Nothing New, Just f*cking Life

"Um, Aunty, I just remembered something. I'll come back later," I said, turning to leave Kai's house.

"Eh? Why are you leaving? It was fun~" Sisha said, her face a mix of sadness and mischief, but to me, it looked like she was just enjoying the moment.

As I continued walking toward the park, I glanced sideways at her and asked, "Hey, why did you leave so suddenly before we finished our talk yesterday?"

"Do you have problems? I have my things to deal with," she replied, ignoring my question.

"*Sigh* Do you do this?" 

"No, my sister did."

"Your sister?"

"Yeah, you know her. But I won't tell you who she is."

"You're such a pain to talk to."

"Any problem with that~?" Sisha said, grinning as she enjoyed herself.

With a deep breath, I pressed on, "By the way, do you know why Aiko forgot about Kai?"

"Hmm, I wonder~."

"Ohh, making fun of me, huh?"

"Nah, you're just fooling yourself. Okay, I'll give you a hint." Sisha said, standing up and flying around my face in playful circles. "When Suko entered your class, the Kai family's existence changed."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Nah, your time limit is up. I'll come back later~" With that, she vanished into the air, like a soap bubble popping.

"Hey! Jezz... she left again." I felt frustration boiling within me, mixed with disappointment. I wanted to ask her how Aiko became my girlfriend, but now I was left with more questions than answers.

*Sigh* Look, like she is not going to tell more. Well, I can ask when she appears again, but when...? I wonder myself, almost reaching the park. For now, I'll have to figure this out myself.

***

It was 4:21 p.m. when I reached the park. With summer approaching, the evening weather was calm and pleasant. Children played nearby, their laughter filling the air, making it a perfect time to talk with Suko, especially since no one from our school was likely to pass through this area at this hour.

As I entered the park, the first thing I did was scan the area to find where she was. But it didn't take long. As I spotted Suko easily standing near a vending machine, her school bag over her hands carrying it. From a distance, she looked like a fairy straight out of a storybook. Her white hair danced in the gentle breeze, catching the light and drawing the attention of everyone around her. Even the children paused their games, captivated by her ethereal presence.

"Yo, how long have you been here?"

When she saw me, Suko greeted me with a slight bow, her upper body tilting at a 45-degree angle. "Oh, Master Ren, I have arrived here not long ago. I am most grateful for your presence, despite your busy schedule."

"Well, I was the one who wanted to talk and also drop the "master" already."

"I am afraid that is not possible."

"Whatever." I placed my hand on my head and glanced around for a moment before continuing, "Is it okay to talk here? I know I called you, but—"

"It shall not pose a problem; they will forget my presence as soon as I depart from this vicinity."

"Okay." I took a seat on one of the benches in the park. "Then let's continue where we left off."

"Indeed, as you say, Master. I would be honored to present a small performance within your mind."

"Hm? Then, you can do it at school too."

"I regret to inform you that your presence may precipitate significant events. Therefore, it would be more fitting to conduct this elsewhere."

"O-okay, I don't quite understand what you mean, but it sounds reasonable."

"Thank you for your understanding, Master. I am now prepared to perform my incantations, so I kindly request that you close your eyes for a moment."

"What? Incantations, like abracadabra or alakazam something like that?" 

"Yes, something of that nature." With that, she began to utter words that sounded foreign, as if they belonged to another world. 

As she performed her incantations, I could feel the surroundings shifting bit by bit, like small pieces of glass breaking apart around Suko. The colors of the park seemed to dim, the vibrant greens and blues fading into a muted palette, as if the world were holding its breath. I wondered if anyone else could see this transformation or if it was just a spectacle meant for me.

I had expected her to dance or move gracefully, but I was proven wrong. Instead, she stood still, her eyes closed and her hands open together around her chest, as if cradling something precious. The gentle breeze that had been rustling the leaves now stilled, creating an eerie silence that enveloped us.

The words she spoke flowed like a melody, each syllable resonating in the air, weaving a tapestry of sound that felt both ancient and powerful. I could almost see the words taking shape, shimmering like threads of light, intertwining and spiraling around her.

I thought I would be shocked by such an unusual display, but strangely, I didn't feel out of place with what she was doing. Instead, a sense of calm washed over me, as if I were meant to witness this moment. It was as if time itself had paused, allowing me to absorb the significance of her actions.

Once she concluded her incantation, she gently tapped me on the forehead.

