I felt a bit uneasy inside my heart from today after Jodan went out. I know that I can't hold him this time. He had already made his decision. I don't want him to wander around and get beaten as I did to myself. Seeing the wound around my back I regretted my decision. The shop was running fine. Today we made a great profit and of course, there's a large number of shipments. Luna had to go two rounds of delivery because of the exaggerated amount of requests. Because of Jodan's sudden leave, we had a bit of a problem at first. Kelan had to work twice much work to fulfill Jodan's pile of work.
All of them asked me what happened to Jodan and where he went except Luna. She was like that type so I don't think she had any consent for Jodan. After all, we are not capable of having feelings. Kelan was the one who questioned me most and was quite surprised. Was that an act? Perhaps…
"Sir, Why didn't you hold him back? He would have listened if it's you, don't you think? You can't let him go this time. He's a murder suspect. The police are gonna tear him apart."
Kelan's question went one ear and left from the other one. He was asking me so much that I couldn't answer a single one. I wasn't able to grasp the true meaning of his questions. Was he worried? Or just doing it as a formality. I know that he was with Jodan for months now but the thing is
We Monster never develop any feelings for others.
My answer was as simple as water. "He had made his mind. It was his wish and I can't do anything about it."
The next moment Kelan stopped asking me any question and went to his work. He seemed kind of downcasted but it doesn't matter anymore. On the other hand, Sutasi didn't even argue a bit. He was doing his stuff and didn't even bother to ask me about Jodan. Did he forget Jodan's existence?
Well, I did inform him.
"Aren't you gonna ask where Jodan went or why isn't he around?"
I asked him.
"Well, isn't he here?" Sutasi's eyes wandered around and came back to me at last.
"He left the place and went his way."
"Oh, I see" That was it? Even I was stunned but then again this is 'Sutasi' I'm talking to. He was like that from the beginning. He had his own way of dealing with things. After what happened to him, I can't say that he would ever recover. But thank goodness that now I was able to give him a decent life. It's going late. The sky was getting dark as the night falls. Why is it that I feel so bad today I didn't do anything that would hurt someone.
There is one thing that kept me thinking. The face Jodan made when leaving. It was a completely different kind of expression he ever made. It was a blank Pocky look with an abstract amount of wavering darkness. It was as if he was not in himself. I know it sounded foolish but to tell you the truth, for that moment, he had become a completely different person than who he used to be. Was he possessed by a demonic creature? That would be unlikely.
I am waiting for Luna to come back from his second time delivery. It was because I had to measure all the items and Note 8 on the shop receipt books. Closing the shutter I gazed at the dark sky. Today there wasn't a single star to be found. The sky was empty. Also, the moon was disappeared. My heart was telling me that something is gonna happen. Something really bad.
"Oh, Mr. Heriss? Were you waiting for me?" The one who asked that was none other than Luna. She was looking at me with confused eyes.
"Y-yeah, did you deliver everything?"
"Pretty much. There is one that's left but I can't get there because of some commotion going on the road. "
"Commotion?" That's something I heard just now.
"There's saying some boy got arrested for suspicion. Can't tell what the police are doing with him. Why're you quiet? Don't worry I'm gonna deliver that tomorrow." I was utterly speechless. Could it be Jodan?
Seeing me as that Luna continued,
"Are you that upset about that? Okay, I'm doing it right away." She then was about to go back but I held her hand tightly.
"It's not that. I wasn't upset because of you." She was looking at me for more info but I simply ended the conversation. "You can go home. You have done enough. Go home and rest." After that we exchanged glances in the end she left saying "o-okay, bye."
I seat down on the bench next to the shop. It was placed by the previous owner. He was a kind person indeed to not take it out with him or should I say he can't take it away with him? The previous owner of the shop was rather sketchy. It was a bakery at first however after that huge fight happened 20 earlier ago, he left the place selling it to some dealer. Then I brought it from the dealer. I chose this shop for a specific reason. This shop conveys a hidden basement. It was designed to hide an entire colony in that basement. I recreated it as a training hall. I and others spent a few amounts of time in there. Then I build the shop for financial support. This was after my daughter died. She was my only reason for living but I found my life again in children like Kelan, Sutasi, Luna. They became the reason for my existence. The burden I was carrying after my daughter's death was gradually decreasing until Jodan came. He remembered me of my daughter. In him, I saw my daughter's face.