BETWEEN LOVE AND LIES || JAESAHI

CHAPTER XII

15 years ago.....

The park was loud, full of laughter and screams. The sky was unusually bright and clear that day and the leaves of the tree were starting to grow on it's branches; spring was here and summer was fast approaching. Amidst the joyous laughter and screams of the children on the park enjoying their childhood, there was a little boy under the tree, alone, with a pencil and a sketch book on his lap. He was alone, but the boy was definitely not lonely. He always enjoyed his time by his self, lost in his own world. That was little Arthur's routine every Saturday. His dad would always bring him and his sister at the park every weekend to play and to have some family bonding. Though little Arthur was not as sociable as other kids like him were, he was fine as long as his dad was by his side, and to Arthur, his childhood was perfect.

It was sunny and perfect Saturday afternoon and Arthur was on his usual spot under the tree. His dad was lining on the ice cream truck near the park to buy his favorite vanilla ice cream. Little Arthur was so engrossed in his drawing that he didn't noticed someone behind him, lurking on his art.

"Wooow, you have a talent." The boy exclaimed to Arthur and Arthur screamed out of surprised dropping his sketch book on the ground. The boy sheepishly smiled at Arthur and sat beside him, the little boy then showed Arthur a cheerful smile showing his missing teeth in front.

"I didn't mean to scare you. I'm Kevin by the way." The little boy offered his hand to Arthur for a handshake and smiled so bright Arthur couldn't help but to smiled back at him and returned the handshake.

"I'm Arthur."

"Arthur? Hmm, what a good name for a good hand."

Little Arthur didn't know what to say. He was happy that someone complimented his art. He smiled at Kevin and lifted the sketch book that he dropped on the ground and showed some of his arts to Kevin. Little Kevin was mesmerized by Arthur's works. He didn't know that the little kid he always watched with curious eyes every Saturday was this talented. He praised Arthur's every work and  Arthur couldn't help but be proud of himself.

"My teacher always scolded me for not being able to draw a single stick man and she really annoys me a lot. I am not good at drawings why she couldn't understand that?!"

Kevin throws a tantrum to Arthur and he couldn't help but to smile at the little boy's furrowed eyebrows and pouty lips. Because Kevin praised Arthur's drawing skills, Arthur thought that time he wants to return his gratitude by teaching the young boy beside him the basic skills in drawing.

"You want me to help you draw? I could teach you some." Arthur more than asked than suggest to the troubled boy beside him. As if the idea was bright, Kevin looked at him and smiled widely that Arthur thought he is like a ray of sunshine too, just like his mom.

"Really?! Is that okay? But you know I can learn easily so you won't have trouble teaching me. People say I'm a child prodigy" Kevin but stated proudly while tapping his little chest. Little Arthur didn't get what he said so he just nod and smiled at him.

And since that day, under the big oak tree where the sun was bright and the sky was blue, a friendship formed. Arthur and Kevin's friendship blooms into a brotherhood that they ended up studying in the same school since first grade. They were inseparable, a lot of people called them yin and yang. For in Arthur's reserve and timid character, there's Kevin who always brought sunshine within him who always possess a cheerful and bright character. They promised their selves to have each other's backs, to always support and encourage one another, and to never leave their sides.

If only Kevin and Arthur knew what their friendship's fate would end up to, they should have never made that promise in the first place.

Taylor won a grammy so lemme put one of my favorite songs of her here. :)) I am so tired but I still manage to update twice in a day just to make up for the two days drought. 😭 I wanted to write more but the sleep is calling me now, thank you for reading this far. I'll give my best to update again tomorrow. <333