathan was both one of the most beautiful things in the world...and one of the most horrifying. It was beautiful because Kurumi knew that he never showed these emotions to people, tried to keep them hidden, tortured himself internally with these feelings, but he was now expressing them...to her. He still trusted her. However...it was because of her that he was like this. Because of what she had done to him...and that was really hard to swallow.

Bending her arms at the elbows slightly, Kurumi lifted what part of her arms that she could and slowly, very slowly, rested them on his shoulders.

What...was going on?

THERE!

He said it, most of it at least. He has been bottling those things up that him telling all of these is such a big step on his part. Considering that for the first time ever, he shouted at Kurumi. The one person that he has never pictured of shouting at or raising his voice at. All the while, Jonathan thought that as long as Kurumi and him never encounter each other, he would be fine. At least to him, he could never hurt her in this way.... He was wrong. It's a good thing that right now, this is happening. Jonathan has been avoiding her for too long already that it needs to be stopped and settled. All of these would not be happening if he didn't go away in the first place. So does this mean, Alexander is to be blamed? Jonathan didn't want to think this through. He did agree in the end with his father's suggestion.

It's just..................... not fair.

Jonathan admits his fault in all of these. Accepts it like a grown up and is willing to move on with some of his mistakes in both of their relationship. So where does all of these put the two of them? Should they go back to being friends? Because quite frankly, Jonathan is not ready for that yet and probably doesn't know when he will be ever ready for it.

I wanted you... I needed you...

Those words broke him apart like a shattered glass. She shouldn't be saying this to him. He wanted her to stop. The pain that was healing is now slowly opening once again. And right now, he's the one that is feeling more vulnerable and weak. Their break up on the pathways was already done and dealt with, so why all of this is happening once again. It's torturing and destroying whatever that is left with him.

He can no longer speak nor argue with that. He knew for a fact that Kurumi was in a vulnerable state while he was away but still, it is killing him that she gave him no trust at all. He was never going to leave her and she didn't have to see it to believe it. She just needed to be confident in trusting him.

But she didn't.

Which is hurting him the most in all of these. The fact that she thought that he had just abandoned her like that, didn't make him feel okay. However, he expected that she would be mad at him for not being around, or not speak to him in awhile when he came back, he even expected a hex or two for leaving just like that. But no, those things never happened. When he came back and suddenly she told him the truth, that was when Jonathan officially broke down. So now, trusting Kurumi is a little bit harder for him to do.

And he's sorry if she's hurt that he could no longer do that...... trust her words.

Jonathan hugged her tightly but enough to make her breathe. It's also the first time in eight months that he is making his gesture. One that is probably shocking Kurumi right now and suddenly garnering her speechless. He didn't know what he was doing but something told him that he just needed a hug. Just that. Nothing more. He missed her that's all.

Hugging her felt nostalgic. Her scent that he's always aware. The little details about Kurumi that Jonathan likes a lot. See? He still hasn't forgotten even though it's been awhile. The next thing he knew is that Kurumi spoke his name but that didn't make him speak.

He didn't want to free his head from her shoulder, NO. She would just see his tears, one that he always swore never to let anyone see. Instead, he just whimpered some more. It took him awhile to gather up his voice without it breaking, he moved his head a little bit, enough for her to hear closely to his whisper "I'm so sorry" for everything. For going away just like that, for not returning her letters, for not giving her a chance, for giving up easily, for avoiding her, and most especially for not talking to her. It was painful if she only knew.... how much it punctured him that he was no longer speaking to her, for pretending not to see her when she's right there and for acting like a jerk. There are so many things Jonathan could be sorry for.

His heart felt heavy right now, it was hard for him to even breathe nor speak to her.

Min looked at Ameliah, 'Well that's great, I'm glad that it is all working out with your aunt. It's probably nice to be with real blood relatives anyway, right?" She smiled, "I know Leelee and Edward seem rough, but they are blood that's what I like about being there." She smiled and looked at the owls, "Well he is a smaller black owl I call Midnight. He is a school owl, but him and I have taken to each other since day one." She smiled thinking of the owl and wishing she could just keep the little guy. She could never just buy an owl it would feel like she was betraying him. Looking down she picked up the letter, but didn't read it, "Oh Ameliah I think you dropped your letter." Minerva handed it to her.

