Lyrie's P.O.V.
I drag down the roll-up door of the store, then lock it up on the edge of it.
8:00 P.M.
By this time, people rarely come in here to buy something and I've already learned through the few years I've stayed here. Before I tried to wait until ten in the evening just to anyone--
"H-Hey..."
Mmm?!
"W-What the--"
I Immediately turned myself around. And I saw this man!
I raised my eyebrows and looked straight at him. He's the guy who bought here with Noknok.
"You scared me!" I raised my voice a little. Who would not be scared of him calling somebody in the middle of the dark.
"Sorry" I heard him speak, I looked closer and I saw his face. He is touching his nape with really having his unwell expression. He looks uncomfortable and… weak.
My body calms down. I felt guilty for shouting, real quick. I just nodded,
"It's okay.." I searched my sight on him,
"Are you ok? What do you need?"
He paused for a second and swallowed before opening his mouth,
"C-Can I have at least, paracetamol?" he said, quite narrowing his eyes.
I nodded,
"Mmm, I'll get it for you"
Without wasting any minute, I went straight inside. I went to the medicine cabinet, finding some paracetamol while passing over my index finger to the names of the medicines. Few seconds later, I found it near the end. I took it and went to the kitchen for a glass of water, brought it out with me.
I went outside and I still found him at the same spot, having his eyes all closed. I went closer to him. Still feels like he won't recognize my presence. I stood in front of him and tapped his shoulder. With a second, he opened his eyes and weakly looked straight at my eyes.
I'm stunned, I-I feel kinda worried right when I see those exhausted eyes.
I guided him to the long wooden chair sitting at the front of the store, then I handed him the glass of water and the paracetamol. He took it.
I just watched him take the medicine, having arms closed tightly.
He drank it all out and left a big gulp at the end. Then he looked at me,
"T-Thank you" he uttered, handing me back the empty glass.
"Mmm" I just nodded while taking it.
I remained my sight at him. He's now bowing his head closed eyes. I watched him and it made me wonder.
"What happened?" I asked him. It just came out of my mouth.
"I… I just encountered someone, she's sick, maybe I catched her cold" he raised his head and finally looked at me,
"Maybe I'll be fine in a minute. Thanks" he bowed again, touched his palm in his forehead.
"Mmm"
I removed my sight from him and looked around, breathed in the cold air and released a sigh.
"Is this where you were born?"
I looked at him. He's still in that position.
Is that him? Or there's someone with us right now?
My forehead was furrowed, looking around for where that voice came from.
"Or…"
I brought back my sight to him.
".. you just transferred"
It was him.
That almost gave me a heart attack. I thought there's someone with us.
"Sorry, I just want to ignore this headache by talking. You don't have to respond" he said.
I put my hand on my pocket,
"No, I didn't grow up here. I ran from home, been here for four years now"
Some information... It's just random things people really don't care about. It's ok for me, it won't hurt.
"How about you?" I asked back,
"I've just seen you here these days"
"Yeah" he responded,
"We came here for a vacation. Were from Manila, all of us, bandmates"
Bandmates? I wonder if he is related to that guy named.. what is that again?
"Finn"
Wait what?!
"What about him?" he raised his head and looked at me.
Why did I say that? What the-- what now?!
"Ahmm.. do you know him?" I just continued. But deep inside me, I'm so embarrassed bringing him this question.
Haayyy! Why am I interested with that guy?!
"Mmm, yes. Actually he's one of my bandmates" he stopped, looked at me smiling without his eyes.
He chuckles.
What is he thinking?
"I saw your eyes suddenly… sparkle" he stressed that last word,
"... saying his name" he ended up with a teasing smile.
I tried to make a straight face.
"Really?" I sarcastically said, coming closer to him and sitting beside him. He just followed me with his eyes.
"Yeah," he said nodding.
I sarcastically chuckle, and looked closer,
"I thought you were sick, and you're teasing me now, huh?"
He chucked and looked on the floor, his eyes still look tired,
"Well, I won't be surprised. Back in Manila, he is a like heartthrob cause girls usually look for him after a performance. And yeah, I can't deny he does have looks, but you know…" he stopped and looked straight at me.
Though he's feeling unwell, that kind of stare is different…
"You're beautiful"
What?!
My eyes were about to pop out hearing what he just said. I didn't expect that coming.
He smiled,
"He'll like you" he almost whispers.
"Tss" I can't believe he'll flatter me with this, I wonder who paid him.
Anyway, what's the sense of that?
"You'll leave soon, right? What's the sense of it?"
He smiled,
"Didn't you hear what they say?" he bowed a little, still looking at me. He formed his arms like he's holding a guitar,
"~unwillingness has a reason, if you want there is always a way~" he sang that line from an opm song.
And he's voice was good…
I looked straight at his eyes.
"Bwahahahahah!"
And almost closed my eyes laughing at him,
"..hahahah I think you really need some rest, go home" I said, then stood up.
