"Klein?"....
"Yes?".....
"Do you remember when we danced?"
"Yes, yes I do."....
..
.....
......
-Can you hold my hand just like before for this one. last. time..-
-I dreamt again, about the bunny I let go. I tried to follow the bunny's path. Unbeknownst to a snake that followed me. The bunny and I soon become friends. We would always play. That was when we are playing in the snow. My laugh can be heard echoing. But the snake ambushed us and got the bunny. I tried doing everything I can. But the bunny died. Not even when I was born I cried... That was the first time I ever shed tears..-
I opened my eyes. To feel upon myself crying also... And I see little knight here staring at me. "You're up early." I spoke as I wiped my tears and got up from the bed. "Both of you had nightmares! Are you two ok?" Jessie worriedly asked. "We're fine.. (I looked at Anis) Pray tell, do you know this man's name?". "Nope" she replied. I smiled. "Well,.. mmm do you wanna hear stories?". I can see a pair of big star in her eyes. I had never taken care of a child before. But I'll try.
Anis groans, as he finally rose from his bed. "Evening, ...Anis...." I said suspiciously. "What's up?". Jessie then got a little bit excited and let out a sound. Anis was surprised, "A kid??.... Well.. Hello there fella.". Jessie then suddenly became shy and hides behind me. "Nice to meet you, I'm Anis! And who are you princess?" he continued. Jessie then got excited when she got called a princess and came out little by little, and introduced herself also, "I'm Jessie.. nice to meet you too!" She grinned at Anis. Anis grinned back at her. And they both chuckled. "Well, look who didn't crushed my hand after a faithful meetings". "Shut up.". "Haha!". I can already see them getting along well. I smiled as I sat at a chair, and see a friendship between two children unfold in a matter of seconds.
We then started packing up now. "Are you truly well?" I asked of Anis as I was still suspicious of what happened that time. "Yes, I'm fine... more importantly how did you find her?" he questioned. "She went to me, as if she knows I was there that time." I replied as both of us looked at Jessie playing with random objects in the room. I took a glance of Anis, and discovered his visage was steered with a bit of desolation. I saw him take a breathe, gathered himself up, and he went to talk to jessie about the plans. That's when Jessie told us a very crucial information. "We won't find it?" she said. "What do you mean" Anis inquired. "Oh, some little birdie told me, this maze, has a door that would lead to a trial. I guess~.". Anis and I both looked each other by surprise and Anis keep interrogating her. "How do we find it? We've been traveling for years now here, how come we didn't get to encounter it?". "There's a lot of triggers I think. But one of them, their must be three people who ventures out the labyrinth, for a door to come.". 'Since, we're three people, how can we find it and what do you mean trial?" he continued asking. Jessie, answered with a shrug, "I think we just need to keep going? until we find it. The trials, I don't know too.. sorry What I know is we need to be ready for it. That's all sorry..." She whimpered. "Oh... I see, good job jessie! It's okay, we'll get through this!" Anis chuckled as he pat her head and she seem to be delighted.
After that, we began to look for it. Days passed and we interrogated Jessie more to what she knows about the labyrinth. It appears it may still take years for us to find the door. And also all about the admiraris. "They are the wonders of the labyrinth." she exclaimed. "There's the morning, afternoon, evening, and the most beautiful, the night.". She only encountered, morning, and evening admiraris, whereas Anis and I only encountered, morning. The admiraris, changes places, so when one leaves the admirari also.
..
...
-In days before turmoil, we basked in tranquility.-
..
...
We found an admirari. I believe it is set in the afternoon. The warmth of the heat that is coming from who knows where, is.. somewhat benign. Gentle. All of us three stood as we watch upon the afternoon view of the admirari. Then we saw a bunch of flowers. It was a field of flowers covering the whole hill.
Months went by. We covered our doubts of finding the door, by enjoying ourselves and finding admiraris instead. We still encounter beasts but it just became a nuisance to us. We taught jessie all about surviving here. The first time we attempted, she cried but she understands so she went along. It's not like we drilled it into her, we just introduced her the basics, such as increasing one senses to detect enemies... Days later, we arrived at a morning admirari. It was really nice. A lot of times there where Anis and Jessie, both of them would occasionally stumble into a rock. There's one time, Jessie tripped and dragged Anis with her and they rolled endlessly at the hill. While Jessie was playing in the fields. Jessie came up to us, and out of nowhere said.
