Hanji's mom rushed to her son's room after hearing his scream resonating in the whole mansion. His wail expressed an inexplicable agony.
She could care no less for her weak knees as she took the long tedious stairs to his room with tears threatening to escape.
"Dad!" he yelled again. His mom engulfed him into an immediate embrace after waking him up.
Her warmth, her feeble hands caressing his back in comforting circles put his mind at ease. His tears had eventually dried when his mom brought his face forward and cupped it into her tiny hands. She stared into his eyes for a while before asking, "was it the same nightmare?" He nodded.
She swept back the hair on his forehead and landed a peck on it. She reminded him that she is always there for him and loved him and that it was just a dream which will go away. He smiled at her before making his way to the bathroom.
As much as he wanted to believe her, he just couldn't bring himself to accepting that it was just a dream.
He would dream of a five-year old him. His hands would be stained with crimson red and he yelled dad repeatedly. He would feel so much anguish that it would make him lose his sleep for days. It would be plausible if he dreamt of it only once but the same dream every once in awhile had him in doubts.
After contemplating for a while, he decides to go to school even though he was morose. He knew he would have to feign happiness in front of his mother since he couldn't bear to see her sad.
He zoned out while staring at the sky from his desk. It was one of the days when he wouldn't talk nor eat. Just keep to himself until he starts feeling better.
"Hey!" someone yelled cheerfully.
"Animeboy! Here. Eugene asked me to pass this to you. " she handed him a manga book.
Just how can someone have this much energy as early as this morning. He thought.
"Ok. Also can you stop with the animeboy thing. I am not in the best of moods. "
"Isn't that just one of the moods of an animeboy wannabe? " she stuck her tongue out playfully. She did sense the seriousness in his voice but nevertheless decided to joke around to cheer him up a bit maybe.
Class had started and apparently someone had already drifted into their dreamland. Chaerry, out of concern, wakes up the lad behind her and oh did she regret. He lashed out at her and left the classroom enraged.
"Let's carry on students!" the teacher said to get the attention of the students who already started gossiping. "Chaerry, are you okay?" the teacher asked to which she replied with a nod. Her eyes were teary and slightly frightened.
News about the incident early this morning had spread in the whole school like wildfire in a jungle.
Girls talked about how cool he was.
The boys out of envy slandered him.
He was nonetheless, not at all bothered by them and thinking hard of ways to approach Chaerry. He was remorseful.
He thanked his mom inwardly when he recalled the dumplings she packed him for lunch.
He did expect her to get angry at him and so but he was willing to face it since he thought he was at fault. He didn't expect much but he believed food could do wonders.
Chaerry sat alone at the cafeteria. Eugene took a sick leave. Not that she didn't have other friends, just that she wanted some time alone. Like every teenager, she had a lot going in her life. She thought of this and that until her mind wandered back to the incident early this morning. To intervene her solo time, walked to her the very guy she was thinking about.
"Do you perhaps eat dumplings?"
He sat in front of her.
She examined him. "Are you fine?" she asked. He was slightly taken aback by her question. " I kind of overreacted earlier. " he said.
"I was honestly hurt by your remarks and how you asked me to stop being nosy.
I thought about it though. I was wrong too. I noticed since morning you weren't in a good mood and kept messing with you. " she explained.
"Also I have never had dumplings before."
" Here try. " he pushed his lunchbox to her side after opening it.
"Delicious!"
"of course it is" he smirked sassily.
"I bet you didn't cook this. "
"Huh! Not that I can't you ungrateful soul! " he rolled his eyes flexing his long eyelashes.
"What happened to Eugene?" he asked
"oh so you finally remembered to ask that. She took a leave. Sick. " she explained. "I will be visiting her again after school. Wanna tag along?"
"Can I?" he shyly asked.
" You are weird sometimes. See you outside the school gate later then." she said before she left for the washroom.
Classes ended! Students ran busily across the corrider happy to go home.
" Why are here already? " Chaerry asked. "aren't you supposed to be cleaning the classroom?"
"Do I come across as someone who will sweep a classroom? " he acted disgusted.
"Oh! You are back! Your mean and full of oneself attitude is back." she said sighing.
They then went to Eugene's.
Not fully, but they were steadily getting one step closer.