I went back to the city to pack my stuff. I packed all my gym clothes, favorite jackets, sweet pillows, and amenities. I switched off the lights and electricity in my room.
Then, I decided to visit the gym because I had to leave this place for a month.
The Gym.
When I get inside the gym, there are few people in it. Suddenly, the orange-haired woman runs towards me.
"Ah!"
Her body hits me.
"Roelle, I miss you!"
Ava tells me.
"I miss you too."
I hug her.
"Why are people still here?"
I ask.
"We expand the time."
"Oh."
"Come sit here."
She drags me to the side seats. We pass the office. I see Aven, her brother, arguing with a couple of men in front of the office and his girlfriend standing beside him.
"What happened?"
I ask Ava.
"*Sigh, probably the group of fighters."
"Why?"
"That blonde hair over there."
Ava talks about Aven's girlfriend, who stands ignorantly.
"They come here often?"
"Recently yes."
"I told Aven to break up with her so many times…and she runs right back to him every fucking time."
"..."
I look at them and shift my eyes to her. Then she notices me and glares at me as always.
'Don't eat her.'
Are you mocking me? hmpt.
'Heh, yes.'
"So, what is going on? Where the hell have you been?"
Ava.
"I got the job."
"Is it the job that..."
"Ah-ha."
I nod.
"Yes!"
She looks happy.
"How is it? Do you like it?"
She asks me excitedly.
"Mmm…hard to say, but it's better than the old jobs."
"Well, just keep on doing it…"
"Hm, hm.."
I make a sound
"What is that sentence, and what is that face?"
I ask her while moving my face closer and slightly tilting my head.
"Hehe, I just hope you finally find a job you like…and don't have to find a new one again."
"...Me too."
"I hope you find something you love and keep on doing it…with or without other aspects."
"...Yeah."
Then, she holds my cheek and gives me a little kiss.
"Woohoo!"
Then, other people see the scene and make a sound.
"Shut up."
Ava shouts at her customers.
"Hehe."
I chuckle.
"Hey, Hey!!"
And then there's a sound of yelling and fighting in front of the office.
"Fuck!"
Ava curses.
She runs to see her brother.
"Stop it!"
Ava yells at them. They are fighting and beating Aven. He who isn't backing down and tries to fight back.
"And what the hell are you standing for?"
Ava yells at Aven's girlfriend.
"I'm not going to be in the middle of that, Ava."
She answers her.
"Ava, be careful."
I tell her and pull her back.
And I step in.
"Hey, stop."
I speak up.
"Thug.. Thud!!"
They keep on punching. They're sure boxers. I can see their movements.
"Aven, step back."
I tell him.
"Roelle?"
He hears my voice and accidentally turns his face to me.
"!!"
One man throws a punch at him, and I kick him in the side before it hits Aven's face.
"Thug!!"
That man falls down.
"Why do you still let them come in here?"
I ask Aven with a bit of a grumpy face.
"When did you come here..."
He's shocked, and he already has a bruise on his face.
"Hey!"
And then another man throws a fist at me then I slide my right foot back and swing my right hook together with my body to turn back around and punch him in the ribs.
"Argg!"
He screams and bends down.
"Roelle..."
Aven calls me and grabs my hand to pull me back. His girlfriend watches without a blink with her shocking face.
"They're boxers..."
Aven.
"I hope they can still attend the match."
I turn to them and give them a steady face.
"!!"
Two of them get up.
"What the hell is going on?"
I ask Aven.
"..."
He doesn't answer but still grabs my wrist.
"Hm?"
I make a sound to the three of them.
And they shift their eyes to Aven's girlfriend.
"Don't tell me that you're one of his girls?"
One of the men asks
"No…He's my brother."
I quickly answer and snap my wrist out of Aven.
"..."
"Not related…"
I add.
"You beat him because of a girl?"
I ask.
"..."
"Three of you with one man, to have a girl who is standing there, doing nothing to stop and watch you carelessly?"
"!!"
Aven's girl opens her eyes wide and shivers a little. I glance at her, and she gives me a death glare.
'Hehe, Roelle, chill.'
"Can you guys just be a respectful athlete and leave the respectful public place?"
"...Respectful place? Hahaha. Girl, don't be arrogant here. Just get out drinking some milk at home."