"Can't you just imagine?. A world where everyone is just a cat".
"Cat?"
"EH, you don't know what a cat is?"
"Nay.".
"Well, let's get a cat if we ever make it out of here. You might need it aha."
"Is it food?" I replied unknowingly.
":0,... It's a... uhh... A cat."
"A cat, yes?"
"Fluffy animal, very much alive, chill, and cute.".... "I have no idea why we are talking about cats haha. I just love them ahaha."
...
"AHHH catts!!!" Jessie exclaimed
"IS there a cat somehweree!?" She said as she surveyed everywhere in search for one.
"Haha, unfortunately no. Are you fond of cats?".
"Yeah Uh!! I once got to pet one and It became my friend! Sadly. The professors had to take him away. It was so cute and flufffyyy."
"Righht!?... Oh right Jessie, do you want to join for a training montage too?"
"Hehe I have no clue what it is but count me in!!!"
"Yoshhi!! That's the spirit!!"
They sure are lively this day. Now I have to train two kids. How splendid.
Another month went by and, they sure are fired up everyday. We found another admirari. It's the afternoon again. A bit disappointed, but its a very nice break upon the endless corridors. and it is a great place to train. Speaking of corridors sometimes, there's odd places we could encounter. From what they call parking lot, sewers, a random house, storage room. From time to time, Anis and Jessie gets bored, so they play tag, or hide and seek from this places. They would often chase in circles around me. At times, I get annoyed and pick up both of them to make them stop.
Time went on their course. While marching, Jessie met a Spirit. Before we could encounter it. I. I. My eyes are.. getting drifty. I saw Anis fell unconscious. Shit. I saw Jessie still conscious. This.. this is... bad.
"Klein??! Anis!!! Don't.. Please.." Ah... I started crying again. It's been a while. I hear... I hear thumping of one's foot. And I.. a spirit. "Klein! Anis!! Please!! I don't know what to do." I desperately cried. The spirit.. it.. approaches me. I hear the thumping gets closer... I gathered myself up. No! I can do this! They've help you and now is your turn! I turned my back, once facing their unconscious faces. Now,.. in front of me. A huge shadowy spirit. "I WONT LET YOU HURT THEM." I roared like the dinosaurs! Specifically a stegosaurus. I roared with my eyes still very closely shut. Then.. it talked
"yOU.".
"yOUr a ChILd?" Eek! Scary voice!!
"...y-y-yes I a-am mis-mister!"
"StEp.. A..siDe."
"Yo-you may u-underestimate me! Bu-but. UGH Stay away from us!!!!". I e-exclaimed a-as I raised both my arms to p-protect them.
".......".
"Is.. is he gone?" I said as my eyes are still shut. I took a peek downwards and.. AHHHH he's still here. I started tearing up again. My runny nose, not helping as I keep sniffing it all out. Huhu. "Please. Don't. Don't hurt them."....
I hear... I hear him going down with his huge shadowy knees. And leaning closer to me.
"....tHeY,... kIlLEd mYs ON." He scaringly a-and furiously said.
"Y-y-you..." I took a big breathe. And calmed my words.
"You can hurt me. Is okay. I've already endured a lot." I remember.
"You can zap me." The way they put locks and zap me while I lie in a hard, flat table. Helplessly.
"You can drown me." That one moment where I refused and tried to run. I know it was hopeless. They catch me. And threw me carelessly in the tank like throwing a garbage in trash.
"Or you can do whatever new things you know. I will endure it. Even if I permanently depart from this world. Just... don't hurt Anis, or Klein. They are kind people. Not bad. Whatever they did. I'm sure it was a misunderstanding. So promise no hurt them! ".
"....."
"You have a mouth right? Say 'you promise you'll not hurt them' A promise is sacred." I said as I have my eyes still sealed shut. and still very scared.
"...."
"...." He's.. not saying anything..
"A.... prOMisE?"
