Chapter Text
The glimmering blue by the moonlight glow shines brightly in every corner of the room, yet it is barely as quiet as usual. The sound of cry echoed through, protected by two lovers that never looked more bliss than before. There sits in the bed a golden-haired man whose hair streaming down gracefully, dances slowly following the rhythm of the gentle winds that comes out from the window next to him while cradling his precious one in both arms as he tries to soothe her.
Aether smiles like an angel. He really looks like one. "Shhh. It's alright, Lin. Your dad and I are here with you..." He calls softly, never once thinking that her cry would ever annoy him. It's a miracle.
Xiao, who sits next to his beloved on the edge of the bed, couldn't help but smile watching two of his greatest treasures. The way Aether holds his daughter compassionately, attentively, is always leaving him with tender feelings. He lets out a soft snort. "She really looks like you."
Aether chuckles. "You see, sometimes I keep believing if I ever met her, you know. The hair is the same color as yours with big, shining golden eyes. She is the prettiest." He speaks like it was the obvious thing. The more his golden eyes stare at the crying, innocent tiny baby, the more he realizes that he loves her so dear. Through the pain even Xiao's sacrifices, he is glad that his daughter is born after all
Aether affectionately kisses her forehead and smells his daughter's lovely smell. As if the baby could feel something warm nuzzling her, then to the deep bond between her and her parents, the baby blinks, slowly turns her cry to mere sniffles and watches innocently to the sparkling golden above her. The prettiest eyes fill with hope and joy
Another response from his daughter, that surely gives Aether a relief before his smile grows bigger. "Look! She stops crying!"
The pair of amber eyes soften looking at his daughter's tiny hand struggling to reach her mom's face. "I think she understands you."
Aether let out a happy giggle. "That's right, Lin. It's alright. I'm here with you. Always..." He assures her gently. Then, to his sudden memories after everything happened, Aether feels that today is just another dream too good to be true that he is able to finally create a new life with his own family. Perhaps Xiao is right. Perhaps Lin can understand him right now and how pure, innocent, perfect little one she is. She even has the same golden eyes as his that suddenly makes Aether feel so special yet grateful. She truly is pretty. Then he glances at his beloved, to share the same feelings. "Xiao, do you want to hold her?"
The dad now looks quite nervous, not sure that he can do that twice even though he is the first person who holds Lin after Aether gave birth two days ago. Some bad imagination runs through his head and makes him more anxious. "I-I… I probably shouldn't—"
"Geez!" Aether pouts. He always acts like this. "You think too much! It's your own daughter, you know!"
"But—"
"Xiao."
Hearing what his beloved says along with that persistent look, Xiao always feels so defeated. But on the other hand he also doesn't want to ruin Aether's joy. He sighs heavily. "Alright, I'll do it but just…" he gulps when his eyes stare nervously at the tiny baby. What if he does something wrong?
"Hey," a sweet voice calls and now Xiao glances to see his dearest's reassuring gaze. "It's alright." The golden one smiles again, to the prettiest smile that makes him fall in love every time. Aether knows how to calm him more than anyone.
Xiao lets out a helpless look before he gives a simple nod. He believes Aether more than anyone, more than any reasonable reason if it isn't about him, then he won't.
As Aether's hand shifts closer to bring his newborn baby, Xiao is probably already reaching out his hand to grab Lin into his embrace if it wasn't because of the sudden excruciating pain piercing in his forehead.
He screams.
"XIAO!"
Aether immediately withdraws her daughter back into his embrace. With a dreadful expression on his face, not exactly knowing what happened because Xiao is immediately standing and screaming while holding his forehead, Aether starts looking to his surroundings, hoping that he finds the reason why his husband is in so much pain but apparently there's nothing, not even anyone. His isolated house is far from the city and Aether doubts someone other than him and Xiao is here.
However, the gentle wind suddenly blows harder which causes the curtain in the window to sway chaotically and Lin starts to cry again after hearing her father's agony. It seems like the baby could sense something bad because the clear night is gone. There seems to be a great storm coming in autumn joy. Still holding his daughter to protect her and stay alarmed, Aether shakily grabs something from the drawer next to his bed.
Xiao never feels this torture. Wobble feet and panting heavily, there is something more than his stabbing pain in his forehead. Xiao's teary amber eyes widen in fear after he feels the presence of someone watching him from afar making his whole body numb at the moment. He shakes his head in fear. "N-no…!"
"Xiao! Xiao!" Aether shouts at him, scared to death, but the man barely glances or answers his call. Aether doesn't understand what happens but he tries to make sure his husband is now facing him, not looking up dreadfully at the mad sky outside from the wide-opened window. "Xiao!"
