A dark room dimly lit up was seen. It was plainly decorated with a bed and some wooden furniture. There, a teenage boy with a headphone worn over his head was sitting on a back chair staring expressionlessly at an old piece of paper.

At a closer glance, the piece of paper turned out to be a wrinkled map. The boy's eyes fluttered gracefully, partially concealing his captivating lavender eyes.

His slender hands with well trimmed nails repeatedly ruffled his indigo hair in agitation.

From the side view of the boy was his high cheekbones, the smooth slide of his straight and thin noise and his tiny love shaped pink lips was paused in a tight line.

Just then, the door of the room was pushed open, and a handsome man with a huge physique seemingly in his middle forties emerged.

He stared at the boy for some time, a sad emotion flashing across his eyes.

"We are relocating to Madris... this time," The man said

The boy nodded absentmindedly, not turning to look at him.

The man exhaled. "Kieran, I understand, these unending relocations are troublesome for you. But we have to,"

Kieran turned and stared at the man with an unreadable expression but said nothing.

"Are you done packing?"the man asked him.

"Just a few clothes and toiletries. What's there to pack?"

"I think we might be able to stay at Madris for long."

Kieran raised an eyebrow at him.

The man's lips curled up a bit." So you can try making friends."

Kieran was silent. What's the use of making them, when you are leaving them soon. He had thought.

He had long accepted the mindset of relocating from one city to another; every few years, sometimes months and he never asked questions about the reason. He had without reluctance followed uncle mak's plans and arrangements, after all that's his mother's wish.

However, him not asking questions doesn't mean he was not inquisitive about the whole thing but because it was totally useless asking; he knew quite well that he wouldn't receive answers.

"The truck is here. Let's go." Mak told him, interrupting his thoughts.

Kieran picked up the medium sized bag lying on the bag and turning to leave but turned back at the room after taking a few steps. Taking a few glances around, he finally left with Mak.

Inside the truck, Kieran is sitting on the front seat with his bag underneath and Mak driving beside him. He looked out of the window, seeing people hurrying to their various destinations and workplaces.

This is how to live a normal life. He thought

He had discovered his ability to hear people's thoughts at the early age of six. Now, he thought of it, he couldn't recall his mother's reaction to it. But he knew his mother was definitely not surprised.

It has greatly disturbed him, resulting in him unable to sleep peacefully. Attending school was put to halt as his mind was constantly filled with all kinds of people's thoughts. His mom had provided him with a strange ear cord assuring him of its efficiency.

However, the ear cord temporarily blocked them out for a while.

Meanwhile, in spite of his telepathic ability, he couldn't seem to hear both his mother and uncle mak's thoughts, which had him puzzled and relieved as well.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Kieran tends to stay alone and avoid other people on the account of his ability and appearance.

His mom, worried about his mental health, would persuade him to go out of the house and play with other kids in the neighborhood.

On a few occasions during weekends, he would agree after several persuasions from his mom and Mak. However, he would always stay at a desolate corner and watch the other kids play.

At a time, Kieran was seven. A single mom moved to his neighborhood with a son, his own age. A light brown eyed boy who was timid and very shy and in regards to that, he was looked down on and verbally bullied by other kids.

So, likewise Kieran, he would stay on his own. Kieran noticed that, whenever he was outside, the boy would stare at him and look away immediately if Kieran turned to him. But for some inexplicable reason, he didn't mind.

On one of the rare occasions, Kieran had reluctantly left the house with his mom insisting that he needed to socialize with the other children. Like usual, he stayed at a quiet corner rereading for the hundredth time a manga.

From the corner of his eyes, he noticed the timid boy cautiously walking towards his direction. Kieran, wearing the ear cord, couldn't figure out what the boy was thinking, so he waited.

The boy eventually reached where Kieran was. He tilted his head to him, realizing his presence. The boy smiled shyly at him and Kieran returned the smile, faintly. However, the smile seemed to give the boy some courage and he introduced himself.

"I am Mark." He said

"Kieran," Kieran returned.

Mark stared at Kieran for sometime, fidgeting. Meanwhile, Kieran awaited to hear comments like: why is your eyes lavender color? I have never seen it before. It is kind of creepy, Can I touch your hair? Words he had repeatedly heard from other kids.

"You are beautiful," he complimented

Kieran furrowed his eyebrows in surprise but he said 'thank you' nevertheless.