"Y-yes, a promise."
"A... PrOmisE... A ProoMisE... a PRomise...... A promise."
"....?" His voice became more.. clearer?
"Child,... have you met.... my.. son."
"N-no."
"..." He was silenced... is he going to hurt me now?
"I,... see... I have a son, about your age....."
"... A son?"
"I remember.... I would..... always read him off books about fantasies.... Where elves and dwarves... Magic and such, exist. He was so happy about it. Till he falls asleep. I love it when he falls asleep, he would always sometimes giggle.. He doesn't have a mother so I would always be there for him,... He also.. always dreamt of being a King. He would often talked about how he will bring peace and tranquil to the whole world...
He asked me. 'Can I become a King someday? Can I? Can I?'.
So I replied 'Yes, you can.'.
'Really??!! Oh yeahh!! Aweesommee!! Once I became the King. Dad, promise me you'll be there to see!!'
'Of course Kiddo!' I said, as he grinned at me. And so he began. In school he would always help everyone. He would always volunteer. He longed to become the mayor of the city. As part of him wanting to be a king. He was smart, and empathetic but sometimes reckless. Years go by. He was finally old enough to become the mayor. I was really about to see him about to become a king, even if it's nowhere near an actual King, but I felt that for him, the day that he will become a mayor is equivalent to a coronation for him. I'm so proud of him. Unfortunately, the divine hates me, that's where.. I got to a stupid car accident. What stupid coincidence is it. Of all the days I got to die, it is the day I promised that I would be there for him.... I want to see my son for this one last time..."
"Sir,... Are you aware you're a spirit now?" I asked, as I finally had the courage to open my eyes and look at the lonely spirit in front of me.
"Yes,.. No... I don't. Know... I... I..... I felt my son.. after I died. He was left crushed... I don't know how I knew. I don't know why the world wants me to feel it. I just felt it. And I felt that.... he was teleported in here too. Just like you... Right? But after a few months, I... felt his presence disappeared. And I sense it. Those.. ThOsE tWo. KiLLED HIM."
"I.. I'm sorry.. I.. don't know what to do... But.." I said as I sealed my eyes yet again out of fear.
"But, I think he already became a spirit here. He already died from your world. Because. Klein mentioned that he once fought a Child King. A spirit.".
"....iT cAnt be."
"The Child King, tried to kill them first. Maybe.. He became crazy?"
"No... No. He would never. It's.. not him."
"But... They said... after they manage to stab it. It haunts them. What it said. It said. 'Dad.. I did it.'... Is it not you who he mentioned?". I said as I slowly look at him again.
"..No... no..." The spirit cried.
"They,... THEY KILLED HIM." He raised his voice in grief.
"NO. THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHOICE TOO." I yelled at him back.
"YOU CHILD, STEP ASIDE OR ELSE"
"OR ELSE WHAT? GO AHEAD HURT ME."
"YOU!!! HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ANYTHING AT ALL??!!"
"BECAUSE!!!... Because."
"Because I loved them. I-I" I trembled and wept too. "All my life, I have felt nothing but a lab rat!! But when I met them. They were nice. They didn't hit me, zap me, drown me. Yell at me, look at me with disappointment as I refuse them."
The spirit calmed down.
"I always think about the future... What it would be for me. Will they hurt me more, will I eventually die. But.. them. They're Anis and Klein." As I took a glance in them and a quick smile and faced the spirit with fury.
"They gave me what it means to have a parent. To have a Dad. And I'm grateful for them. Instead of looking from ahead of what is going to happen. They taught me to look from my own two feet together with their foot,.. to look what is happening right now. And what is happening as I am with them. Is I saw them smiling together. With me in it..... So.. I won't let you hurt them."
"...."
"I'm sorry, if I'm acting selfish.. I'm sorry for what had happened to the both of you. But please. Forgive them or just.. don't hurt them. It's okay if you don't forgive them. I don't completely understand but I understand."
"...". The spirit, stood up in silence. And turned its back and leave.
"Wait!" I yelled, as I forgot something. As he turned his face into me again. I ran to him and.
"Thank you." Hugged the lonely spirit.
