Ellie looks at her uncle, that looks the same as usual. Though, the visible shock could be noticed in his body language.
But why? She thinks. The man is not a foe, but it was as if he is, and not at the same time. A true fiend or strange person. None of them could figure it out.
William, on the other hand, isn't intrigued by his appearance or how he acted. He has seen strange Walkers a few times, and their eccentric personalities aren't that surprising to him any longer. William feels like no Walker would surprise him with their shenanigans any longer.
Not after what happened today.
“He felt nothing like Kaufman, but not like Mi-Yung as well. He is from Assembly Island for sure, so he must be a high-rank Walker. What... What if I will ask Mi-Yung?” William wonders in his mind, for a solution to this mystery of that man's origin.
“Get up... Will you?” Sudden words echo to his ears, with a pat of a hat on his head. William is jolted from his wandering mind by Ellie, who takes the initiative to get out of the east district.
Sighting and adjusting his hat, William gets on his feet with the bitter truth that all worries would get solved in the future.
“Thank you for today, uncle Haggard.” Ellie gives a surprising hug to her uncle, who took it with open arms.
“No worries. Come visit from time to time if you want to. I bet the situation at home is not that pleasing all the time.”
“Forget about it. I ain't complaining.” Ellie says in a playful tone. Her family worries have been long taken care of.
William goes out to the open district the same way. With Ellie that leads the way.
“Sorry for today... I thought it would be a calm night,” she says to William, who remains silent.
“It couldn't be helped at all. Perhaps some things are meant to happen, while others don't.”
“Such quote, I feel like I read it somewhere on the 3rd floor.” Ellie pinched William's shoulder as his words awakens certain memories in her mind.
“Well.. what can I say? I read quite a bit of books in the library. I gained a lot of words that I can use against you.” William smirks in return. Feeling a bit proud of his gains.
“I know. I know. This journey to Assembly Island. I am sorry it went a little worse since your birthday is today... Who knew there would be some lunatic in the ocean?” Ellie says in an apologetic tone. Her intentions remain a mystery, which she would rather let out today.
After all, one could dream if one is brave enough or not. In her case, it is a little different, since her bravery comes in small tides. Today's tide could be a tremendous one, but she doesn't feel like it. The tide of a shaking heart is more abundant than she thought.
The words of that mysterious, yet mesmerizing, man caused her mind to drift apart. Not because of the beauty of that man, but the eyes, and his words that seek not herself, but something else...
It was a strange experience that she couldn't seek out if it wouldn't be for luck. Not like this disgusts her either. It... is a complicated feeling that she never experienced by any Walker she has ever seen.
Walking forth from the fjord, the time remains quite nice for both of them. It isn't midnight yet. With a moon that flows across the starry sky. The smell of sulfur, coal, and whatever the companies used in the east district is the only bother in the windless night.
“I don't find it all that bad to forget about the birthday. It is a single day when one is a year older. Simple as that.” William argues.
“I like a day such as this. It is a celebration of a new person coming into this world. A small day for both the parents and the child. Oh... I am sorry... your parents... I didn't mean to say it like that.” Ellie stops herself and shakes her both palms in front of her in a frantic apology.
William stops and looks at her, but doesn't really mind being reminded of the lack of his parents. Even her words seem honest, so he sights at her tries to console him, and goes by the rest of the night.
“I don't mind it. Not like I can change something about it.” is his argument to make himself feel better.
Voiceless response of her gaping mouth, Ellie never knew William would be so fine without sight of his parents. She never even imagined life or possibilities where one is surviving by themselves Outside. In a wild place since a very young age. Being one's boss, figuring out things all by yourself because no one is there to make you feel at home or loved. It leaves her mind in a state of wonder all the damn time.
Sometimes she thinks to herself, how lucky she is. Imagining life Outside of the Federation is that much harder for herself because she reads all about it. That is for her to figure out, since not a lot of children are going around, and want to figure out the past. That means also the Outside since the Federation is the safest place in this hemisphere.
Perhaps the lack of William's thoughts when it comes to friendship or relationships is caused by his life. He grew up Outside, in an environment, with a lack of parents. That is at least her guess, which she plans to change. One day, at least.
Waking forth across the streets and parts of the night city, the moon or the lamps aside the pavement roads makes it all nice and visible. Ellie leads William to the West district since he doesn't know this region leading to his home all that well. Playing with her dress around her waist, she is getting more nervous with the thought of a try. It is something she wants to do, but bravery is not all that abundant in her.