Kurumi's body was overcome with so many emotions in this moment that it was hard to make sense of any of them. On the one had she really did feel numb, but if she really were so then she wouldn't be able to feel Jonathan pressed up against her like he was. Feel the way that his arms were wrapped around her tightly, almost as if he intended to never let go. Feel the slight dampness on her shoulder,

Her shoulder.

Kurumi's eyed widened again even before he whimpered again and her hand on his shoulders gripped them gently. Jonathan was crying...he was actually crying. Something in the back of her mind had subconsciously registered a few moments ago that he had been, but it was only now that the realization that he actually was crying hit her and it caused her body to shiver as she ever so slightly returned his hug.

Truth be told she was a little afraid of being like this with Jonathan. Especially when emotions were so high. While it was all she had wanted from him these past eight months, some sort of contact, right now was just overwhelming. It was too much. So much that it was almost suffocating. So much that she momentarily considering pushing him away just so she could breathe.

Only she didn't. She couldn't.

Gasping when he apologized to her, his tone relaying all those thoughts in his head, the tears began to stream down her face again as she leaned her head against him. This time she whimpered as she gasped for air between her tears and she shook her head. Not that he would be able to see it, but surely he would be able to feel it.

Another wave of emotions washed over her as she shivered in his arms again. Emotions that she still wasn't sure to make of and she gripped his shoulders a little more tightly. "I...I forgive you..." Not that Kurumi felt Jonathan was entirely in the wrong. She was a fault for so many things to. And maybe...this, right now, her saying those three words to him had been what she had wanted to say all along. That despite it all, how much pain he had caused her, how much pain she had put herself through because of everything...even after it all he was and would always be an important person to Kurumi.

He was her first love and firsts would always be special.

Kurumi lifted her head a bit now and ended up resting her chin on his shoulder while she swallowed several more times. She knew that Jonathan wouldn't be able to say those words to her because what he had gone through was so much more than she could have ever imagined - and she was seeing that all now. It was almost frustrating to her in a way. That he was showing her all this NOW. Making her feel things for him NOW. Showing her how much he cared and still cared NOW. It was too much...it was what she had been looking for back then, despite her mind already being made up.

It was what she had wanted...but it was also too late.

Leaning her head on him just a bit more, Kurumi swallowed once again and then parted her lips to speak. "Jonathan..." she whispered, her hands trembling on his shoulders a little more fiercely. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." And then she broke down into more tears, the atmosphere in the owlery once again becoming too much and making it hard to breathe. At least she had said it...and she didn't expect him to be able to forgive her now...or maybe even ever.

And there he is. Hugging her tightly and sobbing on her shoulder. Jonathan broke down to pieces just like that and now Kurumi knows that his poker mask can actually be wrecked. Of course, he still could not believe himself in doing this... look so vulnerable in front of someone. He grew up not having to show too much emotions to people. But the thing is, Jonathan had been bottling up so much pain in his self that he could no longer keep it to himself. This behavior has always been a minor set down for him and he knows it.

With his eyes covered with her shoulder, Jonathan stopped crying for awhile but that didn't stop him from releasing her, no. He is still hugging her tightly in place with his head buried on her shoulder. For whatever reason, he just doesn't want to let go for now. He just wanted the two of them to stay like that for awhile. No movements, no conversations.... just that.

There's a lot that the two of them have not been able to sort out nor have talked about. With him being mad at her and avoiding her for several months and her also not talking to him just made it impossible to keep a decent and normal conversation. Jonathan had probably said the things he wanted her to know, things that he has been over thinking in the past few months. And same goes to her, she probably had let out things that she wanted him to know. So what does this mean? What now? What's next for the two of them?

Fact is, Jonathan has no clue. He doesn't know what happens next nor has any intention in knowing at all. He'll be leaving tomorrow and then the following week, he'll be officially leave London. At least, that is what he intends to do. He wanted to be away for a long while, sort things with himself like a grown up and maybe comeback to London when he graduates with whatever major he has in mind.

This is it... It's the last day that he might see Kurumi ever which he is partly thankful that they both talked this out.