The spirit.... It remembered his son... The way he hugged him after school. Then it cried. The spirit cried. And hugged Jessie too.
"Thank you mister."
"Welcome."
Then the spirit poofed and white glowing butterflies burst out of him while grass and flowers started to suddenly grow too. It became.. warm.. Then Anis and Klein finally woke up. "Anis! KleiinN!!" I exclaimed as I hug both of them.
"What happened?" Groaned Anis
"Oh,... nothing. Just a spirit's family reunion." I lied while telling the truth as I grinned at them.
Days passed since then Jessie saved us. She still won't tell us what happened. Also we got lucky and encountered another admirari. I believe its strange we have encountered admiraris more than usual. Perhaps its because there's three of us. And just like what Jessie said about the trigger to find the door, it might have trigger something else too. Oh. Its evening this time. Jessie got excited, as she encountered this already and said to be the second most beautiful but her favorite. After hours, we sat, as we watched the sun set. It was phenomenal, both in beauty, and its weird property. After it makes a sunset, another sun would appear in the opposite side, and will begin another sun set. The orange transitions to blue. Their color reflects everything, from the clouds, the ground, the grass. Everything. I cast my glance yet again upon Anis. I don't know why. I just want to look at him. How the light falls upon him, is warming of sort.
Weeks gone by. We came across a random skating rink. Jessie and Anis were excited. They both never tried it but knew what it was. Anis was too stubborn and excited to explain so he gave up and showed it to me directly by putting on the shoes and while sitting, he tried to stand but got too scared, but i got the gist of it. It appears you put on a boot that lets you roll, and get on the 'rink' or the center where you 'skate'. Both Anis and Jessie, talked secretly they then insisted on me to go on first. I don't know why. So when I put on the 'roller skate', and walked at the rink casually with confidence. Their jaws dropped. At this point I feel like they tried to embarrass me... But when they soon tried they keep stumbling. I had the last laugh. The rink had many food conveniently. It is a miracle we still haven't encountered any poisoned food. Every rations we see had been edible. So we manage to stay at this rink for quite some time. I like it. It is devoid from the usual monotone theme of the endless corridors. And I got to see Anis and Jessie struggle everyday. So, instead of humiliating them further. I really want to if I could but at this point they are too frustrated now. Specially Anis. Jessie got the hang of it now. Anis on the other hand... I let out a gentle laugh, and went in on the rink. "Oh look the professional had entered the rink.".
"Take my hand." I said, as I reached my hand to him.
He paused for a second, I don't know why. Then his hand felt mine. I... wait. Why does a sudden warmth rise within me? A quiet stillness hung between us, our hands brushing, lingering. "Are you. Gonna teach me or-". "Oh... right."... Ah- I suddenly lost my balance. We both fell. Anis laughed "Oi, is it just me or you suck at teaching". I felt my chest flutter at the sound of his laugh. I could not help but let a small smile escape.
"Perhaps, I did manage to train you though, right?" I murmured, as our hands remained entwined. "Yeah, yeah, I guess that counts too."
"Oho! what do we have here misters?" Jessie jests. Yet, instead of letting go our hands. I felt Anis, gripped it more tightly. "Where living the life here in the floor. Mmm wanna join?" Anis said as he invited her to lie in the floor. "Don't little knight. He's just seeking for excuses." I said with a little bit of a smirk? As I stood up and lift Anis up and remarked "Come then, let us learn in earnest. This time I'll teach you properly.".
"Hold my hand tightly."
-weeeee- jessie at the background enjoying the time of herself.
"Li~ke that?" Is he a bit nervous?
"Indeed. Then try to bend your knees further to balance yourself. Try to be more confident. Don't try to sway."
"Got it.. You know.. A knight of all the people that would teach me this. I surely quite didn't expect this." he let out a bit of a laugh.
"Well, if only you do not suck this much at skating then you probably didn't need to be taught by a beginner like me." I retorted, it's the truth though.
"Haha! Ouch.... Hm."
We began to move. With me at his back to support him. The gentle coldness of the wind as it hits our faces.