At the moment when Xiao fully understands what is going to happen to him, he hesitantly turns to see his dearest along with a hopeless expression, trembling lips, tears pouring down and Aether never sees such fear in his husband's eyes. But something that causes his pain appears in his forehead; a dark purple, diamond-shaped mark comes out. Aether knows that mark. It's his Adepti mark.
The next thing he knows, they are going to have a serious matter.
Aether gulps heavily. "X-Xiao…"
Lin's crying feels like it's not even important anymore. It deafens both ears, distracted by the next calamity they are going to face when those different, fearful irises lay at each other.
"A-aether…" Xiao calls the love of his life, but it almost sounded like the world is going to end.
In that time when Aether realize what happened to his husband, the painful tears dwell on his eyes because Xiao already brings a bitter reality after he finally speaks the truth:
"He is going to find me."
Before Aether can even show his fear too, Xiao suddenly leaves the room. Still can't believe what's going on, Aether breathes out shakily and he shakes his head hopelessly with tears that he fails to hold back. His chest is awfully tight and he watches sorrowfully the baby cry on his arms. Aether smiles sadly at his daughter, trying to let out every word to calm her before taking another warm cloth, gently wraps it to Lin to keep her warm then decides to leave the bed and find Xiao outside.
There, inside an old lit cell phone that lay perfectly on the bed is a message written for someone:
‘Help’
.
.
.
Teyvat has its own laws.
For those the chosen one with the greatest desire shall be given a gift to see through the time.
"A Vision"
.
.
.
"I'm not going."
Lumine stops swallowing her sandwich and looks at the sullen girl in front of her with a frown. Did she really mean that? The way she already dressed up wearing her uniform and ready to go to school but now changing her mind like that? Lumine sighs heavily. Sitting with her in the kitchen just two of them in the morning barely ever stops bringing such drama. Now her breakfast is ruined.
Lumine swallows the chew and stares irritatingly at her. "Nonsense. Eat your breakfast."
"But I'm telling you! I told you every day!"
"God! Again? Is it because—"
"You knew it! Yes, them! Why would you send me to that hell every day? I could just help you with your work with Thoma rather than go to shitty school." The girl leans herself on the wooden chair resentfully and crosses her arms in front of her chest with that disgruntled look.
Every day is the same. Just by hoping that she could go somewhere else will never be enough. Just staying fourteen years old will never make her get an acknowledgment. She wants to be an adult already.
"Really? What can you do? You're just fourteen years old and only good at complaining." The middle-aged woman who never aged breaks eye contact with her and snorts. There in front of her, the girl glaring but Lumine decides to sip her warm morning coffee.
A protest comes. "Hey! I'm not—"
"Stop complaining! Now bring your ass out. I'll be waiting in the car." Lumine gives an absolute order and stands up to take her bag in the empty chair next to her. By not giving a shit, there she looks, Lumine sighs and gazes at the girl exasperatedly. "Lin, please. I don't have much time."
Lin, the girl with dark, medium-length hair and being braided only in the left side of the hair now purses her lips. She breathes out heavily through her nose along with that unwilling expression. Both hands below the table—which Lumine can't see—now squeezing her innocent navy skirt as the place to express her frustration. Why can't she understand her?
No, nobody ever did since the beginning. It wasn't her fault to be born like this. If only… if only they were here then perhaps everything will be much better. But no. Lin laughs inwardly, pitying herself because that day will never come.
"Yes, I'm sorry aunt Lumine…" she mumbles under her breath hopelessly.
And the school will stay hell to her.
.
Last school cultural festival for her was bad, now it's the worst. Last year maybe she still could try to be the nice girl, all way friendly attitude just like normal people but some girls with shitty behavior started to mock her and now everyone seems to join in by calling her an outsider. Well, she is an outsider indeed. Being the only one that came from Liyue in the entire school feels so funny. While Inazuma is the most highly guarded country and no such outsider could easily come here, everyone starts thinking that she is somehow a bad girl from outside and judging her though she barely do anything stupid at all.
Every year in every school is the same. The students like to make trouble for her, even pranking and close to bullying but Lin never does the same. She just takes it then keeps silent, heavyhearted, because they are more than she could handle by herself when she is completely alone.
Lin pouts. She pulls her legs in front of her chest and supports her chin by placing her arm on her knee, sitting in the stairs. Her golden eyes watch people pacing around in the middle of hectic preparing the school festival when every class will present something spectacular like a cafe, haunted house, live music, or even hone their business skills by simply selling food.