Jonathan's thoughts were interrupted when she replied to him. He slowly nodded his head back and stayed still once again. There was nothing left for him to say, he already apologized and well, she accepted it too. Then he felt Kurumi's chin on his shoulder as she whispered his name. Hearing her calling his name like that still broke him apart. After that, it followed those words:

I'm so sorry

The one thing that he hasn't heard her say especially after their break up, which even broke him right now some more. Then he freed his head from her shoulders and straightened his back, however, his arms are still wrapped around her as it is, casually sniffing. He closed his eyes as now, he is the one resting his chin on her head. Recalling all those fun memories that Kurumi and him had always shared. How she always stand on her tip toes whenever she teases him or play with his hair. How she always interlace their fingers together when walking. How Kurumi would turn red when he smirks at her. Again, those little details. He still remembers all of it, every little detail to it.

His thoughts just suddenly froze. His eyes widened and his heart beat raced. If his first selfish favor during the pathways, was 'not to speak to her', his next will be more upsetting... on his part mostly.

He finally freed her from his arms and this time, he placed both his hands on her shoulder and looked at her straightly in the eye. His eyes still a bit teary from earlier. He bit his lower lip for what he is about to say next is something he himself can't even do "You said earlier that you're not over me." his eyes following hers. His hands trembled as he looked down on the ground summing up all the courage to say this in front of her and not breaking. Taking a deep breath he looked at her once more and swallowed "You should..." she should get over him. "You should..." he repeated only this time, he whispered it.

Ameliah was greatful to find Minnie seemed not to have read the letter. "Thanks, I better go deliver this." She gave a sharp whistle, and a handsome brown owl perched onto her shoulder and gave out his leg. "Here ya go, Levrell," she said as she watched the owl fly out in a brown blur... Just as another flew in.

"How've ya been, girl?" Ameliah asked the owl, stroking her feathers. "Mochard, this is Minnie; Minnie, this is my Aunt's owl." Mochard looked meaningfully at the letter on her ankle, showing it was important. Ameliah scooped up the letter and read. "No. This can't be." she reread the letter over and over, eyes widening more every time. "No," Tossing the letter aside, she turned towards her Aunt Lucretia's owl. "Mochard, can you find a small black owl?" she asked, and in a few moments Mochard returned with Midnight by her side. "Thanks girl. No, I'm not sending something back. Tell Aunt I said hello." Ameliah waved as her owl left out.

Kurumi's heart felt as though it were about to stop when Jonathan's head moved against her shoulder. So she had just said that. Kurumi hadn't actually been too sure that those words had left her mouth due to the sheer intensity of the moment. But they had and he had heard them and he was acknowledging that now. Which was really all she could ask for.

Jonathan's tears did not go unnoticed, especially because of the bare shoulder that he was resting his head against and her grip on his shoulders tightened a bit more. She hated this. All of it. All these emotions that were threatening to drown the both of them. How had things gotten like this? Well, no, she knew how...but it didn't take away any of the pain from this moment.

Kurumi gasped softly again when he began to move and her hands loosened their grip on him as she expected him to simply walk away from her now. Only he didn't. He was still holding her. Still had his arms wrapped around her tightly. Kurumi wasn't sure what to make of this nor what he was going to do next. Her heart, that she thought had stopped working earlier, was suddenly alive and beating faster than ever as she looked back at him.

Without realizing that she was doing it, Kurumi stood up just a little on her tip toes and used the thumb of one of her hands to wipe away some of the tear stains on his cheek. In that brief moment it was like they were back to what they had been. Not necessarily as a couple, but the friendship that had been the foundation of their relationship. And Kurumi missed that...more than she thought she had.

Only it wasn't hers to have anymore, right?

Eyes widening when she realized what she had just done, her body froze up and she quickly lowered her hands so that they were both sort of rest on his chest.

Thinking that her gesture was pushing him away as his hands unwound from around her and she expected there to be a distance between them after. A distance that he would start by taking a step back. A distance that would continue to grow until they were so far a part that they couldn't see each other anymore. Which was coming...he was graduating and then he would be gone...maybe forever.

Whimpering softly at the thought, Kurumi's head snapped around when she instead felt his hands on her shoulders and she sort of just started at them for a moment out of the corners of her eyes. Besides this, he hadn't moved any further away from her...and Kurumi wasn't entirely sure how she felt about it either as a part of her almost wished that he would have taken a step back.

