"Ah"
"What did I just do, did I…"
A massive crowd encircled the place as the dark void pulsed ominously in the centre of the street. Tendrils of shadow curled out from its core, distorting the air around it. A low hum resonated through the ground, making the pavement tremble beneath their feet.
Gasps rose as some onlookers stumbled back, yet none dared move too far. Something about the swirling darkness held them — an unnatural pull of dread and fascination.
A car that was on the brink of collision with a child, tires screeching against the road. Just as it was about to hit him, the void pulsed and pulled the car in with a sudden force. The metal twisted as the car vanished into the darkness, leaving no trace behind. The crowd gasped, unsure whether to feel relieved or terrified by what they had just witnessed.
"What just happened?"
"Did I see it right? The car ran straight into that black hole!"
"Black hole? Are you serious?"
As people started to theorize what that dark matter was, chaos soon filled that place.
Next to all this chaos stood the child, Kylin. His wine-red hair flowed in the wind, his feet trembling with fear.
"I… didn't." His voice cracked, not sure what to make of the situation that he was in.
All he remembered was that car speeding up to him. As the vehicle grew larger, so did the sharp sting of fear tightening in his chest. His legs felt heavy, rooted to the ground, while a deafening scream echoed through his mind. Then suddenly…
"Kylin, my child, are you alright?" called a distant voice, one Kylin recognized clearly.
"M... Mom."
"Oh my god... Kylin! What just happened?" Kylin's mother was concerned for him, but even more surprised as to how he survived.
"I... don't know what happened. It came from inside me... That thing... I was just trying to save myself."
"…What…"
***
Kylin had been just eight years old when the accident occurred, and he, who was once embraced by his foster parents, was thrown into a depth of despair after those eerie powers of his were revealed. The abyss he unleashed devoured more than just a car.
They abandoned him, leaving him alone with no one to rely on. Since then, Kylin buried his powers deep inside, determined never to let them out again.
-A few years later-
This was back in middle school when Kylin crossed paths with the only person he ever confided in and the one he still trusts. The only true friend he has.
Kylin was sitting in the stands of the football ground of the new school that he had just transferred into. He watched the kids his age playing football, but he dared not join the unfamiliar people.
"Ah, GOAL!!"
"Amire, you're so good at football!"
The field buzzed with cheers. A boy with wild yellow hair darted across the grass, grinning widely. He was everywhere on the pitch — scoring, passing, shouting with joy. Alive.
"Oh, by the way, isn't that the new transfer student?" one of the kids pointed toward the stands, drawing the others' attention to Kylin, who sat quietly at the edge of the field.
"Should we invite him?" one of them asked, eyes bright with the idea of a new friend.
"But we don't even know him," another kid objected.
"Well, obviously — that's why we should invite him."
While they debated, one of the boys had already jogged over to the stands. Kylin tensed as the boy stopped in front of him, smiling despite being exhausted by the match.
"Hey, would you like to play soccer with us?" the boy asked, his tone casual and inviting.
Now that he was standing so close, Kylin could see him more clearly. He was the same boy who had been scoring all the goals, practically carrying his team.
His yellow hair shimmered faintly even under the dim stadium lights, and the sharp scent of sweat mixed with the cool evening air. His face was flushed from exertion, but his eyes still sparkled with energy.
"Uh... I..." Kylin hesitated
"I am Amire Conner. And you are?"
"Kylin... Kylin Reid."
As the memories of the past fade like a distant dream, Kylin finds himself daydreaming again.
"Ky… Kylin… HEY KYLIN"
"Uhm- what, OH it's you, Amire!"
"You're spacing out again... What is it this time? Another weird dream?" Amire asked like it was a regular occurrence.
"No... This time it's just about the past."
They are now 20 years of age, university students. Ever since they first met, they haven't left each other's side one bit. One could call them best pals, or brothers even, but for each other, they were like heart and soul.
"The past?" Amire inquires, wanting to know more.
"Yeah... you know the time when we first met? In the football stands?" Kylin responded.
"Oh... That time? Yeah, I remember it too... Can you believe it's been 10 years?"
Kylin gave a small, quiet smile.
"Right... 10 years and I still haven't told you the thing that I wanted to tell you at that moment."
"What? What is it?" Amire was now curious as to what that message could be.
"I wanted to tell you that you smelled so bad back there.", Kylin says, playfully.
"HUH!? How dare you-!!"
Amire lunged, but Kylin had already darted away, laughing. Amire chased him across the campus like they were still children.
Later, as Amire and Kylin strolled out of the lecture hall, Amire remarked with his disheartened expression…
"It's the same every single day. Nothing exciting ever happens! Ugh… I'm so bored."
Kylin stays silent, his expression distant
"What's wrong, Kylin? You look so pale. Is that weird power of yours acting up again?" He says, concerned.
"I'm fine.", answers Kylin, though it's clear he was bothered by some thought.
"You know you don't have to lie to me, Kylin… tell me."
Kylin hesitated for a second, then finally spoke.
"I'm not lying… It's just that I want to know why I possess this… 'power'. I don't even know why this happened to me." Kylin explains. He was getting impatient about his identity with each passing day.
"Ever since I can remember, I've lived with different parents, different families. I don't have a single memory of my real family. It's like my identity was stolen from me. I don't know who I am or why I exist."
Amire wanted to comfort his friend, but he wasn't sure how to. It was always in intense moments like this when Kylin's pain grows and his power starts to spiral. Knowing how it would turn out if Kylin's distress wasn't resolved, Amire does his best to calm him down.
"Kylin… It's alright. We will figure it out. You know that I'll always be here, right? No matter what happens, I've got your back."
Kylin calms down a little, hearing his friend's words. Indeed, Amire has always been there whenever he needed him. He is a person whom Kylin could blindly trust.
"You're right, I'm sure I will find out about myself. Currently, I am just Amire Conner's friend. That's my identity." Kylin jokes, much to Amire's amusement.
"Hah? You sure are suffering from an extreme identity crisis, my friend. But I don't mind your new identity. After all, it's an honor to be called 'The Amire Conner's Friend'." Amire added to the playful bantering.
Kylin chuckled, knowing Amire's sense of humour, he least expected him to say this.
"Okay, now let's get you home before you collapse here and die." Amire slung his arms over Kylin's shoulder.
"I can go myself, but thanks."