Sentience

24

It was in a moment like this that Changmin felt grateful to have a friend like Chanhee. Even though the pretty boy was excellent at nagging, which Changmin did not favour even a bit, he did not mind hearing it more.

For, sometimes, he also needed comfort for all the feelings he felt. Sometimes, he didn't want to be the person who always helped, but instead, he wanted to be the person who received help.

And Chanhee; someone other than Belle, had done it.

"I guess things haven't worked out well with you," the voice that he started to miss had been the ear candy in Changmin's ears, pulling up the corner of his lips to form a smile.

"Maybe yes... and maybe not..." He sighed as he slumped against the bench he sat on. "I don't know, Mother. It's mixed feelings."

The lady mirrored his pose, slightly hugging her body that was hit by the evening breeze. She might have been living alone for a while after her daughter left the house, however, her motherly instinct had never died to tell that Changmin was in trouble. Or, something was occupying the most space in his head.

When she glanced over him, he was spacing out. Though his eyes fixated on the other boy he had come with earlier across from them, at a bush of flowers, busily taking pictures, the lady seemed to know that Changmin's head was somewhere else.

And if she was correct, the destination would only be one.

"Did something happen to Belle?" She questioned, and immediately Changmin snapped back to reality, a turn of his head at the lady was as fast as lightning. And that, knowing that she might be correct, Mother couldn't help smiling. "So, Belle is messing up with your head."

"Mother..." That came out of Changmin's lips sounding dragged. "How... Did you just guess?"

"Maybe yes... and maybe not..." The lady shrugged, imitating the boy's earlier stance. "You haven't come here for days, so, I just assumed that Belle was in trouble. Because... what else would be the reason?"

Changmin sighed the heaviest so far. "I'm sorry I'm not able to bring her here yet."

"It's okay..." Mother playfully nudged him on the arm with her shoulder. "Is she involved in something serious?"

"For her, it's serious."

Then silence fell upon the two; both were deep in thought. While Changmin was being haunted by the incident in the pool, the lady, on the other hand, was viewing things as a mother, all protective over her kids.

She wished she could ask further about it; what was the situation? Maybe asked him to tell her the details. But, as someone who had lived her life for 5 decades though alone, she could easily tell that youngsters these days did not like their privacy invaded. Some more, it was about Belle; the girl that she hadn't met yet. It clearly was rude to dig into someone's life like that.

"Belle is so lucky to have you as her friend," the lady then spoke up, watching Changmin's friend on the other side of the playground, who she didn't know the name chasing after a butterfly. "Or... Should I say... boyfriend?"

She playfully glanced over at the boy, knowing that there would be a disagreement. Changmin poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue before he let out an airy soft scoff.

"A friend, Mother..." Changmin insisted.

"Still denying, I see..." The lady nodded at her own stance which the boy almost spat a fit of retaliation. However, he couldn't because Mother was faster to cut him out. "Stay with her, Changmin. You are the one who she needed. I don't know Belle personally, but from your story alone, I can tell that you two can't let go of each other. No matter what happens."

Changmin was awestruck, no words seemed to find their way out of his mouth. But, after a few seconds of refreshing his foggy brain, registering all the words he had just heard in his head, the only thing he could exclaim was wow!

The corner of his lips inevitably pulled upwards and swiftly formed a smile; an amused one. Besides, the words themselves sounded so comforting that Changmin couldn't help but feel something else.

What kind of blessing is this?

First, it was Chanhee who had comforted him and now, it was Mother. Both also were saying something positive about him. Both were assuring that he was on the correct track. Changmin truly was discouraged earlier, but having good advice as ear candy undoubtedly had lighted up his world again.

But, it did not mean that he was satisfied. There was still something else disturbing him.

When his face once again fell as he looked straight into Mother's eyes, the lady could've expected something worse. She could tell that the boy might need a piece of other good advice.

"Ask me out," she said, already getting ahold of Changmin's hand. "Let out everything wall up inside you."

Changmin swore he could burst into tears right away. He, too, was fragile, specifically when he could see someone's feelings so easily. He couldn't get away with the attachment of someone's story.

"Our friendship does have limits," he paused, downing a lump inside his throat. "I would do just anything for her if only there is no boundary."

"Is that what you are worried about?" The question from Mother made Changmin nod almost instantly, unable to look her in the eyes anymore; he might cry if he did. But he still could hear a faint chuckle escape from her mouth before she said, "You're too naive, my dear."

Then, only Changmin dared to look at her again; her eyes softened when their eyes met.

"Belle is your priority, no?" She asked but did not intend to receive an answer. So, she continued, "When we prioritize someone, we will do just anything for them. Don't be scared to cross the boundary. Who knows when you do, you just saved them from a constant misery?"

Boundary...

The word kept lingering around his head that it seemed would be renting there forever. So, for all this while that was the thing that held him back, kept pulling him down when he wanted to go further. All because he listened to what his eldest sister had warned.

At that very moment, Changmin had made up his mind. He should've made his own decision from the beginning. After all, life was too short to keep relying on others. And this time he was sure of it; his decision.

"And what are you planning to do now?" Chanhee couldn't help but question his friend.

Changmin was in a rush when he yelled his name out loud at the playground just to announce that they were leaving. Chanhee thought there was an emergency, so, he just followed without asking much.

But, then, here they were, at the luxurious condominium in town, standing in a specific vacant roofed car park whose owner hadn't come back yet. Judging from the label hung from the ceiling, Chanhee could easily tell that the unit number stated was Belle's house.

But, he couldn't understand why they were standing at the parking lot instead of going straight to the doorstep.

"I'm going to tell Belle's father of his wrongdoing. I'll tell him what kind of pain he caused Belle," Changmin announced, calmly shoving his hands into his pocket as he looked over at the entrance direction where the car should be coming from. "I will cross the boundary today."