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When I opened the door, my heart trembled.
I was staring at his bloody arm, and memories flooded back...
It had been so long since I'd last seen him like this.
When did it all begin?
Maybe…
Since the day I can still remember.
A morning when the scent of rain filled the air,
and someone warmed my cold hand.
I couldn't cry… or maybe I just didn't want to look like that
Not in front of Mom, not in front of Souh.
In the backseat of the car, Souh was holding my hand tightly.
And Mom was driving like a madwoman,
her injured foot pressing hard on the gas,
and her tears clearly visible in the rearview mirror.
We were running away from Dad.
"Will I finally stop hearing those cries in the middle of the night? Are we free?"
That thought painted a small smile on my face—
until my gaze landed on Souh's eyes.
Cold, wordless, staring at Mom.
And I remembered… right before we left,
Mom had taken Souh into a room and said something to him.
Souh's expression… the rift between them
had grown deeper than ever.
And I could feel it.
I never once believed I was truly my mother's child. I had always felt like a stranger.
It was the same for souh
Souh was silent the entire ride, staring out at the road.
I kept wondering what he was thinking, what he was feeling—
but I decided to give him space.
"When will we get there?" I asked.
"Tomorrow night."
From Mom's answer, I realized it was far.
Souh turned his head toward me.
I knew he didn't like me calling her "Mom."
I looked away.
I couldn't bear to look into those furious eyes
I leaned my head against the window and watched the grass by the roadside.
I didn't know what was waiting for us.
I thought maybe we could escape that man.
A foolish thought stuck in a seven-year-old's mind.
I don't remember when I fell asleep.
Mom's voice woke me up:
"Souh, Sia, wake up. We're here."
I shook Souh awake.
When we got out of the car, the sky was still dark,
and the city lights softly lit up the roads with a yellow glow.
The car had stopped in the middle of a forest.
"We're here. Get out."
In front of a large house. Not as beautiful as our previous one,
but it had something... maybe peace.
We stepped forward.
Mom took the key out of her pocket and opened the wooden door.
The house was already furnished,
as if it had been waiting for us.
We went down the stairs leading to the living room.
A fireplace, chairs, a wooden table in the middle...
On the other side was a big TV and a room I figured was Mom's.
She went into the kitchen and started cooking.
Souh quietly went upstairs.
I followed him.
He was the only one who stayed close when I was angry or happy.
I climbed the glass stairs, my head filled with thoughts.
I knocked. No answer.
I slowly opened the door.
He was lying on his black bed, staring at the ceiling.
Silent.
But I could feel his anger. There was something on his face I'd never forget.
"Brother… I'm tired. Let's go outside."
His eyes widened.
"I'm tired. Go."
"If you don't come, I'll cry."
"Your face doesn't say that."
"Ugh… fine, come on."
He threw on his black t-shirt and jumped out through the big window.
"Brother? Are you okay?"
He didn't answer. Just pointed to the door.
That meant: Come through the door.
I went downstairs and shut the door behind me.
He was standing in the grass outside.
"Hurry up, idiot!"
he said mockingly.
I threw a rock at him—it missed.
We both laughed…
and walked off into the dim light of the forest.
Our first adventure in a world that was meant to remain unknown.
My steps never matched his.
Souh always walked a few paces ahead of me,
as if he didn't want anyone by his side.
The sun was setting behind the mountains,
the sky slowly turning into night.
We passed along the roadside
and found a small park, strangely empty.
Without a word, Souh walked forward.
I followed behind him, like always.
We reached a bench beside a winding dirt path.
He stopped.
Sat down in silence.
I walked toward the swings...
A few minutes passed.
I told him I'd go buy something from the shop,
and he said, "Come back quick."
I went.
And when I came back, I froze for a second.
A boy... with pale yellow hair, his clothes a little dirty,
but his face—his face had a smile that lit up something lost in my eyes.
He was talking to Souh.
But Souh, cold and expressionless, was just staring back at him.
I walked closer, but
the boy turned and left.
Not in a rush, not strangely. Just… left.
And there I was, with Souh, who said nothing at all.
From that day, everything changed.
A few days later, I was walking back from school,
and suddenly remembered the park, so I went.
That's when I heard a growling sound nearby.
I turned… a stray dog, teeth bared, growling and creeping toward me.
I froze. I could only stare.
Until a shadow jumped between us.
A boy in simple clothes… the same pale yellow hair.
He pulled me aside and shouted at the dog until it ran off.
My breath was caught. I looked at him.
His eyes…
there was something in them that shook my heart.
And the only thing I could manage to ask was:
"What's your name?"
"Kai."
From then on, I kept seeing Kai more and more.
At first, Souh was cold to him.
Emotionless, distant—just like always.
But slowly… something in Souh's eyes began to change.
At first, I thought it was nothing.
But one day, I saw it.
Souh was smiling.
Standing next to that boy.
Souh—the same spoiled, quiet kid—was laughing.
And in that moment… something inside me shattered.
A quiet fear,
A strange sense of being left behind.
or maybe it was just jealousy
And only one question kept echoing in my head:
"Souh… why do you only smile when you're with him?"
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