Her eyes were back on his the instant Jonathan reminded her of what she had said. Of how she still felt. Kurumi bit down on her bottom lip, bracing herself for whatever it was he was going to say next, only to somewhat cock her head to the side in confusion when he didn't finish his sentence.

You should...

She should what? While the most obvious end to that sentence was in the forefront of her mind, there were still so many other possibilities and now was not the time to leave things unsaid. Only she couldn't bring herself to ask him to finish that sentence, not when she saw the way he was looking at her with still watery eyes. "You should too..." she ended up whispering in reply. Because it was clear, clear that he wasn't over her either.

Neither of them were over the other.

While Kurumi had no idea what sort of life he had been leading up until now, the things he had said. The way he had just been holding her. The way he was looking at her now. Everything he was showing her was telling her that he hadn't either.

Swallowing several times, Kurumi, against her better judgement, reached up again with one of her hands and brushed his bangs to the side - just like she used to - and her fingers lingered there for just a moment before dropping her hand to her side. "I-I will...eventually," she began, tears streaming down her face. "But...But that doesn't mean I will forget you. I...I could never do that..." So please don't ask me to.

Jonathan had himself calm down for the next 5 minutes of silence. It felt awkward for him to show his vulnerability in front of someone. It wasn't really his thing to cry in front of people no matter how sad and/or agonizing the situation is. Growing up, Jonathan had always pulled a stone face in certain situations and before reacting into something he makes sure that he's not going to do something stupid. One of the things or traits that makes him a Slytherin. So even with little teary eyes in front of Kurumi felt something really different to him. Not many people have seen him whimper nor sniffle.

Both his hands were still on her shoulders as his eyes still fell on her. There were not many words to make this conversation any sadder. However, requesting Kurumi to forget about him is just too painful. He can't really ask her to do that. It's her own decision whether she wants to or not. Jonathan felt silent, rethinking what he had just said to her.

Fact is, he also doesn't want to hear her answering his request. What if it were a nod or a 'yes', would he be happy to see it? No. But the thing is, how long is she going to stay in that shadow? The one where she said that she wasn't over him. It torments him knowing that. If there is one thing he'd doesn't want to hear, is those words coming from her.

He felt the warmness of her hands as it brushed one of his tear drop.... the one thing that he used to do when she's the one weeping. He didn't move nor gave a reaction but it was a nice gesture. It felt nice that for once, things are now in reversed. He was the one tearing up while she's the one trying to put on a strong face. But of course, this is Kurumi. Jonathan is not expecting her to put on a strong face. He was more used to her emotions.

Eventually...

He has to admit that as time goes by, eventually what they have will be in the past. Jonathan has a new relationship right now and so did Kurumi. Only, Jonathan is not going to tell her about it. It was better that she doesn't know it. And yes, eventually, someday he can too.

But that doesn't mean I will forget you. I could never do that.

Same goes to him. What they both shared before was something Jonathan will always never forget. Kurumi will remain someone special to him and that's that. When her hands suddenly brushed his hair, Jonathan immediately took her hands. Force of habits? Possibly. Then his eyes flickered as he looked away then he slowly forced her hand back to her side.

Both of his hands dropped to his side and once again a gap has been made in between. He slowly glanced back to the necklace on the ground and upon spotting it, he walked over to it and took it. "So i guess, this is mine to keep now?" he said opening his palm, letting her see the silver heart necklace in it. He stared at the necklace for awhile. He's not really going to keep it. It'll hurt him having it with him. He'll probably throw it away or destroy it, whatever he will think of.

At least that is what he is deciding to do with it. Keeping it wouldn't be helpful to him because he knows it will always be kept and safe.

When Jonathan's hands left her shoulders Kurumi involuntarily shivered...because she suddenly felt cold. Because she suddenly felt numb. She knew what this meant, him removing that last bit of body contact. This was the beginning. The beginning of them parting ways. But for how long? Jonathan had said that it would be forever, but that thought was tearing her up inside right now as if thousands of bees were stinging her skin over and over again. Forever was a long time. A really long time.

When he suddenly walked away Kurumi gasped thinking that those might be the last things she ever said to him and that maybe he just needed to go now because of the intensity of the situation. Both of them admitting something to each other that they really shouldn't be now without actually saying it out loud.

