"Krimson dear, won't you join your friends outside to have some fun?" Miss Alvy asked, her voice laced with concern for the boy's isolation.
"No, I'm alright... I prefer staying inside," Krimson replied curtly, his head bowed.
"Son, you know these negative emotions won't fix your grief. Stand on your own two feet and transform your dreams into reality. I heard your dad was a really brave man. Why don't you pick up that trait? People said he was always so positive, never spotted frowning. He turned every negative into a positive. He was such a... "
Before she could finish, Krimson snapped.
"Can you please leave me the hell alone? And don't call me 'son' again. Only my dad gets to call me that," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and pain. Miss Alvy looked taken aback but chose to suppress her anger, pity replacing it.
"I'll leave, but just know this: negative emotions weaken even the strongest people," she said, her voice thick with unshed tears as she walked away.
Once she was gone, Krimson replayed her words in his mind, hearing his dad's voice in the back of his mind:
"Son, don't worry. Everybody dies one day. If I die, just know I'll always be proud of you, and I'll watch over you. Nothing can stop you from being the best when I'm not around."
The memory brought fresh tears to his eyes.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his thoughts. A girl with a pale face and purple lipstick stood before him, wearing a black leather skirt paired with a purple T-shirt and leather jacket.
"Hey, I'm Alora. I've been watching you for a while. You seem really depressed," she said energetically, her words almost snapping Krimson out of his stupor.
"That's none of your damn business. Just leave me alone before I get pissed," he snapped, his head still bowed. Alora, however, just laughed.
"Hahaha... You think your anger scares me? That's actually kind of cute," she teased. Her unexpected response made Krimson look up. He was met with a face so beautiful it almost hurt to look at. He stared at her, confused and slightly dumbfounded. Alora smirked. "Why are you staring at me like I'm some kind of alien? Thought you'd throw hands or something."
"Uh... nothing, ma'am... just... get out of my face," he stammered, feeling his cheeks flush.
"Blocking your light? Dude, you were already in the dark," Alora said with a roll of her eyes. She then extended her hand. "Come on, step into the light."
Before Krimson could protest, she grabbed his hand and pulled him up, dragging him outside. Krimson tried to resist, but she quickly shushed him.
"Shh... just follow me."
Once outside, Alora took a deep breath. "Breathe in and out. It's good for the soul."
"What now? I was just... trapped in my emotions," Krimson said, his voice hesitating.
"I didn't ask for a damn explanation. Just breathe in and out. Three... two... one."
Krimson reluctantly followed her instructions. Surprisingly, it felt good.
"How's it feel? Bet it's mwah," Alora said with a grin.
"Honestly... it feels good. Being outside is more refreshing than I expected," Krimson admitted.
"Mm-hmm... look at those kids," she said, pointing to some children playing nearby. "They've lost their parents too, but they still find ways to be happy. You can't always let your heart control your actions. Sometimes, when your heart's
broken, it won't guide you right. It's like a broken compass, won't point you where you need to go until you fix it. Your heart can heal, but only if you're willing to put in the work."
Krimson hesitated before replying. "I don't know how to fix it. I was so close to my dad... it's like we were superglued together."
Alora's smile faded a bit. "We all were close to our parents... well, maybe not my dad." There was a brief bitterness in her tone.
Noticing the shift, Krimson asked, "What happened with your dad?"
Alora remained silent for a moment, pretending she didn't hear him. When he repeated the question, her expression darkened.
"It's a long story," she finally said, her voice strained with emotion. "I'll tell you one day, but not now."
"Don't worry, Alora. I'm all ears whenever you're ready," Krimson said softly. Then, checking the time, he added, "It's 6:52 PM. You should get some sleep, don't you think?"
"I totally agree. I'm sleepy as hell," Alora replied with a yawn, wiping her tears.
As they walked back to their rooms, Krimson suddenly held her hand. Alora looked surprised but didn't pull away. When they reached their rooms and parted ways, Alora leaned in and kissed Krimson on the cheek.
Blushing, Krimson smiled as he walked into his room, feeling like his heart was soaring. As he lay in bed that night, instead of darkness, he saw Alora's face in his mind, a smile spreading across his lips. He fell asleep with that smile lingering.
In the early hours of the morning, a soft whisper echoed outside the boys' dormitory.
"Hey… Hey… Hey!"
It was Alora's voice, calling through the window. When no one responded, she picked up a tiny pebble and tossed it at Krimson's window. The light thud woke him with a start.
