Sentience

19

"I don't think Jinwoo will go too far," Kevin said while examining the maps of the park which he viewed from his phone.

"I think we have to go separate ways," Juyeon then added, cupping his hip. The soft-blown breeze messed up with his hair, resulting in him raking it to the back with his slender fingers. He then faced his group of friends again, scanning each face thoroughly for any feedback on his idea.

Juyeon and Kevin were summoned through their group chat sent by Chanhee. SOS, come to this location, the text he sent. Chanhee must say that he was quite satisfied with the strong bond of their friendship. Although Kevin was a person who had high curiosity about even a simple thing, and Juyeon who was quite lagged in everything he did, none of them questioned anything from the simple text. They just came as fast as they could.

Upon their arrival, Chanhee had taken the lead, explaining things to the two for their better understanding. And that had lessened the burden of Ji Changmin. He just needed to think about how to make sure that Belle was under control.

"Her parents are on the way, right?" Chanhee questioned after nudging the long-neck boy whose eyes never left the girl on the bench who was shivering.

Chanhee's touch had brought him back to reality as he squeezed his eyes once before trailing back to his friends.

"Mhm... She informed them already," Changmin replied with a sigh. "They must be here anytime soon."

"Well," Kevin then spoke up. "I don't think we should waste our time. It's still early so I thought we better move now."

Agreed by all, the three of them, Chanhee, Juyeon and Kevin, would move around the perimeter to find the little boy, while Changmin would stay behind with Belle simply because the girl was not fit to move and someone needed to stay with her. Normally, Chanhee hated moving but this time, he knew he had to. Because, truth be told, he wouldn't know how to comfort Belle either, so he passed the task to Changmin.

At that, Changmin walked up to the girl who was sitting on the bench facing the man-made lake after his friends' departure. Despite the good weather, Belle was shivering so much that the boy ended up abandoning his zip-up hoodie and draped it over her small body. The sudden weight made her look up.

"They've left," he informed and Belle slightly frowned.

"T-Then what are we waiting for? We... should move as well," she wasn't in her best condition, the stammer proved it well.

"No, Belle... You're staying, and so do I."

"What are you talking about?!" Her watery eyes dripped a bead down as she glared. "We have to find Jinwoo... My parents will be here and... and... if they don't see him here, they..."

"Arabelle..." Changmin's call was soft yet stern, and even Belle could feel the piercing cut from the sharp tone he used. The way he looked at her was enough to make Belle quiet, once again planting her face in her hands.

Then, another fit of sob was heard, but Changmin seemed to unveil something. She's just scared, he thought as he rubbed a comforting circle on her back.

Belle undeniably was a loving sister. Though she was always awkward to be around Jinwoo, Changmin knew she still had an ounce of love for that little boy. But, that love wasn't enough to make her cry for his missing. Right at this moment, Ji Changmin could've told that Belle was scared to face her parents who may or may not blame her for everything.

"Can you tell me how you two could be here?" He proposed to distract her focus.

Belle lifted her head, wiping out those wasted tears next before she looked his way. "He wanted to play outside. So, I brought him here. I thought I could keep track of him since this area has an open view. One time, I saw him running around, and another time, I lost him."

She cried again, something that broke Changmin even more.

"Don't worry, they will find him," he nudged her with his shoulder rather playfully. "You know Kevin is quite a genius in finding things. His eyes are like a scanner."

Anyone could tell that Ji Changmin was trying to light up the mood, Belle's mood. And right now, Belle also knew it too well, which was why she had no retaliation for it. She only drew up her smile, hinting to the boy that she trusted him.

All along, she was glad that she had him. She thanked God for giving her some hints to make a call to him first thing. Not only his companion simply had comforted her, but also his assurance had lighted up her dimmed day back.

However, it did not last long.

The sight of two frantic adults running in their direction with fear on each face was what had shut all the light in Belle's day; she was only seeing things in grey. She knew too well what was coming her way, and so what she needed to do was prepare herself.

An earful? Or, the worst, a slap? She started guessing in her head as she watched them fastening their steps towards her.

Everything seemed to move in a great slow motion and all of a sudden, she felt so lightheaded.

"Belle..." Changmin's voice sounded underwater but when she felt his touch around her wrist, everything was resuming to normal. "I'll talk to them."

Changmin flashed a quick smile, before he lunged forward towards the girl's parents, explaining the same things he told Belle earlier. They seemed to understand; they even thanked Changmin for helping, but sadly, none of them checked on the scared Belle at the bench, squeezing herself into Changmin's hoodie.

Ever so faintly, the girl could've heard Changmin tell them; Belle is still shocked, and from the corner of her eyes, she could see her father looking her way. She wished he didn't just look at her. She wished he would run to her, engulfing her in a loving hug while assuring her that all this wasn't her fault. She wanted to cry in his arms so badly but wasn't it obvious that she was wishing too much?

Because...

None of those will happen, the voice in her head was telling.

It was proven anyway. Just in a split second, their attention shifted to Changmin when he received a call. It seemed like good news was delivered because Changmin was then releasing a relief breath.

Ironically, although the boy was shot with a curious gaze from the two adults, he couldn't care less about them. Ji Changmin glanced over his shoulder, at the girl who was spacing out.

"Belle..." He called and she whipped her head at him in no time because the tone he used now was kind of intriguing. "They found Jinwoo."

Arabelle was about to heave a relief sigh as well but the air was stuck all in her throat when she caught her parents' wide smile. The exhaled breath she intended to let out was then changed to a scoff; faint yet still bitter.

Then, they moved together to the spot from where Juyeon was calling, her parents led the way while Belle walked at the back, accompanied by Changmin. None of the two spoke anything. Simply because Changmin knew how heartbroken Belle was, he could've seen the bleeding from her piercing heart.

"Jinwoo!" And when her mother yelled the little boy's name as his figure finally appeared in view with the remaining of his sister's friend, Belle's heart dropped to the ground.

They didn't call me that way earlier, she thought, and unknowingly, her hands balled in fists.

When Jinwoo was hugged ever so lovingly in the father's arms, Arabelle had died inside. There was hatred blooming from inside her and she knew for who it was.

And right at that moment, she made up her mind. That she won't tolerate anything to be the best character in her parents' eyes anymore.