"Hey Brennan."Bright called as their lecturer was busy preparing the projector they were to use for their class." Have any plans for Christmas? "
Brennan did not look at him but he managed to reply with a 'no' sound.
" Figured that out. Wanna go shopping?" Bright asked again.
"Fine with me but bring your own money." Brennan said and listened intently to their lecturer as he already started with his lesson. Bright wasn't so interested with anything that their teacher was saying because his necklace was blinking too drastically that he had to hide it. He saw the image of the teacher on his necklace and the location was on their rooftop, at the end of his lecture. It was a known fact that that day was the middle-aged teacher's last day because he had issues and his license would be confiscated.
Their teacher's name was Benedict and he was their mission. His hair was dyed with a strong black color and he was wearing spectacles that failed to hide his dark eye bags that made him look a lot older. To Bright's estimate, he was like 45 years old. He was a passionate teacher but his eyes were sad.
He waited intently for him to finish his lesson and leave. Brennan was alo aware that the teacher was their mission and he started to come after the two of them. He was his favorite teacher and he doesn't want to lose him or leave him be.
"Brennan." Bright said.
"What?"
"I got tons of money."
Brennan stopped walking for a while and realized the context of his words. He understood that he just wanted to ease the tension a bit because he was well-aware that Brennan was nervous and shaking from head to toe.
He snapped out of his thoughts and ran to catch up to them. He was already on the stairs, hurrying to get past tge door when he heard the voice of Bright.
"Hi, Benedict. I am Bright. Are you okay?"
Brennan hurried and went dashing onto the door where he saw his teacher already standing on the edge of the floor, getting ready to jump.
"What are you doing here Bright?" Benedict asked and he seemed to soften a bit.
"I felt like you were down these past few days so I came after you the momemt you finished your lecture. You've been so cheerful to everyone and seeing you sad made me think that something is wrong. Are you okay sir?" Bright asked with a concerned expression on his face. Benedict looked at him, revealing his eyes that were so sad and were crying for help.
"I... I have a good insurance money that will be given to my wife and children if I die." Benedict cried.
'But if you take your own life, you wouldn't get that money.' Brennan thought. He was about to say it when Bright's voice came to his mind like telepathy and it clearly said no.
"Oh, so you already have a family. Figures! That is why you are so kind to your students!" Bright said and Benedict's face lightened up.
"I have a wife. She cooks deliciously. And I have a kid... Her name's Sunny. They are both beautiful and I love them so much."
"So Sunny was the pretty kid on your desktop sir!" Bright said with the smiling face Brennan always sees.
"Yes. That was her. She really is cute right?" Benedict said.
"You look exactly like her sir. It's like you two are you know what they call it? Copy and paste?"
"That is what people tells me everytime they see the both of us whenever our family goes and buy us food."
"So you even go to the market together? That's sweet." Bright said and smiled more. His smile doesn't have any intention. It was already with him since day one and it always makes people feel light.
"We even cook together. We also plant and sing together." Benedict said and started smiling.
"Seems like you have beautiful memories together. I'm sure that your family love you so much and they were always looking uo to you." Bright said and approched her at the edge of the floor. "It looks like they'll lose someone so important to them if you give up. Don't you think?"
Benedict looked at him and saw the most pleasant smile that was so perfect it gave him goosebumps and a feeling of ease. He realized it himself that his family needs him and his student laid out that path for him. Bright gave his hand out for him to take and Benedict quickly took it.
" Yeah. I think so. Thank you Bright" he said and hugged him as Bright hugged him back and smiled. "I didn't notice you there Brennan."
"I am an invisible man, sir." he said and all of them lughed at one lousy joke. "Bright. Don't you need to do something?" he asked him.
"Oh that? Yeah." Bright turned to Benedict. "I've been practicing my poem lately sir. Do you want to hear it?"
"Sure." Benedict said.
"Open up you heart to the chosen standing in front of you." Bright started and Benedict felt a weird feeling that started to blossom on his heart. His necklace shone so brightly and it emitted blue light that surrounded them all.
"The name's Bright, the chosen one,
Tasked by the heavens to save people.
The moment I looked at you,
Your pain already vanished
And now I save you
So go and live long.
Live the life you deserve
I declare thee,
By the name vested upon me."
The blue light became colder and brighter as they stood on the rooftop. Brennan tried hard not to get immersed with the coldness that was stinging his skin because he knew that he can be knocked unconscious the moment he gives in. He can't see anything because the light was piercing even his eyes.
"Hey." Bright called. Brennan realized that he was on the ground and he quickly get up. He saw Benedict unconscious as well. "Seems like your teacher doesn't have cuts."
"Seems so." Brennan said. Wanna go shopping now?"
" Aren't you tired?" Bright asked because he seemed so timid about shopping a while ago.
"It's 10:00 in the morning and our class ended. Isn't it a great time to shop?" Brennan said and started walking away from him.
"Guess you are right."
They both took their bags from their room and they left their building immediately to head to the mall. The streets were so busy because of the huge number of people who were already setting up the giant lanterns and christmas tree for the feast that night. However, just as they were about to cross the street, Bright bumped onto someone and he was sent to the ground. The man immediately offered his hand to help and Bright took it and smiled.
"Sorry about that. Hey nice hair and eyes ypu got right there. Are those authentic?" the guy said.
"Oh, yeah. I was born with it." Bright said and smiled at him.
"Remind me why I'm here? I said I am supposed to be at Doctor Tristan's clinic!"
Bright seemed to have heard a familiar voice that he looked at the person subconsciously. Brennan noticed his strange behavior and approached him but he heard hin mutter something.
" H-Hope Joy."
Joy looked at the person with blue hair with wondering eyes. For some reasons, her neck started itching when he saw the white necklace of the person. Brennan poked him.
"Sorry about that. Nick. You just knocked someone down!" Nathan said and bowed 90° to Bright.
However, Bright and Joy were busy looking at each other with sad eyes. Bright can never mistake the gray eyes of Joy for anything and Joy was intrigued by his differently colored hair and eyes. Nathan noticed them and dragged Joy's arms to keep her away from him. However, mysterious tears were streaming her cheeks and she refused to lose sight of the person.
"Hope, when did you dye your hair with silver highlights? It isn't even." Nathan asked him and that alerted Bright because that means that Joy saw something the moment their eyes met.
"I didn't. It must be stress that I'm growing those hair. By the way, were you hurt?" Joy asked Bright.
"I am hurt. I'm terribly hurt." Bright replied and looked at her with sad eyes.
"Dude. Do you want me to bring you to the hospital?" Nick asked but Bright snapped out his thoughts and he smiled agaim.
"Sorry. I was a bit disoriented a bit. Were you going to the mall? Wanna go with us?" he said and Brennan protested because he hated social interactions.
"Oh, that would be nice!" Nick said enthusiastically. "By the way, I'm Nick, this one's Nathan, my Mari, and Hope or Joy call her whatever you want"
A bell rang on Brennan's mind because of the name that was mentioned last. Bright had told him about her before and to actually meet her was a shock to him as well. He studied her and she looked like a frail doll- but a stressed version. She was skinny and so pale that it emphasized her dark circles.
"So this was Hope."