Breaking the Barriers • BrightWin

Seven

Jealous

It was late afternoon, verging on evening, when Off invited them to go shopping as he noticed they didn't have enough clothes and almost everything they owned were old and tattered. Win was quite excited and fascinated as it was perhaps his first time to step in a mall.

Clasping his hands together from the cold by the central air, he scanned his surroundings in total amazement. It looked like it was comparatively new with four stories altogether; beautiful, spacious, bright, well lighted up, and lively. It was exactly the way he perceived it to be.

An array of people packed the hall of the mall. Every civilian was there; they were of all ages, race, genders... but neither of them were like him; those who wear tattered old clothes, hair dishevelled, deep and dark bags under their eyes, and the list could go on. Well, society. It had become such a tier listed aspect of life that a homeless people would immediately shunned down in establishments as if they were a dirty rat from the sewers.

"Is this your first time?" Off, who noticed his amazement, gently asked, but Win's eyes kept on trailing every designer store they passed and he was left dumbstruck. A soft smile grew on his lips as he thought about his transparent reaction, then he chuckled as it was indeed priceless.

It was gladdening to see the younger's fascination, yet the sparkle of innocence in his eyes somehow broke him. Win was more than this, he thought. Deep inside his heart, he felt an odd familial feeling in him. It would be ridiculous to admit, but there was something in him that felt ditto with his late younger brother.

He could hardly understand it... or maybe it was just his yearning for his brother talking.

"Win," He called him again, softly. This time, it made Win snap out of his thoughts.

"S-sorry, what was it again?" Win shyly responded, voice slightly stammering.

"Is this your first time to a mall?" The older repeated, flashing him a comforting smile, as if reassuring the younger that it was completely fine.

Win just slightly nodded, feeling embarrassed at the confession, then grasped Gun's arm on his side, pulling him closer. The latter just dramatically let out a small groan.

Off gave him back a nod before continuing walking through the spacious hall. He was just staring directly at Win whose arm was tangled at the shorter lad while his head turned left and right, looking over the sea of people.

Moments later, he trailed off where Win's eyes landed and he couldn't help himself but feel the same intense longing the latter had felt. It was a scene of a happy family, probably spending their quality time together by strolling in the mall.

He plastered a small curve on his lips which was a mixture of yearning, sadness, and happiness. He deeply sighed before his gaze shifted back to the two and guided them to a store. Win seemed to relax a little when they went inside. The interiors were so minimal that it somehow calmed him, but got immediately drained out when he started to feel a couple of eyes from both shoppers and the staff piercing within them.

He lowered his head and before he slowly turned his back at them, the staff averted their eyes to Off as they greeted him in a jovial mood. If not for him and his authoritative presence, maybe they already shooed them right away.

"Good day, Mr. Off!"

Off just gave them a curt nod before he turned back to his company.

"Take a look around and look for something good for yourself," Off said to Win. Few seconds later, his eyes bore upon the shorter man and suppressed a smile as Gun looked away, as if accepting that he was not part of it.