So why is she sitting here watching all of them and doing nothing? Well, pretty obvious because they don’t need her, or to be precise, they don't even care about her existence at all. It doesn't matter.
It’s just… there’s someone who sits next to her, always being so curious as hell.
"We could start a conversation instead! Oh, and please explain slowly! I'll take notes."
With a scowl, Lin glances at Shouta, the boy, who is surprisingly the vice president at school, and clicks her tongue. "I told you I don't know a damn thing about how Liyuean people are so rich, dammit! Maybe they’re just doing illegal business!" She yells, answers carelessly whatever comes into her mind. Another reason why she is beyond exasperated is that the topic is too unfair for her.
But somehow the boy next to him nods understandingly and starts to write something in his note which makes Lin gape unbelievably. "Illegal business from your view, huh? Interesting…"
"No! It's not—akh!" Lin groans. Now she's burying her face hiding in her palms. She really wants to cry.
And the boy is now looking at the dark-haired girl in worry. "Lin! Are you alright?"
She wants to answer 'no' and 'please, get out ’ but there's a part of her that always wants to ask the vice president next to her, the way he really wants to get more about gain any information about the world, yet Lin understands if Shouta wants to interrogate her because she is the outsider anyway. It’s just… Why Liyue of so many places?
With that tired expression, Lin now forces herself to keep her sanity and releases her palm to free her face from hiding before she glances at him. "Why…?"
Shouta is pretty confused at first then he bewilderedly narrows his eyes to Lin. "Why… what?"
Lin gulps and hugs her knees. Her golden eyes stare vacantly at the stairs under her feet. "Why do you care so much about Liyue?" She simply asks. Lin doesn’t know why she, the one who is actually half Liyuean, barely thinks of that land at all.
Her question surprisingly makes Shouta completely silent. At that time Lin doubts whether her question is difficult to comprehend for a genius or he just doesn't know how to answer. However, then the boy throws a smile at her.
"Teyvat is interesting and Liyue is part of it. I don't know why the almighty Shogun tried to isolate Inazuma from outside so badly," he tries to explain. His onyx eyes travel at the view in front of him, watching people passing by with an unreadable gaze. "I always wanted to travel around the world, to meet many people and come to every place. I loved reading books, but it wasn't enough just by reading. You know knowledge is everywhere and I thought I could do something new and then I realized I have you, Lin!" he states cheerfully, eyes back at the girl next to him.
Lin blinks. "Me?" She asks, almost sounding excited but then she regrets her stupidity because she already knows why. It's because she is an outsider, didn’t she? Probably the next thing he is going to say is about Liyue again, which she already expects.
But surprisingly not.
Shouta gives a light nod and then continues. "Do you know that god—I mean Celestia above, the heaven, is making the legend of a story called 'A Vision' ?"
Lin never heard of that before. It sounds so unfamiliar with her and whatever it is, she doesn't care at any slight. That sounds like bullshit. Lin shakes her head. "No. I—"
"It's amazing, you know!" Shouta shouts in excitement right in front of Lin's face that she needs to shift backward. The boy grins like a five years old child getting a new toy from his parents. "It's the legend about how we got a blessing from heaven to come to the past or the future!"
Those golden eyes widen a bit in showing interest but a second later, her expression remains the same. Whatever Shouta had explained to her, the legend is still a legend. It’s just so silly, absurd. She rather believes in mythical things at school than old legends.
Lin scowls. "It sounds bullshit but do you want it? The uh… the Vision?" It wasn’t her intention to get deeper into the conversation but because Shouta keeps staring at her, she just can’t help it.
Shouta laughs. "Not a chance. Well, it's good if I'm the chosen one so I could change the past and become the Shogun instead. But no matter how much I want to change something, the past is the past. There will be someone in the present who will be sad, I believe. And let the future remain a mystery.” he lets out a grin at Lin but as the girl watches his dark irises, almost blushing in the way he sounds more wistful than her own aunt, Lin can feel his earnest gaze somehow… just a little bit, reassures her.
Lin averts her gaze. She doesn’t want him to see her blush. “Being the Shogun, huh? That was stupid.”
Shouta frowns due to opposing opinions. “Hey, it’s cool! I could change Inazuma to become better!” he states and Lin almost laughs but she just snorts amusedly. The boy sighs. “Nevermind. I do believe in god though. But see? I don’t even need the Vision or become the Shogun because I already have you. One step closer to getting knowledge of the world!”
