Chapter 6: ~Two Years Ago~
"...Happy birthday, Kali." Tae smiled sadly, knowing what her birthday means to her, taking her hands and leading her into the kitchen.
"I know you said a few years back that you wanted me to not try so hard on your birthday, along with the other things you said, but...you're sixteen now. So, let's not celebrate today because it's the anniversary of the day you were born. Instead, I'm celebrating sixteen years of survival from a girl who has been through so much. She's brave, beautiful, and we met a few days after this day...in a different year" he nearly confused himself with that awkward phrasing.
"I didn't know what to get you and I didn't want to upset you by asking what you wanted for something I know you don't like to celebrate, so...I hope you like new things."
He moved so she could see what was behind him as he nervously scratched the back of his head.
"You-"
Kali was stunned.
"...Did you make all of this yourself, Tae?"
She slowly walked over to the table, as if expecting everything to vanish at any moment. She looked around the table at everything there: freshly squeezed Orange Juice, steamed vegetables with cheese drizzled all over it in a sloppy manner, fresh bread, obviously homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream, and a simple cake in the middle with a message on it drew with the icing using what look like an amateur technique.
The cake read 'You are loved. Thank you for being my favorite person'.
"Yeah, I did. I used their cookbook for everything here. They caught me a week ago practicing and...gave me some tips out of concern that I might hurt myself, since they couldn't talk me out of not trying anymore" Tae admitted, a bit embarrassed.
"I know it doesn't all look the best and, honestly, I don't even know if they'll taste all that great, but...I hope this makes you happy" he smiled bashfully, before hugging her tightly from behind and burying his nervous face into her shoulder to hide it from her sight. He had worked very hard on all of this. Even if it ends up tasting bad, he'll be happy if it cheers her up.
A few stray tears snuck out of her eyes and ran down her cheeks as she simply stared at the table for a moment.
"Tae, I-" she stopped when she heard her voice tremble, hoping that the pause would help clear her voice back up.
"...I really don't deserve a friend like you"
Her efforts had been in vain. The trembling remained when she finished her sentence.
In sixteen years, this was the second time ever she had let others see her cry aside from when she was only a baby. The first, of course, was when she used her real tears to lure them in the day they met. Although the story had been mostly fiction...her mother had still done what she did, after all; it hurt Kali too much for her to not cry in response at least that one time. Well, she had cried herself to sleep several nights alone after that, but those were all private moments; this, like that, was in front of other eyes.
Tae looked up at her features, confused by her words and the trembling of her voice. Upon seeing the tears, he panicked and immediately felt guilty. "I-I'm so sorry! All I wanted was-"
"I love it."
Kali cut him off with the truth, unable to let him continue because seeing him start to apologize for such a wonderful present was too cruel to him and too painful for her to watch.
"Don't apologize, please, this is...truly the best gift I have ever received. It's just...I don't deserve something this nice. I don't deserve-" she glanced at him and smiled sadly "...I don't deserve you, Tae."
His kind actions wracked her body with guilt, knowing her true purpose for being there. This moment was so pure, too grand for her that...it really highlighted for her what a terrible beast she was. How could she hate someone so pure, or agree to this deceitful plan just for the approval of a mother who loves her less than the boy in front of her?
THIS was the very moment where she realized that her mother was correct for loving this boy more than her own daughter...but it was also the moment where she had to face her hatred of feeling so inadequate.
From here on out, her kindness on the outside grew whilst the pain in her heart did the same, clouding her mind in darkness.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone