His words were sweet like honey...
But his eyes said something else.
His lips may smile... but his eyes never.
* * *
After that, I always saw him.
Every day.
At the same time.
At the same bench.
Sometimes with his bird...
Sometimes with a book.
And sometimes...
Just staring at me without saying a word.
Like observing its prey.
But who was I to complain?
Because I was doing the same.
He stared at me... and I stared back.
No words. No communication.
But the next day, he wasn't there.
I almost thought I'd been late...
Or maybe he just stopped coming.
No.
That'd never happen.
He wanted something from me.
Suddenly, someone whispered in my ear.
"Hey there..."
I startled and turned around.
There he was.
"Were you waiting for me? "
He slowly came closer, whispered again, and smiled.
"N-no... why would I?"
I stumbled over my words.
"Aww, I thought we were friends! "
He sulked in an unusually playful way.
'NO, WE WEREN'T! I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS MAN'S NAME!'
I thought with a surprised look on my face.
He smirked and extended his hand.
"My name's Luc.
And yours? "
"...It's... Niva."
We shook hands.
"Niva..."
He kissed the back of my hand gently and lifted his gaze.
Those long eyelashes...
That calm, sweet, honey-like voice...
And... those unwavering blue eyes that always looked straight into mine.
"...You want to be free, right?
From this relentless pain... and suffering.
From this abyss.
I'll free you.
I'll... take you to Nirvana."
...but... why?
Why would you do that?
And how...?
When you're yourself nowhere better.
Suddenly, everything stopped moving.
The sound of wind that made the leaves of trees flutter.
The autumn leaves falling from trees.
The buzzing of insects. everything.
And all I could see...
All I could hear...
Was him.
He smirked again.
But his expression was so serious...
I almost believed him.
Or maybe...
I just had to believe him.
Even if it was a trap...
I wanted to fall into it.
* * *
Niva was sleeping as the sunlight fell from the window.
She woke up and blocked the blinding light with her hand.
'Dream about yesterday, huh...'
*Ding-dong* *Ding-dong*
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
'Who the heck is this... at this hour?'
Reluctantly, Niva got up and went to the door.
On the screen, she saw it was her mother.
'Ugh... it's too early for this...'
*Clang-click **beep-beep **beep-beep*
'H-how can she...!?'
Her mother opened the door.
"How... how did you open the door?"
"Remember I'm the one who got you this place?
I know the owner well.
I just said I wanted to know if my daughter was alive or dead."
"..."
Niva remained silent.
"You're in deep trouble, young lady!
You haven't answered my calls at all.
And when I came a few days ago—"
"—Now you know."
"What?!"
"Now you know I'm alive, right?
Now leave...
...please, Mom."
"Ha! The nerve! How dare you..."
Niva sighed.
'Haa...'
She rubbed her forehead and slowly stepped closer to her mother.
Her mother noticed the cold eyes staring back at her.
Intimidated, she took a step back —
Her back hit the door.
"Wh-what's with that look?!
Why are you staring at me like that?
You've never looked at me like this before!
Why... y'know, I'm just worried about you."
Niva leaned closer, her head droop on her mother's shoulder.
"I know..."
Her mother couldn't comprehend what had happened to her.
"What in the world...."
"... I beg you..
Leave.
Please."
"Tell me...
Just what happened to you?"
'...'
"I don't know.
I'm... just so exhausted, Mom.
So exhausted."
I knew it.
That's why I didn't want to meet her.
Whenever she stood in front of me...
My feelings always leaked out.
But all I wanted was to hide my hollowness.
Her voice — always so kind...
So soft... to the point
It makes me drowsy.
With every breath I take, her scent spreads through my body.
It's...just like freshly washed clothes.
She would give me everything I want.
I'm sure she'd make me forget all the pain and suffering.
And yet...
*Tear slowly dripped down Niva's eyes*
...No matter what she does,
She can't stop the sadness.
Not her.
Never.
If destiny were a sudden gust of wind...
I had been helplessly swept away by it.
Swept away by him.
to be continued...