Annoyed, he rubbed his eyes and muttered, "Who's disturbing my sleep?"
Then he heard her voice again. "Krimson, it's me, Alora. Come outside! "Recognizing her voice, his irritation faded. He tiptoed past his sleeping roommates and sneaked out of the dorm.
"Alora, it's 3:04 A.M.!" he whispered, yawning. "Why on earth did you wake me up?"
Alora smacked his arm lightly and said, "Because I'm bored, and I couldn't sleep, dummy!"
"What the flipping hell, Alora? You woke me up just because you're bored?" he asked, glancing at his watch in disbelief.
"If you're so sleepy, you can go back inside. I'll just stay out here alone," she replied sarcastically.
Krimson SIGHED, feeling guilty. "No, no… I've changed my mind. I'll stay."
"Hah! I wouldn't have cared if you'd left, you know," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Really? Okay, goodnight then," Krimson teased, pretending to walk away.
Before he could take more than a few steps, Alora ran up and hugged him tightly.
"So you were serious, huh?" she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Do you even realize what could've happened to me if I stayed out here alone? You don't care about me at all, do you?"
Krimson gently patted her head. "Of course I care about you, Alora. I'm just messing with you. I wouldn't leave you out here alone."
Alora smiled, her playful demeanours returning. "Aww, you're such a softie."
They sat together on a bench outside the dorm. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Alora turned to him.
"You remember when you asked me about my dad?" she said hesitantly.
"Yeah, I remember," Krimson replied. "You said you'd tell me when you were ready."
"Well… I think I'm ready now," she said softly.
Alora took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she began.
"When I was five, my parents' marriage fell apart. My mom decided to divorce my dad because of constant arguments and... other things I was too young to understand at the time. I remember the day vividly, the day my life shattered into pieces."
Krimson stayed silent, his full attention on her.
"The divorce didn't sit well with my dad. He was furious, out of control. One night, while I was in the living room coloring, my parents got into another heated argument in the kitchen. I tried to ignore it, but then… I heard a loud scream. My mom's scream."
Alora's voice cracked, and Krimson instinctively reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She continued, her voice trembling.
"I ran into the kitchen, and… and I saw it. My dad had stabbed her with a knife. The blood—there was so much blood. She looked at me, her eyes wide, full of pain and
fear. She tried to say something, but she couldn't. I froze, too scared to scream, too scared to move."
Tears streamed down her face now, but she didn't stop.
"My dad saw me standing there. He stared at me with this… this cold look, like I was just an inconvenience. He didn't even say anything. He just dragged her body out of the kitchen. I heard the back door slam, and then he came back, wiping his hands like nothing had happened. He locked me in my room that night. I sat in the corner, shaking, replaying the scene over and over in my head. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't cry. I couldn't do anything."
Krimson's chest tightened. He couldn't imagine the trauma she'd endured.
"The next day, people started asking about my mom. Her friends came over, worried because she hadn't shown up for work. My dad told them she'd gone on a trip, and he made me lie too. I was terrified of what he'd do if I didn't.
But after a few days, I couldn't take it anymore. I was so scared, so angry, so sad. I picked up the phone and called 911. I told the police everything. They came and arrested him. I remember watching as they dragged him away in handcuffs. He looked back at me, and I swear, if looks could kill…"
She paused, wiping her tears with the sleeve of her jacket.
"They found my mom's body a few miles away, buried in a shallow grave. My dad was charged with murder and taken to court. When the judge asked me if I thought he should live or die, I didn't hesitate. I said, 'He deserves to die.'"
Krimson's eyes widened.
"I was just a kid, but I knew what he did was unforgivable. They sentenced him to death. I didn't feel any guilt. Not then, not now. He took away the one person who truly loved me. I couldn't forgive him for that."
Alora's voice softened, and she looked down.
"After that, neither of my parents' families wanted anything to do with me. My mom's family said she brought shame to them by marrying my dad. My dad's family blamed me for his death. So I ended up here, in this orphanage, all alone."
Krimson was silent for a moment, processing everything she had shared. Then, he pulled her into a gentle hug.
"You're not alone anymore," he whispered. "You have me now. I'll never leave you, Alora. I promise."
Alora hugged him back tightly, her tears soaking into his shirt.
"Thank you, Krimson," she said softly. "You don't know how much that means to me."
The two of them sat there in silence, under the starlit sky, finding comfort in each other's presence.
