The call starts.
[Hey, Will... Where are you now?]
[What's up, Mom?]
[I'm asking, where are you.]
[Just tell me straight away, what can I do to help you, Mom.]
[You... You're always so direct! That's why you don't have any friends, you know!]
[But I have beako...]
[A friend?]
[Ah... I mean Beatrice...]
[Ihihi... Have you started using nicknames now? You two are so romantic.]
[It's not like that, it's just that it's easier for me to call her that way.]
[Ihihi... Will... Are you feeling shy? No need to lie to me, I know you two are very close.]
[So... How can I help?]
[Huft... If you keep this up, you won't be able to get a girlfriend in school, you know!]
[Don't need one, and also don't care, there's no point in someone loving me. So... What do you need help with, or should I hang up the phone right now?]
[Ahaha... Sorry, sorry, just kidding.]
[I know... So, tell me what you need, Mom?]
[Do you have any money with you?]
[Yes... What's up?]
[Could you buy some groceries before you come home?]
[Okay... Fine.]
[Sorry...]
[Why are you apologizing, Mom?]
[Well... Asking my child to buy something with their own money is a bit...]
[Feeling guilty?]
[Yes.]
[You don't need to feel guilty, Mom. I do it not because you force me, but because you need me. Besides, I do it willingly.]
[Hmm... You're right, thank you, Will. I'm curious about what side job you've been doing all this time.]
[Just a regular side job.]
[What do you do in your job?]
[Just cleaning.]
[Woah... A good start for someone starting to work. Don't worry, after school you can get a better job.]
[Yeah... I know...]
After that, my mom and I continued chatting all the way and she instructed me on what to buy at the nearest supermarket.
After we finished, she hung up the phone and let me walk home peacefully alone at night, carrying two plastic bags full of groceries and some snacks that I intentionally brought for my family.
But not long after, I was followed by someone who was lurking behind me continuously. It seemed like they were waiting for an opportunity when I looked vulnerable to attack me from behind. I could tell it was the same person I last saw at the cafe where I was talking to Beatrice before being hit by a truck.
He was still wearing the same clothes, a black hoodie with a mask covering his face. And also blue sweatpants that made him look suspicious.
He didn't change his clothes at all even after doing something cruel. It seemed like he didn't realize that someone saw him at that time.
"What a fool."
I found the nearest vending machine and stopped there, placing my belongings around.
Taking a coin from my wallet and intentionally dropping it under the vending machine. Then I bent down and pretended to have difficulty picking up the coin even though I already got it back.
Giving him an opportunity to attack me from behind.
Just as I wanted, he started to attack me. He ran with his loud footsteps.
"I knew it, you're not a professional," I muttered as I started controlling the water in the nearby drain and freezing the lower part of his body.
From his legs to his stomach, I now had him immobilized with my abilities. Now he couldn't move on his own will.
I took my belongings again and began to walk away. I was sure that the ice would melt on its own by morning.
"Hey, wait! You did this, didn't you! Hey! Let me go, damn it!"
I didn't expect it at all, his voice sounded like a woman's.
It reminded me of what my mom once told me.
"Never hurt a woman, because women are very sensitive creatures, maybe she did something wrong because there's a reason behind it."
My mom's words continued to haunt me, even though I knew it was a very foolish thing to say. Because not only women, but men can also commit crimes for a reason.
Since the beginning of humanity, human actions, human nature, what happens to humans, and what is happening to humans, all have their reasons. Nothing in this world happens without a cause. That's why... Gender has nothing to do with this.
But the doctrine instilled in me by society since childhood forced me to feel pity for this woman, the woman who tried to kill Beatrice earlier in the afternoon. The doctrine is about the gap between men and women.
Men are symbolized as strong individuals who must protect the weak. While women are symbolized as something beautiful that must be preserved. But no one ever said that women are symbolized as a sign of weakness that needs protection.
Women are considered special creatures, while men are seen as knights who must protect the weak. But men are never symbolized as a symbol of strength who must protect something beautiful.
All of this made me think, "why are women symbolized as beauty? Not weakness?"
But I had known the answer for a long time, and the answer was that women are "special" creatures.
It doesn't mean that men are not special creatures. But from the beginning, men have been symbolized as strong individuals.
Remember that without knights, a kingdom will not be able to withstand enemy attacks. And without a queen, there will be no people who feel comfortable. Because a king's concern is how to build a kingdom that can last a very long time, he will not think about how to entertain his people. Because a king is symbolized as a strong, firm, and wise figure, not someone who is gentle, cheerful, and likes to spread smiles around.
That's why I refused to believe that gender equality exists. From the beginning, men and women are two different genders that cannot be equated. There is no point in making both genders equal, because balance is created by the existence of positive and negative concepts, and both genders have those concepts.
That's why being weak is not something to be ashamed of.
But... Even though I knew that... Even though I believed in it.
Imagining a girl alone in the quiet night among the frozen ice below her body, I felt like I had done something evil.
If she were a man, maybe I wouldn't be worried. But she is a woman, and she is also not a professional.
After thinking for a long time, I found the answer of what I should do. But another question arose in my mind.
"That's right... Why would someone send an ordinary girl who is not a professional hitman to kill Beatrice?"
I looked back at the girl who was still screaming continuously because she wanted to be released.
Suddenly, someone around there came out of the house because of the girl's continuous screams. I had to act quickly after that.
I melted the frozen water and began to pull her hand and quickly ran away from there before anyone saw us together.
"It's weird... Why did I do something strange this time?"
"Ha? What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"And also, why did you suddenly grab my hand? You're the one who did that weird trick earlier, right? Hey! Answer me!"
This girl is really strange, she doesn't even have manners towards someone she directly failed to kill.
"Don't you have any shame?"
After that, she was surprised and silent as I let go of her hand. I noticed her expression after saying that.