Omen - [EDITING]

[ Clouds ]

Grasping the mug of warm tea, the constant thought of a family member leaving this world frightens me. The light, the warmth, the embrace, the happiness ... would they be gone too? 

I don't have a lot of memories of Mother and neither was I able to create wonderful moments with Father. I haven't spent much time with them, or even had long deep conversations that some young teens do. All of those moments were far to reach. Even as a human, there's nothing that a powerless being like me can do. 

What worth did I have being the only Jang member in this household? 

I try my best to stabilize the quavering of my body by replacing such unclear paths with happy vibes and a brand new future. If Father truly were to leave this world and join Mother, then I must make it up to them by living my life. I should live on to make my parents proud, although the undeniable separation is evident. 

"MinYoung ..."

Slightly cold palms slide on top of my shaking fists. They resonate with a welcoming embrace the longer one ponders about it. The sensation contradicts between both physical and mentality, yet it didn't matter. 

I gaze up from the shaking tea to SeokJin. 

The first time that I met him, he didn't look happy at all. He was far from the sentiment of contentment and I understand why. His family was forcefully taken away from him. Even if he had the strength and stamina to fight back, there's a higher chance that he wouldn't make it. 

With the weapons that mankind has created, someone so prideful like SeokJin can easily be tamed. He has his weak spots as well and he could be taken down before he has the chance to try. 

I kind of have to thank him for pulling my senses together. I was beginning to think that Father would never return. Had he not pushed me to step out from the comfort zone, I'd practically be stuck in one path. I've probably diverge from my purpose, whatever that is. Perhaps I'd do things that rebellious adolescents might be doing right now. 

"You're going to drop your drink if you keep shaking. Hurry up and finish it before it turns cold."

SeokJin pulls away and occupies the seat beside. He looks drastically different from the first time I encountered him. He used to scowl all the time because of his impatience. He would sometimes return in a ragged mess, covered in dirt and soot. I mostly had to clean him up, but his body was not my choice to wash. 

After my temporary death, I feel unsure how to express anger. I can't be malcontent at what his younger sibling did to me by knocking me out unconscious. 

The ambiance around SeokJin seems more lighter than before. He doesn't rush me to infiltrate through the building like last time. Somehow, he seems more docile and calm, as if he knows that his family members aren't entirely in danger. 

Just a swift presence brought back could easily ease the concerns and unnecessary anger of SeokJin. It alleviates my heart from breaking down to see him smiling brightly, yet one issue remains glued in my head. There are so many things to think about. 

I want to save Father. I want Father to return home, even if he doesn't have much time left. I want him to give me a purpose for living on. I can't do well without his advice, no matter how distant our bond is. 

"SeokJin ... you never told me ... why you were glaring at Sul Hee ... before ..."

I placed the mug on the table and tugged onto the blanket closer. 

"That's because you never asked." He gently smiles and I grow uncertain whether this SeokJin is the same person as the last. Sighing in return, a distant thunders growls from afar. My ears perk up at the reverberation, yet I remained seated. 

What SeokJin stated was true and I didn't need to ask after all. 

It appeared to my realization the unraveled connection Sul Hee has with the Black Snow Co. Company just a while ago. 

I didn't understand why SeokJin glared at her as if she was a pest. He had wanted to crush her with just two hands and I was ready to lash out at him. After being aware of his young sibling's presence around me, it's safe to mention that SeokJin can remain stable until further notice. 

The thought dawned onto me that her Mother worked under the same company too. Father never mentioned it to me and neither did Sul Hee. There were no opportunities for me to get a direct answer from Father. He's the one who severed contact between us. 

It came to the point where I thought he didn't want me to be his child anymore. I thought I was a disappointment after Mother passed from that incident. I assumed I was nothing but a nuisance of a child for Father. 

Turns out, Father's been hiding his secret by leaving me behind. He doesn't want me to be deeply wounded after Mother died. It was Uncle, aside from his illness who blamed me for Mother's tragic incident. I couldn't do anything to prevent such occurrence from happening. 

I wasn't aware of it at all. 

Sul Hee never talks much about her family and rather the topic circulates more to our classes. She doesn't want to step in the boundary that involves her family. Rather, she wants to dwell further from that presence. 

"Stop scowling. You'll look old if you keep doing that." 

Raising my head to meet SeokJin's eyes, they project a sense of responsibility and kindness. 

Has he returned to his natural self where he doesn't pounce on any random people? Is the effect of his young sibling's presence the only source of suppression to keep SeokJin perfectly sane? 

His face darkens as the sunlight outside is concealed by the thick layers of grey clouds. SeokJin's cheeks puff out from smiling too much, which considerably pales to the gloomy weather. With the appearance of massively thick grey clouds, there would surely be the constant patters of the rain. 

I close my eyes and recall the images of the werewolves once more.

They're delighted, albeit taken hostage behind bullet-proof glass walls. 

"Good night."

   雲