Disclaimer: ch might contain some upsetting scenes for some readers
***
"Sera!"
He shouted, running after her, a fear lingering in his eyes.
Where she kept walking, not even trying to look back, a guilty expression on her face, trying to hide it under a shadow.
"Sera...!" he shouted again.
Grabbing her hand, holding it tight as he pulled her, shouting in a panic, "Why are you running away?"
But she said nothing, looking down…
Her eyes hid behind her long brown hair.
"Sorry…" she said, her voice heavy.
Where Noen, he just stood, his hand loosening, fearing the worst.
His past memory resurfaced, a past he had long forgotten, where he was a human living in the imitation of heaven and desire.
***
Ring ring— ring ring.
"Whoo?"
A kid spoke, his body short, his tone like someone still maturing, having a bright future ahead. He looked almost 5 years old, living inside a giant house, smiling as the caller behind the phone spoke in a soft tone, but it had a small lingering weirdness, something a child... how could he have noticed, who hadn't even learned what money is?
"Noen, it's your aunt."
"Ohh, aunty, how are you?"
"I'm good, haha... ahh. Listen, Noen, be a good boy and stay there where you are. Aunty's gonna pick you up."
"Why?" he asked in a cute, curious voice, waiting for an answer, but no one responded till after a minute she replied again in a low voice.
"We will tell you after we come to meet you, okay...? So be a good boy and stay there… don't go playing with your friends."
"Okay…" he said, smiling as he continued in a cute voice. "Don't forget to bring me gifts, hehe—"
Sniffle... sniffle...
"Whannn..."
A kid cried, his voice echoing through the hall as many people stood watching in sadness, a quiet sorrow lingering in the air, and as well many sinful eyes stared at the innocent kid.
Who was trying to fight reality, who hadn't even begun watching the world.
He ran back to his aunt, sobbing on her clothes.
"M-Mom... sniffle... D-Dad... why did they leave me?"
He cried harder, drowning in sorrow as if he knew he would never see them again…
His aunt stared at him, comforting him—
*smack!*
"You f*ker, why don't you sign on this!!"
"We spend our lives taking care of you, and you can't even do this??"
"S-Sorry..." a boy said, his eyes cold, looking down on the worn mat. His eyes showed no emotion, but fear... it was there.
His hands stuttered as his aunt raised her hand on him, slapping him before a bearded man came, stretching the boy's ears, glaring at him.
"We took care of you all these years, and still you can't hand over your parents' property!"
"Why... why... why... urgh..."
He grabbed his hair, pulling him in circles.
He came closer to Noen, saying in a threatening tone.
"Silently sign… on these papers or else."
"Tch... never. In my whole life, these belonged to my parents, not to you fuckers." he said boldly, picking a nerve on the man. It glared at Noen angrily as he raised his voice, shouting at him:
"What did you say!!"
*Thud.*
He slammed his leg on the boy's chest, throwing him against the wall as he coughed up some blood, beating him.
You would look better like your dead parents, you bastard, go die—
"Dear, stop! If he dies…"
*Smack.*
"Shut up, bitch."
"Let me show you how you get the papers signed."
'Give me the papers!"
"H-here"
He turned back, holding a pen and a few sheets, looking at the boy.
"Hey, get up. Take this pen and sign here if you don't want to die—"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
"Whose fuckass thinks knocking on the door at this hour is the correct time!"
*Crash.*
The door broke as police in blue uniform stepped in; loud curses echoed, an unknown voice faltered in the air, and the lights were the only thing that the 16-year-old boy saw before he went unconscious, smiling.
***
"So... ahh... Noen, right? How long were you experiencing abuse?"
"After they came to know about my family's possessions."
"How long has it been?"
"I don't know."
"Okay…"
"Can you tell me what you like?"
"I don't like anything."
The policeman looked at him awkwardly, trying to find something to change the mood, where Noen sat wrapped in bandages, eyes devoid, covered under dark circles.
He stared at him with his black eyes as if he had no soul.
"Ahem... so we have put them in custody, and soon the court will make the decision."
"So don't worry, boy."
The policeman said, sitting up from his chair and patted his shoulder, continuing,
"Good days come in everyone's life. Some day it will in your life as well— learn to cherish your present, boy."
"Sera...?"
He said, crying, tears falling from his eyes, looking at her, but suddenly warm hands touched his face, stroking him.
"Don't cry," she said gently.
Pulling his face closer, she tapped her forehead on his head.
Closing her eyes.
"You didn't do anything wrong."
"I always trusted you."
"So why were you running away?" he asked in a low voice.
The mood shifted into something heavy but unexplainable.
Her face turned down, stepping back from his face.
"I-"
He held her hand, pressing it gently.
"Tell me."
Silence stayed longer, his eyes staring at her. Still holding her, she said in a low tone.
"I feel like I'm a burden to you. I can't even help when you are struggling! I-I can't... I just... sniffle... don't want you to leave me like my parents did!"
Her eyes shed tears, crying. She tried wiping them out, but they didn't stop.
Sniffling.
But then—
*Thump.*
He hugged her.
"You are already helping me, Sera. I never thought of you as a burden."
"Really?" she asked, staring at him with her teary eyes.
"Yes, really."
"Just be the Sera that I know of. You don't have to aid me in battle. You supporting me is enough for me."
*press.*
He slid his fingers on her eyes, taking the small falling drop on his thumbnail.
"So stop crying cause I want to see you only smile."
"Ohh... geez... haha. I'm the one who ended up getting comforted... idiot."
"Huh?"
Noen looked at her, confused, trying to make sense of the sudden comment, but Sera? She didn't let him process it, and just kissed him on his cheek.
Closing in, she said softly in his ear,
"You really are an idiot."
The words echoed in his mind, and before he could knew he was standing, blushing in a daze, looking at Sera, who suddenly looked beautiful standing under the bright orange sunlight.
But this was just the start of a journey they never thought of.
Something that has no end.
Filled with many dangers and hurdles.
"You smile?"