Lin starts thinking that this conversation went wrong, at least, for her own feelings. At first, she feels perfectly annoyed, then she feels at ease, then almost blush until reality hits her harder than Shouta’s wistful words. Lin sighs heavily. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you…”
“What? Why?” Shouta doesn’t understand.
“My parents are dead. My aunt took me to Inazuma and raised me here. It was my dad that came from Liyue but I never know how it was,” Lin gazes through those dark eyes deeply like there’s something sorrowful inside her torn soul. “I grew up here! So please stop asking me about Liyue!” she says half snapped, emotions are suddenly overwhelming.
Let alone about the world outside where she should belong, Lin never really knows about her parents either. She remembered when she was five years old, sitting in her aunt’s lap while holding a framed photo of her parents: a man with golden braided hair smiled beautifully while clutching to the man’s arm beside him with a dark and teal hair who seemed too nervous to even smile and there was also Lumine in the front doing v-pose in the front happily. It wasn’t even a formal, decent one. Lumine only said that it was the only photo she had on her old phone and she never explained more when Lin asked where her parents were now, Lumine only answered: ‘They are peacefully in a faraway place in heaven together.’
Turned out at seven years old when she already knew about life and death, Lin once ask why her parents dead, Lumine only answered with that sad expression and said reluctantly: ‘They both died in the accident’ which never explain why she is ended up in Inazuma now and not even any left things from her parents that Lumine ever shows her, or other family relations. She understood at that time Lumine was hiding something but she never found out what. It was so frustrating, neither did she know the truth. When every child in her school before could proudly tell a story about their parents, she could only sit and watch enviously. When everyone bullied her and called her an outsider, nobody defended her or comforted her because Lumine is too busy to hear dramas.
So what’s the point? It just makes her become too edgy like she is right now. It wasn’t her fault to be irritated like this when she suddenly remembered about whatever things about her parents being triggered. She too wants to know it so bad that it hurts.
Shouta can feel the tense of the girl in front of him right now. But… “But I-I thought the woman who came to the parents' meeting last year is your mom. I see you guys and you two look alike...”
Lin snorts mockingly. There’s a part of her that is unwilling to see Lumine as her mom. A perfect portrait of a mother to her is barely invisible to exist, along with the fact of knowing that her real mom is a male omega, she felt complicated that she had to burn deep that disgusting part of her life. “Also the one who brought me here but never picked me up? Let me just take the bus and walk home? She is not my mom. She is my aunt, my mom’s twin sister. My own mom? Or I should call that is dead. It’s just…” Lin shakes her head at the sickening thought. “Disgusting, you know…”
“What disgusting? What do you mean?” Shouta asks, eyes looking at Lin almost unpleasantly.
Lin shrugs nonchalantly. “My own mom.”
The boy’s brows scrunch up. He doesn’t expect the girl will just roasting her dead parents in front of him when he completely understands how it feels to lose a family. But Shouta doesn’t want to think that much because Lin and he just share the same feelings. And he is still going to do anything to get an important piece of knowledge. “But… your aunt will probably know.”
Remembering what her aunt did to her every morning, Lin glares at him. "She's not even from Liyue! She's from Mondstadt! Could you please stop asking me?" She shouts at him, at how persistent he is to the bone. But Lin regrets mentioning the land of freedom now.
"WHAT?!" Shouta looks at him with incredulous eyes. His face turns out never to be this excited at another hope. "You are half Liyue and half Mondstadt?! That is awesome, Lin!”
The dark-haired girl shakes her head exasperatedly at how unbelievable the boy is and she decides to get up, squinting her eyes down to the boy that had never been so loud in her life. Forget about the compliment part. "You know what? Nevermind! Stop talking to me!"
Uh-oh. Maybe Shouta is wrong about being so excited at Mondstadt and completely aware of making her feel this angry plus uncomfortable. But at least sorry before she leaves him.
"Wait, Lin!" He calls her name, tries to catch her arm before someone freezes them both.
"My! What are you two doing here? Why not help your classmates?"
Both Lin and Shouta are in horror when they see their PE teacher, Yoimiya, now staring at them unpleasantly below the stairs. Lin is perfectly fine because she is already taking the consequence of intentionally not helping for the school cultural festival shits, but she doesn't understand why Shouta looks stiffer than she is supposed to be.
The boy stands up straight, both hands resting in his upper thighs and he stares at Yoimiya as if he was staring at an army General. "G-good morning, Yoimiya- sensei! Y-you look beautiful as always!"
Lin is looking disgustedly at the boy next to him. While the hottest teacher–who always wears red track pants with the same jacket color that she tied around her slim waist and a tight, white shirt that doesn't completely cover her flat belly– standing there unpleasantly, Lin never thinks if she literally is scolding them after being so invisible in her life. But Lin now understands why Shouta is so weird when he is looking at her. More likely, blushing madly.
