Nathan's Rule | NOMIN

01. Nathan's Rule

              Jean had forgotten, the last time he had set foot on the ground directly. After nearly two years in a coma, Jean's world was restricted by a pair of his bedroom windows. Jean saw everything through the windows. Watching how day and night kept changing behind the quartz sand that never opened, neither for the afternoon breeze nor a drop of morning dew. Jean's world was really limited to the mansion he lived in. Although the mansion was fairly luxurious and large, Jean was still yearning how nice it was to be standing in the sun, tilting back his head to catch every drop of rain, pedaling a bicycle, and walking a city street.

              "Jean, it's very dangerous outside."

              That's what Nathan always said when Jean asked to go out. Jean didn't understand why Nathan was always forbidding him to leave the mansion even for one step. Honestly, Jean felt bored. Moreover, their mansion was so quiet. Only Jean and Nathan who lived in and the distance between the mansion and a housing complex was quite far. It took almost 15 minutes by motorbike to get to Jean and Nathan's place. Jean wanted to go out and met people like Nathan and other people did.

              "Jean, everything that you want from outside. I'll bring it for you."

              But again and again, Nathan's rule forced Jean to stay behind the walls of their mansion. Jean didn't really know what the reason was, but he didn't want to be too presumptuous. Jean used to believe that whatever the reason, it could be for Jean's good as well as Nathan's.

              "Newspaper and milk!"

              Someone was shouting from the outside. It brought back Jean's thoughts that had been wandering for a while. Jean walked out and checked out everything of the mansion which was always quiet and would be always quiet. His footsteps were echoing throughout the mansion.

              "Na, newspaper and milk are outside!" he shouted.

              No response. Jean turned his head all around, looking for Nathan. But, nothing. Normally, every morning Nathan would had been tidy with his clothes and arranged the food in dining room before going to campus. Even Jean had checked the room and the foods had neatly arranged, Nathan wasn't there. Jean decided to go into Nathan's room. His eyes went narrow as only a tidy room without the owner that Jean saw there.

              "Where's he going?"

              As Jean continued to walk through every corner of the mansion, his mind was still wondering, where did Nathan go so early, this morning? Nathan couldn't leave without saying goodbye and forgot his breakfast.

               "Well... Nana, I'll take the newspaper and the milk, okay!" he shouted again, even no aswer.

               Jean smirked when he realized that he was the only one in the mansion. Going out to get newspapers and milk couldn't break the Nathan's rule, could it?

              Jean walked briskly towards the large door that led directly to the outside. His heart started pounding. He was excited to open the door. After so long, that day was the day for Jean to see the outside again, even for a moment. His hand's moving slowly and occasionally trembling as he grabbed the doorknob.

              "A few steps from our mansion. It's fine, right?"

              Jean mumbled to himself, he was just trying to keep convincing himself that what he would be about to do, wouldn't make Nathan wrathful. Slowly, Jean begun to pull the doorknob. The sound of the door creaking, made Jean's heart beat wildly, but his smile was still perfect.