Only he wasn't leaving and her eyes followed his movements to see that he had bent down to pick up the necklace, his necklace, and Kurumi's hand reached for her chest and clutched nothing by air. The movement had been out of habit mostly, but it still felt weird sometimes to not have it there to hold.

So I guess, this is mine to keep now?

Kurumi gasped and the tears were back in her eyes, her guard once again shattered as she looked at him holding it in the palm of his hand. Which would be better for her? To give it back to him? But then that felt like she was giving those feelings back. All those memories they shared together. All the times he had teased her, patted her head, pinched her cheeks, held her... Moving on didn't mean she had to erase those from her memory.

So slowly, her body trembling as she did, Kurumi walked forward and stared at the necklace for a moment before lifting her gaze to meet his. "I...I want to keep it..." she whispered. Without waiting for any sort of reaction from him, she reached out and placed her hand flat over his. Her fingers slowly bent to take the necklace from him, tracing over his palm softly until they felt the silver chain and wrapped around it.

"Will I never see you again?" she asked, her eyes suddenly finding it impossible to look at him and instead rested on their hands that were just barely touching, the necklace held between them. "Is this....is this..." the end?

Jonathan had no plans in really keeping the silver necklace at all. If it no longer meant anything to Kurumi what would make her think that it would to him? Besides, it's just a necklace, even though that thing had meant a lot of memories for her. But like he had thought before, keeping it would only break him even more. And her keeping it would be just................. a distraction. She has a life other than this necklace, Jonathan wanted her to enjoy that. He still hated his boyfriend and he is never going to give them his blessing even with all these between them is resolved.

However, throwing something like this away would mean throwing everything with it. The necklace meant something to the two of them and even though it's just a piece of metal hanging around her neck, it symbolizes more than that. Jonathan, for awhile, felt sad. Frowning at the necklace, and then looking back at Kurumi. He knew that Kurumi might say 'yes' to keeping it but then again, she could still say no.

I want to keep it...

Jonathan smiled shyly to himself as he stared at the necklace once more. He couldn't help but feel happy that she still wanted to keep it. After all this time, she is still willing to keep it. But his smile turned flat as he glanced back to her once more.

Then he hands slowly reached out to the necklace and he felt her hands hold his, well, to him it looked like it does. Jonathan shifted his eyes back to her hands that was wrapping around the necklace. Jonathan shook his head slowly "Wrong answer" he uttered. "You said eventually" relating about him asking her to be over him. "Well, eventually should start from this" he added as he tried to take the necklace back from her hands.

Yeah, it had to start from there. Without it, she can no longer wear it and when she is not wearing it, she'll no longer remember him. Which are all part of the process, right? It hurts? Definitely. Jonathan is asking too much from her and what is more agonizing is that, he can't even do it himself. Yet he is asking her to do all of this.

Will I never see you again?

Her question felt like she knew that when he turns his back on her again, it will be a real goodbye. Jonathan had things in mind. University and all of that. He will be going away for the time being after Hogwarts and then he doesn't really know when he will be back. So this question that she is asking right now, he can't answer it. He couldn't.

He shrugged.

Not that he was answering either a yes or a no but his answer is that, he doesn't really know. Is this....is this... Her not finishing that sentence meant that she was afraid. Jonathan didn't bother to ask her to complete her sentence. Again, he still doesn't know to that answer.

Maybe. I don't know.

Jonathan of course took the necklace and placed them inside his pocket. He slowly backed off from where Kurumi was and went back to where his things were. Jonathan bent down and placed his owl grooming stuff on his back and unzipped it. Carrying it, he looked at her. "One more thing..." he sort of snorted as he stared down at the ground "Rasting and I once talked" at the tapestry, it was a really long time ago. "I still loathe him." it was an unnecessary addition before he leaves but since he is leaving Hogwarts for good, he might as well tell this to Kurumi.

Wrong answer.

Kurumi gasped and her head snapped up to meet his, noting the stern and somewhat blank expression on his face. Her heart ha calmed down enough to realize what this was. What he was doing. What he was TRYING to do. And it infuriated her. He couldn't do this to her, not now, not like this. Her hand tightened around the chain as he tried to take it from her and a few of their fingers interlaced as a result. Only Kurumi's attention wasn't on that at all, it was on what he had just said.

