Sentience

21

At the end of the day, Ji Changmin walked Belle home despite it meant for him to skip another evening from seeing Mother.

Belle didn't ask for it, but it seemed to be some sort of common sense, Changmin thought. Simply because she needed to commute by bus, and the boy suddenly recalled many days earlier when he spotted a strange man in the vehicle eyeing her weirdly.

Better be careful than regret, he thought so as he rushed after the class dismissal to catch Belle before she boarded the bus; she tried to attend her evening class despite her poor condition.

The girl hadn't had her question answered yet. Changmin hadn't updated her regarding anything about the photo shoot he intended to carry out with Mother. He just told her I'll tell you later. And without Belle realising, Changmin's 'later' meant after she settled down with her feelings.

For, Ji Changmin didn't want her to be burdened by two different things at one time.

"I'm planning to move out," Belle's announcement on the gravel sidewalk leading to her building was what had halted Changmin's steps, making the girl lead the way.

"W-What?" Subconsciously, the question escaped his lips, and a swift turn of the girl was seen to face him. "Where to? And why?"

Belle chuckled. "What is why? You know I need space. I'm going to stay at the dormitory."

A few things were lingering in Changmin's head right now. The pros and cons of Belle to stay at the dormitory. Maybe it was a good thing for her; Amy was staying there to help her adjust, and Belle obviously would have the space she needed. Other than that, the consequence was that it would be hard for them to spend time together because they knew way too well that the dormitory had a curfew.

But, right now, Ji Changmin hoped that Belle wouldn't move out of her parent's house.

"This is a hasty decision, Belle," he took a step closer to her. "I'm worried you will regret it soon."

Much to Belle's hatred to admit, she thought the same. When Amy told her that there was a vacancy in the hostel, her eyes lit up with excitement, not because she wanted to stay there, but because she just wanted to challenge her parents. What will they feel when I'm gone, she said.

And right now, since Changmin had voiced out his opinion, Belle couldn't help but worry as well. She was worried about the outcome. What if her parents didn't care? Especially after the incident of Jinwoo's missing, what if they thought that she wasn't helpful at all and that it was easy to rid her of by sending her to stay at the hostel? What if her planned revenge would be crashing her instead?

Belle groaned to the ground at her feet, and the other pair, whose owner had taken further steps toward her.

"What if you talk to them first about it? Then, come back to me. We will find ways together," Changmin requested, his head pondering to find her face. "Can you do that for me, Belle?"

Slowly, Belle lifted her head to look at Changmin's sharp yet soft expression; the one that had always assured her. I am always with you, was what it screamed.

"I have no one other than you, Changmin," she flashed a small smile.

"Glad to hear that," the boy spoke in a joking manner.

However, contrary to the idea suggested to her, Belle found herself unable to carry it out. Especially when she stepped into the spacious house, Jinwoo's voice echoed from the living room while he was playing with their father. Once again, all the positivity in her had vanished at the sight, the only thing she felt was pain.

Too painful that she wanted to cry, screaming out loud that she wanted the same attention she used to have before. Her hands clenched tight while she internally questioned, where do things go wrong?

Her thought halted when her mother called her name, alerting the son-father duo on the couch of the onlooker.

"Why are you home so early? I thought you had club activity?" Her mother concernedly asked. "Jinwoo wants to get ice cream, so we thought to fetch you first, then we can go together."

"Ah..." Belle's response was blank. "I'm not feeling well, so I left early. Amy will note everything down for me."

"Do you have a fever?" Her mother attempted to reach for her forehead but Belle was quick to dodge the touch. Her action left the lady quite speechless.

"Arabelle," her father, who caught the sight, sternly called as if to discipline his daughter. But, before he could say anything further, Belle excused herself into her bedroom.

But, Belle knew what would be coming after her. She knew her father wouldn't leave her alone, and it was proved when he came knocking at her door once before swiftly sliding inside and softly sighing as he looked at his daughter at the dressing table, removing her makeup.

"Jinwoo wants to eat ice cream with you," the father said, making eye contact with the girl's reflection in the mirror.

"I'm tired," Belle answered.

As a father, the man knew that Belle was lying. He knew his daughter too well to tell that she wasn't in the right state. And as a father himself, he knew, he had to mend things which probably had gone wrong because of him.

So, Belle's father zoomed further into the room; closing the door with a click, before he plopped down on the soft mattress facing his daughter's back.

"You know... I love the fact that Jinwoo is looking more like you," out of context, he spoke up. "He went missing at the park because he wanted to explore the place. Doesn't he sound like you when you were a kid?"

The father sounded excited. His smile pulled up so high that he could feel his cheekbones getting numb. Nonetheless, his daughter wasn't.

Belle chuckled before she turned on her heels to face her father. "Be real, Dad. How come he's the same as me?"

Instantly, the man's face fell and the smile he hung slowly faded. He sighed as he rose on his feet, feeling quite challenging to talk to a now adult daughter. She no longer took any of his words willingly like how she used to do when she was younger.

"Arabelle, listen..." He said, staring straight into her eyes while his hand reached for hers. "No matter how many siblings you have, you always hold a special spot in my heart. You're my first bloodline."

Belle didn't know what kind of spell her father put on her, but, she was unable to move. His words hit her so hard that, at one point, she could feel her eyes sweating. And when her father pulled her into a loving hug before placing a kiss in her hair and muttering call me if you need anything, she found herself softened, not holding any grudge.

However, as soon as he left her bedroom and assured Jinwoo that his favourite sister was unable to follow because she was tired, Belle found herself losing all the energy to stand.

First bloodline.

It kept ringing in her ears. It sounded so wrong yet comforting that Belle didn't know how she should react to it. Little did she know, she reached for her phone, skipping text and directly going to the dial pad, typing out Changmin's number, which she had memorized beforehand.

The boy picked up after the second beep, questioning, "Why?"

"Did you already leave?" Belle asked, just to confirm the wind sound she heard over the line.

"Mhm..." Changmin confirmed. "I'm not that far yet. Why?"

A brief silence fell; Belle was biting on her lower lips. Then, with all the energy left, she requested, "I'm sorry, Changmin... Can I ask you to turn back? I need you here."

The mutual agreement achieved, Belle let out a relieved sigh. Deep down, she felt bad to get Changmin involved, but not only did she know; Changmin also understood, that out of all the people, only the boy could give her the comfort she asked for. Only he knew what kind of situation she was in.

Belle then ended the phone call, killing her time while waiting for the boy to come back. Nonetheless, what she didn't know was that Changmin never left.

He was at the same spot Belle last saw him, in front of their building and staring up to the 10th-floor balcony. He purposely waited for a while because his hunch asked him to.

"I'm glad I haven't left yet."