Beneath the cascade of fleeting lights and an explosive symphony cast by fireworks, a young man and a young woman stood before each other. Mere feet covered their distance, yet their eyes bridged the gap, bustling with an intensity that transformed the scene into a mere canvas of a youthful moment.
A trace of heat enveloped the young man’s cheeks as the words he yearned to deliver finally formed in his voice.
"I like you," he declared with a soft yet earnest voice, "All I want is for these feelings to reach you, but I’d be happy if you’d be with me.”
The young woman remained silent, her expression empty despite his confession. Her deliberate silence impelled a flood of promises, supported desperately by verbose talk, yet in the end, his words fell flat. With an enigmatic smile creeping onto the young woman’s lips, she invoked the same answer she told everybody else—
"I'm sorry. I cannot return your feelings."
Silence followed, yet the young man never heard of so much noise. Speechless, his eyes pleaded for an explanation.
"Your feelings came across, I can assure you that," the young woman cast a sidelong glance as she gracefully tucked her hair behind her ear. “But a relationship with me is a brewing disaster—a bad ending waiting to happen."
The young man stuck his fingers to his chest, persistence lighting up in his eyes.
"We can start off as friends!"
“Don’t make this any harder.”
“How could we know if we never tried?”
"I already know where this ends, and I'm sparing you the burden."
"Would it be so bad if we got to know each other first?"
The young man’s voice started to break, but the young woman did not respond, her silence echoing her bitter answer.
"Why?" he persisted, impulsively reaching for her arms. The young woman, in response, spurned his hands away and stared at him eerily.
"Our relationship wouldn’t bloom. That's all there is to it. You said you only wanted your feelings to reach me. They did. Now, behave.”
Bearing the weight of her frigid gaze, the young man stood petrified.
“Just now…wha—”
“I appreciate your courage. You’re an earnest man,” she interrupted, her stern expression morphing into her usual, hollow smile, “I’m sure the next girl will fall head-over-heels for you.”
Knees weak, the young man crumbled to the ground. His eyes widened, tears welling up in each corner as the gut-wrenching truth sank in. His lips trembled, voice begging for release, but all he could do was whimper.
A void filled his heart that night, a feeling no one else could possibly share—or so, he thought. From a distance, someone else had actually borne witness to the eventful scene, sharing the bitter rejection unfolding before their eyes.
"No way!" another young man cried with a muffled voice, barely containing his dismay. “That was, by far, the best confession I’d seen! I was pretty sure she'd say yes. What a shame!”
Kei, a bystander, is a homeless young man who rummaged around town to run different errands. Each one was a brief stint where owners sought only menial assistance, and the ongoing festival granted him a spot at one of the stalls. In a surreal twist, he ran into yet another declaration of love, involving the same young woman to boot. Whether it was by chance, or his enduring presence around town simply facilitated these incidents, he had recently found himself bound to the young woman’s affairs.
Kei gradually realized the absurdity in every anticlimactic episode he witnessed. Notwithstanding the fact, he wasn’t doubtful of the young woman’s charms. Given her looks, she was bound to attract people.
She had pale blonde hair, streaming in sleek, bobbed waves. Blunt in all edges, each strand radiated elegance and finesse. A pale, rosy complexion painted her skin, and her natural contours beautifully accentuated her shapely nose and velvety cheeks. Her slender figure was a modest charm, complemented by her graceful motions and dignified speech. The cultivated grace she carried might seem aloof, but it was that sense of distance that intensified her charms. Wherever she was present, everyone would stop to marvel at her regal beauty.
Kei had coined the phrase, a beauty that kills, to encapsulate her effect. Since every admirer who took a shot at winning her over, she bluntly shot it down with the same answer—
A relationship with me is a brewing disaster—a bad ending waiting to happen.
Kei already lost count of the guys who professed their love to the same young woman. In a rather unusual development, he witnessed every bitter outcome. She surely had substantial reasons, but Kei believed her admirers deserved better chances. Not that it was his business. In the end, all he could do was remain a spectator to every rejection she delivered.
"Professing one’s love, huh?” Kei briefly bemoaned, then giggled at the thought. “No way! I couldn’t quite imagine myself in it. So embarrassing! It must be nice to be young!”
The stall owner, who had been around him for a while, glared at him from the corner of his eye. Disbelief washed over his face as he witnessed Kei nonchalantly slacking off right in his presence. Though he knew the young man was just being playful, his waning patience manifested in his fist. In a swift blow, his knuckle landed on the young man's pate.
"This ain't the time to be watching other people's drama in leisure!" he exclaimed. "Besides, those guys can't possibly be older than you!"
“I got carried away,” Kei chuckled, caressing the trauma on his head. His resilience gleefully brought his hands to his hips. "Well! If you witness a youthful moment before your eyes, wouldn’t you just want to sit back and watch?”
Shouldn’t this young man embrace his own youthful adventures? The owner gazed at him with scrutiny when the thought occurred to him.
Kei, though his age is unbeknownst, is suggestive of a young adult. His hair, a cascade of dark and wavy locks, tumbled gracefully over his forehead and trimmed temple. Casually drawn into a cropped ponytail, it carried a pleasant disarray that embodied a spontaneously rugged appeal.
Despite his disheveled appearance, his striking features—a tall, deceptively slender figure, and a dazzling grin—always captured the eyes of many young women. Not to mention, his enchanting eyes brimming with a pink, sultry gaze could cast one into a spell. Even the owner, with a cursory look alone, found himself lost in his ethereal gaze.
He shook his head, barely escaping the snares of his eyes. "Why are you getting excited over others' relationship? You’re young, and…damn, you’re a looker yourself! Get your own relationship!"
Kei chuckled at his remark; just the thought of it seemed amusing.
"I’m bound to an honorable undertaking, something mere romance cannot compare,” he declared with a whimsically steadfast voice, then stuck his thumb to his chest. “The omnipotent Kei belongs to everyone, and when he is needed, he shall emerge from the shadows… for the right price!”
The owner crinkled his nose. “That can’t be fun! You have to be more indulgent while you’re young!” he argued. ”I know you’re eager to help people, but if you did not set some time aside for adolescent stuff, you’ll be missing cherished memories!"
Kei playfully patted the owner's shoulder, "Don’t be like that! I’m sure our little acquaintance will make a great memory."
"You'll grow old and miserable," he reproached, stern subtleties in his expression.
Kei couldn't help but awkwardly laugh. The old man’s reminder never occurred to his head, but his advice probably carried the weight of his experience.
The thrill of romance—a quintessential part of youth—Kei knew all too well the vibrance it brings. As he navigated through deprivation though, he never really bothered being a subject of romantic relationships.
While many embraced predictability, Kei’s life was a constant struggle with uncertainty, where every daybreak introduced another day to endure. He never really despised his life despite relentless challenges. In tribulation or relief, he was just grateful for every moment he lived. Realizing this, an unyielding beam graced his expression.
"Don’t worry! I get my fair share of fond memories while helping people. As for romance and juvenile fun, if it’s bound to happen, it shall happen,” Kei assured.
During the brief pause that followed, Kei’s thoughts lingered around his own words.
“That’s right, we don’t know what comes next!” he exclaimed, eyes and palms flamboyantly displayed in the air. “The mysteries of tomorrow…that sort of anticipation. Doesn’t that make your heart throb!?”
For a moment, the owner stood astonished, but the absurdity of Kei’s sentiments had him snorting and cackling.
"What a naive thing to say!" he cried in laughter, one arm on his stomach and he repeatedly patted Kei’s shoulder with the other. “Your optimism is way over the top, it’s incredible!”
Kei giggled in response, "Oh, you’re way too good with words! You're making me blush."
"That was not a compliment!" the owner exclaimed, the look of derision wearing off his face.
At the expense of keeping up with Kei’s boundless energy, the owner lets out a long-suffering sigh. He pulled out his wallet, eager to send Kei away, and started counting his proceeds.
"Alright, I've added a few extra. Make 'em count!"
Kei gasped in delight. “You’re a gift to everyone around you! I love you! Let me kiss you!”