Yoimiya places her arm in front of her chest and sighs. "Thank you but don't waste my time. You guys go help the others and please don't be apathetic or the festival won't succeed. More hands the better."
Shouta nods firmly. "I-I understand!" He replies, glancing at the girl next to him who seems to be a bit nervous. Shouta probably knows why, even though she and Lin are in different classes. "Lin…" he calls softly.
It changes so fast that she thinks that this is going to be a nightmare. To put it in the first place, she never likes to blend in with her classmates, which certainly will not accept her to become part of the team. Also, they are going to have a stage play from the most popular book about a girl's journey with her dog to find her mom. She already knows the story and doesn't even care anymore. Just please don't let Yoimiya force her into the school gym.
The teacher squints when she realizes who the girl is. "You are Lumine's…" she mumbles quietly before letting out a happy, enthusiastic smile. "Come one, girl! Perfect timing. I also have things to do for your class! I know you! Let's go together!" She stretches out her hand to invite her to come along.
Alright, who in the school doesn't know her? Everybody does. But this case is a force. Lin can't even speak or stare at her teacher now because somehow the stairs and her shoes are better. She doesn't want to look pathetic but now her stomach starts to churn. Everything comes so fast when a hand pulls her wrist to get down immediately. There she can look at Yoimiya innocent's sweet grin but the teacher never can stare at her frightened soul.
The helplessness and all, everything is going really bad.
Just in the time when Yoimiya drags her forcefully and Shouta keeps staring worriedly at Lin's back when her appearance gets further, there in the way down the stairs below him, there's a girl who keeps eavesdropping silently on their conversation even before the PE teacher came.
.
Lin remains silent watching blankly at her surroundings from the back row where all her classmates are circling around listening to what Yoimiya is saying about rules and regulations when using the school gym facilities before moving to the auditorium for their upcoming play stage in the school cultural festival. She is talking about the properties, the sounds, the lighting and all but it won't affect Lin even if she decides to listen carefully. She doesn't even use the sports uniform like the others who are ready to sweat and get dirty. It's just about the time when she gets the menacing gaze from some of them. She is ready.
Then one solid clap from Yoimiya snaps her thoughts. "Alright! Enough from me! You guys can put your stuff backstage later and please keep this place as clean as possible. Make sure that you guys come home on time, okay? A week is more than enough." She gives the last instruction, eyes looking at each of her students with a smile.
The others nod understandingly and simply answer yes. When Yoimiya seems satisfied, she makes a goodbye gesture and decides to walk out of the gym, trusting their students in here, hoping that everything would be alright.
"Geez! I could stare at her boobs all the time, you know!"
A shush coming. "Hey, idiot! Lower your voice!"
"He isn't wrong, you know!"
"Boys you guys are so disgusting!"
Then it’s followed by a heartful laugh.
Lin sighs heavily. Even before she wants to turn back to disappear from the community, she is stuck with a minor problem.
“God! Who is poking my shoulder!” a girl says irritatingly when she can feel someone is pranking her. Everyone's eyes are now looking at her.
“Who knows?” another one says, a boy with a smirk looking at the girl amusingly. “Maybe it’s the outsider? She is standing next to you!”
Lin’s golden eyes widened. She glances at her classmate who is currently looking at her in accusation gaze and disgust. Lin gulps, shakes her head. “I-I’m not! I didn’t do anything!”
But the girl seems to hate Lin deep into her soul and believes the boy rather than her. She glares at Lin. “How dare you! Stop touching me! And what are you doing here? Get lost!”
“Get lost! Get lost!”
Lin watches her classmates’ mocking cheers when everyone despises her presence even just breathing at that moment. Lin starts squeezing her skirt, bits her lower lips, and glances down, feeling completely dejected. If she can, she will never come here in the first place. But it’s totally unfair when she barely does anything and they start to do whatever they like to her. Just why Lumine doesn’t understand this…?
Lin does what they want. The girl turns back, decides to walk away from the community but when she sees something, far in the opened-door over there, she caught Shouta's head peeking out to see inside the gym. Why is he still here?
Lin curses inwardly knowing why. 'Oh, god please not again.'
"Where is our heroine?" a boy that Lin believes is the class leader says behind her, yet she assures herself to keep walking. Just go straight to the door and everything will be alright. Just do something about Shouta later when he is about to ask her more questions but for now, escaping is the top priority.
“Oh, I’m here!” a girl says arrogantly.