From a closer range, Kieran figured out his intention. Mark wanted them to be friends but his nervousness was getting in the way.

Kieran decided to take the initiative. "Can we be friends?"he asked.

On hearing that, Mark's face lit up, his brown eyes glittering.

"Of course, we can be friends." He spoke rapidly and delightfully

Initially, Kieran asked that question, he did that out of pity seeing that the boy was lonely.

Now faced with his excitement, he felt that having a friend might not be a bad idea.

Mark was Kieran's first friend. Kieran on the other hand found himself deriving comfort and satisfaction from his new companion. Gradually, he started to anticipate their next meeting

They even started to visit each other's house, a very surprising development for Kieran's mom.

Nevertheless, she was pleased.

"Are your parents divorced?" Kieran asked Mark one day.

Mark shook his head. "Actually, I am not aware of my father's identity. My mom never told me about him,"

Kieran frowned a bit. "You didn't ask her?"

"It's not that I don't want to ask. However, I noticed that each time my mom is reminded of him by her relatives. She gets sad and depressed. I don't want to be seen this way. I think she would surely tell me whenever she is ready." Mark explained

He thinks like an adult. Kieran thought empathetically.

"What of you?"

"Huh?"

"I mean your father. I haven't seen him before," Mark emphasized.

"Same. But I am quite satisfied with my mom and Mak."

The boys exchanged smiles in understanding. They both realized that they have similarities. They both love reading manga and enjoy cherry fruit juice.

Kieran earnestly appreciated Mark's companionship. To him, Mark was a lovely boy that always had a smile plastered on his face. He had never questioned him about his peculiar appearance, something other people didn't hesitate to always point at.

So, Inorder words, he was the one lucky to have Mark as a friend and not the other round. He even found himself wishing that Mark doesn't go to school; so both of them can accompany each other all day long.

Their friendship continued until one day.

One Saturday afternoon, Kieran was grinning ear to ear given that his mom had finally bought him the latest Manga after several times of forgetting.

Holding the new manga, Kieran rushed downstairs to show mark. Surprisingly, he didn't find him on their usual spot. He proceeded to go-to his house, next door, but was forced to a halt, seeing Mark dragged on the collar by the oldest kid of the two older ones present.

The oldest kid pushed him violently up against a pillar standing adjacently to them.

Ignoring Mark's groan, the boy still held him tightly by the collar of his shirt.

"You have become arrogant lately right?" The oldest, said to Mark, who was frightened but pretended to keep a nonchalant expression; his shaky hands was evident of that.

"I was the first person to find that spot. How am I arrogant?" He retorted fiercely.

"Our little boy is very aggressive. I am so scared." One of them said sarcastically and the other laughed.

"So, Mark, you know what you should do right?" The oldest boy asked, Mark stared at him in confusion.

"Are you so dumb, not to understand how to apologize to people," the other boy spoke.

"I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?" Mark countered.

The oldest kid tightened his grip on Mark's collar causing him to choke.

"Leave him immediately," Kieran growled.

The boys turned to stare at him in astonishment. On seeing Kieran come to his aid, Mark heaved a sigh of relief as tears escaped from his eyes. Kieran felt anger surging inside him looking at Mark's condition.

"I said you should let him go," Kieran's voice was so cold. The boys shivered feeling chills at their back. Two of the boys backed away while the oldest remained with a contorted expression. However, he released his grasp on Mark's collar

"Who do you think you are to order me?" He asked.

"I am his friend," Kieran replied calmly, he had moved closer to them.

"His friend?" The boy sneered.

"Are you aware of what he did?"

"Mark is my bosom friend. So I know him quite well. He is not troublesome. Even if he's accused of one; we should settle it amicably. Only animals use violence to settle their disputes," Kieran said impatiently.

This seemed to further infuriate the other boy. But then, he smiled, his eyes glimmering with mischief.

"Come and take him. You are right, I shouldn't have touched him,"

"I would take that as an apology. Reflect on yourself and don't go around bullying other kids because you are bigger than them," Kieran said reproachfully. He took Mark's hand and turned to leave.

Suddenly, Mark let out a warning as he had noticed suspicious movements from the corner of his eyes.

But, it was already too late, Kieran fell to his knees, then his face flat to the earth. His head throbbed painfully, he sensed that his brain was about to split into two. He managed to tilt his head around, and he saw from his blurry vision, the boy held an iron pole with a savage grin plastered on his face.