With puckered lips, Kei threw himself at the owner but was met with a repellent palm.
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“You bothered me enough. Now, begone from my sight!”
“But I thought I was going to be your regular!”
"I never said that, dumbass! This is a one-time thing. You'll run me out of business if you keep coming!"
Kei playfully pouted—it was his endless impulse to fool around, but he also recognized the need to spare the owner further trouble. With utter resilience, he took a deep breath as he stretched his back, then turned away.
“Kei’s services are never a one-time thing! Should you need help, Kei is right 'round the corner. Buh-bye!" he exclaimed, as he shot off. The owner idly watched as the young man waved his hand goodbye.
"What a handful. We’re not even done closing up shop," he complained, ironically, with a beam embodying his growing fondness for the young man.
Even as a homeless person, Kei adopted the familiar patterns of ordinary nightly routines. After a weary day, he wouldn't forgo a shower. He’d approach establishments generous enough to lend their restroom, where he could refresh his body and mind alike.
Afterward, he'd embark on a search for sustenance. He rummaged around the city in search of meager provisions or even the remains of others' repasts. Kei wouldn't call it a night without replenishing his fuel.
Finally, as exhaustion sets in, he would seek shelter for a good night's sleep. He’d settle for conventional options: the sheltering arches of bridges or the quiet corners of a desolate park. But with the flu rampant, he had to seek a place indoors.
Kei dragged his feet around town, but as the streets ran desolate, his search for shelter remained a pipe dream. He imagined spending the night endlessly trudging until his search was disrupted by deep and obscure voices, discernibly arguing.
His curiosity brought him to an inconspicuous shop situated in a rather suspicious basement. Kei instinctively pried, sticking his ears to the door. But before he had a chance to listen, a figure almost twice his size stormed off the entryway, knocking Kei to the ground.
"Good luck finding a replacement with your shitty rate!” the formidable figure screamed as he stormed off the scene.
What followed was a succession of heavy, rapid thumping, each footfall apparently aimed at Kei's direction. When the doors to the shop unbolted, it seemed as if the gates of hell themselves opened. Emerging from the depths was a vicious old man, radiating an aura of fierce intensity. His bald head, wreathed by tattoos and piercings, exuded menace that encircled the vast expanse. Brows furrowed and veins throbbing, his simmering temper insinuated an impending disaster.
"Come back here, damn it! Your shift isn’t over!"
"Kiss my ass! I’ve been here since yesterday!"
“Bastard, I’ll fire the shit out of you!”
“Rot in hell! I quit!”
While the two figures filled the night with great conflict, Kei remained still on the ground flinching. He stuck out like a sore thumb and inevitably caught the old man’s attention.
"You…” the old man bellowed with great menace, “tend to the shop or I'll kill ya!"
Kei’s spine shuddered at the weight of the old man's behest. Luck and misfortune concurrently befalling him, a strained smile persisted on his lips.
"Count your blessings," Kei muttered.
No formalities were made. The moment Kei agreed, the owner walked out of the shop. Grasping silver linings, his absence meant no lives were in danger, and Kei potentially found himself a place to sleep; perhaps, eternally.
As Kei hesitantly ventured inside, he was welcomed by an eerily frigid touch, gnawing at his skin with an otherworldly coldness. The room stretched before him, bleak in every corner an eye could reach, embellished by unsettling displays that whispered trepidation.
Making his way through the oblivion, Kei’s steps echoed faintly against the cold, hard floor. His gaze fell upon a suspicious door tucked into a corner, a portal that seemed to lead to unknown horrors. He instinctively sought refuge in an enclosed reception, which apparently was the only safe space around the premises.
Isolated from the realms of fright, Kei waged a quiet battle against his encroaching fatigue. He stood committed to accommodating potential guests, but every individual who intermittently strolled inside moved about with an air of detachment; their eyes hollow and their expressions distant.
No one batted an eye at the staff if Kei could even be called that. Their only purpose was to enter the dubious door Kei didn’t dare enter. That actually worked in his favor—if no one cared to interact, he might as well blend with the displays arbitrarily placed around the lobby.