"Will you stop trying to make me forget you?" she asked as almost a whimper. Her eyes were almost pleading with him now and were more definitely seeing through the act he was trying to put on now. While a small part of her may have recognized this as a noble gesture, the winning side was just mad. "Just because you wouldn't keep the piano sheets I made for you...and still have in my dorm room...doesn't mean you have the right to make this decision for me." She gave the necklace between them a firm tug.

Eventually had already started. It had started the day she had learned he had returned the piano sheets, maybe sooner, but it had started. She was better than she had been before.

Him not answering her next question made her bite her lip and she subconsciously released her grip on the necklace - which was when she also saw it go into his pocket. He had no right to do that. To ask her if she wanted it, to make her answer, and then to come to his own conclusion. It was like he was toying with her emotions and she did not like it. Not one bit.

It felt like the end.

When he walked away towards his bag, Kurumi couldn't help but take a step in his direction. Not a big one, but a small step nonetheless. Something about the way he said what he did next was almost amusing to her. Almost, but not enough to cause any sort of noticeable reaction - save one. As her mind got to wrapping around the words he said, him mentioning Lewis, Kurumi's heartbeat increased again and the tears were forming.

She never expected him to like Lewis...not now at least. Back when her and Lewis had first met on the platform and she had introduced him to Jonathan on the train she had hoped that they would be. Jonathan needed more friends from other houses and Lewis was new. It seemed like the ideal situation.

And now it had turned into this.

"He isn't replacing you..." she said suddenly as her hands formed into tight fists. She could already see that he was on his way out of the owlery. That this was it. Once he left here that was the end and there was no telling if she would ever hear from him again.

Sigh.

Jonathan took a deep sigh when Kurumi just tightened up the grip on the necklace. What is she going to do with it anyway? It's not like it serves any purpose anymore. She has to give it back, to make the score even. Because of what he did with those piano sheets. Jonathan didn't mind the fact that both there hands were holding. He was more focused on the necklace as she is trying to take it away from him. "I will destroy it if you won't give it back to me" he eyed her as his hands also struggled in tightening the grip on the necklace.

Her next few words, made Jonathan's eyes widened. Will you stop trying to make me forget you? That was the whole point in this, isn't it? He's making her get mad at him and at the same time asking her to forget about him. He stared at the necklace, still gripping it firmly and has no intention whatsoever of letting go. "It's just...." his eyes slowly traced her arms until it reached her eyes "... a necklace" he continued. It's a piece of metal and nothing else. If he intended to take it away from her, did it mean that she will forget about him? Because with the way she had just said it, sounded more like the necklace is there as a reminder of him which is really awful. If Kurumi is thinking of that then maybe he taking the necklace is a good idea.

Then, she mentioned about the piano sheets. Jonathan just looked at the ground and for awhile, stopped looking at her. "Look..." he opened his mouth to answer her back "...I don't know what was your intention behind those music sheets." because she clearly has no idea how badly he was hurt to see them and to put up with a poker face in front of Louisa just so she can report back to her that he is okay with it.... He wasn't. He wasn't okay with it. "You can't..." he wanted the argue over this but then again, what was really there to argue? Jonathan no longer wanted to get mad because it'll just make him tired. This is suppose to be his last day at Hogwarts. It should be happy and full of glee and nothing like this. "I.... I-I can't do this anymore. I'm just wasting your time"

The moment she loosen her grip, Jonathan immediately took it away from her and slid it on his pocket when she can't tackle and get it from him. Carrying his backpack and looking outside the door, Jonathan is now ready to say his goodbye and this time, for good.

But then her words halted him.

He isn't replacing you...

Then a big smirk was planted on his face. Replacement, please. It would be an insult to his part if Rasting is replacing him. Following a snort, he looked at Kurumi "What can I say.... I'm irreplaceable" he wanted to laugh at what he said, but instead he just smiled and acted casually "He's dumb, he acts dumb and he looks like he needs a makeover. Soooo, no arguement here." the topic on Lewis just makes Jonathan annoyed and will forever make him annoyed. He will add more to this, if she keeps bringing more of him into the next conversation.

