☺︎︎𝑴𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔☹︎ - 🅞︎🅜︎🅞︎🅡︎🅘︎ 𝘖𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬

Building Bridges

Sunny's first time of coming out of the comfort of his home after four years of both social and mental isolation was mystifying... at least that's the word he wants to describe of the changed environment of the entire neighborhood. Oftentimes, he even forgets that where he's living at right now is Faraway from the tremendous change from the people he knows.

First off, he remembers that the first person on his doorstep was the positive goofball, which was Kel. Sunny's face at the time had a mix of nostalgia and confusion as he had no idea what one of his closest friends was there for. Furthermore, it shocked him even more once Kel filled him in that he had been visiting and waiting for him to come out of his house for a few months... sometimes even from the early sunrise all the way to the burning afternoon. The sixteen year - however - had no interest to even turn the doorknob until one hallucination took over him and convinced him to take the first step out.

Even at that moment, the dull mute child wanted to slam the door in front of Kel just to send him the message that he didn't want the energetic knucklehead to bother him... but somewhere inside, Sunny did not have the gall to shun his only willing companion simply because of deprecating loneliness... and also from Kel's insistent pleadings. The depressed sixteen-year old finally conceded and allowed his much taller friend to drag him anywhere he wanted to go... and he meant that both figuratively and literally. Though, the brunette wanted to visit the neighborhood to see how everyone was holding up and to also make some new friends along the way.

Sunny simply shrugged and followed behind him as he took a fleeting moment to bask upon the sun beaming onto his skin, which felt surreal to him that he locked himself indoors for almost half a decade. The backyards were messier and more chaotic, though some would argue that Faraway hasn't changed throughout the four years... and somehow, Sunny was proud to know that everything was moving swimmingly without him. He even saw some of the children that were still as active as before and some young teenagers having the time of their lives.

Visiting each home had a massive toll on the mute teenager as he hadn't had the chance to regain his social skills after confiding himself within his thoughts. Kel - on the other hand - had no problem striking up conversations and even awkward small talks that were oftentimes pretty excruciating to witness, but he does notice that the tanned brunette's confidence and extroverted nature hasn't faltered all this time... it even seems that he has gotten a whole lot better speaking to other people, much more to random strangers. Some of the neighbors that Sunny had no recollection of ever meeting welcomed him and Kel into their homes, which they were provided with some food and beverages; necessities that he hasn't intake for years.

After ogling at the mouth-watering dishes in front of him, he digs in. Though not as rigorously as his energized comrade, Sunny did take time to appreciate that the neighborhood felt more hospitable and approachable than before. As he watched Kel basically gobbling all the food in front of him as if it was the last rations he'll ever eat, the sluggish sixteen-year couldn't help but crack a smile and even let out a short chuckle, knowing that one of his childhood friends have kept moving forward. Kel even boasted in some tables that he's been getting better academic grades, just like he promised his big brother, to which some of the adults applauded and gifted him some baskets filled with assorted foods.

Both Sunny and Kel bowed and thanked the kind adults for their hospitality and kindness as they encourage to come back anytime they like. The silent teenager then spotted the Faraway Park, which most certainly undergone one of the most noticeable changes as it was more hazardous and frankly, the smell reeked of gum, expired candy, and a school of dead fish. Some of the playground sets got severely damaged, even to the point that some of them can't function without being in the brink of collapsing except for the basketball court. Though Sunny had no clue, he knew one thing for certain; someone must've marked Faraway Park as their territory.