章節 47: Star-eyed Dreamer
Reaching for the sun, holding the stars between the bruised fingers and chipped nails. The dirt underneath his fingernails disappeared under the blinding light as it burned his skin enough to hide the purple blemishes.
When he was young, he wished for a friend to accompany him, someone to play games with, to explore the woods, play together in the park, build forts out of trash. He would reach out towards the sun, with his small hands, and reach out for that shooting star. One that could somehow make that dream come true.
He held it in his palm and felt the burning warmth catch his hand on fire. Why? He thought. Why was it that he was the one who had to reach, why was it that he was the one who was burned?
The children he saw at the playground called him a dreamer. He didn't know why, nor did he know what it meant. He asked the children and they said that it was how their parents would gossip about his parents. Dreamers, they called them. And in turn, that would also make him a dreamer.
Once he realized, he didn't mind. He would dream, and he would reach towards those dreams with all he had. To him, it wasn't even close to an insult as the children seemed to have intended, but instead, it served as motivation.
And yet he didn't know exactly what he was using that motivation for.
He wanted a friend, he wanted someone with him. Someone to be blind to the rumors and gossips of the aunties. Someone who would stay with him without a care.
And after his years of reaching for that sun, he saw him.
And he was able to hold that shooting star and control that fire longer than he had ever thought possible.
-
Ye Delun had awoken to the sound of Yang Lan opening a box. He rubbed his eyes in a daze and eyed the steam coming out of the opening of the box.
"You're awake?" Shen Lin, who sat beside her, asked. "You were out for a bit there, I was starting to worry you had somehow transported back."
"Sorry, I dozed off." He said. His voice sounded groggy and was a lot deeper than what he was used to. He cleared his throat and stretched out his arms. He looked around and saw only Yin Meng, who seemed to be resting his eyes while fiddling with his fingers. As if he could sense him looking, Yin Meng opened an eye to look back at him. Ye Delun quickly turned his head away.
"Are those two still not back yet?" He asked.
"No, I've been wondering where they were at as well." Shen Lin answered him.
"They're probably dead by now." The silent Yin Meng spoke.
Shen Lin chuckled, "I wouldn't doubt them too much. I'm sure they can take care of themselves."
Yin Meng clicked his tongue and stood up from his seat. He walked towards the window and placed his hand against the cold glass. "The sun has already set." He said quietly, but Shen Lin's sharp ears easily picked up on it.
"The time is off here. It's already close to two, maybe even past it, the sun should have set hours ago." She explained.
"That's obvious." He said with a certain venom in his throat. Shen Lin frowned at his tone but decided to ignore it. She didn't think anything good would come out of confronting him.
Ye Delun turned his head towards the entrance of one of the corridors. He could hear the sound of footsteps. He wasn't the only one who could hear them, Shen Lin and Yin Meng also turned their attention towards that direction.
Kang Maixiu appeared, followed by Xiang Tingfeng, and looked at the ready Yin Meng who held his knife in hand. And then to Shen Lin, who noticeable relaxed her shoulders. He sighed but didn't mention anything.
"You're finally back, took you long enough." Yin Meng said.
"Yeah, we decided to take a detour, the sights sure were amazing. Wish you could have seen it." Kang Maixiu said sarcastically.
Xiang Tingfeng lagged behind him, a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead was wiped away with his hand. Along with Ye Delun, Yin Meng also noticed this. "Why's the big guy tired? Don't tell me he carried you the whole way." He said back just as sarcastically.
"And if he did? Would that make it any more of your business? Because last time I checked, you had nothing to do with it." His cold, ice-blue eyes stared down at Yin Meng's dark blue eyes. The air filled with tension and Yang Lan could feel a shiver run down her spine.
"Now, now boys, I think that's enough. Are you really fighting over something so stupid?" Shen Lin stood up and put her hand on both of their shoulders. She gripped them tightly and gave them a threatening closed-eyed smile. "Let's just sit down on the floor and get past this day together, yeah?"
Kang Maixiu turned his head away in defiance but still nodded. But Yin Meng tsked and brushed her hand off. "Whatever." He said as he walked back to the window he was standing at.
"What a baby." Yang Lan mumbled, causing Ye Delun to look at her.
"I don't know what's got his panties in a twist..." Shen Lin huffed and sat back down next to Yang Lan. "I don't even want to know. It seems like it would be a bummer." Yang Lan said.
Kang Maixiu brushed off the area Shen Lin touched and sat back in his spot. "So what do we do now?" Xiang Tingfeng asked.
"I'm guessing we just sit here like before." Kang Maixiu said as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms to rest.
"Noooo~," Yang Lan said as she pumped her fist up and down like a child. "That's too boring, it's what we were basically doing the whole time you guys were gone."
Kang Maixiu opened an eye, "Then what do you want to do? Because if tonight continues to be this uneventful, then we'll have a lot of free time on our hands."
Yang Lan paused for a moment and stared into the air, Ye Delun could imediately tell that she had gotten a message. More than likely a choice option. Her energy shrunk a little as she read the options and her eyebrows creased in doubt.
"Shen Lin... why don't you tell us some stories from your military days. Like a grandpa telling his grandchildren war stories." The words were forced out of her mouth. Out of Ye Delun's perspective, he could tell that she didn't want to say anything at all.
Shen Lin revealed a look of surprise before she tried to convince Yang Lan not to. "You want to hear about me? It's not that interesting, definitely not as catching as what others could tell you."
"It's alright if you don't wa- Yeah, I'd love to hear! Hurry, tell us!" Her own words interrupted her. Ye Delun watched as she struggled to speak against her choice. Shen Lin obviously wasn't eager to tell, and Yang Lan wouldn't want to force her. But because of the system, she was out of choices.
"Well... then if you guys really want to know, then I guess there's no harm in telling."
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