☺︎︎𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔☹︎ - 🅞︎🅜︎🅞︎🅡︎🅘︎ 𝘖𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬

A Broken Smile

Time has passed... Kel has no clue on how many years it has been since those so much simpler days with all of his best friends plus his big brother by his side. Despite him being well-known as a reckless buffoon or a bad omen to an otherwise perfect and loving family - at least that's what he thinks to himself - the love and support is something that he wishes to cherish for the passing years to come... The ones he loves are people precious to him and he will always remember them even if they change. Unfortunately, this change is not one that he expected.

Walking back home from a torturous day of school, the tanned kid looks sideways to see younger children having the best childhoods they could ask for... One group having a birthday party in the middle of the night... Another playing a series of cards or board games... A few parental figures celebrating their child's academic success... even some were just having a delightful conversation at the other side of the street. Regardless of what activities they do, it's abundantly clear the knucklehead misses the good old times.

He sits on a street aisle, watching the pleasant orange skies as the sun is about to set soon. Though fascinating, it is all an attempt to forget that sorrow evening when a recital was supposed to be in play... but it had to be cancelled. Whatever distractions the knucklehead tries to indulge himself with, whether it's long hours of video games, attending multiple school sports tournaments, and even studying for a change... he just couldn't move on from a tragedy that has taken a toll of his huge friendship. How could he? How could anyone?

The physically capable kid takes a detour intentionally to delay his return to home... He doesn't want to face his parents again, not after knowing that they don't really pay any attention to him even if his big old brother has left for college. Even going as far as managing the house chores, caring for his one-month old little sister from time to time... he just can't take it anymore. He then wanders around the neighborhood and finds himself in front of his youngest friend's house, which gives him a huge ounce of nostalgia... but he hasn't answered any of his visits.

More specifically, his friend - Sunny - hasn't come out of his home for almost three years after the tragic incident. Kel looks at the massive house in grief and sadness, reminiscing the memories he has made with his closest friends as the tanned child imagines himself as a younger self being a playful and cheeky brat, prancing around and doing whatever. Though he gets scolded a lot, the boy relishes at the attention he receives because frankly, he barely got any before and even now, despite the older one being occupied to advance his studies.

Speaking of studies, the tanned knucklehead is not the brightest when it comes to academics and he isn't the most mature individual - mainly the opposite, mentioned by multiple people - but he's been trying to get his grades high to not worry his parents while they can focus on taking care of Sally when he's not available at the moment and has strong connections with different people that have different backgrounds and talents compared to the boy. Kel oftentimes feel as if his efforts to fix himself are worthless or aren't being acknowledged by anybody... not even his own family.

Even with him being grown-up, Kel doesn't feel like he has learned from any of his mistakes and shortcomings. The motivation to do anything under his seemingly sturdy mask is essentially non-existent and to him, life hasn't been the best for him and no matter how much he tries to push that thought further, it proves that the world and even life is unfair to time and time again... when he already despises himself about everything that isn't socially acceptable or is considered 'childish' or 'immature'. The child soon realizes that he not only hates himself but also his younger self for being such a nuisance.

As much as he gets jealous of his responsible brother - Hero - the reckless one in the family only wishes for him to have more confidence in himself and loves him along with the family. He doesn't hate him at all... In actuality, Kel is quite proud that he is moving on and focusing on pursuing his 'dream' job to not only support his family but to also save other lives internationally, which is very inspiring to him. It just sucks so much that he has to suffer the negligence from their present son helping around the home, taking care of his little sister, and working on his failing grades as best as he can, the kid mutters under his breath.