Novean And Ember: The Celestrial Bond | [18+] [BxB]

Chapter 10: Another Encounter

(Present Time)

It was an ordinary evening when Ember, his mind filled with thoughts of the mysterious stranger, went out to play with his friends. He had been spending time thinking about the man.

As the sky began to turn a dusky orange, Ember made his way back home, his thoughts still lingering on the stranger. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was a story about the man. Why was he hurt? Why was he so distant? Ember wished that one day, the stranger would open up and tell him his name, share his story. But as he walked down the familiar path, he didn't expect to find what he did next.

Just as he rounded the corner, he saw someone sitting on a bench in the park. At first glance, Ember wasn't sure, but then something in the man's posture, the way he sat so quietly, made Ember's heart skip a beat. He stopped in his tracks and blinked.

Could it really be him?

Ember's heart raced with excitement, and without a second thought, he ran toward the figure on the bench. His legs moved quickly, and he was soon standing in front of the man, breathless from running. There, in front of him, the stranger sat on the bench, just as Ember remembered him.

The stranger's eyes flickered up as Ember approached, and for a brief moment, their gazes locked. Ember, unable to contain his happiness, let out a joyful laugh and said,

"Do you know how long I've waited for you?

How much I've searched for you in the jungle every day? But you never came. I missed you."

The stranger didn't respond immediately. He simply stared at Ember with a cold, distant look in his eyes. After a long pause, the man spoke softly, his voice tinged/touched with an edge of weariness.

"Stay away from me. Don't come near me."

Ember's heart sank at the words, but his frustration quickly turned to determination. He couldn't let the stranger push him away again.

"Stranger, this is not the way to talk," Ember said, his voice firm with a hint of annoyance.

"I missed you so much." Without thinking, he reached out and grabbed the man's hand, hoping that his gesture would make the stranger understand that he genuinely cared.

The moment Ember touched his hand, he felt something that immediately caught his attention—blood. The man's hand was covered in it, and Ember's eyes widened in shock. "Are you injured again today?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Why are you always hurt whenever we meet?"

The stranger didn't say anything. But his eyes told a story of pain and suffering. Ember could see the pain in them and the weight of untold stories. It hurt to see the man in so much pain, yet he knew he couldn't give up on him now. He wanted to help.

"Wait, let me bandage you," Ember said, his voice gentle but insistent. He reached into his bag and pulled out a bandage, quickly preparing it to help the stranger. He moved carefully, wrapping the bandage around the stranger's hand, his heart racing as he worked. The stranger didn't protest, though his face remained unreadable, his eyes focused on the ground.

Once Ember finished wrapping the wound, he looked up at the stranger and spoke softly,

"You don't have to go through this alone. I want to help you."

The stranger's gaze flickered to Ember for a moment, a small hint of gratitude in his eyes, but he remained silent.

Ember didn't mind the silence. He sat down next to the stranger on the bench, determined to stay by his side. The cool evening air brushed past them, and Ember let the silence settle between them. He didn't want to push the man too hard. He knew that building trust would take time.