บท 321: [63.4] Cyrus POV: A Rei of Hope
[Disclaimer: This chapter includes mature material that may not be suitable for every reader. This chapter includes emotional manipulation, emotional and physical abuse, assault, and other themes that may be traumatizing to the reader.]
Hanabae held her hands desperately, "Please just tell me how to help. I already asked my brother for assistance, and he agreed to do anything he could."
Reika asked in uncertainty, "The brother that's a loan shark?"
"Y-Yes, but! It's not a loan! We both think of you as a sister and…" She let out a sigh, "After we lost our sister when the ferry sank, we've had her apartment just there sitting empty… We haven't been able to rent it out because we can't imagine anyone except her living there, but if you were to want to move in, then it would be okay."
"O-Oh… I don't know. What about money? My boyfriend has access to all of my accounts."
"Then we can get you a new one without his knowledge!"
"But that won't stop him from coming here to my work."
"My brother already offered to walk you home! He's far stronger than your boyfriend."
"I don't know… What if someone gets hurt?"
"Reika, please. Just consider it?"
"I will think about it…"
Hanabae grabbed her and stared up at her with pleading eyes, "Reika… Please let me help you. You were the one who pulled me out of my depression when I needed it most. I barely showered back then. If I did get out of bed, I never got very far. But the day I met you here, I finally felt like I had a future. You brought me to a painting and showed me that there was hope. I was able to start showering and I even got this job… I want to help you like you helped me."
Reika hesitated for a moment, anxiously glancing at her coworker. Eventually, she cleared her throat and stood up, "If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to work."
Hanabae leaned back with a sigh, "Okay… Just remember the offer will always be here."
Reika left the break room and went to walk down the hall. Suddenly a child grabbed her skirt and started sobbing, "Mommy! Mommy! I can't find my Mommy!"
Reika bent down, smiling to comfort the child, "Don't be scared. Do you need help finding her?"
The child nodded slowly, blinking away tears and sniffing the snot running down.
She dabbed the tears and snot away with her sleeve. Then held out her hand with no trace of disgust for the child, "Then let's find her."
The child took her hand and followed after her.
I watched in complete shock.
Is this really Reika!?
The Reika I know wouldn't ever let a child touch her!
She was so repulsed by them!
But now…
Why does she seem so happy?
Reika led the child and pointed to a painting, "Do you see that painting?"
The child looked at it with twinkling eyes, "It's pretty."
She smiled softly, "It is. Isn't it? The person who painted it was so dedicated, she went to the same spot every day to watch the sunrise. She would paint what she saw, every day, for weeks until she completed it."
"Can I touch it?"
Reika laughed, "You can't. A very loud noise will ring if you try. Then you'll get in a lot of trouble."
"Oooh."
"Shall we look at more?"
Reika took the child around, taking the time to explain each piece to the child in an easy-to-understand language. Soon, the child was no longer teary-eyed and was laughing and giggling.
"Yoon-Soo! Yoon-Soo!"
The child turned around, "Mommy!"
The child ran for their mother who held them tightly, "Oh, Yoon-Soo! I was so worried when I couldn't find you! Why did you leave the children's exhibit!?"
"I'm sorry, Mommy! I didn't mean to! I got lost!!"
"It's okay… As long as you are safe now." The woman bowed to Reika, "Thank you so much for taking care of my son!"
Reika waved to the child with a bright grin as the two left. Hanabae came over to her in wonder, "Wow… Reinuna really is good with children… No wonder the boss wants you to be in charge of the younger-aged tours."
Reika stared at the child for a moment, "...Can I actually ask a favor?"
"Hm? Oh! Yeah, definitely!"
"Can you buy me a phone? It doesn't have to be a good one." Reika looked a bit guilty, "I can't pay you back because my boyfriend will get mad, but maybe I can bring you lunch until I pay it back?"
"Don't worry about it!" She reached her arm around Reika to pull her into a side hug, "What are friends for?"
Reika let out a sigh, "Thank you…"
"So? What do you plan to do with it?"
A small smile crept across Reika's lips, "I heard of a tracking software that's almost impossible to detect."
Hanabae's smile twitched, "A-Ah…"
The memory suddenly shifted to Reika looking at a rectangle in her hands. I leaned forward over her shoulder, "So that's what they call a phone…"
Reika checked something on it where a red blinking light far away from her own was. She let out a sigh, "He's far. Good. That means I'm safe."
Reika entered a building where she saw Hanabae and a man next to her. The man had his arms crossed and was giving off a scary aura. His appearance was so icy it almost reminded me of the Headmaster.
Hanabae waved her down, "Reinuna! Come here! My brother came out tonight as well."
Reika sat down with a smile beside her. She turned to her brother and politely smiled, "It's nice to see you again."
He grinded his teeth and averted his eyes, "Nice to see 'ya."
Hanabae elbowed her brother, "Stop acting tough. You've been begging me to see her."
Reika gave him a sweet smile, "You have?"
He snarled, "You still with that a**hole?"
Her friend shouted, "Oi!"
Reika reassured her, "It's okay. And yes, I am."
He scoffed, "He's not even handsome."
Reika laughed for the first time in a while, "He wouldn't be compared to your supermodel boyfriend."
The brother turned bright red and glared at his sister, "You told her!? It's supposed to be a secret!"
"In my defense, it's Reika." Hanabae put up her hands innocently, "Reinuna doesn't judge."
Reika nodded in agreement, "That's right. I don't have any problem with it. I was in a liberal arts program. I had to be okay with it."
As the three of them chattered, the waiter came by. "Ready to start with drinks?"
Hanabae waved her finger, "Sooju all around!"
Reika put up her hand, "Uh, actually… I can't have alcohol. I will take a juice."
The waiter walked away and Hanabae immediately pouted, "Why can't you drink? It's not often you get to come out with us!"
Reika leaned forward and whispered something. Something that even I couldn't hear. However, judging by the faces of the two, there were mixed emotions.
Hanabae threw her arms around her, "AHHH! Congratulations!"
The brother, who wore a stern expression, spoke up, "This is a problem. If your boyfriend finds out about your-"
"-I won't be able to escape." Reika met their eyes, "That's why I need to get out now and then somehow keep it a secret from him… Can you two… Help me?"
They both reached out to hold her hand, "You don't even have to ask."
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