“Alright! Let’s go, everyone! We should practice!”
“Yeah, we should!” that girl answers, then adds with a smirk, “But are you guys sure to let that outsider away? She is just doing nothing, you know. That’s what I called unfairly. See? She doesn’t even care about what I say.”
Lin immediately stops all her way then turns back with a great puzzle on her face to see her. Why did she even say that when everything is perfectly clear if no one likes her existence? What did she want from her?
The class leader covers his chin with his arm, making a thinking pose at what Fubuki–the girl– says. He is certainly half considering if Fubuki is right. “You got a point.”
“Right?” Fubuki smirks triumphantly. “Hey, outsider! Aren’t you going to help us?” she says annoyingly, way too cocky when her dark eyes lay on Lin.
Lin’ stomach starts to churn into uneasiness. People’s eyes are staring at her right now and her body tenses a bit at how intimidating their gaze is. Hands still on the skirt, golden eyes appear to be in half worried and confused but she still tries her best to dare say something, at least, defend herself of what is right. Lin isn’t scared. She just doesn’t understand if Fubuki trying to help her or what because the girl looks satisfied with what she said before. Lin gulps again. “Well, I did want to help. But some of you will never accept me anyway so–”
“My, my! A but ? Are you trying to be an arrogant, outsider? You should consider yourself to behave well! We are here trying to make our performance successful yet you are here doing nothing, listen to Yoimiya- sensei and then just go back?” Fubuki says defiantly yet her amusement on her face isn’t slightly less like she is trying to provoke the innocent Lin. This sassy girl is stirring up a trouble.
Shouta is a straightforward boy when he simply just worry about Lin and do whatever it takes to become smarter so he already expects Lin will never let herself that long to blend in with people, then he could ask again about Mondstadt instead of Liyue but it seems like things are going differently inside the gym. However, when he knows who caused all that ruckus is someone he knew for so long, Shouta back there clicks his tongue with a scowl. “Fubuki what the hell.”
Lin frowns and all of those eyes are currently looking at her disgustingly like she is the most sinful person in all Teyvat. Slightly infuriated, she answers a bit loudly, “But I never had any job from the start because you guys never invited me to join! Even if I tried to get closer, nobody ever wants to take my help! And I—”
“Gah!” Fubuki cuts off suddenly. She rolls her eyes, face pretends to look tired. “This is why I hate an outsider. Act arrogantly, doing nothing but beg!” she snorts, looking at Lin from head to toe disdainfully before she places her arms in front of her chest. “No wonder why your parents never taught you manners. They don’t even exist.”
The truth is, Fubuki is the one who was eavesdropping on them. But both Lin and Shouta are surprised when they heard what she just said, way too offending when it comes to Lin’s dead parents. At first, Shouta back there is trying to restrain himself from not getting involved in other class business yet he is completely aware if Fubuki went too far. No more peeking, that boy standing between the opened door and shouts, “Lin!”
“W-what did you say...?” Lin's breath hitches as she takes one step closer. She hopes that her ear is wrong to hear that, though she could feel anger through her whole body that she had already kept too long at how unfair her parents are and now a girl is just insulting her right in front of her face. Lin is already losing her patience and something is outburst inside her heart; a sad, disapproving, rage as well as offended blend into one that makes her golden eyes now flare. “What did you say!”
“Ooh! Someone is being offended!” Fubuki still lets out her awkward grin, whereas anyone can tell that she looks a bit scared but keeps her acting on. As expected from the heroine, yet it doesn’t last long until Lin runs to her, both hands gripping her shoulders tightly then a strong push made her drop down to the ground. Before Fubuki can react more, a punch already landed perfectly on her cheek.
Shock gasps come out from her classmates. Some of the girls, too, scream at the chaos while Lin is still on top of Fubuki, caging her between her sadness and anger. Fubuki can scream right now or kick her feet but her body just freezes watching Lin above her crying. Those pure, innocent liquids trickling down washing her cheeks.
“Don’t say it! You could hate me! Bullying me or say anything to me but don’t you dare to talk about my parents! Don’t! Never!”
.
“Aaaah, I’m so tired!” Lumine groans loudly. She is currently placing her head lazily on the desk filled with piles of untouched documents. Her stamina runs out, her body is going to break. She hardly remembers the day without documents or following wherever Ayaka–her boss lady– is going. Not to mention how much coffee she already drinks per day is more concerning than not doing laundry at home.