"Another thing I really noticed is that.. The way you talk sounds so different compared then. You were this very, uptight, formal knight but know. It felt like I have made you somewhat like.. rogue?..casual??? Like delinquents haha. Does it not bother you?" Anis expressed. Well.. its not like it bothered me but.
"I do believe, it does not. I feel more alive talking like this to be honest. I have no complaint." I honestly replied.
"Good to know." Anis lightly smiled at me. He looks-... Out of everything I found. I saw with my two eyes, Anis here. Right now. Just... enchanting. As the light around us beckons gently and courtly. It felt like I'm in a dream.. Then out all of a sudden Jessie here bumped into us. Both of them laughed, as I smiled in return. This feeling.. am I really allowed to feel this?
Four months came. And what we had found is not what we had imagined. Upon marching towards the endless 'parking lot'. It suddenly became cold, so I hold up my guard. But that's when we realize, we encountered a rare admirari. It was snowing. Jessie was filled with excitement more than ever. And of course, alongside excitement, Anis. Both of them ran like a kid. Well Jessie is a kid, but Anis.. I smirked. He have never been this childish ever since Jessie came... In mine world, snow was to be afraid upon, as it bring forth destruction of crops and bring many deaths. But this. They make it seem like its playtime. By my truth, it's insulting, but I just laughed a bit and went along, seeing how much they are having fun. I rest upon the white blanket. The serenity I felt as I hear their presence around me. I closed mine eyes. And took a deep breathe and opened them as I smiled upon the contrast of the miserable clouds looking down to see a bunny and a mouse playing around the cold snow. And as a fox watched them. I threw a ball at Anis. Anis looked surprised, and then laughed. I sided, with jessie. And every snowball I threw it hit Anis. But...
-This is bad-
"Throw the ball come on!" -Jessie
-I am not like myself-
"Ahh I'm hit!" -Jessie
-I was forged by the pain and darkness that shrouds me eternally,.. however-
"Anis, watch out for this!" -I said as I grinned at him.
-This is so much fun.-
"Ahhh IM DeAd." -Anis
-Am I allowed to have this much kind of fun?-
Jessie then ran towards Anis while throwing some punches
"Gahhh!!! Your defeated!!!!! We won!!".
Then I ran towards them, and tackled them both into the snow. And we laughed.
Our laugh can be heard echoing.
This was
--------Our peaceful moments--------
After some time we soon left this admirari. "Goodbye, snow!! I willl miSsS YIuUUu!!!" Jessie yelled facing at the snow admirari as we leave and march then again through the corridors. Jessie's is still lively while marching, so is Anis but when I took a glance at Anis... He was in grimace. "Anis?" . Then he went back to normal and said, "Oh, sorry, must be because of the coldness of the snow...". I stared at him, and as I was about to question him about his pain, he interrupted me. "So, back there, you are laughing real hard." he uttered. Then I had a sudden feeling, I don't know what this called.... Anis looked at me and said "Woah you're blushing!". It made him blush too. We were a little bit quiet after that. "Well.. I just want to say,. I would love to see your laughing face again in the future." he softly uttered to me as he proceeded to smile gently. He made me, feel something again...."I look forward to it"... is it perhaps what they call.
Days passed, I've been gazing my eyes at Anis. I feel like, it's not the usual anymore. The way I'm looking at him. I always feel something in my chest whenever I look at him. Something that warms but.. .also hurts my heart. When I look from behind him, the way he talk to jessie, the way he talk to me. When he sleeps, he is the last thing I see before I close mine eyes. This feeling of mine urge me to hold his hands but.. I can't. That would be crossing boundaries.... Even if we embrace and held hand and all that, it was only to comfort... I sighed.
Another month has passed by, ever since then this feeling of mine didn't wore off. While marching towards the countless corridors, we began to feel a breeze. We followed where the wind tells us to. We prayed for moments like this. And then we were beheld by something great.
-The night admirari-
The view... Trees as huge as the mountains. And those trees are glowing brightly under the sleepless night in this admirari. The river reflects the light upon the trees while glowing fishes were also present. Fireflies are everywhere. Everything looks.. wonderful. It was the first time we actually discovered that is something fantastical in this not so fantastical labyrinth. The three of us stood in awe. Jessie... Jessie cried. It seems it was too gorgeous for her. Well it is... Ah.. I felt a drop in my hand.... oh. It seems it was too gorgeous for me too. I wonder why we cry upon these things?