The night felt still, the cool air enveloping them as they sat together on the bench. Krimson, his arms still around Alora, felt a warmth in his chest he hadn't
known in a long time. Her pain was raw, but in this moment, he could feel their shared connection, a bond forged in the fire of their individual tragedies.
After a long pause, Alora pulled back slightly, wiping the last of her tears away. She gave Krimson a small, grateful smile. "I'm glad you're here, Krimson. Really. It's like... it's like something inside me is finally starting to heal."
He nodded, his voice steady. "You've been through so much, Alora. But you're not alone now. I'll be here. Always."
Alora chuckled softly, wiping her eyes again. "I'm still getting used to the idea of having someone who cares about me. I mean, I always thought I'd have to keep everything to myself, you know?"
"I get it. I felt the same way after losing my dad," Krimson said, his tone sober but resolute. "But, maybe that's why we found each other, right? We understand each other's pain. We don't have to carry it alone anymore."
Alora smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder. "I think you're right. Maybe... maybe we can help each other heal."
Krimson's heart raced in his chest. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was in the right place, with the right person.
"Yeah," he agreed softly, "we will."
They sat in silence for a few moments, letting the night stretch out around them. Finally, Alora broke the quiet, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hey, Krimson, about earlier… when you said you cared about me more than I think... do you mean it?"
Krimson turned his head, looking into her eyes, and nodded. "I do. I care about you more than you could possibly know. "A faint blush appeared on Alora's cheeks, and she looked away for a second, as if trying to hide a smile. "Good. Because I care about you too, Krimson. More than you know."
The words hung in the air, unspoken but understood. In that moment, it felt like everything had shifted. A new chapter had begun for them, one where the darkness of their pasts couldn't overshadow the light they were starting to build together.
With a SIGH, Krimson checked his watch. "It's getting late. I should probably get some sleep."
Alora yawned and stretched. "Yeah, me too. But... I don't want to say goodbye yet."
"You don't have to," Krimson said, standing up and offering her his hand. "We'll see each other in the morning."
Alora smiled and took his hand, rising to her feet. As they walked back toward the dorms, hand in hand, the silence between them felt
comfortable, the kind of quiet that comes after two people have shared their deepest pains and are starting to heal.
When they reached their separate rooms, Alora paused, turning to face Krimson one last time.
"Goodnight, Krimson," she said softly, leaning in and kissing him gently on the cheek. Her lips lingered there for a moment, sending a shiver down his spine.
He smiled, his heart beating fast. "Goodnight, Alora."
As she disappeared into her room, Krimson stood there for a moment, feeling a warmth in his chest that he hadn't felt in years. The world outside was quiet, but inside, something had shifted. He had found a friend, someone who understood him, someone who needed him as much as he needed her.
And that thought brought him a sense of peace he hadn't known was possible.
The next morning...
"Krimson! Krimson! Krimson!" Miss Alvy shouted, waking him up.
Immediately, Krimson shot up from bed, checking the time.
"The hell... it's already 9:00?" Krimson said in disbelief.
"Yeah, that's why I came to wake you. I didn't see you in the dining hall, and I think Alora's missing too... What did you two do last night?" Miss Alvy asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Nothing, just tired," Krimson said with a yawn.
"Yeah, I get it. Go take a bath. I saved you two some food," Miss Alvy said as she left.
"Okay, thanks," Krimson said, heading for the bathroom. After a quick bath, he made his way to the dining area, and to his surprise, Alora was already there. He sat next to her.
"Heyyy."
"Krimson? Perfect timing!" Alora said, her voice suddenly lively.
"Ever think about getting out? I'm tired of being stuck inside," she asked.
"Yeah, same. Let's go out today. But where?" Krimson asked.
"I don't really know," Alora replied.
Krimson grabbed his phone, scrolling through restaurant options. He showed her a few images.
"Perfect," Alora said, under her breath.
"What time though?" she asked.
Krimson checked the review.
"Going there around 1 is lit as hell."
"Looks like we'll be going at 1," Alora said excitedly.
It was finally 12 PM.
Krimson and Alora met beside the boys' dormitory, the same spot they had met at dawn the last time.
"Damn...you look fire," Krimson said, scanning her from head to toe.
"Oh, please, this is how I've always looked since we first met," she replied, rolling her eyes.
"Not my fault your beauty keeps frying my brain," he smirked.
Alora clicked her teeth, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Stop this dramatic nonsense and admit you think I'm pretty."
"Goddamn, it's already 1:30? We gotta move!" Krimson exclaimed, glancing at his phone.