Kei wandered through the room's obscurity, seeking amenities to bolster his slumber. Motivated by the charms of comfort, he maneuvered a sofa from the lobby to the reception. Amidst his ambitious attempt, his eyes caught hold of a sizeable jacket on display. As he draped it over himself, he realized its potential as a cozy blanket and brought it along with him.
After acquiring a makeshift bed and blanket, Kei nestled into their embrace. Apart from the looming peril in the air, the ambient ringing and once-nagging cold felt oddly accommodating. The lack of lighting slowly deprived him of his vision, allowing his eyes a moment of repose.
Simultaneously feeling all things delicate, Kei didn't even notice he was being robbed of his consciousness. Rest had never felt so comfortable before—almost satisfying until a presence unwittingly invaded his space.
As Kei revealed himself from his cocoon, he squinted toward an inconspicuous figure—their entire being concealed to the bone. Clutched tightly in their hand was a stack of hard cash bound to a conspicuous bag hanging on their shoulder.
The figure quickly hid the cash as Kei’s watchful gaze dawned upon them. Slowly, but conspicuously, their other hand reached for the door. The more they tried though, Kei mirrored their movement in perfect sync.
The figure stopped moving, avoiding risky motions that would otherwise jolt the dormant threat. Amidst the cumbersome situation, a beguiling smile maneuvered on Kei’s lips.
“It's alright. Put it away and we can all forget about this," he assured, matching his sincere smile with closed eyes. But as soon as he returned to his senses, all that was left to perceive was a blank wall and a swaying door.
Kei reclined on the sofa as if the incident had been inconsequential. He slowly closed his eyes, convincing himself it was all a dream.
“No one would dare steal from such a creepy place, much less one filled with scary people.”
Speaking of terrifying things, Kei’s eyes shot open as the old man’s vicious likeness intruded his thoughts. As reality became apparent, he zoomed out of the counter and hightailed the thief, screaming—
"Son of a bitch, you're gonna get me killed!"
As Kei exited the shop, his gaze darted across his surroundings. He held his breath, scrutinizing every corner until he caught a glimpse of a silhouette heading into an alley. His instincts urgently brought him into the inconspicuous passage, and as he turned into the dimly lit corner, his eyes locked onto the thief who steadily vanished into the shadows.
“You thieving scumbag! Stay right there!” Kei exclaimed as he burst in pursuit.
His heart raced as he sprinted through the dimly lit alleyways, each fervent stride echoing off the walls. He steadily closed the gap, and as his footfall became more apparent to the thief, they tried to match his speed. But in every anxious glance they stole over their shoulder, Kei’s unforgiving grasp drew closer. His fingers repeatedly grazed their jacket, whereas the thief twisted around corners, ducking and weaving as they barely avoided capture.
The alleys stretched thin before the thief could lose Kei. In a final bid for escape, they fled inside an unfinished building, hoping its obscurity would conspire with their getaway. But despite all the inconspicuous passages they slipped into, Kei traced every elusive trail.
The night seemed to stretch endlessly as the two runners reached several floors high. The thief’s legs eventually burned with exertion, yet Kei’s paces remained unwavering, each step whispering futility to their persistence. Their gaze scattered, searching for a spontaneous escape, and an opportunity presented itself amidst the chaos.
The thief swerved into a corner, briefly escaping Kei’s line of sight, and eyed an ideal instrument to sabotage his course. They stopped before a strewn pile of crates, tugging it with all their strength until it collapsed. Kei, unsuspecting of their scheme, was suddenly met by a resounding crash that had him flinching. Upon opening his eyes, he found himself before a sizeable mound that effectively blocked his path. No obstacle too big though, as he resiliently clambered over the hurdle. But amidst his valiant attempt, he faltered when he noticed the thief committedly sprint towards the edge of the building.
“You can’t be serious,” he uttered, his brows furrowing in concern “That will be your death! Are you insane?”
The thief slowed down and turned to look at Kei, whose face was worn all over with dread. His feet thumped against the concrete as he surmounted the obstacle.
