make you smile . ohmfluke

3

Ohm parks his car beside the park entrance then stands at the gateway to wait for Fluke when he arrives. He does not have Fluke's line ID yet, that's why he can't text him nor know when the boy comes.

After a few minutes, he spots Fluke running towards him, the boy panting in front of him.

"Sorry phi, I still had to clean in the shop"

"Hey, It's fine. I came here early. I don't have your line so I wanted to make sure I'll see you"

He takes courage and ruffles the boy's hair while the younger is still catching his breath. Which the boy just let him do so. He doesn't really mind

His hair is soft. Ohm smiles.

"Let's go now"

The older nods and they start to walk, entering the park.

-----

"What are we doing here?" Ohm asks.

"I sing here every Saturday. Part-time work." The other answers, his eyes on the ground like watching his own steps.

Ohm's eyes widen after what he has heard, slightly turning to him. "How many works do you have?"

"Just three..."

"...how can your body take this?" he starts to wonder how this little boy can do all of these, with lack of sleep.

"It's fine... I'm strong..." He can only smile with the boy's answer.

They enter a resto-bar, with bands on the side. Ohm scans the place. A lot of people inside, drinking beers and talking, everyone having fun in their world. Fluke makes Ohm sit on a chair in the audience before he goes on stage. He fondly watches Fluke as the younger checks everything on the stage, amazed at how the younger could do a lot of things while he couldn't even fry an egg when he was at his age. He just learned everything when he started living on his own.

Fluke only has to work there and sing for 1 hour. He accepts song requests from people. Ohm watched and listened to him sing, didn't know the younger has a good voice, he also ordered a bottle of light beer, he didn't finish because he still needs to drive.

The two now sitting close on a bench watching the colorful lights in front of the fountain. It's already midnight yet the park is still crowded with people. Some are sitting on the blankets they placed on the grass, some are playing, some are watching people busking.

Ohm stares at the person beside him. His expression still has not changed. But he observes how his eyes sparkle. Even though this boy does not say anything, his eyes say he is happy.

"Are you happy?" Ohm asks to confirm, also to start a conversation. Fluke nods then shift to look at Ohm, "Thank you for coming with me."

Ohm just smiles at the younger, before bringing his hand to caress the younger's head. Fluke just stares at his face for a minute before looking away slowly, Ohm feeling like his heart just jumped out from his chest from the mini-staring contest they had.

"...I..I used to hate all of these," Fluke says, while his eyes wander around.

"..why?" Ohm asks, his eyes not leaving the younger.

"My parents got a divorce when I was still a kid. Before that, I would always hear them shouting outside my room. Those were my only memories as a kid. When they got a divorce, they both found new families and they left me to my aunt. She has a happy family, and even though she accepted me in her house, I couldn't help to feel bitter about it. I just thought of how life was so unfair. They have a happy and strong family while I don't. I'd always feel envious whenever they talk together, lovingly, whenever they make joyful noises because I was used to hearing otherwise. I hated it. I hated everyone." he stops a bit before talking again.

"But after coming here to the city, I have to live alone, do things alone. And I started to miss them. This is when I began appreciating these noises, these colorful lights. Hearing someone laugh, seeing someone having fun encourages me. It makes me happy and feels like I am not alone."

"...Why don't you go back if you miss them?"

"My aunt has two college students so she wanted me to quit school after I graduate high school and work to help her. But I wanted to study so I traveled here to work and support myself. I can't go back now, I already started this. I have no one but myself. "

Ohm can only stare at the boy beside him who is now playing his fingers. He can't think of things to say. He can't even read the boy.  He thinks of how strong the boy is, and how was he able to face everything alone. He pities him, but he also thinks he may not like to be pitied.

He places his hand on top of Fluke's and holds it tightly.

"...you have me now.." is all that he's able to say.

The corners of Fluke's lips raise a bit while looking at their hands, which makes Ohm smile. It's the first time he sees Fluke smile, even though it was a weak kind of smile. But it's fine, he thinks. He'll work better to see more than this.