He also did stood up, looked at me and smile,
"Thanks, ahmmm…" he's guessing my name.
"Lyrie" I said.
He nodded,
"Mmm, Lyrie" he waved his hands,
"I'm Calypso, but Cal would be better," he said. I raised my hand and waved back.
"Ok. Calypso."
"Tss" he hissed. Then he started to turn around,
"Thanks again, Lyrie," he said, starting to walk away. I just nodded and watched him.
. . .
~Next Day~
"Hello?"
About to turn around,
"Yes--" I'm startled.
It's Noknok.
"Can I get this, please?" he said pointing at something. Surprisingly, he treated me well. He did not brag about anything. He patiently waited.
"Here" I handed the paper bag of bread to him with his change.
"Thanks" he calmly said, took it, and walked away without inspecting anything like what he always does.
I stayed standing there, my eyes were still looking where he went out. I can't believe this.
Is it really that kid?
Calypso's P.O.V.
Wearing my smile, have my hands both on my waist looking at Noknok getting closer to where I stand.
…
Few footsteps from him, I bowed down and raised my hand to him,
"Up here!" he happily slapped my palm.
I patted his head,
"That's what I'm talking about! Very good! And hey.." I smiled at him,
"Don't ever raise your voice to her, huh?" he nodded,
"Be nice! Now you can go, your mom is waiting"
I gave him a smile. He smiled back and nodded. Then he ran home. I watched him from here.
He wasn't that bad.
How did I know?
I asked him.
*Flashback*
"Hey" I already caught his attention as he raised up his face and looked at me,
"Stop it already"
The other boys around us started to scatter and ran away. Only the three of us were left.
"Why?! Who are you to ask me?!" he shouted.
"Who am I?" I laughed and shook my head. I looked straight at him, getting closer while clenching my fist.
I can clearly see how he is trying to hide his fear. I saw his hands trembling while he tried to hide it behind his back.
I know there's a good kid in there.
I smirked. He's now in front of me. He raised his head high up to meet my gaze. And he's about to cry..
1
2..
He took a big gulp and there went his tears came down from his eyes. He immediately hid it and ran away. He turned right to an alley.
I looked at the kid on the floor. I figured out that he cannot stand because that kid stumped his feet on this boy's hand.
I carefully helped him stand. Tapping his clothes and taking off dirt on it. I kneeled down and got a closer look at his face. He has a bruise on his left cheek. I stood and reached for my pocket.
"Go home now. Apply some ice over there" I pointed at his cheek. He nodded while drying his tears still running down his eyes. I hold his head and gave the biscuit I bought,
"Clean yourself, then have a rest, ok?"
He nodded, then he walked away. When he turned to another street, I looked back to where the other kid went.
I'm just curious about something.
I started to walk towards the alley.
…
"AAAAAAA!"
I stopped when I heard that voice of a man. I turned my head to the left where I heard someone yell. It heads to another way in this alley. I furrowed my forehead while walking through.
"Did you know?!"
My eyes widened. I immediately hid on the other side where they cannot see me.
I saw the kid. He is being held by a man, much older than me. That held the kid to his face and screamed at him.
"You and your mother are useless!" his hands went down to the boy's neck and was about to hit him!
"Hey!" I shouted.
I can't watch this anymore.
He stopped and looked at me, scowling.
"You're a big man yet you chose to bully a kid" I bitterly said to him.
He let go of the kid and positioned his body towards me. I see the madness in his face, ready to punch my face.
"Why the hell do you care, huh?!"
"You'll put in jain with that" I calmly said. Leaning towards the stone wall behind me while having my crossed arms,
"Are you bored of being out here, free? I can help you, you know" I reached through my pocket, took my phone immediately.
Before dialing anything on it, I've already seen him running towards me! I avoided him quickly! I was really surprised it happened that fast. I breathed a lot before seeing him hit his face on the wall. I took that opportunity to squeeze him more and tightly took his arms behind him.
I tried to hold both of his arms with my hand while the other hand tried to dial the police number but he kept on squirming! I pushed him more to the wall!
"Aaah!" he screamed.
"Let me do it" I looked at him. The boy is offering his hand to my phone. I immediately handed it to him.
("***, What's your emergency?")
. . .
*WEEEE-WOOOO-WEEEE-WOOOO-WEEE-WOOO*
"What are you doing there anyways? Why did that man try to hurt you?" I asked while walking along with him.
"He's my uncle, Sir. He always does that especially when we cannot give money he is asking.." he stopped for a while. I looked at him and saw his cheeks, then he took a deep sign
"He said he's gonna kill my mother if I didn't give anything to him. And mother is really sick right now, I need to find money" he bowed down,
"That's why I tried to steal Duke's money"
"Who's Duke?" I asked.
"He's the boy.. I bully." he rolled his mouth shut.
He's a victim, who projects his own abuser onto others…
I looked at him,
"Where's your mom?"