Kurumi's eyes widened and she gasped loud enough for him to be able to hear. Something about his tone told her he was serious, but then why did he want it back so badly? It didn't make sense. So her eyes narrowed for a moment, almost as if she were testing him to see if he would really dare do that. He knew it would make her cry to see him destroy it right in front of her, didn't he? Or was this all just part of his guise to make her hate him?

It wasn't working...so he needed to just stop it. He was only being stubborn.

Her expression softened just a bit when he spoke again and she chewed on her lip as she finally averted her gaze from his to her hands that were still somewhat holding his. "If it is just a necklace...then why are you doing this?" she asked softly, her tone laced with hurt. "We both know it is more than that..." The chewing on her lip became a little more persistent as she tried to hold back more tears, but her resolve was fading. If she didn't give it to him he threatened her he would destroy it. If she gave it to him...she was pretty sure it would receive the same fate. It was a lose-lose situation.

She almost regretted bring up the music sheets because it reminded her how much he had hurt her giving those back to her, rejecting her efforts to keep him in her life and him in hers. It was like a slap in the face. A stab to her heart. And he had made Lewis do that to her...and it had nearly broken them up because of how fiercely a reaction she had had to it. She was about to open her mouth to respond, but his next words hit her hard...harder than he could ever know.

I-I can't do this anymore.

Her entire body became limp and the tears she had been trying to hold back broke through the last of her defenses, causing Kurumi to whimper and hug herself as if she would be able to protect herself from his words digging deeper into her being. Only they were already in, echoing in her head, and tearing her apart. He was giving up...again...and breaking her.

"...you've never been a waste of my time..."

And now she took a small step away from him to subconsciously shiled herself from the pain. It only became worse when she saw him on the verge of leaving and everything around her grew silent. The only sound she could hear was the beating of her heart and her own breath for several long moments. She then saw his mouth form words and could just barely hear what he was saying and it infuriated her how quick he was to insult Lewis. Lewis had never NEVER said a bad thing about him.

Maybe Lewis was right. She should just stop trying. She should just stop.

"Why...why are you doing this?" she asked, hugging herself tighter. "Why would you hold me like that...say those words to me...and then do all this?" Take the necklace from her. Go back to being a stubborn jerk. Do things that made his sincere apology seem like nothing. "What do you want, Jonathan?"

He had no other reasons as to why he is taking back the necklace. He doesn't even know why he is insisting in getting them back when after all, he did say it himself 'it was just a necklace'. Jonathan was running out of reasons to get it back. Was it all that he really wanted right now? What happens if she gives it back to him? Does the necklace stay or does he throw it away? What was really about it that made him want to get it away from her? He can't even think of a reason to give to her other than the lame one he just told her.

Hearing her gasp made Jonathan avert his stare at her. He's trying to do the impossible here and yet he is still insisting on doing so.

If it is just a necklace...then why are you doing this?

See? Now the tables have turned to him. He doesn't exactly know how to answer that. He admits that he is being that stubborn boy once again. The one behavior that he doesn't want her to experience yet is winning at the moment. "Then why do you still want it?" he said sheepishly as he looked away from her.

We both know it is more than that...

His eyes widened when she said those words. Right there he suddenly realized that Kurumi sort of can still read him. The beating on his heart raised as he still tried to look casual on the process. However, he couldn't help but once again ask her "Tell me then...." he paused as he looked at her before continuing "...what that is?" emphasizing on the 'that' part. What exactly it is then?

The music sheets did nothing to the two of them but hurt them both. She has her own reasons and he has his own, which up to right now, Kurumi still doesn't know. But what is the point in telling her all of it when to her, it was his way of pushing her away from him. To her, he purposely handed them to Rasting because it was his way of revenge. To her, he no longer cared about her. She was wrong. All of it. He never meant to give it to Rasting, it was of random choice. So why is she accusing him of something like that? Was that all she could think of him?

That is what frustrating Jonathan the most. He is so frustrated that he didn't bother replying when she told him that he was never wasting of her time. He just stared at her and took a big deep sigh. And this is why he just wants to leave. If he insists otherwise, she might probably just think he is being defensive about handing them to Rasting..... which will probably frustrate him more.

Her small step away from him didn't go unnoticed to Jonathan. Jonathan kept staring at the space that is once again made between the two of them, and then back to her-- hugging herself.

why are you doing this? Why would you hold me like that...say those words to me...and then do all this?