Thoma, her life-saver, her best friend, her colleague that sits next to her just chuckles while continuing to take care of his own documents. “Keep it up, lady! You have an appointment to attend Ayaka’s meeting at four, don't forget!” he says like a man who never had a problem in his life. The only thing that Lumine envies the most is his spirit and that soft smile. Damn. No wonder he is so popular with girls.
Lumine sighs heavily. “I know! But I think I’m going to die right now.”
“Bad jokes, Lumi! Your niece will cry badly when you are gone!” Thoma answers half-mad. It wasn't a really good joke though.
“Lin, huh…?" Lumine slowly raises her head and straightens her back on her seat. Her golden eyes stare vacantly on the ceilings. "She is probably very lonely since I always come home late. "
Thoma stops compiling his documents and sadly glances at the woman next to him. "That might be true. I know you barely spend your time with her except for breakfast, I think."
Lumine stares back with a pout. "You know I need money for living. I barely had anything so I don't have any choice. Besides, you don't know how hard it is to raise a child alone." She sneers, but no hard feelings. It wasn't completely a serious matter but Thoma understands.
"I remember when she wanted me to be her dad before." Thoma chuckles. A sudden appearance of a dark-haired young girl who wants a hug comes into his mind. It's been almost fourteen years since he knew Lumine and Lin. Time changed so fast. The young girl now turned into a teenager in junior high school.
"Sorry, that won't happen," Lumine says with a teasing grin. "I know your heart belongs to someone from the start."
Thoma can feel his cheeks getting hotter. Why did she even say that with such a teasing look? He snorts. "Stop making fun of me Lumi."
Lumine let out a chortle. She loves seeing that embarrassed part of her best friend while Thoma desperately tries to stay calm. Then Lumine sighs, her golden eyes staring amusedly at the sparkling ring on Thoma's finger. "Great! So when is your wedding with Ayato- sama ? Could you please promote me to become the boss instead of being a secretary?"
This time, Thoma laughs. "Sorry, that won't happen. Besides, Ayaka already likes you. She needs you."
Thoma is right. It was a great experience since she and Ayaka spent thirteen years together… in a bad and good way. Lumine shrugs nonchalantly with an impassive face. "I like her too."
The emerald-eyed man frowns. He keeps thinking about why she and Ayaka are never in the same position as him and Ayato in a romantic way. It’s too obvious that Ayaka loves her but he never knows what's inside Lumine's head. He gazes at his colleague seeking an answer. "Hey, I keep thinking about this. Why don't you and Ayaka—"
A phone ringing breaks the atmosphere.
"Ah, my phone!" Lumine immediately grabs her phone on her desk between those documents. Her golden eyes squint when she sees the name of who is calling. It’s odd. She barely calls her at work during this time. Something must be wrong. "Yoimiya?"
"Yoimiya?" Thoma repeats. "That your friend from Lin's school?"
Lumine gives a nod before she picks up the phone. "Hello?"
It was when her golden eyes widened when she heard about her lovely niece.
.
Lumine closes her car's door madly. "What in Celestia's name did you do that?!"
Lin doesn't answer her aunt but instead, she keeps walking straight to her house, opening the door angrily, not even thinking about letting her shoes off and coming inside while Lumine hastily follows behind. Lin’s face in deep hatred, lips presses together with those red, puffy eyes after crying. She doesn't care about how angry her aunt is because she, too, is at her own limit. Her emotions overtook her.
"Lin!" Lumine keeps yelling. "What is wrong with you!"
Oh, what's wrong with her? Really? Now she finally asked her after every begs she did in the morning? Lin stops and turns back to see Lumine disdainfully. "What is wrong with me? I did ask you to stop bringing me to school! I've had enough of them!"
"But that didn’t change the fact that you hurt her!"
"It wasn't even my fault! It was Fubuki's fault!"
Lumine's golden eyes glare at the fourteen years old girl in her rebellious phase. She doesn’t expect her niece to ever say that after she sacrificed her time at work and bothered to pick her. "If I wasn't begging to Yoimiya, you could get your detention or be expelled!"
"Then let it be!" She shouts back without second thoughts, only to show how strong her determination is. Then she shakes her head hopelessly at how pathetic her life is. "I don't care anymore..." She lowers her voice, sounds desperate.
But despite getting a solution, it makes Lumine even mad when she hears that. Somewhere deep inside her heart feels like a great stab lingers there. Somewhere in her mind, she thought that her niece should be more grateful, but she wasn't. She sharply pointed her index finger to Lin with that furious gaze. "I did everything for you. I bought you whatever the hell you want. I even fed you, raised you, and taught you everything!" She says with every emphasis as the tension arises. While Lin stays quiet watching her aunt with shocked eyes at every word she utters that painfully rings inside her head, Lumine takes one step closer still with those glaring glaring eyes. "But I never taught you to hurt someone!"
