Chapter 23: Reasons (I)
"Hey," Zenil said.
He was currently standing in front of Ryong's house, and Ryong had just come out of his home wearing flashy clothes. His hair was gathered into a neat bun, and he sported a semi-formal cyan shirt. Ryong had left the upper buttons casually undone, offering a glimpse of his broad, well-defined chest. His sleeves were casually rolled up, stopping just short of his elbows.
"Hey Zenil," He replied as he stopped in front of the youth, "What brings you here at this hour?"
Unlike his usual calm self, currently, he looked happier, excited like a little child. He was not wearing the neutral smile, he mostly had, instead his face was glowing with actual elation.
"I know it's late, but I just couldn't hold myself back from reporting to you all the things I did today!" Zenil said with a matching high spirit.
"I know you are excited, but so am I," Ryong said with a matching hand gesture, "I have a very important appointment, so I can't listen to your story right now, you can discuss it with Ayana."
"Alright," Zenil replied.
Ryong nodded and exited the front yard of his home, suddenly he stopped in his tracks, "Zenil!"
"Yeah?" Zenil replied as he turned around.
"Do I look good?"
"No, not at all! You…You look great!"
Hearing this, Ryong nodded and went on his way.
***
"What's up?" Zenil asked as he walked into Ryong's living room.
"Oh, you are here," Ayana said as she looked towards Zenil who was standing behind her. She was currently sitting on the couch in front of the television. A vampire-romance movie was running on the TV.
"Yeah, I just wanted to have a talk with Master." Zenil replied as he sat down beside Ayana, "So where did he go? Looking like that?"
"He went to meet my mother," Ayana replied as she paused the movie.
"Your mother?" Zenil asked, with astonishment visible on his face.
"What? You thought I didn't have a mother?" Ayana asked, her eyes seemed to be filled with anger.
"No, I didn't mean that," Zenil replied hesitantly.
"Then what did you mean? Huh?" She folded her arms and looked at Zenil even more furiously.
"I-I am…" Zenil replied.
"Pft…" Suddenly, Ayana started laughing, "It's alright, why are you getting so afraid?" She chuckled.
Zenil didn't say anything and just sighed inwardly.
***
[Zenil's POV]
"So, why doesn't she live with you guys?" I asked Ayana about her mother.
"She left us after I was born. Apparently, her family called her back for some reason." Ayana replied, "I have only met her a few times, so I really don't care about her."
As she was saying this, I could sense the fact that she was saddened by the mention of her mother. She felt melancholic to me.
"So, what did you want to discuss with Dad?" She asked.
"Today I defeated a gang of around fifty students alone!" I replied with excitement.
"It's nothing big. They were just unsynchronised, and untrained teenagers." She said with a grin on her face.
"It may be nothing big for you, but it's something to me," I replied in a comedic manner.
She smiled and said, "What else?"
"Oh, I also did a spinning backkick!"
"So your training is indeed working?"
"Yeah!"
"Isn't that exciting?"
"It is."
We both went silent for a few moments.
"So, why are you doing this?" She asked, breaking the silence.
"Doing what?"
"Becoming an Empowered individual? Fighting the bully circus? Knowing your personality, I know it is not for some great cause."
"Revenge," I replied after a few moments of silence.
"For yourself?"
"No, for someone else."
Ayana opened her mouth to say something but didn't say anything.
"Have you ever been on the verge of killing yourself?" I asked.
"What-What do you mean? No, never. Why would I-" She replied but was interrupted.
"I have," I said as I looked into her beautiful blue eyes. "Sometime back, I was so lonely, that I thought maybe killing myself would be better."
Hearing this her eyes widened.
"But, thanks to her, I didn't do it."
I took a deep breath, as the past memories of pain started resurfacing.
"You know it's especially painful, when the person who pulled you out of the abyss, plunges into it themselves."
***
[Zenil's Flashback]
I stared blankly into the swirling patterns on the table. The cafe ambiance seemed distant, like a murmur in the background. Suddenly, I heard the waitress' voice.
"Hey there, what can I get you?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of sweetness.
I hesitated before muttering, "Just a black coffee."
Seemingly undeterred by my bleak response, she said with a playful smirk, "Black like your mood or your taste?"
For a moment, I was caught off guard. Her response was unexpected. "Both, I guess," I replied.
As she walked away to fetch my order, my thoughts went back to the swirling darkness.
Soon the coffee arrived, "Enjoy your coffee, sir," she said, her smile softening the edges of her words.
I took a sip, the bitterness of the black coffee momentarily overshadowed by the unexpected encounter. She didn't leave; instead, she pulled up a chair, settling across from him. "Mind if I join you? Break time for both of us," she said with her sweet voice.
After that, she started chatting about random things, from how unfair it was for her to get the harder question for her college assignment, to her annoying neighbor who blasts music all night.
It was annoying. It was excruciating. But, after a while, I got the hang of it. It felt alright.
"So, why don't you tell me something about yourself?" She asked suddenly.
"I am Zenil. What about you?" I asked.
"Hey Zenil, I am Lana!" She replied with her sweet smile.
After that day, she and I started hanging out with each other. In a world where I had no companion, she was my only ray of warmth. But, at that time, I had no idea that those bastards from the bully circus would take this only light away from my life already colorless life.
About a month later, I entered her home and found her body hanging from the fan.
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Author's Note - IRL life is F'd up right now. Exams, Exams, and Exams.
I'll have my college entrance examination in about a year. So, I am currently focusing on that.
But, will continue to update this every few weeks. I don't want to completely give up on this story.
Hope y'all are doing well and are enjoying this story :)
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Ganu
Ganu Creation is hard, cheer me up!
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