Chapter 88: Ylsean enters the scene
The darkness of dawn enveloped Smile's small house, worn down by time and poverty.
The persistent sound of knocking echoed, waking him from a restless sleep. He got up slowly, still dizzy with exhaustion, and walked hesitantly to the door.
When he opened it, he found Ylsean, a young woman with short hair and a distressed look, who seemed to have run miles to get there.
"Smile... I need your help," she said, panting, glancing around as if afraid of being followed. "They're after me... The CPF... They're coming."
The mention of the CPF, the Central Pharmacological Research organization, made Smile shudder.
It was the same organization responsible for the horrifying experiments on Lowo, his late friend.
He tried to mask his fear, but it was clear that something deep inside him was shaken.
"What did you do to make them chase you?" Smile asked, trying to understand the gravity of the situation.
"I stole something from them. Something important," Ylsean replied, carefully opening a silver briefcase.
Inside was a sophisticated device that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi movie.
"This device can create perfect disguises. That's why they're after me."
"And why did you come to me?" Smile still couldn't see how he was involved in this.
"Because I know you're lost, Smile. Since Lowo's death, you haven't been the same. I thought..."
She hesitated, as if the idea was too risky, especially given the short time they'd known each other.
Even though the idea was risky, she felt obligated to take this chance.
Knowing how confused Smile's mental state was, this was the perfect moment for her appearance in the scene.
"I thought you could honor his memory. What do you think about disguising yourself as Lowo and helping to investigate the CPF?"
Smile took a step back, bewildered. What Ylsean was suggesting was unthinkable. Him, become Lowo? And her, disguise as Smile? It sounded absurd.
"This will never work," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"It will," she insisted, her eyes shining with determination. "Watch."
Right in front of him, Ylsean activated the device. In seconds, she was unrecognizable, bearing an identical appearance to Smile.
The transformation was so perfect that Smile felt a chill down his spine, seeing himself standing in front of him.
"This... this is unreal," Smile said, touching Ylsean's fake face as if he needed to confirm it was just a disguise. "But why me?"
"Because you were the only person Lowo trusted," Ylsean said, hitting a sensitive spot.
"And you're the only one who can pass as him now. If we're going to uncover what the CPF is planning, you need to become Lowo again, even if it's just for a while."
Silence. Smile looked at the briefcase, then at the mirror. He had lost Lowo.
And, in some ways, he had lost himself. Becoming Lowo… it might be a chance to honor his friend's memory. A way to make things right.
"Alright," Smile murmured, his voice trembling. "I'll do it. But... I want to go to his funeral first."
Ylsean lowered her gaze, her expression serious.
"There's no funeral, Smile. They... they already took him. Another organization. They left no trace."
Smile's heart tightened. Lowo was truly lost forever. Not even a goodbye had been possible.
He took a deep breath, accepting the pain, and faced Ylsean with renewed determination.
"Then tomorrow, we leave. Me as Lowo, you as... me. Let's see how this goes."
The next morning, Smile, now disguised as Lowo, wore the simple clothes that had once belonged to his friend.
Ylsean, perfectly transformed into Smile, stood by his side. They walked through the narrow, bustling streets of the city, the sun already high in the sky.
The disguise was so convincing that Smile felt as though he were truly carrying Lowo's spirit with him.
"Let's do this right," Smile whispered to himself, glancing around as if expecting to see Lowo at every corner.
It was strange to think that he now played the role of his friend, while Ylsean played him. An inversion that made everything even more confusing.
They hadn't been walking long when they spotted a familiar group: the troublemaking boys who used to torment Lowo.
Their mischievous grins appeared as soon as they saw Smile—or rather, the disguised Ylsean.
"Look who's back! The crazy guy who talks to himself!" one of the boys sneered, stepping forward. "Ready for another beating, Smile?"
Before Smile (disguised as Lowo) could react, Ylsean, as Smile, smiled calmly and stepped forward.
"I won't hide this time," she said, her voice cold.
The boys, accustomed to Lowo's fragility, hadn't expected this immediate response from Smile—who was now Ylsean—confronting them without hesitation.
She didn't back down, and this made them uneasy.
Before they could act, Smile (or Lowo in disguise) remembered all the times these same boys had tormented his friend.
He remembered how much Lowo had suffered at their hands, always needing Smile to defend him.
Now, the situation was different. Lowo was gone, and Smile carried his memory.
It was his turn to defend Lowo's image, as Lowo had defended him in the past.
"No more running," Smile said, his voice firm, echoing like a vow.
"I'll defend Lowo, as he defended me."
The boys laughed, thinking it was a joke. But before they could realize it, Smile stepped forward to protect Ylsean, who was pretending to be him.
With surprising agility, he grabbed one boy's arm as he tried to shove her and, with a swift move, sent him to the ground.
The other two hesitated, eyeing Smile with suspicion. This "Lowo" seemed very different from the boy they used to bully.
Before they could decide what to do, Ylsean, still posing as Smile, stepped forward, imitating the confident stance she knew Smile would take.
"You don't stand a chance," she said clearly.
The boys retreated, exchanging quick glances before giving up.
"This isn't over!" they shouted as they ran away, their empty threat echoing through the streets.
As soon as the boys disappeared, Smile sighed in relief. Ylsean, disguised as him, gave a slight smile.
"You did well," she said proudly.
"I… did what I had to do," Smile replied, his heart still racing.
He felt that, in some way, he had finally done justice for Lowo. Even if no one else knew, he had defended his friend's name.
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