Lin's body starts to tremble, unbeknownst the pure liquid welling in the corners of her eyes yet it won't fall, not yet. She knows Lumine is angry with her. She knows if she tries to defend herself after everything happens but the next thing she knows, she already hurt her only family for being childish and egoist and all. Her mouth slightly opens to even say 'I'm sorry' but she stutters at how hard, scary, full of regret she was. "I… I—"
"No," Lumine cuts off dismissively, sharply. It doesn't matter anymore when she finally speaks those words that make tears in Lin's eyes come down and nothing in this world is important anymore. "You are a failure. A disgrace to your parents and I."
Even having no friends or being an outsider at school isn’t the saddest part of her life. Even staying alone at home without Lumine at her side isn’t the most pathetic piece on her daily basis. But… perhaps Lumine is right. She thinks that she doesn’t belong in this world anymore.
With those liquids that keep shed down after how many tears she can't even wipe, a trembles body, a painful grimace, and clenching fists in her navy skirt, Lin that doesn't want to see her aunt decides to turn back and hurriedly run in her room at the second floor, leaving Lumine that realizes if she also regretting what she said.
The blond woman rubs her face in frustration and sighs. "Oh, dear god. What the hell am I saying...?" She mumbles under her breath. Lumine downcasts, she lets her body feel like no more stamina left then drops her black, tote bag on her shoulder to the floor hopelessly before she grimaces. "Big brother, what should I do…"
Lin closes her door in the same mad way as Lumine did with her car. She sits on the floor and buries her crying face on the edge of her bed. Her shoulders tremble due to sobs and sometimes she screams while squeezing her grey bed sheets at how ironic her life is. A sniffle comes out. "I don't… I don't care anymore!" She screams in a muffled voice.
Nobody obviously answers. It's only her in her own room where there's only quietness.
Lin sobs again before she lifts up her face to take a breath. Her chest feels so tight. The stillness makes her sick. This room is as annoying as her aunt. The entire stuff that Lumine brought everything for her doesn't deserve to be seen anymore. No more bright, happy memories left here. It was only pain and constant loneliness.
When she wants to shatter her bed into a mess, her eyes caught something in her bookshelves next to the standing arch mirror. Some memories from her past childhood suddenly struck inside her head. It wasn't completely bad but real bullshit. Lin stares vacantly at three books that once she loved so much that her aunt always told her to keep it safe and the book that inspired her classmate to be adapted as their stage play for school cultural festival. Her golden eyes now gaze sharply to the side cover of a book named 'Lindsey's Journey', which is now just a pile of trash in her view. Nothing's matters.
Lin takes her pillow and she throws it harshly to that innocent bookshelf, one by one falling, being ignored then she screams to the betrayal feelings inside her heart. The more she remembers that someday her parents will come to her, the more she feels like her hope is torn apart. The more she thinks about her parents, something churns badly inside her stomach at how stupid, persistent, yearning feelings always lingers in her mind. Lin doesn't know which is right anymore. It feels frustrating yet sad at the same time. Her tears mean nothing. She cries for nothing. But she grimaces as she imagines how perfect her world is with the two people that she adores so much to exist because no matter how much she hates them, sometimes being not completely alone is what she wants.
Another sob, Lin squeezes her own thighs. How many times has she cried today? How many times does she beg for something good to happen in her life?
"M-mom… dad…" she calls in the most heartbreaking tone. Her vision gets blurry when she stares at the floor beneath her with desperate, trembling lips. Each of her words becomes overwhelmed as she tries to call. “P-please, I-I don’t want to live here anymore I…" Lin gulps her bitter truth. The clutch on her thighs gets tighter almost like she intentionally hurt herself. As her tears still come down and that splash of imagination of her parents' face in her mind suddenly comes, she starts to hate herself at the moment for being childish. But something deep inside that she really needs to utter at how much she endures her own agony, Lin thinks that it’s the only thing she needs after all.
How does it feel to have parents by your side?
"I… I want to meet you…"
At the same time when Lin had said her hope, something brightly washes her face. She raises her head and those golden eyes widen when she looks at her arch mirror in front of her suddenly glow brightly like the sun that dazzles her eyes so close, so hurt and she brings her both hands to defend her eyes.
But before she can say anything, the light had devoured her and brings the room into emptiness.
Lumine notices the light from her place right now and she rushes to the second floor scared to death, breathlessly, immediately heads to her niece’s room but when she opens the door, the girl is gone.
"Lin!"