It all stops, as William sees the familiar pathway that leads to the streets of the 47th building complex. Looking at Ellie, he wants to thank her for today, yet there is a stopping hand in front of him that grabs his shoulder.
A face of Ellie in front of him. One kind of face, what he has never seen on herself. Even her focusing and reddened eyes make a certain impression on William when she got closer to him.
“A... s-small gift. I... want to do this, so I won't regret it...” she mutters, and kisses him on his cheek. It leaves a flustered expression on her face, which stops, as she turns and runs away in a hurry.
Making a stoic figure of William, defeated and speechless, that much alone. Only the light of the lamp is revealing the expression that is not the least bit calm on his face.
Like a sudden strike of lightning, it released a certain something in his mind. His hands are halfway in the air, and he feels stunned. He doesn't know what to make of it but understands what this all could be.
“D-does she likes me?” he mumbles, as he strokes his cheek with his finger. His eyes travel to the ground, to the path, and right back across the path where Ellie disappeared into.
“N-no way...” he shakes his head but doesn't believe it that much. He could be making excuses to himself, which causes him to feel better, as his mind is full of other thoughts.
Unbeknown to him, a flood of other emotions enters his mind at this moment. One that he couldn't shake away.
After a while, he steps toward the path to his home, as his mind is in a state of wonder and bewilderment. He doesn't even remember the moment he opens the door to Luke's apartment and enters the kitchen.
There, Mi-Yung is feeding herself some chicken legs, with rice. Dressed rather... well, not really. A towel makes it quite obvious once again that the shower has been quite nice to her.
“Good evening, Will.” she notices a new presence, while William is already accustomed to this moment. It didn't happen once, twice, or thrice already. It is almost every other day that he finds her in this position.
Her time is rather tight, with work that goes from 9 AM to 8 or even 10 PM at the night. They aren't even half bad times, since some people work 12 or even 14 hours a day to make their lives better.
Though, Mi-Yung finds this not one bit bothersome. This is her home and a place where one could do whatever one wants. With Luke being gone for an extended period of time, it leaves her in a worsened mood. The reason isn't pleasing, since he ended up coming to the annual expedition tanker to the mainland of South America.
To be exact, it was a random draft, so he had to comply. It leaves her a bit apprehensive and sad that Luke is gone, but with William, she doesn't feel that lonely either.
Perhaps for Mi-Yung, the sole reason for Luke is to feel less lonely. , She ended up loving someone instead of her home, which was struck by the disaster all those years ago. She has no clue, but knows it's not all bad to think of some excuse. Her family and the majority of the Korea are gone, and nothing could change. Luke is her little peace of mind.
“Good morning...” William mutters, half knowing what he is even saying.
“Morning? Did something happen?” Mi-Yung glances at the face of William, who is shaken, yet is trying to hide it.
“I don't think so. I am going to sleep.” William makes a round around the kitchen, before committing to sleeping, rather than wandering even further.
Confused, Mi-Yung watches him in silence, as a smirk left her cheek after he disappears around the hallway.
“T-that brat? Is she, or he... I am wondering which is it...”
William spent the night in the room in silence. His eyes wide open, he glances at the ceiling of everything. This particular one looks different, or not at all. He doesn't even feel like it makes sense to think about the texture of the ceiling or whatnot. He couldn't fall asleep, yet he is trying to do so.
“E-Ellie... I... have no idea. What if that kiss was a way one greets someone on the birthday? I read about it, or did someone tell me about it in the past?! That must be it... That must be it! I... no way she likes me. I am an orphaned boy, with nothing to his name whatsoever.” William slaps his cheeks in a try to figure out a better excuse.
Snuggling himself in the bed, and resting on his left side, the sight of the night sky from his window is leaving a better sight than the ceiling. It is a sight that is leaving him with different thoughts.
It is not so bad, even if he is believing in words that may not be true or wrong. There is some way, or a reason, for his excuses, as he... has no idea about the sight of love or the differences between liking someone or loving someone.
It is safe to say that he doesn't want to think about it at all, but it doesn't even feel all that bad to think about it.
He couldn't help but grab a pillow and smack his head with it to his face. It causes his hat to fall off, but he continued for a long time. Hundredth times is enough for his tired hand, who slips the pillow down. At last, he fell asleep in a try to shake unfamiliar emotions away.
Alas, they will remain there, or will something will replace them with stronger ones. Who knows?