The Time You Were Gone | Eremin Story

A bad feeling

~chapter 9 of part 2~

Summary
Just the brunettes and their blondes right before the story takes a dark turn

"My whole childhood consisted in trying to protect him from all the danger he could get into. This was my meaning of life. From the first time we shared a word, followed by every other day, I began to adore him more and more." She stared at the skirt she had squeezed in her hand. "I felt like it was my worth."

Her eyes widened when a flying buzzing insect landed next to her hand on the cloth. Taking a better look, she realized it was a bee. She continued, looking at it precisely. "He was always there for me, always next to me. Always the same. But things change, like people."

Jean took in her words, taking his time to comprehend them. From the place he was standing, he could see over the fence to the road on the other side. The neighborhood was quiet, not like the ones in the deeper side of the city. "When did he start?" She turned her head to him. "I mean, to change." He clarified.

Her gaze lowered down. "He.. He was having these disagreements with his father." She tried to pick her words carefully, not to spill too much. "It got to a point that it was unbearable for both of them. I guess he couldn't move on without help."

More precisely, not anyone's help, but one particular's. She felt how her heart started to feel the same horrible ache, even though a lot lighter than the previous months. "I just.. I guess I didn't know him as much as I thought I did." She sighed, touching her hair nervously.

"Well, this I can relate to." Jean leaned on the backrest of the bench, crossing his arms. "I thought my friend was the plain and predictable type of a person. I never knew he'd take this out of his pocket."

An image of Armin appeared in his mind. The one he knew years ago, the one who's only hobbies were reading and hanging out with them, when he wasn't immersed in studying. The type of friend who you knew would be always there when you need him because he didn't have anything else to do. And the new one, who managed to pull out the toughest guy and turn him into a complete sweetheart. Looking at him now, he couldn't not notice how much he had changed.

"Is this bad?" She was looking at him from the side. He took a moment to think.

Actually, when did things start becoming different? Was it with the appearance of Eren? Or was it before that?

Armin firstly moved away with his parents when he was fourteen. They organized a huge farewell party for him before he left, even after knowing he didn't like parties much. Thinking about it now, Jean realized that he probably didn't even have fun. Yes, he was there, he was smiling and everything.. But his eyes were showing something else. Like he wants even there. Like he didn't want to be there.

After he left, they determined not to expect him to return. He wasn't a person who you would usually spot when entering a room, but his absence was recognizable.

And they didn't forget him. Since the day he left, they promised to keep in touch using video chats. It worked, but it still wasn't the same. Neither of them wanted to let it go and forget, but with time, the calls started to pare down.

Jean was in his living room when he heard about the news. His mother was talking on the phone with someone, seemingly also learning about it just now. And his heart dropped to his feet. The thought of his own mother being away, even if it was just for a month, seemed way too hard for him. He couldn't think of how his friend was probably feeling, he didn't even try to call him because he was too scared, like the coward he has always been. He didn't know what to tell him.

Then more news. His father was soon after that fired. They couldn't keep up with the rent. Staying for awhile at Armin's grandparents, they realized they couldn't find a new job too. And meanwhile, not a single call from a friend.