「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(171) Mistake

Charles' POV

Undoubtedly, autonomous sleep has been a rather foreign concept that was sparingly attainable ever since Lynn's accident, not to mention her mandated departure from the mansion.

Incompetent in obtaining any rest with my heart and mind constantly unsettled by her leaving, I dismissed Scott back to bed and headed directly for Cerebro once I witnessed Jean piloting away her jet. Although probably acting like a stalker, tracking Lynn's every move and knowing that she was safe was the only real way to marginally fill the virtual emptiness within me.

Silently watching Lynn hold her mind together in the plane, it was essentially heart-wrenching to feel her energy being drastically drained in order to maintain her psychic barrier, eventually landing her in an unconscious state towards the end of her breakdown triggered by Jean's unintentional utterance of me.

Thankful that her mind was soon active, albeit with the prevailing fatigue further compelling her drowsy and sleepy condition, I simply gave Jean several tips for waking her in the morning and requested for her to place the other presents I had for Lynn in a moderately conspicuous location.

The next day dragged on, outrageously slow, without her physical presence in the house and my forlorn heart could no longer contain the urge to look at her again even when I attempted to drown myself in the countless piles of Genetics readings on my desk. Just after Scott delivered lunch to my study, that was only consumed purely to suffice survival and keep my promise to Lynn that I would live well without her, I found my way back to the basement again, observing her readying herself for the new day.

It was definitely comforting to see her more relaxed as she confidently rolled down her front yard, with her handsome neighbour catching her by surprise.

An honest human being with more than satisfying looks, James was certainly a kind gentleman who was surprisingly single. Unfortunately his enthusiasm for providing aid to the needy was undeniably tactless and overwhelming, and Lynn expectedly expressed no interest whatsoever, almost instantly rejecting any further conversation with him.

Provoked and consequently moody, Lynn did not have much for her late breakfast either but her spirits seemed mildly lifted as she managed a self-reliant transaction and transferred successfully into a booth at the diner, gifting the world with a brief yet enchanting laughter that had been absent for more than a while.

Entering the large departmental store that was one of the anchor tenants for the extensive arcade after the meal that ended on a rather somber note, Lynn was piqued by the considerable range of jeans that were displayed in ascending shades of blue from top to bottom and descending sizes from left to right.

Absolutely proud of her achievements thus far, I smiled as I observed her positively navigating towards her prospective buys. Apparently undaunted by the towering rack that stored her desired pair of pants made of muted washed fabric, she reached up, smiling widely as she got fingertips to it. My heart was truly warmed, granted with the sight of that smile again, but it almost dropped in the next seconds, when a distraction had her losing her balance.

I could no longer control myself merely watching the paralyzed parts of her helplessly collapse, leaving her in a highly awkward plight with her inanimate limbs stranded in shambles beneath the frame of her chair as she battled to retain her body upright with her arms that clung dearly to the wooden shelvings.

While James was already intending to assist, I took over him, not resisting the desire to personally save her. Wrapping his arm firmly around her waist, I gently placed her back into her chair and even for the transient moments I infiltrated James' mind, she seemingly noticed.