Chương 16: The Time We Spend 1
Since returned from the System, Rei realized that his past has really changed. He won't get brain hemorrhage and ended up in comatose. He also won't avoid Alden that caused his heartbreak. However, a new feared opened up.
How to prevent Alden's death.
A week has passed since Rei beat up Alden's father, and with some testaments with police, the father was sent to a jail.
Alden looked relieve. Even tough it was his biological father, but since his mother left them with another man when Alden aged 5, the father started getting abusive. No days without wounds and bruises on his body.
The first time Rei met Alden was in Elementary School, when they were seven. At that time, Alden was a timid boy and unapproachable. However, since the first time Rei saw Alden, that boy drew his attention.
"Hello, my name is Rei. What is your name?"
Rei greeted Alden when snack time. He saw him sat alone in the corner, while everybody was eating together.
Alden rose his face. He looked really thin for his age. A small mole under his right eye was profound with his white skin.
He didn't answer and bowed his head.
Rei lowered his gaze and took a peek into his meals. No dish. No meat. Nothing. Only the rice that looked dry. He guessed maybe it was yesterday's rice.
Rei then ran towards his table and took his lunch box. Then he returned to the corner and sat beside Alden.
"You know, my mom always cooked so many food. I am afraid one day I'll get fat." Rei said while taking some meat from his box, then put it down into Alden's.
Alden was surprised and turned to Rei. His gaze was doubtful.
"You eat too. I am on diet from now on. You should help me."
Rei said nonchalantly.
The boy beside him did not say anything.
Actually, Rei was not fat. He has chubby cheeks, but his body was proportional for his age. He also loves his mother cooks. However, he didn't want Alden to think that Rei pitied him. Rei hated when someone took pity of him, and he assumed others would also feel the same.
"This, you eat the rice too." He snatched Alden's box fast that Alden has no time to react. He then moved the dried rice to one side and put his warm one to another side.
"There. You should eat more. You looked so skinny."
Rei handed the box to Alden's hands.
Alden opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.
"Thank you." His voice was soft.
Rei beamed towards Alden.
"Then from today on, you should be my friend. Promised?"
Alden stared at Rei's pinkie finger that was held in front of him. He looked uncertain.
Then slowly Alden rose his fingers and linked their pinkies.
"Remember, if you violate the promise, I'll come to beat you."
Rei laughed heartily. Alden nodded.
Since then, Rei and Alden was always come in package. Even though at first it was Rei who forced himself towards Alden. But now. whenever you saw Rei, you would also found Alden not too far away.
++++
"What's with that gloomy face?" Alden stopped typing on his keyboard and turned his head.
Alden was sitting at the foot of the bed, while Rei was lying on the bed with eyes staring at the ceiling.
"What do you think about death?"
"Nothing. Death will come one day, anyway. So, why bothered?"
Alden resumed his typing.
Click Clack
The only noises in the bedroom.
Since three days ago, Alden has moved into Rei's family house. He resided the bedroom beside Rei's, that usually was used to keep his belongings. The size of the room was similar with Rei's, which was next door.
"Do you like it here?" Rei glanced at the laptop which display some unknown codes.
"I do." Alden replied.
Rei thought for a while.
"What do you think about me?"
The hands hovered over the keyboards.
"No.. no.. I mean.. uhm.. how do you think of me from a best friend perspective? Do someone would sacrifice themselves for me?"
Alden stared into Rei's eyes.
"Why asking? Do you really want someone to die in your stead?"
"No.. of course not! That's not what I mean." Rei looked flabbergasted.
"Just forget it." Rei frowned and throwed his hands to covered his eyes.
Silent ensued.
"If it's me, I'd rather die than to see you suffered." Alden answered in low voice. But it was loud enough to be heard by Rei.
Rei's ears turned red.
'No, I won't let it happen.'
****
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