-a surge of lighteth blind'd me and in searcheth f'r a h'rrible death to account f'r those who is't i've slay'd instead what i has't discov'r'd wast m're than just death-
A surge of light blinded me as I tried to seek for darkness in hell to account for those I have slayed. I asked death to grant me a horrible demise. Instead what I found was...
Life...
I.. is... this what it means to live. I said as I continue bawling. Anis smiled and pat my back. He did the same thing to Jessie.
Upon the river side, Anis and I are resting, while Jessie already fell asleep besides Anis while having my armor as her pillow. "How beautiful.." Anis murmured. I looked at him. I remember his eyes, to be more tired. But now. It... wait. I saw a hint of.. pain and sadness. Just now.
"Anis?"
"Mhm?"
"....Is there something bothering you?"
"What makes you say that."
"You feel... I. felt.. sorrow in you.". I saw a very subtle hint of surprise in his eyes before he said
"It's nothing."
"I know you're in pain. Oftentimes, I always see you in pain. You can tell me anything, you trust me right?"
"Klein.... I... I... I trust you."
He took a glance in me before he looked at the river. You trust me Anis. But then.. why are you. Hesitant?
"I. It's nothing. It's just." He sighed heavily. "It's nothing, it's just from the past."
"Anis, does that explain why you had headaches at times?"
"...." I hear his heart in shambles.
"Yes." the way he said that. I heard a hint of lie. It was my first time seeing him in grimace while not in pain. And it was my first time to glare back at him. I don't like it. But i don't know why... inside me.. hurts. With him not telling the truth.
"Don't lie to-".
"I never had friends ever since that moment."
"..."
"I was always cheerful back then, even how messed up my shittin' life was. Because I know. That I still have to live, because there are some positive side of life. Ever since I moved in Japan, I always longed for a friend you know. I will always daydream about some stranger talking to me, and then magically we're friends now. It would be nice if it could be more than friends too. But that never happened. Well, so I thought. I did made one friend. She.. she was odd. She was going on and on about everything. More so, this boyfriend of hers that caught her eyes. She would talk about them restlessly... She was a coworker of mine. Even though we live on the same building. We would always talk on our phones in our little rest days. I don't know why, but she felt more comfortable that way. There are certain times we would hang out at the rooftop floor and watch the fireworks together or when there's a chance to see the sunset, she would be there. She was a dear friend. Because she is just what I need to make my dull life more bearable. I really thought I finally found someone to be there by my side but the world is just too cruel.... She was cheerful, a chatter... seems not like suicidal right... She called me one day and. Out of fricking nowhere. She decided to want to off herself."
"One day you meet a person, then the next day they want to kill their selves... It's frustrating. I hurried over the rooftop floor. Something tells me she would be there. Not in her room, not in some strange location, but here at the rooftop. As soon as I came, I saw her. At the edge of the building."
'You don't have to do this.'
'....' As she looked at me, the fireworks behind her blinded me. The loud explosions..
'He was my everything.'
'You mean.... that doesn't mean you need to do-'
'Anis, it's over for me.'
'There's so much thing to do in life!'
'...Cliche words Anis. You know how hard it is to live right, I'm sure you know. No matter how many good things happen, it's only a matter of times before everything balances itself out. Nothing matters in the end... I try to be nice, they bully me in return. I try to be helpful, they still deemed me as useless. After a laugh or two with you, I'm back again with everyone stabbing me. I met up with someone, spend a few years. Wanna marry the love of your life? Very fricking great! What a miracle!.. But then they die...., leaving me alone and vulnerable. See? Even if we lived to see the good times, it is still buried by a lot of depressing things. I hate this world. It's too unfair. And... I'm too weak for it. ' She said all that. Without shedding a tear.
She just looked at me dead in the eye. I hear her voice. Her everything. She's just sick of it all.
'....'
'I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have lived and met you' then a step away she made.
"Then she fell. Just like that."
'NO!'
"It's so easy right. Just one step. And everything will be over soon."
