kKian watched Cassiopeia from a safe distance, her movements a blur in the bustling city. He followed her as she dashed from one job to another, a tireless worker who seemed to never tire. She waited tables in a diner, ran a cash register in a convenience store, and even helped out at a local bakery. She worked until late at night, her face weary but determined.
Kian saw the exhaustion in her eyes, the shadows that had begun to gather beneath them. He felt a pang of sympathy. He wasn't sure if he could ever trust her, but he had to admit that she was strong, resourceful, and hardworking. Maybe he had been too quick to judge her. Maybe he had been wrong to treat her with coldness. Maybe he should give her another chance.
The next morning, Kian walked to school, his mind still full of thoughts about Cassiopeia. He was still wary, but he felt a strange sense of relief knowing she was out there, taking care of herself. He needed to figure out how to live in this world, to make sense of everything.
He walked through the schoolyard, his gaze scanning the crowd. He saw the kids that the real Kian had called his friends, laughing and jostling each other. They were bullying a smaller kid, pushing him against the wall and calling him names. A knot of anger formed in Kian's chest. He didn't understand how the real Kian could be friends with these people. These weren't the kind of people he wanted to be around. He couldn't believe how he had ever put up with them. He decided right then and there to cut off ties with them.
He walked over to them, his heart pounding.
"Leave him alone," he said.
The bullies turned to face him, their faces full of surprise.
"What are you going to do about it?" one of them sneered.
Kian grabbed the hand of the smaller boy, pulling him closer.
"Come on," he said, his voice tight.
The bullies laughed, but Kian didn't look back. He pulled the boy away, leading him out of the schoolyard.
Once they were out of sight of the bullies, Kian let go of the boy's hand.
Kian sighed and walk away. He didn't know why, but he felt oddly protective of the boy. He looked at him, his dark hair and shy eyes, his small frame.
The boy followed Kian around for the rest of the day, keeping a safe distance. Kian felt a little annoyed. He was trying to avoid the drama, and now he had a shadow following him.
He stopped, turning to face the boy, his face hardening. "What do you want?" he said, trying to sound tough. He wasn't very good at being a bully. But the kid just seemed so helpless, so scared.
"I… I just wanted to say thank you," the boy mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. He had a way of making Kian feel guilty just by looking at him.
Kian felt a pang of guilt. He wasn't actually a bully. He was just a scared kid trying to figure out his place in this world. He looked at the boy, his anger fading.
"You're kind of cute, you know?" he said, a smirk spreading across his face. He felt a little strange saying that, but it just popped out.
The boy blushed, his eyes wide. He looked like a little puppy, all innocent and shy.
"Hey," Kian said, softening his tone. "It's okay. We can be friends. No one's going to bother you if you hang out with me."
The boy's eyes widened with surprise, and a shy smile spread across his face.
"Really?" he said.
"Really," Kian said. "What's your name?"
"Felix," the boy said.
"I'm Kian," he said, extending his hand.
Felix shook Kian's hand, his grip surprisingly strong.
"Nice to meet you, Kian."
Over the next few days, Kian learned more about Felix. He was quiet and nonchalant, but Kian could sense a depth of kindness and loyalty in him. They started spending time together, playing video games, hanging out at the library, and even sharing lunch. Felix was a good listener, and he always seemed to know what Kian was thinking. They shared a bond that was as strange as it was comforting. Kian found himself looking forward to seeing Felix every day. He realized that even though he was a fake, even though he didn't know who he truly was, he was making real connections.
One day, after school, Felix walked alongside Kian, his eyes fixed on the ground.
"Hey, Felix," Kian said, stopping to look at him. "What's your last name?"
Felix looked up, a shy smile on his face. "Gallardo," he said.
"Felix Gallardo," Kian repeated, testing the name on his tongue. It felt strange to hear the name out loud, but it didn't feel like a stranger. It felt familiar.
Felix nodded, his shy smile fading. He looked back at the ground, his eyes downcast.
Kian felt a pang of sympathy. He knew what it was like to feel like an outsider, to feel like you didn't belong.