He quickly booked an Uber. While they waited for the driver, Miss Alvy appeared, her curious expression betraying her thoughts.
"Where are you two heading this afternoon?" she asked, folding her arms.
Krimson stammered, "W-we're not really going anywhere specific. We just wanted to step out for a bit. That's all."
Miss Alvy arched an eyebrow at his clumsy reply but handed him a thick stack of cash.
"Take this, just in case," she whispered with a wink.
Their Uber finally arrived. Miss Alvy waved them off, saying, "Take care, kids. Be back before dinner."
They waved back, hopped into the car, and set off.
In the Uber. The driver glanced at them in the rear view mirror.
"So...y'all a couple or what?" he asked casually.
The question hit like a bomb. Alora and Krimson froze, their eyes widening. They exchanged a quick, flustered look before Krimson turned away shyly.
Alora stumbled through her words, "Y-yeah, I mean no! We're a couple...of friends!"
Krimson nodded, backing her up. "Yup, just besties. Really close besties."
The driver chuckled. "Well, whatever you are, you look cute together."
The two laughed awkwardly. "Thank you, sir," Alora replied.
When the car hit a pothole, Alora instinctively grabbed Krimson's arm. He looked at her and grinned.
"You're kinda adorable when you're scared," he teased.
"I wasn't scared! It was just...the shake," she shot back, blushing.
"Yeah, sure. You were so scared," Krimson replied, laughing.
Alora pinched his cheek hard. "Ouch! Okay, okay, you weren't scared!" he whined.
At the Restaurant: "You've reached your destination. Have a perfect date," the driver said with a sly smile.
Instead of protesting, the pair exchanged amused looks and burst into laughter. Krimson held Alora's hand as she rested her head on his shoulder while they walked into the restaurant.
The place was buzzing with teens their age. Whispers followed them, some mocking their goth and opium-inspired drip, others admiring them.
A waiter approached, beaming. "Welcome to Teen Hideout! Follow me to your table, lovebirds."
Krimson and Alora exchanged a glance but chose to play it cool, simply saying, "Thank you."
The waiter led them to a cosy table for two. As Krimson quickly ordered a pizza, Alora agonized over the menu, taking what felt like forever to decide.
"I'll have a pizza too, but double the toppings," she finally said.
"Ma'am, got it," the waiter replied and left.
"You really made that poor dude wait," Krimson teased.
She rolled her eyes. "He's a waiter. His job is literally to wait."
"Typical Alora," Krimson chuckled.
As they chatted, two teens approached their table.
"Ayo, your drip is mad sick! Straight opium vibes," one of them said.
"Fr, no cap," the other chimed in.
"Thanks," Krimson and Alora replied.
"Name's Max, but call me TayDot. And this is Iris, a.k.a. Gen Z Queen," Max said with a grin, nudging Iris.
Iris rolled her eyes. "Ignore him; he's a Gen Alpha brainrot."
Alora smirked. "No worries. If I can handle Krimson, I can handle anyone annoying."
"Hey, I'm not annoying!" Krimson protested.
After their meal, Max invited them to a nearby hangout spot called Auraland. The group hit it off, and the energy shifted to wild fun. Alora and Krimson signed up for competitions, Alora for a TikTok dance contest, Krimson for a rap battle.
While performing, their chemistry was undeniable. Alora watched Krimson's rap, thinking, Damn, he's fire. That verse? COLD.
Krimson, on his turn, found himself mesmerized by Alora's moves. She's amazing...and gorgeous, he thought.
When their eyes met mid-performance, they both blushed and looked away, pretending it never happened.
After the events, they reunited. Alora, ecstatic about her win, ran up to Krimson and kissed him.
Iris and Max appeared out of nowhere, gawking.
"Thought y'all weren't dating," Max teased.
"Well, I guess we are now," Alora admitted.
Krimson, trying to act chill despite his racing heart, said, "Yeah, guess we are."
The four laughed and exchanged Instagram handles before heading home.
On the way back, Iris asked curiously, "Wait, what high school do y'all go to?"
Alora hesitated before replying, "We don't go to high school. We've been home schooled at the orphanage since we lost our parents. "That's rough," Max said, sympathy evident in his voice. "But maybe you should ask your caretaker about trying it. High school life is a vibe."
Alora nodded. "I'll think about it. Thanks."
As they arrived back at the orphanage, the four teens said their goodbyes, already looking forward to their next adventure.