'Goodbye'
"I hurried in to save her... But I failed. I failed. I failed her."
"Anis."
He curled up.
"But you managed to save me right..." That time he grabbed me. He was crying. Now I know why. "You did not fail her."
"But isn't she right. It's only a matter of time before everything balances itself. One day, I might perish from this world."
"What do you mean?"
"That nothing matters... Klein. Even if we encounter such beauty, it's meaningless when after all this good things... anguish is inevitable to come. I will forget everything in the end. I'm scared." He lamented. But Anis.
".....Nothing matters?"
"..Oh. Just forget everything I said.."
"Yes. you're right. Nothing matters.. Everything doesn't make any sense since all will be lost by the end of the day... however.. I believe that's why... of all the things you have taught me."
"...?"
"I believe that's why we must hold on to our precious memories more... "
"..."
"We only get our life once in a lifetime. And our life is so insignificant to the whole shittin' universe.... Anis."
Anis looked at me with a surprise.
I reached out my hand to Anis. "Wanna hold my hand?"
He was surprised. "..Why?"
"I simply,... just want to. Nothing matters right? So let's hold on tightly to the little things we have right now."
A faint, aching smile he made.. He looked at mine eyes, while I looked at his. Then he hold mine hand. Slowly. Somewhat... Gracefully.
I felt the warmth in his hand as it touches mine.
We both looked at the quiet river, as we hold our hand.
And in a heartbeat, I stood up, pulled, and lift him so he could stand right up. And asked him.
"Anis, have you ever danced?"
"Dance?"
"...Wanna dance?" I grinned at him.
Then I looked at him with a gentle smile
He sighed as he closed his eyes "Oh dear.. I really love your goddamn smile."
Then he gave a bittersweet smile looked at me and raised our hands together "Well I'll be glad."
In the forest night, fireflies glide and gleam...
"Anis, I-"
Two men stood there, as if in fleeting dream
"Despite the coldness, I feel your warmth."
Before me was you, before you was me
"Klein, I-"
Just centimeters far, we smiled with glee.
"I feel your gentle warmth too. It's comforting."
I took your hand, rough met soft in quiet pact.
"We never questioned what we are to each other."
From my rough hands, your gentle ones attract.
"But I'm certain now. I won't suppress it any longer."
We began to set sail, no boat, no sea.
"You're the only one I could think of, Anis."
The gentle winds that flow from the allėe
"Klein, you light up my path."
The fireflies we meet, as we travel, gleam.
"Even though you were a small light."
A dance across the forest, a waking dream.
"You shone the brightest."
A dance with whom I cherish, I feel freed.
"Is this what love feels like?"
In the forest night, fireflies glide and gleam.
"My heart is dancing.... Klein."
Hear our drawing breath, as we closed our eyes.
"So am I, Anis. So am I."
Two men touched their lips - just as they had dreamed.
"I will be holding you tightly Anis, and I'll be by your side. No matter what."
..
Under the glow of the forest night.
Two roses can be seen blooming.
Blooming greatly more than ever.
Shining even.
It was beautiful.
Despite living their entire lives filled with thorns. They both still bloomed as brightly as the reflection of the fireflies from the transparent river. Between the pillars. What it seems like a marriage ceremony was held.
I smiled. To be happy for other's happiness. Is great feeling.
..... I see Klein and Anis smiled and laughed at the silence. I'm glad, that I escaped professor Jerry.
I hope I could join them soon and be a family. I wonder how it feels like to be loved... with care, and with time.... I said to myself as I slowly closed my eyes and fell asleep. Too.. tired..
"Jessie?"
"Seems like someone is sneaking around haha."
My eyes alighted upon at Anis as he picked up Jessie. We went back by the river and sat. I see him about to fall asleep while looking at the river. Was he this pleasing to my eyes before? I just can't resist myself. Under the glow of the river emitted from the fireflies, I held his arm. He closed his eyes and smile. Then I smiled at him softly too and embraced him more. And there we both lie down the ground and looked at the beautiful night. As I fall asleep. As he fall asleep.
-Goodnight Jessie-
-Goodnight Anis-
-Goodnight Klein-