Later that evening, Kian decided to try something different. He had been so wary of Cassiopeia, so cold to her, but lately, he had been feeling a shift inside of him. He realized he was being a jerk. She was trying her best, working hard, and she needed his support, even if he wasn't sure if he could fully trust her.
So, he decided to be a little warmer. He walked into the apartment and saw Cassiopeia sitting on the couch, her back to him. She was sniffling, and he could see a faint purple mark on her cheek. He felt a wave of concern wash over him.
"Cass?" he said, his voice hesitant.
She turned to face him, her eyes red and puffy, her face pale. She tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace.
"Hey, Kian," she said, her voice hoarse. "How was school?"
"It was… okay," he said. "What happened to you?"
Cassiopeia looked away. "It's nothing," she said, trying to brush it off. "Just a little accident."
"Cass, that's not a little accident," Kian said, moving closer to her. "What happened?"
Cassiopeia sighed. "It's the men, Kian," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "They came again."
"What do you mean?" Kian asked, his voice tight.
"The ones from before," Cassiopeia said. "They came again. This time, it was worse. They had weapons."
A flashback played in Kian's mind. He saw the three men again, but this time, there were ten of them. They had bats, metal tubes, and a sense of viciousness that sent chills down his spine.
"They were demanding money," Cassiopeia said, her voice trembling. "They said it was for our father's debts."
Kian felt a surge of anger. His father's debts? What had his father done? And why was Cassiopeia taking on his problems?
"They… They hurt you, what about the debt" he said, his voice a whisper.
"It's a long story," Cassiopeia said, her voice a low murmur. She looked away, her gaze fixed on a point in the distance. "Before Mom died, Dad was… well, he was a good man. He worked hard, and he loved us both. But everything changed after she was gone. It was like a switch flipped."
Kian leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. He had only vague memories of his mother.But Kian had learned to avoid asking.
Cassiopeia continued, her voice growing softer, "He started drinking. A lot. He lost his job. He started gambling. He'd spend days at the casino, losing everything. And then, the debts started piling up."
Kian was shocked. This was a side of his father he never knew existed. He had always believed in his father's goodness, even when he was gone in the memories of the real Kian.
"It was bad, Kian," Cassiopeia said, her voice cracking. "He… he changed. He wasn't the man Mom loved anymore."
"And… what happened?" Kian asked.
"The debts grew too big. He lost everything. He had to run away. He left us with nothing. Except for the debt. He left us to deal with it."
Kian felt a wave of anger wash over him.Because the real Kian had always felt a sense of guilt for his father's absence. He thought it was his fault, that he hadn't been a good enough son.
But now, he realized it wasn't his fault. His father had been a coward, a selfish man who had abandoned his family.
"He left it all to you?" Kian asked, his voice full of disbelief.
"He left it all to us," Cassiopeia said, her voice quiet. "But it's my responsibility. He was my father. I have to take care of it."
"What a jerk," Kian muttered, his anger rising. "He's a scum."
"He was a good man once," Cassiopeia said, her voice soft. "But he lost his way. Maybe… maybe he didn't want to hurt us. Maybe he thought it was the only way out."
Kian shook his head. He couldn't understand. He couldn't forgive him.
"He's still alive, isn't he?" Kian asked.
Cassiopeia hesitated, her eyes downcast. "I… I don't know," she said. "I haven't seen him since he left."
Kian felt a surge of frustration. He wished he could confront the real Kian's father, to make him understand the pain he had caused. But he couldn't. He didn't know where he was. He didn't even know if he was alive.
"It's not your fault, Cass," Kian said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It's not fair that you have to deal with his mess."
Kian reached out and pulled Cassiopeia into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly. It was the first time he had ever hugged her, the first time he had ever shown her any real affection. Cassiopeia froze, surprised by the gesture. Kian had been so cold to her, so distant, for the past few weeks. He was acting as if she were a stranger. But now, as if all her problems had washed away, he was holding her close. A wave of relief washed over her, a sudden warmth that filled her with gratitude. She started to cry again, her tears mingling with the scent of Kian's shirt.