"Sillia…" Sky's voice was a soft, concerned murmur as he rose from the floor. He couldn't grasp the sudden storm that had erupted within her.
"Don't come here!" Sillia's cry, sharp and sudden, halted him mid-stride. He froze, his gaze fixed on her. Her eyes, glistening with unshed tears, began to well.
"Sillia, what happened?" Sky asked, his concern deepening as he watched her eyes grow moist.
"No, first tell me… will you still love me as you do, or are you going to push me away like this because I'm not like others? Tell me… am I that bad and weird in your eyes for not wanting to go with them, but instead wanting to go there with you?" Sillia's voice cracked, and the dam of her tears finally broke, streams tracing paths down her cheeks. Sky watched, a flicker of surprise, a faint numbness in his own eyes at her distress, yet he maintained a neutral facade.
"Sillia, I don't know why you've suddenly become so emotional, but I don't think I need to answer that question. You yourself know if I would love you or not," Sky said calmly, trying to unravel the sudden shift in their interaction. Sillia, her eyes glistening with tears, unexpectedly pressed on.
"Does that mean you would still love me in the future for being who I am, not—not going to judge me for anything… you wouldn't push me away for being weird or something…?" Sillia's words were punctuated by ragged sobs.
"Sillia, what kind of question is that?" Sky asked, stepping closer, reaching out to touch her. But as he advanced, she cried out again.
"Don't touch me! Answer my question first, and please don't lie… like before…" Sillia pleaded, her voice cracking. Sky looked at her, truly seeing her distress, before speaking.
"Of course, I would always love you, just as before, in the future," Sky said calmly, his voice a soothing balm against her distress.
"You promised? You won't go back on your words, right? You wouldn't betray me…?" Sillia pressed again.
"Betray you… what does that mean?" Sky asked, seeking clarity, unable to grasp the depth of her words.
"I know, I'm weird. I know I'm not like others, and I'm a burden to you, but I still don't want you to leave me. You wouldn't leave me in the future like before… no matter what, I don't want to suffer the same. No matter the cost…" Sillia's voice was thick with unspoken pain.
"Of course, I wouldn't, girl. Now, can you calm down?" Sky said, moving swiftly towards her. In an instant, he wrapped her in a protective embrace, his hand gently caressing her back. He held her there, a silent anchor, for several minutes as Sillia completely broke down in his arms, sobbing loudly into his chest.
After several long minutes, as Sky continued to embrace and calm her, he finally spoke, sensing that the storm of her tears had subsided. "Sillia…"
"Sky…"
"Hmm…"
"I want a proper answer from you. You said I know it myself what you would do in the future, but I want an answer from you. So please tell me," Sillia insisted, her voice returning to normal, though she still clung to Sky.
"Sillia, do I really have to say? I've raised you since your childhood, girl. So if I won't love you, then who would? And if I were to abandon you, then who would you trust in this world? So don't worry, girl," Sky whispered calmly, still comforting her.
"Promise…?" Sillia whispered back.
"Hmm… I promise. But first, tell me what's the reason for you—ring… ring…" Sky intended to ask the reason for her sudden emotional outburst, but before he could finish, the phone in his pants rang, startling him. He didn't pick it up immediately.
"Sky… your phone. Aren't you going to pick it up?" Sillia asked, looking at him as she withdrew from his embrace.
"No… first tell me the reason for your reaction just now."
"Someone might have something important to say, so pick up the call first before asking me. It's not like I'm going anywhere; I can tell you after the call," Sillia explained. Sky looked at her with serious eyes before picking up his phone, thinking she was making excuses to gather her thoughts. He granted her that time.
"Hello…" Sky said to the unknown number.
"My lord… it's me."
"Yeah, I know. What's the problem?" Sky asked directly, not wanting to prolong the conversation.
"Today, the police came to my house asking to investigate something from us. I was so scared; I really didn't understand what to do. I even called you multiple times, but you weren't picking up my phone. I'm afraid that they wo—" Isha began to complain about many things, but Sky cut her off mid-sentence.
"Are they still there?"
"No… but they said they will come again to ask and investigate…"
"Hmm… tomorrow then," Sky said, cutting the call. He hadn't wanted to get too involved, but it seemed he needed to become serious; he wouldn't be able to live normally now.
"Wait—wait… my lord, at least unblock my… end…" Isha tried to say, but Sky didn't even give her a chance. Sillia, watching him end the call so abruptly, found it odd, as if he didn't want to talk to the other person much. Out of curiosity, she asked, "Who was on call? You cut it quite early."
"No—one. Now tell me your reason," Sky pressed. Sillia still didn't reply.
"You don't want to tell me? You know what, it's making me angry. Anyway, I have things to do tomorrow. I want to go to sleep," Sky said, laying his mattress on the floor before turning off the light. Sillia watched all of this, standing in the same spot.
After some time, seeing him lying on his mattress, Sillia moved towards him and sat down next to him. Her palm gently touched his face as she called him.
"Brother…"
"Hmm… what now?"
"You want to know the reason for me acting like that just now?" Sillia asked, Sky felt her lean in, whispering into his ear. Sky nodded at her words as he heard her saying, "Is it that hard for you to understand…?" Something she did was unknown to others, only to them.
"Sillia…?" Sky called out loudly, surprised. "I haven't crossed my lines, brother. But I want to…" Sillia whispered in his ears.
"I guess I have spoiled you too much; I need to discipline you," Sky said in a strict tone. Sillia looked at him before replying, "Hmm… you can, you have that right. But just don't withdraw yourself, because if you do, then you would be the reason for whatever happens."
"Are you threatening me? What are you doing? Stop! Don't do that. I need time to think it through," Sky said. Sillia smiled, agreed, and let him go, before settling onto her own mattress to sleep.