"..."
"So your guys are not respectful athletes. Just a bunch of assholes."
I tell him.
"What are you doing, Roelle?"
Aven steps closer to me. I push him away again.
"Watch your mouth, girl."
One of the big guys steps closer.
Then, I spin myself with full energy and punch him in the jaw.
"Thud!!"
And that man falls down, his head hits the floor, and he loses consciousness.
"You're the one watching your mouth."
I tell him.
I shift my eyes to the other two.
"!!"
"Don't come here unless you're here for exercise or with permission from the owner."
I talk to them and move myself to the side to show Aven.
"..."
Then, two of them drag his big friend on the floor out of the place.
"Oh my god!! Roelle!!"
Ava runs to me and squeezes me.
"Are you crazy!?"
And then Aven's girlfriend grabs my arm violently to turn to her.
"Why did you blame me for all of this!?"
She yells at me.
"Let her go!...you're the one causing this!"
Ava yells at her while holding me.
"..."
I step closer to her while looking at her. Then, she steps back with a shaky eye.
"!!"
Then, Aven grabs her arm.
"Ah!"
She cries.
"Let her go."
He tells her.
"I gotta go."
I turn to tell Ava.
"Okay. I'll take you."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm not going to stay here."
And I remember what I came here for.
"What?"
"I have to...train my job... out of this city for one month."
I think I shouldn't say the village's name.
"What, when?"
"Now."
"!!"
"So I'm not going to see you for a month?"
Ava's expression is a little sad.
"We can text."
I tell her with a smile.
"What kind of job?"
Aven asks me.
"...nothing special."
I answer.
"I have to go. It's getting late."
"Sure!"
Ava hurriedly hugs me.
"Take care, Roelle, and text me whenever you can, alright?"
"Yes, of course. You too."
"Sorry for the mess, Aven, and for…that."
I turn to talk to Aven and shift my eyes to the blonde.
The Doldrums village
'Roelle, your blood is rushing strangely back there.'
Ah, I have no idea what's going on.
'You said don't let me eat them, but you seemed to eat that girl's head.'
The big man is standing lean on his back to the wall in front of the entrance of The Playground. I step closer to the building, and finally, I can see his face.
"Emris?"
"..."
He looks at me.
"You just got out of practice?"
I ask.
"..."
He nods.
"Have you eaten?"
I ask.
"..."
He nods.
"Good."
I tell him with a smile and get inside.
And the second he follows me.
"What's in the bag?"
He asks.
"I'm moving in."
"..."
"The second floor?"
I ask.
"..."
He nods and grabs my backpack from my back.
"Thank you."
I tell him and lose my arms out of the bag. He carries my bag for me.
Emris leads me to the second floor and shows me the room. I get inside and quickly take my bag from him.
"Thank you."
"Where's your shadow?"
He asks.
"Ah...here."
I show my palms to him with a smile.
"..."
He looks at the black running under my skin.
"How long has it been in you?"
"A week."
"...Let it out."
"ha?"
"Let it out…at least when you sleep."
He tells me with a serious face.
"Okay..."
Xin.
'Hmpt.'
Then Xin slides himself out, gathers under my feet, and spreads out the shadow behind me. The black, massive smoke covers the whole room.
Emris looks at him without fear and turns his eyes to me.
"It takes all of your energy."
"!?"
"Let him out when sleep time."
He tells me again and puts his hand on my head.
"Okay."
Then, as he's about to leave my room, he turns his face to me.
"Thanks for the noodles."
"Hehe, you're welcome."
I answer him with a big smile. and he leaves the room.
'I don't even know.'
I don't know too.
'Are you feeling okay?'
Yeah…I think so…
Back then, I acted so recklessly because of this, right?
I turn back to see Xin.
Maybe because of me, just being more my own self.
'I'm sorry, Roelle.'
No, I don't feel you are taking my energy, though.
'How did you feel for the past week?'
I felt tickles. I felt my blood running. I felt everything inside my body, Xin.
'I also felt that way…I felt you. I know every detail and every spot that triggers you and the senses. I felt good.'
You can feel?
'I don't know…but I feel like I don't want to get out.'
…
'To know what your body feels like, I like it.'