In that instant, after she tapped my forehead, I felt myself losing touch with this world, as if my body were being pulled into a realm beyond my imagination. The sounds of the park—the rustling leaves, the laughter of children—faded away, replaced by a blank, lonely void. Yet, amidst the silence, I could hear the rhythmic sound of water falling, one drop at a time.

*Drip*, *Drip*, *Drip*.

Each drop echoed in the emptiness, drawing my focus to its rhythmic pattern...

***

As time passed, the sound of water gradually faded, and with it, I felt myself pulled back to reality once again. 

My eyes were still closed, but I could hear and sense what was happening around me—the distant sound of cars running and the atmosphere of a room that felt strangely familiar. What? Where am I? 

But before I could gather my thoughts, a harsh, deep voice shattered the silence, jolting me back to consciousness. "Hey! You! How long are you going to just lie there on the bed?!" The anger in that voice was unmistakable, and it sent a shiver down my spine. Strangely, it felt nostalgic, stirring memories I thought I had buried. How could I forget this voice? It had haunted me for years.

Slowly, I open my eyes, squinting against the light to see the figure. The man stood tall at 192 centimeters, his presence both imposing and familiar. He appeared to be in his forties, with a strikingly handsome face and a well-defined physique, yet I knew the truth—he was over sixty. 

Are you kidding me? I can't believe this. Is this some kind of virtual reality? Confusion washed over me, mingling with a sense of disbelief.

This man was my father, blood-related father, the very person I had come to despise more than anyone else in the world.

If I were to say, I didn't always hate him; he was once a kind man, but—

"Hey! Why are you just staring?! Wake up and do your work!"

"Y-yes, Dad..." I stammered, snapping back to reality. 

I glanced around, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of my surroundings.

To clarify, I had returned to the past, to a time when I was about seven years old. I was in my old home, a place filled with memories—both good and bad.

"Hey! Your teacher is here! Just come if you are done!" My dad yelled again, his voice grating on my nerves. It was so annoying. More than just a trip to the past, it felt like I was trapped in a dream—one that was strikingly vivid.

"Hmm, so Suko wants to show me this, I suppose," I muttered to myself as I wiped my face with a towel.

"I don't understand why she wanted to show this to me. These memories used to haunt me whenever I thought about them."

As I finished with the things I was doing, I tried to reach for the source of the voice calling me, but once again, I was pulled into another place.

***

A place—or perhaps a dream—passed in the blink of an eye... revealing many things I had forgotten or buried beneath painful memories, things I didn't want to remember. I was standing in an abyss, watching it pass by.

Some memories were from when I was around three, when I was loved by everyone, and others were of the times I visited my father's company to watch him work. I cherished those days; they were unforgettable, yet remembering them was always painful, so I buried those memories deep. But now they were resurfacing.

All the memories floated around me like a slideshow, each image flickering as if projected in different theaters, vivid and haunting. Memories of birthday celebrations, carefree school days, and the pride I felt when my dad received awards for his work flowed through my mind like a rushing river.

Then, like a video player, memories began to play in my mind—memories of when my father owned a company that was famous worldwide.

The memory I was seeing was when I reached 6.

"No way!! How can he do that?! He knows how that much is important to me?!" my father yells on his phone. 

My father's company was going bankrupt day by day. It was said that someone he trusted the most had scammed him.

With a broken heart, he stopped trusting anyone, not even his wife. Anxiety and stress consumed him, and pulling himself out of that pit seemed nearly impossible.

"Ren, I don't know how to help him anymore…" One day, my mom said with tears glistening in her eyes, as she had given up hope.

My three older siblings had also lost faith in him, each choosing their paths. Just like them, my father surrendered. Conversations with lawyers and banks drove him to madness. He began drinking alcohol regularly, seeking comfort wherever he could find it. In a desperate attempt to find solace, he began seeking comfort from people involved in black magic.

"What's happening to Dad?" I wondered, feeling helpless as I watched in silence, unable to comprehend the chaos around me. If I had been more mature at the time, I might have tried to help, but there was nothing a child could do to solve adult problems.

And that was how life went for about six months after the company went bankrupt.

But everything changed one day when my father met a man—a man who looked evil in both appearance and spirit. He was of average height, but his presence was unforgettable; he had silver hair and eyes that seemed to hunt the souls of the innocent and his hands—well, he always wore gloves, as if hiding some dark power.

I could only imagine that he was trying to take advantage of my father in his vulnerable state.

***