THE RED BOY'S MESSAGE TO WHOEVER IS WALKING ALONE

Chapter 1: The Future Prediction

"On today's episode of 'a love story that didn't work out,'" Drak, the leader of the support group, declared with a theatrical wave of his hand. He stood at the front of the dimly lit room, his wiry frame casting exaggerated shadows against the peeling wallpaper. The circle of misfits laughed, some out of genuine amusement, others to mask the ache in their hearts. Among them sat Jener, 21 years old, fresh-faced but weathered by life and with sunken eyes, his oversized shirt hanging loosely on his lean frame.

"Why this topic? People are going to get all emotional all of a sudden, and some of us are going to cry over unnecessary stuff," Loine grumbled, folding his arms.

Drak smirked. "I can sense some slight pain in your tone. Indeed, I can confidently say that your heart has been broken before."

The group burst into laughter, their voices ricocheting off the cracked walls of the small room. Loine's indignation at the center of their mirth. Jener chuckled softly, the kind of laugh that hides more than it reveals.

"Give me a break," Loine muttered. "You're only trying to shift your pain onto me to make you feel better."

"Okay, okay, fine. Let's focus on the main topic, guys," Drak said, waving his hand to quiet the laughter. "But first, I'd like to introduce a new member to our group. He's in his twenties, and he says he does many kinds of jobs."

Drak leaned forward dramatically, lowering his voice. "Indeed, a statement of broke guys nowadays."

The room erupted in laughter once again as Drak motioned to Jener, who stood awkwardly near the door. "Behold the newcomer! Jener!"

Jener offered a shy wave. He had joined the support group hoping to find a sense of belonging, even if fleeting.

Dede, the quiet one in the group, was asked to start. His story was simple, almost melancholic in its brevity. "There was this girl I really liked. We talked a lot online, but we never got to meet in person. She stopped replying one day, and that was that."

After the group took turns sharing their failed love stories, Jener found himself opening up about his own struggles—how poverty had become a chain around his ankle, holding him back at every turn. By the time the session ended, he felt strangely lighter.

As he walked home under the faint glow of streetlights, Jener thought about the stories he had heard. Broken hearts, shattered dreams—everyone was fighting their own battles. But he couldn't shake the hope that one day, his story might take a brighter turn.

At home, his family waited: his mother, her hands raw from washing clothes all day, and his two younger siblings, their faces smudged with innocence. The tiny room they shared was cramped but alive with love. Jener sat by the flickering lantern, his mind replaying the stories he'd heard.

"Someday," he whispered to himself, "I'll make things better for us."

Chapter 2: His Naming Ceremony

The next morning, Jener woke early, brimming with nervous energy. He had secured a new job at the home of a wealthy man and was determined to make a good impression.

He arrived at the mansion, a sprawling estate with marble pillars and manicured lawns. His task was simple: paint the garden fence. But as he worked, a sudden gust of wind knocked over the bucket of paint, spilling it all over him.

"Hey, Red Boy!" a melodic voice called out, laughter bubbling in its tone.

Jener looked up to see Lisa, the rich man's daughter, standing on the balcony. Her hair glistened in the sunlight, and her smile was as warm as the morning rays.

"What did you call me?" Jener asked, wiping red paint off his face.

"Red Boy!" Lisa repeated, giggling. "It suits you." "Red Boy!" she called, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You look like a walking piece of art!" Jener flushed beneath the paint but couldn't help but laugh. "It's not exactly the masterpiece I was going for," he replied, brushing a streak of red from his cheek.

That day marked the beginning of something neither of them could have anticipated. Lisa's curiosity about the "Red Boy" led her to sneak past her father's watchful eyes. They shared stolen moments in the garden, laughter echoing among the roses, their connection deepening with every secret meeting.

They did everything together: racing bicycles down quiet streets, sharing snacks under the shade of ancient trees, and talking about their dreams. For Jener, Lisa was a dream he dared not believe could be real. For Lisa, Jener was freedom in a world that often felt like a gilded cage.

One evening, as they sat by the river, Lisa said, "I'll fight for us, even if the world is against us."

Jener's gaze softened, but his voice carried a hint of sadness. "Sometimes, the world will win."

Lisa frowned, but she didn't argue. Instead, she held his hand tighter, as if that alone could shield them from the storm that was brewing.

Unfortunately, joy was short-lived. Lisa's sister, sharp-eyed and envious, caught wind of their relationship. She told their father, planting seeds of distrust and anger.

Chapter 3: Guess Who Won

Lisa's sister despised Jener from the moment she discovered their relationship. To her, he was an unworthy intruder in their pristine world. The rich man's fury was a storm that swept through their lives. Lisa was grounded, her movements restricted.

The school event was her perfect opportunity. She and her friends orchestrated an interview where Jener would be questioned about his relationship with Lisa. But before the event, she visited Jener with a plan.

"Lisa has been grounded," she lied, her voice dripping with false concern. "She asked me to give you this money. She says you should deny your relationship in the interview. Her father will disown her if you don't."

Jener hesitated, but the love he had for Lisa and the sight of the money—enough to support his struggling family —made him relent. At the event, he denied Lisa, crushing her heart in front of the entire school.

Afterward, Lisa never spoke to him again. Jener's life spiraled downward. His parents passed away, and he fell gravely ill. On his deathbed, he penned a letter to Lisa, pouring out his heart.

The Letter

Don't make me a fool

Why?!

What exactly did I do to deserve this?

Or is it that you don't notice me anymore?

I still believe what we had was real.

No! It can't be all fake.

I always thought it was luck

That made someone like me

Meet someone like you.

Please let our encounter be a blessing

And not a curse.

You don't reply to my messages,

And you act like nothing's wrong.

Come on!

Are you that selfish?

I want to hate you, but I can't.

I wonder why I feel happy

And angry whenever I see you.

I hope you feel the same way.

At least act like we're actually friends.

I can't tell

Whether you're naïve

Or doing it on purpose.

If I've done something wrong,

Please forgive me

I thought I was helping you

And be done with this maze

You've put me through.

Jener handed the letter to a worker heading to the mansion, begging him to deliver it to Lisa. But as soon as Jener was out of sight, the worker sneered, crumpled the letter, and set it aflame with his lighter, a testament to the cruelty of fate.

Lisa, unaware of the letter, searched for Jener after weeks of silence. When she arrived at his home, she saw a wristwatch she had given him discarded in a trash bin. Heartbroken, she turned away, thinking Jener had moved on.

As the sun set on his life, Jener whispered, "She'll be fine without me." She left, heartbroken, never knowing that Jener's final thoughts had been of her.

Unbeknownst to her, Jener had passed away hours earlier, whispering her name with his final breath.