For awhile, he did not say a word. His feet planted to ground and his eyes didn't go away from hers. "I don't have to like every single person in this school." his expression a bit mad. Jonathan is blunt and will always say what he thinks. So saying that to Kurumi was nothing more but him just being honest about it. He doesn't her new boyfriend and that was it. "First off, I'm apologizing to whatever I did that I admit that hurts you." he added "And do what, Kurumi? I'm not making you feel bad about it. I just don't like him." his tone is now irritated. And if it is affecting her then he apologizes for that too because he will no longer say those things anymore. Before he could continue more, she interrupted him again.

What do you want, Jonathan?

Then it suddenly felt like everything paused. It's like time no longer was running it was one of those questions that his father asked him about only this time it is more on a personal level. "Frankly, I have no idea." he opened his mouth to answer her "That's why I'm moving away." he still doesn't have details to where exactly he is moving but he really wants to "I need to sort out things on my own too, whatever these things may be." he slowly nodded his head. "At least now, your seventh year at Hogwarts won't be as draining as mine"

Kurumi chewed on her lip in quiet frustration when he didn't answer her question and instead asked her one. Why wouldn't he actually answer anything she was asking him? Why did he feel like he had to hide things from her when she was being honest and finally admitting to things that she should have earlier. That seemed to be their problem...waiting on things. Kurumi could have made things better if she would have told him about what had happened with Lewis sooner...but she had been selfish and afraid. She had been focusing on herself and her mother and didn't even think about how Jonathan and Lewis would feel.

Making them both wait.

"You didn't answer my question," she replied, her eyes focused on his and practically peering into them. He couldn't just keep avoiding things like this. It wasn't good...it wasn't getting them anywhere. "You gave it to me...it is mine." Which was the most basic answer she could give, but it was true. If he wasn't going to give real answers, then she wouldn't either.

Kurumi sucked on her lower lip now, finding it too sore from all her chewing to continue doing so and finally looked at the floor. His question...she knew the answer. Knew how she wanted to respond, but then it would just be her again pouring herself out to him and not getting much in return. He was keeping his walls up, keeping his act up, and he wouldn't really let her see him.

Kurumi took several deep breaths to steady her breathing and her racing heart, but to no avail. There was just no way she could be calm about this. It was too intense. Too fragile. "It's a symbol...of what we used to be," she began as she hugged herself a little more tightly. "I-I-I don't mean...as a couple...but how we just...we could just...all the good times. All the good memories...I miss them..."

There. She had said it. Admitted to more. Would he be decent enough to do the same? She hoped he would. She hoped the Jonathan that was still will to share things with her was still in there, even if he was trying to hide that person from her. That was the person she missed...that was the reason she wanted the necklace back.

So when he spoke again, reiterating his annoyance and hate for Lewis, Kurumi shook her head. That wasn't what she meant at all. He had entirely missed the point - or avoided it on purpose. It was hard to tell right now which it was. "That's...not what I meant..." she replied softly, looking at the ground for a moment. "I-I meant...why show my a glimpse of the person I care so much for still...and then do things that tell me you would rather I forget you exist..." Her eyes were back on his now, pleading with him to stop keeping things from her, no matter how much the truth might hurt. She needed to know. She wanted to know. It was all part of the process. "I'm not still standing here right now to talk about me and him or you and him...I'm hear because...because I am trying to understand you..."

That's why I'm moving away.

Everything after that simply shut off and there was no more sound. Kurumi simply stared at Jonathan as if she were seeing a ghost and she didn't even understand why it came as such a shock. It was verbal confirmation in a sense that he fully intended on leaving, disappearing for a while. While to some that meant one thing, to Kurumi she felt that once he disappeared he was never coming back. Not into her life at least and that frightened her. It frightened her a lot.

But...if that was what he wanted, what he truly wanted, then Kurumi couldn't do anything about that and she would accept his decision in time. But she would never forget him. So he really needed to just stop trying to make her. The only way he would accomplish this was with a charm or potion, but she simply trusted him to never do such a thing to her.

Ariana walked into the owlery and found Salazar's cage and let him out as he quickly flew onto her shoulder and nuzzled into her neck "Hi there buddy." she said as she pet his feathers