"Stand down. Don’t do anything stupid," he urged, slowly approaching the thief with his palms held out.
The thief trod backward, matching his every stride—until a gust of cold wind swept by, reminding them not to take another step. The world seemed to quiver as the thief stole glances at the drop, deterring them from committing any foolish act. Yet, upon shifting their gaze toward their approaching adversary, the imminent confrontation whispered a greater threat. In that heart-stopping moment, the thief veered backward, ready to drop off the building.
"Don't be an idiot! This is hardly worth dying for!" Kei yelled desperately, but his words couldn’t even come across; the thief was already gone.
A muffled thud abruptly followed—in that instant, Kei’s eyes pressed tightly as if he had taken the fall. He approached the drop, deliberately stalling his step, distraught painting his face as he got closer. His body shrank as he hesitantly glanced at the aftermath, but to his surprise, he discovered a connecting bridge situated two floors below.
With bated breath, he surveyed the bridge, his eyes restless until he caught a fleeting glance of the thief. Kei frantically sighed, relief briefly returning to his senses; unbeknownst to him, anger had instantly surpassed his renewed composure.
“That was a sick joke, you mad bastard!” he yelled, impulsively jumping over the bridge with no regard for his safety.
Kei skilfully tumbled on the floor, propelled his legs from the momentum, and darted into the adjacent building. Scrutinizing every discreet route, he eventually spotted the thief, who stubbornly dragged their injured foot amidst the unfavorable situation.
The thief desperately sprinted in intermittent streaks, every sharp pain in their foot dwindling any little hope they had, until they came upon an atrocious path that would otherwise aid their escape. Without hesitation, they squeezed into a cavity between two walls, barely allowing their sylphlike figure to slip through.
In close pursuit, Kei wedged himself into the narrow passage but instantly realized he couldn’t fit. He lunged for the thief, his fingers grazing their arm before they wriggled out of his reach. Threatened by his aggressive touch, the thief instinctively looked at Kei, only to be struck by his foreboding gaze.
“You’re not getting away,” Kei eerily mumbled.
With ragged breaths, the thief navigated through the tight space, casting glances over Kei until he retreated. After a series of labored maneuvers, the thief sneaked through the first exit they encountered, leading them to a secluded place surrounded by a cluster of used crates.
While gasping for air, the thief explored the maze of crates and sought refuge in the nearest shade. Drawn to a potential place of respite, they sank to the ground and uncovered a large swelling in their ankle. The exhaustion and pain they previously suppressed hit them like a wave, but before they could tend to their injury, a figure swiftly passed by their peripheral vision.
The thief struggled to get on their feet, cold sweats running down their cheeks while regarding every dubious corner they could perceive. Failing to discern any hint of danger, they tilted their head back and released a heavy sigh. However, that moment of repose was truncated upon opening their eyes…
“Boo!”
Kei lunged at the thief from above a crate, seizing their arms with a ruthless grip—with his knee, he squeezed their abdomen against the ground. Driven by persistence, the thief struggled against his grasp, yet Kei didn’t move a budge.
"Give it up…you’re not going to get another chance.”
The thief swiveled their head, laying their eyes on the person who forced them into a submissive position. Their hood shifted, revealing locks of pale blonde hair that slithered beneath their disguise. Kei was initially averse to prejudice, yet he couldn't help but battle his preconceptions—their fragile structure and enchanting softness made more sense when he inclined to the fact that the thief was a woman.
Compelled by lingering uncertainties, Kei adeptly flipped the thief over, pinning both their hands to the ground above their head. The moment he uncovered the very image, a surreal shift occurred—the world around them seemed to fade into insignificance, casting an ethereal spotlight solely upon the figure before him.
In the heart of that tense moment, Kei was greeted by a stabbing glare from a pair of vivid, cyan irises. While her eyes were novel to him, a whisper of connection tugged at the strings of his memory.
In the face of a bustling city, Kei had absorbed countless faces; among them was a young woman he always observed from afar. The last person he’d expect the thief to be laid on the ground before his very eyes.
A beauty that kills…
At last, two parallel souls intertwined.